Gallion Family. Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber 2023

 

Hiram P. “Boss” Gallion was born 14 February 1827 in Floyd County, Kentucky, the son of Thomas alias Sexton Gallion and wife Ruth Watson. 

Thomas and Ruth were married 1 July 1820 in Floyd County.  Thomas was already utilizing the surname Gallion but did not change it legally until 11 January 1845[i] in Carter County, Kentucky.  Thomas sold fifty acres on the Licking in Floyd County in November 1831[ii].  He and the family were living on Lost Fork of Lawrence County, Kentucky in the 1830’s.  The family had nine children including Hiram.  By the 1850’s Thomas and family had settled on Williams Creek, Carter County, Kentucky.

Hiram married Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Sutton sometime prior to 1849, in their early twenties.  By 1850 Hiram and Elizabeth with baby Larkin were residing next to Mark (Marcus) Sexton and wife Catherine Sexton in what was then Carter County.  The 1860 census shows them next to Sarah Howe and son Philip which places them on Garner.  Both Hiram and a brother Jonathan appear on the Carter County Militia list for 1860.

In December 1865 the first court order, on Garner, of newly created Boyd County, ordered Hiram to develop a road following the creek into Carter County[iii].  This path is now known as Long Branch Road, and at one time was called Poor House Road. The road never became more than a mule path, after crossing the Carter County line to Denton. Today the road is a dead end.

Hiram and siblings were cited in a court action involving William L. Geiger, September 1877, concerning two tracts of land of Thomas Gallion, deceased and his 2^nd wife Amanda McGuire Gallion[iv]. Thomas and family had settled on Williams Creek, Carter County where he died in 1871.  Geiger, known for extending loans ended up with the land. 

Hiram P. Gallion died 2 November 1890 and was laid to rest in Klaiber Cemetery.  At the time the property surrounding the cemetery was owned by first cousin Henry Powell Sexton, son of Marcus Sexton, mentioned above.   The grave of Hiram is south of Mark and Catherine Sexton’s graves and there is a field stone next that could possibly be his wife.

 

 

 

Hiram and Elizabeth Sutton Gallion’s son Thomas  “Allen” Gallion was born 17 March 1863 in Boyd County.  He married 24 January 1892 Bell Stanley the daughter of James R.  Stanley.  When Thomas died, 18 September 1911,  the death certificate calls him “Alfred” and says he is buried in Sexton Cemetery.  Most of the time he goes by Allen[v] and the certificate seems to be a recording error as Allen did have an uncle Alfred who died in 1918. Thomas A.  Gallion died from an accidental fall of slate in one of the local mines.[vi]    After extensive research in both cemeteries this compiler believes that Thomas Allen Gallion and Belle Stanley Gallion are both in unmarked or field stone markers in the Gallion area of Klaiber Cemetery.  After her husband died, Belle remarried to John Millard Jobe in 1914[vii].  She died 24 December 1923 and her death certificate states she was buried on Garner.[viii]

Thomas Allen and Belle were parents of six children.  Mary Mae Gallion married Leonard L. Enyart and died 4 November 1973 and is buried in Klaiber Cemetery.

 

Goldie Gallion daughter of Thomas Allen and Belle was born 28 March 1896, died 30 April 1896 and is buried in Klaiber Cemetery.

Nellie Florence, daughter of Thomas Allen and Belle married Henry Powell Sexton III 24 Dec 1913 in Boyd County. Nellie died 25 September 1962 and is buried in Klaiber Cemetery.

 

 

Nora daughter of Thomas Allen and Belle Stanley Gallion married Dave Sparks 1 September 1917 in Carter County.  Nora died 2 November 1972 and is buried in Klaiber Cemetery.

 

William Henry Gallion, son of Hiram and Elizabeth “Betty” Sutton Gallion was born 15 November 1855 in Carter County.  He married 24 October 1882 Elizabeth Pennington, in Carter County.  By 1920 William was residing on Williams Creek. William Henry Gallion died 17 August 1920 at Music, Carter County.  Informant was James Sexton and burial simply says “Garner, KY.”[ix]  He is buried in Klaiber Cemetery. Wife, Elizabeth Pennington Gallion died in May 1932 and was buried at Denton, Carter County, Kentucky.

There are three field stone infant graves that have been verbally said to be a Clarence, Emma, and unknown Gallion baby marked on the map as 11, 11A and 11b.  To date there is no indication or document to verify these infants. Gertrude “Gertie Gallion the daughter of Thomas Allen and Belle Stanley Gallion married George Washington Stapleton.  They had an infant son, stillborn Stapleton, 9 May 1922. The death certificate for this infant says “Sexton Cemetery.”  There are Stapleton’s and Sexton’s also in Sexton Cemetery on Pigeon Roost.  If any family members can shed light on any of the unidentified graves in Klaiber Cemetery please feel free to message the compiler.

 

 

 

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[i] KY, Legislative Act Chapter 45…section 2 that the name of Thomas Sexton of Carter County be and same is hereby changed to Thomas Gallion…act signed 20 Jan. 1852.

[ii] Floyd Dbk F p 28

[iii] KY Boyd Ct Order P 272

[iv] KY Carter dbk H p 40

[v] Thomas Allen had a  uncle Alfred who married Arminda McBrayer and died in 1918 and is buried in Hall Cemetery at Norton’s Branch. 

