We have had the opportunity to do some more exploring here in
Magoffin
County as
we wanted to check out some stories of possible Civil War sites still
being extant. Willard Risner, Randall Risner, Jack Sizemore, Henry Clay
Sizemore and I met at a church on Puncheon Creek to hunt for graves said
to be those of Civil War soldiers in that area. After climbing a very
steep hill we came upon another very steep hill. We took a breather and
while looking around found what strongly resembled a breast works and
there were several of the same on the opposite side of the valley. These
are areas where soldiers might have hidden behind for cover while doing
battle. We then traveled on to hunt for the lone grave of the soldier and
I think we have found it. There are supposed to be at least two graves
down a left hand hollow and three down a right hollow but we were
reluctant to travel any further that day but will try another day.
The group I traveled with, along with several others, is intent
on working towards getting a Civil War
Battlefield Park
established at South Magoffin and we have seen very encouraging
progression in this endeavor. Our little group needs your help so fall in
and help out if you can. We hope to try to secure “start-up” funds for
the South Magoffin Battlefield and need help with grant writing, etc. We
have a map made up that shows the proposed layout of the Battlefield Park and
you are invited to come in to our facility to have a look-see.
I also enjoyed another little trip. Visitor Roger Wheeler of
Orient, Ohio came
in yesterday and wanted to visit a cemetery at the mouth of Williams Fork
where a child, little Nora Wheeler is buried.
This is an abandoned cemetery that a mountain goat would have a
tough time getting to. Randall Risner had visited this cemetery once
before with me so I called him to come down and accompany us. There are
very few stones that have readable inscriptions but they have the best
hand-printed readings that you will ever see. Little Nora’s gravestone is
the best. There are about thirty unmarked graves in this area.
There is another grave marker about six feet in height for a
young child. The stone is in excellent condition but has fallen down.
Randall has already decided this large monument should be set back up
before the expert carving is further deteriorated.
Is there anyone in that area who can tell us more history of
this cemetery? I would especially like to know information about the
stonemason who carved out the monuments and did the lettering. I would
also like to know if there is a better approach to the cemetery than going
up behind the lone house that sets on the Magoffin side of
Williams
Creek.
I vaguely remember a store and post office in the area just
across Williams
Creek in
Morgan County.
If you can provide some more information on the area, please call
606-349-1607, email
[email protected] or write to
us at Box 222,
Salyersville, KY 41465.
Better yet, come in and visit us at our library located at 191 South
Church Street here in Salyersville so we can talk and look at maps, etc.
There is much history in our area that needs to be recorded and
saved before time and other forces does away with not only our memories
but the physical sites as well.
It was interesting to see
the “D. Boon” initials cut into a piece of beech tree that Bob Whittaker
had put on Facebook and was reprinted in the Salyersville Independent last
week. It is said this was found on Beartree Fork of Rockhouse Fork of
Burning Springs. Daniel Boone is supposed to have found a salt spring in
that area and salt was a necessity in salting down the wild game in order
to preserve it. I have personally seen the downed tree that the piece was
cut from and vaguely remember the man who sawed it out to save for
posterity. I believe he may have been a Wheeler. We would like to hear
some more information about this picture.
It is good to be hearing about the several ongoing progressive
projects in all parts of our county. I understand that
South Magoffin
has several such ongoing, one being a new fire department. I was a
conservation officer in Magoffin in the fifties and became acquainted with
many people in that area and was always treated with the utmost respect by
them. We used to have a strong sportsman’s club in that area and would
have turkey shoots at the “White
Bridge”.
I used to set up and show movies at the M. F. Arnett Store and people
would come in cars, trucks and wagons to watch them. Several children saw
their first movie during those times. I always had excellent cooperation
and participation in that area. I served also on the local board of
education when the John T. Arnett School
was built and admired the progress and success the school enjoyed.
Working together, we can bring good opportunities and
improvements to our county. We hope you will be a part of all the plans
and projects now in progress. It is good to get involved with ways of
making our area better for our people, especially the young children who
are tomorrow’s future.