Compiled by Teresa
Martin Klaiber 2023
Tucked
under the mistletoe laden tree in Klaiber Cemetery is a stone simply marked
“Estep.” There are also four matching
corner stones, indicating that this is a plot and may have more than one grave. Many years ago I would walk among the stones
listening to stories John Henry Klaiber and Harold Sexton would tell. But for some reason we never got around to
the Estep stone. Once I realized that
time was running out, I left a notebook, carefully labeled, “Klaiber Cemetery” for John
Henry to make some notes or stories about various graves. Sadly after his death I found the notebook,
as blank as when I gave it to him, tucked under the jar marked Cemetery with
less than $40.00[i].
As
a researcher, I knew that descendants of Shadrack Estep lived in our neck of
the woods[ii]. Actually you did not need to be a sleuth to
grasp that family did live in our area of the county, since the Hack Estep Boys
Home was on the next road[iii],
while we were growing up.
Sometimes,
researchers just stumble on their lightbulb moments when looking for something
else. I can’t resist scanning the
newspapers while reviewing them on microfilm or digitally. Thus an article titled “Ben Estep Dies at
Logan, W.VA.” in the Ashland Daily
put a pause on my actual search. The final paragraph reads: “Funeral service will be conducted at
the grave at Sexton cemetery ON GARNER…[iv]”
Most
burials in Sexton Cemetery on Pigeon Roost Road will say “on Pigeon Roost”
while burials in what is today called Klaiber Cemetery would be “on Garner” due
to the creek location. Thus, after
process of elimination of other cemeteries on Big Garner, I deduced that the
marker in Klaiber Cemetery is in connection to Ben buried on Garner.
Benjamin
Franklin Estep was born 11 July 1880 in Boyd County, Kentucky and grew up just
over the county line on the East Fork in Lawrence County. He was the son of William Harrison Estep[v]. The sibling closest to him in age was named Shadrack,
for their grandfather Shadrack born in 1820.
As
an adult Benjamin moved in with his
brother Shade and family, first working at a livery stable in Ashland, Kentucky[vi]. As many young folks did when Ben married
they went across the river to Lawrence County, Ohio. Benjamin Estep married Lillie Belcher 27
March 1915 in Lawrence County, Ohio.[vii] He gave his parents as Harrison Estep and
mother Jennie Hogan[viii]
[ix]. Lillie was born in Lawrence County, Kentucky,
the daughter of Isaac Alonzo Belcher and Samantha Helen Leslie[x].
Ben gave his occupation as a transfer
manager at that time.
As
the family grew, Ben worked in the steel mill and rented. By 1920 they were residing on Hoods Creek
Pike and had three children. Benjamin
Franklin Estep died in Logan County, West Virginia 3 October 1927.Neither the
death certificate nor the Ashland Obituary give the reason he is in Logan
County. The death certificate simply
says place of burial Ashland, Kentucky[xi].
Lillie
Belcher Estep resided in Huntington, Cabell County, Kentucky after Benjamin
died. In 1930 she was a packer in a
bottle company. By 1940 she had remarried to Thomas Smith, Jr. Thomas was a fireman for a railway company
and Lillie is listed in the 1940 census as still working as a packer in a glass
factory. Thomas Smith Jr. died in June
1950 and was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Huntington, Cabell County,
Kentucky. Lillie died 30 July 1962 in
Lawrence County, Ohio[xii].
She was laid to rest beside her second husband in Huntington.
As
a compiler, I would enjoy communicating with any researcher that can shed
further light on Benjamin or the graves in Klaiber Cemetery
[i]
Proudly there is now a cemetery fund at Kentucky Farmers Bank that anyone can
donate for care of the cemetery and road to the cemetery. To all that donate and care we thank you.
[ii]
1870 Federal Census, Boyd County, KY living next door to John Andrew Klaiber and
family…John Andrew Klaiber and family are buried in adjoin lots to the simple
Estep stone
[iii]
Pigeon Roost Road, Boyd County, KY
[iv] Ashland
Daily Independent, 4 Oct 1927
[v]
According to Wm Harrison Estep when he m in 1907 Mary E Wilson in Law Co KY it
was his third marriage
[vi]
KY, Boyd, Ashland, Federal Census 1910
[vii]
OH, Law m bk 25 p 62
[viii]
Benjamin is in the home of Harrison Estep and wife Jane as a son, in 1900. Harrison married 30 April 1870 in Boyd County
to Jane Gillespie. Jane died in 1904.
[ix]
KY Vital d cert of sister Lora Estep Thomas 1928 also states mother is Jane
Hogan born KY as well as d cert of sister Ida May Estep Kirk in 1942 &
brother John R Estep who d in 1924
[x]
Lesley, Leslie: Wm Robert Lesley & Elizabeth Buchanan Lesley…a history of
two hundred years in America 1755-1955 p 118
[xi]
WV Vital 11508, Logan Co.
[xii]
Oh D Index
