Inez (Ines) Lorenza Jordan Workman: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber 2023

 

During the year I have highlighted some of the burials in Klaiber Cemetery in this series.  The cemetery has listings on find-a-grave however the original submitter in charge of those memorial entries is deceased and modification of his entries has been difficult.  Klaiber cemetery has more than its share of unmarked graves or simple field stones.  The use of various names of the cemetery during different time frames has sometimes made it difficult to determine where a person was laid to rest.  The Kentucky Historical Society, tried to give cemeteries throughout Kentucky a definite name during a 1970’s project.  It fell on deaf ears for locals who, when giving information for an obituary call a family cemetery by a name that may or may not be correct.

When I became a trustee of Klaiber Cemetery almost 30 years ago I was told that a grandchild of Inez Workman was buried at her feet.  The informant said they thought it was the child of Inez’s son Bellvard.  Extensive research on her family shows that the grandson was in fact the son of William Robert and Francis Holley Workman.

Inez Lorenza Jordan was born 21 April 1900, the daughter of George Washington and Mary Jane Perkins Jordan.  Inez married Lindsey Mansfield Workman 11 July 1918 in Boyd County, Kentucky when she was seventeen.   The family had three known children: Bellvard Rothland Workman, William Robert Workman and Ethel Marie Workman.

By 1930 the family had settled in Huntington, Cabell County, Kentucky where Lindsey worked at the Nickel Plant.  Inez had a brain hemorrhage and died 13 October 1933.  The death certificate was recorded in Boyd County, Kentucky with the informant her husband giving his address as Gyandotte, West Virginia.  Kilgore and Collier Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements and according to the death certificate burial was in Sexton Cemetery.  As stated before Sexton Cemetery should not be confused with Sexton Cemetery on Pigeon Roost, this county.  Sexton was an aka for Klaiber Cemetery located on Long Branch, Garner, Boyd County, Kentucky.

Inez’ son William Robert Workman (born 22 July 1921 in Boyd County, Kentucky) married Francis Holley 24 December 1938 in Cabell County, West Virginia.  On 4 Feb 1941 the couple had a son born in Huntington prematurely.  The infant was brought back to Garner for burial. The West Virginia Department of Health Death Certificate states “Sexton Cemetery.”   Once again the alias was used for what is now registered as Klaiber Cemetery with the state of Kentucky.

Wishing all my readers a blessed holiday season and during these trying times prayers for peace. 

 

Beatrice Gallion Wooten: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber 2023

As the year winds down, so does this year’s series “Whispers from the Grave…”    These mini bio’s do not include everyone in the cemetery but highlight many.  Most can also be found on  find-a-grave.   Hopefully these blog posts help give a little more detail to newer researchers.    As a trustee of the cemetery for almost 30 years I have collected information on each person in Klaiber Cemetery.

If you have been a reader of our mini bio’s you will notice that each person has some tie, directly or indirectly with others in the cemetery.  Beatrice is a good example.  Beatrice is the daughter of Larkin and Rebecca Stamper Gallion.  She is a direct ancestor of Thomas Sexton who changed his surname to Gallion when he moved to Kentucky.  Thus she is related to both the Sexton’s and Gallion’s in the cemetery.

 

Beatrice was born 3 June 1897.  She married Everett Wooten 26 September 1914 in Boyd County at her parent’s house.   Their first son, Russell Warren Wooten was born 5 July 1915 in Boyd County, Kentucky. The family moved to Logan County, West Virginia where they had a son James Clifford Wooten 19 June  1918.  He did not thrive and died, “with stomach troubles” in Shamrock, West Virginia, 27 September 1920.  His death certificate simply states he was brought back to Kilgore, Kentucky for burial. The family supplied a sweet grave stone in the cemetery.

