Lincoln County Genealogical Society Lincoln Lineage 2016 Volume 1 7999 Lynn Avenue Hamlin, WV 25523 An Early Porter Family of Grayson County, Virginia Submitted by Frank Porter and Fred Porter What you are about to read is no doubt a rambling tale, but it was and is true of so many families who lived in the south and suffered through the Civil War and its turbulent aftermath. So many questions left unanswered! It is my hope that some of the readers of the following story can shed some light on the identity and ancestry of James and Susannah (Keith) Porter, Great Great Great Grandparents. They certainly left their mark on the history of Grayson County, VA. And their descendants left their mark on the West Virginia counties of Lincoln and Wayne. Some of the story is told by Dr. Frank Porter and some of it is told by Fred Porter, descendants of the Wayne County and Lincoln County Porters, respectively. Every family hopes to know their ancestors. What were their names? Where did they come from? Where did they live? My branch of the Porter family is no exception. As a child, I remember my Grandfather, Frank William Porter, telling me stories about our ancestors who lived in Virginia, but that after the Civil War had migrated to West Virginia. While several family members settled along Twelve Pole Creek in Wayne County, others of our Porter clan settled in neighboring Lincoln County, West Virginia near the village of Griffithsville along Sand Fork of Sugar Creek of Middle Fork of Mud River, near what is now the Sand Fork Missionary Baptist Church. Others settled in Lincoln County, along Upper Mud River Road, near the village of Myra, south of Hamlin.
My Grandfather's brother, Gobe, believing that the Porters had owned a plantation in Virginia which had been taken by the Carpetbaggers, hired a genealogist back in the 1930s in hopes of proving this. He was prompted to do so because the Federal government had promised remuneration for any lost property. Gobe was told that too many of the Virginia county records had been destroyed after the Civil War. Consequently, no claim could be filed. But it did fill a young boy's head with curiosity to know more about his family history. A few years ago, I began in earnest to delve into the historical records. I knew the names of my Great Grandfather and Great Great Grandfather. I used this as a starting point. It did not take long to discover the identity of my Great Great Great Grandfather, James Porter. He was born in 1803 in North Carolina, possibly Wilkes County. He met Rachel Daniels who was born in Bedford, Virginia. James and Rachel were married in Grayson County, Virginia on August 24, 1823 and began to raise what was, even then, a large family. Their children were Zachariah, James Rayford [Fred's Great Great Grandfather], Susannah Elizabeth, Delila, Matilda Jane, George Washington [my Great Great Grandfather], Charlotte, Polly, and Malissa Margaret. I was elated and determined to find the identity of James' parents. Finding my earliest ancestors proved to be a not so easy task. It took some time, but I eventually learned that James' parents were James Porter [1781-1830] and Susannah Elizabeth Keith [1772-1853]. At that time, I had no historical documents to support this fact. The information came from other individuals researching the Porters in Virginia. However, I later found the death certificate of James Porter [1803-1874] which identified his parents as James and Susannah. Despite years of research, I have been unable to prove through documentation the identity of James' (1781) parents. I do know that he lived along Elk Creek in Grayson County, Virginia. James' father died in 1830. In the inventory of his father's estate are the names of his children: Alexander, James(1803), Elizabeth, George and William. Elizabeth married Thomas Carr. She died on March 25, 1886 and is buried at the Cross Roads Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Grayson County, Virginia. Alexander married Sarah Roberts. William married Margaret Bedwell. Both William and Margaret are also buried in Grayson County, in the Old Bethel Church Cemetery. George married Rosamond Bedwell. And, of course, James married Rachel Daniels. But who were James' (1781-1830) parents? And who were his Grandparents and where did they come from?
