Part 1 of 8 (note written in 2004)

I was very excited as I drove into Lewisburg, West Virginia for the first time in April 1999. Although I had heard of the place I'd never really "considered" it before. I had never been told much about its history or about my ancestors who were from there. But now, I was on a mission. For some inexplicable reason I had decided to document my family's past.

My heart jumped when I saw the sign announcing that Lewisburg was only a short distance away. I strangely felt that I was coming home.

Once in town, I stopped to ask for directions at the General Lewis Inn. Instead of asking for the name of the street, the woman in the reception area of the Inn asked me for the family name of the people I was going to see. I said one name and she looked at me as if it didn't register. A few seconds later she said "Are you African American?". When I answered "yes" she said "And what, again are the family names?" I recited a few. She exclaimed "Well one of your cousins works here, I'll go and get her". A few minutes later my young cousin came into the reception area. I hadn't seen her since she was a baby but I recognized her immediately from a high school picture she had sent me a decade ago. We hugged. "Mom's waiting for you" she said.

As I drove down Route 60, I overshot the bridge after which I was supposed to make a turn. I had been looking for a BRIDGE. In New Orleans (where I live) bridges cover large bodies of water, like the Mississippi River. New Orleans is the home of the longest bridge in the world. I didn't notice the wooden structure which crossed over the two lane road.

As I drove down Route 60 I found myself in what seemed like vast farmland. I flagged down a portly, red faced farmer who was driving on a tractor and I asked him if he knew "where Maple Street might be". He said "No" and that all he could tell me was that I was "driving west on 60". Another mile down I decided I was too far out of town. I made a U turn and headed back. This time it was the farmer's turn to flag me down. "Are you looking for a colored lady named Miss Edna?" he asked. "Yes, that's her" I said. He then gave me the exact directions to Maple Street where I eventually found Aunt Edna's home.

Part 2 of 8 (Note written in 2004)

Her house is on a hill and the area overlooks the town of Lewisburg. It seems to be the area where Black folks always lived. It was more than I had expected.

My almost four day stay in Lewisburg yielded a good deal of genealogical information. It also changed my focus from the very specific task of documenting my immediate family to an obsessive and impossible quest to document the names of every Black, Mulatto, or Native American individual who ever lived in Greenbrier, Monroe, Pocahontas, or Summers County.

During my first days in Lewisburg, my grandmother's first cousin, Harriet Olive Kelly Miller Williams (affectionately called "Aunt Harriet") recited what she knew of the family's history at my Aunt Edna's kitchen table. She tied up some loose ends but inspired a myriad of other questions. She shared her beautiful family scrapbook and promised to let me make copies of some of her photos. She seemed delighted to have met a kindred spirit.

Part 3 of 8 (note from 2004)

It is clear to me, from the information shared at that time and from information collected later on, that the Black residents of southeastern West Virginia (including Lewisburg) were intricately involved in the politics and daily life of the area. One had broken the horse that a Confederate General would later ride (Traveller). One had been the domestic servant for the Lieutenant Governor of Confederate Virginia. Another had been co-counsel in the only case (the SHUE case) in which a ghost helped to convict a man of murder. The famous entertainer "Bricktop" was from there as well as the most famous worker in U.S. history "John Henry". The esteemed photographer, James Presley Ball had registered in Lewisburg as a free man of color in 1847. The disputed child of President Thomas Jefferson (who was the oldest child of Sally Hemings and who was known as Thomas Corbin Woodson) lived in the area for a while.

Part 4 of 8 (note written in 2004)

Soon, and because it was such a short stay, an onslaught of "alive" relatives led me away from genealogy and toward the business of present day life. We spent a great deal of time eating at Shoney's but most of our time was spent sitting around Aunt Edna's kitchent table just enjoying each other's company.

Part 5 of 8 (note written in 2004)

By the time of my second trip to Lewisburg in 2002, I had studied the area a bit more. I had gotten the sense that "political correctness" might threaten to erase the "blackness" from the history of the area. I had read a number of articles where an individual who I knew to be Black was reported with no race. I understand this approach but I feel that I need to document the fact of their existence as well as their race. It is a way to say "We were here too". "We have histories too", and "We also have a claim to this beautiful place".

There were Blacks who owned property in downtown Lewisburg. One became a Congressman, another a Bishop, another was a fortune teller. There were two enslaved girls who inherited property from their master. A few were trustees (politicians). There was a lawyer, and there were laundresses, stonemasons, paupers, and persons who were insane. Most were just plain working folk who made their living in the same manner as we do nowadays -- by getting up in the morning and working hard every day.

Part 6 of 8 (note written in 2004)

Aunt Harriet died on the very evening of my second arrival there. Her death brought the gift of a great gathering of Lewisburg folk who shared information, family tales, and more photographs. Before the funeral services were held I was at Walmart's making a number of copies of treasured photos on the promise of their safe return.

Countless times, when I am on the verge of giving up this work, a packet of new information will fall into my lap and inspire me to continue. Other times, I will be surfing on the internet and some intriguing fact of the area's history will just pop up. It's as if the collective energy and spirit of all of the Black residents of the area (and I can admit this because of the SHUE case) have come together to push me forward at the precise moment when I have decided to quit.

Many (still living) individuals have also given me assistance in this project and I am eternally grateful for their input. I am not a genealogist. I am not an historian. I had no academic approach or system to what I was attempting to do. Because of my deficits, I couldn't have done this project without some help. Nevertheless, this compilation* is not a lofty effort but simply a list of names of people and the places where I found them. It is meant to be used as an index.

* Black Residents of Greenbrier, Monroe, Pocahontas, and Summers Counties by Carol L. Haynes

7 of 8 (note written in 2004)

I had been in Lewisburg for about four days on my second visit there, in 2002, when I finally saw my cousin "Dottie". I hadn't seen her even though Lewisburg is a very small town. She confronted me with this fact by saying "I told Ma that I was going to have to go and lie down in the cemetery because that would probably be the only way I'd ever get to see you". She was half correct.

During that second visit, I made my way to a cemetery on Neff Orchard Road in Monroe County. There was not a soul to be found anywhere once I made the turn onto the road. The cows were numerous, however, and they seemed to come close enough to my car car that they could have licked my windows as I passed.

The setting of the Sinks Grove Colored Cemetery is idyllic. My grandfather, William "Hubert" Haynes is buried there and I located his grave. Next to his marker I saw the corner of a stone. I picked up a stick and moved the bush which obscured the stone and I found my great-grandfather's (George Washington Haynes') grave. As I was leaving the cemetery I looked down onto the valley. It was so green, so peaceful. The mountains beyond the valley were magnificent. was it my imagination or had I picked the perfect day? It didn't seem to match up at all - this place, and slavery.

It seems very strange to find myself trampling through cemeteries, looking out for snakes, snapping photos of graves, and spending hours looking through blurry documents for ancient names.

Part 8 of 8 (personal note written in 2004)

I've begun to talk about these people as if I know them, I cringe when I discover that a young woman has lost her only child. I am impressed that the Reverend C.C. Logan has officiated at a marriage once again. I'm elated when, while interviewing a descendant, I learn something as simple as that Nola excelled at making pies. I'm distressed that two men were forcibly removed from the Greenbrier jail and hung from the cross-arms of a telephone pole. It is amusing that the Caucasian Reverend Samuel R. Houston was concerned that the "Negroes" took exception to his sermon, even at a time when they were still enslaved. It is interesting how one Black skeleton took up almost permanent residence in the office of a Lewisburg doctor. I'm proud that a man who registered as "free" in Lewisburg in 1847 had a photo which fetched over $60,000 at an auction in the late 1900's. I am amazed that the fortune teller, Mildred Carter Bess, was able to find the young girl's ring.

I'm most intrigued, however, with questions which may never be answered. Why was Mahala Early charged with murder and later acquitted? Who were the Black members of the Presbyterian church? What REALLY happened to the Native Americans? Was the joining of my great grandparents (one Black, one White) a matter of love or rape?

Lewisburg as "home" was a fleeting, romantic sentiment. But half of my family lived there. Their remains form a part of the soil. They suffered and endured there. The part of me that is a part of them can call it home.

Like with my first trip into Lewisburg, this work has overshot its mark at times. I've gotten far afield of my goal and I have had to double back. I met another portly, red faced man and learned that he is a cousin of mine.

Assumptions are dashed, certainties are quashed, sometimes I am embarassed by my ignorance and yet, though wounded by my failings, I continue on. Had I known what I was getting myself into when I first set out on this path it might have never gotten done. It is a work that is driven by an inexplicable force, not volition, and work, which I fear will consume the remainder of my days.

Carol Haynes
2004

Wedding photo - Dr. Robert J. Howard & Edna Haynes Howard

Edna Haynes was one of the younger daughters of the 14 children of George Washington Haynes and Elizabeth Jane Payne Haynes Haynes Lewis. A woman in Raleigh had invited a number of young Black recent medical school graduates to the Beckley area & many of them stayed and treated area residents. One such doctor was Robert Howard who was originally from Ruffin, North Carolina (he attended the Agriculture Institute at Lamberton, N.C., the Agricultural and Technical College at Greensboro, and Meharry Medical School in Nashville & he did post-graduate work at Howard University). Dr. Howard first set up a practice in Mullens (1920) but then he moved to Beckley (1921). The wedding party consists of many of Edna's siblings (to the right). I'm not sure but it looks like nieces to the left and I'm not sure who the little boy is. There seems to be another wedding party right behind them. As for Edna, her birth name was Lillian E.T. Haynes. She was called "Aunt Eddie". She taught school, See Journal of the Greenbrier Historical Society Vol 7, #6, 2004, page 60 which states "Of the later generations the following persons have taught school ..." Edna is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Beckley. Dr. Howard died on the same day that President John F. Kennedy was assasinated, 11/22/1963. See Beckley Post Centennial Edition, Saturday morning, 8/26/1950.

