Hi Judy, I tried to e-mail you a request; but I couldn't get it thru to you. Please send me your e-mail address again please. thank You. Sarah Ann

I am also interested in records for Norfolk & Western RR for late 1800's & early 1900's

The men of my paternal line worked for the Norfolk and Western Railroad in Southwest Virginia. I read that the railroad had a pension plan and excellent records on each of its employees. Can anyone tell me where to write for this information? Judy

In a message dated 3/18/99 1:38:16 PM !!!First Boot!!!, swvaroot@swva.net writes: << But when did it start?? Would it generate the money for land purchases?? I don't see iron or lead be 'floated' anywhere. That would have to been limited to locate consumption. Even horses would not take lead far over the roads of the day. >Mr. Hearl said: Tobacco and salt produced in southwest Va. was floated by flatboat down the >rivers to New Orleans to be sold. There was also lead and iron from Wythe County. The old Shot Tower still stands that was near the lead mines. >> The Austinville lead mines in SWVA produced 1/3 of the lead used by the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Check out http://www.matewan.com Frieda *************** Pam Moehling wrote: > My Mom had a relative, his name was Ed CHAMBERS...well Ed and the local sheriff, Sid Hatfield decided they > were gonna go up to McDowell County and kill them some of these "thugs" (Pat O'Neal spoke of)...friends and family > BEGGED them not to go up there..they said they'd be killed for sure...well they boarded the train at Matewan...and another > one of our relatives, John Russle Burke, wanted to go with them..they pushed him off the train and said "No, you stay > here and take care of Matewan"...when Ed and Sid stepped off the train in McDowell County...the thugs were waiting for them > and shot them all to pieces... no one ever knew how the thugs found out Ed and Sid were coming...( I also have photos Ed and Sid).. > > To get a better understanding about these three photos I have mentioned in these posts..my Mom said it > got to be a very publicized thing..the newspapers were full of happenings everyday and it's all folks talked about > for miles..postcards were printed and sold of Ed and Sid and Grandma Jones because of what had happened to them...as well as > others I'm sure... > > Matewan is a small town in West Virginia, near the Kentucky border about 10 miles from Williamson, WVa....Matewan is seperated from Kentucky by the Tug River and Matewan suffered a terrible flood back in the 1980's which just about destroyed everything when a Dam broke loose up on the mountain..They are still rebuilding it today...with flood walls, etc. my sister has the > area newspaper with alot more about Matewan and the Miner's Strike...I will get them and continue with more later... > > Anybody interested in the Hatfield/McCoy War ???...we've got lots on that too... > > Pam > > Researching the following surnames: BURKE, CARTER, PATRICK, WINGO, McGRADY, WIMBERLEY, WITT/WHITT, HENSLEY, ROBERTSON. > > ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== > #5 It is YOUR responsibility to know how to SUBSCRIBE & UNSUBSCRIBE. It is done > by computer. Put the word SUBSCRIBE in the body of the message with nothing > else. The address is sw_va-l-request@rootsweb.com . or -d- for DIGEST mode. > All this is in the Welcome statement I ask you to save. -sysop

