Hello and thank you to Rena, Donna, Kat, Ole Paul, and others, for the warm welcome you have given me on this board! This all got started the other day, when I took a walk to stretch my legs, and saw a spring project waiting for me at Reed Cemetery. I'm especially glad to hear that Donna will benefit from the cleanup effort. That was my hope, that someone would be able to shed some light on the Reeds, as they really were the main family around Alum Ridge at the turn of the century, it seems. A little background on how I got here! I grew up in Ferrum, related to the Rosses and Mullins on my dad's side; my mom's heritage was French-Canadian from Ohio. They moved down here in the sixties, to be closer to my paternal grandfather's old home place. As a result, I knew most of my paternal great-aunts and uncles, and extended family. Like a lot of kids around here, I wanted to get out and see the world, so I went to VCU in Richmond back in the nineties, and then lived on the west coast for awhile after that. It's been fun and I've learned a lot, but as my parents experienced various health problems, I realized, the closer you can be, the better. So I moved back in 2005. At first I lived down in Ferrum, but soon got a job at Echostar in Christiansburg, and so moved up to Alum Ridge in May 2006. Tim Redford is my landlord, and has become a good friend. Tim owns The Old Store, just across from Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren, which has the original Alum Ridge post office in it. He rented a trailer to me, up above his ranch house on Reed Cemetery Road. There are several people who live back behind us, closer to where the cemetery is located, there's an old farmhouse and cabin, but I don't know them very well. I can see the cemetery spot from my driveway. It's across a huge field, owned by Kevin Mitchell. I was a little unsure about taking this on, especially considering all of the dead brush around and groundhog holes, but decided that anything I could do would be some improvement. It's really a stunning view up there, you can even see Buffalo Mountain (?), I think, far off in the distance. I've been curious about the old school on Alum Ridge Road too, and looked up pictures of it online about a year ago. So my curiosity and wish to get out and move around, after the long winter, has me involved in this project. Ok, now to specifics. Donna, that's great to hear that your husband already has permission to drive up to the site. I've been walking so far, just to visit and all, but to haul out brush or cut down that tree, taking a truck would work out best. I'm not sure yet when they are planning to plant that field in corn, but it seems they would be starting fairly soon. I'll find that out. Thank you for sharing the details about some of the people resting there. I was just cutting the weeds around your sister's stone on Monday. I have tried to wire the gate back together, even though it really needs to be reset. I walked around, looking at the stones and cutting briars and weeds, trying to get an idea of the scope of the project. I cleared off the area in front of the impressive monuments to Susan and Isaac Reed Jr, which are still standing straight up and intact. Their infant son Jessie is also buried nearby. The most recent burial I found was Nanie E Carroll, in March 1991. She would have been 92, when she passed on! Tim has mentioned Charlie Reed to me, telling stories which made him sound like quite a character. It will be very interesting to learn more as the project goes on. Feel free to call me anytime, I'm going down to Dad's today to borrow his machete. Hello and thanks again everyone, just wanted to say, I love Floyd, don't you? :) Geo ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Donna Hayden" <dhayden@swva.net> > To: <vafloyd@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 10:42 PM > Subject: Re: [VAFLOYD] Fw: Floyd County Genealogy -- Charlie Reed Cemetery > > > >> Hi Georganne, > >> I'm sorry to say that probably half of the graves in that cemetery belong > >> to > >> my family. My brother, son and niece went there several years ago and > >> took > >> some pictures, so I know it's in bad shape. They had to walk a long way > >> to > >> get there, but since then my husband has talked to someone who said we > >> could > >> drive over their land to shorten the distance. > >> If you look on the VA GEN website at cemeteries, then go to Charlie Reed > >> Cemetery, you can find a list of graves. Peter Reed, Susan Reed, Savinda > >> Reed Zentmeyer are grandparents of mine and infant daughter of Charlie & > >> Ora > >> born Oct. 7, 1925 was my stillborn sister. My grandfather, David Peter > >> Reed, > >> who was Savinda's first husband is buried there, but no one can find his > >> stone. They moved to Illinois around 1900 for him to work for the > >> railroad > >> and he was ran over by a train around 1903, so she came back to Floyd > >> with > >> her two young sons, one of which was my father. He was 5 years old at the > >> time. > >> I'm also wondering about your house. My uncle, who was also named Charlie > >> Reed lived in a house in front of the cemetery. I will call you later in > >> the > >> week or over the weekend and we will see what we can get together and > >> do.We > >> will be more than happy to tackle this project with you. > >> Donna (Reed) Hayden > >>

Geo, I didn't notice that you were a ROSS the other day when I saw your post, and I have some information on the ROSSes from the Ferrum area, if you'd like it. A lot of it came from my friend and cousin on the INGRAM line we descended from, and most of the rest from a book by Archie ROSS. Glad you've come home, but don't keep telling people how great Floyd is! First thing you know the place will be overrun with incomers! 8~) Since you're a ROSS from Ferrum, sign me as your probable cousin, Carolyn Carolyn HALE BRUCE, DAR, IBSSG, VBGS Co-author, Rebel King, Hammer of the Scots Rebel King, The Har'ships and Rebel King, Bannok Burn See all the books we publish at: www.bruceandbruceinc.com (Angus MacKilt shirts, too!)

