Rita, When you first posted this, I shelved it and didn't study it at the time, but in going back and rereading it, I think it may raise questions as to whether Ora (Awry) Clay was a daughter of Capt Ralph Stewart. The Pike County slant is what put me to wondering. STAN On Dec 21, 2007, at 5:42 PM, Rita O'Brien wrote: > The Raleigh Herald > Beckley, West Virginia > Thursday > June 23, 1910 > > OBITUARY > > Rebecca Jane Clay, daughter of Charles L. and Awry Clay, was born > in Pike county, Kentucky, June 25, 1828. When but a baby her > parents left their Kentucky home, and came to Wyoming county, W. > Va., to make a new home in the Mountain State, and as this home was > being built, one by one, sisters and brothers were added to the > family until there were four boys and six girls. > > During this home life in Wyoming county, the subject of this > sketch, then a little girl of twelve years, at a camp meeting held > in their community, heard and heeded the call of Jesus Christ to > "Follow Me" and then and there accepted and publicly confessed Him > as her Savior, and united with the Methodists church and began the > christian life. > > After living in Wyoming county some eighteen years, her parents > sought a new home, coming into Raleigh county and locating at > Brackenridge. While living there another sister and brother came > into the home. Brackenridge was their home but four years when they > moved to Sand Lick where they made their home until death, August > 1, 1852. > > While living at Brackenridge, the subject of this sketch, Rebecca, > the oldest daughter, was married to James Cantley, and they spent > the first two years of their married life at the Cottle place, now > better known as Saxon. While here their first child, Nettie J. was > born. They next for a part of one year at what is now known as the > old flats, and during their brief stay there they were blessed with > the second baby, Nancy Jane. > >> From that place they removed to the present home, where Mrs. >> Cantley spent the rest of her days. Two other children came to >> live in this little family, Ellen and James. Ellen, however, after >> fours years, went to live with him, Him who said, "Suffer the >> Little Children to Come Unto Me." > > When Lincoln issued the call for 75,000 volunteers in 1861, James > Cantley responded to that call, left his faithful wife and beloved > little ones to go out never to return, for in the battle of Cross > Keys, Shenandoah Valley, Va., he received a wound that soon proved > fatal. He was taken to the Harrisburg hospital, and after ten days > started for home, getting as far as Cumberland, Md., where his > strength failed, and he departed this life and was buried at that > place. > > Mrs. Cantley, now a widow with the three little ones, took up the > battle of life, and its toils, and bravely met the > responsibilities, doing as best she could - trusting always in Him > to whom she had yielded her life as a child. Her friends and > neighbors pay her the splendid tribute of calling her a good, kind > christian woman. She departed this life "looking unto Jesus, the > Beginner and Finisher of her faith," on May 26, 1910, aged 81 > years, 11 months and 1 day, leaving to mourn their loss, two > daughters, one son, sisters, brothers, twenty grand-children, > thirty-one great-grand-children, and many other relatives as well > as a great host of friends. > > G. A. Reaug. > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to WVWYOMIN- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

