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.

 

 

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.

Thomas P. Jordan and Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Arden Jordan: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber 2023

 

Thomas P. Jordan was born between May 1868 (1900 census) and  Feb 1871 (d cert) in Lawrence County, Kentucky.  His tombstone says he was born in 1870.  He was the son of Absalom and Julia Ann Coburn Jordan[i].  His maternal great grandparents were Micajah and Eleanor Clay Brumfield[ii].

Thomas married Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Arden, 25 September 1892 in Lawrence County, Kentucky.  The family settled near Willard in Carter County, Kentucky.   By 1910 they are listed at Maddox. 

On 29 August 1925 the Jordan’s purchased a portion of the land now owned by the compiler and her husband.  The Jordan’s purchased the tract of 26 + acres from John Allen and Eula Bolt Hazlett[iii].   This portion of the land includes the original one room log home which was improved and the compiler’s husband grew up in. You can read The Log Cabin Heritage at Deliverance farm by clicking here.

Thomas and Betty were residing on the property in 1930 along with their youngest daughter’s Thelma and Dorothy. The Jordan’s took out a mortgage with the Federal Land Bank in Louisville and on 28 September 1932, with a transfer of $1.00, their son William Estill “E. W.” Jordan became the owner, taking over the loan. The deed reserved the right of Thomas and Elizabeth to live on the premises during they joint lives and the survivor “may” occupy the same until their death as well.  The road was called Poor House Road during this time frame. The county changed the name to Long Branch Road at a later date. 

On 16 January 1940 Mary Elizabeth Arden Jordan died of a cerebral hemorrhage[iv]. “Betty” was the daughter of Andrew Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor Arden, both born in Virginia.  She was buried in Klaiber Cemetery 18 January 1940.  Their son Hillman Bayes Jordan, (written about in a previous blog), was buried in Klaiber Cemetery August 1931. 

The 1940 census was taken in April after Betty’s death.  Thomas is shown on Poor House Road along with daughter Hermia and son-in-law Billy Fannin and children. Daughter Goldie and husband John D Fannin live in the next residence, beside James M and Julina (Sexton) Klaiber.

Eight months after Mary Elizabeth Arden Jordan’s death, Thomas P. Jordan married Elma DeVore Davidson 23 September 1940 in Greenup County, Kentucky[v]. He was 72 years old.  Thomas Jordan made another deed, with E. W. and wife Ethel Jordan, in Boyd County on 6 August 1941 stating that Elizabeth died intestate (without a will) and that T. P. Jordan has now remarried, Elma (as spelled).

The marriage with Elma was not without drama[vi].  An article appears in the Portsmouth Times on charges of Bigamy 5 Oct 1941, Greenup County: Mrs. Alma (as spelled) Jordan 48 was arraigned today before Judge Jacob Fisher on a charge of bigamy filed by her husband Thomas Jordan who claimed that he married her in Greenup September 23, 1940 and that she was already married at the time. The charge was dismissed by Judge Fisher on grounds of insufficient evidence.”

Thomas and Alma/Elma seem to have resolved their differences.  They were remarried in Lawrence County, Ohio 22 October 1946.  The license states that he resides at Ponds Run, Ohio and is divorced.   Elma age 56 as of 14 January was born in Bluefield, Wet Virginia, daughter of James and Maxine Sayra Devour and is also divorced.[vii]  Thomas is now 78 years old.

Estill William Jordan, son of Thomas and Betty Jordan was an accountant for Pure Milk Company, on Carter Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky.

 

On November 25 1944 Estill William and his wife sold the 26+ acres to John Henry and Elsie Ellis Rucker Klaiber[viii].  This was during a period when Klaiber was purchasing the partitioned lands of his grandfather along Poor House Road. John Henry was a great-great grandson of Micajah and Eleanor Clay Brumfield thus had “family ties” to the Jordan’s.  His maternal uncle Jasper Newton Sexton had previously resided in the cabin. 

