This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the August 9, 2012 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.

            I was privileged to attend the opening of the South Magoffin Community Park and the Open House for the South Magoffin Fire Department last Saturday afternoon.  This is at the location of the former John T. Arnett School on Rt. 7, South East Licking River Road in the Arthurmable/Fredville community.  The event was sponsored by the South Magoffin Activist group and Fire Department, spearheaded by Berta Kay Salyer, chairperson.

            Folks, there was a tremendous amount of pride and enthusiasm shown by everyone attending.  Everyone that I have talked with about this new development for our county feels the same.  This South Magoffin group project along with the efforts of the Civil War committee working towards the construction of a Civil War Park complete with walking trails and other facilities as well as the Rails to Trails project is going to make the area of South Magoffin in our county a major visitation center for tourists and former citizens who like to return to the place of their roots.

            I have good memories of having been a member of the Magoffin County Board of Education when the John T. Arnett School was built and have participated in many functions such as basketball games, etc. at the school so I am pleased and proud to see this building put into use again.  This is a landmark building for the community and I feel it is very important to retain it and return it to usefulness

            Another important meeting was a special called meeting of the Magoffin County Historical Society on Sunday afternoon.  We had a grand crowd attending and much advancement was made toward finalizing the program of events for our 34^th Magoffin County Founders Day honoring the Marshall family scheduled for this coming Labor Day weekend.  Events begin Tuesday, August 28^th and the final part of the program will be conducted on Monday, September 3, 2012.

            Attending and helping with these plans on Sunday were Randall Risner, Tom Marshall, Dorothy S. Wireman, Lena Auxier, Margie Marshall Manns, Dale Salyer, Avanell Marshall, Sandra Marshall Prater, Jackie D. Prater, Barbara Marshall Broome, Ruth Ann Marshall, Demmie Marshall, Donna Marshall Wireman, Oscar Marshall, Derek Marshall, Martha Marshall, Sheila Smiley, Jincy Marshall Bailey, Melodye Marshall Stephens, Brenda K. Howard, Charlotte Gillum, Tara Marsillett, Wanda Whitt, Herman Whitt, Sharon Whitt Halsey, Sheila Patrick Nelson, Sue Marshall Patrick, Lori Sizemore, Marlene Owens, and myself - Roy Jack “Todd” Preston.

            We should soon have a program of events that we can share with you for our Labor Day Magoffin County Founders Days.

            It has been a good week for mail also.  We are always appreciative of the letters that come our way. 

            Jessica Kyser wrote asking for information about her Carpenter family. Her father was Ernest Lee Carpenter who was born in 1940 to parents Dorsie Carpenter and Edna Mae Salyer.  Ernest Lee died in Salyersville, KY when Jessica was only 12 years old.

            In our Salyer family book we found that Edna Mae Salyer who was born 28 Dec 1922 married Dorsie Carpenter. Dorsie was born 6 Mar 1919 and died 18 Jan 1984.  He married Edna Mae Salyer, a daughter of Lee Salyer and Amanda Minix.  Amanda was a daughter of Brice Minix and Jahaza Montgomery. 

            We find that Ernest L. Carpenter was born 5 April 1940 and married 4 March 1966 to Cherl Hadley who was born in 1948 Ann Arbor, MI, daughter of William and Wanda Hadley.

            Another letter full of information came from Carol Adams Boring of Jasper, Georgia who has been a good contributor to our collection of genealogical and historical information for many years. She has helped us with many projects, including sending a booklet Descendants of Spencer Adams Families for our research shelves.

            Carol told of the 61^st annual reunion of the George Washington & Mary Lane (Reed) Adams descendants held in Plymouth, OH on July 21, 2012.  Her uncle, George Washington Adams, Jr. has diligently collected family information for many years with the result that the family has a record of all the offspring of this family.  What a remarkable feat!  We salute this grand old family whose roots run deep in Magoffin County.  Elmer Adams’ wife, Katherine and their offspring still live on the original land at Stella here in Magoffin.  Elmer, who died about 5 years ago, was a second cousin to Carol.

            Included in her letter was a mention of those buried in the Alexander and Mary (Cantrell) Adams cemetery at Stella in the Johnson Fork area of our county.  She believes Spencer Adams to be buried there as she found a small marker with the initials “S. A.” about 10 feet from his wife, Susan’s grave.