Where is Mamie Thurman’s Body?

Logan Banner, August 18, 1985. Special thanks to Mark Edward Jones for providing a clipping of this article. By Dwight Williamson (Part Three of a Series) George Morrison, half-brother of Mamie Thurman, was simply trying to learn his family background when he first discovered he had a half-sister who died in Logan County in 1932. […]

Where is Mamie Thurman’s Body? Read More »

The Mamie Thurman Case: More Gripping Than a Novel

Logan Banner, Sunday, August 18, 1985 Special thanks to Mark Edward Jones for providing a clipping of this article. By Dwight Williamson (Part Two Of A Series) The history surrounding the now legendary death of Mamie Thurman reads like a well-developed novel. For sheer drama, suspense and intrigue nothing anybody could have written would grip someone

The Mamie Thurman Case: More Gripping Than a Novel Read More »

Mamie Thurman’s Brother Asks, ‘Who Killed My Sister?’

Logan Banner, Thursday, August 15, 1985 Special thanks to Mark Edward Jones for providing a clipping of this article. By Dwight Williamson (First In A Series) From out of Logan County’s rowdy past comes the brother of a slain woman, not satisfied that justice was done. After a life-time, retired New Mexico lawyer George A.

Mamie Thurman’s Brother Asks, ‘Who Killed My Sister?’ Read More »

Logan County history filled with unsolved murders

By Dwight Williamson The history of Logan County is vast, and its longtime existence is marked by numerous tales of murder, beginning as far back as the 1700s when Aracoma and her tribe were attacked at what is now Midelburg Island in Logan. There’s no other way to put it — the Indians were murdered.

Logan County history filled with unsolved murders Read More »

Chirico Family History

By Bob Piros The Chirico name means “of the Lord” and comes from the Greek word for Sunday “KYRIAKE”. The surname is common in Reggo, Calabria in Southern Italy. The name goes back to the medieval period of the 13 th century. This present day Chirico name goes back to the 16 th century. Lots

Chirico Family History Read More »

Logan was a focal point of Tommy gun sales

By Dwight Williamson This being the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Blair Mountain, I thought the following story would be of interest to those readers who actually care about local history. While the background of this particular subject is important, it is in fact the amazing future that lies ahead for it that is

Logan was a focal point of Tommy gun sales Read More »

Neighbors

By Dwight Williamson There was a time in Logan County’s history when such occupations as being a cobbler and a bicycle and lawnmower repairman was not such an unusual thing. In fact, Logan County used to be dotted with small shoe repair shops. Joseph Edwin Kohoutek, known to his friends simply as “Ed” is one

Neighbors Read More »

Man, W.Va., holds 100 years of memories

By Dwight Williamson When I think of Man, West Virginia, I do not fancy my attention to the town of about 750 residents who live in just over a one-mile square area that consisted of 1,632 people in 1950. Instead, my thoughts of Man include all of the surrounding areas, from Buffalo Creek to Huff

Man, W.Va., holds 100 years of memories Read More »

A 1932 murder leaves many questions today

By Dwight Williamson Eighty-nine years is a long time in terms of trying to resolve a hideous murder that captivated local residents at that time in 1932, likely because of the circumstances surrounding the slaying of a young woman who — let’s just say — was “loved” by many. Perhaps, too many. There has been

A 1932 murder leaves many questions today Read More »

Mid-1930s were a wild time in Logan County

By Dwight Williamson It was 1936 in Logan County and there was much going on at the local level just as the entire nation was rebounding from what would later be termed “The Great Depression.” The Logan Banner headlines early that year were filled with gruesome murders and dastardly deeds of all kinds, as thousands

Mid-1930s were a wild time in Logan County Read More »