This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the May 19, 2005 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.
 

            We would like to make another plea to all veterans who were born in Magoffin County, even those who enlisted in another state, who served in the armed forces during war time or peace time and especially to those relatives of troops who lost their lives and didn’t make it back home.  We have information on about 2,400 service people already typed but we don’t have that many pictures of the soldiers.  We would like to have one of them in uniform and one in Civvies and perhaps a family picture.  We feel there are probably a thousand more out there that we have not got in our printed material.

            In talking to a veteran recently, he claimed he and his brother were not listed on the VAMCCO veteran’s marker in the park.  The reason is no one had submitted their names when the marker was first set.  If you are in this category, you may contact Thelma and Arthur Push or Flora Sue Rudd who graciously continue to work with this project and add names every year or so.

            We would like to thank the following people for their monetary donations: Carole C. Wells of Beaver, OH, Velma Frederick of Bucyrus, OH, also to Betty Penix Miller and Mary Fletcher of MI for donations to the Thomas Howard memorial marker.

            Bob and Betty Whittaker of SC are in town and have donated more paint and florescent light bulbs which Bob is putting up at present.  Many more thanks to this team, they have aided us greatly in keeping our facility open.

            Bob also opened up an account at the Salyersville National Bank to take donations for a memorial marker for Mark Whitaker, husband of Patsy for whom a marker was set last Founder’s Day.  This marker will be similar to Patsy’s and will be placed in a Methodist Church yard in Castlewood, VA near a church where he once pastored.

            Local people can donate to this memorial at the Salyersville National Bank or send to our historical society and we will take care of it as I am a co-signer of that fund.

            Mark Hammons of Minford, OH visited Thursday and we touched bases on the Hammond genealogy.  We visited the Joseph Hammond Cemetery then went on to Johnson Fork and stopped at the Patrick and Harvey Cemetery where he has relatives. It was in immaculate condition.  We then went to the head of Johnson to the Keeton Cemetery. We passed the entrance road and went on up as far as we dared, passing an entrance sign of the Watts Cemetery.  We came back down and found the road leading up to the Keeton Cemetery. This road uphill needs working on as my old Ranger four-wheel drive kinda acted like it was gonna clunk out a time or two.  To my surprise, this cemetery had been mowed and was in extra good shape.  There had been many newer stones set at old gravesites since 1978. Second growth timber was growing where once there was a pasture field.  The late Bert Cooper and I visited Johnnie Keeton in the late fifties and went coon hunting on this farm when as best I remember, it was a cornfield. 

            I give the caretakers of the Keeton Cemetery an A-plus, but the road to it gets a C-minus (smile).

            Ted Walters of Lexington along with Janice Shanks and her son David Shanks of 2209 Crest St., Ashland, KY 41141 visited Friday. They were interested in finding the grave of John Wesley Patrick who m. in 1844 to Jane Rice, dau of Sherman Rice.  After consulting with Bernice Moore, we went up to the Roark Cemetery on Burning Fork. We found Wesley Patrick, her grandfather through his son Claude.  The tombstone was located near the entrance.  She thinks his wife and two children are buried beside Wesley.  We then went on to the Gilbert Adams/Doc Miller Cemetery and also went to the Sherman Rice gravesite.  This cemetery is in dire need of a clean up.

            Wesley was the son of Thomas Calvin Patrick and Rebecca Patrick. Rebecca was a dau of Richard Patrick and Patsy Kennard.  Tom Calvin was a son of Reuben Patrick and Charlotte Wilson.  John and Reuben were sons of William Patrick and Mollie Reins.  When we returned we went to Middle Fork to their gravesites.

            John Porter, 1 Meadow Lark Lane, Harrison, AZ 72601 is in our area searching out the Porters, Baileys, Coles, etc.  Charlie Trusty and his wife are hosting his visit. I went with them to find Hiram “Bud” Flint and Mary Porter gravesites.  We didn’t find them although we found Sarah Porter May and her son Clarence Porter, also Bessie Flint, dau of Hiram Flint…and Martha Flint Martin, dau of Hiram Flint and wife of Samuel Martin.  John Porter is staying in the area about a week or so. We will keep hunting.