Cleo Caval Haynes Dickason Blakely

What an amazing night. Only a few days ago I told my younger sister how everytime I lose interest in my genealogy work I will get a photo in the mail - or someone would call me with information - and that I would be off and running again. Well, I haven't been very attentive to my family history of late and then, yesterday, a younger cousin contacted me and he had many many images of my family which I had never seen before. He had images of ancestors who I had never laid eyes on before. This particular photo is of one of the younger girls of George Washington Haynes and Elizabeth Jane Payne Haynes Lewis. She was born in 1899 in Greenbrier County, WV. She was the wife of William Blakely (who was a chauffeur). In Dr. Montgomery's papers he indicates that she "taught school". She had been the principal of an elementary school. Graduate of Bluefield State College. Member of Phi Delta Kappa Sorrority. Mother of Sidney Dickason and Frances Blakely. She died in 1966.

Q

In my compilation, I only have two names for the letter "Q".
The first name is "Qualis/Qualls, Quarrels, & Quarles" and the second name is "Quinn".

The Quinn entry is for Rev. William T. Quinn and I am not sure if he was Caucasian or Black. However, he officiated at the 1874 marriage of James Nickell and Dolly/Molly Thompson (in Monroe County) and the 1874 marriage of Robert Carter and Jennie Jackson (also in Monroe County). The only likely William Quinn that I could find was a Caucasian male who was born in 1844 and who lived in Forest Hill, Summers County. He was a farmer who appeared in the 1880 census.

As for the "Qualls" group:
The "Qualls" spelling was used for a 1904 marriage and might be the correct spelling for this family.

Some entries are for -
Alice Cosby Quarles, the daughter of George and Nancy Cosby. She can be found on the 1920 Census at Avistown, Summers, at age 66, widowed, and the grandmother of Martin French (22) and on the 1930 Census at age 65, in Hinton, Summers County, with her son Alexander (45). She died on 11/12/1932 at Summers. In 1904 she appeared as the mother of Rosa B. Qualls who married George W. Scott. She can also be found on West Virginia Death Certificate # 1200 as the mother of Rosa Scott.

Doc/Lowry Qualls was the son of Matt & Polina Qualls. He appears on the 1900 census in Fayette at age 7 and is enumerated as Lowry. He died on 1/9/1939 in Pocahontas.

There is another "Doctor Quarles" who appears on the 1880 Census in Greenbrier at age 60, b. about 1820 in Va.

For more information on this family see BLACK RESIDENTS OF GREENBRIER, MONROE, POCAHONTAS, AND SUMMERS COUNTIES by Carol L. Haynes or contact me at chaynes704@aol.com.

Young boys

These little boys are unidentified. However, the photo came from the O. Dunsmore home on Brushy Ridge, Greenbrier County, WV.

Toddler standing on chair.

This little boy is unidentified. However, the photo comes from the home of Overton Dunsmore, Brushy Ridge, Greenbrier County, West Virginia.

Blondish haired girl

This little girl is unidentified. Her coloring matches mine, however. The photo was taken from the home of Overton Dunsmore, Brushy Ridge, Greenbrier County, W.V. This is one of my favorite photos from his group of photos.

Women inside fence on farm

These two women are unidentified. However, the photo comes from the home of Overton Dunsmore on Brushy Ridge, Greenbrier County, WV.

I am assuming that both women are Black. The woman on the right looks like my grandmother, Dora Jane, who was Black - though this is not her. On the other hand, the female on the right could be a Caucasian woman. Though I doubt it.

Two ladies standing and one sitting.

These ladies are unidentified but the photo came from the home of Overton Dunsmore on Brushy Ridge, Greenbrier County, West Virginia.

Young boy - barefoot.

This little boy is unidentified. However, the photo came from the home of Overton Dunsmore of Brushy Ridge, Greenbrier County, West Virginia.

Overton Dunsmore's mother was "Jennet", the daughter of Socrates Haynes. Jennet, was my grandfather's first cousin. So these photos could include some of my family members. In fact, a photo of my grandmother and grandfather was found in the group of pictures as was a photo of my grandfather's sister. And "Jennet" raised my father's first cousin, Bertie. And, of course, the Payne and the Haynes family of this area are the same family (descended from Martha Ann Payne Haynes Jones).

Tintype - Two men

This is a tintype of two unidentified men. The tintype, however, comes from the home of Overton Dunsmore on Brushy Ridge, Greenbrier County, West Virginia.

Would love to hear from someone who knows about photo dating regarding the possible date of this photo.

Man with mustache wearing hat.

This man is not identified but the photo came from the home of Overton Dunsmore on Brushy Ridge, Greenbrier County, West Virginia.

Young men in boots & hats

These young men are not identified but the photo came from the home of Overton Dunsmore on Brushy Ridge, Greenbrier County, WV.
Note that when I blew the picture up I could see that they were not actually wearing boots but some other type of leg covering. Would love to receive a comment about what these are called.

Girls in doorway

These girls are unidentified but the photo came from the home of Overton Dunsmore on Brushy Ridge.

Girls sitting on chair

These girls are not identified but the picture came from Overton Dunsmore's home on Brushy Ridge, Greenbrier County, WV.

Women on farm

These women are unidentified but the photo came from the Overton Dunsmore home on Brushy Ridge.

In his dissertation, (see citation in previous post), Earl C. Clay states, on page 92, that Greenbrier County residents "are essentially rural minded".

Earl Clay's dissertation - 1946

The ladies in this photo are unidentified at this point in time. However, the photo came from the Overton Dunsmore home on Brushy Ridge.


In his dissertation, THE NEGRO IN GREENBRIER COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - A SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND EDUCATIONAL STUDY, (1946) (A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Division of Graduate Studies of Virginia State College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Education) Earl C. Clay states, on p. 65:

"Picnics are the favorite outlets for recreation of Negroes in Greenbrier County"... "movies ... second" ..." followed by parties and dances" ... "while there are no pool rooms in the county, 123 persons indicate this as their favorite means of recreation".

Mary "Jennet" Haynes Dunsmore / Mrs. Frank Dunsmore

The back of this photo says "Mrs. Frank Dunsmore of Sinks Grove" and then it appears to have the directions to her home (... Ronceverte ... on road) but it is written and pencil and fading.

Mary "Janet"/"Jennette" Haynes Dunsmore was born on 7/6/1878. She was born to Socrates (Payne) Haynes (who was the brother of my greatgrandmother, Elizabeth Jane Payne Haynes Lewis) and Barbara Moore/Martha Moore Haynes. She was the wife of Frank Dunsmore and the mother of Ola and Overton Dunsmore. She was the adoptive mother of Bertie Constance Haynes (Dunsmore) Holmes. She was the granddaughter of Martha Payne Haynes (and possibly Burton Payne). She was the stepgranddaughter of Solomon Haynes and Peter Jones.

In the 1880 Census she appears in Monroe County, a mulatto female, age 3, daughter of Socrates Haynes (enumerated as Mary Jennett Haynes). In 1895, on May 17th, she married Frank Dunsmore at the Sinks Grove Baptist Church. The informant for the marriage was Lewis Nickell. The officiant was the Rev. O.T. Harris (enumerated as Janet). She appears on the 1900 Census in Monroe County, 2nd Creek, Black female, age 21, b. 7/1878, wife of Frank Dunsmore. She had one child, and that one child was still living. (enumerated as Jannett).

She appears on the 1910 Census in MC, 2nd Creek, as a black female, age 31, wife of Frank Dunsmore (she is enumerated as Mary J.).

She died on 8/19/1958 in Monroe County at Sinks Grove. She was 80y1m13d. By the time of her death she was a widow. Her death information indicates that she was the daughter of Socrates Haynes and Martha Moore. The cause of death was cerebral hemorrhage. She is buried at the Mt. Zion Cemetery (Sinks Grove/Neff Orchard Road). The informant was Overton Dunsmore of Sinks Grove.

In an interview with her relative, Mary/May Fay Dunsmore Johnson on 6/25/2002, she indicates that the true name of "Jennette" was Mary Jennet Haynes and that she may have had a brother named Edward. Ms. Dunsmore indicated that she had posession of a photo of Jennet with Edward in the corner.

Unidentified church - Unidentified Pastors

Hopefully someone will be able to identify this church and these pastors. I am assuming that it must be a church in either Monroe County - near second creek; but more likely in Greenbrier County.

Haynes family photo

This is a Haynes family photo, but, unfortunately, no one now living is able to identify who these ladies are.

Dunsmore photos #2

Unidentified baby.

Dunsmore photos

Unidentified girls.

Dunsmore / Haynes

This photo was owned by the family of Overton "Opie" Dunsmore. The family lived on Brushy Ridge, Greenbrier County. Opie Dunsmore was the husband of Reona Douglass Dunsmore. He was the son of Frank and Mary "Jennette" Haynes Dunsmore. He was the grandson of Socrates (Payne) Haynes and Barbara/Martha Moore Haynes. He was the brother of Ola Dunsmore and the stepbrother of Bertie Constance Haynes Holmes*.
Socrates (Payne) Haynes was the older brother of my greatgrandmother, Elizabeth Jane (Payne) Haynes Haynes Lewis and they were the children of Martha Payne Haynes (wife of (1) Burton Payne; (2) Solomon Haynes; & (3) Peter Jones).
Overton took care of the Neff Orchard Road Cemetery until his death. Overton died around 1997.
This photo was part of a shoebox of photos given to me by Elaine Carter. The photos came out of the house at a time when the family was preparing to sell the house.

*Bertie was the daughter of Cora Haynes. Cora was my grandfather's sister. Cora was the daughter of Mansfield and Eliza Dawson Haynes.

ANNIE MATTHEWS PERKINS

These are two photos of the gravesite of Annie Matthew Perkins at the Old Colored Cemetery in Lewisburg, West Virginia.

