This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the August 4, 2011 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.

            Magoffin County Founders Days 2011 is quickly approaching.  Our activities begin on August 30^th and continue through September 5^th in honor of the Joseph family. This marks 33 years we have sponsored Founders Days in an attempt to make the heritage and history of our county and area better known.

            We had a visitor last week searching for her Ferguson ancestors.  She was sad to have to travel home without meeting any kinsmen during her trip so if any of you can help her with research, please write to her.  She is Pauline Jurgen, 1900 Cypress Point Drive, McKenny, TX 75070 ([email protected]). 

            We are still plagued with hot, humid, wet weather and that, coupled with the high gasoline prices has caused a slow-down in visitors to our Pioneer Village but has caused extra work in keeping our grounds mowed and trimmed.

            Richard Lynn Salyer, 1325 N. Skipwort Crt., Spokane, WA 99206 visited recently to see and learn more about the origination of the name of Salyersville.  His family visited several areas and took pictures of our town.

            I found Richard had spent some several months in Fort Richardson, Alaska where I had spent some of my time when I served in the Army, attached to the 183^rd hospital.

            We looked into Elisabeth Salyer’s book to trace his family.  I failed to keep a copy of the family tree we worked out for him but do remember that he was a son of Charles Salyer and Rebecca West.

            Charles was a son of James Scott Salyer who was born in Greenville, SC in 1798. James’ wife was Elizabeth Arnett, b. 1801, daughter of William Arnett and Sarah Henderson.  James Scott Salyer was a son of John Salyer b. 1763 and Elizabeth Scott b. 1772.

            It was pleasing to hear that this family was impressed with our little town!

            Barbara Howard, 311 Green Tree Court, Spartanburg, SC 29302 is continuing her research and asks for help on her Howard kinsmen.  Barbara was born in Michigan to Jasper N. Howard and Lena R. Scott.  Jasper N. was the son of Joseph Newton Howard b. 1866 in Magoffin County. His wife was Martha C. DeBord who was the daughter of William and Mary Ann DeBord.  We believe Joseph Newton Howard to be the son of Joseph Howard and Francis Howard.  Francis was a daughter of Andrew J. Howard and Matilda Ray.

            She needs proof that Joseph Newton Howard indeed was the son of Joseph Howard and Fannie Howard.  If anyone has a document that would provide substantial proof of this relationship, please write Barbara.

            Linda Adams of Estero, FL ([email protected]) wrote to ask if the Adams booklet we printed in 1979 might be of help to her in her research.  Her husband is descended from a William Adams (b. 1818 d. 1881) who lived on a branch of the Licking River in Kenton, KY and a neighbor of his was Johnson Adams b. 1822 d. 1897 who may have been a brother or cousin.  She has been unable to learn how they acquired the land or anything about their ancestors. In searching land patents she discovered several patents for a William Adams and a Johnson Adams who purchased land on the Licking River in the areas of Magoffin, Morgan and Floyd counties.  She does not think they are the same as the Kenton County Adams by the same name but wonders if there might have been some connection due to the name similarities and the Licking River locations.

            We asked Sharroll Minix for some help with this query and reports the Kenton County Adams do not seem to be related to the Pittsylvania and Scott Co. VA Adams families.  They also do not seem to be from the Joshua Adams family of Lee Co. VA or the John Adams family line of Patrick Co. VA. 

            We are especially interested in the Johnson Adams of Kenton Co. as he married an Agnes Mann and this is a surname that we are researching.

            We do not believe our Adams book would be of help to Linda. We would suggest that she attempt to find some of the research done by James Taylor Adams and also by Dorothy Amburgey Griffith. Dorothy published Adams Addenda for many years and it is a great source of Adams family information from many areas.