This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the February 28, 2013 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.

            Sometimes a bit of time goes by and we don’t hear from anyone who can help with the requests for information that we put in this column.  This last week or so we have had some great response and we want you to know we appreciate it very much!

            You may remember reading about Ruby Bradley’s request for a picture of her grandmother Evaline Allen, wife of David Shepherd.  Evaline had died when Ruby’s father John Shepherd was a very young boy.  David Shepherd was a son of Brice “Flitterfoot” Shepherd and Lou Easter Salyer.  Evaline was a daughter of James “J. W.” or “William James” Allen and Sallie Hicks.

            Well, we are very pleased to tell you that Karen Coffey Wilson of Willard, OH has located a picture for Ruby of her grandparents and we have printed it out and have it in the mail to her.  Ruby had sent us a very nice handwritten letter requesting help with finding a picture and it has pleased us very much to be able to do so.  Thank you, Karen Wilson for reading the Comments and for searching for the requested picture.

            Another person who helps us with questions we pose in this column is Karla Buckmaster.  We had done several hours of research after Rebecca Lacy had asked for info on a possible burial site for Lucy Jane Bailey who was born about 1882, wife of Linden Crager.  Lucy Jane was the daughter of William “Bill” Bailey and Ellender “Peaky” Bailey.  I think we have about come to the conclusion that Lucy Jane was probably buried in West Virginia as the family lived there according to the 1940 West Virginia census. If she was buried in Magoffin County, the most likely place would be the Dan Wireman Cemetery at the Mouth of Brushy of KY 7, south of Salyersville, KY.

            Karla has researched several families for us and we appreciate all the time and effort she has put into it. It is always good to see a letter or email from her.

            We heard from another good friend, Albert Wireman of Trace Fork here in Magoffin County.  He had read an inquiry from Scott Joseph of Traverse City, MI, a grandson of Roscoe Joseph and Josephine Wireman.  Scott’s question was concerning  Minnie who married John Joseph.  He would like proof of her surname which is usually listed as being “Banks”.  Josephine was a daughter of Joe Wireman and Ida Allen.  Joe was a son of Allen Wireman and Eunice “Coon” Allen. 

Mr. Joseph had found the family on the 1940 census of Floyd Co. KY where Scott’s grandparents Roscoe and Josephine Joseph are listed with children Caroline and John Morgan.  Albert tells us that John Morgan Wireman was a brother to Josephine.  Roscoe and Josephine had a son named John “Bud” Joseph.

It is always good to hear from someone who knew a family personally and can give accurate information.  Thank you, Albert!

John Joseph and Minnie Banks had the following children: these sons Roscoe Joseph, Sr., Ollie Joseph and Shelby Joseph, and these daughters George Ann Joseph, Pearlie Joseph, and Luly Joseph who lived to adulthood. Their children Lacy and Raney both died very young and are buried on the Trace Fork of Licking where they were living according to the 1910 Magoffin census. They had 3 children in their household that year, Adam, Pearly and Lacy. Apparently one child had died before the census was taken and this was probably Raney Joseph.

If anyone has information that can verify Minnie’s maiden name, please let us know.

Back some time ago Kellie Lee Miller had asked us for some help in filling out his family ancestor chart.  He is the son of the late Sam Miller and Bonnie Summa.  Sam was the son of Kellie Miller and Dahlia Watkins.  Kellie was a son of John Miller and Sylvania Owens and a grandson of Samuel Miller and Arty Bailey also James Owens and Malinda Wireman.  Dahlia’s parents were Sam Watkins and Mahala Joseph.  We believe Mahala to be the daughter of Charlie Joseph and Sally.

Bonnie Summa was a daughter of Lee Summa (b. 1887 d. 1958) and Daisy Dell Joseph (1887-1956).  We did not find Lee Summa’s parents as of yet so perhaps someone will help us on that line.

Daisy Dell was a daughter of Robin Joseph (1854-1921) and Julia Howard.  Robin was a son of Abner Joseph and Louisa Owens.  Julia was a daughter of Russell Howard and Mahulda Young. 

We found Samuel and Mahala Watkins in the 1880 Breathitt Co. KY census. They apparently married in 1879 and had a 7-month old daughter Parrot. 

The 1900 Breathitt Co. KY census lists Samuel and Mahala in the Spring Fork section of the county.  Their children in that census year were given as a son Enza age 5, daughters Mollie age 7 and Dolly age 4, a son Benton age 1.  Also in the household was Cliff age 5 listed as a grandson.  They lived in the same neighborhood as John and Arminta Brown, Leander Carpenter, Pearl and Delilah Mann, Billy and Lee Ester (Mann) Howard, Anderson and Sarah Marshall and Katie Allen Mullins (widow of William Mullins), among others.