The family rented and Everett drove a truck for the coal company.  He was a evangelist minister of the Pilgrim Holiness Church and spoke at many church gatherings in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and later in Indiana where son Russell was also a minister.  Everett even worked as a garbage collector while still working hard as a coal miner to make ends meet in the 1950’s.  Beatrice died 1 April 1950 from heart issues and asthma in Logan County, West Virginia.   Her death certificate states burial was April 6^th in Sexton Cemetery.  This is an alias often used by those related to the Sexton’s for Klaiber Cemetery and should not be confused with Sexton Cemetery just a few miles away on Pigeon Roost. 

 

On 2 December 1950 Everett Wooten married, second, Corda Alice May, in Jackson County, West Virginia.  They moved to Gallia County, Ohio where Corda died 5 October 1965. 

Everett then settled in Waterloo, Lawrence County, Ohio.  He was in Terre Haute, Indiana when he died from cancer 19 December 1973 and was brought back to Klaiber Cemetery for burial.   The Terre Haute Tribune incorrectly stated he was from Waterloo, Iowa.  He died at the residence of son Rev. R. W. Wooten stating that Everett was a retired minister who had been a minister 30 years.

Isabelle Alice Stewart: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

Isabelle A. Stewart was born 20 December 1863, the daughter of Alfred aka Allen Stewart and wife Sarah Elizabeth Hood.   

Alfred C. Stewart married 1 January 1863 Sarah Elizabeth Hood in Boyd County, Kentucky.  They were married by Bryant Fannin at William P. Hood’s home here on Garner.   William P. Hood and wife Matilda Howe were Sarah’s parents.   

Shortly before Isabelle’s birth Alfred joined the 40^th Kentucky Infantry (Union) at Lexington, Kentucky on 1^st of December.   Alfred was the son of Andrew Stewart and Rachel Cook who lived at Mount Savage, Carter County, Kentucky.  Alfred was shot while on duty and died of his wounds 23 December 1864.

Isabelle’s mother Sarah Elizabeth Hood Stewart next married James W. Howe on 29 October 1865.  Howe, son of Geprge W Howe and Sarah Fannin Howe, had been captured and served six months in Andersonville Prison before returning home.   In May 1866 the courts appointed Isabelle’s step father as her legal guardian. James R. McBrayer acted as surety.  One anomaly appears on the court order. Her deceased father is listed as Allen Stewart instead of Alfred as shown in all other known records[i].

Isabelle appears, in July, 1870 on the census with her step father and mother listing her age as six.  The family is living on Garner.[ii] Fifteen months, later on 23 October 1871 Isabelle Alice Stewart died.   At this writing the compiler does not know the cause of her death.

Her burial in Klaiber Cemetery is thought to be one of the earliest if not the first burial in what today is Klaiber Cemetery.  Her grandfather William Pickett Hood and her step father’s mother Sarah Fannin Howe both were buried in Klaiber cemetery two years later in 1874.

 

 

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[i] KY Boyd CT Order roll 344012 page 293

[ii] Note a title search shows this was a portion of what is owned by this compiler and her husband.  The MT Hilton survey dated April 1879 shows James Howe fields next to Philip Howe’s property with a marked house thought to be the cabin that sits behind the authors home today.  The Hilton survey can be found at the Boyd County Public Library and the item is marked as B-6.

James B. Stanley Family: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

James B. Stanley was a Baptist lay minister in eastern Kentucky.  He was born 31 March 1858 in Lawrence County, Kentucky the son of James R. Stanley and wife Sarah McGuire.  He grew up in the Bolts Fork and Jacks Fork area bordering Garner, Boyd County, Kentucky where he also farmed.  He had ten siblings including Belle who married Thomas A. Gallion and 2^nd John M. Jobe.

J. B. Stanley married Susan Tomlin 1 December 1878 in Boyd County, Kentucky at the home of William Rouse.  Susan was the daughter of Andrew “Andy” Tomlin who came to Kentucky from Virginia by the time she was four years old.  The Stanley family had seven children.  The last child George was born in July 1895.  In 1900 the family was living over the county line in Carter County.

