This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the May 15, 2008 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.

The Salyersville Independent  is a weekly newspaper published and edited by Michael David Prater, P. O. Box 29, Salyersville, KY 41465. Telephone (606) 349-2915.  Yearly subscription rates are $24.00 in Kentucky and $30.00 per year out of state.

          I’ve caught up on my spring chores of mowing some of my family cemeteries as well as around the Pioneer Village.  We first worked to clean the area below the Reuben Arnett Memorial marker at the Jackson L. Arnett Cemetery. This cemetery is at the mouth of Bear Branch where a dedication for the marker has been set for Friday, May 23^rd at 1 p.m.
          Next we repaired the roof on the sound stand in front of our outdoor stage and then went on to mow several cemeteries. First was the Conley-Kazee Cemetery on State Road and then the Helton Cemetery on Mash Fork. From there we went to the Preston and the Hager cemeteries in Paintsville then to the Patrick-Prater plot in the Bluegrass Cemetery here in Salyersville.  Now if I can get to a couple more cemeteries in Paintsville and the Moses Preston Cemetery on George’s Creek in Lawrence County, I will feel more relieved as I feel a responsibility for these burial sites.  Have you cleaned your family cemetery or that grave that reads “Gone but not forgotten”?
          Our good friend Philip Howard dropped in recently and brought a banjo to us.  It is a handmade banjo made by George Farler who was born in 1893, a son of Allen Farler b. 1847 and served in the Civil War.  Allen was a son of Clay Farler b. 1820 and his wife Polly b. 1825.
          Allen Farler m. 1^st to Serapta Morrison and m. 2^nd in 1894 to Nancy J. Gibson b. 1870, dau of Squire Gibson.
          George Farler m. 1^st in 1914 to Lillie Adams and m. 2^nd in 1936 to Marie Blair, dau of Inez Marshall Blair.  George and Marie Farler are buried in the Jack Rice Cemetery on Burning Fork.
          You may come in and see the banjo which is now on display in our archives room.  We thank Phillip for his continued good will toward our historical society.
          Vivian Montgomery (wisper8676 @embarqmail.com) writes that her grandfather William Rader Roark married Rosie Lee Dyer, dau of Wick Dyer.  Her mother Pauline would like to know more about the family.
          Pauline Roark married Ellis Montgomery, a son of John Riley Montgomery b. 1879 on the Paddle Branch of Middle Fork. He was a son of John Montgomery and a grandson of Silas Montgomery. Silas was a son of John Montgomery and Sarah Flannery.  Silas married Aggie Sizemore, dau of George “Goldenhawk” Sizemore and Sallie Anderson.
          John Montgomery married Hanna or Anna Cantrill.  John Riley Montgomery m. 1^st to Lucy Ann Jenkins b. 1878, dau of James Jenkins and Louise Wages. John Riley m. 2^nd to Martha Caldwell b. 1906 in Wise Vo. VA, a dau of Samuel “Jay” Caldwell, Jr. b. 1871 Clay Co. KY. “Jay” was a son of Samuel Caldwell, Sr. b. 1831 and a grandson of Joseph Caldwell b. 1813 and Stacy Whitehead.
          Pauline Roark was a dau of William Rader Roark b. 1908 and a gr/dau of Milton Roark b. 1875. Milton was a son of Jesse Roark. Jesse was a son of John R. Roark b. 1792 and Mary “Polly” Back b. 1798. Polly was a dau of John Back b. 1774 and a gr/dau of Henry and Elizabeth Back.
          Jesse Roark b. 1834 married Nancy Patrick b. 1859, dau of Lewis Patrick and Lucy Adams. Lewis was a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War. He was wounded at Salyersville; he died and was buried at Lexington, KY.
          Milton Roark married in 1903 to Mary Belle Barnett, dau of William Barnett and Julia Arnett.  Rader Roark married Rosie L. Dyer, dau of Wick Dyer and Cindy Dykes.
