We had a visitor at our historical society library researching her family this week and discovered their ancestry not only in Magoffin County but in all area counties, such as Johnson, Floyd, Pike, Breathitt and Knott counties.

Ms. Rhodicie Carpenter Tomes of Illinois is the daughter of Homer Carpenter and Helen Bowling. Homer was born in 1916 Johnson Co. KY and died in 1998 Fort Wayne, IN, a son of John Carpenter and June Minix. His wife Helen was born in 1918 Pike Co. KY, the daughter of Robert Drexel Bowling and Virgie Lee Minix.

John Carpenter was born 9 Sep 1891 to Leander Carpenter and Josephine "Josie" Conley. He shows as age 9 in the 1900 Springfork, Breathitt Co. KY census in the household of Leander and Josie. In 1910 Leander and Josephine lived in Johnson Co. KY and son John was age 19.

By 1940 John Carpenter was age 49, truck farmer and a widower, living in Lake, Kosciusko, IN. The census record indicates he and his children had lived in Johnson County, KY in 1935. His children still in household in 1940 were (1) Johnny Carpenter age 17, working with the 3-C’s (Civil Conservation Corps), (2) Hager Carpenter age 21 working as a furniture manufacturer, (3) Josephine Carpenter age 19, (4) Lacy Carpenter, age 15, (5) Oralee Carpenter age 13, (6) Paul Douglas Carpenter age 11, (7) Bessie Carpenter age 4 and (7) Carl Edward Carpenter age 4.

Leander Carpenter was a son of Fielding Carpenter, Jr. (1823-1864) and Virginia Jane Howard. He was born 17 Dec 1855 and died 24 Dec 1946 in Johnson Co. KY and was buried at Leander, Johnson Co. KY near Hager Hill.

Leander’s wife Josie Conley was a daughter of John Conley (1822-1903) and Leeaster Lawhorn (1825-1916).

Leander’s son John Carpenter married in 1911 Magoffin County to June Minix b. 1890, the daughter of Brice Minix and Jahaza Montgomery.

Brice Minix, father of June, was born in 1856, a son of Charles Minix, Jr. and Margaret "Peggy" Patrick. Brice’s wife Jahaza Montgomery was born in 1863, a daughter of Silas Montgomery and Agnes "Aggie" Sizemore.

When we searched Rhodicie’s maternal line we found that her grandfather Robert Drexel Bowling was born 13 Apr 1897 and died 23 Apr 1974 in Floyd Co. KY. At the time of his death, he lived in Weeksbury, KY.

Drexel was listed as being born in April of 1897 in the 1900 Pike Co. KY census with his father Reece Bowling b. Apr 1872 (age 28 at that time) and mother Cordelia b. Aug 1871. Drexel’s older siblings in the household were Verna Bowling b. 1893 and Lonzo Bowling b. 1895.

Drexel Bowling shows as age 15 in the 1910 Pike County census, along with sisters, Maud Bowling age 9 and Hester Bowling age 7. They are in the household of their mother Dealie Overstreet Bowling who was age 38 and widowed, all 5 children born to her were still living. She gave her place of birth as Missouri. Another member of the household was Dealie’s mother-in-law who was also widowed. She was Rebecca Bowling age 73, mother of 12 children with 10 living. Next door was Harry Overstreet age 36 with wife Lucinda. Harry is presumed to be a brother to Dealie Bowling as he also gave his birthplace as Missouri.

Drexel Bowling’s wife was Virgie Lee Minix (4 Jul 1897 Magoffin Co. KY-30 Aug 1946), sister to June Minix Carpenter. Virgie and June were both daughters of Brice Minix and Jahaza Montgomery.

Robert Drexel Bowling was a son of Reece T. Bowling (9 Apr 1872 Pike Co. KY d. 5 Mar 1904 Pike Co. KY) and Cordelia "Dealie" Overstreet.

Reece T. Bowling was a son of Henry Clay Bowling (1826 Wilkes Co. NC-1904 Pike Co. KY) and Rebecca Ratliff (2 Dec 1836 Pike Co. KY-8 Dec 1912 Pike Co. KY).

Henry Clay was a son of Sarah Bowling. This family is buried in the Bowling Family Cemetery, Bowling Fork Road of Marrowbone Creek of Pike County, KY.

When we compiled the Minix family books in 1991 we discovered that country music star Patty Loveless who was born in Pike County, KY had a Magoffin County connection. Patty is the daughter of John Ramey and Naomi Bowling. Her grandmother Naomi Bowling Ramey’s parents were Robert Drexel "Drack" Bowling and Virgie Minix. So our visitor Rhodicie Tomes, as well as a large portion of our Magoffin County people who are descendants of Brice Minix and Jahaza Montgomery are also relatives of Patty Loveless!

We were pleased to hear from two of our members via email this week and appreciate their contributions. Karen Coffey Wilson has several copies of the Northern New Salem Association Church Minutes from years ago that she is donating to our library. Also Pam Douglas Bandy has sent an article on her Johnson family for printing. She is still searching for more info on the families of Alex/Alec Johnson who married in 1870 to Sarah Cantrell. Sarah was born in 1853, a daughter of J. C. Cantrell, mother’s name not known at this time. Alex Johnson was a son of Jacob Johnson and Elizabeth Osborne.