Sep. 4, 2008

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  Magoffin County Historical Society 
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This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the September 4, 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.

            We are into our second day of the 30th Annual Magoffin County Founders Days celebration as I write this. Somehow all the final preparations were made and we are grateful to the many people who came out and gave of their time to help.  Even the street signs are up, thanks to Rick Howard.  These were sent to us through the courtesy of the Coca-Cola Company with the aid of Lisa down at Speedway. 

            A slow misty rain began at noon yesterday and lasted until well after midnight.  The rain was much needed as we were in the midst of a drought but it dampened our celebration quite a bit. 

            Our opening ceremony was held as planned with everyone either on porches or under an umbrella.  The Muzzleloaders took shelter under the Arnett cabin porch.  I held an umbrella over Bob Whittaker while he tolled thirty chimes on the old court house bell to begin our celebration.  Ralph Mullins, Haskel Sizemore and their Boy Scouts were a great help to us as they raised the US flag and led us in the Pledge.  The Methodist Church choir used the other porches for their inspiring music renditions.  When the time came to unveil the Fletcher marker, I held an umbrella while Bob Whittaker braved the rain and did the honors, unveiling and reading the inscription to all in attendance.  We thank Paul Burchell for supplying a temporary marker until the one we ordered arrives.

We missed Burl Cole being in attendance and send him our best wishes for a quick recovery.

While the crowds were a few hundred short due to the rain, the Baby Pageant went on as scheduled.  The judges were moved up onto the stage and the program went forward without any glitches.  The children and their families are to be commended for taking all in stride and going right ahead and putting on a great show!

The ground was so dry it soaked up the rain as fast as it fell so, so far, we have seen no damage to the grounds.  The temperatures have cooled down a bit.

Last week was quite busy around here and we were happy to have the help of Bob and Betty Whittaker of South Carolina who came in a week early to help.  Betty helped Dorothy with book binding as Volume II of the Veteran’s book is now in print.  Bob was our “gin” hand when not out setting memorial markers.

Bob, Randal Risner and Jack Sizemore have set more monuments on the James O. Whitaker Cemetery on Puncheon.  Randal and Jack took the Hiram Patrick monument to the site where the Mary “Pop” Haywood Patrick marker is located on the Archie Bailey farm on Puncheon Creek.

Bob and Herly Manns cleaned up the James O. Whitaker Cemetery.

Wendell Hoskins, Bob and I set the monument Bob brought for “The Teacher”.  This was for a man who came into our county and taught school many years ago.  He boarded with the Hoskins family and worked on their farm while serving as the community teacher. The teacher died and was buried in a lone grave in the corner of the fence which separates the Hoskins and R. C. May land.

Beulah Hoskins Long related the sad story of how the Hoskins family couldn’t find a “next of kin” and they had to bury the Teacher as there were no funeral homes.  By Beulah’s time his name has been lost to memory but the story was retained in the family with him always being referred to as “The Teacher”.

Well, Beulah, now “The Teacher” has a monument and it could yet have a dedication.  How delightful it would have been for you to have been master of ceremonies!

Folks, this marking of an unknown grave came to pass because of a compassionate lady who wanted to keep the history of her community alive. She did this by telling a somewhat younger fellow the sad story.  He, in turn, related it to a “Good Samaritan” who obtained a monument, brought it from South Carolina and, when asked the cost, his wife was quick to say, “Let that be a secret!”

This “Good Samaritan” had asked me months ago if there were any monuments I would like to see installed and I responded with “The Teacher”.  That’s all it took and I understand this made the sixty-fifth marker these folks have been involved in setting.

We have spent a little time on the following query this week.  Lee Daniel ([email protected]) wrote looking for the parents of Willis Canada b. ca. 1847, father of James Floyd Canada whose wife was named Mary.

Willis A. Canada (sometimes referred to as “Kennedy”) was born in 1842 in Ohio, according to his Civil War enrollment papers made on Nov. 5, 1861.  He was a private in Co. G, 24th KY Vol. Inf. USA, was wounded and transferred to Co. K, KY Veteran Cavalry and mustered out with this regiment.  Incidentally, every time we have occasion to refer to our Civil War books we think of the many, many hours of research time Steve Rudd put into obtaining the information. Our sincere thanks again, Steve!

The 1860 Magoffin census reveals that Willis Kennedy, age 24, and wife Mary Amyx also age 24 were living in the household of Micah Amyx, nee Lemaster, widow of James Amyx. James was born in 1823, the son of Peter Amyx b. 1784 Guilford Co. NC and Sophia Boyd b. 1792.  Peter was a son of Matthew Amyx, Jr., a Revolutionary War soldier.

Willis Canada and Mary E. are buried in an abandoned cemetery about a half mile off Rt. 460 on Grape Creek road in what is known as the Hall Cemetery.  In 1979 this cemetery was listed as having 25 or more unmarked graves.  Willis Canada is listed as being among them. He died in 1881 and Mary married 2nd to Alamander Howard in 1883.  She died 16 Apr 1901 and may have a monument.  This query needs some more work and we hope there is someone out there who can help further.

We are excited about our 30th year of sponsoring Founders Days here in our county.  We hope to see many of you during the celebration.

Write us at Box 222, Salyersville, KY 41465 (email: [email protected])

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