I'm a freelance writer, mostly for the Dayton (Ohio) Daily News, and our area is heavily influenced and settled by people with Appalachian (mainly Kentucky) roots. Dayton is only 54 miles from Kentucky. In December, I wrote a story (it's on the website) about a local gangster - the most infamous in Dayton, who died on Thanksgiving Day, 2008. His name was Bill Stepp and he was a descendant of both the Hatfield and McCoy tribes, not to mention the fifth great-grandson of Jane Jefferson, sister of President Thomas, not to mention among others including early Jamestown settlers and even several Mayflower passengers. For a shady character, Bill Stepp has some of the bluest and oldest blood around, and I suspect his early Virginia lines might tie into some of our south central Kentucky families. I also think my story about him is a good read, if I do say so myself. There's also an explanation of the term "Briar," which is common vernacular around here for Kentuckians/Appalachians and their next-of-kin. It's a sort of an "N" word in some ways, but I think there should be pride associated with the term instead. I'm proud to be a Briar. http://stepp2008.tribalpages.com For the story, scroll down to the bottom and click on "Infamous Bill Stepp dies at 73" Martha