 

The log home with improvements 1940’s, Long Branch Road, Rush, KY

 

Thomas P. Jordan and, the widow of his brother David Taylor Jordan, Anna Jordan were living in Nile Township, Scioto County in 1950 along with Roy L. Jordan age 44, single.  Anna is widowed and Thomas P. Jordan is marked as separated.    The census margin reads “proceeding north from US 52 on Main on Left fork of Pond Run.” 

John and Elsie remained on the farm, on Long Branch Road, living in the house, they purchased from Jordan’s, with several remodels, during their lifetime.  Elsie called the original portion that was the one room log home her parlor, where she played hostess to guests.  Their only son James David Klaiber grew to adulthood on the farm. 

Thomas P. Jordan died in 11 July 1951 in General Hospital, Ironton, Lawrence County, Ohio. The information for his death certificate was provided by daughter Goldie Jordan Fannin.  The certificate states that his usual residence was Boyd County, Kentucky. He died from a cerebral hemorrhage and was buried in Klaiber Cemetery in Boyd County, Kentucky on the 13^th.[ix]

The compiler always welcomes additional information to keep with the cemetery records books.

 

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[i] Absolom and Juilia m 6 Jan 1860 Carter County, KY

[ii] Micajah Brumfield and Eleanor Clay m 15 Feb 1802 in Tazewell Co., VA

[iii] The Hazlett’s held title for five years

[iv] KY Vital Death Cert 158 Elizabeth Arden Jordan

[v] KY Grnp M bk 82 page 382 Thos gives his age as 69 she age 45, both reside at Rush, KY

[vi] Alma had married Boyd Adkins 28 Sep 1933 In Law Co OH as Elma Johnson

[vii] OH Law M cert 31988 volume 45

[viii] KY Boyd dbk 192-355

[ix] Oh Vital, Ohio Historical Society, Certificate  44693, volume 13034

Fleming Jordan; George Washington & Mary Jane Perkins Jordan; Ira Vernon Jordan: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber 2023

 

Klaiber Cemetery is not without its share of mysteries and possibilities.  I first heard about a tombstone of Civil War Veteran Fleming Jordan from Evelyn Scyphers Jackson.  She even wrote about it in her Daily Independent Column called Reflections.[i] Jackson stated that the stone had been discovered in 1970 on Davis Branch, while a neighbor thought the stone had never been placed but was to go to Klaiber Cemetery on Big Garner.

Thinking someone might have ordered a military stone, I did a U.S .headstone search for military service without success.  In April 1999, I called Mrs. Walter Holbrook, owner of the property where Jackson said they discovered the stone.  Mrs. Holbrook said that Jackson had come out and she vaguely remembered there was a stone.  Mrs. Holbrook went on to say that her neighbor was getting older and may have just remembered there were Jordan’s in Klaiber Cemetery. “We decided a long time ago it didn’t belong there either…we did know where the stone is but honestly don’t any more…”

Holbrook’s neighbor was correct about one thing – there is a connection to Klaiber Cemetery.  Fleming Jordan’s son, George Washington Jordan, daughter-in-law Mary Jane Perkins Jordan and grandson Ira Vernon Jordan are all in Klaiber Cemetery.  Is Fleming Jordan at rest with them?

Fleming “Flem” Jordan was born February 1846, the son of John Jordan.  He grew up in Lawrence County, Kentucky and during the Civil War mustered into Company B of the 14^th Kentucky Infantry. After his service Fleming married 20 August 1865, Louisa Prince, in Lawrence County, Kentucky.  They lived for some time on Twin Branch in Lawrence County and were the parents of six known children.  He filed for a pension 8 July 1879 in Lawrence County[ii] By 1900 Fleming was widowed, living in the Willard area of Carter County, while son George Washington Fleming and family were residing on the East Fork, in the Bolts Fork/ Big Garner area of Boyd County. 