Annie Matthews Perkins was the daughter of William M. Perkins and Adonia Avery Perkins.

She appears on the 1910 Census in Greenbrier, Lewisburg as an infant, daughter of William and Dona Perkins. She is enumerated as "Annie M.".

West Virginia Death Certificate # 12685 indicates that she died on 10/28/1928 at 19 years old at Fayette. She was a black female, single, a school girl, ? date of birth, daughter of William Perkins and Dona Perkins. Her usual residence was Lewisburg. The cause of death was - "C & O train # 101 struck car at Montgomery crossing. Fractured Skull. Shock." She was buried at Lewisburg on 11/1/1928.

An interview that I conducted with a Lewisburg resident on 1/10/2006 revealed that Annie was travelling with "Juanita's mother and Juanita's two brothers" to see a friend who was away at school. They were struck by a train and all were killed". Following this interview I did further research and found that Annie was in the car with Josephine Cooley Jackson (see WVDC # 12683) and her sons, Charles Walter Jackson, age 17 (WVDC # 12682) and Tearance B. Jackson, Jr., age 14 (WVDC #12684).

LEWIS SKIPPER

This is a photo that I took of Lewis Skipper's gravesite at the Old Colored Cemetery in Lewisburg, West Virginia. The cemetery is located behind Carnegie Hall.

Lewis Skipper appears on the 1880 Census in Greenbrier County, Lewisburg District as a 36 y.o. black male, who works in a tan yard, b. in Virginia, with Mary (36), James (20), Hezekiah (7), Amelia (6), and domestic servant - Eliza Choice (45) & Hugh Pollack (2) (who was an other relationship).
He is listed in the 1880 MARSH index for Greenbrier County.
He is listed on the 1900 Census in Greenbrier, Lewisburg, no age given, with Melia/Amelia Lacy (25), Maggie Brown (20), Frances Brown (2), Robert Meadows (31). In this census he is enumerated as "Lewis Kippers".
Greenbrier County Death Records reveal that he died on January 28, 1903 at 56 years and that he was born in Fincastle.
West Virginia Death Certificate # 12967 reveals that he was the father of Amelia Lacy who died in Greenbrier County in 1922.

Shoveler, Shovler, Shuvler & Shuffler

In my compilation, BLACK RESIDENTS OF GREENBRIER, MONROE, POCAHONTAS, AND SUMMERS COUNTIES - WEST VIRGINIA by Carol Haynes, I "intermingle" like-sounding names because oftentimes individuals show up on different documents with their names spelled differently. One such name is Shoveler, Shovler, Shuvler; and Shuffler.

For instance:

GEORGE GOEN/GOIN SHOVELER

Mr. Shoveler was the husband of
(1) Mary J. Burk Shoveler &
(2) Ellen Shovler; and
(3) Caroline Bishop Shovler

On 9/9/1875, Goin Shovler married Mary J. Burk in Monroe County (MC). He was 22 and born in Summers. She was 21y. The informant was Houston Nickell of the Red Sulphur Springs District of Monroe County. The officiant was Rev. Baber. They were married at Nancy Burk's house. A permission slip by Mary's mother, , Mary J. Burk, inidcates that Goin Shuvler is 22 years old. (listed as Goin Shuvler).
He is listed on the 1880 Census, Summers County, FHD, as "Goins Shuffler". He is a Black Male, 26, farm laborer, with Ellen (24), Rosa (4), and with Nannie ?Goin (8).
On 6/14/1899, George Goen Shoveler married Caroline Bishop in Monroe County. He was 39, b. in Roanoke. She was 24, b. in Giles. The officiant was Rev. Baber and they were married in the Reverend's residence.
(note the difference in his stated birthplaces)
In the book MONROE COUNTY CEMETERIES - MT. CARMEL AT BALLARD (BLACK) - 1855 -1934, he is listed as G.G. Shoveler.
West Virginia Death Certificate #15323 indicates that he died on 11/20/1934 at 83y10m at Greenbrier County and that he was a black male, widowed, laborer, a cook, and the son of Goens Shoveler. The cause of death was organic heart disease.

The other "Shoveler's" that I have listed in my compilation are:
Annie Shovler Bowlinger, wife of John Bowlinger
Caroline Bishop Shoveler, wife of George Goen Shoveler
C.E. Shoveler
Ellen Shuffler
Ellie Burks Shoveler, wife of George C. Shoveler
George C. Shovler
George L. Shovler
Goens Shoveler (father of Goens Shoveler)
Henry Shovler
Henry E. Shovler
James Shovler
Jessie M. Shovler
Lula Shovler
Mary Elizabeth Shovler
Mary J. Burk Shovler
Rosa Shuffler
Sara Shovler
W.R. Shovler

William Henry Haynes

My dad was William "Bill" Henry Haynes and he was born in New Haven in 1926 after his parents, William "Hubert" Haynes and Dora "Jane" Kelly Knight Lee Haynes (photos below) moved there from Lewisburg (and Brushy Ridge, Greenbrier County, West Virginia) to New Haven, Connecticut. He is the grandson of George Washington Haynes (photo below), who was from Sinks Grove, MC, and Brushy Ridge, GC and Elizabeth Jane Payne Haynes Haynes Lewis (who was from Fayette and then Brushy Ridge & finally Gallipolis, Ohio when she married her second husband, Sheridan Lewis).
http://sillyputtyhistory.blogspot.com/ is about my dad and his involvement with Silly Putty Marketing (New Haven, Connecticut).

Carol Haynes
New Orleans

New blog by this blogger

See http://sillyputtyhistory.blogspot.com/

My dad managed Silly Putty pretty much from its inception in 1949 to his death in 1976. His parents, William "Hubert" Haynes and Dora "Jane" Kelly Knight Lee Haynes Midder,were from Brushy Ridge, WV and Lewisburg, WV, and his sister still lives in Lewisburg, WV. This new blog is only very minimally related to the AA Genealogy WV blog (describes the lives of descendants of Greenbrier/Monroe counties). Nevertheless, come visit!!

Inspiration for this blog came from one of my followers. "Local is Global - Michael Marcus". Thanks Mike. I may not write a book about enslaved West Virginians but I can certainly write short blurbs about other things. Baby steps.

Thanks,

Carol Haynes

Recent four photos

Some explanation of the recent four photos:
(1) George Washington Haynes was the husband of Elizabeth Jane Payne Haynes Haynes Lewis. They had 14 children. One of their children is Ethel Celina Haynes who appears in one of the four photos (standing next to her husband who is seated and holding their baby). Another of their children is William "Hubert" Haynes who is standing on the right of another one of the pictures (but to the left of his wife Dora).
(2) The photo of William, Santa Claus, and the donkey was rescued from a Dunsmore house on Brushy Ridge and was given to me by E. Carter of Lewisburg.
(3) Samuel "Oscar" Johnson is the subject of one of the photos. He is, by oral history, descended from General Edward Braddock (Commander of George Washington and Daniel Boone). General Braddock was only in this country for a short while but he was here long enough to have a liaison with an enslaved woman. The liaison produced a son. The son married a woman named Josephine. The son (name not known) and Josephine are the parents of the Black Braddock family of Lewisburg. (This was related to me by the child who is sitting on Samuel's lap, his daughter, Eva Otelia Johnson Peters). Samuel's wife was my grandfather's older sister. She was an artist and a musician and she liked to act. I have another picture of her which I will post at some point in time.
(4) See explanation below.

(My uncle) Enoch Ferrell (b. Ala), (my gram) in middle, Dora Jane Knight Haynes (GC), (my grandfa) (at rt) - William "Hubert" Haynes, MC.

This photo was probably taken around 1919 in Lewisburg, WV. From the left is Enoch Ferrell, Dora "Jane" Kelly Knight Lee Haynes Midder, and William "Hubert" Haynes.
Jane and Hubert are my paternal grandparents.
After this photo was taken, (and I'm assuming this since she is not in the picture), Enoch married Jane's half-sister, Rachel Knight Ferrell (Goode Murdoch).
Enoch was born in Alabama in 1898.
In 1918, Enoch registered with the U.S. military and his World War I Draft Registration Card indicates that his name is "Enoch Ferrell", that he is age 21, that he lived at 21 Summers Street, Charleston, WV, that about his date of birth he says I "am not certain but am 21". He was born in Carson, Alabama. His father was born in Jackson, Mississippi. He was employed by Craig T. Anderson. His nearest relative was "Mrs. Mary Henley" of Mobile, Alabama. He signed with a mark. He was listed as being of medium height, stout build, one toe missing, dark brown eyes, and black hair.
He married Rachel Alice Knight in Greenbrier County (GC) on 5/3/1920. At the time of the marriage he was 22 years old and living in Kanawha. She was 18 years old, b. in GC. They were married at the residence of Rev. James R. Wills. In the marriage certificate he is listed as Enoch Ferrell.
Enoch appears in the 1920 census for Charleston, Kanawha, as a 22 y.o. b. about 1898 in Ala, roomer with Charlie Suntters.
In 1925 he appears in the Connecticut City Directory, in New Haven.
In the 1930 Census he appears in Rhode Island, East Providence, Black Male, b. about 1898, boarder with Festus (53) & Sianna (56) Wilson. In this census he is listed as "Enoch Farrell".
The Social Security Death Index indicates that "Enoch Ferrill" died on 8/19/1898, and that he was born on 3/25/1898 (he probably just assumed this date of birth later in life or maybe someone eventually told him when he was born b/c when he registered for the military he said he did not know his date of birth). His social security number was 035-10-2216.
I believe that his wife in Rhode Island was named "Marie".

"Mama, these are William's Xmas cards..." begins the inscription on the back of this photo. GC. Unidentified but ? Dunsmore/Haynes/Spotts related.

