This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the March 14, 2013 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.

            Last week we had a gathering at my daughter’s house in remembrance and thankfulness of all those who helped us after the 2012 Tornado.  So many local people pitched in and helped their friends and neighbors and a great many individuals, church and civic groups from many other places came to Magoffin at that time to help in any way they could.  Many of them would gather for a short prayer session every morning and evening.  We may not know their names but we are grateful to all that helped.  May God bless!

            We have gathered a few stories and statements from those who wrote of their experiences and feelings following the March 2^nd tornado.  We hope you will send us your story; even those who live away are welcome to write as we know it affected many who were concerned for family, friends and the homeland of their ancestors.  You may send via regular mail to Box 222, Salyersville, KY 41465 or email [email protected].  A remembrance book of the Magoffin Tornado is coming together and we thank those who have already shared their photos and stories.

             We have done some research on the Rowe family this week.  Alonzo Rowe asked about his ancestry.  He is the grandson of Andy Rowe (7 Jun 1888-16 Oct 1979) and Helen Bailey (1889-30 Mar 1967).  Andy Rowe was a son of George Rowe.   One George Rowe is buried in the Warren Bailey Cemetery. His native stone marker has “In Loving Memory of George Rowe” marked on it.  Alonzo says this is the gravesite of his great grandfather.

George married 8 October 1888 in Magoffin Co. KY to Hannah Frazier.  We have no other info on her except that she was buried on the Sarah Rowe Cemetery.

            Helen Bailey Rowe’s parents were Asberry “Bee” Bailey and Catherine Rigsby.

            The family of George and “Haner” Row was recorded in the 1900 Magoffin Co. KY census.  Their neighbors were Asberry and Lurana Salyer, Jack and Farlena Minix, Wiley and Betty Salyer, Lee and Victoria Rigsby.

            In 1900 George’s age was listed as 39 b. Jan 1861. He and Haner (age 37 b. Mar 1863) had been married for 13 years and were the parents of 9 children however only 8 children were listed: (1) Edmon Row age 13; (2) Andy Row age 11; (3) Nathan Row age 8; (4) James Row age 7; (5) Wilber Row age 2; (6) William Row age 4; (7) Mary Row age 1; and (8) Peggy Row age 2. You will notice that the last two were given out of birth order.

            George Rowe was a son of William Rowe and we believe, Mary “Polly” Watkins.  The Vital Statistics as copied from the microfilm and put into book form by the late C. E. Shepard shows that one George Row was born 4 Feb 1859 Magoffin Co. KY to parents William Row and Mary Watkins.  We found that family in several Magoffin County census records.  In 1860 W. M. Row was listed as age 26, his wife Polly was age 25 and they had two children in their household: Thomas age 3 and George age 1.  Their near neighbors were Samuel (age 40) and Delany Howard, Thomas Wadkins (age 49), Elizabeth Jones (age 39), John Wadkins (age 21) and wife Anna, Brice (age 44) and Elizabeth Crager Shepherd.

            By 1870 Mary Rowe was listed with children Anna, Amanda and George.

            The 1880 Magoffin Census has William Rowe age 73, wife Mary age 67 and they have a 16 year-old William Mullins in the household. In this census William gave his and his father’s birthplace as North Carolina with his mother being born in Tennessee.  Mary gave her birthplace as Tennessee with her parents being born in North Carolina.  At this time their neighbors were Elijah and Nancy Conley, Isaac and Martha Rowe, Abner and Louisa Joseph, and widow Usley Joseph age 70.

            We have a copy of the Abner Joseph Cemetery on Half Mountain with gravesites of William and Mary Rowe.  This William was born 20 Jul 1806 and died 29 Nov 1888. His wife Mary was born 20 May 1808 and died 16 Apr 1889.  The recorder of this cemetery gave Mary’s maiden name as Finch or Fincher. 

            And so we have several unanswered questions about this family.  Hopefully some of our readers can help us with more information. 

            While we are on the subject, we really appreciate all the people who helped us gather information for the cemetery books that we have printed.  We included their names with the cemeteries they copied in our books.

We are still working on updating the cemetery records of Magoffin County.  This spring when you are visiting your family cemeteries, we would like to ask you to copy the names and dates of all those interred there and include some notes on relationships and share with us.  Remember that much info needs to be added to our records as several years have passed since the time we originally copied the cemeteries.