George Washington Jordan was born 28 April 1873, in Lawrence County, Kentucky, son of Fleming and Louisa Jordan.  Like his father, records describe him as short with light hair.  Civil War enrollment records for his father described Fleming at only five feet 3 inches tall.  The World War I draft card for George Washington Jordan does not give exact height only that he was “short.”

George married Mary Jane Perkins, daughter of James “Frank” and Martha J. Cotton Perkins in 1893[iii].  The Jordan’s had nine known children at this writing.  By 1920 the family resided on Garner in Boyd County next to the Workman family.  Among the children, Ira, only sixteen according to census[iv], was already mining for a living.

By the late 1920’s the Jordan’s moved to Guyandotte, Cabell County, West Virginia, where George gave his occupation as carpenter.  According to George Washington Jordan’s death certificate he became paralyzed in March 1929.[v]   By 1930 they were residing with son James Robert Jordan[vi] and his large family. When George died 20 April 1930 the doctor noted that he had been bedfast for six months.  The certificate also states that burial would be in Sexton Cemetery.   The name of the cemetery varied but by 1930 Julina Sexton Klaiber and James Matthew Klaiber were the owners of the land surrounding the designated burial ground. A handmade marker was placed at the grave in Klaiber Cemetery.  a

 

 

 

Son, Ira Vernon Jordan’s death, “carved in stone,” is 27 April 1933. But as I have found with other handmade stones in Klaiber cemetery there are differences in the official record.  In 1930 Ira “Vernon” was an inmate in the Spencer State Hospital in Roane County, West Virginia.  He appears both on the census for the hospital as well as residing on Bellevue Road in Huntington along with wife Lula and two daughters.   His death certificate is dated 27 April 1934.  Dr. T. R. Biggs wrote that he had attended him from March 1930 until his death 27 April 1934. The cause of his death was pulmonary tuberculosis with contributory dementia praecox catatonic type.  According to the death certificate he was married and his usual place of residence was Bellevue Road, Huntington[vii]. 

Ira Vernon Jordan married Lula Jane Stephens sometime between 1920 and 1927.

The 1930 Huntington City Directory shows Vernon Jordan and wife “Lola” living on Bellevue Road, He is a laborer. The 1932 Huntington City Directory shows Vernon Jordan and wife “Lula” on Bellevue Road.  Ira Vernon Jordan’s mother also resides on Bellevue Road the same year.  Ira Vernon Jordan was laid to rest in Klaiber Cemetery (aka Sexton Cemetery) on 29 April 1934.

The widow, Lula Jane Stephens[viii] remarried 6 April 1935 in Cabell County to Finnie Robertson. By 1940 Ira and Lula’s  two girls utilized their step father’s surname.  Lula Jane Stephens Jordan Robertson died in March 1981 and is buried in Mason County, West Virginia.

George Washington Jordan’s widow, Mary Jane Perkins Jordan, mother of Ira Vernon Jordan, continued to live in Cabell County.  In 1930 she is living with son James Robert Jordan, on Bellevue Road in Huntington.  Mary died 24 April 1936[ix] in Huntington and was brought back to Klaiber Cemetery for burial, as well.  Her stone was designed and consistent with the other members of this branch of the Jordan family.

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[i] Daily Independent, 16 Jun 1977

[ii]Fold3, Pension index,  Cert 296736 664518

[iii] 1900 census states married 7 years. No official m has been located at this writing.

[iv] Tombstone birth would make him 19

[v] WV, Cabell cert 4558

[vi] James Robert Jordan married Sarah B Stevens d/o Sam and Nell Kilgore Stevens  13 March 1914 in Boyd County, KY

[vii] WV Vital Roane Co cert 5310, 1934

[viii] In 1910 Lula and family are living on Clay Jack in Boyd County. By  1920 Lula J Stephen is 16 living with her parents Daniel and Ellen Colegrove Stephens on East Fork in Lawrence County, KY. Daniel Stephens married Ellen Colegrove 29 Oct 1892 in Lawrence County, KY

[ix] WV D cert 5310

Sarah Fannin Howe. Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber 2023

 

Sarah Fannin was born 16 August 1813, in Virginia, one of nine children born to John and Keziah Fannin.  By 1820 the family was living in a portion of Greenup County that would become Lawrence the following year.

