I am seeking information on the following. If you have anything to add please E-Mail me at [email protected] THE MORRIS-PRICE-JORDAN CONNECTION KANAWHA COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA William "The Pioneer" Morris Sr. 1722-1792 ? + Elizabeth Stepp 1725-1795 Leonard Morris 1748-1831 Benjamin Price 1796-1868 Leonard Morris 1748-1831 + Selinda Brokins ? + Margaret Lykens 1771-1841 Margaret Price 1825- Hiram Morris 1800-1854 Floyd Price 1833- The following Generations of Morris’s were born and raised in and around Brownstown (now Known as Marmet) W.Va. ) Hiram Morris 1800-1854 + Margaret Price 1825- Benjamin Franklin Morris I 1851-1910 ( Seeking whereabouts of Hiram and Margaret’s other three children, Joshua, Jane Ann and Gibson) Note: Info indicates that Joshua married Floyd Price 1833- + Ann Eliza Meadows 1835-1875 Manderville Wademan Price 1857- Benjamin Franklin Morris I 1851-1910 + Julia Alice Arthur 1856- Benjamin Franklin Morris II 1876-1947 Manderville Wademan Price 1857- + Victoria Ferrell 1861-1930 Ella America Price 1881-1926 Benjamin Franklin Morris II 1876-1947 + Ella America Price 1881-1926 Jennie Louise Morris 1913-1979 Jennie Louise Morris 1913-1979 + Garland Clayton Jordan Sr. 1911-1986 Garland Clayton Jordan Jr. 1937-1943 Living Living (The above mentioned Leonard Morris is the son of William "The Pioneer" Morris and Elizabeth Stepp founders of the Kanawha Valley region of West Virginia. Leonard had nine siblings: William "Major Billy", Henry, Joshua, Levi, Capt. John, Achilles "Carlos", Benjamin, Elizabeth and Frances "Franky".) (Benjamin Franklin Morris II was District Board Member, Secretary and International Board Member of District 17 of the United Mine Workers of America. He was an associate and organizer under John Michell first President of the United Mine Workers of America. He served three terms as member of Loudon District School Board and 22 years as the Mayor of Marmet, West Virginia)