Samuel "Oscar" Johnson (Braddock descendant), his wife Ethel Celina Haynes Johnson, & their daughter Eva Otelia Johnson (Peters) of GC - c. 1908

George Washington Haynes 1860 - 1914

See older posts below for more information on (my greatgrandfather) George Washington Haynes). Also see (on the internet) HISTORY OF BRUSHY RIDGE COMMUNITY - COLORED by Frank U.G. Peck (on the W.V. Division of Culture and History site).

Jane Dolan/Jane Dogan

Also in Helen Stinson's book of Greenbrier County Court records, on page 376 there is an account of the 1837 trial of Jane Dogan, a free woman of color who is charged with the crime of larceny in feloniously stealing and carrying away a silk dress shawl or handkercheif from the home of William Wetzel. She was found not guilty.

Trial of Jack, slave, a negro man, property of Elizabeth Morrow

On page 375 of Helen Stinson's book of Greenbrier County Court records, she notes the 1837 trial of Jack, a slave/negro man, who was the property of Elizabeth Morrow. Jack was convicted of murdering Cloe, a slave/negro woman, who was the property of Mildred McClanachan. Jack was charged with "wickedly, willfully, and with malice aforethought" (murdering Cloe). Witnesses were Jack Spotts, a slave of Ms. Sally Spotts, Anarky Freewoman, a free woman of color, Jacob ... a slave, Jim Messenberg, a free man of color, and Jane Dolan, a free woman of color. Jack was found not guilty of murder but of manslaughter. His punishment was that he would be burned on the hand and he would have 39 lashes on his bare back.

Sally (Dickson)/Isaiah Dickison

1846 - Monroe County - Will of Hugh Caperton - Sally Dickson ($400) and her three children, Ann ($200), Isaiah ($200), and her youngest boy ($100) are willed to John Caperton.
There are later entries for Isaiah Dickason in Monroe County.
Isaiah W. Dickason was the husband of Mamie Fisher Dickason. He was the son of Reauburn Dickason and Nancy Pack Dickason. He appears on the 1880 census in MC, Red Sulphur Springs District as a black male, 16 y.o., farm laborer. In 1907, the wedding of William M. Mitchell and Bertie Fisher took place at his home. He is listed on WV Death Certificate #8981 as the father of the decedent, Rose Dickason (1924). He died at 69 y on 4/25/1930, at MC, RSSD, Lindside, Black Male, Widowed, farmer, son of Raban (sic) Dickason and Nancy Pack, the informant was V.V. Dickason of Lindside . He is buried at Dickison Cemetery. (His death certificate is #5456). He appears on WV DC #2274 as the father of the decedent, E.E. Dickason (1925).

BUCKLAND

Elizabeth Buckland:
1860 Census, Virginia, Monroe County, Mulatto Female, age 76, Free Inhabitant, with John (70), and Walter (65) and with Charles Hennen (12).
Elizabeth Buckland:
Monroe County Deaths - Daughter of John and Susan Buckland. In 1853 she reported the death of her unmarried sister, Susan Buckland. (2/14/1853)
Jacob Buckland:
History of Monroe County, page 189
Susan Buckland:
Wife of Jacob Buckland
1810 Census, Virginia, Monroe County, Free Inhabitant, 10 persons in household.
1840 Census, Virginia, Monroe County, Free Inhabitant, 3 females in household
History of Monroe County, page 189, Free Negro, wife of Jacob Buckland, Indian Creek, about 1806.
Susan Buckland:
Monroe County Deaths - Free Inhabitant, died 2/14/1853, died suddenly at age 49, born in Rockingham County, Virginia, daughter of John and Susan Buckland. Unmarried. Her death was reported by her sister Elizabeth Buckland.
Walter Buckland:
1860 Census, Virginia, Monroe County, Free Inhabitant with Elizabeth Buckland (76).
(Note: There appear to be two Susans and two Elizabeths but more research needs to be done re: this)
I have not found any other Bucklands in the area.

SAM (DICKSON)

In Larry Shuck's Greenbrier County Court Records on page 295 there is an account of the trial of SAM which took place around 10/1/1832 in Lewisburg, Greenbrier County. Sam was enslaved by Robert Dixon. Sam was charged with arson. Ten enslaved individuals and a free man named Arch Taylor were called as witnesses. Sam was found guilty and he was sentenced to be hanged on the 23rd day of November. His value was assessed at $450. In Helen Stinson's Greenbrier County court records she gives the same account but she lists the owner as Robert Dickinson. She states that it was ordered that Sam be "hanged by the neck until dead". James B. Bowlen was allowed $45. for defending the prisoner (Sam).

JORDAN DAVIS

Jordan Davis can be found on the:
1870 Census in Greenbrier County, Lewisburg District, mulatto male, age 40, bricklayer/plasterer, with Charlotte and Harriet L. (and also Charles, Mary, and Phebe Lewis).
In the book History of Greenbrier County by Otis K. Rice (1986), pages 323-324 where it states "While awaiting the general election in the fall of 1870, the Radicals also took a keen interest in the town of Lewisburg. .... On June 4, with the support of Negro voters, they nominated John F. Caldwell for Mayor, and three blacks - Jaben Holmes, Jordan Davis, and Stephen Gardner - for trustees".
See the Lewisburg Greenbrier Independent, June 11 and 30, 1870.
1880 Census in Greenbrier County, mulatto male, age 54, brick mason, born in Va., with Fannie (52), Phebe (13), and boarders George W. and Alice Taylor, and with Henry Grayson.
See Historic Lewisburg's Original 64 Lots by James Talbert, pages 173 & 174 (available from the Greenbrier Historical Society in Lewisburg).
See WV Death Certificate # 472 where he is listed as the father of the decedent, Harriet Louise Johnson (who died in Greenbrier County in 1929).
See Larry Schuck's Greenbrier County Death Records, page 67.

DOUBT

I have five entries for a Doubt family in Monroe County.
In 1870, Edward Doubt was listed on the MC Census in Union Township. He was a black male, age 40, farm hand, born in Virginia, with his wife Jane A. (38), and his children Andy (13), Jeremiah (4), and Maria (1). Jane was a domestic servant. They must have moved out of the area after 1870 as they do not appear in subsequent census reports for Monroe, Greenbrier, Summers, or Pocahontas.

Mary Dickson (mother of the Barbour children?)

My post for Mary Dickson says:
1900 Census, Greenbrier County, Irish Corner District, mother in law of J. Curry. She is 80 years old. In the 1920 Census, she is still in the GC, ICD, she is 110 years old, widowed or divorced, and the grandmother of Rush Curry. (So, apparently, Mary Dickson was the mother of Jennie, who was the mother of Rush, and the wife of J. Curry).
Not sure if it is the same person but in the book CIVIL WAR IN GREENBRIER COUNTY by Tim McKinney (pages 135 & 234) he mentions that in 1862 the jailer of Mason County notified Mr. Robert Dickson that several of his slaves were being held there .. four negroes .. George Washington ... his wife Mary, about 40 years of age, their children, Susannah and Charles (Susannah about 15and Charles about 12), also a man, James Brown.
However, I have 11 entries for Mary Dickson.

Barbour/Barber

I previously wrote that Virginia "Jennie" Barber Curry was the wife of J. Calvin Curry and that their marriage information indicated that she was born in Monroe County and that at the time of her marriage, in 1874, she was 18 y.o. Thus, she must have been born in MC around 1856.
I have 30 Barbour/Barber entries and I can't confirm Jennie's parentage. I think, however, that she might have been related to Charles Armstead Barbour who was married to Anna Green Barbour. Charles and Anna married in 1884 (ten years after Jennie married Calvin). In 1884, Charles was 24. He could, possibly, have been the four year younger brother of Jennie. The informant for the marriage was my greatgrandmother's brother, Albert Payne (Haynes). Albert attested to the fact that Anna was the daughter of Rebecca Burke and that Anna was over the age of 21. The officiant was Rev. Samuel Houston (who was also the officiant for the wedding of Jennie and Calvin). In 1910, Charles is listed as 49, widowed, a stonemason, with 7 children. He is listed in the Greenbrier District. He is also on the 1920 census, age 54, widowed.
Another early Barbour can be found in Greenbrier: William Barbour was married to Barbara Barbour. He can be found on the 1880 Census in the Irish Corner District. In the 1900 Census he is listed as a coal digger, age 43, born in 1857 (so he cd also have been a younger brother of Jennie). He is on the 1920 and 1920 censuses. His wife, Barbara died in 1933. A William Barbour attended the John Wesley Methodist Church in Lewisburg in 1929 (my family's church) and a William Barbour graduated from Bolling High School in Lewisburg in 1938 (See the Earl Clay dissertation). Nellie Barbour Haynes married my grandfather's brother Gilbert Haynes and they have descendants in Charleston, WV. There were still Barbour members of the John Wesley Church in 1979. Nellie Barbour's mother was Anna Green Barbour and her father was Charles Armstead Barbour.
I don't yet know the parents of Virginia "Jennie" Barber Curry.
I believe that the names Barbour and Barber are interchangeable. This seems like one family group in the Monroe/Greenbrier area.

Nan Curry

See GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN - Directory of the Deceased in Atchison County, Missouri from the Earliest Records through 1990 and items of history and interest published by the Atchison County Historical Society, Atchison County, MO, page 70 where it states (in part): "Three Black Women are buried at English Grove Cemetery - Winne Rupe, Nan Curry, and Aunt Betty Hedrick. All took the names of the families they served, Richard Rupe, Isaac Curry, and W.N. Hedrick and are buried on those family lots". Ms. Edwards contributed a newspaper article to my compilation entitled "Faithful Mammyt Dies". In the article it states that Nan Curry was born in 1843; the Curry home was in Greenbrier County; Isaac Curry settled in Atchison in 1855. See the 1880 Census for Clark , Atchison, MO, where she is enumerated as Nancy J. Curry, servant, 38 y.o., b. in Va., parents were born in Va., with Isaac A. Curry and Margaret K. Curry. (Isaac was a retired store clerk at the time of this census).

