This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the August 13, 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.

            A group of people interested in Magoffin County’s Sesquicentennial (150^th year) met with Judge Charles Hardin and Mayor Stanley Howard this afternoon.  Representing the Magoffin County Historical Society was Jimmie Allen, A. B. Conley and Ol’ Todd.  Among other things we discussed how best to get the news out to every person living in Magoffin County or having Magoffin County connections to let them know they are needed to help plan our 2010 celebration and to put those plans into action.  Schools, churches, businesses, civic organizations and individuals are encouraged to participate.  We all need to “get in on the act”.  A good many of us remember and/or participated in our 100^th birthday celebration in 1960.  We do not necessarily want to follow those guidelines as we now live in a different period.  Let this be the first official notice that plans are proceeding and we need YOU to participate. 

            Of course, right now the big celebration for 2009 is foremost on our minds as we begin the countdown to Magoffin County Founders Days beginning on September 1.  Our schedule is at its final stages of completion and excitement is mounting as we prepare to celebrate “The Manns Clan”, their history and their dreams for building the future of the communities where they live.

            We have found the Mann-Manns family wonderful people to work with as we prepare for this 31^st annual event for Magoffin County.  We invite everyone to plan now to come and help us celebrate the heritage of this family that has contributed so much to the history of our area. Our regular meeting time will be August 16^th at 2 p.m. here at the historical society library at 191 South Church Street.

            Bob Whittaker of South Carolina sent info adding to Bobby Davis’ inquiry about George Washington Collinsworth b. 1822 Lee Co. VA who died in 1912 and is buried in the Roark Cemetery on Burning Fork here in Magoffin County.  He apparently was the 9^th child of Edmund B. Collinsworth b. 1781 VA and died about 1829 in Claiborne Co. TN.  He married Elizabeth Shepherd about 1805 in Lee Co. VA.  She was born about 1784 in VA and died 10 Dec 1869 in Claiborne Co. TN.  Their children were William Collinsworth b. ca. 1793/98, James Ervin Collinsworth b. ca. 1805, William S. Collinsworth b. ca. 1806, John H. Collinsworth b. 6 Jun 1807, Thomas Collinsworth b. ca. 1811, Covington Collinsworth b. 10 Jun 1812, Edward Collinsworth b. ca. 1814 (he married Rebecca George), Mary Collinsworth b. 1816, George Washington Collinsworth b. 28 Nov 1822 (m. Jemima Burke), Frances Collinsworth b. ca. 1824, Elizabeth Jane Collinsworth b. ca. 1828 and Abraham Collinsworth b. ca. 1829. 

            Plans are in place to set a monument for James Ervin Collinsworth after Labor Day on the Conley Farm on Birch Branch.  James Ervin was the son of Edmund B. Collinsworth. Edmond B. was a son of Edmond Fox Collinsworth. Edmond Fox was a son of David Edward Collinsworth.  David E. was a son of Edmund Collinsworth whose parentage is unknown to us at this time.

            Bob also plans to set monuments for Elias Risner and his daughter Elizabeth “Short Betty” Risner as well as for George and Mary Beth Leath Risner.  The Manns Clan monuments are also to be set on Hawes Fork before Labor Day and dedicated on September 7^th. 

            By the way, I noticed a “Manns Clan” cookbook beginning to take shape; the proceeds are to go toward purchasing the Manns monuments and other such projects.

            Lucinda Sue Bednarz ([email protected]) wrote for info on the Earl Spurlock family, namely Earl and Carol Spurlock.  She would like to have early pictures of the farm where they lived. 

            Earl Spurlock b. 1915 was a son of David S. Spurlock b. 1844. David was a son of Miles Spurlock b. 1841, a Confederate soldier. His father was Samuel Spurlock b. 1817 and his grandparents were Jesse Spurlock b. 1778 and wife Jane b. 1780.

            Miles Spurlock married Sarah Ann Prater b. 1853, a daughter of Thomas L. Prater. Thomas was b. in 1826 and married Mary McFarlan. Thomas was a son of William B. Prater b. 1782 VA.  He married in 1808 to Nancy Cope.  William B. was a son of Archibald Prater b. 1755 and a Revolutionary War soldier.  He married Sarah Fugate, a dau of Josiah Fugate.

            David S. Spurlock married Ruie Belle May b. 1884, a dau of Harmon May b. 1869.  Harmon was a son of James May b. 1811 and a grandson of Caleb May and Margaret Patrick.

            James May married first Matilda Whitaker and married 2^nd Elizabeth Powers, dau of Lewis Powers and Elizabeth Prater.  Elizabeth was born in 1791, a dau of Archibald Prater and Sarah Fugate.

            Harmon May married Nancy Jane Adams. She was born in 1864 to Ben Adams Jr. (b. 1828). Ben Jr. was a son of Benjamin Adams and Nancy Holbrook, Nancy was a daughter of Randolph Holbrook and Elizabeth Adams.

            Ben Adams, Jr. married Senia Minerva Polly, a dau of Henry Polly and Martha Hall. 

            We would like to notify Ms. Bednarz and other Prater descendants that we are working on an update of our Prater genealogy book and ask that you send your family information and pictures.

            Since I started writing this column a couple of days ago Dorothy has finished a few of the cookbooks and I have been going through one.  It is completely filled with some good recipes.  You may say, “How do you know they are good?”  We had an opportunity to taste test a great many of them during the planning sessions for this coming Founders Days.  Not only does it have recipes but also there are several great family stories in it along with pictures of several generations of the Manns family and places where they have lived and worked. You have to see this one!  The cost is $25 if you come into our library or $28 by mail.