Owing to the responses to my “Old Swinging Bridge” postings, I feel obliged to offer the following tale from my errant youth. It has little to do with swinging bridges except that the “Old Swinging Bridge” previously mentioned served as headquarters for a bunch of ornery, teen-age country boys in the mid-forties who were looking for excitement and usually found it. Recently, when I revisited WV, Mr. Reuben Pack, a few years my senior and a friend from my young days, was quick to remind me of the watermelon story. A bunch of us were hanging around outside the Matheny Chapel Methodist Church one hot summer night in July waiting for the services to end, in hopes that we would be lucky enough to latch onto one of the girls inside and walk her home, when Butch showed up and gave us the good news. Mr. Hager’s watermelons were beginning to ripen. Butch and a couple of companions had visited Mr. Hager’s watermelon patch the night before and found that they were “ripe for pickin.” Mr. Hager (My apologies, Joel, if he was a relative of yours.) had rented a large parcel of land from Uncle Ott Stewart and planted it in watermelons. The field was located at the intersection of the Coon Branch road with Route 10 at Matheny next to Aunt Nancy and Uncle George Milam’s house. There were no other houses on that side of the road. Mr. Hager planned to sell the melons at a roadside stand that he had erected next to the patch as well as to markets in Oceana and Pineville. He obviously knew what he was doing as he was enjoying a bumper crop. Butch wondered if any of us was man enough to accompany him back to the site of his previous success and then participate with him in a midnight watermelon feast at the old swinging bridge. It was not in our nature to reject such a dare and a group of about five of us forgot about church, forgot about the girls, forgot about the eighth commandment and headed up the road to Mr. Hager’s watermelon patch. Mr. Hager was waiting for us! We had no sooner crossed a three- strand barbed wire fence into the watermelon patch than a loud boom rang out, whereupon Butch passed me and cleared the barbed wire fence in a single leap. The rest of us didn’t know exactly what had happened to Butch, but we knew it wasn’t good. We didn’t hang around long enough for Mr. Hager to reload for a repeat performance. As had been previously agreed, we reassembled at the old swinging bridge. Butch had fourteen number eight shotgun pellets in various locations on his body, both front and back. He had pellets in his hind end and chest and he later found a pellet that had penetrated a cardboard Prince Albert tobacco box that he was carrying in his front shirt pocket. * We took up a collection and sent him off to Oceana to visit Doc Hatfield, who removed the pellets. Butch was thereafter known as “Buckshot.” My friend Buckshot died June 27, 1994 in Wyoming County WV. (Note: During the war, Prince Albert abandoned their tin boxes for a cardboard version.) (TO BE CONT.) We seek revenge. STAN

Bonnie; You are welcome. Sorry I cant be of any help on your Weddingtons. Shelby ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Shelby, Thanks, I think I too had them confused. I did notice that one of his son's was also Valentine. I was not sure which was which. To me this is a somewhat confusing family but I have only looked at some others work and as I said I have done nothing on my Jane Hatfield side. Bonnie ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Both were teamsters in their early years of the 1900s,and about five years diffrence in their ages. Okey Ben hauled the logs out of the mountains. He was my late wife Norma's grandafther.Okey Ben was the s/o Riland & Mary (Hill) Hager. The other Okey Lee Hager, was a contractor for the C& O railway co., hauling rails from Chapmanville to Ramage, in Boone co, for the Spruce Fork railroad, just getting underway.This was a dangerous job, with no roads to speak of. Okey Lee was the s/o Byrne & Louisa (Baldwin )Hager I have them as first cousins. Okey Ben later went to Mingo co. Okey Lee later became school maintence man for the Logan co. school system. He m. Pearl (Fowler), dau of Zatto Fowler. Okey Ben M. Tennesee Browning, dau of Francis & ____ (Ellis) Browning. Hope this helps some Hager researchers. Shelby B. ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Becky; There is some confusion about the firstborn of Valentine & Jane. The Ky version has him listed as Valentine, b. 1864, while the federal census has him as David Hatfield. Perhaps he had both names,who knows ? Shelby ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

I have this family almost the same, but I have David as the first born in 1854 with the source the 1860 census, and I have one additional son, Samuel B. 8 Jun 1884 ( source: http://www.wvculture.org/, Logan County Births, Page 110, Line 84.) That last one seems out of kilter with the others--a seven year gap. Since I am new at this, I am always afraid I have made an error even though I try to be careful to cite sources accurately. Becky : [email protected] [[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] [[email protected]] Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 2:28 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WVLOGAN] Wall Hatfield Bonnie; Valentine Hatfield's marriage record in in P ike co. Ky.. He married Jane Maner August 19, 1853, dau of David Mayner. Valentine & Jane had the following children: Valentine, b. 1854 2. Ephram, 1856, 3. Nancy, b. Dec.20, 1857. 4. Sarah Ann, b. Feb 2 1860. 5. Vicy, b. 1862. 6 Mary, b. 1864. 7 Sampson, b. 1868. 8 Ellison, b. April 1870.9 Laura, b. June 14, 1872 10 Smith, b. March 3,1875 11 Allen, b.Oct 10, 1877. Valentine had several more children that are by other women, by his own admittance. Some have been identified through records in Logan county. ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Bonnie; I forgot to sign off. Seems we are taliking about two different Valentine Hatfields. I know you are correct in saying the elder Valentine did marry Martha Weddington. I was referring to the feudist, Valentine (Wall) Hatfield,b. 1831 Shelby ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Bonnie; Valentine Hatfield's marriage record in in P ike co. Ky.. He married Jane Maner August 19, 1853, dau of David Mayner. Valentine & Jane had the following children: Valentine, b. 1854 2. Ephram, 1856, 3. Nancy, b. Dec.20, 1857. 4. Sarah Ann, b. Feb 2 1860. 5. Vicy, b. 1862. 6 Mary, b. 1864. 7 Sampson, b. 1868. 8 Ellison, b. April 1870.9 Laura, b. June 14, 1872 10 Smith, b. March 3,1875 11 Allen, b.Oct 10, 1877. Valentine had several more children that are by other women, by his own admittance. Some have been identified through records in Logan county. ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Shelby, As it turns out, Valentine was my ggggrandfather, through son Joseph down to Jane Hatfield wife of Wm. Chapman Browning. I have the mother of Joseph as Martha Weddington. I have not done any personal research on this family yet. Are you saying they were never married? Or do I have the wrong info? Any help you can give me would be great. Thanks, Bonnie ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