Clayborne Burl Curry

Clayborne Burl Curry was the son of J. Calvin Curry and Virginia "Jennie" Barber Curry. He was the husband of Mary Harford Curry. He can be found on the 1900, 1910, and 1920 Censuses for Greenbrier County, WV. His World War I Draft Registration Card indicates that he lived in Renick, WV, he was b. 11/18/1889 at Nickell's Mill, he was 27 y.o. at the time he signed the card, he was a stone crusher at Renick stone, he was married, medium height, slender build, dark brown eyes and black hair. He died on 6/14/1952 (see WV Death Certificate # 8574) at about 62 yrs old, at Nickell's Mill, Black male, husband of Mary Harford, son of Calvin Curry and Virginia Barber. Cause of death - unknown. (Note: You can search Nickell's Mill on the internet and you can call research it at the Greenbrier Historical Society).

Sam (Curry)

Sam (Curry) was an enslaved man in Monroe County.
In the book "The Allegheny Frontier, West Virginia Beginnings" by Otis K. Rice, it states that in 1818, Robert Curry of Monroe County was arraigned for "feloniously, wickedly, and with malice aforethought" beating his Negro boy, Sam, with a cowhide "in and upon the head, breast, back, belly, and sides and otherparts ofthe body; during which Curry gave Sam several mortal strokes, wounds, and bruises". Also in this book it states that "More than any other crime, murder was capable of outraging frontier sensibilities, and it usually evoked the death penalty. The incidence of murder appears not to have been unusually great, but its perpetration drew the scorn of the pioneer even when the victim was a slave".

Rev. Houston

Relative to the last post about Rev. Samuel Houston (a white minister) marrying some of the black folks of the area, it would be instructive to read parts of his diary. I especially like the diary entry in which he writes that the negro members of the church (and I believe this entry was made while it was still during the time when they were enslaved)did not like his sermon on Sunday and that they let him know about it. At the time the enslaved blacks went to the Presbyterian Church which he led. Also, his photo is in the book History of Monroe County. Also in this book there is a chapter called "The Colored Element".

J. Calvin Curry

J. Calvin Curry was the husband of Virginia "Jennie" Barber Curry. In th 1870 Census he is listed as a mulatto male, age 21, in Monroe County, Second Creek, farm hand with Edward Curry. He is enumerated as Calvin. Edward Curry appears to have been his father. Edward was the husband of Amanda Curry. In 1870 the entire family is listed in MC, 2nd Creek, Edward (55), Amanda (48), John W. (23), Calven (21), Jane M. (20), Barbara (18), Ellen (14), Margrett (16), Allice (13), Hugh (10), Manda (7), William B. (5), Ashville (2), Lillie 1), and Isabella (15). Edward can be found in Larry Schuck's Greenbrier County Birth Rcords at page 109 (as Edmund). J. Calvin Curry married Jennie Barber on 12/3/1874 in Monroe County. He was 26, b. in MC. She was 18, b. in MC. The officiant was Rev. Samuel Houston. (At this point I should note that this family must have known my family - Haynes - very well as they are all from MC, 2nd Creek and Rev. Houston - a white minister - also married my greatgrandparents George and Elizabeth Haynes). Calvin and Jennie were married at Dickson's Mills, 2nd Creek. (Also see the Second Creek Survey which gives a lot of information about this area). In the same year, 12/18/1874, Calvin Curry executed an affidavit in which he stated that his "mother gave consent for her daughter Barbara A. Curry (col'd) to marry William P. Dunsmore (col'd). (Calvin) can be found on the 1880 Census in MC at age 32 with Jennie (22). He can be found in Marsh's 1880 index but he is listed under the surname Calvin. He is mentioned in the article HISTORY OF BRUSHY RIDGE (which can be searched and found on the West Virginia Division of Culture and History website). He can be found on the 1900 Census in Greenbrier County, Irish Corner District (where my family members moved to as well). He can be found on the following WV Death Certificates #6406 (for his son Richard Curry), #10489 (for his daughter Lora Wilson - died 1929), #8574 (for his son Clybourned - died 1952).

Contact me

Any questions can be directed to chaynes704@aol.com.

Daugherty of Pocahontas County, WV

I recently met with a woman who is a distant cousin on my Payne/Haynes side. Her greatgrandfather, James Haynes was the brother of my greatgrandmother, Elizabeth Jane Payne Haynes Haynes Lewis. James and Elizabeth were the children of Martha Ann Payne Haynes Jones (James was the son of Solomon Haynes). Another one of her lines is the Daugherty line of PC. The family pronounces the name "Dow-ter-ree".

Erskine (continued)

Note: Lieurnenor in the previous post, the daughter of Bolivar/Polivar, is Laurena Erskine Bailey, wife of Lisin/John Henry Bailey.
Isabella Erskine - Journal of the Greenbrier Historical Society - Vol 7 # 4, 2002, mentioned in the Dr. Creigh article "started after dark to see Isabella, a black girl of Mr. Erskine at Mr. Joseph Hedricks". etc. (There are four entries all around 2/1846).
Jacob Erskine - Larry Shuck's Greenbrier County Death Records, page 81
Liddie J. Erskin - See Lydia Erskine Dunsmore, wife of John Lewis Dunsmore.
Lon Edward/Lonnie/Lornaice Erskine - Husband of Perena Susan Spotts, Son of Boston Haynes and Mary Erskine. Appears on the 1880 Census in Greenbrier, age 8, nephew of Isabella Erskine (who was enumerated as a 38 y. old white female). On 6/19/1895 he married Perena in Monroe at Sinks Grove. He appears on the 1930 Census at Greenbrier at 53, Widowed with his children Loyd and Hazel. See WV Death Certificate # 15702 which indicates that he died on 12/19/1949 at 80y at Greenbrier. Here it says that he was divorced, a laborer in a quarry, the son of Boston and Mary, he died of hypertension and is buried at the Monroe Graveyard. On the death certificate his name appears as Lon Edward Erskine.
Loyd Erskine, son of Lon appears on the 1930 Census in Greenbrier, 14y.
Lucy Emma Erskine married Beauregard Smalls.
Lydia Erskine appears in the above-mentioned J of the GHS article about Dr. Creigh - "went to see Lydia, a black woman of Erskins".
Lydia Erskine married John Lewis Dunsmore and she was the niece of Isabella Dunsmore.
Maria Erskins also appears in the J of the GHS article. "went to see Maria at Erskins".
Mary Erskin appears on Lon Erskins death certificate as his mother.
Maryland Erskine is the granddaughter of Ernest Sweeny and she appears at age 9 on the Census, Greenbrier.
For Mary Jane Erskine see Mary Jane Carter
For Matilda Erskine see Matilda Carter
Paulina Erskine - 1880 Census, Monroe, 34y
Rose Erskine - 1910 Census, Greenbrier, 33y
Thelma Ellen Erskine - GC Deaths - Died 5/23/1968 at Ronceverte, 49y, bullet wound to left chest. She is buried at the Sinks Grove Cemetery (Neff Orchard Road Cemetery/Mt. Zion Cemetery).
Tresa Erskine - See Tresa Carter
Trevor Erskine - 1910 Census, b.1895.
William Erskine - 1880 Census, Monroe, 27, with Clara (23), Alexander (2) and Harry (3 months).

In this post I have included Erskine, Erskin, Erskins.

Erskine

I have more than 30 Black Erskine entries in my compilation:
Unnamed Erskine died on 6/6/1966 in Greenbrier, black male, no age given
Unnamed Erskine - 1910 Census, Greenbrier, BM, 14 (actually the first name was unintelligible)
Unnamed Erskine - Journal of the Greenbrier Historical Society - Vol 7, # 4, 2002, relative to the article about Dr. Creigh & the fact that on 3/7/1846 he "went to Erskins to see a black child".
Albert Erskine who was the husband of Ann Burton Erskine - They married in Monroe County in 1875. They were both born in MC. They were married at the Caperton residence by Rev. C.L. Campbell.
Alexander Erskin - 1870 Census, 19y
Alexander Erskine - 1880 Census, 2y, son of William Erskine
Bell Erskine - 1880 Census, Summers County, 34y
Boliver/Polivar Erskine - In 1879 he gave permission for his daughter Lieurnenor to marry Lisin J.H. Bailey.
Clara Brown Erskine - Wife of William who she married on 10/17/1876 in Monroe. She appears with him on the 1880 Census in Monroe. She is 23y.
Clayton Erskine - Son of Ernest Sweeny. He appears on the 1920 Census, Greenbrier, age 9.
Dover Erskine is listed in Mary Frances Bodemuller's book "African American Records".
Harry Erskine - Daughter of Lonnie Erskine. She appears on the 1930 Census, 13y.

continued - next post ...

LUCY PECK

I have two entries for Lucy Peck.

(1) Lucy Jane Peck Nelson, wife of Coleman Nelson, daughter of Elizabeth Peck.

(2) Lucille O. Peck/ Lucy Boone Peck, wife of Frank U.G. Peck, daughter of Daniel & Jennie Moore Boone. She appears on the 1880 Census at Greenbrier County, Irish Corner District, as a mulatto female, 6 y.o., granddaughter of John Moore, daughter of Jennie Moore Boone. She appears on the 1900 Census GC,ICD, black female, 26y, b. 7/1873, wife of Frank, 26y, had 3 children, 3 still living. In this census she is listed as Lucy. 1910 Census, GC, ICD, 37, wife of Frank, had 7 children, 7 still living. 1920 Census, 46, wife of Frank. 1930 Census, GC, ICD, 56 y, first married at age 20, wife of Frank, listed as Lucille. She appears in Larry Shuck's GC Birth Records at p. 282. She appears in the article History of Brushy Ridge; the Moore Boone Family History by Murapa; The Progeny of John & Susannah Moore by Murapa and Brown. WV Death Certificate No. 244 indicates that she died on
Jan. 10, 1952at 78y.

