This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the March 19, 2009 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.

            We are still clearing up the felled trees and limbs from the ice and wind storm of a few weeks ago.  I did that chore in the old cemetery here in town recently.  I class this as an abandoned cemetery.  A few years ago the late Jack Reed, his cousin Roger Reed and I found well over 150 unmarked graves there using our “divining” rods.

            Candace Conley headed up a fund to set a marker for town founder of Adamsville, Uncle Billy Adams (b. 1802 d. 1881), during our first Founders Days in 1979 then a few years later during the Helton year in 1996 the historical society set a marker for George Helton and Melinda Wade Helton in this cemetery.

            These markers are two of the few visible markers, although there are several unreadable sandstone markers and some sunken gravesites.  It is hard to imagine the history of our town lost due to the neglect of this old cemetery.  This site coupled with the additional 200 or so graves recently found on the neighboring Gardner farm just outside the fenced-in Gardner Cemetery, adds up to a possible four hundred plus early residents of the Prater’s Fort, Licking Station and Adamsville period of Salyersville.

            We are concerned because we get daily queries from people far and near who would like to know who their 4^th or more great grandparents were, where they lived and are buried, etc.  Will your 4^th or more great grandchildren be asking this same question?

            Reva Huff, Box 126, Mt. Sterling, KY ([email protected]) wrote to us about a recent article in which I mentioned Sarah Francis “Granny Fanny” Shaver. Ms. Huff says she is the gr/gr/gr/granddaughter of Levi and Susannah Tackett who are buried in the Marion Hale Cemetery on Mine Fork.

            Levi Tackett was born 14 Oct 1820 and married in 1844 to Susanna Tackett, a dau of William Tackett and Sarah Lemaster.  Levi was 42 years old when he enlisted in the Confederate Army along with his 18-year-old son William “Hoe Handle Bill” Tackett who married in 1865 to Elizabeth Shaver. Elizabeth was a dau of Sarah Francis “Granny Fanny” Shaver.  According to our book Legends in Blue and Gray, Granny Fanny was a dau of James Ellerson Shaver b. 1770/1780 Franklin Co. VA.

            Another notation was found that Sarah Francis was a Tackett who first married Patrick Shavers, a son of Susan Shavers.

            Sarah Francis married secondly to Ambrose Lemaster and they are buried in the Lemaster Cemetery behind the Falcon school house near the mouth of Round Hold Branch.

            Granny Fanny was a midwife and delivered many of the babies born in that area during her lifetime.

            Christine Conley-Sowels ([email protected]) telephone 989-382-5299, wrote that she would like to announce that the Michigan Conleys are making plans to hold a Conley Reunion in Salyersville right after the 4^th of July parade this year as it has been 25 years since the Conley-Connelley Founders Day Reunion and they feel it is time to get back together again.

            Several of the Michigan Conleys have never been back home to Kentucky or have only visited a couple of times so Christine says this is really special as they believe one must know “where you came from in order to know where you are going.”

            The group is tentatively planning to hold the reunion in the Renaissance room of the old bank building after the 4^th of July parade until 5 p.m.

            The Michigan Conleys/Connelleys, are specifically Dr. W. Connelley and dau Louise Connelley, also Sam and Mary Conley and their many grandchildren.  Sam Conley is the son of Worth Conley.

            The group is planning to have refreshments and snacks.  Everyone is welcome to attend and asks that everyone come and share family stories, pictures, recipes and books.

            For more info contact Christine Conley-Sowels at the above email address or write to Delores Horan ([email protected]). 

            P. S. Have Sam stop by the Ashland area and pick up his cousin Paul Caudill who has not been back to Magoffin County for fifty years! (smile)

            Natasha Shepherd ([email protected]) wrote to say she is the great granddaughter of Goldia Barnett/Patrick who was born and lived on Middle Creek, outside of Salyersville. She had to move from there as a young girl due to the death of her mother.  Her mother was kin to the Marshall and the Risner families.

            Our Risner book on page 297 has Goldie Barnett listed. She was the dau of Hamilton Barnett and Margaret Marshall. Goldie was born 1 Apr 1910 and married in 1927 to Jack Charles Patrick. He was born in 1904 and died in 1976 Adrian, MI. Jack Charles was a son of David Patrick and Margaret Kilgore-Miller.  Goldie and Jack had a daughter Julia Ann Patrick who married in 1956 to Howard Henry Gehring, son of Clarence Gehring and Mary Burgett.  Julia and Howard had two daughters, one being Pamela Darlene Gehring who married Roy Shepherd, son of James Shepherd and Shelba Justice. Their first child was Natasha Amanda Shepherd born in Tecumseh, MI.

            Hamilton Barnett was a son of Dial Barnett and Violet Poe.  He married 2^nd in 1928 to Laura Mills Montgomery, dau of Aaron Howell Mills and Jane Roark.

            Dial Barnett was born in 1858, a son of William Barnett and Anna Risner. Anna was born about 1838 and was buried on Lynn Camp of Puncheon Creek in Magoffin County.  A new marker was set for her a couple of years ago.  Anna was a dau of Elias “Eli” Risner b. ca. 1813 who married first to Polly Fletcher.  Eli is buried on Owl’s Nest of Middle Fork and a marker is planned to be set at his unmarked grave in early spring. This project is the work of John and Debbie Britton, along with Bob and Betty Whittaker. The burial site’s location was discovered by the late David Risner.