          Pauline married 1^st to Ellis Montgomery; m. 2^nd to Silas Whitaker and m. 3^rd to Merlin Baum.
          Wanda Burton Hunt, 138 Lana Lane, Winchester, KY 40391 and her husband visited recently. She would like to join the DAR and has several different ancestors who served in the Revolutionary War, one being John McGuire.  I took them to the Hammonds Cemetery at Bloomington where they took pictures.
          She also descends from Daniel Williams, Moses Wages, Archibald Prater, Jeremiah Patrick and Capt. Henry Connelley.  If anyone can help Wanda as she works on her “paper trail” to enter the DAR, I know she would appreciate it.
          Wanda Landrum writes she wants to visit Magoffin County this summer as she has an aunt and many cousins here. She would like info on hotel accommodations.
Her parents were Dennis and Jewell (Marshall) Cole. Dennis was the son of Noah Cole b. 1881.  Noah m. 1^st to Martha Rowe, dau of Bryce Rowe and Nancy Bailey.  He m. 2^nd to Sally Patrick, dau of Lewis Patrick and Nancy Baldridge.
          Rebecca Crum (radech @ecr.net) wrote to us. She is the dau of Alonzo Rowe b. 1927 and gr/dau of Willie Rowe and Liddie Davis. Willie’s children were Woodrow Rowe, Martha Rowe, Sarah Rowe and Mary Rowe.  He then remarried a lady named Marie Howard.  Dixie Howard Adams and Andrew Rowe are Rebecca’s father’s half-siblings. Rebecca’s grandfather Willie and one of his brothers, Charlie Rowe were Southern Freewill Baptist preachers. Willie died about 1977 in Royalton, KY.
          Our Arnett book lists Marie Howard and her husband Willie “Preacher Will” Rowe, dau of George Rowe. Their children were Dixie (Marie’s daughter), Betty Jane Rowe m. Carl Arnett, Andrew Rowe m. Edna Rowe, Ella Sue Rowe m. Troy Arnett, Nellie Lou Rowe m. Ellis Ray Manns, Yvonne Rowe m. Pat Arnett.  If anyone out there can offer more information, please get in contact with Rebecca or myself.
          Sherry Metts Risner, 6031 Clearwater Circle, Louisville, KY 40219 writes she and her husband were in Salyersville recently looking for the burial site of his great-grandfather Wilson Risner on old Burning Fork Road.  They searched but could not find it.  This cemetery is located on that section of “old” Rockhouse Road Rt. 1415 on the portion which leaves Rt. 114 on the left for a short distance above where Rt. 1888 or old Burning Fork leaves Rt. 114 on the right. This Risner grave is located at the mouth of Limestone Branch, the first hollow on the left going east up Rt. 1415 and is right beside the intersection, one of the few cemeteries located close to the highway, less than a mile off Rt. 114.  When you come back to visit, I could probably direct or escort you to this cemetery which is about a five minute drive away.
          We have been notified that the Phillip Hamman Family Reunion will be held on July 25 through 27^th this year with accommodations at the Four Points Hotel by Sheraton, 1938 Stanton Way, Lexington, KY.  Special rates for reservations made before 30 June for Phillip Hammond group.  Bring your family histories, pictures, family group sheets! Friday a drive is planned to Mt. Sterling, then to the 40-year home site of Phillip & Christina Cook Hamman .  Group meetings, business and presentations on Saturday. The guest Speaker is Charles E. Darnell, descendant of Henry Cook, brother of Christina Cook Hamman. For more information, contact Doris Brown Rose, Email: [email protected] or telephone 510.799.6421.
          The 18^th of May is the regular meeting date for the Magoffin County Historical Society. You are invited to come and be with us as we work on projects for the upcoming year.  If you can’t attend then you may write us at Box 222, Salyersville, KY 41465 (email: [email protected]). Our telephone number is 606-349-1607 and we are located at 191 South Church Street.