Melissa, I found the following on newspaperarchive.com and thought you would find them interesting. Who was John Wesley Farmer's parents? I am related to the Farmer's also. From the May 2, 1952 Raleigh Register: WANTED settled middle aged white woman, not over 50 to make home with couple, help light housework. $5 weekly, room and board. If interested call in person or phone Mullens 95-J-3, Mrs. J. Wesley Farmer. Herndon. From the May 22, 1952 Raleigh Register: WANTED white or colored woman, age 30 to 50 to make home with couple and help with light housework. Contact Mrs. Wesley Farmer, Herndon, W Va. From the June 20, 1958 Beckley Post-Herald: J. Farmer Has Worked With Railroad SS Years ' HERNDON. June 19 (KS5)— John Wesley Farmer, 54. has been working on the railroad for a long time--33 years to be exact, as of June 16. The veteran section hand is proud of the record he has accumu_ cumulated since he began work for _ the Virginian Railway at Kegley near his native home at Black Oak, Mercer County. Although he tried it for a time in a relief role, John Wesley passed up the opportunity of becoming a section foreman because it ran him all over the line and kept him away from home and his wife, Grace. He has been at Herndon for the past 18 years. From the Feb. 24, 1966 Raleigh Register: 15 Freight Cars Derail At Herndon Fifteen freight cars of the Norfolk and Western Railway Co., had to be lifted by crane back on the track after their derailment at Herndon Thursday. The cars, headed for the Elmore yard, began leaving the track at the east end of the bridge at Herndon High School about 5 a. m., continued across the bridge, and caused damage to a porch, garage and automobile. Witnesses said the porch of a house occupied by Wesley Farmer was struck by a freight car and a garage demolished. The car parked inside the garage was damaged. Cause of the derailment could not be learned. Workmen had the tracks clear by 4:30 p.m. Melissa Ballard Long <[email protected]> wrote: My Ballard line seems to be mostly from Mercer Co, via Carroll Co, Virginia. William H. Ballard died between 1895 & 1900. His wife, Rosa Hawks Ballard, remarried to John Perdue (Pardue & lots of other variants). In addition to Roslie, Viney & William Estel, children by William Henry Ballard, Rosa had children with John Perdue. Seems they were Mary, Gracie & possible Velvie. Gracie married a Wesley Farmer & they lived in Herndon. I have spoken via email, with one nice lady whose father worked with Wesley on the railroad. Gracie had a daughter who evidently moved to Baltimore & it seems that Gracie moved there in her later years. I am trying to find out more on these families. Some other names that may come into play, according to an obituary, are Kinzer & Harmon. If anyone can help me with any additional info, I would greatly appreciate that! Thanks, Melissa Ballard Long ------------------------------- 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

Thanks so much for that info. I didn't have that! I do not know who his family was. I haven't ever been sure of his real name & couldn't get info under Wesley. Having John as his first name really helps me alot. I have a slow connection while traveling for the holidays at my parents so I can't do much research while here. I didn't know about that website. That is great info! Thanks!! I do have pictures of Wesley & Gracie if anyone is interested. Would love to have others if anybody has any. I bet there are pictures of that train derailment at the paper if I can get them. Where was this Raleigh Register located? Does anyone know? Is it still published or has another paper taken this one in for print? I'd love more info on that if possible. Thanks so much again!!! Merry Christmas Melissa -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Karen Willey Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2007 8:53 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WVWYOMIN] Roll Call - Ballard, Farmer, Perdue Melissa, I found the following on newspaperarchive.com and thought you would find them interesting. Who was John Wesley Farmer's parents? I am related to the Farmer's also. From the May 2, 1952 Raleigh Register: WANTED settled middle aged white woman, not over 50 to make home with couple, help light housework. $5 weekly, room and board. If interested call in person or phone Mullens 95-J-3, Mrs. J. Wesley Farmer. Herndon. From the May 22, 1952 Raleigh Register: WANTED white or colored woman, age 30 to 50 to make home with couple and help with light housework. Contact Mrs. Wesley Farmer, Herndon, W Va. From the June 20, 1958 Beckley Post-Herald: J. Farmer Has Worked With Railroad SS Years ' HERNDON. June 19 (KS5)- John Wesley Farmer, 54. has been working on the railroad for a long time--33 years to be exact, as of June 16. The veteran section hand is proud of the record he has accumu_ cumulated since he began work for _ the Virginian Railway at Kegley near his native home at Black Oak, Mercer County. Although he tried it for a time in a relief role, John Wesley passed up the opportunity of becoming a section foreman because it ran him all over the line and kept him away from home and his wife, Grace. He has been at Herndon for the past 18 years. From the Feb. 24, 1966 Raleigh Register: 15 Freight Cars Derail At Herndon Fifteen freight cars of the Norfolk and Western Railway Co., had to be lifted by crane back on the track after their derailment at Herndon Thursday. The cars, headed for the Elmore yard, began leaving the track at the east end of the bridge at Herndon High School about 5 a. m., continued across the bridge, and caused damage to a porch, garage and automobile. Witnesses said the porch of a house occupied by Wesley Farmer was struck by a freight car and a garage demolished. The car parked inside the garage was damaged. Cause of the derailment could not be learned. Workmen had the tracks clear by 4:30 p.m. Melissa Ballard Long <[email protected]> wrote: My Ballard line seems to be mostly from Mercer Co, via Carroll Co, Virginia. William H. Ballard died between 1895 & 1900. His wife, Rosa Hawks Ballard, remarried to John Perdue (Pardue & lots of other variants). In addition to Roslie, Viney & William Estel, children by William Henry Ballard, Rosa had children with John Perdue. Seems they were Mary, Gracie & possible Velvie. Gracie married a Wesley Farmer & they lived in Herndon. I have spoken via email, with one nice lady whose father worked with Wesley on the railroad. Gracie had a daughter who evidently moved to Baltimore & it seems that Gracie moved there in her later years. I am trying to find out more on these families. Some other names that may come into play, according to an obituary, are Kinzer & Harmon. If anyone can help me with any additional info, I would greatly appreciate that! Thanks, Melissa Ballard Long ------------------------------- 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 ------------------------------- 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