Even though I've just joined the Webster County mailing list, I've already gleened much information about family and friends. Not to mention the total joy of just reading news and history from home. There is sadness along with the joy, however, as I read that people I grew up with are no longer with us. I was born and raised at Erbacon, now living in the state of New York, so a lot of the names mentioned are known to me. I attended Erbacon Grade School when it consisted of two classrooms and a "hot lunch room", and graduated from Cowen High School in 1968. While reading the list of graves at Hickory Flats, posted by Michael Henline, I discovered that is where my greatgrandfather John Hamilton Carpenter is buried with his second wife. His first wife, Rebecca Ann Mullens Carpenter, was my greatgrandmother. Most members of my family on the Carpenter side are buried at Sunset Memorial Park in Erbacon. Thank you all for contributing the information. Keep it coming. I'm hoping to add my two cents worth now and then. Melody Carpenter Gates

Here is my two-generation descendant chart on the family of William and Jeannette Gregory Hamrick. Most, but not all, the information came from Mayme Hamrick's book and the 1870 census, via Tressie Nealy, I believe, and "Heritage of a Pioneer" by Charles Tunis Dodrill. This family has hundreds, if not thousands, of descendants living so there is information all over the place. The WVPioneers list has, perhaps among others, descendants including Patsy Hamrick-Weikart and Nancy Grimm. The two William Christian Dodrills here can become confusing. But there were, indeed, two sisters who married men named William Christian Dodrill. I am placing Charles Tunis Dodrill's explanation of this at the end. So if there is anything wrong here and Patsy has been sleeping, she will wake up and correct it immediately. Patsy's grandfather, Arnold, was a son of Kelly Ben and Naomi Mollohan Hamrick. Nancy's ancestor, Elizabeth, was a daughter of the same couple. William F. Hamrick b. 1789, Greenbrier County, VA; d. abt 1850, Nicholas County & Jeanette "Jennie" Gregory b. 1796 d. 1873 m. 14 May 1813 | Nancy Hamrick | b. 17 Mar 1815 | & Benoni Griffin | Isaac Hamrick | b. 19 May 1818 | & Margaret Griffin | d. Died At 93 | m. 10 Dec 1839, Pocahontas County | Sarah Hamrick | b. 16 Jun 1820 | d. 1898 | & William Christian Dodrill | b. 11 Apr 1823 | d. 1894 | m. 17 Oct 1844, Pleasant Grove Methodist Church | Elizabeth Hamrick | b. 2 Aug 1822 | & James Cogar | Mary Hamrick | b. 28 Sep 1825 | & William Christian Dodrill | b. 1827 | m. 13 Dec 1855, Rev. Thomas I. Reynolds | Rebecca Jane Hamrick | b. 7 Jul 1827 | d. 9 Aug 1909 | & James Walton Dodrill | b. 25 Sep 1826, Birch River, Nicholas County | m. 13 Nov 1849 | Adam G. "Squire Adam" Hamrick* | b. 4 Jul 1829, Near Bergoo, Webster County, WV ®1 | d. 18 Feb 1891 | & Rebecca Mollohan | b. 7 Oct 1827 | d. 18 May 1862 | m. 1850 | Adam G. "Squire Adam" Hamrick* | b. 4 Jul 1829, Near Bergoo, Webster County, WV ®1 | d. 18 Feb 1891 | & Elizabeth Hamrick | b. 16 Mar 1843, Upper Elk, Randolph County | d. 20 Nov 1934 | m. 8 Dec 1864 | Rachel Hamrick | b. 27 Feb 1832 | & Arthur Bickle | Benjamin "Kelly Ben" Hamrick | b. 11 May 1834 | d. 1906 | & Naomi Mollohan | b. 9 Nov 1838 | d. 23 Oct 1917 | m. 1 Jan 1856 | Isabel Lynch Hamrick | b. 9 Jun 1836 | & George Martin Dodrill | b. 24 Feb 1833 | m. 24 Nov 1853 | William "Billy G." Gregory Hamrick* | b. 16 Jun 1838, Nicholas County, Then VA | d. 27 Jan 1913 | & Elizabeth Hamrick | b. 16 Jun 1847 | d. 1879 | m. 1867 | William "Billy G." Gregory Hamrick* | b. 16 Jun 1838, Nicholas County, Then VA | d. 27 Jan 1913 | & Rebecca Hamrick | b. 25 Oct 1856 | d. 31 Jul 1914 | m. 22 Sep 1881 Sources 1. Mayme Hamrick's "Hamricks and Other Families ‹ Indian Lore" 2. 1870 U.S. Census 3. Charles Tunis Dodrill "Heritage of a Pioneer" WILLIAM HAMRICK HERITAGE...P673 "In 1850, one of the outstanding citizens of the upper Elk Valley was William Hamrick, who had seven daughters, three of whom had married three brothers, cousins of William Dodrill. They were the sons of John Dodrill, a brother to William Dodrill's father, James. John's oldest son, also named William Christian, married Sarah Hamrick, a daughter of William Hamrick, and settled on a tract of land owned by William Hamrick, located below the mouth of Amos Run, a tributary of Laurel Creek of Elk River. The tract lay midway between the present villages of Wainsville and Erbacon, then known as Beech Bottom. Another one of William Hamrick's daughters, Nancy, had married Benoni Griffin, and acquired a tract of land from his father-in-law that lay a short distance below and adjoining the tract on which William and Sarah lived. "After the marital troubles of William and Levicy Miller ended in divorce, William, a man of 28 years of age, found solace in the company of William Hamrick' s daughter, Mary, and they were married. "William Hamrick died in 1850 shortly after William Christian Dodrill and Mary were married, and the heirs divided the estate. The land on which William Christian and Sarah were living below the mouth of Amos R.un on Laurel Creek, was conveyed to William Christian (son of James) by the several heirs of William Hamrick and their spouses. It was agreed that William was to pay each of the heirs, except Benoni and Nancy Griffin, a stipulated amount. Benoni and Nancy had been assigned their portion of the estate before the death of William Hamrick. " William Christian (son of John) and Sarah then moved to Poplar Creek of Birch River, where they lived until they migrated to the West after the Civil War. William Christian (son of James) and Mary then moved to the land vacated by William and Sarah. The log cabin consisted of two rooms and stood on the hillside overlooking the creek above the former home of Frank Blankenship. The old Nicholas-Braxton County line passed through the lands between the present villages of Wainville and ERbacon. The deed of conveyan ce from the Hamrick heirs to William called for: 'A certain tract of land lying in Braxton County, on Laurel Creek, a branch of Elk River, adjoining th eland of Byrne Duffy & Co., containing by survey 200 acres, being the upper end of original survey, own ed by heirs of William Hamrick and bought by him from John Brown, commissioner of delinquent and forfeited lands.' It was described as: 'Beginning at a white oak corner to dividing line between said Dodrill and Benoni Griffin on the East side of Laurel Creek, near the mouth of a run (School House Hollow), and runs to the fork of Laurel Creek at the mouth of Amos R.un to Byrne Duffy &Co.' The deed indicated that the heirs lived in Nicholas, Braxton and Randolph Counties. dhamrick@neo.rr.com Dan Hamrick 402 23rd Street NW Canton OH 44709 Phone: 330-454-2376 ---------- >From: "Chadd and Martha Rose" <tuckman5@intrepid.net> >To: HAMRICK-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [HAMRICK-L] Query: William F. Hamrick Children >Date: Wed, Jul 26, 2000, 9:40 PM > >of

