This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the July 30, 2009 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.

            The enthusiasm of those attending our regular monthly meeting last Sunday seems to be growing as the 31^st annual Magoffin County Founders Days keeps drawing nearer.  We are nearly finished with a preliminary program of events. We have had several queries by email and regular mail wanting to know more information about what is planned for the Manns Clan week.  We are encouraging participation in the Founders Day parade as well as the other events.

            The Manns Clan is planning to dedicate the monument for William and Rhoda (Howard) Mann as well as a memorial marker for Samuel Manns on Labor Day Monday then meeting afterwards to chow down and visit, an all day affair!

            These monuments will be set before Labor Day for those who want to make the trip.  For more information, contact Herley Manns who (being absent at the last meeting) was elected president for this whole affair!! (SMILE!)

            Dorla Key Summers, PO Box 951, Woodward, OK 73802 ([email protected]) and her sister Mary Key Caruthers from Jonesboro, TN visited a couple of days recently. They are daughters of Gladys Prater Key and gr/daus of Elijah Willis Prater.  As they were Prater descendants, I took them, along with Samuel Long of West Liberty, another Prater descendant, to the Gardner Farm, site of the former Prater’s Fort then to Cheyenne where Archibald Prater lived secondly then to the spot where the old high school once stood.  It is my understanding that Archibald was buried on the site where the old stone building that later burned was built.  We then visited the old part of the Bluegrass Cemetery where Irvin Prater is buried.  This is where I suggest setting a monument for Archibald Prater near where his daughter, Clarinda Prater Powers, wife of Holloway Powers is buried.  I propose to put info as to where I believe Archibald is actually buried, etc. 

            Incidentally, Holloway Powers is buried beside Clarinda Prater and not in the Bailey Cemetery at the mouth of Rockhouse.

            We next visited the John Prater Cemetery where the DAR set a military marker many years ago for Archibald Prater, Revolutionary War soldier.  This marker will remain exactly where it is, I just want an additional marker that will tell some of the history of this man who has such a great many descendants.  Each year we get several visitors looking for more information on this early settler of our area as well as quite a number of queries for help with researching the family of Archibald and Sarah Fugate Prater.

            We have recently added material to our Prater book revision from Teresa Vinton of Jackson, MI.  We have much additional material and pictures from Don Prater of GA, son of Newt Prater and Sarah Essie Holbrook.  Garnett Amyx here in Salyersville has shared her Prater family info.  Significantly missing is updated info from descendants of Archibald Prater.  Perhaps you can help us with this project.

            We have the material on site to build the stairway this week in the newest cabin in the Pioneer Village. Jack Sizemore has donated a bedstead and now we need a few more pieces of period furniture to fill this log home, hint, hint!

            Bobby Davis ([email protected]) wrote to request information on the George Collinsworth and Jemima Burke family. They are buried in the Roark Cemetery on Burning Fork. I am having trouble finding information on this family.

            George Collins(worth) is found in the 1870 Magoffin County census, he is listed as age 47, wife Gemima is age 45 and their children are Wiley age 22, Emily age 25, Ellen J. age 17, George age 14, Louisa age 7 and Mary age 6.

            The 1900 Magoffin census has George W. Collinsworth b. Nov 1821, age 78, Gemima b. Jan 1835, age 65; they report they had 11 children with 8 living.  In the household is Ellen age 30, Louisa age 26, Louisa age 26, Mary age 23, gr/dau Bessie age 12, gr/son Reuben age 4, gr/dau Gemima age 2 and gr/dau Myrtle age 2.

            The 1910 Magoffin census lists George Collinsworth age 90, married 67 years to Gemima. She is listed as the mother of 8 children with 6 living, Ellen age 49, Mary age 26, Bessie age 23, Ruby age 12 and Myrtle age 11.  Emily is shown as age 52 and widowed.

            There are still a lot of unanswered questions so I am asking if there is anyone out there who can help Bobby.

            Charlene Williams ([email protected]) writes she has confusing info on Thomas Howard b. 1790 and Thomas Howard who married Mary Ann “Polly” Patrick.

            There is conflicting info as there are several Thomas Howards.  The elder Thomas Howard is said to have married Letty Durham and had a son Thomas Howard b. 5 Jun 1750 (according to Rev. War pension papers).  He married about 1794 to Francis Jackson b. 1779. They had a son Mose Howard b. 1797 who married Mary “Polly” Patrick. Their first child was named Thomas Howard and was born in 1819. This Thomas first married Mary “Polly” Perkins and then married 2^nd to Mary Sturgeon.

            Are there any Howard researchers out there who will contact Charlene with updated information?

            Terry Jones ([email protected]) wrote “I am the 3^rd great granddaughter of Alexander “Sanders” Montgomery through his son Wiley Montgomery…Wiley married in 1829 to Martha Porter.  Wiley was a son of Alexander “Sanders” Montgomery IV and Elizabeth Eddington.

            This Alexander was a son of Alexander Montgomery III and Mary Elizabeth Johnson.  Alexander III was a son of Alexander Montgomery II who married Martha Walter.  Alexander II was a son of Alexander Montgomery I of Albemarle Co. VA.

            We ask that those researching the Montgomery family contact Terry.

            We will soon be setting a deadline on receipt of Mann-Manns family material so if you have been postponing sending in your family information and pictures, let us urge you to do so soon.  We think about another month will be enough time for those who want to participate in this book project to do so.