Here is an Obit that I sent to a Davis researcher. I thought someone out there might want it. It appeared in the Minutes of the Sixty-Fifth Annual Session of the Elkhorn Association of Primitive Baptists. Held with the Davy Church McDowell Co., WV September 25, 26, 27, 1925. >The subject of this notice was the son of Adam and Clara Davis, was born >June 25th 1858. He was married to Carolina Whitt, January 1, 1880. To >this union was born seven children-3 boys and 4 girls. Five predeceased >him unto a peaceful sleep; two survived him-Miles C. Davis and Clara >Luster, his daughter, his only two surviving children. Caroline Davis >deceased April 5, 1911; she was the mother of the above mentioned children. > >Elder Davis was married the second time to Amenda Muncy, May 2, 1912. >Elder Davis was raised a fatherless child, his father being killed in the >Civil War, being raised up by a poor widow mother. His opportunity for an >education was very limited but he managed to obtain a common education such >as could be obtained in a country school. He taught several schools and >while teaching, it pleeased God to reveal to him his state and standing by >reasons of sin, as he stood condemned by reason of sin. I have heard him >tell how, while in the school house, that the Holy Spirit shined into his >heart and that he at once felt and saw himself greatly in need of a >Saviour's love and mercy to deliver him from a woeful state of sin and >condemnation which hung over his gloomy mind. While the children were >playing at recess he slipped away out of sight and fell upon his knees and >implored God's Great Mercy to remove his guilt and condemnation; and God, >for Christ's sake, imparted to him a witness of his love that he had >forgiven his sins and from that time and place he claimed a little Hope in >Christ which he claimed unto death. This Hope was an anchor to his sould >even in death. He joined the Primitive Baptist Church at Hale Creek, Feb. >9, 1884, awas baptixed by Elder Miles L. Compton, March 10, 1884 and began >to be burdened and exercised in mind concerning preaching, believing it to >be Gods will and work. He began preaching the gospel April 25, 1884, and >was ordained to the full functions of the gospel July 10, 1886, and >continued to preach according to the ability that God gave him untio his >death. He baptised the writerand I have often thought that his prayer at >the water was the most heart-searching and God-sent prayer that I ever >heard or felt fall from the lips of mortal man. He and I traveled together >and preached the glory and power of God's saving grace in Chirst, to >different churches. His preaching was always sound. Salvation by grace in >Christ. He earnestly contended that salvation of poor sinners was alone of >the Lord and that Jesus was the salvation of all of God's people to the >ends of the earth, and that they were all loved in Christ and will finally >all be brought safe to glory through him. Elder Davis deceased January 8, >1925, age 66 years 6 months and 14 days. He suffered from heart leakage >for several months, bore his sickness with Christian patience, he deceased >at this son-in laws house at Dan (known now as Bradshaw) WV. who is an >Elder of the Primitive Baptist Church. He exhorted his son in law to >contend for the faith and salvation of all of God's people in Christ and to >live faithful to Christ. Elder Davis was laid to rest by the side of his >mother in the Rowe Grave-yard. His spirit returned to the God who gave it >and he laid down in a peaceful sleep to a wait the resurrection when Christ >will come and change his vile body and fashion it like his own glorious >body. He leaves a wife and two children, three sisters and one brother and >many friends to mourn his loss. Let me say to them that their small loss >is his eternal gain and that he fought a good fight and kept the faith, and >henceforth there is a crown laid up for him that the Righteous Judge will >give him in that day. He leaned upon the Saviour in death and by God's >grace you can meet him in that shining world where you will never part, and >where the weary will be at rest, there the prisoners rest together, and >they hear not the voice of the oppressors, the small and the great are >there and the servant is free from his master, therfore, is light given to >him that was in misery and life given to the bitter in soul. Now to Him >that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before >the presence of his glory with ewceeding joy to the only wise God, our >saviour, to be gloried and majesty dominion and power, both now and >forever, AMEN. > >Elder E.M. Evans, Honaker, VA., Sept 17, 1925

My Thoughts: Joist Hite, William Russell and others managed to get grants for large tracts of land in Orange County, Va. (The part of Orange in the Shenandoah Valley) These grants were surveyed into smaller tracts and sold to newly arriving immigrants and established plantation owners who had some money. Richard Harrold bought 1200 acres from Wm. Russell about 1740 and deeded it to his sons hoping to keep them near him, but as soon as the deeds were delivered to the boys in 1758, they sold the land and headed west..James Harrold, thought to be one of Richards sons, came to Washington County, Va. in 1769 and settled on unsurveyed land..he received a deed for it about 1780. He was able to claim the land because he had built a cabin and planted corn and was living on it..He bought other land warrants and acquired other land..During the period between 1775 and 1800 many new immigrants arrived on the east coast and many of the old settlers sold their land and moved west only to find the Indians were blocking movement into Ky and beyond..Every hill and hollow in southwest Virginia was occupied by these people while they waited to move on.. James Harrold, who probably had his site set on Ky. died in 1796 in Washington county, Va., his son, Robert Harrold (Herrell), was horsemaster during the building of the road through Cumberland Gap and later was granted land in Kentucky..One half of his fathers land was sold for taxes because he never came back to claim it.. One must remember that each small community formed a local economy, there were grain mills where corn and wheat could be sold and turned into meal and flour, sawmills where logs were made into lumber, blacksmith shops which used locally produced "pig iron", wagon and stagecoach factories, shoemakers, spinners and weavers..all of them turning raw materials into finished products for local people.. Tobacco and salt produced in southwest Va. was floated by flatboat down the rivers to New Orleans to be sold..There were ways to make money in those days!! G. Lee Hearl Abingdon, Va...

Yes, I agree with Delilah, It is very sad to see all the things that went on in our relatives lives. I have a slip where my Grandfather worked for Caretta Mines, in SWV, He only cleared $9.20 after working 80 hours in the 40's. His Gross Wage was $140.00 for 2 weeks pay. But by the time, they took everything out it was the $9.20. No wonder so many of the people back then Drank Moonshine.