Melissa, Ler's follow the rivers. Matheny is on the Laurel Fork, which empties into the Clearfork at Oceana, which empties into the Guyandotte at Baileysville. Distance-15 miles. As the crow flies, Baileysville is about 10 miles southwest of Matheny. Sun Hill is about 4.5 miles north of Baileysville. Merry Christmas, STAN On Dec 20, 2007, at 5:43 PM, Melissa Ardito wrote: > I love your stories. Where is Matheny is relation to Sun Hill or > Baileysville? That is the usual area of my Shannon's. > > STANLEY BROWNING <[email protected]> wrote: I know I promised > a memory of pie socials (politically correct for > "pie suppers"), but I think it best to set the stage a bit. We will > return to pie suppers after Christmas and we have had our pie. > > The Matheny Chapel Church was the social center for our community. > It was the only place outside school where youngsters could meet with > others of their own age. Girls and boys from the top of Jesse > Mountain and Glen Fork to Turkey Dip, and from the mouth of Coon > Branch to lower Turkey Creek and Brenton came to the church on the > pretense that they were seeking religion, while, in truth most of > them were seeking companionship from the opposite sex. A young man > was willing to withstand the boredom and could feign attention to a > sermon that lasted half an afternoon if he was to be rewarded later > by walking home with the girl of his choice, even if it was under the > watchful eye of her parents, which was a given in most rural > communities. > > People joined a particular church more as a matter of convenience > than because of their beliefs. Other than the way they called their > pastors, the Matheny Methodist Church did not differ much from other > evangelical churches of the time. They taught the same plan of > salvation and practiced immersion as the means of baptism. There > were no churches other than the Methodist church at Matheny in the > late thirties and forties, so it was natural that residents of the > community would choose to affiliate with the church closest to them. > > The Matheny church was very small by today's standards. It was a > typical rural church house with wooden frame construction and weather- > boarding on the outside. It initially sat upon posts about 18 inches > high, but in its later years strong winds dislodged it from its > perch. The one door to the church was on the end facing State Route > 10, only a few steps away. We sat on straight-backed wooden pews. > All Sunday School classes met in the single room that was the church > house, and afterward the preaching service was held in the same > place. Our church had a steeple and a bell that signaled the > community when services were about to begin. > > The people in charge of church services changed over the years that I > attended Matheny Chapel, but not much. I don’t know the official > names of the church offices, but Uncle Lon Scott always seemed to be > in charge. During my teenage years, Chess Stewart was Sunday School > superintendent and his wife Louetta was the organist. Tom Duty was > song leader. > > Homer Stewart, who was only slightly older than his charges, was one > of those who taught our teenage Sunday School class. I must say I > could have enjoyed Sunday School if I worked at it a little bit. > > Perhaps I should recuse myself from writing about the church > services. I am not sure I can be objective. I attended mainly > because it was expected of me. I didn’t want to disappoint my Aunt > Ruth. Even the girls at church were not as interesting as playing > ball or fishing. As a teenager, I was the classic example of one > stricken with severe attention deficient disorder. I am not talking > about the gospel; the gospel was not the problem. It was the > mindless way it was so often served up. It was according to formula. > I sat there on those hard wooden pews, my limbs grew numb, my butt > hurt, my thinking slowed and only a sharp pencil placed under my > chin kept me from fading away completely and becoming a gospel > zombie. I longed to be fishing or playing baseball. > > But if I was going to be put to sleep in church, I preferred that it > happen during the music. The songs sounded like funeral dirges sung > by a herd of cows that were ,themselves, only half awake. We needed > some pep; some rhythm. Both Tom and Louetta (God rest their souls) > would be kicked out of the “club” today for the way they strung out > those old hymns. > > Those were the days when they literally passed the hat to “collect > the offering.” After the donations were counted, Uncle Lon would > rise and thank the church for the amount given. If Aunt Ruth was not > at church and I was supposed to be, she always quizzed me on the > amount of the offering as a means of checking up on me. > > I can’t say that I never lied to my Aunt Ruth, but if I did, it was > not a common occurrence. > > STAN > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to WVWYOMIN- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message > > > > --------------------------------- > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to WVWYOMIN- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