[vi] KY D cert 22612, 1911.

[vii] KY Carter M 26 Feb 1914

[viii] KY D cert 29604

[ix] KY D cert 19810

Leonard and Mary “Mae” Gallion Enyart. Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber 2023

Leonard L. Enyart was born 7 July 1888 near the Falls of Blaine in Lawrence County, Kentucky.  He was the son of William Frank Enyart (1855-1935) and Sarah E. Lett Enyart (1859-1917). 

Leonard usually left a smile and had a story to tell to those around him.  Luckily the late local historian, Evelyn S. Jackson, captured some of those stories in her writings.

When Leonard was 21 he married Mary “Mae” Gallion  13 February 1910, in Boyd County, Kentucky[i].  Mary would turn 16, the month after they wed so her father signed consent on the 12^th of February.  They were married in the presence of her father Thomas “Allen” Gallion and, her uncle by marriage, Mont Clay.[ii]  Mary’s mother was Belle Stanley.  Belle and Thomas Allen Gallion had married in 1892 and Mary was one of seven children.  Leonard came from large family of ten.

Sixty years later, when they celebrated their anniversary the Ashland Daily Independent carried the story[iii]. The article stated that at that time they had fifty-nine grandchildren and 76 great grandchildren.  Together, the couple had thirteen children and ten were still living to help them celebrate.

Leonard was a farmer in Boyd County. You don’t retire from farming so at age 80 a picture of Leonard and his “Texas size pumpkin” appeared in the Ashland Daily after a torrential downpour in August[iv].  I smile at the title of the article “Bear Creek Gullywasher Uproots Giant Pumpkins.”  I still hear the locals (including yours truly) using the word gullywasher when our creeks swell and overflow.  One of Leonard’s sixty pound pumpkins was located wedged under a house trailer almost a mile from his garden. 

I think my favorite story was written by Evelyn Jackson in the Press Observer[v]  when Leonard  told  stories “that made his blood run cold…” Among his several encounters is the tale of haunts on the adjoining property that we own where Klaiber Cemetery is located. “I heard this thing coming in behind me when I got up pretty close to the old Mrs. Dowdy place…she lived in the old log house there beside the road…the moon was kind of shining and it come… icicles all over it rattle, rattle, rattling. I looked around at it and seen it plain. It just flipped right by me and took straight up that road…I never did find out what it was.”  Let me assure my readers that the haunts and souls in Klaiber Cemetery are gentle and kind.

Mary Gallion Enyart died 4 November 1973, at the home of their daughter, where they were living.  Her funeral was conducted at Mavity Freewill Baptist Church and she was laid to rest in Klaiber Cemetery.  Leonard died 6 January 1975. His funeral service was conducted at Grassland United Methodist Church and burial was beside his wife, in Klaiber Cemetery.

 

 

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[i] KY Boyd Mbk 31A p 21

[ii] Montville Clay 1861-1943 married Nancy Jane Stanley

[iii] Ashland Daily Independent 22 Feb 1970

[iv] Ashland Daily Independent 25 Aug 1968

[v] Jackson, Evelyn S. Press Observer 30 Oct 1975 Boyd County, Ancestors

John Allen Crum: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber 2023

John Allen Crum was the son of Henry Wiser Crum and wife Marguretta Anna “Maggie” Klaiber Crum. The 1900 Federal Census for Boyd County, Kentucky says he was born August 1890.  The 1900 Federal Census also shows that he had gone to school five months out of 12 (the census was taken 20 June that year) and certainly could read and write.  The family was living on East Fork labeled as district #2.  This compiler knows by looking at surrounding neighbors that the Crum’s were living on Garner.

John Allen Crum died before September 7, 1906.  The exact day is unknown.  But his obituary states he was 18 years and 24 days. In that case John Allen would have been born in September 1888. Either the census or the newspaper could be mistaken.  John’s sibling’s birth dates were questionable in the 1900 census as well.

Big Sandy News, 7 September 1906 page 3

John died from diabetes.  The term insulin (to bring down glucose levels) would not be utilized until 1909/10[i]. According to a blog post at Harvard, even as late as 1933, type 1 diabetes was a death sentence.  Insulin therapy did not begin until 1922.[ii]

Klaiber Cemetery has had many names over the years.  At the time of John Allen Crum’s death, the cemetery was surrounded by the land owned and maintained by Henry and Julina McCormack Sexton.  Their daughter Julina had been married to James Matthew Klaiber since April 1905 and lived on the Long Branch of Garner as well.  Thus John Allen’s obituary says the Sexton Grave yard on Garner.  It should not be confused with the Sexton Cemetery on Pigeon Roost.

John Allen’s grave was one of the first unmarked that the Klaiber family pointed out to me many years ago.  During a severe draught the outline of the grave can be seen beside his parents (grave marked 5a, no marker).

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[i] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3749019/

[ii] https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/people-type-1-diabetes-living-longer-201501087611#:~:text=Ninety%20years%20ago%2C%20type%201,into%20their%2050s%20and%20beyond.

Martha J. Cotton Perkins Combs: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber 2023

 

Martha J. Cotton was born November 1854 in Kentucky, the daughter of John Cotton and Martha Eldridge[i].  The family lived near Bruin.  When Martha was five the family appears on the Carter County, census and by the age 10, in 1870, the Elliott County, Census. 

