THE EPWORTH HERALD JUNE 10,1900

 

  THE EPWORTH HERALD JUNE 10,1900 

extracted by Teresa Martin Klaiber. Original in possession of compiler 2024.

An original hand written document found in the Sexton/Klaiber house, Long Branch Road, Garner, Boyd County, Kentucky. Spelling is left as cited. Extractor notations are in brackets and italics and are not a portion of the original transcript.

The Epworth Herald, Voice of the Herald. I have been in existence now about two years, and have been passed around from one Leaguer to another and with very few exceptions have been present at every meeting of the League, and can say without boasting that I have furnished my quota of entertainment, instruction and news on each occasion, and the good I have done if any, I ascribe to the various editors who have arranged my pages. I have faithfully reported all the marriages, deaths, births and local news of my jurisdiction, especially those happenings in the ranks of the Leaguers. My jokes on Leaguers, while at times have been bitter doses for some have been enjoyed by the majority, in such cases our motto is “Charity for all, with malice towards none." I have no complaint to make as to my treatment or reception of the last two years but think the contributions to my pages should be more universal, while several of the Leaguers have done what they could to make my pages entertaining and instructive, others have done nothing and of late some of the old contributors have paid to send in their spicy and instructive letters for my pages. 1 hope to see the Prodigals returning soon. While I cannot make any promise of improvement for the future, will say that with each Leaguers help extended we can do more in the future than we have in the past. What good have we done in the last two years? None can tell, nor will it be known until, “we shall know as we are known." We do not know what emotion and feelings have been stirred in some heart, by the reading of my pages, nor what incentive they have been, to cause someone to strive to attain a higher sphere in life, thereby becoming a better man or woman. If my pages have been instrumental in helping some beloved Leaguer in his or her struggles and trials of life, my existence has not been in vain, but I will ever strive to and advocate progress. We as a paper and as a League, or as anything else must either advance, or retrograde, which will we do? It depends on you as members which we will do? As for the Epworth Herald, my watch-word and war cry shall be in the future as it has been in the past, Forward! Forward!! Progress!!! and Liberty and freedom in the cultivation of all that is exalting, refining and enabling, as embraced in the Leagues motto, “All For Christ."

GENERAL NEWS Page # I.

Again the messenger of death visited the home of one of our friends and took away a loving wife, in person of Manda Stewart who had been in poor health for quite a while, and with the hopes of improvement went to Texas. She leaves many relatives and friends to mourn her loss. We all sympathize with her lonely companion in his grief. And hope we may be able to do or say something to aid him and encourage him to live to fulfill the last request of his dying wife “Meet her in Heaven.” Oh that we may all leave some evidence behind us that will give our friends the assurance of our happiness when we depart from this life.

We were Sony to hear of Mr. and Mrs. Jno. Hazlett having been very sick, but glad to hear of them being out again.

We are glad to see Dr. Frank Lesslie locate in our midst. Success to you Dr. Frank. And as he is very intelligent in Christian literary work we would gladly welcome him in our League. As we need more workers. Leaguers we are banded together for good work, just all we can do. We may think it be very little and yet we may be doing “great work” we cannot see, so let us all make an attempt to do what our hands find to do. And look for more to do.

Page #2.

Mr. Alvin Harvey spent a few days very pleasantly with his wife last month. [Wife Sophia nee Klaiber do John Andrew and Mary' Ann McBrayer KI aider. J

Mrs. Flora Banfield and sons, Arthur and Clyde of Catlettsburg were visiting friends and relatives here a couple of weeks ago. We understand she has accepted the position of teach the public school at Greenhill this fall.

Miss Stella Barrett [d o John K. and Viola Hazlett Barrett] visited her grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Jno. Hazlett fJohn and Anna Hensley Hazlett! a few days last week. Mrs. Jno. [John] Klaiber Jr. and son visited his home folks a couple of weeks ago.

The S.S. District Convention held at the Long Branch School House had a large attendance, good behavior, and was a success in general. All seemed to enjoy the music rendered by the Long Branch Choir, as well as the talk of Rev. McKinister and Mr. Fergeson on S.S. work.