            Sharon Bocak, 1391 Tettay Rd., Port Clinton, OH 43452 and her four sisters dropped in Thursday evening. They had been to the funeral of Rhoda (Howard) Saylor, accompanied by Sarge Rowe.  We had a long visit discussing the John Trent, Jerry Pennington, Johnson and Saylor families that resided on upper Burton Fork and Goose Creek. By the time they departed, their plans were to come back again to visit Burton Fork and our Pioneer Village.

            A good size crowd came to the birthday party we had for Ms. Mollie Conley’s 95^th birthday. Her sister Imogene Conley’s “39 and holding” birthday is coming up this week.  We sort of had a “This is your life” chat and she received about half of the proposed 95 cards we had hoped she would receive.  Thanks to Kay Bentley’s large cake and the food prepared by Dorothy Wireman and Lois Hatter, we all had a joyful gathering and left with full stomachs and good memories.  Mollie had taught most of us in grade school as well as probably diapered me! (smile)

            We wish Mollie and Imogene many more happy birthdays.

            After the birthday gathering, Richard O. Brown and his family of Louisville, KY stopped in. He had been visiting some Prater cemeteries at Brainard in Floyd County along Rt. 114.  It turned out he and Connie (Arnett) Wireman were about 2^nd or 3^rd cousins so he brought his wife and children in. They were treated to birthday cake and soft drinks.  He is a professional photographer and took some pictures of the Pioneer Village before taking his leave.

            Another visitor among all this was David Attrile, 2323 Wynwood Rd., Jonesborough, TN 37659 researching the Crace, Crase, Cress family. He may just publish a book so all you Crace families should send him your genealogy info.

            A couple of weeks ago we had a very nice group of home schooled youngsters and their families from Morehead, KY here for a tour.  We were very pleased to have James and Ruth Anna Montgomery as well as Mrs. John Culbertson and five of their children come down to help us with the tour.  All dressed in pioneer clothing and were a tremendous help to us.  We appreciate their help.

            Now, how many of you have a more exciting life than we who hang around this research center?  We even get to take care of the flowers, herbs, mow grass, clean gutters, paint, repair, do tours, print books, search records, newspapers and answer telephones in our spare time. (Smile)

            Pat Knight ([email protected]) wrote to see if we had any info on the Rutherford Hayes Crace and Lulabell Marshall family who were married in Lee City, Wolfe Co. KY.  She thinks R. H. Crace’s father may have been Noah Crace. Noah was b. 1849/50 and m. 1 Feb 1866 to Letha Ann Howard b. 1849. Letha was a dau of William Howard and Catherine Helton. Noah had a son Richard H. (or W.) Crace who m. 27 Nov 1896 to Druscilla Slusher. The marriage was witnessed by Washington Howard and Dock Slusher. The minister was A. B. Slusher.  I don’t find any other mention of Richard and Druscilla in Magoffin, Morgan or Wolfe counties so please send more information.

            Mollie Cirino, 14402 Hale Ave., Cleveland, OH wrote to tell of the death of her 2^nd cousin Adis Patrick.  Adis Patrick was born at Swampton, KY in 1921 and d. 18 Feb 2005 in Crown Point, IN. He was buried in Highland Cemetery, North Judson, IN and is survived by his wife Jean. Adis was the son of Wiley Patrick and Nan Risner. Nan was a dau of Dial Risner and Louisa Patrick. Wiley was a son of Elbert “Buddy” Patrick b. 1862 and Mary Salyer Joseph b. 1866, dau of George Joseph and Malissa Cole.

            Elbert “Buddy” was a son of John “Fightin’ Jack” Patrick, a grandson of Robin Patrick and gr/grandson of Hugh Patrick.