Prior to the American Revolution, our Porters arrived in Wilkes County, North Carolina and settled near the Yadkin River. Their homesteads were not far from the Virginia border. Most likely, they had traveled, as did so many of these early settlers, down the old wagon trail through the Shenandoah Valley and into the upper New River Valley where land was available at a cheap price. Prior to 1800, they moved into what is now known as Grayson County, Virginia where they settled along Elk Creek and the Iron Mountain area. The early records of Grayson County mention a James and William Porter. In 1783, William was granted 63 acres on New River below Eagle Bottom. George Keith, the father of Susannah Elizabeth, was granted 80 acres on Elk Creek, a branch of New River. This places the two families in close proximity and may help to explain how James and Susannah came to know one another. I have come to the conclusion that it will take information from the other descendants of James and Susannah to add more information about their lives on Elk Creek. James and Rachel Porter had two sons who lived to become adults: James Rayford Porter and George Washington Porter. James Rayford married Levina Pool in Virginia in 1845 and in 1860 they were living in Pike County, Kentucky. They later moved to Wayne County, West Virginia where James Rayford died in 1872 and his wife, Levina, moved to Lincoln County to live with their son, James David Porter, near Myra. George Washington married Harriet Bannion. In 1860, George and Harriet were living in Wise County, Virginia. I received information from Bill Porter of Coeburn, Virginia, not related to me, which helps to explain why they left Virginia. It concerns the Sand Ridge Atrocity of 1864 which involved the murder of George Wells. George married Mary Polly Daniels who was the sister of Rachel [Daniels] Porter. George was born in Grayson County on July 28, 1802. By 1850, George was living in Russell County. Among his close neighbors were James and Rachel Porter and James Rayford and Levina Porter. In 1864, George Wells was murdered by three horsemen. Shortly afterwards, the Wells family moved to Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia and James and Rachel Porter moved to West Virginia. It does not appear that James or Rachel stayed in touch with their families in Virginia. In the late 1840's James Rayford's family packed up and moved to Russell County, Virginia where they remained for about ten years. From there, they moved to Pike County, Kentucky near Pikeville, but later settled in Lincoln County, West
Virginia. James Porter, his wife, Rachel, and their son George Washington and his family moved to the Twelve Pole Creek area of Wayne County, West Virginia and established a Porter homestead. This area today is known as Porter Fork. By about 1880 they had migrated into the Union District of Wayne County, West Virginia. By 1881 George Ferguson Porter had married America Adkins and moved to Lincoln County, West Virginia. George Washington's brother, James Rayford "Rafe" Porter, had a son, James David Porter, who purchased farmland near Myra. James David (J.D.) went on to be Sheriff of Lincoln County in the late 1800's during the infamous Brumfield-McCoy Feud and was a State Senator for the State of West Virginia, District 5, dying while holding office in 1906. Rafe served in the Civil War and died right after returning to Wayne County in 1872. His wife Levina Pool Porter moved to Myra to live with their son, J. D. Porter. They and other Porters are buried in the Porter Cemetery located on what was James David's farm, near Myra, West Virginia south of Hamlin. There are also Porters buried in the Johnson Cemetery located along Upper Mud River Road also south of Hamlin and in the Sand Fork Missionary Church Cemetery on Sand Fork, near Griffithsville. All of these Porters are descended from James Rayford "Rafe" Porter. It was George Ferguson "Fergie" Porter, James Rayford's and Levina's oldest son, who settled in Union District of Lincoln County. George first purchased 110 acres of land on Sand Fork in 1898, added another 10.5 acres and one acre in 1890 for a total of 121.5 acres. I believe the total acreage averaged about $3.50 per acre at the time. In 1925 his son, James Calvary Porter, purchased 50 acres next to his father. James Calvary and his wife Ella Dale Carper Porter raised ten children in thirteen years all on Sand Fork, including a set of twins, a boy and a girl. They had seven sons and three daughters. Ella Dale's mother was Polly Linville and her father was Iven (Ivan) Carper. While George Ferguson and his other sons remained in West Virginia, in 1926, after purchasing the 50 acres in 1925, James Calvary and Ella Dale packed up their family and moved to Ross County, Ohio near Chillicothe. Signs of the Great Depression was already beginning to manifest in West Virginia. Work was becoming scarce and employment and other opportunities looked to be more promising in Ohio. The original 121.5 acres owned by George Ferguson may have changed hands recently but was in the possession of Henson Harless, Jr and Corey Harless as late as
2013. Some of the land owned by James Calvary and Ella Dale is now in the hands of Daniel Reynolds and some of it belongs to the Hoge family of Griffithsville. Many of the Sand Fork Porters attended the Sand Fork Elementary School on upstream from the George Ferguson Porter farm. They attended the Sand Fork Missionary Church which still holds services, but the Sand Fork Elementary has long been torn down and all that remains is evidence of a foundation to serve as a reminder of what use to be. In addition to educating young minds, grades one through eight, the school was also used as a polling place during election time. On Sunday, after church and dinner, it was not unusual to find the Sand Fork Porters in the nearby village of Yawkey, West Virginia attending a baseball game as it was a very popular sport even in those early years and it was an opportunity to visit with friends and relatives in a different setting. After working all week in the mines, for the railroad or in the oil fields they were ready for some fun and relaxation. Somewhere along the way the men found time to farm, cut timber, hunt and care for the farm animals. Of course, the ladies of the house had to cook, do laundry, sew and mend clothing and do other household chores. I hope that you have enjoyed our story of the Porters. Of course, there was and is so much more to tell and still so many unanswered questions. I, once again, ask that anyone who can add to the story or who has any of their own unanswered questions contact Frank Porter at: porterbrooknative@yahoo.com or Fred Porter at: 1941goIU@gmail.com. Ella Dale Porter holding twins, Simon and Sylvia, who were numbers nine and ten children in thirteen years, all born on Sand Fork, Griffithsville, WV.
