This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the September 17, 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.

            Back in 1979, a small group of interested citizens planned the very first Magoffin County Founders Days honoring Uncle Billy Adams who was instrumental in having our county formed and who gave up his namesake “Adamsville” for our county seat to become Salyersville.  It was an exciting time and we all were very well pleased with the one-day affair conducted entirely on the lawn of the Hall Community Center except for the parade. Now, 30 years later we are again looking back on another very enjoyable and successful Founders Days.  This one lasted from Tuesday September 1^st through Monday September 7^th and extended right on over into neighboring Breathitt County!

            This year we celebrated the heritage of The Manns Clan and they came from many states and places to join in on the festivities and to honor their ancestors.  We had people attending who could relate to every branch of the Mann-Manns family as outlined on our huge bulletin board.  In addition, we had a very large number of people visiting with no relationship to the family but who came because of their pleasure of being in Magoffin County again and renewing old friendships and meeting new friends.  Some have come year after year but we heard from a few first time visitors who expressed the wish that they had known what was going on in Salyersville for the last 31 years so they could have come sooner!!

            We had one of the best-attended opening ceremonies that we’ve had in years on Tuesday evening.  It was a ceremony with many traditional happenings such as the Magoffin County Muzzleloaders salute, the music by the Prater Memorial Methodist Church and the Flag Raising and Pledge by local boy scouts and their leaders Haskel Sizemore and Ralph Mullins.  We were glad to have Pastor Jamie Slone give the invocation and to have special music from J. C. and Nila Minix, Crystal Collins and Green Mann.  Ben Gardner and Herley Manns were on hand to unveil the addition of the Mann-Manns family name on our Founders Day marker in the Pioneer Village and Jackie Howard read the inscription to the crowd. 

            We moved around to the outdoor stage area to see one of the largest Baby Pageants that we have had in recent years along with splendid performances by Peyton Howard’s Let Us Dance Studio students.  We appreciate the efforts of Jessica Howard, Paula Montgomery, Abbie Conley, Theresa Dotson.  We praise the parents, grandparents and other relatives for the resourceful and beautiful costumes worn by the participants.  Many times during the pageant we heard that the contestant’s outfit had been worn by the child’s mother, aunt or other relative when they had been a participant in the Baby Pageant many years ago.  This was especially interesting and poignant to us as audience members.

            By Wednesday evening, another huge crowd had gathered as Lisa Swiger and Tonya Ward conducted the Petite Miss and Master, the Tiny Miss and Master, the Little Miss and Master and the Junior Miss and Master Magoffin pageants.  The talents exhibited by our young people from ages 3 to 12 were exceptional!  The audience was treated to masterful performances in many areas.

            Thursday evening the Miss Teen Magoffin Pageant was on schedule with directors Tanika McFarland, Olivia Bailey, Jessica Howard and Jincy Bailey.  Another overflow crowd attended and was entertained by a terrific showcase of talent among our young people.

            Up to this point, we have only mentioned the nighttime activities of Founders Days; each day was also filled with visitors coming into the Pioneer Village courtyard and our library to converse with cousins and newfound relatives.  The Manns Clan tee shirts, hats and other souvenirs were very much in evidence.  The special cookbook printed for The Manns Clan was a real crowd pleaser.  The pictures and stories of people and places familiar to those with Manns ancestry made the book very popular with everyone, not to mention the great recipes! 

            Nolan Hall “The Country Cousin” and WRLV invited a group of us over to the radio station and everyone enjoyed this interview.  Our visitors from Oklahoma, Texas, Ohio and other places were still talking about this for days afterward.  “The Cousin” has a knack for making everyone feel welcome and appreciated!! Thanks, Nolan Hall!!!

Here and there impromptu concerts would spring up, as the Manns are known for their music talents.  Burl Manns, Green Mann, Marvin Minix, Melvin Harvey, Kellie Lee Miller, Toddie Preston, Jason Preston, Jarrod Howard, Jerran Howard, Jack Hale and others entertained large crowds of very appreciative people.

            Friday morning the activities began quite early with Russell Sparks and his 4-H council’s annual Pet Show, a perennial favorite with children and adults alike!  There was a book signing with Magoffin County authors going on over at the Magoffin Public Library where visitors were warmly welcomed by librarian Melanie Cain, and authors Patty Auxier and Betty Williams with scrumptious sandwiches and snacks as well as some good conversation!

            At twelve noon directors Charlotte Gillum, Theresa Miller and Jaynie Poe with their teacher helpers from our three grade schools, Patrick Prater, Angie Howard, Karen Eastep, and Stephanie Minix conducted the school activities.  Again, the talents of Magoffin’s young people were on display as students demonstrated their expertise in Math and Spelling.  Art posters were on display around the cabins and winning entries were presented with certificates and a cash award.  It is always wonderful to see our young people and teachers at this event.  School had been in session only a short time before our Founders Days event but the skills and competence demonstrated by all participants were apparent to all.  We saw several current as well as retired schoolteachers, principals and superintendents in the audience which speaks well of the caring of those who work with our children.  The school events were followed by the Herald Whitaker Middle School Drama Club performance of the Blue and Gray Musical with directors Andrea Parsons, Debbie Cain and Tim Cain.  I am sure there were lots of other teachers and school personnel who helped with all the school events and they are all to be highly commended for freely giving of their vacation time to help with this community event.  Our special thanks to everyone who helped and participated.