Sarah Fannin married George W. Howe, born in Greenup County, 20 October 1836 in Lawrence County, Kentucky “having produced a certificate from John Fannin, father of Sarah consenting” to the marriage.  Women had no contractual rights under early Virginia and Kentucky law and two parties were needed to obtain the marriage license, one usually the father acting as bondsman.

George W. Howe was the son of James and Martha Ann Hood Howe.  Sarah first appears on a land document, with George, in Carter County, 10 October 1841 when George and James Howe of Greenup make a deed with Alexander Hannah. The deed does not give the land description.  Both George and Sarah sign the deed[i]  George’s father James died in 1845.[ii]  Howe’s lands were extensive and George W. along with siblings were involved in various suits and partition deeds following James Howe’s death.

It is the compilers believe that George W. Howe, made a serious mistake becoming indebted to Richard Apperson, a Kentucky lawyer and politician.  A Carter County, Circuit course case ended in a deed dated 19 May 1849[iii] transferring land from George W. Howe to Richard Apperson whom he was indebted to for the sum of $980.50.  The debt involved bonds of James W. Davis and Alfred Low, thus Howe mortgaged a tract in Lawrence county to Apperson.  The tract also included his right, title and claim to the “landed estate which descended to him from his father James Howe, deceased”.

George W. (as an heir of James Howe) appears again 4 November 1852 along with his siblings involving Carter Circuit Court with Apperson acting as commissioner involving land described  in the Grayham Survey to John Fannin “in Lawrence County where John Fannin now resides…”[iv]  This is Sarah Fannin Howe’s father. John, died, shortly after on 25 June 1853.[v] When John Fannin wrote his will (after providing for his wife) he included the equal division of property to his children citing Sarah as the wife of George Howe.[vi] 

Keziah Fannin, Sarah’s mother died 31 October 1854.  Keziah also wrote a will about the same time her husband did[vii] In the midst of the Fannin deaths there was also another case in Lawrence Circuit Court with Richard Apperson against George W. Howe (defendant) and others for a mortgage on 101 acres of land on the East Fork where “the defendant Howe resided.”  The Land was sold to George W. Prichard.[viii] As a woman, I can’t imagine how stressful this would be, especially with small children.

There are several more deed transactions involving George W., his siblings and the James Howe estate in both Lawrence and Carter County in the 1850s and into the 1860’s.  But reading between the lines, Sarah must have had enough, and by 1860 George is no longer on the Federal Census records for this area.   Sarah first appears, in her own right, on the Carter County Tax list, on Garner, with no values in 1857. Their youngest child, Matilda Rebecca was only four years old.

The 1860 census lists Sarah doing house work, born Virginia, next door to the Hiram Gallion Family[ix].  Sarah has eight children living with her and no adult male within the household.  The eldest child Martha has turned 21, James 19 and John 17 both day laborers along with Hiram 16, Philip 13, Sarah 11, Andrew George W 9 and Matilda Rebecca the youngest.

Several researcher’s claim that a George W. Howe, born circa 1810, Kentucky, who went to Oregon, is Sarah’s estranged husband.  This George W. Howe is said to have arrived in Oregon 30 October 1853[x].  We continue to see Sarah’s husband, George W. Howe cited, as late as 1868, on documents, in Carter, Lawrence and Boyd counties in Kentucky, including his father-in-law’s will written in June 1853. However, the deeds are all signed by commissioners or agents beginning in May 1853.  The last transaction dated 13 January 1868 has his brother-in-law, William P. Hood, acting as his agent[xi]     

The George W. Howe of Clackamas County, Oregon received donation land in 1853.[xii]  But if he is the same George W. Howe, folks in Carter, Lawrence, and Boyd County, Kentucky, were unaware of his death.  The census for Oregon City was taken  June 6^th and George W. Howe appears as a brick burner [xiii]born in Kentucky.