A son Dwight M. Stanley, born 29 August 1884 died 14 September 1904 and was buried in Klaiber Cemetery.  A circle carved reads “In honor of our beloved son.”   Susan, his mother, died 30 September 1908 and was also laid to rest in Klaiber Cemetery.

Left with the children and George only three, James B. Stanley remarried to Eliza Kiser the widow of Joseph Cordle[i].  In 1920 J. B. and Eliza were residing n Van Lear, Johnson County, Kentucky but moved back to Boyd County some time before 1926, near Summit.  Eliza Kiser Cordle Stanley died 13 December 1926.  Her funeral was held at the Summit Baptist Church and burial was at Coalton Cemetery.

Another son, Frank (born 20 May 1887) had moved to Minden, Fayette County, West Virginia where he was a miner.  He was only forty years old when he died, just 11 months after his step mother’s death.  Frank died 23 November 1927. The death certificate states the cause as Bright’s Disease.  The document simply states burial “KY.”  The Ashland Daily Independent wrote a small article with the headline “Kilgore Main Dies in West Virginia.”  How-ever the paper misspelled Minden as Winden and states “Details regarding Stanley’s illness and death were not learned.  In the early 2020’s Minden made headlines across the nation as a hotbed of toxic land causing cancers.  At this writing it is unclear where Frank was buried.

 

The Reverend James B. Stanley lived until 25 October 1939 when he died in the hospital at Paintsville, Johnson County.  His son William Bascom Stanley, living at Van Lear, was the informant on his death certificate.  The family brought J. B. back to Klaiber Cemetery, in Boyd County, Kentucky, for burial beside his first wife Susan.

Susan and J. B.’s son Joseph “Joe” Stanley (born 3Aapril 1890) died 16 January 1940 in Floyd County, Kentucky. He collapsed inside a mine shaft and died in route to a hospital.  His wife Myrtle Prater Stanley had his body brought back to Klaiber Cemetery for burial.

Myrtle was the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Bays Prater. Myrtle lived until 24 September 1981 and is also in our cemetery.

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[i] Eliza Kizer Cordle Stanley was the daughter of Andy and Margt. Willis Kizer

 

George J. Stanley Family: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

George J. Stanley was born 28 July 1895 in Carter County, Kentucky, the son of the Rev. James B. Stanley and Susan Tomlin Stanley.  His first marriage was 22 February 1913 to Flora Van Hoose in Johnson County, Kentucky.  George and Flora had several children[i] and moved to Fayette County, West Virginia where he worked in the coal mines.  George and Flora were divorced 2 December 1929. 

Flora remarried to William Hogston and moved to Floyd County and later Harlan County.  Clarence and Margie Stanley grew up in Flora’s household. George married second Margaret Elizabeth “Maggie” Fields Bleiburg Swigart  11 January 1930.   Maggie was the daughter of William Henderson Fields and wife Elsa Amanda Orn.  She was born in Hocking County, Ohio.  Eventually Maggie and George settled in Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio where he worked at the stove factory.

Maggie died 30 January 1961 in Ironton, Lawrence County, Ohio and was buried in Klaiber Cemetery near George’s parents.  George J. Stanley remarried after Maggie’s death to Myrtle Blair.  George died 19 December 1973 in Ironton and was also brought back for burial in Klaiber Cemetery next to Margaret.

Clarence Frank Stanley, the son of George and his first wife Flora Van Hoose, was born 24 March 1922.  He was a coal miner and a Private during World War II.  In 1940 he was still living in the Hogston household in Harlan County, Kentucky. On 4 August 1944 he married Lavilla Gillespie in Jefferson County, Kentucky.   They resided in Harlan where in 1950 Clarence was coal mining. According to son Jerry, Clarence loved to repair bikes and give them to needy children. Clarence died 8 June 1996 in the Veterans Administration Hospital in Huntington, West Virginia. His funeral was held at Globe, Carter County, Kentucky and he was brought to Boyd County, Kentucky for burial in Klaiber Cemetery with full military rites.

