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  Magoffin County Historical Society 
"Preserving Our Past for the Future"

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This article, written by Todd Preston, the president of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the April 26 2007 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’ve buddied with my son Toddie for the last couple of days. We’ve been doing a little turkey hunting, something I hadn’t done for a few years. I didn’t have all the required equipment so Toddie furnished shotgun, face mask and blinds. I took some rain gear that Santa had left me but hadn’t yet tried out.  We sat in the edge of the woods complete with a decoy set out about 35 yards then started calling in the birds.  In a short time three birds flew off the roost and landed about one hundred yards away from the decoy, just like in the movies.  I took aim at those turkeys but they did not rush toward the decoy. I held that gun until I got tired and eased it down. After a long wait those birds got interested and started toward the decoy so, with shotgun up, I followed them then when they got in just the right position I pulled the trigger and found I hadn’t taken off the safety so, yep, those birds flew to the safety of the woods!
                After Toddie quit gritting his teeth we moved to another location where son didn’t wait on Dad. He loaded a bird into the little Samurai and we then went up a couple more hollows but with no luck. It rained all day and night but next morning we set out again. We nearly wore the callers out but no turkeys were coming in to Toddie’s pleadings. Personally, I think they had an all-night party, celebrating Ol’ Todd’s forgetfulness in not getting the safety off yesterday. (Smile)
                Finally on Monday morning we were on the ridge before daybreak and I finally connected on a Jake. I learned a turkey isn’t to be grabbed up by the legs before it has completely succumbed. You guessed it, I tried to grab hold of his legs and he laid a spur into the back of my hand!
                Dorothy and Connie are finishing up the second volume of the Military News Articles. This volume covers from the end of 1944 through 1955.  I am anxious to see a finished copy.  This material was typed for us by Mrs. Bob (Betty) Whittaker of South Carolina and we are thankful to her for the fine work.
                Kay Bentley had brought in the second half of the Gullett book index so we will also have that volume in print soon. If you have additional info or corrections for the material that appeared in our Gullett books, please send it in now. 
                We had Jack and Wanda Reed, their son and grandson, Terry Amyx, as well as Dallas and Kaye Bentley at yesterday’s monthly meeting.  We had a right good session and were glad to have Jack and Dallas back with us as they have had sick spells but both seem to be improving. We need to be hearing from all the Carpenter descendants which is the chosen family to be honored with Founder’s Days 2007.  Our sparse attendance at the meeting was due in part to the funeral of a dear contributing member of our historical society, 96-year old Maxine Carpenter Arnett who has championed our causes all these twenty-nine years.  We sadly bid adieu to a dear friend of our society.
                Dennis Raymond Patton b. 1950 asked how he might join the Sons of the American Revolution (S. A. R.). As there isn’t a chapter in our vicinity, I’m making a plea for someone out there to pick up on this and contact
[email protected]
                He is a son of Raymond Dennis Patton and grandson of Letcher Elliot Patton. Letcher was a son of William Patton b. 1848 and grandson of William Patton b. 1815. William was a son of Samuel Patton b. 1888/89 and grandson of James Patton b. 1751 Augusta Co. VA. James was a son of Henry Patton, Sr.
                James Patton was sworn to the state in Capt. McCorkles Company of Montgomery Co. Virginia Militia 6 Sep 1797.  James Patton died prior to 19 May 1817 and was buried on Stephens Branch near Prestonsburg in Floyd Co. KY. He was married to Florence Graham b. 1857, a dau of James and Jane (Walchop) Graham.  Incidentally, Maxine Carpenter Arnett and Dennis Patton shared the Patton-Graham ancestry.
                Our DAV chapter will honor another veteran of WWII, Comrade Raymond Combs, who had taken an active part in the American Legion as well as the DAV.  Raymond became a school teacher and taught for several years before becoming director of the Magoffin County Health Department.  Our WWII veterans are fading into the sunset of life and their legacy is becoming history.
                We send a special thanks to Philip and Hilda Howard for their donation of the Honaker book that we now have on our shelves for research purposes. Our collection of such books makes it easier to find info on our eastern Kentucky families for our patrons. We are always on the lookout for new books or copies of older ones so keep us in mind when you locate any.
                We have several other gifts to mention and we are thankful to the following for making our projects come to fruition: Wilma Rimer of Salyersville, KY, Pam Krafezinski of Lorain, OH, Barry A. Gayheart of Louisville, KY, Christine Prater of Portsmouth, OH, Helen Hutt of Waynesville, OH, Norsie Marshall of Jackson, MI, Floyd and Dorothy Howard of Fairborn, OH, William and Evelyn Salyer of LaGrange, KY and Jim Jackson of Oregon. 
                We were pleased to have Jim Jackson of Estacada, OR come in to the historical society library Wednesday. He had been to the Penix Cemetery on Mashfork to visit the monument that we set for Aunt Sally Gardner Reed. It was through the benevolence of the late Mollie and Imogene Conley that we were able to purchase this marker and we were very proud to be able to have it set in honor of a much loved early citizen of Salyersville.  Jim was astounded by her memorial and told us he has now traced her back to Thomas Cockrell b. 1810 and his father Jeremiah Cockrell b. 1784 who are found in the 1870 Breathitt County census.  Green Gardner b. 1832 who married Elizabeth Cockrell b. 1845 also appear in this same census record.
                Although Jim has already been to the cemetery, we are going back there to take pictures. We were pleased to have Belsey Connelley and Jimmie Allen come in while Jim Jackson was here as they both have knowledge of his family and also wished to see the marker for Aunt Sally.
                Every morning when I come into our archives building I enjoy looking at our window display which was done this month by Jennifer Culbertson and her STARS Home School group.  We think you will enjoy it also so come by and take a look.
                We are located at 191 South Church Street here in Salyersville, our mailing address is Box 222, Salyersville, KY 41465. You may email
[email protected] to reach us with queries and/or information as well as telephone 606-349-1607.

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