The George W. Howe, of Oregon City, Clackamas County came to a tragic end. The Weekly Oregon Statesmen reported on 26 June 1860 “While firing guns at At Oregon City on Thursday evening last, the vent hole of the cannon was carelessly left open and two men, one of whom is named Howe and the other a carpenter is known as Curly who was loading the gun had each arm blown off above the elbow. One of them the right and the other the left…”  On 3 July the paper reported “the names of the men injured by the premature discharge of a cannon in Oregon City are George Howe and Fred Curley. Their shattered arms have been amputated and they are both doing well.” On July 21^st the paper simply posted “George Howe of Oregon City who was injured by firing a cannon is dead.”

In George Howe’s probate packet is listed books, brick molds and the statement that there are no heirs.[xiv]  Thus if the Oregon Howe was one and the same, Sarah and his own siblings were unaware of his tragic death back in Kentucky.  There is no indication among the receipts, inventory and other documents that anyone within the court system in Clackamas County, Oregon had contact with anyone in Kentucky.

Tragedy struck when 9 December 1861 Sarah’s son John W. Howe, a soldier, died of typhoid fever while at Camp in Hardin County, Kentucky.[xv]  John had joined the Second Cavalry on 14 July 1861 at Camp Joe Holt.  The unit was moved to Camp Nevin in Hardin County, Kentucky.  Harpers Weekly showed a sketch of the camp in their publication just a few days before John died.  Dan Master’s Civil War Chronicles gives a good description of the sickness and what it was like at the camp.

By 1870 Sarah Fannin Hood is living next door to Matilda Howe Hood, sister of her estranged husband George W Howe and Matilda’s husband William P. Hood,  Sarah is living with son Phillip Howe,[xvi] who is farming, along with other family members.  The next census entry is Sarah’s son James W. Howe[xvii] and wife Sarah Elizabeth Hood Howe[xviii].

Sarah Fannin Howe died 6 June 1874, age 66 years 9 months and 31days. She was laid to rest in Klaiber Cemetery.  In June 1996 the Klaibers repaired the tablet stone that had been broken.

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[i] KY, Carter dbk 6 page 373

[ii] James Howe and wife are buried in Oldtown Cemetery, Greenup County, KY

[iii] KY, Carter dbk B  275

[iv] KY, Carter dbk 7 p 88

[v] John Fannin is buried Stewart Cem., Rt. 3, Lawrence County, KY

[vi] KY, Lawrence Wbk p 43

[vii] Kozee, Wm., Eastern Kentucky References, p 166

[viii] KY, Lawrence Dbk D p 419

[ix] Hiram Gallion is buried in Klaiber Cemetery

[x] https://secure.sos.state.or.us/prs/personProfileSearch.do

[xi] KY, Boyd dbk 3 p 458

[xii] Oregon Land Claim OC 2548; roll 29

[xiii] Brick burner in charge of kiln and responsible for correct temperature during firing.

[xiv] Oregon, Clackamas Box 13 #6 A-40

[xv] Fhl 994030 KY death records…Carter County cites parents, residence as Carte r Co and death in Hardin Co.

[xvi] Phillip later removed to Oklahoma

[xvii] James W. Howe eventually removed to Kansas

[xviii] Sarah Elizabeth is the daughter of William P Hood and Matilda Howe Hood, while James W. is the s/o George W. Howe and Sarah Fannin Howe.

Thomas & Sarah Crabtree Dowdy Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber 2023

 

Thomas Dowdy was born 2 March 1895 in Wayne County, West Virginia, the son of Hugh Caperton and Martha Jane Harris Dowdy. Before Thomas’ fifth birthday the family had moved to Twin Branch, Lawrence County, Kentucky and by 1910 the family was living along the East Fork in Boyd County.

The 1917 Military draft describes Thomas as tall, thin, with black hair and blue eyes.  Who can resist blue eyes?  Thomas served, as a Private, in the U. S. Army from August 1918 until December 1918.  At this writing I have no further details of his four months in service.

