This message was forwarded to me by my daughter. It is truly something to think about, Regardless of your beliefs. As for me, my personal quote is, "Where would I be without my LORD"!! Message About Today's World > > "I grew up in rural America in the '50's and '60's. On any given day, > you could walk through the high school parking lot and observe that > half the vehicles parked there were trucks with windows rolled down > and doors unlocked. Most of them carried, as standard equipment, an FFA > >sticker (future Farmers of America for you city folks] and a gun rack > with > at least one gun, usually loaded. You could make the same observation > at any of the four high school campuses in our county. Amazingly, I > do not ever recall reading or hearing about mass shootings in any of > those high schools. > > What has changed in America is not the accessibility of guns, but the > character of man. > > On the wall in my parents home is a plaque awarded to my father in > recognition of service for 27 years on the local school board. He told > me that for years, a standard requirement on every Teacher's contract > was > membership in a local church. > > I remember starting every school day with the pledge and a prayer. I > remember when girls who got pregnant in high school were ashamed, when > abortions were illegal, when the divorce rate was not 50% because > couples stayed together for the kid's sake, when there were no > X-rated movies, when milk cartons didn't have missing kids faces on > them and I didn't know anyone personally who used drugs. I remember when > kids > >were taught respect for authority and accountability to God. > > I hear people say that the good old days weren't always so good but > please don't tell me you think these are better. Last night I attended a > high school football game that was covered by local and national news. > The news coverage was not about the football teams, but about the > defiance > of a court order by one brave little Texas town to preserve the right to > > pray before a football game. > > The more this country struggles to free itself from religion, the more > we become entangled in the consequences. If people are taught that they > came from slime, the obvious questions and consequences must follow; > What > is the purpose of my existence [hopelessness], who made you the boss of > me [lawlessness], why are your rules good and mine bad >[relativism], > what does it matter how I live if I came from slime and return to slime > [immorality and inhumanity]? > > I realize that in any given poll, the vast majority of Americans claim > to believe in God. I claim to believe that running is good for me but > that does not make me a runner. Putting on my running shoes and running > > makes me a runner. The climbing abortion rate, murder rate, divorce > rate, > alcoholism and drug abuse rate, child and spousal abuse rate contradict > that claim and prove that actions speak louder than words. It is an > observable truth that the best time you will ever make on any American > City freeway is on Sunday morning because there are no traffic jams > getting > to church. > > For those who believe that separation of church and state is not enough, > that the world would be better off with no church at all, ask yourself > this question: How many hospitals, universities, orphanages, homeless > and > abuse shelters have been founded by the ACLU or American Atheist > Society? > It is the inclusion of the word Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, > Christian, > etc., in the name of so many of these institutions that proves by > actions, > not just words, who really cares for the suffering of mankind and > desires to > make the world better. > > The question that people should be asking is not "Why does God allow > tragedies?" but "When will we realize that no nation, in the history > of the world, has ever separated itself from God and evolved to a better > > society?" Of course, to answer, you would have to know history. Most > people, > it > would seem, prefer People magazine." > > Joyce Minor > >Asst. Director of Development and Alumni Relations > >University of Alabama School of Law >

Hi Linda: Andrew FRENCH and Rebecca DAY had a daughter, Margaret Ann French that married my ggf James DAVIDSON in 1858 in Tazewell County, VA. They then settled in the Montcalm, Mercer County, area of WV. Some partial census info., places James and Margaret in VA in 1860. In 1880, they are in Mercer, Rock District, WV, with children, among whom is my gf to-be, Rufus Milton Davidson. Any thing about the family of Margaret French would be just super. Arthur Davidson now of Columbus, OH

Hello, To anyone who has the Walker book is there a John P. Walker born abt. 1882 to Charles and Eliza Walker who married Victoria Mamie Foster. I would be interested to know if there is any info on John and Mamie's children or a birth date for John. John and Mamie moved from WV to OH. Thanks for any help! Melinda Roles Jacquier ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

