Oct. 8, 2009

Home Up Family Photo Albums Family Reunions Founders Days Links Membership News Our Beginnings Pioneer Village Publications MCHS Order Form Talk to Todd

  Magoffin County Historical Society 
"Preserving Our Past for the Future"

(Click here to) Join Us On Facebook!

Back to Archives

This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the October 8, 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.

            We had two very special visitors to our historical society this week.  They were Bridie Hale Shepherd and her neighbor and friend DaVada Hanson of Radcliff, KY.  Bridie brought us one of the quilt square paintings for the Pioneer Village.  The name of her quilt design is Family Album and it is done in Cardinal Red and Kentucky Wildcat Blue colors.  It will make a very nice addition to our Pioneer Village and we thank her so much for this well-done piece.

            David Collins died last week.  He and his family helped us with information for the Veteran’s Book. We have two volumes of that book in print and we are working on future books.  During his wake, I had occasion to talk with his widow and family and learn more about this man and his life.  These are some facts leading up to and into World War II and how it affected many young men, especially David Collins (9 Feb 1923-28 Sep 2009).

            David grew up in the time period where he witnessed the effects of the lean years of the Depression but by the late 1930’s times seemed to be picking up a bit as junk iron was being bought at five dollars a pick-up load.  We never knew that it was being shipped to Japan to use in building ships and planes that would eventually attack America.  What a shock it was to everyone on that fateful day in 1942 when this occurred.  Our local people rallied to the cause when Uncle Sam began calling up men to serve in its Armed Forces.

            David Collins sort of “squibbed” about his age and joined at age 16 and entered into Ranger training.  I first met him in 1978 when I was in his area of Half Mountain copying cemeteries. At that time, he told me about some of his escapades while in service.  He told of being shipped overseas to an island, while there they had to live off the land. David was wounded, captured, hospitalized and had metal plates placed in his shoulders. When he recuperated, he tried to get back into the service of his country.

            Comrade Collins naturally became one of my heroes.  During his wake I had a long conversation with his widow and children, I saw anew their respect and admiration for my buddy David which shows he had been a good and respected husband and father.  May God bless the widow and children.

            Jacqueline Cole Yvarra, PO Box 1843, Salyersville, KY 41465 came in to our library.  She is the daughter of Brenda K. Cole and granddaughter of Thomas Cole and Letha F. Stephens.  Letha was born in 1928 to Troy Stephens and Roxie Holbrook.  Roxie was born in 1901 and died in 1954, a dau of Clifton Holbrook (b. 1881) and Gracie Crase (b. 1880).

            Troy Stephens was a son of George Stephens b. 1867 and Sophia Jahaza “Sis” Risner b. 1875. Sis was a dau of Robert Risner and Leatha F. Dunn. 

            Robert “Robin” Risner was born in 1853, a son of William “Alley Bill” Risner. Alley Bill was born in 1837, a son of Elias “Eli” Risner and Polly Fletcher. Polly was a dau of Elizabeth Fletcher.

            Eli Risner was a son of Michael Risner who, according to tradition, came to the Meadows of Licking and built a cabin. Michael then returned to Tennessee for his family and during the return trip, his son Eli was born in a rock cave.

            Eli joined Co. D, 45th KY Inf. Vol. USA in 1863 for a year. He cut his enlistment a bit short by returning home a few months too soon.  He is buried on Owl’s Nest at Hendricks of Middle Fork and according to research by the late David Risner; his father Michael Risner was also buried there.

            I found this abandoned cemetery several years ago but it took me about three trips to Owl’s Nest to re-find this burial site, first assisted by David Risner then later by John Britton of Columbus, OH who is a descendant.  With the help of Bob Whittaker, John obtained monuments for Elias and a daughter, “Short” Betty Risner.

            Bob, Randall Risner, Eugene Salyer and I, with the help of a couple of Paul Burchell’s workers cleared the old trail to the site.  John had to return home before we got the markers set but Henry Clay Sizemore along with Jack Sizemore and his son proceeded to set these monuments.  Henry Clay and I went first, putting down timber for a makeshift bridge. I then went on up with a mattock, rope and pulleys as the last climb was most difficult.  I tied the pulley to a tree then came back down, digging steps, and got there just in time to help Paul’s workers with the smaller monument encased in a harness.  He just grabbed both ropes and began pulling himself up with the marker on his back and set it on site!

            The next marker was on a wheelie so we could help pull it up to the site.  Bob Whitaker had obtained a metal sign plus the sacks of cement and the end result is this is no longer an abandoned cemetery.

            What if David Risner had not learned of this cemetery and what if I hadn’t found it? What if John Britton hadn’t gotten interested in finding his ancestor? What if we didn’t have people like those listed above interested in preserving the gravesites of our ancestors? 

            We had a letter from Janie Harris, granddaughter of Gypsy Shepherd Conley and a descendant of Peggy Caudill and her mother Chaney Caudill.  Janie wrote that her cousin Willis Conley had visited Magoffin County during Founders Days 2007 and they wonder if we have found Chaney’s burial site yet as they hope to make a trip back to Magoffin in a couple of months.

            Thus far, I have not found “Aunt” Chaney’s burial site and only know where she is said to have lived and the general vicinity where she is believed to be interred.  My mother, Mollie Conley Preston spoke affectionately of “Aunt” Chaney. My mother’s grandmother was Nancy Caudill Conley, dau of Benjamin Caudill and Abigail Pennington.  When visiting her parents, Mom said Aunt Chaney would draw a line across the porch that her own children weren’t allowed to cross but Nancy’s children could.  In fact, Aunt Chaney would entice them over with home-baked cookies.  Mom’s stories left me with a good feeling toward Aunt Chaney so it would be wonderful to find and mark her final resting place.

            Benjamin died in 1850 before the census was taken that year.  Abigail set Chaney and her children free.  Her sons migrated to the Blue Grass horse farms.  Aunt Chaney married Hiram Collins and lived in the vicinity of Swampton near the mouth of Dutton above the old Harris Howard farm.  I have searched that area but cannot find any graves.  Perhaps someone can give me some help or directions.

            I’m not slacking off in reminding you of the 150th birthday of Magoffin County in 2010.  I have heard that the Magoffin County Muzzleloader’s organization is already planning what they will do for the festivities and I hope other organizations, including schools, religious, civic, fraternal and individuals are willing to join in on the celebration also. Write or email us with any ideas or suggestions you may have to make this a significant celebration. Write Box 222, Salyersville, KY 41465 (email [email protected].

Back to Archives

Home Family Photo Albums Family Reunions Founders Days Links Membership News Our Beginnings Pioneer Village Publications MCHS Order Form Talk to Todd

Send email to MCHS with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified:      Saturday, January 07, 2012