Thomas fell in love with Sarah Crabtree, also from Lawrence County, Kentucky.  By the time they were ready to marry, her parents Harvey and Vina Holbrook Crabtree were living in Mingo County, West Virginia.  Many local farmers tried their hand at coal mining and when the mines in our area of eastern Kentucky slowed some moved to West Virginia; others to Jackson and Perry counties in Ohio.  Thomas and Sarah were married 18 November 1919 in Mingo County. West Virginia.  They settled in with her parents and Thomas went to work coal mining.

On 14 August 1936 daughter Martha, at the age of 14, married Edgar Jay Diamond, age 16 in Lawrence County, Kentucky.  Both set of parents were present.  Edgar was the son of John and Carrie Lee Diamond.

The Dowdy’s don’t appear to own property but moved several times. By 1940 they are back on the East Fork in Boyd County, at Bear Creek, renting, and Thomas is now farm labor with daughter Martha, seventeen years old.  She is once again using her maiden name, Dowdy, and marked as single. 

The World War II draft has been nicknamed the “old man draft” and Thomas, by 1942, had gray hair. He reported to the registrar, Dorothy Prichard, who helped him fill out the card.  He signed by mark and Prichard made a comment under physical character as “knuckle knocked down on right hand.”   She was a precise registrar giving his address as “one mile up Jerry Branch near the mouth of Trace”, Boyd County.  He told her he was working for Emmit Crace on the Crace farm at that time.

Thomas’ nephew, Fred Dowdy[i] and wife Argie Triplett Dowdy settled on Long Branch, on property adjoining where Klaiber Cemetery is located. Trace is just a few miles from Long Branch “as the crow flies” (a great Kentucky expression).  Thomas’s parents, Hugh and Martha Jane Harris Dowdy, who died 1918 and 1928 respectfully, were deceased and buried in Hogan Cemetery, on Route #3 in Boyd County.

Thomas J. Dowdy died 29 April 1969 in the VA Hospital in Huntington, West Virginia.   His normal place of residence was cited as Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky.  The hospital gave his occupation as a saw mill operator and farmer.  He died from bronchopneumonia and carcinoma of the lung.  The certificate said “Removal to Big Garner Cemetery” with Carman Funeral Home at Russell in charge of arrangements[ii].

The obituary in the Ashland Daily Independent stated he was a retired farmer and had moved to “Ashland” 64 years ago from Lawrence County.  The only surviving person listed in the obituary is his wife Sarah Crabtree Dowdy.  The 21^st Street Tabernacle in Ashland provided the service led by Rev. Paul Diamond.  The obituary correctly said burial was to be in Klaiber Cemetery on Big Garner.

On May 2^nd, 1969 Sarah filed a Headstone Application for Military Veterans.  She gave her address as 709 Greenup Avenue, Ashland.  The form must be signed by the person that will receive the military stone. Nephew Fred Dowdy, living just down the road from the cemetery was the consignee.  The contractor was the Columbus Marble Works in Columbus, Mississippi.  A follow up application dated the 16^th of May included the freight station at Russell, Kentucky and that Herbert J. Greene would transport same.

 

 

Sarah died two years later in January 1971[iii]. Her obituary in the Ashland Independent stated that she had been in an Ashland nursing home.  She was survived by two brothers, Charles Crabtree of Columbus and Albert H. Crabtree of Ashland.  Kilgore & Collier Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements and burial was beside her husband in Klaiber Cemetery.  Sadly, no one made arrangements for a stone to mark her grave.

A special thank you to Phillip Dowdy, Sr., grandson of Fred Dowdy for sharing data that confirmed the link between Fred and Thomas.

 

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[i] Fred s/o William and Nancie/Nancy J. Large Dowdy; grandson of Hugh Caperton Dowdy.

[ii] WV Vital 69-006494

[iii] KY Vital 001 00115