Martha married James Frank (Franklin?) Perkins 15 February 1872 in Lawrence County, Kentucky.[ii]  Perkins was the son of Virginia “Jennie” Perkins who died 27 April 1914 in Lawrence County[iii].  Martha and Frank had six children: Amanda married a cousin; Mary Jane married George Washington Jordan; James M. Perkins; Rosa L. married Frank Turner; Nora married William Johnson; and Nancy Ann married Frank Kane Lucas. 

The Perkins family resided in the Twin Branches area of Lawrence County, Kentucky. Jesse Hicks and his wife Elizabeth sold James F. Perkins land on Cherokee Creek of Big Blaine 11 December 1878.  The deed does not cite how many acres but involved a note.[iv]  By 1880 the family had 40 acres noted as tilled  and 205 acres of woodland and a horse according to the Agricultural Census.

Martha purchased seven acres on the waters of Cherokee in Lawrence County from John and Ann Arrington 27 February 1886.[v]  The deed shows the boundary was near the Perkin’s house while another corner was near Jesse Hicks.[vi]  By 1893 John Arrington was deceased leaving Ann a widow.[vii]

James Frank Perkins died about 1893.  By 10 May 1895 Martha and heirs were cited in a commissioner’s sale in a court case involving S. W. Moore vs. L. F. Kelley.  Martha’s land were described as laying north of the land being sold in the neighbors court case.[viii]  By July, the same year, the Sheriff posted properties to be sold to satisfy owed tax. Among those listed was 200 acres of Martha Perkins, joining John Arrington for tax in the years 1893 to 1895.[ix]

By the time the sheriff’s sale was announced, Martha had been remarried six months to John “Jack” Combs.  The couple married 6 January 1895 in Lawrence County, Kentucky. John and Martha had two more children together: Cora who later married Reuben Harrison Lucas and Lewis Combs who married Julia Stephens and was killed after being hit by a train.[x]

John Combs was older than Martha and had several other marriages.  Being in ill health he wrote a will providing for Martha in Lawrence County, Kentucky in January 1903.[xi]  He bequeathed Martha $150.00 while leaving a dollar to each of several of his children including Angeline Arrington.  It is an interesting will dividing furniture among some of his children and leaving his real estate to only one son with the stipulation that Martha be paid and to pay her two youngest $25.00 per year.  The will was proven and filed 19 May 1903.

The 1910 census tells a rather sad story.  Martha, aged 55, is living on Bolts Fork Road, in Boyd County.  To make ends meet she is washing for private families.  Within the household is daughter Nora, Cora and Lewis along with two grandson’s Homer age 5 (born Ohio) and Frank age 2.

When son Lewis Combs moved to Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio circa 1917, Martha and daughter Nora Perkins Johnston, now divorced, moved with him.  They resided on Sidney Street which is just a block away from I 70 at this writing. Tragedy struck in 1923 when son Lewis and grandson James Edward Turner, along with two others, were killed when their automobile was struck by a train in Muskingum County, Ohio.

On August 9, 1930, on a trip to West Virginia, Martha was involved in an automobile accident in Huntington, West Virginia leaving her with a fractured leg, right arm and internal injuries.  She returned to Columbus where she died 10 December 1930.  The doctor wrote on the death certificate that the contributory cause of death was from injuries received from the accident.[xii]

The Ashland Daily Independent posted a short notice on 12 December 1930 simply stating “The body of Miss Martha Combs, 76, who died at her home in Columbus, Ohio Dec. 10, arrived in Ashland at 2:20 this morning and was sent out to Garner where burial will be made at two o’clock tomorrow afternoon. Her family came from Garner and she has been taken back to the old home for burial.”

Martha was laid to rest next to son Lewis and near the grave of son-in-law George Washington Jordan (married daughter Mary Jane Perkins) who had died in April in Cabell County, West Virginia, buried in Klaiber Cemetery.

 

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[i] M Law, KY 1848

[ii] KY L M 5 p 170

[iii] Buried Hensley Cem., Law., KY

[iv] KY, Law, Dbk N p 322 & Bk Q p 192   

[v] KY Law dbk Q p 192

[vi] Jesse Hicks and wife Elizabeth are thought to be buried on Clay Jack, Boyd County, KY

[vii] KY Law Wb 1821-1914 page 301

[viii] Big Sandy News 10 May 1895, page 2

[ix] Big Sandy News 19 Jul 1895

[x] Earlier blog post http://easternkentuckygenealogy.blogspot.com/2023/04/lewis-combs-whispers-from-grave-klaiber.html

[xi] KY Law Will book page 232

[xii] OH Div of Vital Death Cert 71968

Robert Sanford Bocook: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber 2023

 

The little ones in any cemetery usually have a lamb or tiny angel figure guarding over them. When we took over care of Klaiber Cemetery in 1995 I was aware that there were unmarked graves.  In 1997 I received a telephone call from Thelma “Oley” Bocook Hunt asking if she could visit the cemetery and talk to me about placing a stone in the cemetery.

The story she told warmed my heart.  She was the daughter of Martha Helen Sexton and John Samuel Bocook.    She was one of fourteen children born to the Bocooks.  She explained that she was born in April (22 April 1910) and her brother (born January 1908) died in December 1910 when she was just five months old.