Hi, Georganne, let me add my welcome to the list. We have a great bunch of people. Ask a question and someone will usually come up with the answer. My great grandparents were from Floyd. My granddad was born there too so I feel like the area is my home. I claim Blacksburg as main though. Born in Radford, and have relatives all over Pulaski, Montgomery and Floyd counties. I wish I could help clean up some old cemeteries but my heart doctor would have a fit. I do photograph a lot of them though. Whenever I can get down home , that is. Which isn't often enough for me. Cheryl in Maryland researching: Bower, Epperley/Epperly, Farmer, Trail, o'dell, Hedge, among other SW Va. names Georganne Ross <georganne.ross@earthlink.net> wrote: Hello and thank you to Rena, Donna, Kat, Ole Paul, and others, for the warm welcome you have given me on this board! This all got started the other day, when I took a walk to stretch my legs, and saw a spring project waiting for me at Reed Cemetery. I'm especially glad to hear that Donna will benefit from the cleanup effort. That was my hope, that someone would be able to shed some light on the Reeds, as they really were the main family around Alum Ridge at the turn of the century, it seems. A little background on how I got here! I grew up in Ferrum, related to the Rosses and Mullins on my dad's side; my mom's heritage was French-Canadian from Ohio. They moved down here in the sixties, to be closer to my paternal grandfather's old home place. As a result, I knew most of my paternal great-aunts and uncles, and extended family. Like a lot of kids around here, I wanted to get out and see the world, so I went to VCU in Richmond back in the nineties, and then lived on the west coast for awhile after that. It's been fun and I've learned a lot, but as my parents experienced various health problems, I realized, the closer you can be, the better. So I moved back in 2005. At first I lived down in Ferrum, but soon got a job at Echostar in Christiansburg, and so moved up to Alum Ridge in May 2006. Tim Redford is my landlord, and has become a good friend. Tim owns The Old Store, just across from Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren, which has the original Alum Ridge post office in it. He rented a trailer to me, up above his ranch house on Reed Cemetery Road. There are several people who live back behind us, closer to where the cemetery is located, there's an old farmhouse and cabin, but I don't know them very well. I can see the cemetery spot from my driveway. It's across a huge field, owned by Kevin Mitchell. I was a little unsure about taking this on, especially considering all of the dead brush around and groundhog holes, but decided that anything I could do would be some improvement. It's really a stunning view up there, you can even see Buffalo Mountain (?), I think, far off in the distance. I've been curious about the old school on Alum Ridge Road too, and looked up pictures of it online about a year ago. So my curiosity and wish to get out and move around, after the long winter, has me involved in this project. Ok, now to specifics. Donna, that's great to hear that your husband already has permission to drive up to the site. I've been walking so far, just to visit and all, but to haul out brush or cut down that tree, taking a truck would work out best. I'm not sure yet when they are planning to plant that field in corn, but it seems they would be starting fairly soon. I'll find that out. Thank you for sharing the details about some of the people resting there. I was just cutting the weeds around your sister's stone on Monday. I have tried to wire the gate back together, even though it really needs to be reset. I walked around, looking at the stones and cutting briars and weeds, trying to get an idea of the scope of the project. I cleared off the area in front of the impressive monuments to Susan and Isaac Reed Jr, which are still standing straight up and intact. Their infant son Jessie is also buried nearby. The most recent burial I found was Nanie E Carroll, in March 1991. She would have been 92, when she passed on! Tim has mentioned Charlie Reed to me, telling stories which made him sound like quite a character. It will be very interesting to learn more as the project goes on. Feel free to call me anytime, I'm going down to Dad's today to borrow his machete. Hello and thanks again everyone, just wanted to say, I love Floyd, don't you? :) Geo ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Donna Hayden" > To: > Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 10:42 PM > Subject: Re: [VAFLOYD] Fw: Floyd County Genealogy -- Charlie Reed Cemetery > > > >> Hi Georganne, > >> I'm sorry to say that probably half of the graves in that cemetery belong > >> to > >> my family. My brother, son and niece went there several years ago and > >> took > >> some pictures, so I know it's in bad shape. They had to walk a long way > >> to > >> get there, but since then my husband has talked to someone who said we > >> could > >> drive over their land to shorten the distance. > >> If you look on the VA GEN website at cemeteries, then go to Charlie Reed > >> Cemetery, you can find a list of graves. Peter Reed, Susan Reed, Savinda > >> Reed Zentmeyer are grandparents of mine and infant daughter of Charlie & > >> Ora > >> born Oct. 7, 1925 was my stillborn sister. My grandfather, David Peter > >> Reed, > >> who was Savinda's first husband is buried there, but no one can find his > >> stone. They moved to Illinois around 1900 for him to work for the > >> railroad > >> and he was ran over by a train around 1903, so she came back to Floyd > >> with > >> her two young sons, one of which was my father. He was 5 years old at the > >> time. > >> I'm also wondering about your house. My uncle, who was also named Charlie > >> Reed lived in a house in front of the cemetery. I will call you later in > >> the > >> week or over the weekend and we will see what we can get together and > >> do.We > >> will be more than happy to tackle this project with you. > >> Donna (Reed) Hayden > >> ********************************** Note from List Administrator!!! The Second Sunday in each month will set aside for a "Brick Wall" Roll Call. Please always put the surname you seek in the subject and tell us something about your Brick Wall person. 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