Hello, again, Suzie: Besides, Missouri Ann PERKINS, that married Jessie MABE, I have Perkins that married into my DAVIDSON family. Most of them originated from the Swords Creek, VA area. I am working on the Mabe line right now, as it links to the Davidsons through my ggmother, who came from the Sparta, NC area. Will forward any info that I may get, about the Perkins. There are still lots of Perkins in the Montcalm area. Arthur Davidson Columbus, Oh since 1949 ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 22, 2000 2:26 PM Subject: Re:[WVMERCER] Missouri Ann PERKINS > Arthur, > Hello, I have some Perkins relatives in Mercer County. Your reply to > Clifford caught my eye with Missouri Ann Perkins. The dates you give for her > would make her possibly related to my George Perkins from the same area. She > could be his sister or cousin. Is there anything else you know about that > lady? > This is all I have, and it is very incomplete. > James PERKINS married Lucy ? > The only child I know of was George PERKINS > George PERKINS married Octavia BIBBIE > Their children were: > Earnest PERKINS > Clifford PERKINS > Carrie PERKINS > Bessie PERKINS > Herbert PERKINS > Crockett PERKINS > Robbie PERKINS > Tuny PERKINS > Lacy PERKINS > Arabelle PERKINS (b.1894-d.1982) married Ballard Hezekiah > RATLIFF > (b.1883-d.1965) They are my great-grandparents.Ballard is > the son of > James RATLIFF and Elizabeth SURFACE. > Thanks, I hope it rings a bell. > Suzie > > > ==== WVMERCER Mailing List ==== > CIVIL WAR MAILING LIST: SPECIFICALLY FOR MERCER VETERANS. > http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/flat-top-copperheads > >

These passages were written by the venerable Miss Ella Holroyd, founder and long time director of the Department of Music at Concord College. "Miss Ella" was born in Athens in 1885 and died about 1981. I'm pretty sure she wrote these "Memories" of Athens about 20 years prior to her death. She and my grandmother were close lifelong friends. Robert Perry ============== BECKETT COTTAGE IN ATHENS - This cottage was built by Tom Beckett for rental purpose. It provides a nice income for Pauline, his widow. This is the last house up to the corner of East Concord and State Street. [This was in the 1987 edition so it looks like Pauline was still alive in 1987] Basil BECKETT - Basil and Ruby Beckett built this house, then moved to Princeton. Tom BECKETT - The next cottage belonged to Tom and Pauline Beckett. They lived here with their two daughters until they moved up to State Street in the late 1940's. Bob BECKETT - George B. Beckett built a big house for his family and moved to Athens. He was a caretaker at Concord [College] and a very good one. George B. Beckett

Suzie::I don't have specific info about your RATLIFF, but, was born and raised in that area, and, had to go through Bluewell, to go to the big city of Bluefield. Some of my best boy-hood friends were Ratliff boys. Their father was NELSON, who married a Vivian Shrader. There are over 200 Ratliff's, with your spelling, listed in the current telephone book for that area. There are several spellings of this name, in that area. This is (was) the heart of the WV coal mining industry, so being a coal miner was the most common and dominant type of work. Good luck and have fun. Arthur Davidson ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 22, 2000 2:57 PM Subject: [WVMERCER] Re:{WVMERCER] RATLIFF in Mercer County > I am glad to hear there are some people related to the RATLIFF family in > Mercer County, W.VA. I would like to see if anyone can relate to my Ratliffs. > This is what I have. Some of it can be verified and some cannot. > James RATLIFF married Elizabeth Mandy SURFACE > Their children were: (I do have conflicting information on > these names) > Susan RATLIFF > Sara RATLIFF > Aree RATLIFF > John RATLIFF > Ballard Hezekiah RATLIFF (b.1883-d.1965) > Ballard Hezikiah RATLIFF married Arabelle PERKINS (b.1894-d.1982) > Their children were: > William RATLIFF > James RATLIFF > Nellie RATLIFF > Walter Cecil RATLIFF (b.1912-d.1988) > Walter Cecil RATLIFF married Kathleen Sylvia RETHFORD > (b.1919-d.1995) > Walter and Sylvia are my grandparents. They were from the Bluewell area. > Walter was a coal miner and Ballard was also. > I have other little odds and ends of information also if there is anyone > that can tie into my tree. > > Suzie > > > > ==== WVMERCER Mailing List ==== > This WVMERCER Mailing List is hosted by the RootsWeb Genealogical Data > Cooperative. RootsWeb is also funded entirely by you, the genealogical > community. To find out how you could help support 'internet' genealogy > through the RootsWeb System, you are encouraged to see the following: > ........http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/how-to-subscribe.html......... >

Hate to ask again, But Linda would there be a William H. Helton, or any Heltons? Thanks Phyllis ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 22, 2000 8:30 AM Subject: [WVMERCER] MULLINS, MATT MATHEW OR GEORGE > Hi Phyllis, > > I'm sorry, I could only find one reference a George Mullins, none for Matt or > Mathew: > > Steve Kupner began work in the Kentucky/WV coal mines, where he met Victoria > Mullins, daughter of George and Nancy Mullins. In 1927, they were married in > Crumpler, WV. > > Linda,Roanoke,VA > > > ==== WVMERCER Mailing List ==== > UNSUBSCRIPTION DIECTIONS > [email protected] Unsubscribe {subject line} > [email protected] Unsubscribe {subject line} >