It seems to me like the Devil name should have never been placed on Wm Anderson Hatfield (devil Anse ). His older brother ,Valentine,(Wall) was the meanest man. He persuaded the Pike co. Ky police to give him control of the 3 McCoys, who were in their custody. He took the 3 McCoys out and executed them a few minutes later. When Wall was finally captured, he denied the murders. He said his brother Wm Anderson did the crimes. He was willing for his own blood brother to be tried in his stead ! He wasnt believed, and got a life sentence. Wall also had about 48 children by 6 different women; only one was his wife, a Mrs Maynard. This story from the Mingo Co. Heritage Book. Shelby ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Hi folks, I will be tearing down my computer moving things around putting in a new corner cabinet so I will unsubscribe for a week or two to keep my mail box from flooding. See you when I get back. Judi

Shelby, The will of James Pine Christian is the best will that I have seen in Logan County. The wills in Logan County are no where near as nice as this will. Does anyone willing to share a Logan County, West Virginia will? When I looked at the Wills in the 1970-1971 I did not find wills on Burgess, Browning, Brown, Vance, Mullins, Toler etc. I would love to be proven wrong. Thanks Jim Burgess -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 2:47 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [WVLOGAN] Old Wills Hey, Jim Burgess; Got any more of the old wills ? I enjoy reading them, like the one about James Pine Christian you showed us. They are a good conversation piece ! Thanks; Shelby B ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Can anyone tell me what department at the Mingo Co. Records Dept. would have wills? Donna Carter ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Hey, Jim Burgess; Got any more of the old wills ? I enjoy reading them, like the one about James Pine Christian you showed us. They are a good conversation piece ! Thanks; Shelby B ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

I just did a topozone search, and there were two Dingess Run streams in Logan County WV. The one in the will was located at Mallory. Apparently , it runs between Huff, & Elk creeks. Shelby ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Dear Logan County, West Virginia Genealogist, I hope to be moving to a new home the end of November. I spent the day cleaning my garage and Finally found my copies of West Virginia's Christian Families by Agnes Branch Pearlman. For some time I have been calling them Christian Chronicles do not know where I got that as they are clearly marked West Virginia Christian Families. >From the different booklets it looks like Agnes started about Jan 1979 (Part I) and my copies end in July 1983 with page 912 pages. Agnes did not send me the entire 912 pages, she did tell me that she sent me the West Virginia Christian families which seems to Be the case. Apparently the pages that I do not have are from Christian families from other parts of the US. I do not believe that this information Is copy righted. Today this information is over 25 years old. It is full of beautiful pictures of several old timer Christian pioneers from Logan County. I have a few questions: a. Does anyone on the list have the entire set? b. Has anyone typed the documents that she has given us? I am willing to type this information, but it would save me a lot of time if someone else has typed this information. c. She has given the name of the person who sent her the different pictures. At this point in time I would imagine that many of these People have passed away. I would certainly give credit to the person whose name is attached to the pictures. d. I do not have a problem with the data as it is for the most part what we have in our data bases. e. These beautiful pictures should be preserved. f. Has anyone seen these pictures on a web site or in a book on the Ch ristian family. g. Anyone related closely to the Christian family of Tridellphia Township h. I am embarrassed to ask this but does any one know when Agnes passed away? There are some wonderful stories included. Agnes and I were very good Genealogy buddies for several years long before computers - I am sure that she would want us to preserve her work. I have a large file of letters from the 70.s 80's and early 90's when I lost touch with her. Any thoughts on my West Virginia Christian Families by Agnes Branch Pearlman. She was a wonderful lady. Thanks Jim Burgess

Your welcome,Ed. Hope you enjoy the pics. Cuz; Shelby ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Thanks Shelby Ed Maynard -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2007 1:52 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WVLOGAN] Ancestors Names Thanks, Joel; Nancy and Josephine were half sisters. Nancy married James Workman, while Josephine married Isaac Workman.I believe what was reported in the census. Nancy was a Ferrell, and not a Jarrell. I see a lot of question marks in the Workman households, in the 1850 Boone census. I think some enumerator didnt know about some of these old familys James Workman was the s/o John & Jane (Moore) Workman. He disappears after the 1850 census. No further record. Guess I will never know who E & B Ferrell were. Shelby. ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Does anyone know where she came from? (I am, of course, referring to the one who married Valentine Hatfield). I've been meaning to ask this but I keep forgetting. She's one of my many deadends. Thanks, Laurel Homo nosce te ipsum...Man know thyself! __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

Error in my last post; Louisa J. and Josephine were half sisters. Isaac Workman was the father of Josephine. James Workman was the father of Louisa J. Both girls had the same mother(Nancy Ferrell ) Shelby ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com