This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the July 16, 2009 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.

The Salyersville Independent  is a weekly newspaper published and edited by Michael David Prater, P. O. Box 29, Salyersville, KY 41465. Telephone (606) 349-2915.  Yearly subscription rates are $24.00 in Kentucky and $30.00 per year out of state.

            I’ve often heard my dear mother say in years past, after a much awaited event, “John Brown’s dead and the big day’s over.” 

            The annual 4^th of July celebration is now over and was a huge success even if it did get a little damp Saturday night. The street dance was rained out but a big fireworks show helped raise the spirits of all.

            The DAV Chapter 15 gave a 21-gun salute ceremony at the Veteran’s Monument to begin the proceedings on Saturday morning.  I was glad to be able to take part in this event.  The DAV group also participated in the parade.

            After the ceremony at the Veteran’s Monument, I prepared for the parade by setting up the speaker’s stand that Bob Whittaker made for us a few years ago.

            The “Poody” Connelley/Conley family had their reunion down in the old bank building and they got right in on the festivities and the parade.

            The local fire departments proudly showed off their big shiny pumper trucks and equipment.  The beauty pageant winners from babies to adult were quite a show. Many other children’s groups also participated such as the baseball team, etc. There were quite a few old cars and tractors in the parade.

            The Dayton Bunch surprised Ol’ Todd with a parade entry of a replica of the Pioneer Village which really made all the sweat I’ve spilled worthwhile! (SMILE).  It is humbling to think a group of young people from Dayton, OH would build such a lovely float in honor of Ol’ Todd.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  

            There was a deluge of 4-wheelers and dirt bikes in the parade, I counted 130 such rigs and didn’t count the Shriner’s bikes and cars.

            The horses and buggies numbered about 30 to 40.  I heard Wendell Hoskins fell off his mount before he got to the speaker’s stand and didn’t get to show his usual special antics.

            All participants are to be commended.  From the newspaper advertisement I understand the sponsors of the 4^th of July were the Miss Magoffin Scholarship Pageant, the Salyersville Renaissance, Salyersville Fire Department, Renaissance Art Club, the City of Salyersville and Ritt Mortimer of Your News Today. The Howard Austin Band supplied live music.  All their work is appreciated.

            Lyle and Shana Keeton ([email protected]) sent the following info from a column of Feb 12: James Harvey Williams was born in 1823, a son of Isaac Williams b. ca. 1790 and a grandson of Daniel Williams and Violet Crouch.  Isaac Williams married first in 1820 to Elizabeth Lykins b. 1801, dau of William Lykins b. ca. 1766. William was a son of Marcus Lykins.  William married Margaret Ritter b. ca. 1860, dau of -?- Ritter and Susanna -?-.

            James Harvey Williams married Sarah Wilson b. 1825/30, a dau of Joshua Wilson, III b. 1802 and married in 1823 to Elizabeth Lykins b. 1802/04. Elizabeth was a dau of Isaac Lykins b. 1770/72 and married in 1797 to Nancy Lacy b. 1770.

            Isaac Lykins was a son of Marcus Lykins, making Isaac and William brothers with the two Elizabeth Lykins being first cousins, thus James Harvey Williams and Sarah Wilson were second cousins. James Harvey Williams married 2^nd to Mahala Rudd.

            Wilbur Rowe would like to set a monument for his brother George Edward Rowe who died of a ruptured appendix as a child.  He died in the Paintsville Hospital and was the last burial in the Sarah Rowe Cemetery on Oakley Creek.  “Rooster” Rowe reports that the road to this cemetery has “washed out” due to the heavy rains this spring.

            If anyone knows any info on the needed birth and death dates, would you contact us?  George Edward Rowe was a son of Riley Rowe who married in 1940 to Cristina “Crissie” Bailey but he was raised by Curt Mullins and Mary Rowe.

            Susanne Rowe, 341 Madison Dr., Elizabethtown, KY 42701 ([email protected]) writes that her father Garland Trusty was a WWII veteran and she would like to get his name on the veteran’s monument.  The organization known as VAMCCO is responsible for this marker which is located in Ramey Park in the Dixie area of Salyersville.  A veteran whose name is not already inscribed on the marker may have it done by supplying a copy of an honorable discharge (DD 214) and pay a fee of $25.  The deadline for this year has passed (May 15^th ).  For more information, contact 349-6464, 884-2714 or 349-5091.       

Garland Trusty was a son of Dud Trusty and Cinda Combs. Cinda married 2^nd in 1928 to Paul Stovill of Ohio, son of Reid Stovill.  Belsey Connelley says Garland went by the name of Garland Stovill Trusty and married Maxine, dau of Claude and Molly Patrick. We didn’t find a discharge in Magoffin County in our information on Garland Trusty so it may be lodged in Ohio.