Thanks Linda, Phyllis ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 22, 2000 8:30 AM Subject: [WVMERCER] MULLINS, MATT MATHEW OR GEORGE > Hi Phyllis, > > I'm sorry, I could only find one reference a George Mullins, none for Matt or > Mathew: > > Steve Kupner began work in the Kentucky/WV coal mines, where he met Victoria > Mullins, daughter of George and Nancy Mullins. In 1927, they were married in > Crumpler, WV. > > Linda,Roanoke,VA > > > ==== WVMERCER Mailing List ==== > UNSUBSCRIPTION DIECTIONS > [email protected] Unsubscribe {subject line} > [email protected] Unsubscribe {subject line} >

Here is what I have after adding all your info, connects to Meadows, Lambert, Lilly, seems like a Shumate on down Sandy in Florida Descendants of Father Walker 1 Father Walker .... 2 Chrispianos Walker b: 14 March 1792 in Rockingham Co., VA d: 14 February 1876 in Devil's Fork, Raleigh Co., WV Alt. date: 1782 birth ........ +Frances Simms Peters b: 1790-1794 in Rockingham Co., VA m: 11 April 1810 in Giles Co., VA d: 07 August 1884 in Flat Top, WV Alt. date: 1887 death Father: John PETERS Mother: Frances SIMMS .......... 3 Council Walker b: 30 December 1812 in Giles Co., VA d: 24 January 1905 in Matoaka, WV .............. +Nancy D Bailey d: 20 December 1879 Father: Mother: ................ 4 Council Walker b: 1849 in Mercer Co., VA .................... +Emily Lambert b: 1853 in Tazewell Co., VA Father: Thomas K LAMBERT Mother: Charlotte STOWERS ................ 4 Chrispianos Walker b: 25 May 1840 Alt. date: 1842 birth .................... +Isabella Dale .... 2 John Walker b: 1777 in Orange Co., VA d: Abt. 1850 in Spanishburg, Mercer, Co., VA ........ +Nancy Mullins b: 1776 in Virginia m: 1797 in Greenbrier Co., VA d: Aft. 1850 in Mercer Co., VA Father: Mother: .......... 3 Margaret Walker b: 08 July 1809 in Giles Co., VA d: 10 November 1889 in Summers Co., WV .............. +Jonathan Lilly b: 1806 in Montgomery Co., VA m: 18 February 1834 in Giles Co., VA d: Bef. 1866 in Mercer Co., WV Father: Edmund LILLY, Sr. Mother: Edith MEADOR ................ 4 Emily Lilly b: December 1834 ................ 4 Julia Urzula Lilly b: 10 July 1835 in Virginia d: 10 July 1906 in Hinton, Summers Co., WV ................ 4 Rufus B Lilly b: 20 March 1837 in Virginia d: 21 April 1885 .................... +Mary Lilly b: 23 March 1838 in Virginia d: 18 August 1930 in Summers Co., WV Father: Washington "Kinney" LILLY Mother: Mary MANN ................ 4 John Edmund Lilly b: 27 July 1839 in Virginia d: 19 January 1893 in Summers Co., WV .................... +Julina Lilly b: 10 February 1840 in Virginia m: 26 May 1857 d: in Summers Co., WV Father: Washington "Kinney" LILLY Mother: Mary MANN ................ 4 James Remely Lilly b: 28 September 1843 in Virginia ................ 4 Samuel G Lilly b: 1845 in Mercer Co., VA ................ 4 Ballard P Lilly b: 10 April 1847 in Mercer Co., VA .................... +Saluda Meador b: 1848 in Virginia m: 10 March 1871 in Mercer Co., WV Father: Mother: ................ 4 Jonathan Scott Lilly b: 05 November 1850 in Virginia d: 1924 .................... +Lucinda Meador b: 05 November 1853 in Mercer Co., VA d: 1892 Father: Josiah "Shack" MEADOR Mother: Elizabeth MEADOWS .......... *2nd Husband of Margaret Walker .............. +Josiah Meador III b: 12 March 1803 in Giles Co., VA m: 19 October 1866 in Mercer Co., WV d: 28 August 1889 in Mercer Co., WV? Father: Josiah MEADOR II Mother: Judith LILLY I .......... 3 Chrispi Anos Walker b: 1804 in Virginia .............. +Elenor Whitten b: 1804 in Tazewell Co., VA m: 19 September 1822 in Giles Co., VA d: Aft. 1850 Father: Mother: .......... 3 Nancy Walker b: 1810 in Virginia d: 1888 .......... 3 Charles Walker b: in Virginia d: 1897 in Odd, Raleigh Co., WV .......... 3 Mary Walker .............. +Samuel Bailey Father: Mother:

