Thank you, Wilma. I'll see if either of the books are at the Tampa library. Bob In a message dated 4/7/2004 7:01:12 PM Eastern Standard Time, wpjohnson@kih.net writes: > It is my understanding that the coal companies did not buy up any land in > any of the Eastern Kentucky Counties until several years after the Civil > War. By 1890=1900 the coal mines were beginning to operate heavily. But, > President Roosevelt (before he became President) was one of the people who > came into Eastern Kentucky and bought up land for the coal companies. > > > >[Original Message] > >From: <RWa5352802@aol.com> > >To: <KYPERRY-L@rootsweb.com> > >Date: 4/7/04 3:13:48 PM > >Subject: [KYPERRY-L] Post Civil War Mining Companies > > > >Is anyone aware of a website, book, or whatever, where one could gain an > >understanding of how the coal mining companies gained their land in Perry > County > >after the Civil War? > > > >Were they the so-called "Carpet Baggers"? Did they steal land and run > people > >out of the County? > > > >My gg-grandfather, John "Squirrel Man" Walker and his family, > collectively, > >owned about 7,000 acres of land along, and off, Troublesome Creek. I have > land > >deeds showing where this land was sold between 1870 and 1873 for > reasonable > >money. Yet, when they arrived in Texas in 1873 their first purchase of > land was > >40 acres for $12.50 down and two annual note payments of $50.00. That > leads me > >to believe they left Perry County broke. It is also rather suspect that > the > >old boy learned to write his name at age 81, with only one deed, out of > many, > >showing his signature. > > > >Any ideas or thoughts? > > > >Regards, Bob Walker > > > >Personal Genealogy Page: http://members.aol.com/rwa5352802 > > >