To the members, I am willing to assist anyone needing research done in the Pike Co., Ky., area. I am not a professional researcher. I do not expect payment except where it may cost in mailing information if unable to send by e-mail. I have some genealogy reference materials in my library at home. I can not do research outside my home due to my full time job. References I have available are census books 1830 thru 1880, 1900 thru 1920; marriage books, death records, birth records, cemetery records, 7 historical books of Pike Co., and a few others. Assistance will be on first come basis. My time is limited. Eddie, I hope this is an acceptable posting. If not let me know. I have mostly monitored this news list. I have very much and still am enjoying it. A wealth of information has been contributed by several members. Especially, it has been very beneficial to a beginner like me. Judy

I like the documentary "Harlan County" on the UMW strike of early 1970s. I've used it many times in my college classes. Harlan Co., KY, was once part of SW VA, also. Charles Ed Starnes "Edgar A. Howard" wrote: > > <<Matewun > > Is this a current movie. I have not heard of it. Early coal miner > labor movements have always been interesting to me. One never > gets more of a one sided stories than in labor issues. It makes it very > dramatic. > > -eddie > > "Toto, I don't think we are in NH any more." > > ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== > #6 HELP is available from the sysop/owner anytime at: > ehoward@conknet.com or swvaroot@swva.net

Which Burke Family are you looking at? Mary SW_VA-D-request@rootsweb.com wrote: > Subject: > > SW_VA-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 104 > > Today's Topics: > #1 Tazewell County Communities [Peggy Short <lpshort@netscope.net>] > #2 Counties of SW VA ["Edgar A. Howard" <swvaroot@swva.n] > #3 (Fwd) Belcher Family ["Edgar A. Howard" <swvaroot@swva.n] > #4 Flu & Stuff [Bill and Sue McNaught <pp02570@ema] > #5 RE: unusual expressions ["Pat Oneal" <peon@icx.net>] > #6 RE: Tazewell County Communities ["Robert Crabtree" <crabtree@speedl] > #7 Flu and Stuff and Ole Mike's Liver [Pam Moehling <moehling@mc.net>] > #8 Belcher Family ["Edgar A. Howard" <swvaroot@swva.n] > #9 Absquatulate [Frieda Davison <fdavison@sunmuw1.M] > #10 Musick [Jlm9210@aol.com] > #11 COAL MINES OF W VA ["Pat Oneal" <peon@icx.net>] > #12 Re: Absquatulate ["Diana Kinzer Heath" <ANGEL329@pro] > #13 RE: The Curiosity Shop/Expressions ["Pat Oneal" <peon@icx.net>] > #14 Absquatulate ["Pat Oneal" <peon@icx.net>] > #15 Absquatulate [Bill and Sue McNaught <pp02570@ema] > #16 Absquatulate [Delilah Earnest <deesnest@peganet.] > > Administrivia: > To unsubscribe from SW_VA-D, send a message to > > SW_VA-D-request@rootsweb.com > > that contains in the body of the message the command > > unsubscribe > > and no other text. No subject line is necessary, but if your software > requires one, just use unsubscribe in the subject, too. > PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK THE SPELLING OF THE WORD: UNSUBSCRIBE > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Tazewell County Communities > Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 19:08:47 -0500 > From: Peggy Short <lpshort@netscope.net> > To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com > > Amonate - first called Faraday began in 1924 with the #30 mine owned by > Pocahontas Fuel Company. By 1925 the coal community consisted of a > long line of houses in four different styles. During World War II > Amonate employed over 2000 miners. Mines closed in 1960. > Bishop - formed in 1930. It straddles the Va-West Va line. It was a > small coal town named after Walter Bishop, chief engineer of Pocahontas > Fuel Company. The original Post Office was called Shraders. Bishop > suffered two mine explosions, one in 1957 with thirty - seven fatalities > and 1958 with twenty-two. > Bluefield Va. - began in 1883 and named after Colonel Thomas Graham from > Philadelphia. He was in Tazewell County to survey for Norfolk and > Western Railway. He purchased land and laid out the streets of an > embryo town. Prior to being incorporated the name was Pinhook. In 1924 > the name was changed to Bluefield to form a larger Bluefield area with > Bluefield WV. > Burkes Garden - discovered in 1745 by James Burk. Got its name from the > fact that Burk planted potato peelings in 1748 at a campsite where he > and Col. James Patton spent the night. Due to a bad snowfall they left > and came back the next year to find the bed of potatoes that had grown > from the peelings. They named the valley Burk's Garden. The e was > later added and the post office dropped the apostrophe. > Cedar Bluff - named by Thomas M. Scott when he opened a Post Office in > his home. Incorporated about 1895. Probably received its name for the > series of cedar covered bluffs in the area. At one time had two post > offices located about a half -mile apart. > Cedar Bluff is the birthplace of George C. Peery governor of Va (elected > in 1934). > The Cove - settled in late eighteenth century. Rees Bowen and family > were the first settlers. It is located between the Clinch Mountain on > the South and Paint Lick Mountain on the North. > Doran - 1890- named in honor of a distinguished resident of the Quaker > City, Joseph Doran. > Frog Level - named by Jack Witten after all the frogs in the area. When > he wrote an article for the Clinch Valley News he called it the Frog > Level news. The name stuck. > Horsepen- Post Office was established in July 1900. The community got > its name from Cherokee Indians living nearby who used the area to corral > their horses from the white man. It formed a natural corral. It is by > the state line where McDowell County WV and Tazewell County VA meet. > Jewell Ridge- built in 1915 by the Jewell Ridge Coal Corporation formed > in 1912 by George St. Clair, a Wytheville lawyer, and Thomas Righter, a > Pennsylvanian coal operator. They built 105 houses in the camp on the > mountaintop for their employees. > North Tazewell - once called Kelly - railroad came there in 1887. Name > was probably changed because of its location near Tazewell. > Pocahontas - Prior to 1881 it was a laurel thicket. Alexander St. Clair > owned most of the land there at the time. Mining town developed in 1881 > and 1882. Many Italians, Slavs, and Hungarians came to work the mines > owned by Southwest Virginia Improvement Company. > Raven - in 1914 was called the "Gateway to Buchanan County". Named > after Frank Raven, who worked for a glass company in Richlands at one > time but later moved to the area that bears his name. All travelers > from Tazewell into Buchanan went by Raven since the main road to Grundy > built across the mountains came out here where it intersected with other > roads. > Red Ash - located in