This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the August 14, 2008 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.

            It’s Todd’s Table clearing time!  After we got the Pioneer Village log homes cleaned up, my daughter Jessica suggested I do that with my work table so I will do a few requests that have gone unanswered.

            Ryan Slusher is searching for info on his grandfather Shay Slusher b. 1911 and married Imogene Williams.  Shay was a son of William Slusher. William was born in 1881, the son of Allen Slusher (b. 1858).  Allen was a son of William Slusher b. 1798 and a grandson of Phillip Slusher b. 1777 and his 2^nd wife Nancy Adams.  Nancy was a dau of Wiley Adams and Eliza.

            William Slusher (b. 1881) married Ann Eliza Phipps b. 1883, the dau of Green Phipps.

            Allen Slusher married Rebecca Emily Bays, dau of Rev. John Bays and Nancy Cooper. Nancy was born in 1832, dau of David M. Cooper (b. 1802) and Celia Prater (b. 1807).

            Don Craft (decraft @fuse.net) writes he is researching the John Craft family who moved to Magoffin from Breathitt County.  John Mason Craft was born about 1859, the son of William Craft (b. 1823) and Rhoda Amis/Amyx? (b. 1825).  John Mace Craft married in 1879 to Mary Patrick, dau of Claiborne White Patrick (b. 1826) and Anna Eliza Flint. Anna Eliza was born in 1840 to John Flint and Fada McFarland.

            Jack at ([email protected]) writes asking for info on the Compton family.

            It is difficult to research without a starting point, such as your grandfather’s names and dates.  I found nine Compton families in the 1850 Russell Co. VA census, the oldest being David Compton, age 66 in 1850, born 1784.

            The 1850 Pike Co. KY census lists a James Compton, age 64, born ca. 1786.  The 1850 Lawrence Co. KY census lists five Compton families, the eldest being Hiram Compton age 50, born ca. 1800.

            Joe Hall of Paintsville, KY inquired if Leatha Vaughn Sturgill was a sister to Henry Stephen Vaughn b. ca. 1824, a son of John Vaughn (b. 1802) and Isabell Griffin (b. 1805).  John and Isabell are buried on the high knob opposite Ramada Inn at Paintsville and are his gr/gr/grandparents.

            Henry S. Vaughn married Mary J. Turner b. 1829, dau of James W. Turner b. 1796.  Now, back to Leatha…Joseph Sturgill b. 1822 married in 1847 to Leatha Parson Vaughn b. 1831, parents born Scott Co. VA.

            Leatha named her first child, born in 1850, Isabelle.  This is a hint that she named her for her mother Isabelle Griffen.  The answer would likely be found in 1840 Scott Co. VA census.  An interesting side note is that Annie Waller, wife of James W. Turner, was a dau of Jake Waller of Holland.

            Cliff Ford ([email protected]) is trying to find info on a gun battle that took place one mile outside Salyersville about 1893 between the Deskins and Risners, according to the New York Times and the Idaho Daily Statesman.  We do not have any information.  Cliff is related to the Risner’s of Texas who came there from Kentucky.   

            Duane Mathis ([email protected]) writes that his gr/gr/grandfather was Henry Dixon who married Jane Stafford.  Henry Dixon was born in 1774 NC and married Joyce, dau of Farmer Joyce.  They were the parents of Henry Dixon b. 1832. Henry had a son Benjamin F. Dixon b. 1855 and he was the father of Tobe Dixon b. 1888.   

             Tobe Dixon married in 1909 to Una May at the home of Harmon May.  B. F. Dixon married in 1880 to Nancy E. Prater, dau of John Prater b. 1814 and Jemima Auxier.

            Henry Dixon married in 1849 to Jane Stafford b. 1832, dau of John Stafford b. 1804 and Calista Nott b. 1808, dau of Dr. Arbeth Nott.

            John Stafford was a son of James Stafford and Abigail Davis.

            Etta Ruth Davis-Pile wrote to ask about my using shaving cream on gravestones and if this was a way of cleaning them.  No, I use it because it makes the lettering easier to read on some of the older markers and as far as I know does not harm them.

            Bob and Betty Whittaker of South Carolina came to Magoffin County Sunday and are staying at the home of Leola Cole.  He brought us a speaker’s stand and the repaired tombstone of Benjamin Hammond.  They made this early trip as they thought they couldn’t do all they had planned during their Founder’s Day trip.

            You have to see the speaker platform to believe it!  Bob built it so it folds up into a storage case; its legs also fold up.  He also made a railing out of half-inch pipe to keep old people like me from falling off! 

            Of course, we have taken a couple of trips into the woods.  He tries to outdo Old’ Todd in the hill climbing department.  We wanted to find the best way to get a monument to Confederate soldier Elias Risner’s grave as John Britton of Columbus, OH has promised to obtain one.

            Bob and I went to the mouth of Owl’s Nest and I pointed out the location that the late David Risner had shown me. We then went back to Rt. 30 and to Charles Bailey’s “goat barn” and asked if a road beside his barn went to the top of the hill.  He assured us it did.  While we were talking, I asked him if he would bring a few of his flock to our newly built “petting pen” at the Pioneer Village and he said yes!

            I wanted to see what the road looked like so we walked to the top of the hill, took a right turn to a high point, then to another high point and over that point to the Elias Risner grave!  Well, of course, we had that long walk back but Charles had a bottle of cold water.

            The next morning we went to Tip Top and picked up Herley Manns.  Bob surmised Herley would want to get out of the yard mowing his wife Margie had on docket.  We went back to Royalton and met up with Jack Sizemore and Randall Risner then went back to Owl’s Nest.  We figured Jack could drive up the hill so he, Randall and Bob came in from that direction. Herley and I went up from the Owl’s Nest side, moving what brush we could and beat the other group to the cemetery.

            By this time, we had decided the Owl’s Nest approach was best so Bob and Herley went down the way we had come up.  Jack, Randall and I went back to Rt. 30 as I wanted to look for an old logging road.  We found it and I’ve seen four-wheelers go up worse trails but I don’t know who owns the land or if a four-wheeler would be permitted over the property.  I think they want to set the stones about October 11^th so if anyone can offer any solutions; we would like to hear them.

            The late David Risner always thought this was where “Old” Michael Risner was buried although we set a memorial marker for him and his wife Sarah Howard in the Gose Cemetery.

            There are only field stone markers in the old cemetery, no names appear to be Elias or his daughter “Short” Betty.  She died before 1870 and was said to be the last person buried in the Owl’s Nest Cemetery.  It appears there are several more graves at this site but it seems there is very little known information about this cemetery.

            Founder’s Days 2008 begin on August 26^th!  We have a program of events ready.  We do appreciate all the help we have this year.  We look forward to a great Founder’s Days celebration and hope you will come!