            Music programs were on stage for all to enjoy for the rest of the afternoon.  Some performers were The Blue Jays, J. C. and Nila Minix, and Black Powder Express.  At this point, we want to give special thanks to J. C. and Nila for sharing their sound system for many of our events.  They would come early, set up the sound system then help in any way they could to see that everything ran smoothly.  All of this was done as their contribution to the success of Magoffin County’s Founders Days.

            Audience members were disappointed when the Ms. Classic Magoffin pageant did not materialize.  Despite our extending the entry times, we did not receive any entrants so this event was not to be.  Maybe next year…  We didn’t know the Pioneer Village could hold as many people as were on hand for the Miss Magoffin Pageant and we thank the directors Jincy Bailey and the contestants who treated their audience to a wonderful show.  Toddie and his band gave a great musical performance at this event.

            Saturday was another busy day with Kay and Dallas Bentley registering all those who visited us.  Various other groups were holding activities this day as well.  The Pioneer Village was the site of a special Manns Clan ceremony as Green Mann served as chairperson.  Jackie Howard gave the invocation followed by the Boy Scouts raising the flag and giving the Pledge then a 21-Gun Salute by the DAV Chapter 15.  Linda Montgomery Parker was on hand with her wonderful bagpipe music.  She gave tribute to our ancestors, especially the women who have nurtured their families and contributed so much their success.  The bagpipe music is a very stirring part of the ceremony and harkens us back to the time when many of our ancestors came to America from other lands. Green told how his song “I’m Going Back” came to be written and then sang his special song.  Burl Mann was in the audience and we invited him to sing also, which was another crowd pleaser. Ben Gardner and Herley Manns presented the Manns Marker to us with Ben reading the inscription.  Afterwards many in the audience spoke of their line of descent and told about their families.  This was followed by much picture taking.  

            Alma Holliday served as hostess in the schoolhouse cabin and the Magoffin County Muzzleloaders were at the front cabins.  We missed having Oma Risner and Jodi Wright and her mother here this year to help with the cabins.

            Soon it was time for the parade to begin.  We were pleased to have Elva Mann Howard, Jackie Howard, Green Mann, Talmadge Mann, Herley Manns, Ted Manns, Jr., Jessie Mann Reed and Sallie Spencer serve as grand marshals in the parade.  Irene Mann Jolly had to return home early.  Oda Patrick and Coy Manns were not able to attend but our congratulations are also extended to them.  A great many wonderful floats were in the parade as well as many other entries.  Our thanks to everyone who participated and helped in any way.  Carter Conley, the Volunteer Fire Departments and the Rescue Squad members are especially commended for aiding their community to have a happy and safe event.  We enjoyed the help of Betty Jo Arnett Lykins in helping announce the parade.  Great job, Betty!!  Betty has helped us in many different areas.  The dramas she used to produce for the historical society are still remembered. 

            A talent showcase and Look Alike contest followed the parade.  This was a really fun event conducted by Lisa Swiger and Tonya Ward.  For the rest of the afternoon, the audience was treated to special music performances by Erin Alyse Conley, Blue Grass Station, and True Gospel Echoes directed by Nolan Hall. 

            On Saturday evening Eddith Hensley, Wilma Rimer, Dorothy Wireman, and Jessica Howard began preparing some food dishes at the historical society for the dinner planned the following day at the community center.  The wonderful smells emanating from our kitchen has me in great anticipation of the reunion dinner to come on Sunday!

            The State Road United Baptist Church conducted old-fashioned church services at our Pioneer Village church early Sunday morning with a full house in attendance with people also on the porch.  The misting rain hampered our usual greeting exchange after the service but we soon met at the homecoming dinner where many tables laden with food welcomed us.  Brenda Jenkins, Debbie Mann, Ronnie Jenkins, Ruie Howard, Jessica Howard, Eddith Hensley, Betty Whittaker, Ettazene Montgomery, Irene McIntosh, Cassie Carpenter, Imogene Stevens, Ruby Oaks, Paula Montgomery and Helen Patrick Bailey served as hosts to a huge crowd who added their own favorite dishes and desserts to the bountiful meal.  I’m sure no one went away hungry!

            Joe Carroll and Phillip Caudill with the help of Henry Joseph’s sound system held a very successful Gospel Sing at the cabins later that afternoon.  Some of their groups were the Watkins Family and True Gospel Echoes.

            On Monday, about 150 people met over on Hawes Fork in Breathitt County to have a dedication ceremony at the cemeteries where memorials were dedicated for Samuel Mann and for William and Rhoda Howard.  It rained around lunchtime but that didn’t damper the spirits of those who came to enjoy the fellowship, food and music. 

            We are very appreciative of Mayor Howard and the City of Salyersville, Judge Hardin and the Fiscal Court, Dave Blair with MCTV Channel 7, Ritt Mortimer of Your News Today, The Salyersville Independent and WRLV Radio and Foothills Rural Telephone for all their help.  The Rumpke garbage company is certainly appreciated! We thank Brooke Jenkins with the Extension Office for being in charge of the wonderful window displays and yard decorations through town.  We also send special thanks to Super America, Coca Cola Company and Lisa Borders Arnett for the Founders Days signs.  We also appreciated the talents of the young people and adults who gave terrific performances during the scheduled events.

            The historical society and the Manns Clan send our profound thanks to everyone who made this 31^st Founders Days so pleasurable and such a memorable event for all of us.