Richard Harry Curry, Sr.

Richard Harry Curry, Sr. was the husband of Laurena Haynes Curry and the son of J. Calvin Curry and Virginia "Jennie" Barber Curry. He appears on the 1880 Census in Monroe County (MC), WV as a four year old, son of Calven Curry (Harry). In 1898 he married Laurena Haynes on 7/6. He was 22 and she was 18 and they were both born in Monroe. The informant was William Moore. The officiant was Rev. Meadows of the (colored) Baptist Church. In 1900 he appears on the Greenbrier County (GC) census at age 24 as the son of J. Curry (Richard H.). In the 1910 Census he appears in GC at age (24 again) married x 11 years to Laurena with (Juanita) Virginia, Clarence M, Ruth G., Mary O, and Charles L. He registered for the draft for WWI and his card shows that he lived in Lewisburg and that his nearest relative was his wife Laurena Curry of Lewisburg. He died in 1940 and is buried at the Lewisburg Cemetery. He can be found in the Greenbrier County Cemetery Book (which indicates that his stone says he was born in 1876.
See the comments that I received on 9/16/2010 from a descendant of Richard and Laurena. I believe that Laurena Haynes could be the daughter of Socrates Haynes - but I haven't verified this yet. He had a daughter named Laura. Socrates and my great grandmother Elizabeth were brother and sister. Their mother was Martha Ann Payne Haynes Jones (see post).

Draft Cards for "A" continued

Claude Anderson - WW II - Lived at Kesler, GC, b. 2/2/1894 at Bluefield, Mercer County, 48y, person who'd always know his whereabouts was Hallie L. Anderson of Kesler,employed by Peabody Coal Co. at Bellwood, Fayette, WV., 5'9", 165 pounds, light brown complexion.

Eddie Anderson - WWI - Lived at Hinton, Summers County. 18y,b. 3/24/1889 at Hinton, r.r. brakeman on the C & O R.R., single, tall and stout.

Emile E. Anderson - WWI - Lived at Hinton, b. 2/8/1891 at Sewell, merchant (tailor), single, medium height and slender build.

James Andrew Anderson - WWI - Lived at Hinton. 24y, doesn't know his date of birth, b. at Lynchburg, VA., laborer on the C and O R.R., single, medium height and build. WW II - Lived at Hinton, 59y, b. 2/15/1883 at Lynchburg, person who'd always know his whereabouts - Martha Stevenson of Hinton, employed by Meadows Furniture Company.

Joseph Frank Anderson - WWII - Lived at WSS, b 8/21/1884 at Asbury, WV, 57y, person who'd always know his whereabouts is Frank Anderson, employed by R.H. Patterson at the Greenbrier Hotel.

Lewis Anderson - Lived at Hinton, b. 3/14/1875, engine coaler on the C and O R.R. His nearest relative was Emma Anderson of Hinton, medium height and build.

Lewis Gordon Anderson - 60y, lived at Hinton, b. 9/17/1881 at Hinton, person who'd always know his whereabouts is Bessie Anderson of Hinton, employed by the C and O R.R., 5'10", 150 pounds.

Nelson James Anderson - WWI - Lived at Hinton, b. 4/12/1893, merchant tailor and cleaning, self employed.

Newman Edward Anderson - WWII - Lived at Lewisburg, 55y, b. 12/21/1886 at Asbury, person who'd always know his whereabouts - Eugene Anderson of Lewisburg, farming for self.

Draft Cards for "A" continued

Clarence Allen - WWI - Lived at Ronceverte, GC, b. 4/5/1895 at Ronceverte, porter, tall and slender, has a wife and two children.

Edna Dean Allen - WWII - Lived at Bellepoint, Summers County, 63y, b. Wayside, MC, on Jan/24/1879, 5'7", 182 pounds, the first finger on his left hand was missing.

Everett Phil Allen - WWI - Lived at Hinton, 53y, born in Summers County on 3/7/1889, the person who'd always know his whereabouts is Leona Allen. He was employed by the C and O Railroad, engineer, 5'11", 190 pounds, light brown complexion.

Gaily Stamford Allen - WWII - Lived at Lewisburg, GC, 52y, b. 2/24/1880, person who'd always know his whereabouts is Annie Allen of Lewisburg, 5'8", 150 pounds, dark brown complexion.

John Philip Allen - WWI - 38y, unknown date of birth, chauffeur, his nearest relative is Annie Coleman, medium height and build.

Theodore Allen - WWI - Lived at Alderson, Monroe County, 19y, b. 8/20/1899, farming for his mother, Victory Allen of Alderson, medium height and build.

William Allen - WWI - Lived at Durbin, Pocahontas County, b. 12/26/1888, 29y, laborer at Pocahontas Tanning Company, tall, medium build.

Willie Samuel Allen - WWI - Lived at Lowell, Summers County, 50y, person who'd always know his whereabouts was Elizabeth Allen of Lowell. 5'7", 180 pounds, light brown complexion.

Aaron Anderson - WWI - Lived at Frazier near the Fort Springs District, 25y, b. 11/2/1892, at Bedford County, Va., laborer for H. Frazier at Frazier, single, tall, medium build.

Benny Anderson - WWI - Lived at Hinton, Summers County, b. 5/5/1884, station porter on the C and O R.R. at Hinton, his nearest relative was Ellen Anderson of Hinton, tall and medium build.

Draft Registration Cards - Surnames beginning with the letter "A"

These are the draft registration cards that I have located for surnames beginning with the letter "A":

Peter Adams - WWI - 39 y.o, but he doesn't know his date of birth. He works at W.V. Pulp and Paper Company (a pulp mill), and his nearest relative is Alice Simms of Louisa, Virginia. he is 5'4" and stout.

Oliver B. Agee - WWI - he lived at Crump's Bottom, Summers, 35y, b. 5/20/1883, farmer, his nearest relative is Etta Agee. He is tall and stout.
WWII - Living at the Red Sulphur Springs District in Monroe County. He is 57y, self employed. The person who'd always know his whereabouts is Etta Agee. 5'5", 170 pounds, black complexion.

Wesley Agee - WWI - b. 9/15/1888 at Buckingham, Va., 29y,common laborer at the WV Pulp and Paper Co., married, medium height, slender build.

Warner Alexander - WW I - Born 12/31/1874, 43y, farming at White Sulphur Springs, his nearest relative is Bessie Alexander of WSS, medium height and build.

William Alexander - WWI - Lived at Marlinton, b. 3/1888 at Rockbridge County, Va., 29y, laborer for the C and O Railroad, married, medium height and build, grey eyes, black hair.
WWII - Lived at Pocahontas County, near Minnekaha Springs, 54y, b. 7/30/1888 at Rockbridge, person who'd always know his whereabouts is Lizzie Stuart, 5'8", 140 pounds, dark brown complexion.

Ben Franklin Allen - WWI - Lived at Stanford, Raleigh Co., b. 2/8/1884 at Monroe County, 58y, the person who'd always know his whereabouts was Ester Allen. 5'2", 160 pounds, black complexion.

Booker T. Washington Allen - WWI - Lived at Buckingham, Va., b. 9/28/1898, laborer on the C and O R.R. at Hinton, his nearest relative was George D. Allen of Mt. Hope, Fayette County.

Lydia Seames Jordan / Georgia Cousins / Alex Crawford / Mary Lewis Crawford

See Young v. Young, 139 W.Va. 290, 82 SE 2d 54, 2/16/1954 which is a Kanawha County case which cited the case of Jordan v.Cousins 128W.Va. 648, 37 SE 2d 890 which was a Greenbrier County case. In the Jordan case, Lydia Seames Jordan sued Georgia Cousins relative to a deed executed by Alex Crawford (“a colored man about 80 years old”). The deed was dated 6/1/1943 and it conveyed a Greenbrier County house and lot in the town of White Sulphur Springs (to Cousins). Lydia Seames Jordan contended that on that date in 1943, Alex Crawford was mentally incompetent. “Alex Crawford married Lydia Seames Jordan’s mother in 1904, when” Lydia “was about 12 years old”. “Several years later” Lydia “married and for a time she and her husband lived in the Crawford home and she and her husband built on that lot”. Lydia’s mother died in 1938 and Alex Crawford suffered a heart attack in 1939. Alex Crawford died in 1943. He had worked at the Greenbrier Hotel. (See the case history for the resolution of this matter).

William Dudley / Safronia Carter

The case of State v. Dudley, 96 W.Va. 481, 123 S.E. 241, 5/20/1924 is relative to the appeal of the Pocahontas County murder conviction of William Dudley. Mr. Dudley, Samuel Davis, and Charles James were convicted of the murder of Bascom McFall. The case mentions "Safronia Carter", a negro woman who appears to be the paramour of Charles James (alias "Jelly Roll"). Further, the case insinuates that Safronia Carter may have taken the blame for the murder of Eliza Crawford who was murdered on 12/20/1918 even though it may have actually been someone else who was responsible for the murder of Ms. Crawford. "The (Bascom McFall murder) is supposed to have been committed in the town of Cass or in its near vicinity. Cass is on the Greenbrier River and came into existence by reason of lumber operations".

Safronia Carter was the daughter of Andrew and Alice/Alace Carter (per AA Residents of Pocahontas County by William O. Lindsay). Note that Andrew's first wife of Alice and his second wife was Alace.