the Western end of the County, it was named after > the red ash left after burning coal mined in the area. > Richlands - formed from the "rich lands" on both sides of the Clinch > River. Christened in 1785. Town was laid out in 1888. Incorporated > January 26, 1892. > Springville- got its name from the number of springs in the area. The > first school was built in the 1870's. In 1860 it had its own post > office. > Tazewell - Settled in 1773 when William Peery selected a homesite. > Samuel Ferguson followed. Legislature created the county of Tazewell in > 1799 and these men and others donated the land for the courthouse and > town. It was first named Jeffersonville for Thomas Jefferson. > Most info is from TAZEWELL COUNTY HISTORY VOL. 1. This book covers > communities, schools, churches, and stories written by the citizens of > Tazewell County. > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Counties of SW VA > Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 20:57:19 -0500 > From: "Edgar A. Howard" <swvaroot@swva.net> > To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com > > I have officially added Grayson, Dickenson and Wythe Co. to > the List description on the Rootsweb www page. We have > unofficially covered all counties west of the New River but I thought > we should list these counties to attract more members researching > that area. > > I have really enjoyed the post from books of late. I would like to > see more. Get a scanner and start posting. > > -sysop > "Toto, I don't think we are in NH any more." > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: (Fwd) Belcher Family > Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 22:33:21 -0500 > From: "Edgar A. Howard" <swvaroot@swva.net> > To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com > > - > Subject: Belcher Family > > I am research my mother's family (Belcher). My grandfather was James Wesley > Belcher and my grandmother was Anna K. Belcher. Their children were: > Margaret, Louise, Dorothy, Dorcas, Patsy, Mary, Ruth, Kyle, Billy, Bobby, > Harold and James. I know that my family lived in Jewell Ridge and my > grandfather was a coal miner. Any information would be GREATLY appreciated. > There is only 4 members of the family left and I haven't been too successful > getting information from them - except my Aunt Patsy who lives in Pounding > Mill (Paint Lick). > > Thanks, > > Tammy > > "Toto, I don't think we are in NH any more." > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Flu & Stuff > Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 09:08:58 -0500 > From: Bill and Sue McNaught <pp02570@email.kcc.edu> > To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com > > Dear List, > Having been caught by the current flu I checked the Net for the latest > thinking. Learned an interesting statistic regarding the 1918 epidemic. > That one was called the Spanish Flu and there were 500,000 deaths. By > comparison, the 1957-58 Asian flu took 70,000. The Center for Disease > Control says we are overdue for the next Big Bad One. I put up a sneeze > guard for the keyboard so I don't give your computers my virus. Groan. > I've missed some of the interesting and fun topics this List is so good > at. I'd like to see some input on curious expressions used by our SW VA > grandparents. Here's one I have only heard in our family....so far. > When a child asked what was in a box on a closet shelf, the answer was > "Layovers to catch meddlers". > "Drive on the cart" was another one. The story was that a family was > struck with some bad luck and the children were hungry. A neighbor felt > sorry for them and took a wagon load of corn to the house. He called to > the notoriously lazy father that he had brought some corn. The father > yelled back, "Is it shelled?" "No" "Well, then, just drive on the cart." > > Sue McN. > Get me another box of tissues, honey. > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: RE: unusual expressions > Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 00:33:40 -0500 > From: "Pat Oneal" <peon@icx.net> > To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com > > In response to Sue McNaught: I'll knock on wood before I say this: I told > my doctor last week that I was the only person I knew who hadn't had a cold > or the flu in the last year. "Knock, Knock." > Just today, I found a website that contained "Slang in the 1860s". > 1. "That's a new dodge." - meant using clever or tricky means for your own > gain. 2. "He's a bit of a swell," suggested the man was a showy, dashing, > boastful person. 3. "I didn't give a straw what he thought." 4. "He's one > of the big bugs." (big shots). 5. "It's all the rage." 6. "They had to > rough it." 7. "I'm dead beat from working." 8. "Absquatulate", (I have no > idea what that means!!) 9. "Go it while you are young, for when you are > old, you can't." > There are lots of expressions in an article entitled "By the Jumping > Moses!" on a website called "The Curiosity Shop." > Pat O'Neal > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: RE: Tazewell County Communities > Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 03:39:24 -0800 > From: "Robert Crabtree" <crabtree@speedlink.com> > To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com > > Peggy, you did it again. Great information. I was wondering if you have any > information on the mine explosion at Amonate in about 1957/8? I was working for > the Maytag Place in Richlands at the time and I had a call to go repair a > refrigeration unit in the War, WV Company Store. It was early one morning > before day break and I had to drive through Amonate. As I passed the road > leading up to the mine, I saw this bonfire built in a barrel and all these > people were standing around it in the forks of the road. I will never forget > the sight of the expressions of those people's face. I am a photographer and > sometimes artist and the picture of this scene in my memory still haunts me. I > just wish I had the ability to accurately reproduce it with the feeling those > people must have possessed that morning. I had no idea what the problem was but > knew it was grave. I stopped at a little store/restaurant just outside Amonate > and there was a lot of cars and activity there. I went in for a cup of coffee > and this man in a suit, a reporter, was talking to a miner. The miner said that > "my buddy, standing next to me was blown in two". He then broke down > completely and said that he had nothing else to say. I then found out that > there had been an explosion and that person talking had been standing just > around a corner but his buddy was caught the blast. The anguish those people > were going through matches any thing I have seen during two tours of service in > Viet Nam. I have researched the coal mines and mine disaster sites