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[i] Children of George and Flora: Clarence F, Chester, Margie Marie, Ovel and George Justice Jr.

 

The Sparks Family: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

David Sparks was born 12 March 1898 in Elliott County, Kentucky.  He was the son of Reuben and Dovie Whitt Sparks per his obit and marriage license. The 1900 for Little Fork of Elliott County says his mother is Lina born May 1872.

David married Nora Gallion 1 September 1917 in Carter County, Kentucky.  When they married David was working as a rail roader.  David farmed on Durbin for many years.

 Nora Gallion was born 20 July 1902 in Boyd County the daughter of Thomas Al and Belle Stanley Gallion.  David and Nora had fourteen children.  David died 10 April 196.  Nora died 2 November 1972.  Both David and Nora’s funeral service were held at Cyrus Chapel on Durbin.  Nora’s death date was never carved on her stone.

Son, Franklin Douglas Sparks was the youngest son of David and Nora.   Born 20 March 1942 on Durbin, he died in Frankfort 23 February 1969.  The funeral service was also conducted at Cyrus Chapel.

Son, William “Bill” Sparks was born 8 June 1936 in Cyrus Hollow of Boyd County.  He was a processor at Kraft Poultry Farm and was a member of Cyrus Chapel.   He lived with another brother on Durban at the time of his death.  The Durbin volunteer fire department donated money for his funeral.  A simple wooden cross was placed at his grave.  As trustees we later made a flat cement marker placed at the head of the grave.

Clyde Junior Smith: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

As I have mentioned in previous posts in this series, we have several homemade gravestones in our cemetery.  But some times the data on the stone does not match the official death certificate information.

Clyde Junior Smith was the son of Lewis Dewey Smith and wife Cynthia Ann Church, His paternal grandparents, John and Sarah Catherine Dowdy Smith are buried in Ross Cemetery on Jack’s Fork of Boyd County, Kentucky.

Clyde’s birth “carved in stone” says he was born 11 July 1927 and died March 23 1931.   Clyde Junior Smith’s official death certificate (#5830) states he was born July 11, 1927 and was 3 years 8 months and 10 days old when he died at home on Garner of Boyd County, Kentucky, 21 March 1931.  

The little boy contracted bronchial pneumonia that progressed from a simple cold. His father gave the information and the place of burial is cited as Sexton Cemetery not to be confused with Sexton Cemetery on Pigeon Roost on the next ridge above Garner.  Klaiber cemetery has had several aka’s including Garner Cemetery and Sexton Cemetery.

The last family member to be buried in Klaiber aka Sexton Cemetery was Sister Rebecca Smith Moore on 21 April 2023. Sister, Bertha Mae Smith Shepherd, died on 2 July 2021 and is also buried in Klaiber Cemetery.  A brother James Richard Smith born 24 Dec 1924, was a World War II veteran who died 25 Jun 1988 and was brought back to Klaiber Cemetery for burial from his residence in Anniston, Alabama.

Their father Lewis Dewey Smith was born 5 March 1899 in Lawrence County, Kentucky, a farmer, died 9 October 1977. His funeral was conducted at Ross Chapel on Bolt’s Fork and burial was in Klaiber Cemetery. Lewis and Cynthia had eleven children.  Mother Cynthia Ann Church Smith was born 30 April 1901 in Lawrence County, Kentucky.  She was the daughter of James Monroe Church and wife Rebecca Bryant.  At her death, March 1994 she had 58 grandchildren, 82 great grandchildren and 15 great great grandchildren.

 

 

Marcus “Mark” Sexton: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

Marcus Sexton was born 2 January 1812, in Virginia to Elisha and Tabitha “Bitha” Sexton.  His parents were members of Stoney Creek Church, in Russell County, Virginia when Marcus was born.

Marcus along with his wife Catherine came thru Pound Gap into Kentucky before 1836.  They lived a few years in Perry and Letcher County, Kentucky before migrating northward to Carter County, Kentucky. 