The family visited the grave of baby Robert Sanford Bocook many times over the years and each time her mother wished there was a marker.  Thelma said that before her mother died in 1958[i] she promised she would place a stone over his grave.  Time has a way of getting away from all of us and at eighty-seven years of age Thelma needed to keep her promise to her mother.

Of course I was very pleased to be able to identify one of the unmarked graves.  Thelma ordered a lovely marker complete with a praying angel to guard over her brother. 

John Samuel Bocook[ii] and Martha Helen Sexton were married on Garner, Boyd County, Kentucky 28 March 1905. The 1910 Federal Census was taken in April, the month of Thelma’s birth and while it does not show her as a child, Sanford along with older brother Delbert[iii] do appear, all living on Winding Avenue in Catlettsburg, Boyd County, Kentucky.

Thelma kept her long standing promise to her mother Martha Helen Sexton Bocook. Thelma died 6 September 1998 and was laid to rest in Catlettsburg Cemetery beside her husband Chester Hunt.

This tiny stone is a reminder that while we are gone we are not forgotten.  We live on in the hearts of others.

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[i] Oh, Scioto D Cert 13069 burial Vernon Cemetery, Scioto, OH

[ii]  D Portsmouth, Scioto County buried in Catlettsburg Cemetery

[iii] Delbert Bocook died in 1984 Cabell Co., WV and is buried in Catlettsburg Cemetery

Whispers From the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber, March 2023

 

This is an introduction to a new series in this blog, “Whispers From The Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky”.  There is an earlier post (2015) concerning the general history of our cemetery, and a map of Klaiber Cemetery at find-a-grave. 

Photograph by Ann Strosnider 2023

Klaiber Cemetery is a neighborhood/community cemetery, with many twisted branches and many stories to tell. The cemetery has long grown beyond the original “legal” bounds merging with what is now our deed. Our property surrounds, hugs and protects Klaiber Cemetery (aka Hood Cemetery, aka Garner Cemetery, aka Sexton Cemetery).

It is the first day of Spring. It is time of year that many family historians are gearing up to visit their ancestor’s graves. The days just before Memorial Day will be busy here at the farm.  Many will come to honor their loved ones.  We tend them all year long.

As a trustee of Klaiber Cemetery I help tend and care for each person laid to rest in this hollowed ground, we love so much. James Klaiber and I took over caring for the cemetery in 1995, at the death of John Henry Klaiber who tended and cared for the cemetery for many years after his mother Julina could no longer oversee it.

As a researcher and genealogist I began creating records for many of those in the cemetery long before officially becoming a caretaker. Those early notations, questions that I asked, and a fruit jar with small change were all we had in 1995.   Today there are three appointed trustees: James Klaiber, Greg Fannin, and this compiler.  The cemetery is a recognized cemetery in the state of Kentucky and the fruit jar has been established (and grown) as a cemetery account safely in a bank to help with fencing, road maintenance and mowing. As one trustee steps down, the other two will appoint a new trustee as needed.

There is now a record book (actually 3 notebooks) with photographs of the graves, notations, stories, obituaries and death certificates. I have come to know and greet many family members. We have stood by as many new graves have been dug and of course researched these people whose branches inner-twine.

As an extension of my project it is now time to share more information for future researchers and descendants.   As any author knows, as soon as something is “published” someone will reach out with more information, which I welcome with joy.

Slavery in Boyd County, Kentucky

by Teresa Martin Klaiber

 Because of the Pandemic, I wish to share some of my past publications, as a gift. Hopefully it will occupy some time as we all stay at home.  Boyd County Kentucky Monographs I was published in 2004.    I will try to share more chapters in the next few days.  These include several more articles and county records concerning slaves. Because it is a converted pdf there are a few line issues and errors which I have corrected where possible.

SLAVERY IN BOYD COUNTY, KENTUCKY

There are two misconceptions leading up to and including the Civil War about slavery. The first is use of the term underground connected with the Underground Railroad- There were no long underground tunnel only small miserable places designed to hide escaping folks temporarily. The second misconception is all those who fought for the Union were against slavery. Though General George Gallup, who settled in Boyd County, Kentucky stated cannot annoy myself with the prospect of Negro equality for only those who desire it will be annoyed. "1

Freedom for slaves who lived even at the edge of the Ohio River could not have been easy. Stand on the Ohio river bank at Ashland. Across the Ohio hills rise up with ragged rocky formations almost from edge. If you want to go north you must first get around this geological mass. However to your right and across from Normal, Kentucky is Solida Creek which empties into the Ohio. Nearby is Burlington said to be founded by a Baptist minister who freed all his slaves.² Close by Symmes Creek lead folks up a freedom trail. Look left and Ohio's Underground Trails³ lead north from Greenup to Wheelersburg. Freedom a precious word to all of us. Freedom that people are willing to die for. Freedom that some only dream of. Freedom north beyond the Ohio River.

