This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the July 4, 2013 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.

            Some new things are happening at the Magoffin County Historical Society!  We now have RUDD family tee-shirts, hats and coffee mugs!  

Betty Jo Arnett Lykins had come in just before these souvenirs were delivered.  She took one look and remarked “It looks like royalty!”  We think they look great also and want to let everyone know that these Founders Days souvenirs are here at our library. 

Betty Jo had stopped in to bring in some more info on the Rudd family.  She is not a descendant (at least we haven’t found a Rudd ancestor for her YET – smile) but she has helped us gather info.  She had shared a picture of the Rudd School earlier now she has also written an account of the history of the school and recorded the names of the teachers who taught there.  Currently she is working on helping compile info on the H. Green Rudd family.  Green Rudd m. Millie Rowe. He served two terms as Magoffin County Court Clerk from (1954 through 1961).  His parents were James A. Rudd and Mary Elizabeth Stacy.  James A. Rudd was a son of Hiram Hyden Rudd and Melvina Bailey.  Jimmie Allen brought in a picture of him but we are in need of many more family pictures and information as well as any other family with Rudd ancestry.

            Now that the 4^th of July holiday is almost over we need to get in full gear with the Labor Day Magoffin County Founders Day plans.  We are well pleased with the help received from everyone this year – it is truly a “Rudd Family and Friends” celebration.  We thank everyone for their help and input.  Come on in and get involved in this Magoffin County Homecoming event!

            We have quite a number of people who are coming in with their Rudd family info or researching the family line.  We also have visitors researching other family lines.

            Recent visitors were Cheryl Cheek Keefer and her family of Tacoma, WA.  Cheryl is the daughter of Ray “Bud” Cheek.  Her grandparents were Rowland Cheek b. 1907 d. 1949 and Essie Conley b. 1910 d. 1985.  Rowland is buried in the Bud Collins Cemetery and Essie is buried in the Cheek Cemetery on Mash Fork.  She married secondly to Farmer Penix who is also buried in the Cheek Cemetery.  Essie was the daughter of Samuel “Poody” Conley and Mary Caudill.  Samuel Conley was a son of David H. Conley and his wife Nancy.

            Rowland Cheek was a son of John C. Cheek b. 1881 and Emma Collins whom he married in 1906 here in Magoffin Co. KY.  John C. was a son of Isaiah “Zed” Conley and Margaret C. Love.  Emma was a daughter of William H. “Bud” Collins and Lucinda Conley.

            We have had several inquiries down through the years on the Samuel “Poody” Conley family and would like to invite anyone with more knowledge on the family to help us with our collection of family material.

            We would also like to add to our store of Cheek family information.

            Paul Troyer of Salem, IN visited in mid-June.  He was researching the descendants of Thomas Howard and Francis Jackson.  In particular, we found that Burns Scott Howard b. 1897 d. 1977 in Greenup Co. KY was the son of Winfield Scott Howard and Clarenda Montgomery.  Winfield S. was a son of Henry Howard and Lucinda Howard.  Henry was a son of Moses Howard and Mary “Polly” Patrick and a grandson of Thomas Howard and Francis Jackson.

            Henry’s wife Lucinda was also a descendant of Thomas Howard through son William Howard and Anna Arnett.  Anna was a daughter of Reuben Arnett and Susanna Kilgore.

            On the Montgomery side, we find that William Montgomery b. 1840 married Rebecca Howard.  He was a son of John J. Montgomery and Letty Howard.  Letty was a daughter of Thomas and Francis Howard.  John J. was a son of Sanders Montgomery and Elizabeth Edington.

            William’s wife Rebecca was a granddaughter of Thomas and Francis through their son Henry Howard who married Elizabeth Cottle.  Elizabeth was a dau of Joseph Cottle and Nancy Nickell.

            Our next meeting of the historical society will be July 21^st at 2 p.m. and we will need to do a heap of work at that time as we need to finalize our Founders Day program. 

Our buddy Paul Bailey has been appointed the chairperson of the Tip Top Coal Camp Reunion this year.  He called to ask us to let people know that the date for this year’s reunion is Monday, September 2^nd this year.  Those attending should meet at the shelter near the Tip Top Church.  Dinner on the ground will be served and attendees are invited to bring a covered dish to share, if you can.  Also bring in stories and pictures of the days your family lived and worked in the Tip Top Coal Camp.  If you need more directions or information, please call Paul Bailey at 606-884-6280.