and can not > find out anything on that explosion. The best of my memory, which isn't much > any more, has it that about 27 died. And I believe there was a song produced > about it. Coal mining in that part of SW VA is so much a part of our history. > I have a friend that sent me a video that he had taken throughout McDowell > County that vividly illustrates the deplorable condition of that area > appropriately titled, "After The Coal Mines Closed". It is good to see that > the movie "October Sky" just out is doing wonders to revive interest in that > area. The producers had a special preview of the film for people of McDowell > County which had to be shown in Bluefield, WV because McDowell County has no > theaters. This area was all SW VA until the late 1800s and is very much a part > of our heritage. > Robert Crabtree > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Flu and Stuff and Ole Mike's Liver > Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 07:12:57 -0600 > From: Pam Moehling <moehling@mc.net> > To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com > > Hi Sue, > > Guess you realize what you started here...this will be hysterical... > > Anybody ever here the expression "Ole Mike's Liver"... well when my grandfather was a boy he boarded with > an old women. This old women had an old bull named MIke...well she killed old Mike and served him up to her > boarders..and being a frugal old women she served whatever she had and then reserved it until it was all gone..well > one evening her boarders sat down to dinner..one boarder looks to the other boarder and says " You know there's > three things that last forever, Hell , Heaven and Ole MIke's Liver" <g> > > And just out of curiosity does anyone know if the Cemeteries in Tazewell Co., Va. have been recorded in book form.. > such as a project by their Genealogical Society...I know alot of counties have been working on such projects..I helped > out here in our county... it took about 4 or 5 years to totally complete the project but it was well worth the effort...and I'd > like to give a BIG thank you to those who are looking up their ancestors and take the time to do the complete cemetery > and pass it on to others...I think most of us realize what a help that is when your not able to visit an area yourself..I was > assuming the ones that are listed were done this way...and not as a total project..but we all know what happens when we > "assume" something... > > Stayed tuned for "Good Morning, This Morning...." > > Pam > > Researching the following surnames: BURKE, CARTER, PATRICK, WINGO, McGRADY, WIMBERLEY, WITT/WHITT, HENSLEY, ROBERTSON. > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Belcher Family > Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 08:55:22 -0500 > From: "Edgar A. Howard" <swvaroot@swva.net> > To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com > > ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- > Date sent: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 00:15:12 -0500 > From: Peggy Short <lpshort@netscope.net> > To: "Edgar A. Howard" <swvaroot@swva.net> > Subject: Re: (Fwd) Belcher Family > > Looked in TAZEWELL COUNTY HERITAGE VOL.1 - Moses Belcher, Tobias Albert Belcher, > and Clarence Leslie Belcher but none seem to tie into yours. Peggy > > Edgar A. Howard wrote: > > > - > > Subject: Belcher Family > > > > I am research my mother's family (Belcher). My grandfather was James Wesley > > Belcher and my grandmother was Anna K. Belcher. Their children were: > > Margaret, Louise, Dorothy, Dorcas, Patsy, Mary, Ruth, Kyle, Billy, Bobby, > > Harold and James. I know that my family lived in Jewell Ridge and my > > grandfather was a coal miner. Any information would be GREATLY appreciated. > > There is only 4 members of the family left and I haven't been too successful > > getting information from them - except my Aunt Patsy who lives in Pounding > > Mill (Paint Lick). > > > > Thanks, > > > > Tammy > > > "Toto, I don't think we are in NH any more." > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Absquatulate > Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 08:13:02 +0000 > From: Frieda Davison <fdavison@sunmuw1.MUW.Edu> > To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com > > Pat Oneal wrote: > > 8. "Absquatulate", (I have no idea what that means!!) > > One of our old Webster International Dictionaries says this means "to squat" as > in "No, you take the chair, I'll absquatulate." > > Frieda > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Musick > Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 10:22:30 EST > From: Jlm9210@aol.com > To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com > > I'm trying to find out info about my ggggrandfathers and ggggrandmothers. > They were Ephram and Elizabeth Musick AND Henry and Susan Powers. The > Musicks, I believe, were from Russell County and the Powers were from > Washington County. My gggrandfather was Thomas Jefferson Musick (son of > Ephram and Elizabeth) and gggrandmother was Mary Catherine Powers (daughter of > Henry and Susan). Thomas and Mary Catherine (Kate) were married 4/4/1864. > Any info you can provide on the two families would be greatly appreciated. > > Thanks, > Jeff Musick > > Primarily researching my MUSICK ancestory. Beginning to work some of the > other families of POWERS and HENRY. > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: COAL MINES OF W VA > Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 11:46:19 -0500 > From: "Pat Oneal" <peon@icx.net> > To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com > > I have yet to see the movie "October Sky" which was filmed about 10 > miles from my home. But I did observe the premier showing in Knoxville. The > boy starring in the movie was like a young Tom Cruise entering the theater, > with all the young girls waiting behind the ropes for him to sign their > autograph books. He kissed one of the girls. I just imagined how I would > have felt if I had been a teenager, getting to experience the fame of a > local boy. Who knows! Maybe he will be our next Tom Cruise. > After reading Robert Crabtree's emotional story of the mine explosion in > Amonate, WVA, it seemed appropriate that I tell this story. Some of you may > remember a movie starring James Earl Jones called "Matewan", 1987. It was a > story about the coal mines in WVA during the 1920s. Shortly after the movie > came out, my son Greg was going through a small town in WVA. Driving past an > antique shop, he looked in his rearview mirror and spotted a tall vertical > sign on the porch of the shop. It caught his eye because the name on the > sign said "Estep Hotel" (my maiden name). He backed up his car and entered > the shop to inquire about the sign which appeared to be very old and weather > worn. > The shop owner said the sign was not old. It had been made by a New > York artist especially for the movie "Matewan." My son paid $50 for the > sign, and it has since been a focal point in his home in Indiana. > Obviously, there was an Estep Hotel in the town during the 1920s, but he > never learned anything about it. Does anyone recall the Estep Hotel, who > owned it, or recall anything about Matewan (what does the name mean)? > Pat O'Neal > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Re: Absquatulate > Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 11:49:37 -0500 > From: "Diana Kinzer Heath" <ANGEL329@prodigy.net> > To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Now I know a better word to use for it...but, break the word up and what do > you get??! > Ab "squat" u late > ........ > Diana Kinzer Heath > -----Original Message----- > From: Frieda Davison <fdavison@sunmuw1.MUW.Edu> > To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com <SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com> > Date: Wednesday, March 17, 1999 9:24 AM > Subject: Absquatulate > > >Pat Oneal wrote: > > > > 8. "Absquatulate", (I have no idea what that means!!) > > > >One of our old Webster International Dictionaries says this means "to > squat" as > >in "No, you take the chair, I'll absquatulate." > > > > > >Frieda > > > > > >==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== > >#7 "Roll Calls" or such by other names are to be called > >by the SYSOP ONLY. NO WARNINGS!! Each member is free to post their > >SURNAMES anytime they please. > > > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: RE: The Curiosity Shop/Expressions > Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 12:05:34 -0500 > From: "Pat Oneal" <peon@icx.net> > To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com > > In response to my remark about the The Curiosity Shop, I am forwarding > the entire message. It may be of interest to many of you involved in > researching clothing worn during the Civil War. And, too, it gives a little > insight re fabrics used for clothing. At the end of the message is a > website for the Curiosity Shop. You will find the "expressions" in an > article entitled "By the Jumping Moses!" > Also, observe the article "Weeping Sad and Lonely" Mourning in America. > That too, will give you insight to Mourning Customs during the Civil War > period. > This website appears to have lots of material concerning reenactments of > battles during Civil War, and is one worth exploring. See below: > > Dennis Brubaker wrote: > I have been asked to make a dress for a Civil War reenactor. She wants it > to look authentic but not drab. > > Response: > I recommend either Homespun Patterns or Past Patterns for the most accurate > patterns available. Feel free to e-mail me with specific questions. > As for fabrics and colors, they had some amazingly bright colors at the > time. Depending on where a person lived and their social class they had > access to and could afford the new aniline dyes that were amazingly bright. > Natural dyes, professionally done are also very bright. Depending on the age > of the woman she may have been wearing lighter bright colors (young) or > deeper rich colors, > (married or older) Solid color silks and very fine wools were very common, > as were modest plaids and small checks for silk, fine wool or cotton > dresses. Unless you are very familiar with the type of prints available at > the time (a study in itself) I would recommend a simple check or plaid. > Naturally, avoid neon type colors, but most any blue or brown, most reds, > subdued greens are all safe choices. > An added note, before cutting the dress material, make a muslin of the > bodice and do very careful fittings until it fits snug at the waist and > midriff and smooth every where else. Also, make it at least 1"-2" short > waisted. The skirt will pull it down to where it should be, at least 1/2" or > more above the natural waist line. Remember she will be wearing a hoop and a > short petticoat under the hoop and at least one or maybe two petticoats over > her hoops to hide the bones. If she's wearing a work dress, she will still > need a couple petticoats under it, preferably at least one that is corded > and well starched. > Again, feel free to contact me off the list for more details as you may want > them. > >Glenna Jo "Obsessive Reenactor" Christen > >gwjchris@rust.net > >Visit our web site, "The Curiosity Shop" > >http://www.rust.net/~gwjchris/ > > > > > > > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Absquatulate > Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 12:09:18 -0500 > From: "Pat Oneal" <peon@icx.net> > To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com > > Thanks Frieda for the definition to "absquatulate." I like that word. > Think I'll throw it out once in awhile, although I don't think I'll be doing > much absquatulating nowadays. I may not get up again!!!!! Pat > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Absquatulate > Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 21:30:40 -0500 > From: Bill and Sue McNaught <pp02570@email.kcc.edu> > To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com > > Sounds like a word to use when one takes the last seat and tells those > left standing to "sit on your fist and rair (rare?) back on your thumb". > > Sue McN > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Absquatulate > Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 12:19:36 -0500 > From: Delilah Earnest <deesnest@peganet.com> > To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com > > Mr. & Mrs. Webster (there is a good woman behind every man, customary > saying) > Ab-squat-u-late > v.intr. ab-squat-u-late d ab-squat-u-lat-ing ab-squat-u-late s > 1.a. To depart in a hurry; abscond: "Your horse has absquatulated!" > (Robert M. Bird) > b. To argue. > {Mock-Latinate formation, purporting to mean "to go off and squat > elsewhere"} > Notes: The vibrant energy of American English sometimes appears in the > use of Latin affixes to create jocular pseudo-Latin "learned" words. > Midland absquatulate has a prefix ab-, "away from," and a suffix -ate, > "to act upon in a specified manner," affixed to a none existent base > from-squatul-,probably suggested by squat. Hence the whimsical > absquatulate, "to squat away from." Another such coinage is Northern > busticate, which joins bust with-icate by analogy with verbs like > medicate. Southern argufy joins argue to a redundant-fy, "to make; cause > to become." These creations are largely confined to regions of the > United States where change is slow, and where the 19th century love for > Latinate words and expression is till manifest. For example, Appalachian > speech is characterized by the frequent use of recollect, aggravate, > oblige, and other such works.