Tarry Milbourn / Torry Milbourn / Milburn

Tarry Milbourn was enslaved by Nathan Milbourn, Jr. but in his will (819/1836 - Monroe County) he ordered that his entire estate except "my slave Tarry" be sold and that Tarry "have a comfortable support out of my estate so long as she lives and the privilege of choosing a house to live at if the same may be decreed by my executor". He continues "Any of my estate that may be left after supporting Tarry I desire to be equally divided between my brothers and sisters". This man's father's will was dated 7/22/1808 and shows no enslaved individuals. Tarry shows up at 100 y.o. in the 1850 Census in Monroe County. At this time she is a Free Inhabitant. (her name looks like Fanny Milburn - however, she is the ONLY Black Milbourn/Milburn entry that I have and I am confident that it is the same person). She appears again at 110y old in 1860 as a Free Inhabitant in MC with Ann Hargo. See the case of Hinton v. Millburn's Executors, 23 W. Va. 166 (12/08/1883) which is relative to the Will of Nathan Milburn where he disposes of his property "my slave Torry excepted". The Will was sadmitted to probate in the County of Monroe on 9/19/1836. Tarry/Torry outlived practically all of the Milburn heirs. The lawsuit indicates that she died in 2/1862 and was over 100 years old.

Tarry Milbourn / Torry Milbourn

Tarry Milbourn was enslaved by Nathan Milbourn, Jr. but in his will

Sarah Haynes

Continuing with the "fire" theme, my greatgrandfather's little sister, Sarah Haynes, a/k/a Sally/Sallie Haynes died in a fire in Monroe County on 11/25/1880. Sally was born in 1867 to Mansfield Haynes and Eliza Dawson Haynes. She appears on the 1870 census in the Second Creek area of Monroe County as a 3 yr old with Mansfield Haynes (Sarah). She appears on the 1880 census as a 13 y.o. servant, daughter of Mansfield Haynes (Sally). Monroe County deaths has her as 12 years old, cause of death - burnt. The informant for her death was her mother, Eliza Haynes. My greatgrandfather was George Washington Haynes and he was the older brother of Sarah/Sally. Another Sarah Haynes is the daughter of Lydia Haynes. She would become the wife of John Henry Gross & she would become Sarah Haynes Gross. She was the mother of Myrtle, Julia Lucy Gross Curry, Manda Gross, Willie Gross, Nellie Gross, and Martha Gross. She was born approx. 1896. She married Mr. Gross in 1916 in Monroe County, Gap Mills. She appears on the 1920 census in MC, Gap Mills as a 28 y.o. mulatto female, wife of John H. Gross. On 6/4/1927 she gave birth to a female child (See MC births). She appears on the 1930 census in MC, Sweet Springs as a 33 y.o. with her children. Her daughter Julia died in WV in 1954 (See WV DC # 2559 or 2659). Lydia Haynes is a mystery to me. I'm not sure where she came from. She is also the mother of Willam Francis Haynes who died in Monroe County in 1946, WV DC #680.

James Brown

See the Journal of the Greenbrier Historical Society, Volume 7, Number 5, 2003, page92, an article entitled THE NEGRO HISTORICAL SKETCH OF LEWISBURG, WEST VIRGINIA, Through the Looking Glass by M.J. Cabell which states in part that James Brown "won the Croix de Guerre for his capture of 23 Germans single handed in World War I".

Also see THE CIVIL WAR IN GREENBRIER COUNTY by Tim McKinney which states that "the jailer of Mason County" notified Mr. Robert Dickson that several of his slaves were being held there & "also a man taken with them by the name of James Brown that says he is free .. he is about 40 ..." ("with crooked legs so as to make him very lame").

I have 23 entries for men named James Brown.

(Sister) Florence Brown

See National Geographic, July 1972, an article entitled "Mountain Days, Mountain Voices" by Bryan Hodgson, page 130, about this Pocahontas County (Princeton) resident. She was a visiting minister of the Cashes Hill Church of God.

Bush / Strain

Another fire caused the deaths of many members of the Bush family.
January 25, 1905. Greenbrier Independent. "BURNED ALIVE". Wednesdaymorning, about 3 o'clock, the house of Rev. James Bush, colored, about one mile southeast of Lewisburg, was burned and seven of the inmates perished in the flames. Aunt Venus Strain an aged and highly respected colored woman, the mother inlaw of Rev. Bush and six of his children ranging in ages from 13 down. The fire originated in the upper story where the children slept and the whole upper part of the house was burning and falling in when Bush awakened. He escaped with several severe burns. His oldest daughter also escaped but was severely burned in several places on the body. The mother was not at home. Old Aunt Venus was 80 odd years old and in her younger days was frequently employed as a nurse and was highly esteemed. That such an appalling accident could occur in our community seems incredible.

He dies on 8/13/1946 at Greenbrier. See WV Death Certificate # 10501. Died at 93 y.o. Widowed. Husband of Polly Bush. Baptist preacher. Son of James and Mary Bush.

The article states that "the mother was not at home". I would think that she was probably working out somewhere taking care of someone elses' home or children. Tragic.

Spotts

I may be repeating myself but the WV Division of Culture and History has for sale a photo of Alex Spotts (formerly enslaved by the Campbell family). He is probably the oldest Spotts entry that I have in Monroe County. The Spotts-Payne families have reunions quite often and he would probably be the oldest traceable member, though I hope that someone can go back further. Alex Spotts, died, tragically when he either passed out or fell near his fireplace and his clothes caught on fire. He was living alone as his wife had already died and he was found by a passerby. I will post the full article soon.

Payne

I received an email today from someone who feels that (s)he might have made some advances in his/her research on Barsheba and Fanny Ellison. This would be wonderful b/c Barsheba Ellison Payne is the mother of the first Black WV legislator Christopher H. Payne. I believe that he was related to my greatgreatgrandmother Martha Payne but I haven't been able to establish a link, only that he founded a church in Summers County that my family members attended. I wish this researcher much luck and am so happy that people continue to give me a heads up when they find information about Black residents of the area. I know, eventually, all of the pieces will come together. In a very old post I wondered how my greatgrandmother Martha was a "Payne". I found out later that prior to emancipation she was "married" to Burton Payne but that he was sold off. Right after emancipation she married Solomon Haynes. All of her children (Socrates, Dudley, Elizabeth, and Charlotte) took on the name Haynes but her son Albert retained the name Payne. The family member indicated that this was because his father was Burton Payne. I later found two Burton Paynes living in Virginia. One of them seems to be the correct age and he married another woman named Martha. I will have to research him further.

ULYSSES GRANT

Ulysses Grant appears on the 1880 census in Pocahontas County, AD, as a mulatto male, age 13, son of Elijah Grant. His name may have actully been W. Ulysses Grant. There is also a "Ulis" Grant who is listed in Larry Shuck's Greenbrier County Birth Records at p. 413 as the father of a female child. Elijah Grant (Ulysses' father) appears in the 1840 Census, VA, Greenbrier as a Free Inhabitant with 4 males and 3 females. He appears on the 1880 Census, WV, Pocahontas County as a black male, age 62, widowed or divorced, farm laborer with Elizabeth (15), Elijah N. (24), Stuart (16), and Ulysses (13). His family is also listed in African Americans of Pocahontas County by William O. Lindsay (which is available from the Allegheny Historical Society).

Boston Haynes

I have seven Boston Haynes and I can't seem to connect them. It seems like there were at least two of them. All were born between 1839 - 1942.

(1) Boston Haynes who was the husband of Rosabell Haynes, See Monroe County Births where a child named Nancy was born on 12/10/1876 to Boston and Rosabell. Rose died on 9/20/1877.
(2) MC Births, Vol. 1, p. 303 shows a black male child born to Boston & Sally.
(3) Boston Haynes who was the husband of (1) Bettie Lee/Betsie Haynes and (2) Mell Viney. He appears on the 1880 census at age 44, farm laborer, husband of Betsie. 1910 Census at age ??? wih his wife Mill. (this is probably the same Boston as number (1) b/c Rose died in 1877 and he married Betsie in 1877 - although there was a 2 month overlap).
(4) Boston Haynes who was the husband of Lucy J. Haynes. 1900 Census at age 58, md x 2 yrs to Lucy.
(5) Boston Haynes who was the husband of Louise Haynes. 1900 Census at age 60, mail carrier, married for 30 years to Louise, with his adopted daughter Frankie Thompson who was 11.
(6) Boston Haynes who may have been the husband of Mary Erskine, See WV Death Certificate # 15702 where he appears as the father of the decedent, Lon Edgar Erskine.
(7) Boston Haynes who was the father of Ford Haynes who died in 1928 (WV Death Certificate 12675.

To research your (African American) family in southeast WV (Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers, and Pocahontas)the following would be helpful:

Census
Marsh 1880 Census Index
African American Residents of Pocahontas County by William O. Lindsay
African American Records in Greenbrier County by Mary Frances Bodemuller
Pack Slaves by Dr. Vallentine (Summers County)
Helen Stinson's Court Records for Greenbrier County
Larry Shuck's Marriage, Death, and Birth Records
Larry Shuck's Court Records for Greenbrier County
Journals of the Greenbrier Historical Society
WV Division of Culture and History African American Pages
WV Division of Culture and History Birth, Death, and Marriage Records on the Internet
World War I and II Draft Registration Cards
Black Residents of Greenbrier, Monroe, Pocahontas, and Summers Counties - WV - Notes of Carol L. Haynes (available for viewing at the GHS and the WV Div of Culture)
West Virginia Court Cases (put in key words "servant" "slave" "negro" "master" "colored" if doing a Westlaw search)
Jim Talbert's (& Weikle) Birth Records for Greenbrier County - (available at the Greenbrier Historical Society)
Also, if I were just starting to research I would pick a central figure and send the search fee (it was about $15.00 - call first) to the W.V. Division of Culture and History in Charleston and see what they come up with. They are fantastic!!
Also: Deaths at Denmar Sanitarium - Pocahontas County (Black folks from all over the country were treated at this Sanitarium)

JAMES BALDWIN
There were three men named James Baldwin in the Greenbrier area.
(1) James Baldwin, born around 1825, husband of Emeline Baldwin. This James Baldwin was sometimes called Avis, which was his middle name. He appears on the 1870 census at 45y, with Emilene, Ann (15), Louisa (11), Elizabeth (7), Ella M. (5), & Thomas (2). (2) James Baldwin, husband of Evelina Baldwin, appears on the 1900 Census in Lewisburg at age 28.
(3) James "Thomas" Baldwin, husband of Octavia Cousins Baldwin, son of James and Emilene Baldwin. He is on the Greenbrier County census in the Williamsburg District from 1870 through 1910. He is in the Lewisburg District in 1930. He died in 6/26/1957 and is buried at the Lewisburg Cemetery.
I observed and photographed his grave in 1999. At that time it was one of the furthest graves from the roadside. The picture of the grave appears in Black Residents of Greenbrier, Monroe, Pocahontas, and Summers Counties - West Virginia - Notes of Carol L. Haynes which can be found at the Greenbrier Historical Society or the W.V. Division of Culture and History at Charleston.