Matthew, I keep thinking I should know Winford, but somehow I can't connect. I guess I forgot who Thelma ("Weetsie") Linkous married. I have lots of memories of Jack I 's brother Bunny as we hung together as teenagers. Once about 20 years ago when I was visiting at Matheny with my son and his new wife, I stopped to talk briefly with Jack I. After we were back on the road, I caught you know what because I had inadvertently failed to introduce them. On Dec 19, 2007, at 4:59 PM, Matthew Burns wrote: > Stan, > Jack I. and his wife Annette moved over to Fairdale in Raleigh > County but come home to Matheny whenever they get a chance. They > are Shirley's second set of parents, and we stop and see them every > chance we get. They also come over to see Cora alot, and are > making a special trip to see me and Shirley. Annette and Cora > (Shirley's mother) are best friends and they talk every day on the > telephone. Jack and Net are good people, that's for sure. > > I'm sure Jack I. will love to hear the story about his brother. > I didn't know you knew Jack I. Do you also know Winford Workman? > Winford married Jack I.'s sister Thelma. Thelma has since passed > away but Winford still lives in Matheny and is a close friend to > Shirley's family. Winford is the grandson of A.J. Mullins, the > founder of Mullens. Winford turned 80 last February and still gets > around like the Energizer bunny. > > Matthew > > > > STANLEY BROWNING <[email protected]> wrote: > Matthew, > > Thanks for the response. I thought old Jack I. had left Matheny. > Now I'll have to be extra careful what I write as his brother was one > of the leading players in my stories about us "raisin hell in > Appalachia." > > STAN > > > On Dec 19, 2007, at 4:19 PM, Matthew Burns wrote: > >> Stan, >> Shirley is feeling a little under the weather today but I will >> ask her about this when she is coherent. Also, I will print your >> email and take it "home" with us to Matheny, we are going there on >> Friday and staying until Christmas. I will ask the folks down >> there that I see about your questions. I'm sure Jack Linkous or >> Winford Workman will know most all of the people that were there. >> I will be seeing both of them over the holidays. >> >> We will get back to you about this. We've been wondering if >> you'd finished "Matheny and Me". We've told a few people about it >> and and they were interested in reading it. >> >> Matthew >> >> >> >> STANLEY BROWNING wrote: >> >> Shirley/Matthew, >> >> I need some help here. I am finally back working on my book, >> "Matheny and Me" which presents our southern West Virginia home as >> seen through the eyes of a young boy growing up in Matheny in the >> thirties and forties. At present, I am trying to reconstruct the >> community in my mind as it existed around 1940 (+ or -). I am >> confident that I remember most of the people in "upper Matheny," but >> I am not so sure about the residents of the area across the river >> from the church downstream from the Frank Stewart place to about >> where Stollie Parsons eventually lived. >> >> I know things had changed tremendously between 1940 and the early >> seventies, but I figure Shirley is more capable of recognizing the >> older residents of that area than I am. For instance, Gillis moved >> there shortly after 1940; I don't remember if his house was there >> earlier or, if so, who lived there. >> >> Thanks, STAN >> >> The following will illustrate what I am trying to do: >> "On the right opposite the old turnoff onto the Coon Branch road, was >> a small unpainted house. I don’t know who owned it or lived there in >> 1935 but Jack Marshall and Humphrey Beverly lived there at different >> times in the late forties. >> >> Farther down Route 10 from the Coon Branch turnoff about 1/4 mile or >> less, on the left side, the Methodist Church and Matheny Grade School >> sat close to the road and side-by-side on the land donated for those >> purposes by Uncle Bobby Stewart. They were both frame and >> weatherboard construction. The lot where the church was located was >> enclosed by a low steel fence; there was no fence around the school. >> >> Uncle Grat Stewart lived across the river directly behind the church >> and scchool. Bill Dean lived slightly below and up the hill. Conley >> Dean was a first grade classmate. There was at least one house >> farther up the hill from Uncle Grat’s place, but I don’t recall the >> names of the occupants. >> >> There was a footbridge slightly below the school that served the >> people who lived across the river in that area. Uncle Ott Stewart >> lived alone on a flat above the road on the right." >> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to WVWYOMIN- >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes >> in the subject and the body of the message >> >> >> >> --------------------------------- >> Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to WVWYOMIN- >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes >> in the subject and the body of the message > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to WVWYOMIN- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message > > > > --------------------------------- > Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! > Search. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to WVWYOMIN- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

Shirley/Matthew Perhaps "mith dudy" didn,t want to go outside in that cold night air and have to search for the outhouse in the dark. Here's a little tidbit for you. Tom Duty apparently had an illegitimate daughter named Loretta. I knew her very briefly in high school and she told me then that she was Tom's daughter. She didn't try to hide the fact. I don't remember her mother's name. SB On Dec 18, 2007, at 1:07 PM, Matthew Burns wrote: > "mith dudy"

Thanks so much. The name has been found as Gano/Ganoe/Gunnough/Gunnoe/Gonos etc Judy Ross Gunnoe **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

In late summer of 1918, Everette Hash and Clifford Phillips joined the Navy. They took their training at Hampton Rhodes Naval Station. After training, Everette and Clifford were separated and Everette sailed aboard the USS Ontario thru the Panama Canal to San Diego and then to Hawaii. Does anyone know of descendants of Clifford Phillips. He was living at one time near Matoka. He and Everette were Masons and they exchanged their Masonic Rings. Would like some info on Clifford. Lee Hash **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