For more info on Matewan, go to: http://www.matewan.com/ Sherry

Some of the earliest ones probably had cash from fur trapping, ie. the Longhunters. Many coming into the area we are dealing with, had sold land "back east", in the place they were coming from. Most were not new immigrants. This would give them cash. The land entries that people received back in the 1740's did not take much if any cash to acquire. They were given to encourage settlers. Before that there were the 'head rights' which were also given by the Colony. These land holdings would have been sold for enough to buy the land you are talking about. The fact of the land price going up later is harder to explain, except for the fact that there was not enough land to supply the demand. Newcomers might not have known the land in the Hollows was played out and over paid. These are the first off the top of my head. Diana Williams Walling, Blevins, Jones, McFerran, Laughlin, Quillin

Hello, With all the Belcher postings, I thought I would post mine to see if anyone is related: My only one is Sarah Belcher, b. abt. 1806 VA, married to Jesse Childress/Childers, b. abt. 1795 VA. I would love to know anything at all about this family (Belchers). Thanks in advance, Donna

Moonshine... (seriously ... fwiw, one way my grandfather from Wythe county made a living during the Depression involved running moonshine. He wasn't involved in the actual still but in the transportation.) --jsl -----Original Message----- From: Edgar A. Howard <swvaroot@swva.net> To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com <SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Wednesday, March 17, 1999 8:20 PM Subject: Cash for Land Purchases Members, In the past three months I have spend a lot of time on maps, land grants and deeds. I have focused on my families they were average in their wealth. Typical of many in SW VA. The BIG QUESTION on my mind is where did these poor pioneers get the cash to make these purchases. I see purchase sums of $100, 200, and up to $500 for land purchases. I don't see a source for this cash. The access to markets east of the Blue Ridge were limited. I don't think the farms were so productive above subsistance enough to produce that cash. It is a mystery. There settlement right and other early grants were cheap but when they later bought from each other the price went up. I would love to hear possible answers. -eddie "Toto, I don't think we are in NH any more." ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== #1 When you have a new email address please UNSUBSCRIBE from the old BEFORE you lose it; and SUBCRIBE from the NEW address as soon as you get access to it. If you fail to do this please send the old and new address to: ehoward@conknet.com and the Mailing List name -sysop

