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

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

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

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

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

[iv] OH Vital, Scioto 38680

Virginia Myrtle Lucas: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber 2023

As I have said so many times our family lives on in our memories and our littlest angels should never be forgotten.  Virginia Myrtle Lucas was born 24 September 1924, and according to her death certificate the birth took place in Carter County, Kentucky. To date this compiler has not found an official birth record in Kentucky, Ohio or West Virginia.

Virginia Myrtle Lucas died in White Cross Hospital, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio 29 July 1926[i].  White Cross had converted affiliation with the Protestant Hospital Association to the Ohio Methodist Episcopal Conference in 1922. 

The cause of death is cited as cholera infantum.  Cholera is an infectious disease caused by bacteria. A child could get cholera by eating food or drinking water contaminated with bacteria.  Combined with Infantum, a viral disease of infants and young children, it is deadly causing speedy wasting.

Virginia was the daughter of Reuben Harrison Lucas born 9 January 1889 in Carter County and wife Cora Combs.  She was the granddaughter of Henry Kane Lucas, Lucinda Sexton Lucas, John “Jack Combs and Martha J. Cotton.

Virginia had at least three siblings: John D., Lelia and Lewis, all born in Kentucky.  Her parents married 27 August 1910 in Boyd County, Kentucky[ii] and by 1920 are listed in Cabin Creek, Kanawha County, West Virginia where Reuben was trying his hand at mining.

The 1927 City Directory for Columbus, Franklin County, shows Reuben, laborer, and Cora residing at 1190 St. Clair Avenue.  This is the same address given on Virginia Myrtle’s death certificate.  I find there is often a lag time in posting in city directories and they did not appear in the 1926 edition.  By 1928 only Cora is listed working as a waitress.  I speculate that Reuben had returned to Cabin Creek, as they appear on the 1930 census in Burnwell, West Virginia where, once again “Rube” is mining, working for Case Mining Company. 

Virginia’s father, Reuben Harrison Lucas died 20 January 1972 in Kanawha County, West Virginia and buried in Montgomery Memorial Park at London, Kanawha County, West Virginia.   Montgomery Memorial Park is an active, perpetual care cemetery.   In 1971,  Cora was living in Rand, Kanawha County[iii] and died July 1980, according to the Social Security Death Index.

 

 

 

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[i] OH, Franklin d cert 44135

[ii] KY, Boyd M bk 32A p 97

[iii] Charleston Gazette 4 Mar 1971 obit of Stephen Franklin Combs

Emily Alice Lucas Kelley: Whispers from the Grave; Klaiber Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber 2023

 

Emily Alice Lucas Kelley was born circa 1868 in Carter County, Kentucky.  Alice was the daughter Henry Kane Lucas and Lucinda “Cinda” Sexton.  

The Henry Lucas family lived close to the Kelley family in 1880 in Carter County, Kentucky. Alice married Samuel Franklin “Frank” Kelley about 1885 when she was still a teen.  At this writing no official marriage record has been located.  Between 1886 and September 1894 Alice and Frank had five children: Henry, Dimmie, Laura, Rosie and Maude.

On 15 November 1895, Alice’s mother-in-law Eliza, wife of Joseph Kelley, died and was buried in Klaiber Cemetery. I blogged several times in 2010 about Eliza and her wayward husband Joseph Kelley.  In Joseph Kelley Goes to Prison I also talk about Alice’s husband, Samuel Franklin Kelley, son of Joseph Kelley. 

As a married woman, Alice Lucas Kelley “fell between the cracks” because so much of the 1890 Federal Census was destroyed and her husband does not appear to own land in the area.   She is cited as the mother of several of her children in their later marriage records. Alice died in 1896, at the age of 28, and the only record, thus far, is the tombstone in Klaiber Cemetery.  Despite some attempt to file death records. uniform records were not maintained until 1911.  Thus far this compiler has not located any local news article concerning Alice Lucas Kelley’s death either.

Emily Alice Lucas Kelley tombstone prior to 1990’s repair.

Klaiber Cemetery E. Alice Kelley tombstone after repair

 

Alice’s husband, Samuel “Frank” Kelley, was born in February 1865 in Lawrence County, Ohio but grew up in Boyd County, Kentucky   He was only four years old when his father was sent to prison. In the 1870’s the Kelley’s were residing on Trace, Boyd County, according to tax records (no land value).  By 1876 they begin to appear on Garner, Boyd County.

 After Alice died, Frank remarried 20 June 1897[i], to Elizabeth in Carter County, Kentucky.  The marriage leaves a little unsolved mystery for this compiler.  Henry Sexton acted as surety[ii].  Both Frank and Henry sign by mark.  The marriage states that Elizabeth’s maiden name is FULTON/FELTON and this is her first marriage. Look carefully at the marriage certificate and you will see they were married at James Osters which this compiler believes should read James Austin’s. Her obituary[iii] in May 1945 states that her brothers are James Austin(of Russell, KY) and Samuel Austin (of Rush, KY) among others.  Records for their children also state her maiden name as Austin.  The Austin’s lived on Trace, Boyd County in 1880[iv].  By 1900 James Austin was still mining coal and Samuel and James along with others are in District 7 of Carter County, Kentucky.

 

Frank Kelley was a coal miner.  Just months after his 2^nd marriage he had two horses stolen[v] which would certainly be a financial loss to the family. Coal mining in Eastern Kentucky was hard and in the 1890’s the workers in Carter County were earning below the state average.[vi]

When the mines began to produce less in Boyd/Carter County, miners moved in several directions including Coalton, Jackson County, Ohio; Morgan and Perry County, Ohio looking for work.  This compiler has a special interest in these migration patterns.  Frank and his family migrated to Morgan County, Ohio and finally settled in McLuney, Harrison Township of Perry County, Ohio.  Perry County was a tromping ground for research and cemeteries for many years for me.  Thus my interest was doubled with a connection to Klaiber Cemetery, in Boyd County, Kentucky, and Perry County, Ohio records.  Samuel Franklin Kelley died 2 October 1943[vii] at his home in Harrison Township, Perry County, Ohio. Elizabeth Austin Kelley, his wife, died 7 May 1945.  Both are buried in Iliff Cemetery, Perry County, Ohio along with other family members.  Other Austin relatives are buried in Coalton Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky, as well.

Emily Alice Lucas Kelley is not alone in Klaiber Cemetery.  Besides her mother-in-law both her mother and father and two brothers are at peace in this hollowed ground.

 

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[i] Ky, Carter, Marriage Bond p 134 & marriage stating Frank 2^nd married and Elizabeth Fulton/Felton age 24 first m.

[ii] This compiler believes that this Henry is Henry Powell Sexton b 22 Jan 1853 , married Hiley Jane Branham.  They also lived in Dist 7 of Carter County 1900.  Henry was s/o Samuel P Sexton and wife Elizabeth Madden.

[iii] Times Records, 8 May 1945 , page 2

[iv] 1880 Federal Census, KY, Boyd Trace…James Austin  28 coalminer b. VA, Sarah 29, ELIZABETH 9 b. KY, Maggie W 6 Cintha A 3, John Austin brother 10 coal miner

[v] Big Sandy News, 3 Dec 1897

[vi] Banks, Alan J., Land and Capital in Eastern Kentucky 1890-1950. Appalachian Journal, Vol. 8, 1989

[vii] Zanesville Signal, 5 Oct 1943

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

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