Mr. Jerome Duvall of Denton spent Tuesday night, the 29^th with N.A. Klaiber [s o John Andrew and Mary Ann McBrayer Klaiber/ while enroute to the memorial service of the M.P.S. held at the Fannin grave yard on Bear Creek. The morning was spent in honoring their deceased brethren that was buried there. Also those that were buried at the Laurel grave yard. In the afternoon the Odd Fellows held their memorial service at the Fannin grave yard.

Page #3.

Mr. Jim Prichard  [married Della Sexton] seems to be very much interested in the Long Branch S.S. and says he always likes to stop at “Grandpas." That,s right Jim go ahead.

Mr. Frank Coles of Ashland visited Mr. Jno. Hazlett one-day last week, while the roses were in bloom. Mr. F.C. Loves to wear roses, doesn’t he TRUDIE. [Gertrude Hazlett d/o John and Anna Hensley. Trudie married Edward Chaffin in 1905.]

Mrs. T.D. Stewart accompanied by Miss Louella Banfield is visiting her parents in Portsmouth. Miss Kate Allen is spending a few days at Culbertson visiting her sister Mrs. Cart Fannin and Povvel’s face is correspondingly lengthened in consequence.

Miss Belle Banfield as the guest of her friend Sophia Harvey a few days last week.

We learn that Mr. John Banfield has accepted the position of overseeing a small drove of cattle for Mr. Neal of Lawrence County. That’s right John be good to the old folks.

Mrs. Samantha Prichard was visiting her daughter Mrs. Mullens of Catlettsburg a few days last week.

Mrs. Hanze [Haines] is very ill at the home of her daughter.

Page #4.

Mrs. Jim Sexton’s,  [James McClelland Sexton married Missouri Haines.]

Miss Belle Banfield seemed to very melancholy last Sun. Afternoon. What was the difficulty.

Belle has the two hours expired yet.

Mr. and Mrs. George McGlothlin was visiting relatives in Lawrence County lat Sun. [George s/o James P. and Elzema Elswick McGlothlin married Janet Preston.]

Mr. Will Horton has just returned from a week’s visit to his fathers at Ironton, O. [William Harry Horton ]

Mr. and Mrs. Jno. (John! Klaiber have just returned from a week’s visit to her sisters Mrs. Dr. Ramey at Rock Camp, Ohio. [Susan J. McBrayer married 3 December 1863, Boyd Co., KY Miles Eperson Ramey].

Miss N— Allen is visiting friends at Laurel for the past 2 weeks.

Rev. McKinister preached a very interesting sermon at the East Fork Chapple this morning.

Mesres. Allen and Edward Prichard of Wayne, W. Va. Are visiting their grandma Mrs.

Prichard.

Miss Trudie Hazlett visited her sister Mrs. Barrett last Sun.

Benjamin Franklin Estep. Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

 

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

THE CHRISTMAS CRY BABY

THE CHRISTMAS CRY BABY

By Teresa Martin Klaiber December 2019

Growing up, I quickly realized that each of my friends had traditions that differed from our own.  Some, with Christmas trees, would have stars topping their glory, others a pretty angel or ornate, fragile pointed glass topper.  My neighbors, the Steele’s, had pretty bubble lights that fascinated me. 

Dad and I always went to the same tree stand, as a father/daughter outing (13^th Street, Ashland, KY.  Still selling trees for various organizations nearly 70 years later) while mother got the ornaments out.    Our tree sat in the picture window when I was smaller, where one Christmas I had to wait fidgeting, knowing Santa had already come, for my father, who had been called out to deliver a calf.  When I was a bit older our tree was placed in a finished basement recreation room.  I remember that my mother insisted that each tinsel be hung “perfectly” and it was dad’s job to string the lights. I must admit most Christmas were not the norm in our household.  We often had circus performers who helped celebrate with us. 

