I been enjoying reading your alls post on old times in West Virginia, I guess that's one reason my Graham's left their many years ago for Illinois, to maybe better them selves and then ran into hardships of being on outer fringes of civilization at the time they left the Hinton , Talcott, Lowell, area in 1836, I have some old letter's from that area written about the living condition at that time in West Virginia, anyway thanks for writing,,,,,, Richard Graham ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Cox" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 8:34 AM Subject: Re: [WVSUMMER] Vale, WV > > Such enticing stories need to keep going and so I add mine to the list: > > To quote a line from "Clyde Maxey" in VA - "we were so poor even poor folks > called us poor" > > Pinto beans were the staple of our meals; no pinto beans, no meal - subsided > by squirrel, rabbit, groundhogs and various fish (suckers, carp, etc) > (opening day of squirrel season in Greenbrier County was kinda celebrated by > "squirrel tails hanging from auto antennas"), a few chickens and > occasionally "a pig" in the pen (that was covered with salt to preserve it > (no fridge available)"" > > As with many of you researchers what I thought to be a miserable life I have > since learned my childhood was the best it could be - I have come across > so much incest in distant family members and other problems unknown to me > till now (these will mostly go with me to my grave due to living relatives > effected). > > The son of a WV Coal Miner who was taken at an early age by an automobile > accident VS the coal mines that would have eventually claimed his > life......... > > John in South Dakota > > > > > Yes Doris and Jay. > > > > My grandparent had a farm in the old True area and my parent was married > > their and my brother was born at home in the old True area. The post > > office was moved up the hill because of the Dam. It was located under > > the waterline for the dam and had to be moved. My grandfathers farm was > > just able that line and the government would not buy his farm. He walk > > away from it and got a farm at Pipestem. > > > > My father tried farming and was no good at it. He finally when to work > > at the Steel Mill in Alloy. We didn't realize that we were "poor". We > > were happy and had food on the table. Mom and Dad worked. Mom work for > > the Fayette County School parttime in the School Kitchen and as Janitor. > > This was til Dad had his heartattack in January of 1964 and we moved to > > Florida in October 1964 and we have lived here ever since. But again. > > There was food on the table and presents under the tree and we never > > questioned what the income was. It is only now that I have finish my BA > > - graduated last Saturday from Warner Southern College here in Lake > > Wales. I just started my Masters in Management and will if God will in > > 2008. I guess at 53 that is an accomplish that I never thought that I > > would do. > > > > But family history is really my passion. > > > > Take care everyone. Where there is a will there will be a way - sooner > > or later > > > > Sandy > > Cocoa, Florida > > Lilly, Gore, Moten, Plumley, Shumate, > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Jay R Smith [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 1:01 AM > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: Re: [WVSUMMER] Vale, WV > > > > > > Yes Doris, I can recall many, many meals of beans and potatoes, > > cornbread or > > biscuits. > > > > We managed to farm and grew most of our food, including the meats. My > > dad > > was, of course, a coal miner (which ultimately killed him with "black > > lung" > > disease) and me an my siblings worked our farm. > > > > Ton of work, but lots of fun too. Had a really good life, for which I > > thank > > God every day. > > > > Jay > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: <[email protected]> > > To: <[email protected]> > > Sent: Monday, January 16, 2006 10:17 PM > > Subject: Re: [WVSUMMER] Vale, WV > > > > > >> Jay: > >> > >> I had this same conversation with one of my co-workers today. We may > >> have been poor but we didn't know it so it didn't make a difference. > >> She said they were lucky to have one piece of meat and one piece of > >> cheese on a sandwich. > >> Then she met her future Jewish husband and made him one of those > >> sandwiches. He > >> asked what it was (you know they put at least a half lb. of meat on > > their > >> sandwich). > >> > >> Doris Snyder > >> > >> > >> ============================== > >> Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and > >> the areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 > >> months. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> __________________________________________________________ > >> Message transport security by GatewayDefender.com > >> 10:18:18 PM ET - 1/16/2006 > >> > > > > > > > > ============================== > > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > > > > > > ============================== > > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > > > > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > > > >

Richard, Have you ever thought of copying and donating the copies of the letters to the "Graham House" in Lowell? It would add a lot of insight on (W)Virginig life and I think they would display them at the old log house. You may want to think about it and give them a call. I, for one, would enjoy seeing them. Cindy ----- Original Message ----- From: Richard Graham To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 7:14 AM Subject: Re: [WVSUMMER] Vale, WV I been enjoying reading your alls post on old times in West Virginia, I guess that's one reason my Graham's left their many years ago for Illinois, to maybe better them selves and then ran into hardships of being on outer fringes of civilization at the time they left the Hinton , Talcott, Lowell, area in 1836, I have some old letter's from that area written about the living condition at that time in West Virginia, anyway thanks for writing,,,,,, Richard Graham

Cindy, You know I'm glad you ask me that, I have been doing research on the Graham's now for 10 to 15 years (my time does fly bye) anyway I had never gave it a though to do what you said, I have several letters written around 1840 from Alderson back to the Graham brother's that went to Illinois, as Lowell , Talcott and Hinton wasn't their at that time, also one from San Francisco about 1910 back to Illinois from another Graham pertaining to Graham family, the one from Alderson was from John Graham a son of Rebecca Graham and Joseph Graham that lived at Clayton , my three Graham brother's were about the same age as John Graham, I also have Marriage vows on several of Col James Graham's children where he signed them, In reading the ones written back in 1840 I found it interesting where they speak of the price of hogs and cattle and corn and wheat, and being so low it was hard to make a living in that area, anyway they are very interesting, I will see what I can do about donating them to the Graham Society, Richard Graham Middletown Missouri [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: "cindy g" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 2:17 PM Subject: Re: [WVSUMMER] Vale, WV > Richard, > Have you ever thought of copying and donating the copies of the letters to the "Graham House" in Lowell? It would add a lot of insight on (W)Virginig life and I think they would display them at the old log house. You may want to think about it and give them a call. I, for one, would enjoy seeing them. > Cindy > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Richard Graham > To: [email protected] > Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 7:14 AM > Subject: Re: [WVSUMMER] Vale, WV > > > I been enjoying reading your alls post on old times in West Virginia, I > guess that's one reason my Graham's left their many years ago for Illinois, > to maybe better them selves and then ran into hardships of being on outer > fringes of civilization at the time they left the Hinton , Talcott, Lowell, > area in 1836, I have some old letter's from that area written about the > living condition at that time in West Virginia, anyway thanks for > writing,,,,,, > Richard Graham > > > ============================== > Find your ancestors in the Birth, Marriage and Death Records. > New content added every business day. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13964/rd.ashx > > > >