Marcus is highlighted in a book I wrote several years ago Catherine Heart and Soul.    The 1865 Internal Revenue Records give his occupation as “stallion keeper.[i]”   He was involved in several court cases including one concerning a black horse.  Marcus and Catherine lived on Pigeon Roost, Boyd County, Kentucky and later moved to Lawrence County, Kentucky, on Bell’s Fork, where he died 22 October 1877.  He was buried on Bell’s Fork.

Catherine came back to Boyd County and by the time she died in June 1893 was living on Long Branch of Garner with her son Henry Powell Sexton and family.  In November 1893 the Big Sandy News reported: “Powell Sexton of Garner passed thru Bolts Fork yesterday with the remains of his father who died 16 years ago and had been exhumed and buried in the family graveyard beside his wife who died a short time ago.”[ii]

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[i] Internal Revenue Service Record Group 58. Roll 21, Oct 1865

[ii] Big Sandy News 10 Nov 1893

Jasper Newton Sexton & Miriam Lambert Sexton: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

Jasper Newton Sexton was born 15 January 1869 in Boyd County, Kentucky, the son of Henry Powell Sexton and wife Julina McCormack. 

Jasper married 20 January 1898 Miriam Roberts Lambert.  She was the daughter of James Calvin Lambert and wife Marietta Davis.  Their reception was a big event on Garner and Luella Banfield carefully entered it in her day book[i].  Daughter Willa said her mother described the day of the wedding with a carpet from the road all the way to the house and butter molds in the shape of something special.  The marriage is recorded in the East Fork Methodist church records.  The marriage took place at Miriam’s father, Cal’s house on Garner.  John Childers and Thursy Davis[ii] were witness.

Jasper was a farmer all his life.  He and Miriam had ten children.  Harold Lee (b.1912) , Hopie (born 1910) and Wirt (b. 1918) were born in what today is the Klaiber Hood Cabin on our farm[iii].    Their first son Everett born in 1905 was their first child, to die and be buried in the cemetery. Everett died 17 June 1905. He was followed by Jasper II born 24 February 1916, died the same day.  Jasper was buried in Sexton Cemetery on Pigeon Roost. The next year they had another stillborn girl they named Maymie Lynd Sexton. 

The family buried son Royal Norman on the 10^th of November 1921 He had gone to Sullivan County, Indiana to work in the coal mines and died from the falling of slate  in a mine accident.  He was brought back for burial in Klaiber Cemetery.

Miriam’s nickname was “Toad.” She died 17 March 1930, from pneumonia, and was laid to rest in Klaiber Cemetery.  Three months later the family buried Hopie who I wrote about in our last blog post. 

Jasper continued to live on Garner for the rest of his life.  He died 10 November 1967. His funeral service was held at East Fork United Methodist Church. 

I love the inscription on their stone “We shall never grow old or be separated Again.”

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[i] Luella Banfield’s Day book is housed in the genealogy room of the Boyd County Public Library

[ii] KY Boyd mbk 16a p 47

[iii] Sexton Willa B telephone interview September 1997

Sophia Mae “Hopie” Sexton: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

Sophia Mae “Hopie” Sexton was born 9 March 1910 in Boyd County, Kentucky. She was the daughter of Jasper Newton Sexton and Mariam Roberts Lambert Sexton.  Whenever family remembers and talks about her she is simply “Hopie.”  Her father’s nickname was “Hop.”

Hopie went to Portsmouth, Ohio and was working as “forelady” for a steam laundry company when she was eighteen.  When she and her friends went to the river to swim and cool off. Tragedy struck.   Hopie drowned in the Ohio River on June 30, 1930, when she was twenty.  

