This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the January 15, 2009 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.

            I’ve taken a little “vacation” during the Christmas and New Year’s break. I’ve caught up on some squirrel hunting with my son Toddie who videoed some of these hunts and even went a couple of times with my daughter Jessica.  I teased her a bit, telling landowner Henry Clay Patrick that she shot the limbs off his trees, trying to harvest a squirrel.  Truth is I’ve brought down a few twigs myself! J

            We want to thank everyone for all the nice Christmas cards that have come our way.  The mail has really increased due to Journal membership renewals and we really appreciate the nice comments a lot of you have included with your renewals. 

            Now I have to get back in the harness!  I’d been taking all the Mann/Manns family info from our various early court records, marriage records and other books on our shelves. I think Brenda Jenkins beat me to it and already has all that info in her genealogy notebooks.  In any case, I’ve acquainted myself with this year’s honored family.

            At my age I ought to think of slowing down.  Even though my memory has slowed, I’ve increased my desire to preserve our old cemeteries, etc.  Many times after it becomes known I’ve visited a cemetery, I will hear from someone, “Now, there’s four graves outside the fenced in graves” or “there’s several more graves in that hollow”.  Sometimes people will say, like my sister Luva says, “Let them rest in peace.”

            We have a new Magoffin County Cemetery Board, appointed the last of December.  I am one of the appointed members of that board, thanks to the Fiscal Court. We don’t know the exact functions of this board yet but it is another step forward for our county officials.

            When you look at the unmarked graves in the cemetery where George “Goldenhawk” Sizemore is buried or the overgrown Samuel Salyer Cemetery or the Town Cemetery here in Salyersville, you can get a glimpse of neglected cemeteries first hand.

            What’s worse, think of the history of our ancestors who have faded away recently and then think of the loss of information for future generations? When you look at the 1850 census records of Floyd, Johnson and Morgan counties and find “Senior Citizens” in their 70’s, 80’, 90’s and up, you can get a picture of what I’m talking about; wouldn’t we like to know more about their lives and families?

            I know I’ve gone on and on with this subject but it is important to me. 

Randall and I hope to get markers for Polina Prater Patrick and her son Payne Patrick set in the Bluegrass Cemetery as soon as possible. Polina was the dau of Jilson Prater and Cynthia Adams; she was married to Green Patrick.  The late M. F. Rice bought these markers but it was not known after his passing where they should be set. After talking to several people, it took Katie Prater Dolan to show us the burial site. The current rains have put this project on hold.  We are also wanting to mark the grave sites of John Elliott Harman and his wife Lou Adams.  Jimmie Allen is probably the only person who knows of their burial site which is also in the Bluegrass Cemetery.

            The 1850 Floyd County KY census shows the family of Christopher Gullett age 70 (b. 1788), wife Patsy (Bailey) age 30 (b. 1820) with nine children and his mother-in-law, Martha “Patsy” Bailey.  Martha was the widow of Joseph Bailey who is listed as age 45 and up in the 1810 Floyd census.

            A monument was set at the Bailey or Cain Cemetery for Joseph Bailey and another for Christopher Gullett in the Tackett Cemetery on Rt. 40 in 2004.  I want to propose that a somewhat smaller monument be set at the Pete Gullett-Warren Blanton Cemetery on State Road Fork which I believe is the actual burial site of Martha “Patsy” Brashear Bailey and her daughter, Patsy Bailey Gullett.

            My mother always referred to this cemetery as the Pete Gullett Cemetery which was copied in 1977 at which time we listed twenty marked graves.  On interviewing Jim and Virgie (Conley) Gullett at that time, we learned there were twenty or more unmarked graves.

            The late Christine Kazee Auxier said her grandfather Rufas Kazee told that this was the burial site of Martha “Patsy” Bailey as well as Christopher Gullett and his wife “Patsy” Bailey Gullett.

            The recent publications of Floyd County court records (1821-1825) by James Alan Williams lists this transaction: “Mason Williams patented land on State Road Fork, sold to Joseph Bailey, Sr. of Floyd County, 10 acres of land for 10 dollars”.  This could very well be the land where the cemetery is located.

            I would like to see a monument obtained and set in honor of Martha “Patsy” Brashears Bailey and Martha “Patsy” Gullett before my generation fades into the sunset of life.

            Take note that Mason Williams sold land to Joseph Bailey.  Old maps show that Mason owned land beginning about the Will May Branch on up State Road or Rt. 40.

            Clayton Cook owned land on the right side from the Licking up to and including Mash Fork and up the Burning Fork side.

            The book, Annals of Floyd Co. KY by Charles C. Wells, has a listing: “30 May 1808, Mason Williams bought a tract of land for $80 located on the banks of Licking River, signed in the presence of John Williams, Samuel Howe, Thomas Nickell and Archibald Prater.”

            In the same book: “4 Jun 1811, Mason Williams bought 300 acres on Licking attested by Wm. Prater.”  Also: “4 Jun 1911, Clayton Cook bought 120 acres of land on Burning Fork of Licking”; then “20 Nov 1811, sold land on Burning Fork to Clayton Cook witnessed by Joseph Hannah, Ebenezer Hanna and Mason Williams.”

            I wonder where these early settlers were buried…could it be the Town Cemetery?

            Perhaps there are readers who have researched these families and can provide more information to us about them.  Write Box 222, Salyersville, KY 41465 (email: [email protected]) or telephone 606-349-1607.