Nov 10, 2011

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

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This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the
November 10, 2011 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.

The Salyersville Independent 
P. O. Box 29, Salyersville, KY 41465. Telephone (606) 349-2915.  Yearly subscription rates are $24.00 in Kentucky and $32.00 per year out of state.

          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.

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