The Portsmouth Daily Times told the sad story. “…Found near foot of Harmon Street where she met death Monday night -Companions rescued. Zelda Lowder of Bluefield and Everett Harlowe 12 have close call.  Strangled by waves from a ferry and a barge ...Miss Hopie Sexton 20, of 2334 Jackson Street, was drowned in the Ohio river...occurred about 300 yards west of the upper ferry landing...body was recovered...by city firemen. … about 20 minutes after the victim disappeared the rescue squad of the city fire department hooked the body and lost it as it neared the surface. The body was later recovered near the same spot which is close to the place where she went down...Miss Sexton is the fourth drowning victim here this month...Zelda Lowder and Everett Harlowe were saved by the girl’s father C. L. Lowder. John Wall 17...Clarence Johnson 19...Nobel Sadler 21 ...Charles Lemon 35 of 2334 Jackson Street cousin of the drowned woman....others....were bathing  in the river near the scene when the drowning occurred and went to the rescue...Miss Sexton came here from Cannonsburg, Kentucky south of Ashland, Kentucky about two years ago. She was employed in the American Steam Laundry. For the past two months she had been living with her cousin Mrs. Charles Lemon[i]. Previous to that time she resided on Glover Street.  She is survived by her parents Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Sexton, three brother, Edgar, Harold and Mert[ii] and one sister Billie[iii] all of Cannonsburg …”

Hopie Mae’s death certificate[iv] simply states “Accidental drowning” “Drowns while in River.”   Her brother Thomas Edgar Sexton was the informant for the death certificate.  Thomas became a pastor for the Church of God in Boyd County, Kentucky.

The Ashland Daily Independent was either given incorrect information or confused the death.  On July 2 the paper stated that Hopie Mae Sexton had died at her home after an illness of several days.  If this were the only article, researchers would incorrectly think Sophia “Hopie”  Mae Sexton died in Kentucky, which would be an error. The family brought Hopie back to Boyd County, to be buried in Klaiber Cemetery on 3 July 1930. 

 

 

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[i] Mrs. Charles Lemon maiden name Bertha French was a 2st cousin once removed through her mother’s family.

[ii] Mert is an error – the brother ‘s name is Wirt Elam Sexton

[iii] Billie in the article is Willa Bertran Sexton. Her nickname was Bill.

[iv] OH Vital, Scioto 38680

Frank Sexton: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

Frank Sexton’s death information is a good example of “carved in stone” not always being correct.

Frank was the son of Elisha “Lige” Sexton and wife Elizabeth Hicks. He was born 3 June 1904 in Boyd County, Kentucky.  He moved to Logan County, West Virginia, when he was 21, where he married Ivy Vannatter on 21 May 1927.  The first error in official records was when the clerk recorded Frank’s father as Elias in the marriage records. The couple had three boys: Charles Percy born 1928; Franklin born 1929; and Joseph Harrison Sexton born 1932.

Family told this compiler Frank died in the mines in West Virginia.  Since the stone said the death date was 21 January 1935 I did a deep search of newspapers which was futile. My search coincided with the Boyd County Library project of indexing obituaries.  As luck would have it, at the time, fellow library worker, Nancy Schnitzker knew I was working on the Sexton surname and would alert me when she made any new entries. Bingo! The obituary appeared in the Ashland Daily Independent one year later!  The article posted on 26 January 1936 stated that the funeral service of Frank Sexton was held Thursday from the Sexton resident on Garner.  This newspaper stated that he was killed in a mine accident at Holden, West Virginia but that the paper did not learn of the accident details.

Hoping I could glean what reporters in Ashland could not, I began a search in West Virginia papers.  The Charleston Daily Mail posted Frank Sexton’s obituary on the same date, 26 January 1936, stating that funeral services were held Thursday and burial was at Catlettsburg, Kentucky.  “He was killed instantly in a mine accident at Whitman, Monday.”  Thus the tombstone, handmade much later is off by one year.

Both Holden and Whitman do lay in Logan County, West Virginia. Once again I had two conflicting bits of information. As far as I can ascertain there were three large mining operations in Whitman and as many as twelve mining camps containing homes and boarding houses. Holden was surrounded by mining operations as well.  The 26^th was on a Sunday.  The accident according to the Charleston paper occurred on Monday which would be January 20th.  With one last ditch effort to find out more about the accident I finally located a one-line entry in the Charleston Daily Mail on Wednesday the 22^nd “Whitman. Frank Sexton 34 died beneath a slate fall.”

