This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the March 5, 2009 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.

            Phil M. Hanson, 13069-62^nd Ave., Kirkland, WA 98034-4902 wrote to inquire about his Pace family who moved to Washington from the Short Fork of Burning Fork in Magoffin County.

            Burnie/Burlie Clifton Pace was born in 1894, a son of William H. Pace b. 1869. William H. was a son of Matthew Pace b. 1835 in Harlan Co. KY.  His father was John J. Pace b. 1808 and Sarah “Sallie” Ely b. 1810 KY.  Sallie was a dau of William Ely, Jr.  William Jr. married in 1809 Knox Co. KY to Rebecca Saylor who was b. 1795.

            Matthew Pace married in 1885 Johnson Co. KY to Elizabeth Salyer b. 1837. She was the dau of Henry Salyer b. ca. 1814 Scott Co. VA. Henry married in 1835 to Elizabeth Connelly/Conley b. 1815 in North Carolina.  Elizabeth was a dau of Edmond Connelly b. 1775 NC and Lydia Joynes, a dau of Thomas Joynes of Wilkes Co. NC (they are also my ancestors).

            Edmond was a son of Capt. Henry Connelly b. 1752 and Ann McGregor.  Henry was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.  William H. Pace was married 1^st in 1889 to Mary M. Adams.  He married 2^nd in 1895 to Frances Stone b. 1867. Frances was a dau of James Stone b. 1831.  James was a son of William Stone b. 1803 and a grandson of Cudberth Stone, a Revolutionary War soldier whose wife was named Sally.  William Stone married Tacy Minix.  James Stone was married to Mary Holbrook.

            Bernie (or Burlie) Pace married in 1913 to Myrtle Kelley b. 1897. She was a dau of Joseph Millard Kelley b. 1869. Joseph was a son of William Butler Kelley b. 1847, a son of Joseph Trigg Kelley. Joseph was born about 1816 in VA and married in 1845 to Mary Ferguson b. 1825.  Mary later married 2^nd W. W. Howes.

            William Butler Kelley married Mary Elizabeth Adams b. 1849, a dau of Gilbert Adams. Gilbert was born in 1804 and married in 1832 to Nancy Adams. Nancy was born in 1808 to Stephen Adams and Mary Webb.

            Joseph Millard Kelley was born in 1869 and married in 1896 to Sarah Rice. Sarah was born in 1875 to Martin V. Rice. Martin was born in 1834 and died in 1861, a son of Martin and Sarah Rice.

            Bob Whittaker of Piedmont, SC wrote that Paul Bailey of Wheatfield, IN is in the process of obtaining Civil War monuments for William Bailey (b. 1843 d. 1921) and Samuel Bailey (b. 1822 d. 1896), a father and son who both served in the Civil War and are buried in the Henry Gardner “H. G.” Bailey Cemetery on the Straight Fork of Licking.  This is where a marker was set for Joseph Conley within the last few years. Joseph was a son-in-law of Samuel Bailey.

            The cemetery was copied in 1977 by Connie and Austin Wireman who found 9 identifiable graves and 33 unidentifiable graves.  This cemetery is located near the Handshoe Cemetery and is close to the Licking Spring in the head of the Straight Fork of Licking.  We admire Paul Bailey and Bob Whittaker who, even though they live out of state, show an interest in getting markers for unmarked gravesites of their ancestors in our area.  We encourage all who are able to do so to get involved in doing the same.  It may be that you are the only person who is aware of that unmarked gravesite that will be lost if something is not done in your lifetime to preserve the site.

            Harold J. Hunley, 414 N. East Street, Winchester, IN 47396 writes that he was born in Magoffin County on September 23, 1930, the son of Silas Hunley who was born 1910 and died 1943.  Silas was a son of George W. Hunley who married in 1907 to Etta Sparks b. 1879.  Their children were Ada Hunley b. 1894, Silas Hunley b. 1901, Rissie Hunley b. 1909 and Tressie Hunley b. 1914.

            I can’t seem to find the parents of George W. Hunley who shows in the 1910 Magoffin census: G. W. Hunley age 53 (b. 1857), married 3 years to Etta Sparks age 31, mother of 5 children with 4 living. In the household were Ada age 11, Bracken age 6 (step-son) and Rissie age 1.

            The 1920 census shows George Hunley, age 62, wife Etta age 45. In their household are Bracken age 14, Rissie age 11, Silas age 9 and Tressie age 6.

            Sarah Etta Sparks was a dau of Henry Sparks and Mary Conley.  Etta was first married to Noah Conley.

            In the Magoffin Marriages book we find that G. W. Hunley married on 7 Sep 1907 to Etta Conley at the home of Levi Conley by minister S. M. Whitt.

             Silas Hunley was born in 1910 and married Ada Lou Cooper. She was born in 1894, a dau of Will Green Cooper and Mary Jane Bays. Mary Jane was born in 1824 to Joshua Bays (b. 1835).  Joshua was a son of John Bays.

            Will Green Cooper married in 1875 to Samantha Jane Pace. Samantha was a dau of Matthew Pace b. 1835 and Elizabeth Salyer.

            Matthew was a son of John J. Pace b. 1808.  John J. married Sarah Ely b. 1810, a dau of William Ely, Jr. and Rebecca Saylor.

            Can anyone help with more info on the Hunley family?  Who were the parents of George W. Hunley?

            Perhaps Phil and Harold can get together and work on the ancestry they have in common. 

            Ailene Lewis Salyer, 16260 Park Lake Road, East Lansing, MI 48823-9480 wrote that her father was Henry Lewis whose ancestors were from Harlan County and Leslie County prior to 1837.  Her grandfather was David Lewis of Leslie County who was shot and killed off his horse. He was the son of Wilson Lewis of Harlan County.

            Henry Lewis married Maggie Elam who was born in West Liberty, KY.

            I have spent several hours on this query but have to admit defeat and invite anyone who can help with this family information to do so.