The nice fall weather is bringing cooler temperatures so that one can get those outside chores done before the winter season sets in. It is a good time to check on that family cemetery or a neighborhood cemetery to see what could be done to bring it back from a neglected condition. Our historical society has several such projects on our minds but we are lacking the physical labor to get them accomplished. We have had several people volunteer to help who live out of the area but it is difficult to arrange a time when they can get together for a work day.

Our historical society Pioneer Village in Salyersville has received some much needed upkeep, thanks to Toddie, Jessica and Dorothy. We thank them for well-done jobs.

Nita Lewis of Xenia, Ohio visited our library and also visited the gravesites of her ancestors George and Malinda (Wade) Helton who are buried in the Christian churchyard here in Salyersville. During the Helton Founders Days in 1996, our historical society was involved in setting markers for them that tell of their family history. At the time a well-attended dedication ceremony was held at the site.

Nita’s mother’s family is from our eastern Kentucky area, mostly Johnson Co. KY. Her grandparents were Sanford Frazier and Eva Lena Ward.

Sanford Frazier was a son of James Hiram Frazier and Martha Jane Crace. Hiram was born in 1872 and died in 1910 Johnson Co. KY, a son of William Frazier and Zelphia Lemaster. William was a son of William Alexander Frazier (1818-1868) who married in 1840 Clay County, KY to Elizabeth Woods. William Alexander wife Elizabeth and minor son John Frazier received his Civil War pension. The 1880 Barnett’s Creek, Johnson Co. KY census records Elizabeth Frazier age 58 with her sons John Frazier age 20 and Henry Frazier age 17.

One of Nita’s genealogy questions concerned the burial site of Elizabeth Woods Frazier. Perhaps someone in the Barnett’s Creek area can tell us more information. 

William Frazier’s wife Zelphia was a daughter of Richard T. Lemaster (1807-1887) and Rebecca Christian (b. 1813 VA d. 1878 Johnson Co. KY). Sanford Frazier’s mother Martha Jane Crace was a dau of Peter C. Crace (b. 1837 Pike Co. KY d. 1902 Johnson Co. KY) and Temperance Conley (1839-1907). Peter was a son of Campbell Crace b. 1814 Floyd Co. KY d. 1900 Magoffin Co. KY. He was married in March of 1834 to Mahala Craft who was born in 1818 and died in 1889 Magoffin Co. KY. Mahala was a dau of James Washington Craft and Druscilla Hammonds.

Temperance Conley Crace was a dau of Isaiah Conley (1814 NC-1910 Magoffin Co. KY) and Susannah McCarty. This family lived on Barnett’s Creek in Johnson Co. KY.

Campbell Crace was a son of Peter Crace/Crase and Anna Adams.

Sanford Frazier’s wife Eva Lena was a dau of Harrison Ward (1868-1904 Oil Springs, KY) and Adaminta Rose Helton (1874-1933). Harrison was a son of Andrew Jackson Ward and Lydia V. Litteral. They were married in 1858 Johnson Co. KY. A. J. Ward was a son of William B. Ward, Sr. and Elizabeth Meek. A. J.’s wife Lydia was a dau of Harrison Austin Litteral and Catherine Ramey. Harrison’s name is spelled "Hairston" in most records, including his grave marker in the old Judge Litteral Cemetery in Johnson Co. KY. He was a postmaster of Oil Springs in 1868.

Harrison Ward’s wife was a dau of Jacob W. Helton and Lucinda Ellen Reed. Jacob was a son of the above named George and Malinda Helton. Jacob’s wife Lucinda was a dau of William Lowie Reed b. 1819 SC and Lydia Rice b. 1826 d. 1914.

Another of our visitor’s was Jerry L. Brown of Nicholasville, KY. He is the grandson of John Franklin Brown and Nannie Lee Hall.

John F. Brown was born in 1894, a son of Harvey Burns Brown and Sarah Frances May. Harvey was a son of Samuel Washington Brown and Cynthia Ann Nickell. Samuel Washington’s parents were James Wallace Brown (1783-1862) and Nancy Ann Auxier (1782-1873).

Samuel and Cynthia were the parents of (1) James Brown b. 1842, (2) Martha Brown b. 1845, (3) William Brown b. 1847, (4) Daniel B. Brown b. 1849, (5) Angeline Brown b. 1853, (6) Louisa Brown b. 1857, (7) Harvey B. Brown b. 1869, (8) Jeff Davis Brown b. 1861 killed on White Oak in 1911 and Mary E. Brown b. 1865.

We request that anyone with more information write us at PO Box 222, Salyersville, KY 41465 or email [email protected].