Horace Greeley did not need to tell us to go west. From the time our ancestors landed on our eastern shores at places such as Plymouth Rock & Jamestown there had been expansion westward. Some even entitled this westward movement Manifest Destiny -- the belief that territorial expansion of the United States was both inevitable and divinely ordained. For some reason there was a mass exodus of families from Franklin County, VA just prior to the Civil War. Much of the migration was to parts of VA that would become WV with the impending war. The populations of Boone, Fayette, Kanawha, McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh and Wyoming Counties grew as a result. Franklin County researcher Otis Scott, who was the first to make me aware of the Franklin County exodus writes, "I can not begin to come up with a reason so many families moving to WV. It is sort of westward but you would expect people to move to TN or the OH Valley. Would the farming lands there been that much of an improvement over Franklin? I am familiar with those parts of WV and they are similar to Franklin as far as the lay of the land." There seems to be no singular reason, according to our little study, for why our ancestors moved from Franklin to set up housekeeping in future WV counties. What follows is my attempt at summarizing the reasons put forth by fellow researchers on the subject. Employment and the dream of a better life seemed to be the most popular responses given for migration. According to Jackie Sink Mygatt, "The stories my father tells, that were related to him by his grandpa, were that jobs were hard to come by and my ancestor went in search of same." Patty Smith says her families came to the areas that are now Tazewell, Mercer, Wyoming and McDowell Counties. She speculates, "From some of the data I have on the Cockrans, they appeared to have owned quite a bit of land in VA ... But I think the children/sons in particular moved on in hopes of free land grants & starting a new life for themselves." Ed W., another researcher, says that "farming was the main way of making a living. All of the land was in use by the parents of these people. Since it took a lot a land to make a living, the only option was to go where there was available land." June, a researcher from the Fayette County list, says some of her relatives migrated first to Monroe County and then on to Fayette County. She explains the second leg of the journey in the following manner: "We were always told that our ancestors came to Beards Fork to work at the big "ban mills," that is the saw mills ... I have some photos from the timbering days. The size of the treestumps is staggering. Three grown men could sit comfortably side-by-side on one, all facing the camera. The virgin forests our ancestors saw must have been a truly impressive sight! Needless to say, it is now difficult to find a tree more than about 150 years old in Fayette County and they are absolutely dwarfed by the trees I see in these photos." Diane Kuras talks about a different kind of employment awaiting our ancestors.  "I believe there were others from the area (Franklin County) who went to the Kanawha area, perhaps due to employment at the salt mines." There was also mention of illegal employment. Cathy, of the Wyoming County lists, talks about a professor at Clemson University who labels early Franklin County as the "moonshine capital of the world" and says that there was constant expansion of its "trade routes into backwood areas." Peter Ramsey, a Franklin County researcher, says that our relatives may not have been seeking a better life but may have instead been running from a previous one. He explains in the following way: "Some of the folks may also have moved west to escape the law. There are some cases of murder and bigamy in that list that I could relate and are perhaps others." Audrey Johnson sent an E-mail on the Perdues and Leffews in which she also mentions her grandfather, James H. Goforth. His migration does not fit our criteria since it occurred a little later & since he was coming from Wilkes County, NC instead of Franklin County, VA. However, his case still deserves consideration. From Audrey's E-mail comes the following: "My grandfather was on his way to Wyoming to homestead when he saw my grandmother out sweeping her mother's porch. He turned to his friend with whom he was traveling and said, I am not going another step further. I am going to stay right here and marry that pretty girl." James Goforth never did make it to Wyoming County. He married Nancy Catherine Perdue & they lived in Brushfork, just outside of Bluefield in Mercer County. Seems love is a migration factor we also need to consider. I received between 75-100 responses to my Franklin County migration query. I'd like to thank the following people for their contributions and help in compiling the list: Sandy Spradling Kathy Thomas Regina Gray Sherry Drew Sharon Phillips Belenski Brenda Chatterton June ([email protected]) Jack Spangler Jim Hartman Rhonda Palmer Peter Ramsey Wayne Witt Bates [email protected] French Campbell Deirdre Mercer Almeda Lappin Patty Smith Diane Kuras Carrol Hurley Ullrich Angela Griffin Joyce York Lisa Rider Shindlebower Audrey Johnson Cathy ([email protected]) Nancy Acord-Greathouse Nan Mykel Ed W. ([email protected]) Tom Dillion Sam Cook Doris Slaughter Brock Robertson Mercedes Murphy Rickie Bennett Longfellow Sonny Griffith Otis Scott Anita Rose Schmidt Libbie Griffin Marsha Moses Colleen Simmons Joann Giddinge Nancy Frederick Gracie Stover Anita ([email protected]) W. Darrell Miller Sue Huffman Jean Abshire Marie Martin Carlisle Bowling Richard Wilstead Jackie Sink Mygatt Yvonne Booz Gary Griffith Nyla Creed Patte Wood The final list of families that migrated from Franklin County contains some 80 surnames. The alphabetical listing is as follows: Abshire Adams Adkins Angel/Angle Bailey Bates Beckelhimer Belcher Bell Blankenship Bowles Bradshaw Brogan Brown Campbell Clark Clay Cockran Cook Cooper Cox Craddock Darby Dearien Dent Dickerson Dillon Feazell Ferguson Gadd Goode Gray Griffith Hale Hatcher Huff Hurt James Keys Kidd Kingrey Lamb Leffew Lilly Maxey Maynor McCormack/McCormick McVey Meador/Meadows Newberry Perdue Peters (2 lines) Phillips Proffit Radford Rausch/Rouse Richards Robinson/Robertson Saunders Scott Shrewsbury Sigmon Sink Smith Snead Spangler Stanley Stephens/Stevens Stover Sweeney Tench Thomas Trail Underwood Via Wade Warden Wingo Worley Young This summary, list of contributors & list of migrating families can also be found at the following URL: http://www.geocities.com/ncreed1/Migration.html Thanks for listening and as my Grandma Coleman used to say, "Ya'll come!" Sincerely, Mike Peters [email protected]