JAMES BALDWIN
There were three James Baldwin in the Greenbrier area.
(1) James Baldwin, born around 1825, husband of

DANIEL BOONE
This is the information that I currently have about Daniel C. Boone of Greenbrier County, West Virginia:
Husband of Virginia "Jennie" Moore Boone. Born ? around 1842 at North Carolina. He appears in the 1880 census at Greenbrier County, Irish Corner District, as a mulatto male, age 37, b. 1843 in No. Carolina, works in quarry, married, enumerated with Littlebert Wyatt. In 1900 he is still in the ICD, a black male, age 57, with his wife Virginia, r.r. laborer, father of Daniel (20), Harriet (17), Jessie (15), Cora (12), Alpha (10), Minerva (6) and Adrea (4). In 1910 he is still in the ICD, black male, age 68, b. in No. C., married 40 years to Virginia, with Josephine (16). He is mentioned in the article HISTORY OF BRUSHY RIDGE by Frank U.G. Peck which says "In the sixties (1860), Daniel C. Boone came from North Carolina. He married Jennie Moore, one of John Moore's daughters, and lived first in South Brushy Ridge and worked in the tan yard for Madison Nickell. He finally bought a home in North Brushy Ridge where he reared a large family." In the Greenbrier County death records it indicates that he died on 6/14/1916 at age 74y. His daughter Lucy G. Peck died in 1952 (WV DC # 244) and his son, William Johnson Boone died in 1956 (WV DC # 8599). There are a number of really nice family histories on this family.

ZEBBY LIGGONS TERRELL
Jim Talbert of the Greenbrier Historical society graciously mailed the following news article to me:

AGED COLORED WOMAN DEAD - "Aunt" Zebby Terrell, a well known colored resident of Lewisburg died on onday morning. It is said she had reached the advanced age of 93 years. She was a slave of Captain Alex McClintic of Bath County, Va. and after the civil war she and her brother, Sam Strain, came to Greenbrier County and were tenants on the Captain Alex Arbuckle farm near Maxwelton, later moving to "Stauntown" in the Teaberry section near Lewisburg. "Aunt" Zebby was twice married, her first husband being named Liggins and her second husband's name being Terrell. She leaves two nephews, Asbury and Dick Strain of Lewisburg.

(there was no date on the article).

JULIUS HENDERSON LOVE was an attorney who was b. 5/10/1885. He was the husband of (1)Marion Higgs of Raleigh, No.C. and then (2) Edna Williams Love of Raleigh County, WV. He was the brother in law of Alice Williams Belton and Rosalie Williams Burk Culpepper. He was the son in law of Hallie Haynes Williams (note: Hallie Haynes and my greatgrandfather George Washington Haynes were siblings). See www.wvculture.org/history/histamne/love.html . Also see his WWI Draft Registration Card. He registered at Montgomery County, Fayette, WV. He gave his nearest relative as Susie Love of Baltimore, Md.
There was also a Julius C. Love who was a Pastor at the John Wesley United Methodist Church at Lewisburg.

SIMON LEE
I have three entries for Simon Lee in Greenbrier.
The first Simon Lee was the husband of Amanda White Lee. He appears on the 1870 census at age 57, with Amanda and with Joseph, Mary, Isabel, Moses, Peyton, Jane, Charity, Simon (age 5), and an unnamed 3 year old (who this compiler thinks was "Sissie" Lee) & Daniel, Georgianna, Mary, and another Preston (age 1). In 1880 he is 68 with Amanda, Isaac, Nimrod, Sissie, Alice, & with Isabella Williams & other members of the Williams family. He is the father of Peyton who died on 8/10/1880 at 23y. In 1886, his wife Amanda dies of consumption. He is the father of Isaac who died on 5/2/1890. He is the father of Isabelle C. Lee who died in 1928 & Sis Lee who died ? year.
The second Simon Lee was the husband of Isabelle Lee,and the son of Simon and Amanda Lee. He was the father of Alred M. Lee who died in 1922.
The third Simon Lee is Simon Peter Lee who was b. in Greenbrier but who registered for the draft in Pittston, Pa. at 65y old. He says he was b. at Lewisburg on 9/24/1876. He was 5'4", The person who would always know his whereabouts was Ada Morris of Lewisburg. He is listed as a white male with a "ruddy" complexion but this compiler believes that he was a black male.

I recently found out that the Greenbrier Historical Society will be putting old newspapers on their site and that the work should be available in about four months. I've spent time at the GHS reading the newspapers and the thought of having them accessible on the internet makes me really happy. It has been over a year since I last posted. I really have no good excuse(s) for that but truly intend to do a better job in the future. I have recently sent new versions of A-F to the GHS and the W.V. Division of Culture and History. I will be sending G& H (four volumes) in the next month. The revisions are mainly corrections, notes from family members who have contacted me, the aforementioned news articles, and many new photos including the photos given to me by E. Carter (which I have used for the covers). I'll upload some photos here as well.

Sad news - Mary Frances Bodemuller who wrote African American Records in Greenbrier County passed away. She combed the courthouse records for enslaved individuals and their owners and listed them in her compilation. The book is available for sale from the GHS.

My apologies for the advertisements in the comments section of this blog. I don't preview the comments although I apparently should.

BOSTON HAYNES

I have a number of entries for Boston Haynes. I believe this was one man who was married to a number of women (4 or 5) in Greenbrier/Monroe/Summers Counties but I have not been able to connect all of my entries. I have also not been able to figure out how he fits in with the other Haynes families of the area. I will dedicate an entire post to him soon.

I'm continuing to read court cases and will post them here as well (or at least the citations).

I'm more convinced than ever that the Littleton's of Greenbrier County were enslaved by Samuel Kincaid. I reread Mary Frances' information this a.m. and both Cook and Maria show up with him in the early 1800's. Cook is a common last name but I have not seen any other individuals with Cook as a first name. Cook and Maria's children John and Mary Ann stayed in GC and worked for the Samuel Price family. Another son, Byrd, moved to Harrison County, Clarksburg. He married Maria Webb and they had a number of children including: Roy H./Ray, ennie, Hugh, & Mary. Byrd's mother Maria died in Clarksburg in 1893. Hugh Webb Littleton was the son of Byrd and Maria and he married Sallie R. Littleton. He was a waiter in a hotel. In 1920 he is enumerated with his sister Jennie. 1880 - 1910 he is with his parents or his wife. In 1930 he is listed with his sister Jennie. He registered for WWI & on his card he says that he worked for K and H Barber Shop. He was short, medium build, with black eyes and gray hair. He was 42 when he registered. He died on 2/8/1947. (WVDC# 1391). He was 70 y.o. when he died. He is buried at Masonic at Clarksburg.

Housekeeping

I have not contributed to this blog for almost two years. During that time, however, I have continually been researching and compiling information, updating BLACK RESIDENTS OF GREENBRIER, MONROE, SUMMERS, AND POCAHONTAS COUNTIES by C. Haynes and contributing these Notes to the West Virginia Division of Culture and History Archives and to the Greenbrier Historical Society. A number of important events have happened in these two years. On a trip to Lewisburg a distant cousin handed me a box of about 100 photos that she had retrieved from a family home. Family members were cleaning out a house and the photos were destined for the trash bin. Luckily, she grabbed them. The photos included a tin type. Most were not labeled and so the identities of the people in the photos can not be known. A couple of the photos were identified, however, including one of my grandparents. Also a photo of my grandfather's sister was labeled. The photos are instructive for how people dressed, and how they looked in general. My favorite is of a forlorn looking Santa Claus standing with a child seated on a donkey. Apparently they didn't sit on Santa's lap at that location in those days. Some of the photos have already been included with my Notes which have been sent to the previously mentioned Archives & Historical Society.
I have been able to update much of the information that I have previously posted & I intend to share the new information here as part of the "housekeeping" task. WV Birth, death, and marriages are now on the internet and are accessible by going to the West Virginia Division of Culture and History site. Some counties are still not available but I am sure they will be available in time. Another valuable tool is the World War I and II Draft Registration cards which can be accessed on one of the subscription based genealogical sites. I am currently culling W.V. court cases for information about Black residents of the area. Some of the cases are extremely interesting & give alot of information about how people lived and interacted at a specific point in time.

Rev. G.B. Gibson

Pastor at the John Wesley United Methodist Church in Greenbrier County, Lewisburg.

Rev. William Rhodes Grigsby

Rev. William Rhodes Grigsby was the son of Frank A. Grigsby and Emma Rhodes Grigsby. He appears on the 1920 Census in Greenbrier County, Lewisburg District as a Black Male, age 42, with Marie (36), William (16), Robert (14), Mamie (12), Gosta (11) &. Frances (4). He appears as W. Grigsby. W.V. Death Certificate # 8353 indicates that he died on 7/25/1922 in Greenbrier County & that he was a Minister. He was a pastor at the John Wesley United Methodist Church at Lewisburg, GC.