Catherine Sexton: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

When I began this series, Whispers from the Grave, it was with the intention of sharing the many conversations (as well as research) I have done on this family for the past fifty-five years.  While I “married in” this is truly my family.  This land is where I belong.  This cemetery will be my last earthly home. 

Genealogists always feel a pull toward particular individuals.  Catherine Sexton has drawn me for years.   When I first started our family tree,  I asked my father-in-law what his great grandmother’s name was. His reply was Sexton – no I said “I mean her maiden name”.  He just shrugged.  My mother-in-law said she heard maybe Sutton and wrote that in a corner of a family paper.  Was Catherine related to Elizabeth Sutton Gallion, also at rest in Klaiber Cemetery? 

The biggest snafu beginning genie’s make fell in my lap.  The 1850 census showed Bartlett Sexton and another Catherine Sexton in Mark and this Catherine’s household.  The 1850 does not give relationships in a household. Like other newbie’s I assumed Mark’s parents because of age.  Never assume anything.  After years of deep digging (pun) Mark’s parents turned out to be Elisha and Tabitha.  It took dna to reveal that Catherine was indeed Catherine Sexton Sexton.

She is also an amazing pioneer true Appalachian pioneer.  So much so, that I wrote a book based on her life during the worst of Covid.  I am very proud of this publication and the only reason it is classified a “historical novel” vs. a biography is not knowing what and when she fed the chickens.

Catherine Sexton Sexton was born 15 March 1808 in Russell County, Virginia the daughter of Bartlett and Catherine Sexton.  She married Marcus Sexton and migrated thru Pound Gap and finally settled in what would become Boyd County, Kentucky.  She and Marcus had at least two children with Henry Powell Sexton surviving to adulthood.  Catherine died on Long Branch, Boyd County, Kentucky 7 June 1893.  She survived epidemics and the Civil War.  I invite everyone to read Catherine Heart & Soul which is still available on Amazon.  It is not only her history but the history of several counties, Kentucky migration and more.

Lula & Charles Edward Reeves: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

Lula M. Penix Gallion Reeves was born 3 April 1894 in Greenup County, Kentucky.  She was the daughter of Ursula Penix.  Her father, George W. Plummer, worked for the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail Road Company and married Luella Osburn the year after Lula was born.

By the time Lula was seven years old she was living with her mother in the Jasper Newton and Miriam Lambert Sexton[i] household, on Garner in Boyd County, Kentucky.   They were using Ursula’s maiden name of Penix.   Her mother was working as a servant.   Lula was sixteen by 1910 and still living with the Sexton’s.  Also in the household is Arthur Gallion, working as a servant for the Sexton’s.

Arthur L. Gallion was the son of John and Elizabeth Blankenship Gallion and grandson of Hiram Gallion, who is buried in Klaiber Cemetery.  Arthur married Minti  Stewart in 1913 in Carter County, Kentucky.  When He married Lula[ii] 7 April 1917, in Logan County, West Virginia, it says he was a widower.

Lula’s mother, Ursula “Essie” Penix had another child, Lucy Belle Penix, born about 1901.  She and her mother were living in the Dan Hogan household in 1910, on Garner Road. Ursula was again working as a household servant.  When Lucy Belle married in June 1917 to Millard Adams, at the age of 16, the record states her father was Tom Miller.   One of the subscribing witness, at the wedding, was William V. Sexton, brother of Jasper Newton Sexton.