Thank you everyone for sending me the obituary. I appreciate it so much and can't believe how fast that was!! Thank you again Lorna Corns Workman, Sheryl Harvey and CClark 8399!!! Pam

Pam, Here's the obit. You can find obits online for the Chas. area at: http://www.dailymail.com/news/Obituaries/ Regards, Lorna George William Lavender III George William "Chip" Lavender III, 54, of Charleston died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001, at home. He was a Charleston lawyer, a member of MacCorkle, Lavender & Casey, and held a doctoral degree from the West Virginia University Law School. He was a member of Christ Church United Methodist, Charleston, and the church's board of directors. He was a member of numerous professional organizations including the state, county and national bar associations, the Defense Trial Council, the International Association of Defense Counsel and the Product Liability Advisory Council. Surviving: daughter, Tiffany Lavender of Princeton; son, Brad W. of Morgantown; parents, George and June Lavender of North Carolina; sister, Jane Elizabeth Watkins of North Carolina; two nieces and one grandniece. Service will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Christ Church United Methodist, Charleston, with the Rev. D. Keith Clarke officiating. Friends may call after the service at the church. The family suggests donations to Christ Church United Methodist Memorial Fund, 1221 Quarrier St., Charleston, WV 25301. Pam Haithcock wrote: > Would someone be kind enough to check the Charleston paper > today for an obit? It's possible it could have run > yesterday, too. His name is George William Lavender, III > (nickname "Chip") Thank you so very much for any help.

Would someone be kind enough to check the Charleston paper today for an obit? It's possible it could have run yesterday, too. His name is George William Lavender, III (nickname "Chip") Thank you so very much for any help.

Obituaries & News...Charleston Daily Mail...Wednesday, January 10, 2001 George William Lavender III George William "Chip" Lavender III, 54, of Charleston, died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001, at home. He was a Charleston Lawyer, a member of MacCorkle, Lavender & Casey, and held a doctoral degree from the West Virginia University Law School. He was a member of Christ Church United Methodist, Charleston, and the church's board of directors. He was a member of numerous professional organizations including the state, county and national bar associations, the Defense Trial Council, the International Association of Defense Counsel and the Product Liability Advisory Council. Surviving: daughter, Tiffany Lavender of Princeton; son, Brad W. of Morgantown; parents, George and June Lavender of North Carolina; sister, Jane Elizabeth Watkins of North Carolina; two nieces and one grandniece. Service will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Christ United Methodist, Charleston, with the Rev. D. Keith Clarke officiating. Friends may call after the service at the church. The family suggests donations to Christ Church United Methodist Memorial Fund, 1221 Quarrier St., Charleston, WV 25301. Hope this helps! Caroline [email protected]

Thanks to everyone who let me know how to contact the DAR. My letter and check are already in the mail to Washington! Wish me luck! Many, many thanks for your help. Anne

It did go up; it's now $5.00. Some info can be obtained by visiting www.DAR.org. Lori [email protected] wrote: > In a message dated 1/9/01 11:52:33 AM Eastern Standard Time, > [email protected] writes: > > << Hi list, > Does anyone know the name and address of the local chapter of the > Daughters of the American Revolution - in Charleston or Kanawha Co.? My > grandmother supposedly belonged, and I would like to try to get her file > if possible. > Thanks, > Anne Lieberman >> > > Hi Anne, > You don't write to the local chapter. You write to National Headquarters. > They don't have files per se on us but our application papers. It costs > $4.00 to get a copy of the application (at least I don't think they've > changed the rates). Write to National Society Daughters of the American > Revolution, 1776D Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006. > > If you don't have her membership number then give them her full name (maiden > and married), her birth date, names of her parents -- hopefully they'll be > able to find it that way. > > Hope this helps, > Neva Stout Bryant

Hi list, Does anyone know the name and address of the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution - in Charleston or Kanawha Co.? My grandmother supposedly belonged, and I would like to try to get her file if possible. Thanks, Anne Lieberman