I agree, the newspaper's are great! Thanks Roger...Keep them coming. Because of them i found out more info about my gg-grandparents Thanks! Carolyn

From: The Webster Echo; July 13, 1900. ERBACON. We have had many heavy rains recently.....Many from here attended the funeral at Wainville Sunday.....Mr. and Mrs. R. P. Given, of Chapel, Braxton county, and Mrs. James Perrine, of Sutton, were visiting here Saturday and Sunday.....Mrs. Eli Perrine is on the sick list.....A small girl of Cell Hosey and one of Ben Salisbbury' each broke an arm last week.....The saw mill hands were off for the Fourth.....We learn that C. A. Duffield will soon move his well drill to our town.....Tom Herron and family have moved to McDowell county.....Uncle John L. Carpenter's condition is about the same..... R. M. Gross is paling his garden.....One of Waggy's trucks ran off the track while crossing a trestle and landed in the creek. No damage was done......Mr. Tate, of Doddridge county, was here last week visiting his daughter, Mrs. Ed. Floyd, and selling knead boards.....Uncle Jim Barnett has been indisposed for some days.....Miss Kauffman, who has been visiiting her sister, Mrs. Jeff Kelley, returned to her home in Braxton Last Sunday.....Ere this reaches your readers the Republicans will have named their Glade district ticket. S. L. Mason is our guess for Justice. Personally Sant is all right; politically he is - well, his politics don't suit us very well. RATTLER.

