Hi. My great uncle, Orval Plants, was born in Boone County WVA and died in 1955 in Everett Washington. According to family tradition, he was very involved in the Battle of Blair Mountain. He apparently learned there was a possible indictment against him, so fled the state and only came back once, quietly, for a family reunion some 20 years later. I am fascinated by this period of history for Boone, Logan and Mingo Counties. There are probably many of our elders who have first hand stories about it, perhaps shared by their parents- that hopefully someone is documenting. I am very interested in learning if there are any indictments etc. regarding this. The only thing I really found that mentions over 1000 indictments being filed is this that I found online. I have quoted the relevant parts. Does anyone have any idea if these indictments still exist in Logan County Courthouse? I'd love to schedule a trip if they are still available somewhere. If anyone has any knowledge of my great uncle I would sure appreciate it. I understand he may have worked for the Spruce River Coal Company at some time- and also worked at Jeffries. (they may be the same place.) thanks in advance- I'd love to hear what others know of this amazing time in our history. Debbie Deem Here's the info-- socialist and apparently from England-- so they must have gotten the sources from somewhere in WVA: _http://pubs.socialistreviewindex.org.uk/isj66/newsinger.htm_ (http://pubs.socialistreviewindex.org.uk/isj66/newsinger.htm) "How many men were killed in the march on Logan and the battle for Blair Mountain is not known. The official estimate was four, but both sides deliberately concealed their casualties and buried their dead in secret. The union's defeat was now followed by a legal offensive. Between September and October 1921 grand juries in Logan County brought in 1,217 indictments for complicity in the insurrection including 325 charges of murder and 24 indictments for treason. Hundreds of miners including Keeney, Mooney and Blizzard were thrown into jail. The trials were held in the courthouse where John Brown had been convicted in 1859. Blizzard was singled out as an example but after a trial lasting over a month he was acquitted in May 1922. The great majority of charges were later dismissed but two miners, a baptist minister, the Reverend J E Wilbur, and his son, were convicted of murder for shooting a special deputy."