Members, In the past three months I have spend a lot of time on maps, land grants and deeds. I have focused on my families they were average in their wealth. Typical of many in SW VA. The BIG QUESTION on my mind is where did these poor pioneers get the cash to make these purchases. I see purchase sums of $100, 200, and up to $500 for land purchases. I don't see a source for this cash. The access to markets east of the Blue Ridge were limited. I don't think the farms were so productive above subsistance enough to produce that cash. It is a mystery. There settlement right and other early grants were cheap but when they later bought from each other the price went up. I would love to hear possible answers. -eddie "Toto, I don't think we are in NH any more."

I have ask this before with no reply but since the subject is up again: When my mother attempted shame us for something "ugly" she would extend and restract her index finger and say "CROOK-KEY, CROOK-KEY" . I can't think of an English word that would be the origin and I wonder if it is Germanic or Gaelic. Anyone ever heard of it?? -eddie Pam, you wrote: > > Anybody heard of these: > "Like a Hen on a Hot Rock" (hyper..can't sit still) ..or my brother Bill..we always say this to him. My dad said "antsy" people were like a "flea on a hot griddle." > "Knee-High to a Grasshopper" (short person) In my family it meant when a person was a kid he was "knee-high to a grasshopper." > "Crazy As a Bess Bug" (nuts..off your rocker) don't ask me what a Bess Bug Is..I have no idea.. Our version was "crazy as a bed bug." Another saying was, "Tell him how the cow ate the cabbage." Explain the facts to him. I'm not sure how southern these are since my parents were descended from SW VA, PA, NC, KY, and native American ancestors. Arless ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== #4 Chain letters, gossip, non-genealogical notes, commercial ads, pleas for help, etc. are PROHIBITED on this List. Violators will be promptly locked out. -sysop "Toto, I don't think we are in NH any more."

Pam, you wrote: > > Anybody heard of these: > "Like a Hen on a Hot Rock" (hyper..can't sit still) ..or my brother Bill..we always say this to him. My dad said "antsy" people were like a "flea on a hot griddle." > "Knee-High to a Grasshopper" (short person) In my family it meant when a person was a kid he was "knee-high to a grasshopper." > "Crazy As a Bess Bug" (nuts..off your rocker) don't ask me what a Bess Bug Is..I have no idea.. Our version was "crazy as a bed bug." Another saying was, "Tell him how the cow ate the cabbage." Explain the facts to him. I'm not sure how southern these are since my parents were descended from SW VA, PA, NC, KY, and native American ancestors. Arless

Eddie, I'm quite familiar with the dear ole' Colonel. I remember when he went door to door with his pressure cooker, demonstrating his KY Fried Chicken. The original Sanders Ky Fried Chicken restaurant has a room on display where people used to stay overnight. Also, the 1940s maple tables and chairs are still used. There are many memorabilia items in the restaurant. I can't help but wonder how he would feel about the latest TV commercial being used with him as a cartoon character. I find it very belittling. Pat

My Mom had a relative, his name was Ed CHAMBERS...well Ed and the local sheriff, Sid Hatfield decided they were gonna go up to McDowell County and kill them some of these "thugs" (Pat O'Neal spoke of)...friends and family BEGGED them not to go up there..they said they'd be killed for sure...well they boarded the train at Matewan...and another one of our relatives, John Russle Burke, wanted to go with them..they pushed him off the train and said "No, you stay here and take care of Matewan"...when Ed and Sid stepped off the train in McDowell County...the thugs were waiting for them and shot them all to pieces... no one ever knew how the thugs found out Ed and Sid were coming...( I also have photos Ed and Sid).. To get a better understanding about these three photos I have mentioned in these posts..my Mom said it got to be a very publicized thing..the newspapers were full of happenings everyday and it's all folks talked about for miles..postcards were printed and sold of Ed and Sid and Grandma Jones because of what had happened to them...as well as others I'm sure... Matewan is a small town in West Virginia, near the Kentucky border about 10 miles from Williamson, WVa....Matewan is seperated from Kentucky by the Tug River and Matewan suffered a terrible flood back in the 1980's which just about destroyed everything when a Dam broke loose up on the mountain..They are still rebuilding it today...with flood walls, etc. my sister has the area newspaper with alot more about Matewan and the Miner's Strike...I will get them and continue with more later... Anybody interested in the Hatfield/McCoy War ???...we've got lots on that too... Pam Researching the following surnames: BURKE, CARTER, PATRICK, WINGO, McGRADY, WIMBERLEY, WITT/WHITT, HENSLEY, ROBERTSON.