Ursula Penix died 11 November 1918 at Lucy Belle Penix Adam’s home on Oakview in Ashland, Kentucky.  Lucy Belle gave the information for Ursula’s death certificate stating she did not know the name of Ursula’s parents nor even the birth date for her mother.  Burial was in “Sexton Cemetery.”  The question remains did the undertaker mean Sexton Cemetery on Pigeon Roost, just one ridge from Klaiber Cemetery, or was the burial actually in Klaiber Cemetery often called Sexton Cemetery, at that time? This compiler believes it is an unmarked grave in Klaiber Cemetery near the Jasper Sexton family plots.

Lula Penix Gallion and Arthur Gallion were divorced before 1930.  Lula returned to Boyd County and the federal census states she is working as a trimmer in a dress factory and is the “adopted daughter” of Jasper Sexton, living in his household[iii].  This compiler has talked with Jasper’s daughter Willa, as well as son Harold Lee Sexton, who told me Lula was “just one of the family”. 

Elisha H. Sexton deeded eight acres to Lula Gallion “a single woman” from the drain of AC&I Coal to an old corner of the  old Sexton farm 20 July 1933, in Boyd County, Kentucky[iv].  Elisha was another brother of Jasper Newton Sexton, one of eleven children of Henry Powell and Julina McCormack Sexton.

Lula married Charles Edward Reeves 24 June 1938 in Lawrence County, Ohio.[v]  At that time Lula was working as a cook in Ironton and Charles gave his residence as Logan County, West Virginia and occupation as engineer.

Charles Edward Reeves was the son of John and Cynthia “Anna” Stewart Reeves. He was born 8 May 1889 at Denton, Carter County, Kentucky.    By 1942 Charles was working on the Fred Ross Farm on Sugar Camp in Boyd County, Kentucky[vi].  Sugar Camp lays just south of Garner Road (854) before the curve and turn to Jack’s Fork, a small portion of the Ross farm.  This compiler had the honor to know Fred Ross as a child and visit that farm many times. His wife was a guest at our wedding. Lula had sold the eight acres on 27 January to Oscar McCormack.  The deed states “Lula Gallion Reeves, whose name was Lula Gallion…[vii]”  In turn Oscar[viii] sold the eight acres to Eastern Kentucky Lumber and Development[ix] within two weeks of the original transaction.[x]

Charles Edward Reeves died 10 August 1945 at his home at 2032 Front Street in Ashland, Kentucky 10 August 1945 of carcinoma of the lungs.  Lula was the informant on the death certificate[xi] and place of burial is sited as Sexton Cemetery another aka for Klaiber Cemetery.  The Ashland Daily Independent said he had been ill eleven months and gave his occupation as civil engineer working for Moore Branch Coal Company.  “The body was removed from Lazear Funeral home to the home of Jasper Sexton[xii] on Garner…”  There is no stone for Charles Edward Reeves. He lays to the right which is the south side of Lula.

Lula remained in Ashland, for a time, working in a restaurant[i].  She died 27 March 1958, on Garner.  Willa Sexton was informant for the information on her death certificate.     Only a funeral home metal marker remains today for Lula.  In 1996 the rod had rusted off and the metal marker was placed in cement to preserve her place of rest.

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[i] Federal Census, 1950, Ashland, KY, Greenup Ave. lodger

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[i] KY, Boyd, 1900 Federal Census; sheet 17

[ii] WV, Logan M spells Lula maiden name as  Plumley

[iii] 1930 Federal Census, Boyd County, KY house 104-115

[iv] KY, Boyd dbk 132 p 217

[v] Oh Law M, fhl film 001574156

[vi] KY Boyd 1942 Draft Registration

[vii] KY Boyd dbk 171 p 21

[viii] James Oscar McCormack b 1883 died 1950 in Boyd Co s/o John Samuel and Sarah Burke McCormack. Is buried in Ross Cemetery on Jacks Fork, Boyd Co., KY

[ix] At this writing is a small sliver of land adjoining compilers known as “Company Land” Eastern KY Development is owned by EB Lowman at this writing.

[x] Ky Boyd dbk 171 p 21

[xi] KY D cert 16155 1945

[xii] Jasper Sexton lived until 1967 and is buried in Klaiber Cemetery