Three Porter brothers and their uncle Newell Porter sitting on the Sand Fork Elementary School porch. The sign on wall suggests that school was being used as a polling place for voting. A group of students standing in front of the Sand Fork Elementary School. The boys are Porter brothers.
A baseball game taking place in Yawkey, WV. Date on the photograph says 1911. A rear view of the Sand Fork Missionary Baptist Church on Sand Fork. The church cemetery is on the hillside to the right in the photo. The log cabin that Thomas and Malissa built soon after arriving along Twelve Pole Creek in Wayne County, West Virginia from Grayson County, Virginia
Rachel Porter and her son-in-law Thomas McCoy who married Malissa Margaret Porter About the Authors: Dr. Frank W. Porter was born in Charleston, West Virginia in 1947. He is a direct descendent of James and Susannah Porter who lived in Grayson County, Virginia in the early 1800's. He currently resides in Pomeroy, Ohio. Arthur F. "Fred" Porter was born in 1941 in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio. He is the son of Arthur C. Porter who was born in 1913 in Lincoln County, West Virginia. Fred now lives in Brown County, Indiana with his wife Kathy Ann Yoder Porter.
A Few WV State Cemetery Laws The West Virginia Division of Culture and History s State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) provides an extensive list of the laws that pertain to cemeteries. However it is also important to understand that SHPO s role is limited. For example, SHPO can help you determine if a cemetery is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, and provide you information to help get that listing but not complete the application for you. Once a site is on the National Register, development grant funding may also be possible. For those who have been on the hunt for officials who can help preserve cemeteries or protect these sites from attack, SHPO is also not that organization. Unfortunately the agency has no authority to investigate damage, or to help enforce laws. SHPO also will not assist you in determining how to establish a cemetery or to help navigate the problems of access. Cemetery Legislation WV Code 61-8-14 Desecration of or damage to a cemetery, graveyard, or cemetery structure is a misdemeanor, fine limited to $2000, or up to one year. WV Code 37-13-1 through -7 Petitions must be made to and through the court system to remove, transfer or dispose of remains in gravesites on privately-owned land. WV Code 37-13A-1 through - 6 The right of ingress and egress to cemeteries by family, friends, descendants, plot owners or by any person engaging in genealogy research who has given reasonable notice to the owner or occupant. The access route may be designated by the landowner if no traditional access route is obviously visible by a view of the property. WV Code 16-5-21 through -22 Provides guidelines for interment and disinterment. It requires that permits for such actions be obtained from the county circuit court prior to any activity unless authorized to do so by court order. WV Code 29-1-8a protection for human burials and burial sites of historic significance. Cemeteries must have archaeological or historical importance to fall
under the protection of this law. Both misdemeanor and felony charges may result, and conviction carries fines up to $5000 and/or prison terms. WV Code 35-5-1 through -6 and 5A-1 through -8 regulate the governance of cemeteries, including the appointment of trustees, establishment of endowments for perpetual care, etc. 17-22-4. No advertising signs within five hundred feet of any cemetery except markers for underground utility facilities. 22-3-22. Establishes a 100-foot buffer around cemeteries for coal mining operations. 22-3-22a. Prohibits blasting within 100 feet of a cemetery (coal related). 