This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the March 26, 2009 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.

            “The Manns Clan” was out again in excellent numbers at our March meeting. Attending were Roy “Todd” Preston, Ronnie Jenkins, Charlene Mann Pelfrey, Ronnie Pelfrey, Faye Mann, Ruie Howard, Joe Howard, Francis Jenkins, Brenda Jenkins, Carolyn Goble, Deborah Mann, Ettazene Mann Montgomery, Green Mann, Dallas Bentley, Kay Bentley, Ted Manns, Jr., Irene Manns McIntosh, Cassie Manns Carpenter, Ruby Manns Oaks, Imogene Manns Stevens, Connie A. Wireman and Belsey Connelley.  We made some additional Founders Days plans as well were treated to watching a video of Burlen Manns singing and playing the guitar.  Not to be outdone, Green Mann brought in his guitar and gave us a live performance of an original song he and his wife Debbie wrote entitled “I’m Going Back”, a song of growing up on Hawes Fork in Breathitt County.  We all enjoyed the get together very much!  Our next meeting is April 19^th and remember that everyone is welcome who would like to help with the planning of this event.

            Phil Hanson, 13609-62^nd Ave. NE, Kirkland, WA came in Tuesday and again Wednesday, searching for the gravesite of Beaurita Pace, a little almost two-year-old girl that had gotten her nightgown on fire from an open fire place while her mother was milking.  It is said she only lived a couple of days after that and was buried on Short Fork where they could look up on the hill in front of the house and see the grave.

            Well, I found a little child’s grave with a lot of lichen obscuring the writing on the marker in the Allen Cemetery, the only cemetery in what is left of Short Fork so I took pictures of the headstone.  Phil doubted that it was the grave of Beaurita.  So John Pace, Phil and his wife and I loaded up in my faithful Isuzu, this time I took my back pack with supplies and brushed off the lichen and squirted shaving lotion on the monument. When I finished wiping the excess off, there was the lettering for Bertha Sparks b. 1928 d. 1929!

            Phil walked back down the hill and found another small grave that he thought he could almost make out the lettering so I went to work cleaning the stone and the name Beaurita Pace was then plain to see.

            Phil had remarked earlier that his kinsmen would think him the “most famous Pace of all” if he could find the gravesite so I hope they have a large crown to adorn his head when he returns home! (Smile)

            Phil Hanson had received a letter from his cousin Doug which told of a family trip to Kentucky in 1974 and here are some excerpts from it: “The dusk was falling as we neared our destination, the home of Uncle Mathie’s brother-in-law, Dave Whitaker near Ivyton.  Dad used to tell me I was born on Short Fork of Rockhouse Fork of Burning Fork of the Licking River.

            In the letter written by Doug’s mother Thelma we read: “The house I was born in on Short Fork was pointed out, the location now marked only by thick underbrush.

            “Farther up Short Fork Mom’s family lived.  With Dad we climbed up the hill to where my infant sister Beaurita was buried.  I felt a touch of loneliness as I always did when I thought of her as she was someone I had known and lost.”

            Phil, his wife Denise, John Pace and I visited the Crace Cemetery at Ivyton but then I had to leave them in order to keep a doctor’s appointment.  Phil’s wife crossed, barefooted, the cold water flowing down Beartree Fork on their way to the Matthew Pace Cemetery!

            Phil and Denise were going to visit again and place flowers on little Beaurita’s grave before traveling back home to Washington.  The Hanson’s showed great appreciation to all they had come in contact with while here, especially John Pace, the mayor of Beartree!

            I was privileged to have been in attendance at the “Welcome Home, Troops” rally sponsored by the Magoffin County Military Support group, the Magoffin County High School, as well as several churches and other organizations.

            There was outstanding entertainment, guest speakers, etc.  I noticed that one of the troops had their own little “mascot” as one soldier has his little daughter leading the ovations!

            There were troops from the 201 Engineer Battalion and now they are home, taking a breather from the front.  I wonder if we will ever see a time when there will be no American troops on the war front.

            All veterans in attendance were called up after introductions of the 201 Battalion some of them on canes.  I witnessed one who had to back down the stairs from the upper deck of the high school gym.  No doubt many veterans did not attempt getting out in the rain, to mention a few, Edgar Blanton, Vancel Borders, and Ramey Montgomery. 

            The support group sponsored the luncheon with the help of many individuals.  If you didn’t get a bite of Linda Bussey’s home cooked ham, you missed a real treat!  I had to loosen my belt a notch after this wonderful lunch.

            I’m sort of a sideline member of the support group and I feel all those who work so hard in this organization are all to be commended.  Our hats are off to president Chester Howard, vice president Randall Hardin, Paul Bussey and also all the ladies too numerous to mention who helped.  A special thanks to the high school faculty also.  The returning troops were: Jerry Carpenter, Danny Howard, John P. Conley, Michael Kash Caudill, Pitt Connelley, Brent Gullett, Justin Lynch, Greg Salyer, Blake Travis, Tyler Ward, Bruce Fields and one trooper Scotty Cantrell with his lovely little daughter who stole the show!

            Ann Leslie Vennderheide Bates ([email protected]) wrote that she is trying to find a location given her from her mother’s memory where they have family buried at the top of a mountain or hill.  They believe it was a family cemetery on Allen property.  Her family descends from William Patrick and Verna Allen.  She thought the family lived near Ova, KY. 

            Ann said the family would drive to Salyersville and her grandfather Crow Allen would pick them up in his truck then later they would switch to riding in a wagon and finally had to walk.

            Ova, KY was on Cow Creek near the Stephens Branch and Alsept Fork intersection, it seems.

            Crow Allen is buried on the Carpenter near the mouth of Half Mountain behind the newly built South Magoffin School.

            We would like to hear from anyone who could help us locate Ann’s family cemeteries.

            As we were finishing these comments we were notified of the passing of Ruth Anna Cole Montgomery on Sunday, March 22^nd. She was the daughter of Dennis and Anna (Salyer) Cole and the wife of James Montgomery.  Ruth and James have been friends and supporters of the historical society since our beginning and have worked with us in all our endeavors.  Ruth Anna was one of those people who always looked on the bright side of life and caused all around her to do the same.  We shall always miss her. We send our deepest sympathy to her husband James and the family.