From: The Webster Echo; July 13, 1900. HARDWOOD. The Fourth passed off quietly; we did not hear of a drunk man being seen on our streets that day. .....Everything growing nicely; corn, potatoes and garden stuff is doing well.....We will not have very many apples in this part of the country.....Mrs. Nannie Lepler and family, of Clarksburg, was visiting her parents at Hardwood last week. She left for home Monday morning.....Morgan Tyler and wife, Noah Green and wife and Mrs. Ella Adkison was visiting at Cowen one day last week.....Curt Hickman, from Williams river, was in our place last night, and reports that they had a fine time on the Fourth at Haynes.....Samuel R.. Given was visiting his family at home Saturday and Sunday. He has a large job of lumbering on Stony creek, Braxton county, which will take him some time to complete.....Harmon Lee is on Birch river this week.....Wm. Tanner, an old gentleman who lives on Mack's run, is looking for his daughter from Pitsburg, Pa., this week to pay him a visit.....E. C. Morgan, of Halo, passed through our place on his way home from Addison. .....B. F. Miller and Isora Whitehair were united in holy wedlock on the Fourth. Gideon Springston officiated.....Uncle Lewis McElwain passed through our place Monday for Pleasant ridge.....How about that dance at Hardwood? TRY ME.

I would like to Thank Roger for putting these Newspaper articles on this list. I am enjoying reading them and remembering hear my Grandmother talk about these people and places. I also remembering some of the people that I head of when I use to live at Glade View, and went to school at Cowen Grade School. I hope that they keep coming. They better than today's news. Janet Ocheltree

Is there any one on the list that Remembers or knows about this community. As I remember it was between Halo and Arcola, and it had a store and Post Office. My Great Grandfather Ira Mathes lived there. Thanks for your time. Janet

Hello Hardwood is 5 miles below Arcola which is below Cowen and Excelsior is between Bolair and Webster Springs up on top of McGuire Mountain going north on Route 20 toward Webster Springs off of Rt. 20 . That is where Joseph A. Keller and Mary Louise Morris are buried. They are also my Great Grandparents Janet Ocheltree

Dear Joann, A few years back, after attending my first Hamrick reunion and hearing the horror stories of people attempting to find gravestones and trying to read tombstones through the moss that has grown over them, I decided it would be a great idea to form a foundation, or a group, to help preserve not only the cemeteries, but the overall history of my family. Now, I was not the one who did all the work in forming the group, that was left to Dan Hamrick, Sharon Hamrick, my mother, Mary Cottrell, and many other wonderful people. The group is called the Pioneer Family Preservation Society. They have raised money to keep a few cemeteries clean, as well as purchase a church for the future use as a storage place for genealogical information. If you would like more information, e-mail me and I will send you Dan Hamrick's e-mail address. I would send it right now, but I can't seem to find it. Andy Cottrell ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

During the last Legislative session, there was a bill passed to allow people access to cemeteries on private land. The last I heard it was in the hands of the Governor. I don't know if it granted protection to the cemeteries. I have heard many stories of hard-hearted people plowing under cemeteries on many lists. It seems to be a problem all over the country. I feel very fortunate to have met a very nice man in Cowen, Webster County who happens to own the land where we believe my great grandmother is buried. He not only allowed us to walk across his land to see the cemetery but also gave us a tour of his farm (where my great grandparents had lived). He told us that when he inherited the farm from his dad there were several field stones in the cemetery and his son, not knowing what they were, moved them while mowing. He was truely sorry and apologized repeatedly. What a shame that there are not more people like him in this world. I'm more than willing to do what I can to help protect these old cemeteries, I just don't know what to do! Cathy >In view of Michael Henline's reports online of cemetery listings, >conditions and locations in Webster County.... > >He said there was a farmer who plowed under and had tombstones removed >from his property so he could plant it.....there are gravesites that >were destroyed by the railroad in accidents, not once but twice at the >same site....... > >does anyone here know if there is a law that protects gravesites at all >in West Virginia. Michael stated that he thought they were owned by the >person who owned the land. Since land ownership changes....are not >gravesites protected against being vandalized or destroyed. > >Does anyone know if there is any action being taken in West Virginia to >protect future damage and destruction to gravesites and tombstones. >More than history is being destroyed here. > >Does anyone have any idea if this has been addressed by the West >Virginia legislature in the past....or if anyone even cares except we, >who are doing family history studies and trying to locate sites of our >ancestory......... > >how about some feedback on this subject ........anyone have any >suggestions what we may do to help this cause...... > >joann > > >