Lewis Barnes, a man marked as black by census takers, finally knew what freedom was. He also knew the trail and did not want his family to forget. So when his little girl was born in Boyd County at the close of the Civil War he named her Erie⁴ reminding him of the promise land. Hampton Mayo also knew where Canada was beyond the Ohio River and across larger waters where a network of folks helped friends and relatives to that freedom. Least folks forget how to get there and should his new found freedom be taken from him he named yet another little girl Lake Erie at Catlettsburg, Kentucky in 1868.⁵

All along the Ohio River tales of underground activity have been passed from generation to generation. Some documented some whispered. Not only stories of underground activity, but stories of the slaves have been told and retold. It is hard to believe that an interviewer for the WPA, Carl F. Hall, said "we were unable to find any records, in Boyd County, as to slave holders and their slaves, though it is known that many well to do families the Catletts, Davis, Poages, Williams and others were slave holders.''6 His narrative still managed, with lack of documentation, to be peppered with several stories involving Boyd County. Even during the Centennial of Catlettsburg it was thought that there were no records to substantiate slavery activity. How many stories are there whispering on the wind? How many can be documented in this modern day of research and 133+ years after the fact?

A Catlettsburg history relates that. John Culver's trusty slave, Uncle Elias, had been accused of being a runner and would neither deny or admit it. ''It was a fact that he helped the slaves to safety on Solida Creek in Ohio, where there was a refuge for runaway Solida Creek does empty into the Ohio River directly across from Clyffeside Branch, Ashland- From a refuge on Solida slaves could make their to Symmes Creek past Mt. Vemon and Olive Furnaces to Poke Patch on the Gallia County, Ohio line. If that was too dangerous they could follow the river to Wheelersburg and on to Portsmouth.

From a study of tax records it appears that John Culver had loss's among his own slaves. In 1839 Culver tithed three slaves. One oft hese would be Elias. By 1841 fourteen slaves are tallied. Then tax lists show a roller coaster inconsistency in numbers - 9, 11, 6, 9 - until 1848 '&hen six slaves remain until the settlement of Culver's estate. Either Culver had loss's and gains through transactions of slaves and/or Elias was helping friends, from even his very own master, to escape.

Culver left a will probated in 1858⁸ where the court inventoried five slaves: Elias valued at $400.00, Sam value $300., Fanny value $300., girls Hannah value $1000.00 and Martha value $1000. By the 1860 Federal Slave Census Boyd County widow Charlotte Culver is left the five slaves which are all again named. providing their ages. Elias was 56 years old. The other slaves were Sam 23, Fanny 67, Hannah 10 and Martha 20. Hannah and Martha are marked as mulatto.

Mrs. Culver maintained four slaves as the Civil War progressed. By 1867 Elias Culver, accused runner is a free "Negro" in Boyd County, Kentucky? He appears to be the same Elias using the surname Diggs in 1870 District #6 Catlettsburg residing next to the Culver family. Ages of slaves and past slaves appear inconsistent throughout records. At the time he gave his age as 64. He is marked as Mulatto, a mattress maker born in Indiana with a female named Deborah-67, born in Maryland.

Besides Elias we find Fanny Culver, now 82 years old, living next door to Mrs. Culver in 1870. Martha remained in Mrs- Culver's home with the surname Brown and two infant children.

Our second example tells of "...an underground agent for the Abolitionists who came to Catlettsburg to secure work with Mr. Bill Hampton, who owned many slaves. In a short time all his slaves escaped except Aunt Lucy and Aunt Isabella- This agent was caught and sentenced to serve a term in the pen.

William Hampton, a minister, was born in Cabell Co [W]VA in 1808 to William and Malinda Hampton. When he was approximately 3 years old the family moved to what was then Greenup County. At the death of William's father, his mother remarried to L. B. Sharp and removed to Missouri by 1836¹¹ . In 1833 Hampton is taxed for 3 slaves in Lawrence County, Kentucky He shows 1 slave in 1839 in Greenup County and no slaves thereafter until 1847 when he acquires another who is also gone by 1850.

William Hampton formed a company with John Culver and others to purchase property from James Wilson Fry- ⁿ This company was responsible for laying off part of Catlettsburg above Division Street. By 1860 William Hampton is still tithing three slaves. They were Isabella age 51, and Lucy 25, both mentioned in the story and Ransier a 10 month old mulatto.

Lucy's age is important when reviewing the story about being left behind when Hampton's slaves supposedly ran from this area. Lucy was born about 1835/6. Thus if such an escape of slaves occurred after she was born, according to the story, it would have been after 1835. A search of order books, civil and criminal Dockets for Greenup County as well as circuit records of Lawrence County and later formed Boyd County show several entries involving Hampton and of course his land transactions but none mention the conviction of a captured Abolitionist. In 1854 Hampton acted as guardian to the heirs of Anthony W. Ferguson involving 13 slaves. All 13 slaves were named in the inventory. ^[1] M'hen one of the guardian reports was filed in June 1864 it lists $9.48 for medical attention for slaves and $3.92 to John Kouns for a coffin for a Negro child. Nothing unusual seems to occur to any of these slaves under Hampton's guardianship of heirs.