The Raleigh Herald Beckley, West Virginia Thursday June 23, 1910 OBITUARY Rebecca Jane Clay, daughter of Charles L. and Awry Clay, was born in Pike county, Kentucky, June 25, 1828. When but a baby her parents left their Kentucky home, and came to Wyoming county, W. Va., to make a new home in the Mountain State, and as this home was being built, one by one, sisters and brothers were added to the family until there were four boys and six girls. During this home life in Wyoming county, the subject of this sketch, then a little girl of twelve years, at a camp meeting held in their community, heard and heeded the call of Jesus Christ to "Follow Me" and then and there accepted and publicly confessed Him as her Savior, and united with the Methodists church and began the christian life. After living in Wyoming county some eighteen years, her parents sought a new home, coming into Raleigh county and locating at Brackenridge. While living there another sister and brother came into the home. Brackenridge was their home but four years when they moved to Sand Lick where they made their home until death, August 1, 1852. While living at Brackenridge, the subject of this sketch, Rebecca, the oldest daughter, was married to James Cantley, and they spent the first two years of their married life at the Cottle place, now better known as Saxon. While here their first child, Nettie J. was born. They next for a part of one year at what is now known as the old flats, and during their brief stay there they were blessed with the second baby, Nancy Jane. >From that place they removed to the present home, where Mrs. Cantley spent the rest of her days. Two other children came to live in this little family, Ellen and James. Ellen, however, after fours years, went to live with him, Him who said, "Suffer the Little Children to Come Unto Me." When Lincoln issued the call for 75,000 volunteers in 1861, James Cantley responded to that call, left his faithful wife and beloved little ones to go out never to return, for in the battle of Cross Keys, Shenandoah Valley, Va., he received a wound that soon proved fatal. He was taken to the Harrisburg hospital, and after ten days started for home, getting as far as Cumberland, Md., where his strength failed, and he departed this life and was buried at that place. Mrs. Cantley, now a widow with the three little ones, took up the battle of life, and its toils, and bravely met the responsibilities, doing as best she could - trusting always in Him to whom she had yielded her life as a child. Her friends and neighbors pay her the splendid tribute of calling her a good, kind christian woman. She departed this life "looking unto Jesus, the Beginner and Finisher of her faith," on May 26, 1910, aged 81 years, 11 months and 1 day, leaving to mourn their loss, two daughters, one son, sisters, brothers, twenty grand-children, thirty-one great-grand-children, and many other relatives as well as a great host of friends. G. A. Reaug.

Thanks to someone who let me know that GRS CD's are still available. I went to _www.AutomatedArchives_ (http://www.AutomatedArchives) and found lists, some of which I could use. Someplace "here" I have the CD with index of names. Note to Judy: there ar many Gunnoe and related spellings marriages in my GRS files. Will attempt to sort out and send later Lee **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

The only one I didn't have was Pamela. Wonder if she is a daughter of our Elder John, Father of Daniel Ganoe/Gunnoe who married Sarah "Sally" Stewart? **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

In a message dated 12/19/2007 8:00:48 PM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: > > I need some help here. I am finally back working on my book, > "Matheny and Me" which presents our southern West Virginia home as > seen through the eyes of a young boy growing up in Matheny in the > thirties and forties. At present, I am trying to reconstruct the > community in my mind as it existed around 1940 (+ or -). I am > confident that I remember most of the people in "upper Matheny," but > I am not so sure about the residents of the area across the river > from the church downstream from the Frank Stewart place to about > where Stollie Parsons eventually lived. Stollie Parsons is still living! At least she was a year ago when my mother went to visit her. I grew up in Wyoming County in the 1940s (Red Jacket coal camp between Mullinsville and Turkey Creek). My aunt Hettie Hurley Atkins was a Baptist preacher, and we used to attend Stollie's church in Oceana on a regular basis. The Paitsels were friends of ours who attended church there, too, along with my aunt and uncle Charlie and Beulah Hurley O'Brien. When I was in 8th or 9th grade, Stollie and her family were going to northern Virginia where she was going to conduct a revival at the new church built by my aunt Hettie who had moved there in 1953; but in those days there were no interstates, and Stollie had no idea how to get there. So, I was piled in the car with Stollie, Earl, Betty and someone else to make the 13 hour drive (at that time) to Fairfax County, Virginia because I could show them the way. At that time, you had to drive through Charlottesville and every little town between. Guess no one had road maps, but I had been there. My payment was to be that we would stop at Natural Bridge, Virginia so I could see it. We had never stopped when my family visited my aunt, so this was to be a treat. It didn't happen. By the time the two weeks were up, everyone (except me, of course) was tired and wanted to get home. Gee, I had forgotten that until Stollie was mentioned. Carrol Hurley Ullrich **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