In view of Michael Henline's reports online of cemetery listings, conditions and locations in Webster County.... He said there was a farmer who plowed under and had tombstones removed from his property so he could plant it.....there are gravesites that were destroyed by the railroad in accidents, not once but twice at the same site....... does anyone here know if there is a law that protects gravesites at all in West Virginia. Michael stated that he thought they were owned by the person who owned the land. Since land ownership changes....are not gravesites protected against being vandalized or destroyed. Does anyone know if there is any action being taken in West Virginia to protect future damage and destruction to gravesites and tombstones. More than history is being destroyed here. Does anyone have any idea if this has been addressed by the West Virginia legislature in the past....or if anyone even cares except we, who are doing family history studies and trying to locate sites of our ancestory......... how about some feedback on this subject ........anyone have any suggestions what we may do to help this cause...... joann

Well I'm from Pa and i guess i can't spell either....sorry.

hi list, this might be a stupid Question but remeber i live in Pa. Where is Hardwood & Excelsor? This paper said Joesph Keller & family was visiting from Excelsor.That's my gggrandfather. Thanks for any help. Carolyn

due to the large number of people expressing their gratitude for the cemetery information i posted a few days ago i've been inspired to continue my transcription project. I've found the tape i made of sunset memorial park in erbacon. I didn't get the survey completed but i'll transcribe the information i do have and make it available. I mashed a finger today and it makes typing a little difficult but i'll try to finish this up as quickly as possible. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

The carpenter cemetery is on hickory flats, many miles from wainville. There is a mcelwain cemetery at wainville, used to be much larger, now only contains six graves. only other cemetery that i know of in wainville is up amos run, but it only has about five graves in it and the only legible stone is of George Mcelwain. There are a couple cemeteries at hardwood but this was never considered part of wainville. if anyone knows of any other cemeteries in wainville i'd like to hear about them. >From: "Baker" <harley@lcix.net> >To: WVWEBSTE-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [WVWEBSTE] re:Carpenter Cemetary >Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2000 10:05:24 -0400 > >Hi,Thats a great idea about the book,Please let us know when you get it >done. > >I have a Joshua Crosby b 8/29/1830-1/9/1886 he's sposed to be buried in >Carpenter cem.,Wainsville Is this the same cem.? would like to check the >dates on tombstone. > >Thanks....Carolyn > ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

If it is the cemetery i'm thinking of you are going to be terribly disappointed. i live almost within sight of it and just found it a couple months ago. Many, many years ago there was a train wreck on top of this cemetery which contains about a half dozen graves. All of the graves and tombstones were buried beneath the coal. About five years ago another train wreck happened in the same spot. This time they did dig out several of the markers but they are broken and lying flat on the ground. What you can see is three tombstones, two are broken. You can also see three bases for tombstones but they don't match the existing tombstones. There is no road or path to the cemetery. Directions: Take the Erbacon road out of Cowen (same road that the Adkisson cemetery is on) about five miles out of cowen the road goes up a small hill with a rail road track at the top. Park beside the railroad track and walk down the railroad (this would be walking to your left if you are sitting in your car looking at the railroad track). Walk about three quarters of a mile down the railroad track and you'll pass through a 'cut' (place where the railroad cuts through the hill). The cemetery will be on your right as soon as you come through the 'cut'. If you know when you'll be going send me an email i will give you directions to my house and my phone number and take you right to the cemetery. I also have photos of the cemetery and of the tombstones but only one of them you can read. Do you have family buried in this cemetery? >From: "Baker" <harley@lcix.net> >To: WVWEBSTE-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [WVWEBSTE] Cemetary in Halo,Webster co. >Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2000 10:09:56 -0400 > >Hi list does anyone have a list of Jack Cut Cem.in Halo. >or i would like directions.I live in Pa and only been in that area 1 >time.Had a hard time finding Adkission cem last year. >Thanks for any help. >Carolyn > ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

