This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the February 3, 2005 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.
 

            We’ve just made it through a winter snowstorm that has shut down our schools though it warmed up enough to permit a little squirrel hunt Tuesday evening for me! Another snowstorm is in the forecast by the weekend.

            We’ve got the World War I veteran’s info typed up now and the search is on for pictures. If you have pictures of your WWI veteran, please get it in to us. Of course, that same request goes out for all veterans, whether they served in war time or peace time, from World War I to the present.

            We’ve typed up all but one book of the veteran’s discharges that are in the county court clerk’s office and have well over a hundred pictures but this is just a drop in the bucket, so to speak, as there are 2,600 more out there according to the number of names on the veteran’s memorial in Ramey Park. There are about a thousand discharges not filed with the county clerk’s office. We certainly appreciate all those who are bringing and sending in veteran’s pictures and discharge papers.

            Many thanks to Jim and Emma Day Turley of South Point, OH and to Bruce and Jo Stephens of Hazard, KY for their monetary donations – it helps pay the heating bills during winter months.

            I’m trying to clear up my table and here are queries I’ll have to pass on to you readers.

            Wilma Wells ([email protected]) would like to know if anyone knows Abigail Ray’s parents. Abigail married William Barnett.

            Linda D. Bradley, 2110 W. Adair Dr., #6, Knoxville, TN 37918 is researching the Gullett family from Kentucky and West Virginia. Tom Gullett was born in KY and could be the son of William Gullett who had children Clark, Solon, Tom, Bruce, Bill, and Noah Gullett. Tom lived in Greenup and Carter Counties.  Minnie Lovella Gullett b. 1877 was his daughter. She m. James Benjamin McCoy b. 1858 Greenup Co. KY, son of Ezekiel McCoy and Margaret Walk.

            Billy Jackson, 287 Airport Rd. Lot 7, Hager Hill, KY 41222 is looking for info on Burns (Bernes) McFaddin who was born in 1887 and died 25 Jan 1912. He was found dead on State Road Fork of Magoffin.  According to a McFaddin book we have, one Barnes McFaddin grew up on Jenny’s Creek, a son of John H. and Florence McFaddin. Another reference tells that Barnes McFadden and his brother took the job of harvesting Sherman Gullett’s corn fodder leaves.

            David Hull ([email protected]) writes that he lives in Billings, Montana and is the 4^th great grandson of Wallace Bailey. He would like to know if the Burning Springs church is still in operation as he understands a picture of his ancestor hangs there.

            The Burning Springs Church was first built on the south side of Licking River in 1813 in what is now called the Dixie Addition.  It is now located at the mouth of Coal Branch and Hall Street in downtown Salyersville. It is built on land donated by the Elder Benjamin Caudill family as he was once moderator of that church. As far as I know, the picture of Elder Wallace Bailey still hangs in the church.

            Bethany Seasy writes that we have a nice website (Thanks to Stacey Blanton!) but there is no mention of when the historical society is open and asks that we list that info somewhere.  Our genealogy library is adjacent to the Pioneer Village and we are open daily from 9 to 5 and by appointment on weekends. We show our cabins year round unless it is too cold for man or beast!  Come visit us sometime.

            Cliff Jackson ([email protected]) sent us an e-mail concerning his wife, the dau of Lila Marie (Bailey) Blanton, wife of Daniel Boone Blanton. Marie thought her surname was Hall until her early teens. Marie thinks her mom, Katie Rife, took her family to Ohio around 1927 when she married Andrew Jack Hall. Cliff would like to know where Marie was born as it would help them get her birth certificate. She thinks her birthday is 3 Nov 1925 and her last name may come up as Beatty.

            I have spent many hours on researching Katie Rife and her three families. In the marriage records William Press Slusher m. in 1918 to Katie Rife and they appear to have had one son, Elbert Slusher. Katie then m. in 1919 to John “Feather John” Bailey b. 1894 and the Wireman book tells that they had in their household Elbert (Slusher?), Cassie (Bailey?) b. 1922, Kelvie (Bailey?) b. 1920, Andrew “Andy” (Bailey?) b. 1924 and Marie (Bailey?) b. 1925 although they are all listed as Halls.  I did not find her marriage to Andrew Jackson Hall but Lennie, John Henry, Pauline “Dory”, Norman, Ruth, and a deceased baby brings her to a total of 15 children.  

            I’ve searched our Kentucky births and deaths records for Lila Marie Bailey, Hall, and/or Beatty to no avail. They don’t show in the 1920 or 1930 Magoffin census records so it is hard to prove Marie’s birth record. 

            Carrie Hawk ([email protected]) has been searching for kinsmen for more than 5 years to no avail. She believes her gr/grandmother was Mary Wadkins who, at age 4, is listed as the dau of Nancy Wadkins age 38, widow, in the 1880 Magoffin census.

            Mary Wadkins was born in 1876 in Magoffin and died in 1963. She is buried in the Patty Flatt Cemetery in Johnson County. She m. 23 Dec 1896 to Henry Estepp in Tildy Wheeler’s home in Magoffin County. I don’t find Henry in 1900 but the 1910 Johnson census lists Henry Estepp age 35 with wife Mary age 35. They have been married 17 years and have 3 living children of 6 born. They were Cora L. age 8, Vannie age 5 and Sina age 1 11/12.

            Frances Fletcher ([email protected]) writes to ask if we have anything on Martha Ellen Hoskins who was born 20 Dec 1859. Martha Ellen Hoskins was the 8^th child of Robert Hoskins b. 1822 and Sarah Allen b. 1820. Martha Ellen m. 1^st a Brown and had one son Frederick Brown. She then married Martin Collinsworth and had children Hamilton Collinsworth b. 1885, Boone Collinsworth b. 1887, Ida Collinsworth b. 1887, Mary Collinsworth b. 1889, Seldon Collinsworth b. 1891 and Gracie Collinsworth b. 1895.  I didn’t find this family in the 1900 or later census records. Can someone relate more info on this Collinsworth family? Please let Frances or I know.

            Shay Hensley ([email protected]) is thinking of buying property in this area and wonders if we could send some info about Salyersville and Magoffin County. His wife is a teacher and would like to have a teaching position.

            Bob Patrick ([email protected]) writes that in 1899 his gr/father Wallace White Bailey married Margaret May. It was his second marriage. He would like to know Margaret’s parents.

            Wallace White Bailey m. 1^st to Elizabeth Stapleton b. 1848. She divorced Wallace and he m. 2^nd in 1899 to Nancy Margaret May b. 1864, dau of Preston May and Jane Adams.

            Nancy Margaret May shows to be the mother of Clarence May b. 1898 and Chester May. Her children by Wallace White Bailey were Hazel Bailey (m. Jasper Combs), Minnie (m. Archie Patrick), Lillie (m. John Cheek), and Nettie who was crippled and did not marry.

            Margaret May was b. 12 Jul 1864 and d. 18 Oct 1902. She is buried in the Preston May Cemetery about 2 miles west of Salyersville on Rt. 460 at Pleasant Hill, Mouth of May Branch.