Check out this great website for the Maple Park Cemetery listings. http://www.angelfire.com/wv/akers/Maple.html Linda Akers has formatted and put this on her website. I think she's done a wonderful job. Thank you Linda! It will also be listed on the Mercer County Archives site, and the GenWeb tombstone project. Now, who would like to help gather the Monte Vista data? If ten volunteers could work on it, that would only be about 650 names per volunteers. Any takers?? Monte Vista is vital to everyone who had family here in Bluefield after the mid 1920's. Best wishes, Robert Perry Bluefield

Hi Kitty, I'm sorry, there is no mention of a William Jackson Smith in the books. A William Smith founded Mercer County but he was not your William Smith. Linda,Roanoke,VA

Hi Marti, I have parents of Susanna as James Swinney and Susanna ? She had a sister Delilah who married John Neely. Linda,Roanoke,VA

Hi Phyllis, There are only a few Heltons mentioned, none William H. Davis Helton, Company I, 16th Virginia Infantry Regiment, Civil War Walnut Grove Cemetery Hancock Street Bluefield WV Archie Burke Helton 5/16/1857-7/12/1932 Lena Hawley Helton 11/10/1871-12/15/1952 Harvey Helton 9/12/1906-6/26/1960 Noah Helton 10/25/1860-1/6/1943 Howard Helton 4/27/1919-5/18/1944 WWII, U.S. Army Rose E. Redwine Helton / 1/3/1929 HELTON FAMILY Archie Burke Helton and his brother Noah from Washington County, VA, came to Mercer County and married sisters, Lena and Lillie Wilson in the late 1800's. Noah ran a hotel in Bluefield for many years before moving to Roanoke to live with his son Bernie until his death in 1943. He also had a daughter Beatrice. Archie and Lena Helton had a farm on the Cumberland Road near Thompson's Chapel. They leter moved to Bluefield. They had three children: Bessie C. Lester, Harvey A. Helton, and Lura L. Camper, all of whom lived in Bluefield. Another brother, Wesley, lived in Bluefield for a number of years. They were the sons of Bryant and Nancy Burke Helton of Washington County, VA Archie Helton died in 1931, Noah died in 1943. They are buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Bluefield. Submitted by Leola Lester Dawson Linda,Roanoke,VA

Hi Dorothy, I'm sorry I could not find anything on William Miles French. There is a lot of information on William Henderson French but I could not find any connection. The following are listed in the Mercer County 1860 census William K. French 39, m, farmer 150/175 b. VA Martha J. 36, f, wife Frances E. 13, f Jehu B. 10, m Marys 8, f Melissa J 6, f Millard F 4, m William T. G. 6/12, m William H.[enderson] French 47, m, farmer 42000/19900 b. VA William M. French 42, m, farmer 2000/670 b. VA Mahala 45, f, wife Melinda J., 21 f, serving Clarah A. 18, f, serving Manerva A. 17, f, serving William A. 15, m, Sorry I could not be of any help. Linda,Roanoke,VA

Hi Steve, I'm sorry, I could not find anything in either book on Thomas Dunford and Onos Armstrong. Linda,Roanoke,VA

Hi, I have Green Sweeney and Lydia's children as Adeline (b) about 1844; Nancy (b) about 1847 and Elizabeth (b) about 1849. In 1860 Mercer Co. census 850/801 Sweeney, Green M. 37, m, farmer 2000/596 (b) VA Louisa E. 35, f, wife Elizabeth C. 12, f (could be his youngest daught with Lydia) Vincent B. 7, m Mary T 5, f James L 3, m William P, 1, m He is listed as one of Foley's Copperheads who organized in Mercer County on August 22, 1861. He was a private. Also listed as a private with Company !, 17th Reiment, VA Calvary 1861-1865. Sorry I could not be of more help. Linda,Roanoke,VA

Bob, There are some Pedigo, lots of Wilson, some Osborne and lots of Morgan in the books. Are you looking for anyone in particular? Linda,Roanoke,VA

Sharon, I'm sorry, the only reference I could find for Vines, Rice or Ellison was a J.W. Vines buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Rt 20, Princeton. (b) 4/12/1848 (d) 5/29/1909 Nothing for William Rice or Martha Elizabeth Ellison. Sorry I could not be of more help. Linda,Roanoke,VA

Mary, I'm sorry. I could not find anything on a W or Wilfred Kerr in either book. Linda,Roanoke,VA

Hi Julie, There are several William Penningtons in the books. Do you have approximate dates of birth or marriage? Linda,Roanoke,VA