We do know what happened to Hampton's slaves Aunt Isabella and Lucy. Isabella becomes Isabelle Fox residing in Catlettsburg in 1870. She is 65 years old, keeping house and born in Kentucky. Lucy Fox is 34 and hires out. Ransom Fox is a mulatto 11 years old living at their home born in Kentucky along with George Fox age 6. Isabella is still alive and states she is 80 years of age in 1880- Lucy now Williams is shown in the same household with Henry Williams a Mulatto age 50 born Virginia, George Fox age 18 cited as Isabella's grandson and a grand daughter Mary Williams age 9. ¹³ George married and resided in Boyd County and worked as a porter. He died on April I l, 1912 of organic heart disease. On his death certificate his wife was cited as informant. There was some confusion as to parentage as the father is listed as Lucie Williams and is marked out and Isabel Fox written in and the name of the mother Isabel Fox has been marked out and Lucie Williams written in. ¹⁴

Alexander Mead was a slave in Greenup County, Kentucky born in 1789. In a personal interview he stated that he got his liberty by buying it with his heels- He says he escaped in 1849. His owner was Benjamin Mead. What Alexander did not explain in the article was how and why he chose 1849 to run. We can safely assume he crossed the river near Ironton and made his way along the trail.¹⁶

Benjamin Mead and wife Elizabeth lived in the area now Raceland in Greenup County. While this area never became part of Boyd County the Mead's were actively involved in the Ashland area as well. Alexander also mentions his first wife Hanna Ford who died at Ashland, KY. After Benjamin Mead's death in 1821 ¹⁷ his wife continued to manage their affairs. When Elizabeth died in 1848 the filed estate included the division of slaves- Thirteen slaves were listed by name to be divided among seven heirs shattering the existence they had known. Alexander's name does not appear on the list- The names of the slaves are: Charlotte, Sarah, Eliah, Jane, Melian, America, Amanda, Reuben, Mary, a female named Anachy, Levi, Maria and William Rielly.

Lots were drawn to decide who would receive each. Elizabeth's son Benjamin F. Mead received Maria and William Rielly. In 1847 his first appearance on the tax list along with his mother shows that he is tithed for one slave. From 1848 through 1850 he is taxed for two slaves. With the addition of inheritance of two slaves he should have properly been taxed for three. It is this compiler's opinion that Alexander was given by Elizabeth to son Benjamin prior to her death and that he ran in 1848 arriving in Canada in 1849 as cited in his own personal interview.

Asberry Parker is cited in the Federal Writers' Project ⁱ⁹ concerning Boyd County. ne article tells that he traveled by night to Canada where he worked until he became wealthy. After the war he returned to Ironton: Ohio where he made his home for the rest of his life, The article does not say who his master was on the Kentucky side of the river.

The 4^th Ward, Ironton, Lawrence County, Ohio Federal Census for 1880 lists Asberry Parker born in [West] Virginia age 49 and       Hannah Parker age 45 born in Kentucky.

A property and slave owner also by the name of Hannah Parker resided in what was Greenup County, Kentucky. She placed a reward for one of her slaves, a male named George in a Scioto County based paper in 1855. The notice was signed by Moses McCoy of Greenup County, Kentucky.²⁰ Papers in Ohio ran many such ads including another ad involving what would become Boyd County, Kentucky on January 16, 1852. At that time John Wollman, of Catlettsburg. Kentucky offered a $100.00 reward for a Negro man, Ben, thirty years of age, five feet ten inches high.²¹ Wollman may have been John Wellman who had a large family near the Clay's and appears in early Lawrence County records.

George McVoide, is said to have belonged to the Poage family of Boyd County²² and also escaped to Canada but no further information is given about him. This may be George listed in the inventory of Eliza M. Poage in Greenup County, Kentucky along with another slave Daniel? Several members of the Poage family had slaves. In late June 1864 Ned an emancipated slave of Thomas H. Poage {s/o George and Ann Allen Poage} came forward in the Boyd County Court and made application for support stating that he was a pauper. The court being advised ruled against Jacob Rice Sr. the administrator of the estate of Jobe Davis.²⁴ Jobe Davis had put up security in a bond of emancipation of Ned in what at that time was the Carter County court. Davis had land holdings at Marsh Run near Cannonsburg. One of the Jobe Davis slaves, Caroline Davis died of burns in November 1853.²⁵

The slave narrative by Fannie Tippin born in Greenup County, Kentucky 10 July 1864 just two blocks from the bank of the Ohio River describes life with her owners as well as the slave auction block- Fannie tells of Mr. Doll Reed who bought her grandmother Eliza and two children Mary and Bill. Mary was Fannie Tippin's mother. She states that Mr. Reed tried to buy her grandfather from Mr. Bigg's who would not sell him. Reed would buy but never sell his slaves. Fannie's father belonged to a man named Lawson who drowned when she was small. Fannie talks with great respect about the Reed family which included two daughters Lucy and Annie Reed.²⁶

Adolphus L. Reid came from Virginia and settled on a farm near Gray's Branch²⁷ later moving from the farm to Greenup. He had five children by his first wife including the mentioned Lucy and Anna. A son Charles married and moved to Texas in the 1870's. Fanny Tippin gave her interview having also migrated to Texas at a later date.

In the interview Fanny gives a vivid description of Greenup's slave auction. "Reed Landing was a ware house with a gravel road down to the river bank- Between the ware house and the river was the trading block. It was platform about 20 x 30 feet. Slaves was bought and sold there, or auctioned off or swapped for more desirable things. It was a public trading place and shipping place. In bad weather they kept the grain and things they was going to ship in the ware house...'⁰⁸

Several slave auctions have been mentioned through the years in Boyd County. A slave block was said to have been in Catlettsburg on Center Street²⁹ where the Gallup Jewelry Store was at one time. This places the site across from or very near the courthouse. On December 22, 1863 Charles Guilky, jailer for Boyd County reported that one Jack Marlow, a runaway slave had been arrested and confined in the Boyd County Jail by Rhodes Weddington and that Jack had remained in jail and been advertised for six months. No person appeared to claim the slave. The court ordered that they should proceed to sell the slave according to law.³⁰ As with all sales ordered by the court the sale would take place at or near the doors of the courthouse.