From: The Webster Echo; May 25, 1900. ERBACON. Copioos showers fell Friday and Saturday.... Uncle Dennis Gross is seriously ill of chronic diarrhea ....G. C. Stalnaker, of Progress, Braxton county, is here looking for work ....Born, unto Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Carpenter, on the 15, a daughter....Lanty Scott, Erbacon's Nimrod, takes his twice a week squirrel hunts regularly.... Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Stalnaker, who have been attending school at Huntington, returned Saturday ....Candidates McElwain, Gregory, and Payne, were here last week.... S. L. Mason is hustling for a car load of electric light poles.... The saloon question is being fought pro and con. We hope the court will grant no license for this place.... Earl Squires, who was hurt by being thrown from a truck, is able to be out again.... Grandpa and Grandma Given left Friday to visit their daughter, Mrs. Levi Moore, of Flatwoods.... Tom Herron is back from Clarksburg where he was hauling coal. We learn he will not return.... Saul Cook made a business trip to Braxton last week.... Forest fire lighted up Erbacon last week, by burning within the "corporation limits".... The Sunday school here is progressing nicely. But we notice that there are some children as well as grown people that would be better accommodated in school than loafing in town, or tramping the tramroad, whooping and hallooing like, or worse than a tribe of wild Indians. Though one be not a Christian, not even a hypocrite, he or she should have respect enough for God Almighty and humanity to be civil, sober, and attend church on Sunday at least. "As the old dog barks, the puggy learns," is a saying too sadly true and common in these days of vice and immorality. ; But there is a day, an awful day, when the present pleasures and recklessness will be sore displeases and burning pains. Then, Oh! for just one Sunday to keep holy and to attend church! Oh! for but one burning gospel sermon, or one hour in Sunday school! But 'twill be too late. RATTLER.

From: The Webster Echo; July 6, 1900. HARDWOOD. We have fine growing weather. Corn looks fine. People have quit the lumbering business to a great extent and gone to farming in this part of the country. They begin to think it will pay the best..... Joseph A. Keller and family from Excelsor, was visiting friends at Hardwood Saturday and Sunday. ....John Tyler and wife was visiting friends on Camp run Saturday and Sunday..... Bob Morris made a flying trip to Cowen Saturday. He reports everything brisk at that place..... John Loneberger, a very prosperous farmer of Tyler county, this state, passed through this place a few days ago on his way back home. He had been up looking at his farm at Excelsor..... The census man was around asking questions. He only makes his appearance once in ten years..... James Moffat was in our village Saturday. He has been working for Dick Hill for some two months or more. Dick has a large job of work on Laurel run for the Stout Lumber co..... There is some talk that Mr. Hugh Amos will take hold of the Dorr telephone line and connect it with his line known as the Burnsville telephone line. We hope they will do something soon..... Where are you going the Fourth?.... S. B. Adkison was in our place Sunday. Politics is very scarce in our place since the primary..... Harmon Lee is firing William Giles' saw mill at hardwood siding..... There was a very large crowd of people at Popar siding last Sunday at the baptizing. Rev. Cogar officiated. TRY ME.

From: The Webster Echo; July 6, 1900. Jurors for August Term. Following is a list of Grand and Petit Jurors drawn for the August term of Circuit Court: L. J. McElwain, Wm. Carpenter, Jas. W. Hefner, John Gallogly, Jr., W. T. McCourt, C. S. Harper, Theopholus Lunsford, P. S. Vance, C. C. Chapman, G. W. Barnett, Elza W. Williams, Jonathan G. Hamrick, E. E. McClure, Wm. G. Hamrick, Sr., Lewis Clevinger, Thomas Cogar, H. W. Anderson, J. M. Cogar, Hugh Bennett, Linsey Rose, J. M. Dyer, B. F. Carpenter, E. H. Isenhart, S. L. Mason, H. P. Cutlip, Chas. Townsend, Wm, F. Snyder, Wm. H. Boggs, Thomas Christian, Jas. E. Brady, J. T. Bean, A. J. Hamrick, W. E. Gardner, S. W. Grines, Jonathan Bennett, I. G. Moffatt, D. H. Eubank, John E. McCourt, R. A. Lynch, H. S. Hamrick. GRAND JURY. - H. F. Anderson, W. S. Anderson, Silas Arbogast, Love Carpenter, Samuel J. Cutlip, Mathew G. Clifton, Enos Carpenter, David Johns, C. C. Woods, Wm. M. Carpenter, H. B. Norman, H. F. Dilley, W. F. Hamrick, Marion Miller, James B. Lynch, James M. Miller.

Hi list does anyone have a list of Jack Cut Cem.in Halo. or i would like directions.I live in Pa and only been in that area 1 time.Had a hard time finding Adkission cem last year. Thanks for any help. Carolyn