[i]

One tradition was constant.  Once the presents were opened it was off from Ashland, Kentucky, following the Ohio River, to Portsmouth, Ohio to share a holiday dinner with grandparents.  My paternal grandmother Martin’s tree was always large and the house was full of cousins and laughter.  At times we played with the electric train that had been my dad and uncle’s when they were small.  We had already written Santa Claus at Thanksgiving, while at her house, sending it up the chimney on a puff of smoke, for Santa to catch (I will give my readers time to think then chuckle at that tradition). 

My maternal grandparent’s home, on Gay Street, was a bit more sedate. Their beautiful tree sat between the vestibule and living room.  Each tinsel individually hung carefully along with antique, German blown, ornaments.  Cranking my head, I would see it was topped, not with a star or angel, but a crying baby. I never once asked, as a child, why the baby was crying, nor, why they did not have a star on the top of the tree. 

The dining room on Gay Street was carefully set with starched white table cloth, napkins, polished silver and crystal goblets.  The table usually included Clayton and Graham cousins, including Lucille Graham, my first cousin 3 times removed.  She was a teacher and author who wrote poetry and would be asked to recite at least one during dinner.

On my last Christmas, as a single lady, my grandmother shared Christmas with us in Kentucky. She no longer was able to decorate as she had when raising her own family.  Shortly after the birth of my first son mother brought me a box.  When opened I was holding the crying baby.   Why was the baby crying?  Why did my grandparents have the baby on the tree?  Mother had no idea, only saying that the baby had been on a tree as long as she could remember.

Mother was born in 1921 in Portsmouth, Ohio.  Her older sister Betty was born in 1919 in Honolulu, where my grandfather was stationed at the time.  Betty told me that she had replaced the crepe paper gown and ribbon several times during holidays when she was growing up.  Betty also stated that somewhere in the back of her mind she thought the baby could be her father.  The baby had a tiny bit of real hair taped at the cap.

Howard Clayton Feyler was born 10 September 1893 in Portsmouth, Ohio.[ii]  He was the only child of Edward Leopold and Dessie Mae Clayton Feyler.  He started kindergarten when he was five and the same year according to a social article in the local paper had been seriously ill.  His father’s jewelry store, on 2^nd Street, ran ads by 1889 including photo supplies and cameras.[iii]  Utilizing many online photograph dating sites it is probable that the photo could fall into place in the same timeframe of Howard Feyler when an infant.  The earliest confirmed photograph I have of Howard, a toddler, was taken by A. Willis on 2^nd Street Portsmouth. One might ascertain that the baby’s hair is brown and the nose could be the same. Maybe.

Howard Clayton Feyler

My husband was transferred to New Jersey while our youngest son was still a baby.  I was already immersed in family history, traditions, and genealogy. With hubby’s blessing the then fragile crying baby graced our Christmas tree until 1980.

My youngest son was now five and the crying baby was at the very least, seventy or older and terribly fragile. If I placed the baby on the tree for another year, I feared it would fall apart.  The tiny hands were flexing, the tissue thin, tape brittle and yellowed, the ribbon faded.  With trepidation I left it with a professional framer who in turn did a wonderful job mounting and sealing it. 

I have seen one other picture of a baby tree topper sold on Etsy, described as one of a kind.  The baby also had a crepe paper skirt.[iv]  Once again I wonder who the baby is.

Our cry baby has travelled from my birth place of Portsmouth, Ohio up river to Ashland, Kentucky, to New Jersey, back to Ohio, and finally to eastern Kentucky.  I have never let go of it and while he cries, he warms my heart, not just at Christmas time but all year long, one of many treasures I cherish for the memories.

---

[i] Christmas, Ashland, KY left to right , the compiler, Jimmy Lloyd, Victor Lewis and Coco the clown.

[ii] Portsmouth Daily Times, 16 Sep 1893

[iii] Porstmouth Daily Times, Oct 1889

[iv] https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwji7I_8k4jmAhWiJDQIHfZaC3IQjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F722979145%2Fvictorian-baby-picture-jesus-tree-topper&psig=AOvVaw38VDqMinXAqCg2gYMCx29e&ust=1574867284531605