Henry Riekert [1900-1994], owner of what is now called the Cedar Knoll area of Boyd County always proclaimed that there was a slave auction close to where US 60 intersects State Route 3291 in Boyd County- The tract of land which is described as near Cannonsburg was part of land known as the W. L. Geiger Farm.³¹ While this compiler could find no documentation citing a sale block the location would have been convenient for farmers that did own slaves residing in that part of the county. The well trod path leading from Ashland to Lawrence County passed through properties of Geiger, Colvin, the Eastham heirs, Davis, Kouns and Bolt families among others. In 1850 Geiger was listed with 4 slaves, Vincent Colvin 3, and among the Eastham's as many as I I slaves. Isaac Bolt tithed 6 slaves just across the line in Lawrence county. Shortly after the formation ofthe county of Boyd these gentleman along with others requested a survey for a road from Cannonsburg to Bolts Fork.³²

In 1860 W. L. Gieger, Vincent Colvin and Asa Bellew were appointed commissioners to divide the slaves of Edward Eastham then deceased.³³ Cannonsburg district seemingly has the largest slave activity in the area- During the Civil War Geiger indicates in his own diaries that Union officers and several companies also stayed at his place. In June of 1863 Geiger wrote that Ellington's Negros ran off but were caught. Certainly the Geiger farm was a central hub for that part of the county.

Riekert and adjoining property John G. Martin also told of a possible slave grave yard on a point to the left of what is now Jomar Road. Charles Leece a black widower, succumbed to flux, October 12, 1853 at Cannonsburg. His owner is recorded as W. L. Geiger-³⁴  While excavation and home development of the point on Jomar Road, in the 1970's and 80's gave no indication of any burials, those that died would logically be put to rest in close proximity. This knoll overlooks the area where the auction block was purportedly located.

Oral history also proclaims Fields Cemetery now overlooking Interstate 64 includes a section of slave burials. This property involved the Eastham family. Iby [nee McGuire] was the widow of Hartwell Eastham and ancestors to the Fields family. In the 1850 Greenup Slave enumeration Ibby Eastham had 3 slaves. Hartwell's grave along väth James W. Eastham are the earliest marked graves in the cemetery. These earliest graves are within a raised wall. To the left of this early family plot are as many as 20 unmarked/unidentified graves. Most are simply marked field stone. Today these very early graves are at the far end of the cemetery from what is now the entrance gate.

While auction blocks were scattered throughout the south for business, individuals retained agents to purchase and handle private transactions of slaves. Though it appears that those involving area residents did not always go smoothly. Susan Catlett brought suit against Richard Brown in 1840 in Lawrence County. Catlett stated that a slave, Dinah was being unjustly detained from her. R. M. Biggs of Greenup County testified that he sold the slave in controversy in Lawrence County to Susan Catlett by her agent Thomæs H. Martin'^S

Davis Montgomery of Claburn Co., Mississippi retained Samuel Craig as agent when purchasing a slave in Lawrence County, Kentucky, from Anthony Hampton in 1835. Anthony was a brother to William Hampton of Boyd County. Craig had debts including one to Mr. Catlett and while the slave was in his possession was taken in payment of the debt. The slave named Tempy was to then be sold at the courthouse steps in Louisa, Kentucky to satisfy debt. Anthony Hampton testified that he did sell a 25 year old Negro to Montgomery at the home of Samuel Craig. The sale was stopped and the case dismissed with costs and leave to draw original bill of sale on Craig.36

Not all freedom came from running. Emancipation papers could be signed either by the goodness of the owner and/or by purchasing freedom, of course with the owners permission. An example is the emancipation of Thomas Lawson about 54 years old in Greenup County Coult December 1846. The paper was signed by B.B. Metz, William I. Lawson, William Corns, B.B. Lawson, John McConnell and Joseph Hill."37 

Anticipated freedom could be changed at the master's will. James Lawson's will probated in 1845 in Greenup County*⁸ had several codicils involving handling of his slaves. The will states that Charlotte is to be freed at the death of his wife. Tom was to be freed at the decedents death. In an 1838 codicil Lawson stipulates that Charlotte was to receive $10.00 for every year of service when she is freed at the death of the decedent's wife. However, Tom is now to serve until the death of Lawson's wife instead of at James death.

Arthur Parker's 1837 stated that slave Jackson Boon was to serve one more year then be freed. Washington was to work until he earned what he cost unless Henry Parker from whom he was originally purchased wanted him back. Ryal and William were to be freed after they reached the age of 24 unless the sale of William and Ryal was needed to pay off debts.^{39 [2]}

Historical research is not without flaws. Interpretation of the records can change a historical event dramatically. Evelyn Jackson, Ashland historian stated in her research that "William Hood had a black son, Price Hood by his slave.''40  Did she utilize Carter County birth records to come to this conclusion? The film is not of best quality and had she compared the format of other entries by midwives she would have noted that they distinguish between son and slave. "Certificate In case of Birth. I hereby certify that on the 11^th day of December 1852 a male Mulatto child was born alive at full time at the house of William Hood on Garners fork. This child was the SLAVE of William Hood and [blankl late [blank] who reside on Garners fork of East fork in Carter County. The child was named Price. Dated 2 Feb 1853. Signed Mary Lambert, M.W. ⁴¹ This document alone does not make William Hood the father. The designation Mulatto does not automatically make the white owner the father. The registration just before states "son of' and the entry just after "daughter of" while the Hood entry clearly says "slave of." In 1860 Price is listed as age 6 and W. P. Hood as owner.

