This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the May 19, 2011 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.

            We hope our friends and supporters will understand why Miss Dorothy hasn’t been answering the phone these last few days or why we closed the doors of our research library.  Dorothy lost by death, the love of her life, her beloved husband Luther Bill Wireman who suddenly passed away on May 8, 2011.  We understand he had spent a busy day doing many of the things he enjoyed such as being with his family, mowing the family cemetery, four-wheeling and had stopped to check on a sick friend when he suddenly succumbed. 

            We thank you for your many messages of condolence and concern that have been sent our way for Dorothy and her family.

From what I know of Bill he was a workaholic who rose steadily in his coal job to the rank of reclamation inspector.  I am mighty well acquainted with another fellow who practices this same formula and who can’t seem to realize its time to throw it into a slower gear!

I believe Bill lucked out to marry a girl who had some of these same work genes in her pedigree.  She supported him in all that he did from getting up at three-thirty in the morning to make sure he had breakfast and a packed lunch to accepting another stray dog that he befriended on that mountain top in Pike County.  Bill could not bear to see an animal starve so he would share his food and often bring the dog home to care for.  His long hours at his job and his home duties left him little spare time.  He has helped us in our efforts to locate and mark the gravesites of several of our early settlers.  We have lost a supporter in our efforts to preserve the history of our area. 

I have worked with Dorothy for several years and have noticed her efficient ways and sincerity in doing her work.  I wasn’t very well acquainted with her sons but after seeing their love and respect for her through this loss of their loved one, we witnessed nothing short of whole-hearted love and respect they have for both parents.

I hope this small bit of information helps the reader to gain an insight into this fine family and I pray to God, the giver and also taker of life, that He will be with this family in the next few days, weeks, months and years.  Amen!

Those of you who have been readers of this column as well as the Journal of the Magoffin County Historical Society are aware that Joe Allen and Dwight Carpenter have found the gravesite of William Allen who was born in 1783 VA and died in 1854 Breathitt Co. KY.  His wife was Catherine “Caty” Gearheart and they are the progenitors of many descendants.  We want to name William and Caty’s children so that you may be able to see connections to your own family lines.

Bob Whittaker and other diligent researchers have come up with this list of their children (1) George Allen m. Malinda Howard; (2) John Allen m. 1^st Nancy Jane Click; m. 2^nd Celia Slusher and m. 3^rd to Mary “Pop” Whitaker; (3) Adam Allen m. Jemima Whitt; (4) Elizabeth “Betty” Allen m. John Hackworth, son of Jeremiah Hackworth; (5) Unknown Daughter b. 1813; (6) Catherine Allen b. 1815 never married: (7) Margaret “Peggy” Allen m. Greenville Howard; (8) William “Shack” Allen b. 1819 m. Elizabeth Hagins; (9) Sarah “Sally” Allen b. 1820 m. Robert Hoskins; (10) Joseph Allen b. 1822 m. Fannie Hagins; (11) Arty Allen b. 1823 m. Elijah Green; (12) Ira Allen m. Levina Mullins; (13) James Allen m. Elizabeth Jones; (14) Delaney “Duzley” Allen m. William Miller; (15) Nancy Allen m. 1^st John Howard and m. 2^nd Shadrick Oliver; (16) Francis “Fannie” Allen married -?-.  There may have been other children.

We are working toward having a marker set at this gravesite in the near future. Bob Whittaker’s article will be printed in our next Journal in its entirety.

The 33^rd Magoffin County Founders Days plans are being made. In 2011 this Magoffin County Homecoming event honors the Joseph family.  Next week we will begin listing some of the genealogy of this family.

We thank you for your continued support of our activities and your show of caring feelings for those of us here at the “home-twenty”.  It is much appreciated.