For the 155^th time since the spring of 1979 we have completed a Magoffin County Historical Society Journal and mailed it out to members. In updating our membership list we were pleased to see some members returning from a few years ago, these were from Tennessee, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio and Florida. New members for the year were from Ohio, Maryland, two from North Carolina, Indiana, Arizona, and Florida. We were also very pleased to get some local members from right here in Magoffin County, as well as Morgan County and Johnson County. If you think this publication is something you would be interested in the fee is $15 for the calendar year from Magoffin County Historical Society, PO Box 222, Salyersville, KY 41465.

We are also in the process of completing Volume 2 of People – Places – Events, a collection of stories and pictures contributed by people who helped us gather historical and genealogical information during 2010, Magoffin County’s 150^th birthday. We had anticipated completion of this book by the end of October but hopefully it will be a couple of weeks earlier. Volume 1 is also available (422 pages - $43) as well as the 610 page Sesquicentennial Activities book which is printed in color ($55).

We helped Larry Watson with his ancestor chart this week. His ancestry is outlined in several of our family books. We even found his name listed in our Howard book as a descendant of Benjamin Howard and Phoebe Slusher and in our Arnett book as a descendant of Reuben and Luraney (Jones) Arnett.

Larry is a paternal grandson of Branch Watson and Linda Perkins. Branch was born in 1878 to Frank Watson and Katherine "Katie" Allen. Branch and Linda Watson were listed as residents of Ivyton in Magoffin County in 1910; by 1920 they lived on Abbott Creek of Floyd County, KY. In 1940 they lived in Michigan where Branch died in 1972 and is buried in the Rice Creek Cemetery, Albion, MI.

Frank and Sarah Katherine "Katie" Allen were married in 1869 Magoffin County. F. M. "Frank" Watson was born about 1843 and died during the flu epidemic in 1918 at Galdia, KY and is buried in the Watson Cemetery at Gapville on Salt Lick Creek of Magoffin Co. KY. The names of Frank’s parents appear to be Jim (or Flem) Watson and Nancy Rister on his death certificate which also reports that he was born in Carter Co. KY. Frank’s wife was a dau of John Allen and his second wife Celia Slusher who are listed in the 1850 Floyd Co. KY census.

John Allen was a son of William Allen and Caty Gearheart. John was born 11 Jan 1809 and d. 28 Jan 1893. His first wife and the mother of most of his children was Nancy Jane Click b. 4 Mar 1808 and died 24 Mar in either 1847 or 1877. It is likely that 1847 is the correct date as we did not find her in the 1850, 1860 or 1870 census records. She was a dau of John Click and Susan Drake. They are listed in the 1840 Breathitt Co. KY census with 5 children. By 1850 in Floyd John at age 42 and wife Celia (spelled "Seeda" in the census) had these children in their household: Adam age 16, George age 14, John age 13, William age 11, Joseph age 9, Sarah age 7, David age 6, Allin age 4 and Katherine age 3.

John Allen’s second wife Celia Slusher was born about 1828 and died in the early 1850’s. Her maiden name was given to us in an interview with Les Risner in 1989 and was also in the family history of Woodrow Allen of Floyd Co. KY. She is believed to be a daughter of Phillip Slusher.

Branch Watson’s wife Linda was born in 1886 Magoffin County and died in 1947 Michigan. She was a dau of William Riley Perkins who married Barbara Watkins in 1885 Magoffin County. Riley was a son of George Perkins (b. 1844 d. 1917 OK). George married Biddy Watkins on 19 Aug 1861 Magoffin Co. KY. Biddy was born about 1840 and died 1908 in Magoffin County. William Riley’s wife Barbara was a dau of James Watkins who died after 1920 in Oklahoma and his wife Mary Poe. Mary was born 1830 in Tennessee and died 1885 in Floyd Co. KY.

Visitor Larry Watson’s maternal grandparents were Thomas Graydon Arnett and Virginia "Virgie" Howard. Graydon Arnett was a son of William Arnett (1852-1926) and Phoebe Salyer (1851-1937).

William and Phoebe married in Magoffin County on 7 Jan 1869. They appear in the 1870 Magoffin census with a son Elbert born in February. Descendants give the family of William and Phoebe as (1) Elbert Arnett m. Susie Risner, (2) Elliott Arnett m. Carrie Belle Collins, (3) Tera Arnett m. 1^st Sam Arnett and m. 2^nd Grant Salyer, (4) Luraney Arnett m. Robert "Bob" Risner, (5) Elizabeth Arnett m. 1^st Dury Risner and m. 2^nd John Barnett, (6) Grover Arnett m. Nora Patton, (7) J. Moat Arnett m. 1^st Maud Jackson; m. 2^nd Josephine Howard and m. 3^rd Fannie Craft; (8) Randolph Arnett died young, (9) Nina Arnett m. Lee Risner and (10) Thomas Graydon Arnett m. 1^st Virginia Howard and m. 2^nd Emily Lemaster.

Graydon’s wife Virgie was a dau of Goalson Howard and Kate Howard. Ghoalson was a son of William "Bill" Howard and Arty Salyer. Kate was a dau of Lark Howard and Polly Ann Salyer. These families are outlined in our Arnett, Howard and Salyer family books.

Additional family info and pictures from descendants would be very welcome. Please write Magoffin County Historical Society, PO Box 222, Salyersville, KY 41465.