This article, written by Todd Preston, the president of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the January 19, 2006 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.  The Salyersville Independent is a weekly newspaper published and edited every Thursday. For inquires or comments, please write to , P. O. Box 29, Salyersville, KY 41465. Yearly subscription rates are $22.00 in Kentucky and $26.00 per year out of state.

I have rambled around the county quite a bit the last few days and enjoyed every minute of it.   First, I went back to the left fork of Johnson, picked up Mike Walters and we went to the Clay Arnett Cemetery.   From there we went up near the ridge then around to a downstream point in search of the George Washington Hammond grave, but no luck. We then went up to Burton Fork and walked to near the head to a tobacco barn.   I've always heard there was a cemetery in that locality but again we failed.   We went up a fork I've learned is the Sheep Pen or Horse Pen Fork where I think Grover Kimberlin says his Kimberlin family lived. Mike Walters went back the next day and found the cemetery.   He could copy only two stones: Andy Davis b. 1830 d. 1919 and Elizabeth Wages b. 1847 d. 1899.   I called Emory Wages and he said Hiram Wages and his two babies are also buried there.   We would like to hear from anyone who may know who is interred there. Mrs. Wages told me of another cemetery in the head of the left hand fork of Town Flat.   I spoke to Joe Keeton who said he would act as guide to that site. Bobby Davis came Tuesday to visit from Wheatfield , IN.   He, Stacey Blanton and I went to Williams Creek on the left fork of Abbott Creek where we found and copied an abandoned cemetery where Miles Sturgill b. 1896, Josephine Brown b. 1860 and about 20 more are buried but he didn't find his Brown ancestors. We met with Orville and Hazel Adams the next day and went to the Beverly Williams Cemetery on the left fork of Puncheon.   The next day we went to the Archie Bailey farm and went on up to the Mary “Pop” Haywood Patrick grave site.   She was married to Hiram Patrick.   We thought there may have been four more graves there.   Now, folks, this is another of our pioneer families with an unmarked grave and Mary's marker is quickly disintegrating.   If there is anyone out there interested in saving this cemetery from being lost forever the time to do something to preserve it with some sort of sign or marker, the time is now, so let us hear from anyone interested. On Saturday, I accompanied Bobby to the old Langley Cemetery in West Prestonsburg.   While in that area, we visited Joe Skeens and had a long talk with him. I am interested in finding the gravesites of Revolutionary War soldiers, Cudberth Stone and John Hager. I almost forgot, Orville Adams told me of an old cemetery behind his home on Middle Creek.   You guessed it, I'm eager to find it!   You see, I know my old legs are not going to last a lot more years so I want to take advantage of what's left in them. Later Bobby, Stacey and I visited the Wiley Salyer gravesite at the mouth of Bullmire. We are getting feedback from the documentary featuring Magoffin County's Pioneer Village on KET (Kentucky Educational Television).   We do hope you saw it on Jan 7 th and 8 th.   We send a big thank you to Dave Shuffett and the crew who came and filmed our archives library and the Pioneer Village. We are well pleased with the results. This statewide and some national exposure is invaluable advertisement of our Pioneer Village and genealogy library that we could hardly afford otherwise.   It also instills in us a desire to try even more earnestly to keep Magoffin County at least abreast of our neighboring counties who are vying for that increasing flow of tourists in the mountain section even though we have no lakes, caves, etc. to attract this influx of tourism to our county.   Libby Armentrout was one who responded to this KET showing. She wrote “I enjoyed watching the KET show of your historical project.   How wonderful that you are giving so generously to a new generation.”   John C. Bowling wrote: “Looking forward to coming to see you, we would like driving directions to the Pioneer Village.”   This is a sampling of our emails and we have already had visitors taking tours of the cabins that they previously did not know existed until they saw the KET documentary. Karen G. Campbell, 1493 Henderson Ridge, Olive Hill, KY 41164 is looking for info on Amelia Caldwell b. 1892, dau of George Washington and Lucy (Caldwell) Caldwell.   Amelia was married to Buel Whitaker, had three sons then divorced. She then married George Newman. She would also like to know the burial place of Lucy and Amelia. Lucy Caldwell is buried in the Prater May Cemetery about 3 miles west of Salyersville on Rt. 7/460.   Lucy first married Jim Collett then married 2 nd in 1892 to George Washington Caldwell. The 1900 Magoffin County census lists George W. Caldwell b. 1859, wife Lucy b. 1860, Martin b. 1894, Elizabeth b. 1896, Lora b. 1898 with Nancy Collett b. 1886 (step-daughter) and Arcie (Amelia) Collett b. 1892 (step-daughter). This indicates Amelia was actually a Collett and took the name of Caldwell. I am passing this query on to other readers in the hope they can help Karen further. Chester Keeton, 19 Eastfield Court, Battle Creek, MI 49014 is trying to find a connection between Mary (Trusty) Harvey and a Risner or between Malinda Harvey and a Risner.   Rollie Harvey married in 1908 to Mary Trusty at the home of Frank Risner. Malinda Harvey married in 1894 to Frank Risner. We want to send thanks to the following people who have sent donations toward the preservation work that we are doing: Helen Hutt of Waynesville, OH, Ron & Lorrene Waddle of Waynesfield, OH, Georgia Harper of West Liberty, KY, Sharon Monnot of Rocklin, CA and Norsie Marshall of Jackson, MI. We are always pleased to hear from our members.   We have been receiving membership renewals for the Journal of the Magoffin County Historical Society and often they will contain notes of greeting and encouragement.    Our search goes on for military persons either born in Magoffin or who entered service from this county.   We are in need of discharge papers, pictures in uniform and in civilian clothes (a family group photo may be included), names of parents, spouses, and children along with a life story.   Let's work together toward honoring all our men and women who have served in the armed forces in whatever capacity from World War One days to the present. You may contact us telephoning 606-349-1607, visiting at 191 South Church Street in Salyersville, by emailing [email protected] or writing Magoffin County Historical Society, Box 222, Salyersville, KY 41465.    Magoffin County Historical Society Box 222 Salyersville , KY 41465 606-349-1607