I have noted that entries of Mulattos and some blacks do not provide the mother's name. The column for paternal parent is labeled 'Name of father or Owner of Child''42 There were several Mulatto children born in 1852 including J. F. Wallace "slave of' William Geiger. In each instance the mother's name is not placed in the column designated for her when it involves slave ownership. Did Jackson have other documentation not readily available or discovered by this compiler? Did she possibly have oral "whisperings" that have long ago lost authorship?

As a compiler I am still hearing "whisperings." It is clear that Cannonsburg district and Catlettsburg played a greater role in slavery than did newly forming Ashland simply because of geography and development of the day. Whispers of houses in Catlettsburg that were used for the Underground Railroad with tunnels said to run to the river, even though the houses face and are within short distance from the Big Sandy River, still abound. In several cases ownership of the homes were tracked to people who had several slaves themselves neither proving nor disproving the stories. This compiler found no record of any person in what is now Boyd County, other than Elias, admitting to aide slaves. But who among neighbors would breathe a word of any such help or hiding places that would incriminate them when both Union and Confederate feelings were still pro - slavery and so strongly stated by Civil War Union hero General Gallup.

END NOTES

I . The Diaries of General George Gallup, September 12, 1864,

2.Betty Conley McGuire, Underground Railroad, Ashland Daily Independent, October 31, 1991.

3. Wilbur H. Siebert, Ohio 's Underground Trails, 1951, reprint 1993.

4.Boyd Co., KY 1870 Federal census, Catlettsburg District.

5.1bid

6.Federal Writers' Project, Born In Slavery: Slave Narratives, 1936-1938, Kentucky Narratives, Volume 7.

7-History and Program Commemorating the Founding ofthe City ofCatlettsburg, Kentucky, 1949, page 11.

8.Greenup Co., KY Will book 5 page 118.

9.Boyd co., KY Tax List Microfilm

10.1bid

11. Sheri Pettit, Extracts ofThe Christian Observer, page 18.

12.Nina Biggs, History ofGreenup County, Kentucky, 1951, page 313.

13.1880 United States Census, Upper Ashland, Boyd Co., KY T9-0404 page 209A.

14.Kentucky Death Certificate 1912 certificate 9153

15.Gage1, Diane VanSkiver; The Toledo News-Bees 4 June 1904, Ohio Genealogical Society REPORT 3713 (1997)

page 148.

16.Wilbur H. Siebert, Ohio's Underground Trails, 1951, reprint 1993.

17 -Evelyn S. Jackson, Boyd County Ancestors, Press Observer, 31 July 1975.

18.Greenup co., KY Will Book 2 page 213-

19Federal Writers' Project, Born In Slavery: Slave Narratives, 1936-1938, Kentucky Narratives, Volume 7.

20.Nelson W. Evans, History ofScioto County, Ohio, Volume 1 page 613.

21.1bid

22.1bid

23.Greenup Co., KY Will Book 4 page 394. Inventory.

24.Boyd Co., KY Court Order Book l.

25.Carter Co., KY Vital Statistics.

26.Federal Writers' Project, Born In Slavery: Slave Narratives, 1936-1938, Kentucky Narratives, Volume 7.

27-Nina Biggs, History ofGreenup County, Kentucky, 1951, page 247.

28.1bid

29.History and Program Commemorating the Founding ofthe City ofCatlettsburg, Kentucky, 1949, page I l.

30-Boyd Co., KY Coun Order book I page 159.

31 -Boyd Co, KY deed book 141 page 531 & 532 & deed book 160 page 145.

32.Boyd Co., KY Court Order book 1 page 51 and 82.

33. Eastern Kentucky References. Greenup Co land suit book, extracted by Evelyn S. Jackson page 141.

34.Kentucky Vital Records & Statistics 1852-1938 Greenup Co., KY Microfilm V158-10.

35 -Phoebe Anne Hale Webb, Lawrence County, Kentucky AnnotatedAbstracts ofCircuit Court Records 18211873. Page 46.

36.1bid

37-Greenup Co., KY Court Order Book H, Tree Shaker, Winter 1979, page 2.

38. Greenup Co., KY Will book 4 page 27

39-Greenup Co„ KY Will book 3 page 167.

40.1870 Federal Census ofBoyd County Kentucky Annotations by Evelyn Scyphers Jackson, 1998, page 28.

41 -Kentucky Vital Records & Statistics 1852-1938 Greenup Co., KY Microfilm VI 58-10.

42.Kentucky Vital Records & Statistics 1852-1938 Carter Co., KY Microfilm VI58-4.

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[1] Ferguson slaves: Caroline 30 & 3 children, John 10, Dan Tucker 8, George [Pudl 6, Lafayette 3, Willis 4, Jack 3, Sophia 6, America 34 and child 6/12

[2] 0ther slaves cited in Arthur Parker's will: Uriah, James value $300, Jane, Morgan, Erastus, Joseph,

James value $150.