Looked up some Gunnoe and Ganoe marriages for Judy. William Gunnoe married Catherine Bragg 9/8/1836 listed in Kanawah County Pamela Gunoe married John Brannon 8/25/1802 listed in Berkley Co. Va. John Ganoe married Margaret McGraw 2/20/1828 listed in Kanawah Co William Ganoe married Hannah Ball 2/18/1812 listed in Monroe Co. Lee **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

Thanks, I checked out Automated Archives on web and they have the GRS series listed. Rather expensive as I didn't pay $50 for each disk Lee **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

I believe that Broderbund now owns this GRS, so possibly that may be a source. Arthur Davidson --------------------------- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, December 21, 2007 10:53 AM Subject: Re: [WVWYOMIN] Marriages Judy the GRS system(s) are no longer in print. Lee ------------------------

Judy. it includes Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina on (CD4) Would you wish me to look for Gunno, Gunnoe, Gano and/or Ganoe ? Lee **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

Does any such thing exist for Virginia? Judy **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

ANOTHER DATE THINGY TO THINK ABOUT. FROM A LEDGER OF Rev GOODE My birth is set down as occurring on December 26, 1868, but my mother told me that this event occurred about the time the “cock crew” on the second morning after Christmas, which was about 4 O’clock AM Dec 27, 1868. My father owned no clock or watch at the time, and at that time the Pioneer settlers in this section regarded the night following each day as belonging to that day, and that the new day commenced at sun rising rather than that of midnight. (in the margin Rev. Goode has written: The Birth Record- says Dec 27, 1868) **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

Judy the GRS system(s) are no longer in print. I have 4 CD's and there were others which I should have purchased at the time. I have the Colonial America Tax, the Social Securith (shich is outdated) Marriage records Vol 1 and Early 1750 marriage records. Now these do not have all states. Mostly Maryland and some of the Southern States, not a complete source. Lee **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

How do I get to the GRS Systerm? Judy Gunnoe **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

I frequently use my Genealogical Research System (GRS) database to search marrieges from the early 1700's to shortly after 1850. These records have often "filled in the gaps" of families I am researching showing the County and State in which ther lived at the time. HOWEVER, these dates may well be the date of marriage application or Bond and not reflecting the actual marriage date. This I have discovered when examining the true document at a Court House. I have found, in some cases the Ministers return gave a diffrent date which was most probably correct. NOW, this may not be always accurate either as I have found a Ministers return with a preceeding YEAR (his error of course). One interesting document was a couple were married in a public road by a J.P. So, what is one to do. After a hundred years or so, it seems the logical thing is to accept the dates on the marriage license. In some cases the old family Bible may give conflicting date and these may be incorrect as well. HAPPY NEW YEAR Lee Hash . **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

Stan: Again thanks for the memories! We were most fortunate to lived in those times, to have had the privilege of knowing that generation. The simple and courageous way they lived their lives has given me the drive to do better, be gentler and love more and never stop learning. I work in the Hospital in Frederick Maryland. It has been the best gift God could have given. I am daily amazed at the er Docs and the rounding Docs . I ask you to pray for them. Sometimes the challenges they face seem overwhelming, but somehow they always come through. Thanks Again! Betty Cook Martinez Germantown Maryland Via Turkey Creek WV ----- Original Message ----- From: "STANLEY BROWNING" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 9:03 PM Subject: [WVWYOMIN] Home for Christmas I want to wish all my friends in southern West Virginia a very merry and meaningful Christmas with much happiness in the days that follow. Also, I thank you for putting up with my simple tales that might not mean much to you, but are priceless to me. As I remember my days as a youth back on the Laurel Fork or Guyandotte, I get an image of home that is entirely different from what I see when I visit those places now. Those beautiful images that come to mind are built on the experiences I had, and they can only come around once. Life is about experiences. I can go to the place called home, but it will never feel like home. Gone are most of the characters in my stories, and even most of those great experiences that I mentioned have faded from memory. Do I sound like a lonely old man who has nothing better to do than cry in his beer? Not!! I say that to make a point. When I can share experiences with people like many of you, who have experienced life in the same general ways that I have, it’s the closest thing to going home again that I can think of. Again, I thank you for being good listeners, and, again, MERRY CHRISTMAS. STAN P.S. You wont believe how beautiful the falling snow outside my window on the Rocky Mountain Wasatch range looks. Think I will take my skis to Alta tomorrow and build some more memories. ------------------------------- 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