In a message dated 1/9/01 11:52:33 AM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: << Hi list, Does anyone know the name and address of the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution - in Charleston or Kanawha Co.? My grandmother supposedly belonged, and I would like to try to get her file if possible. Thanks, Anne Lieberman >> Hi Anne, You don't write to the local chapter. You write to National Headquarters. They don't have files per se on us but our application papers. It costs $4.00 to get a copy of the application (at least I don't think they've changed the rates). Write to National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, 1776D Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006. If you don't have her membership number then give them her full name (maiden and married), her birth date, names of her parents -- hopefully they'll be able to find it that way. Hope this helps, Neva Stout Bryant

I have copies of some WV counties and the census districts therein. I don't have a specific date but I think these maps cover abt 1840 or 1850 to 1880. I think the only way you can find exact addresses would be to check the census records according to their Enumeration District number and hope the enumerator added the addresses in the column. I don't think exact addresses were included until the 1900's but I surely could be mistaken about that. Hope that helps some one out there. Betty in Idaho

Looking for SURNAMES - MYERS & COPEN Jane Catherine Rice Dumont - daughter of Harry A. Rice and Clara Belle Myers. Clara Myers - daughter of Wm. Lewis Henry Myers and Jane Copen. Jane Copen - daughter of George Wesley Copen and Mary Woodrum. George W. Copen - son of William Copen. William Copen - son of Zacheus Copen, - brother to John Copen. ============================================= More SURNAMES - RICE My Rice ancestors came from Cumberland MD. My grandfather - James Francis Rice - b 2 Apr 1865 His father - unknown except is listed as J.R. Rice on death certificate of James Francis Rice __ James Francis Rice __ B: 02 Apr 1965 in Alleghany County, Cumberland, MD M: 22 Apr 1886 Fannie Catherine Farley D. 15 May 1943 Charleston, WV ___ Harry Alvin Rice __ my father - B 1894 in WV _______________________________ Close relaaative named Horace Harry Rice B: 1857 in MD D: 16 Sep 1954 Charleston, WV Married Mamie Children: Theodore B. B abt 1880 D 1933 Arthur C. B abt 1882 D abt 1952 Mamie Ocea _______________________________ Please respond with any suggestions. Thanks ____________ from Jane's brain ____________

Hello, Is there anyone in Kanawha county area researching the Oshea or Shea name. I am desperate. Carolyn Hitchcock Krause [email protected] wrote: > > Hi Cara. The Districts were areas of the Counties, not the towns or Cities. > I've been trying to find maps or descriptions of where the Districts were for > all the years since Kanawha Co. was a County to present. The Archives have no > maps showing districts and if you get an answer please send it to me. Thanks. > Tim Spradling > > That last email from Artha Griffey on cemetery records made me think of > something I've been wondering for a while. Does anyone know if there is > a > way to find out what districts are in a census? Does the National > Archives > hold some sort of regional map that shows what the districts are in a > town? > Or maybe WV Archives might have something like that. Maybe even not a > map > but just a list of streets that make a boundry, like from Capitol Street > to > Elizabeth Street and from Piedmont street to Kanawha Boulevard is > District > ##. Something like that. Is there such an animal? > > I found a district one time called Magazine District. To my knowledge, > there > is not part of town known as Magazine in Kanawha Co. How would I go > about > finding out where a district is? > > -- > Cara Showers > Anchorage, Alaska > [email protected]

I found a St. Albans History written by the St. Albans Historical Society at the FHS. I would be interested in finding out if they are still in print and where to purchase one. Does anyone have any information? Thanks for your help. Regards, Pat Muniz Researching AMOS, ANGEL, BRADSHAW, BRYANT, HOWARD, SNYDER, UTTERBACK/OTTERBACH

