My Logan County Roots

“We CAN go home again, in heart, body, and mind”
Beth Mende Conny

Photo of Joanna Newman - Feb 2011My name is Joanna Newman. I was born is Ashland, Kentucky, in 1944, to a Dad who was from Berkeley County, South Carolina, who was serving in WWII, and a mother who was from the mountains of Logan County, West Virgina.

It appears that I received those “mountain” genes, because there is nothing more comforting to me, than to go deep into those Logan County mountains. To listen to the “June Bugs” raise a chatter, and to listen to the trains rumbling “down the holler”. Seeing the mist up on the mountains in the morning and watching it burn off as the day develops. To lay your head down on the pillow at night and hear the sing of the tires of a car as it winds its way around the mountain.

I have had the opportunity to live in other places in my childhood as well as my adult years, but nothing has ever touched my inner heart like those mountains in Logan County. Even though I have never been able to call an address mine in Logan, I’ve spent enough time there to know that this was, and always will be, “home” to me.

Our families first came into this area about 1805 or so. Among my Logan ancestors are the Marcums, Thompsons, and White. And there are other families that seem to appear each time I find a new “grandma”. At any rate these families appeared among the original settlers of Logan, Wyoming and Cabell Counties. True pioneers.

I have been able to track most of my families, generation by generation, from their eastern Virginia origins in the 1600s/1700s, through Virginia, over the high ridges of the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains and deep into country that molded these families into independent individuals, all the while teaching them to lean on each other for survival. These people were the best of people. Kind, caring, and giving. And yet, crossing their independent nature could make them your worst enemy.

Nearly all of our recent family has died out or had to moved away to many other areas of the country, in order to advance in their chosen careers. Many have found careers in the medical field via Nursing, EMT, and as in my own instance, Respiratory Therapy. Some have had careers in the Space Program and some in Engineering and Law. Some as published Authors or Teachers, as well as other interesting professions. There is even a Massie that raises emus!

This to me, shows that our West Virginia stock was a good one and the drives and determinations that helped our ancestors face new challenges in the “wilds” of the new frontiers, are still very much a part the genetic make-up of those of us that came later.

The saddest part of all this, is that, now we are no longer able to experience the tight bonds between family members that was so much a part of these original settlers lives.

We are all scattered now, and our children and grandchildren will never have the opportunity to know what we, the WWII and post WWII children were blessed to see, before “progress” ripped us from our roots.

We had the closeness of family, that had not so much money, but an abundance of kids, high morals and values, a respect for our elders, education, and civic responsibility. We of this generation were much blessed!

But sadly, it was our generation that left the mountains for a “better life”. There was no choice. There was no work in the mountains for this generation.

Progress? Yes and No. But, things HAVE changed, so all we can do now is to try to chronicle those experiences that we, as well as our ancestors, experienced.

With each new generation there will be those that want to “know” their ancestors. What they were like. What “drove” their movements and actions.

It is our responsibility and privilege to pass it on to them.


12 thoughts on “My Logan County Roots”

  1. I just found your page! As is my habit and burning desire is to reconnect with anyone from my young church experience. I attended National Pilgrim Church located on Riggs Road in Chillum, MD. My pastors name was J.W. Kraus and his father, also a pastor, J.E. Kraus. I attended Southern Pilgrim College in Kernersville, North Carolina, 1965-66. Do any of your folks or affliates in your association or church have or know of any church history of the Pilgrim Holiness Denomination? Grateful any help, bless the Lord!!!

    1. Chris, if you put the Pilgrim Holiness
      Church into search on this website
      you will find some info about the
      church that was in Cherry Tree,WV
      many years ago.

  2. Joanna…My name is Tommy Bias Jr. My mother’s side of the family is “Thompson’s”…As a boy we lived in Thompson’s Town near what was then Jessie Spry’s grocery…now the College has taken all of that property. My mother’s Father was Ben Thompson. He passed away at a very early age of like 42. I have a rather good list of my Thompson side of my family. I would like to know if we share some of the same lines. Could you touch base with me and let’s compare our ancestry.

    Tommy

    1. Tommy, I am so glad to hear from you. I’ve had many life events in the last few years that took me away from my genealogy. My apology for taking so long to return your post.

      I would love to compare our ancestry!

      I live in central Florida but most springs I travel to Western NY for my fiancé’s family visits. Where are you located now?

      We can talk via email or if you are local to Logan Co we could meet for lunch on our way up to NY

      Looking very much forward to hearing from you.

  3. Clint "Butch" Ward

    Joanna: Found your post by accident and really enjoyed reading it.

    I was born in Delbarton on October 3, 1945, and raised in Logan County on Crooked Creek attending local schools. I agree with you and others from our generation regarding close knit families sticking together through it all. I would not change anything about my childhood upbringing and my West Virginia roots. I too get homesick for “home”. Yes, today’s families are separated, unable to experience the loving bonds of yesteryear.

    I attended the old one room school house at Crooked Creek and would love to have a photo of the building if someone has a copy they are willing to share.

    I too have been working on my genealogy for over 35 years and have revealed some great and not so great family history some of which I may share later.

    God bless,

    Clint.

  4. Are you related to Greenville Thompson and Flora White? Have you seen Bible records from this couple. I have not seen the records but heard they exists

    1. I would to see Greenville and wife picture. I found a decendent of theirs but have not got to WV to see . Maybe soon. I understand her brothers have the family bible. I would love to see that.

  5. I’ve found some a picture I hope you can identify. I think it from the Thompson family. I emailed it to you. Thanks, Nancy

  6. Homesick Hillbilly

    Thanks for your wonderful, heartwarming post. Your vivid descriptions of sights and sounds made me feel like I was right there with you, enjoying them right along with you.

    I, too, mourn the loss of the family closeness and unity that I experienced as a child. As you said, nothing can take the place of a tight knit family facing good and bad times together.

    I look forward to reading and enjoying more of your lyrical, touching posts in the future. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with everyone.

    1. Homesick….me too. I LOVE those wonderful hills. I want so much to be able to get a little place to come to each summer. Being older now…winters there are a bit too much for me. Summers though, Wonderful!
      Thank you so much for your kind comments. You are far too gracious. 😀
      In a few weeks I hope to ask Frank to add a bit more for me. Again, thank you for taking the time to view my “stuff”… 😀

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