Hi Cara. The Districts were areas of the Counties, not the towns or Cities. I've been trying to find maps or descriptions of where the Districts were for all the years since Kanawha Co. was a County to present. The Archives have no maps showing districts and if you get an answer please send it to me. Thanks. Tim Spradling That last email from Artha Griffey on cemetery records made me think of something I've been wondering for a while. Does anyone know if there is a way to find out what districts are in a census? Does the National Archives hold some sort of regional map that shows what the districts are in a town? Or maybe WV Archives might have something like that. Maybe even not a map but just a list of streets that make a boundry, like from Capitol Street to Elizabeth Street and from Piedmont street to Kanawha Boulevard is District ##. Something like that. Is there such an animal? I found a district one time called Magazine District. To my knowledge, there is not part of town known as Magazine in Kanawha Co. How would I go about finding out where a district is? -- Cara Showers Anchorage, Alaska [email protected]

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: {not a subscriber} census districts Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 17:11:54 -0800 From: Cara Showers <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> That last email from Artha Griffey on cemetery records made me think of something I've been wondering for a while. Does anyone know if there is a way to find out what districts are in a census? Does the National Archives hold some sort of regional map that shows what the districts are in a town? Or maybe WV Archives might have something like that. Maybe even not a map but just a list of streets that make a boundry, like from Capitol Street to Elizabeth Street and from Piedmont street to Kanawha Boulevard is District ##. Something like that. Is there such an animal? I found a district one time called Magazine District. To my knowledge, there is not part of town known as Magazine in Kanawha Co. How would I go about finding out where a district is? -- Cara Showers Anchorage, Alaska [email protected] Volunteer of Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness at http://raogk.rootsweb.com

I would like to find where Mary Jane (Polly) Howery was buried and a record of her death. She was a widow living in District 29, Kanawha Co. in 1850 with some of her children. She isn't there in 1860, so probably died during that time. Can anyone tell me which cemetary she was likely buried in or where to find that information and a record of her death? Artha

In a message dated 1/2/01 9:01:40 PM Central Standard Time, [email protected] writes: > Am trying to compile a list of the families that migrated to Raleigh, > Fayette, Wyoming, Boone, Kanawha & Monroe Counties of VA/WV from the > Franklin > County, VA area during the 1840-1860 time period. I'll start with the > PETERS & > STOVER surnames. (The PETERS group includes two different groups.) Can > anyone add to this list? > > Thank you in advance for any information or guidance. I look forward to > hearing from you. > > Sincerely, > > Mike Peters > [email protected] > My Dearien family came from Franklin County, VA during this time period. The later half of it actually. Have been having a hard time finding records on them in Franklin. Lisa Rider Shindlebower [email protected]

I'd like to thank the following for their replies to my Franklin County migration query & for their contributions to the growing list: Jean Abshire Sue Huffman Brenda Chatterton W. Darrell Miller Anita ([email protected]) Gracie Stover Nancy Frederick Joann Giddinge Colleen Simmons Richard Wilstead Marsha Moses June ([email protected]) Libbie Griffin Anita Rouse Schmidt Audrey Johnson Jackie ([email protected]) Marie Martin Sandy Spradling Carlisle Browning Kathy ([email protected]) Regina Gray Sherry Drew Sharon Phillips Belenski The surname list of families that migrated from Franklin County, VA now include: Stover Peters (2 lines) Gadd Adkins Phillips Brogan Young Brown Sink Via Richards Perdue Bailey Blankenship Smith Wingo Angles Belcher Rausch/Rouse Lilly Meador/Meadows James Ferguson Scott Bowles Cooper Feazell Goode Darby Robinson/Robertson Hurt Abshire Beckelhimer Can anyone give a reason for the exodus of people from Franklin County, VA to the area that would become Southern WV? Was it for work in the coal mines? Was it related to the impending "War of Northern Aggression?" Did it have to do with land grants? Was work sparse in Franklin County? Was it just natural westward expansion? Any & all help is welcome. Why did your relatives come from Franklin County & set up house in what would become Southern West Virginia? As always, thank you in advance for any information. I look forward to reading your E-mails. Keep the surnames coming! Sincerely, Mike Peters [email protected]

Would like to find cemetery readings in Kanawha Co, WV: Vilinda Susan Brown 1851-1926/27, wife of James Brown. Nancy Poore, wife of Robert Poore. (sorry, not sure of her birth date, could be from 1815-26) Sure could use some help here, thanks...Lyle Corder