54-1-2. That no lands shall be taken for cemetery purposes which lie within four hundred feet of a dwelling house, unless to extend the boundaries of an existing cemetery. Additional Resources WV Cemetery Inventory Form WV Division of Culture & History Guidelines for Evaluating and Registering Cemeteries National Park Service Evaluation for Cemetery Registration Advisory Council on Historic Preservation National Registry of Historic Places Database National Park Service The Search for the Descendants of James Bates Submitted by Debbie Campbell My great grandfather James Bates was born about 1795 in the state of Kentucky. My mother and I have researched this for years. DNA has been completed on James DNA and that of the ones in Barboursville. There was a perfect match both on paper and via DNA. James Bates died after Mar 1849 in Cabell County, VA. He was married to NANCY (last name unknown). Nancy was born around 1790 in VA, and died between the
years of 1870 to 1880 in Cabell County, VA. Children of JAMES BATES and NANCY are: THOMAS BATES, b. 1820, KY. HANNAH RACHEL BATES, b. 1821, KY; d. 13 Apr 1859, Cabell Co., VA GRISSON LEE BATES, b. 1827, KY; d. Aft. 1897, Wayne County, WV ANDREW JACKSON BATES, b. 21 Dec 1831, Cabell Co. Va.; d. 19 Sep 1898, Ona, Cabell Co., WV. ELIZABETH ANNE BATES, b. 1836, Cabell Co SUSAN A. BATES, b. 1838, FARELANDER ELLEN BATES, b. 1840, Cabell Co., VA; d. Bet. 1897-1900, Reid, Cabell Co., WV; m. HENRY KRATZER, 06 May 1887, Cabell County, WV; b. 1840, Brown County, Ohio; d. Mar 1895, Kanawha County, WV. THOMAS BATES (JAMES) was born 1820 in KY. He married LYDIA BATES 28 Nov 1844 in Lawrence County, Ohio. She was born 1825 in Ohio. Children of THOMAS BATES and LYDIA BATES are: ELIZABETH BATES, b. 1849, VA/WV GRISSEN L. BATES, b. 1851, VA/WV. HENRY M. BATES, b. 1854, VA/WV. WILLIAM BATES, b. 1856, KY. HANNAH RACHEL BATES (JAMES) was born 1821 in KY, and died 13 Apr 1859 in Cabell Co., VA. She married JAMES W. COOK, son of SOLOMON COOK and SARAH COOK. He was born 1820 in Monroe, VA. Children of HANNAH BATES and JAMES COOK are: JULIUS COOK, b. 1849, Dearborn Co. Indiana; m. JOSEPHINE HOWELL, 16 Feb 1871, Cabell County, WV THOMAS S COOK, b. 1850, Dearborn Co. Indiana. JAMES M. COOK, b. 09 Jun 1854 SUSAN COOK, b. 1857 MARY ELLEN COOK, b. Apr 1859; d. 17 Apr 1938; m. ELI WILLIAM WELLS, 18 Jan 1881, Cabell County; b. Dec 1854, Ohio; d. 1911
GRISSON LEE BATES (JAMES) was born 1827 in KY, and died after 1897 in Wayne County, WV. He married JULIA ANN COOK 02 Nov 1851 in Lawrence County, Ohio. She was born 1827 in West Virginia/VA, and died 25 May 1896 in Wayne Co., WV. Children of GRISSON BATES and JULIA COOK are: GEORGIA A. BATES, b. 26 Sep 1853, Cabell Co., WV; d. 26 Nov 1919, Huntington, WV; m. SAMUEL HALL, 26 Aug 1875, Cabell County, WV; b. 1853, Rockbridge Co., Va. PETER BATES, b. Dec 1855, Huntington, Cabell County, WV; d. 1917; m. (1) MARY CRAIG, 25 Sep 1877, Guyandotte, Cabell County, by J T Hysell; b. 16 May 1855, Rockbridge, Virginia; d. 29 Nov 1901, Huntington; m. (2) EFFIE J ARTHUR, 1903. MARY A BATES, b. 25 Jan 1857, Cabell Co., WV Four pole area. ANDREW BATES, b. 1858, Cabell County, WV. ELIZABETH ANN BATES (JAMES), b. 23 Nov 1862, WV; d. 27 Jul 1937; m. LABAN L. BROWN, 31 Jul 1883, The Home of G L Bates; b. 02 Nov 1860; d. 21 Jul 1916. IMELDA MARTHA BATES, b. 12 Apr 1864, Cabell, Co. WVa; d. 11 Mar 1955, Cabell, Co. WV; m. (1) GEORGE L. OWENS; b. 29 Oct 1855, Cabell, Co. Va.; d. 1906 (2) STANDARD SIMMONS, Boyd County KY; b. 04 Feb 1864; d. 04 Feb 1931; JOHN LEWIS BATES, b. 1866, Huntington, WV; d. 1932, Huntington, WV; m. (1) VIRGINIA LEE BAUGH, 14 Nov 1886, At the residence of Mrs. Pinkerton Wayne Co., WV; b. 1867, Lawrence County, KY; d. 1923, Cabell County, WV; m. (2) MARY MORROW Large, 24 Sep 1925, Cabell County, WV; b. 1880, Boyd County, KY; d. 24 Oct 1939, Harveytown, Cabell County, WV. ANDREW JACKSON BATES (JAMES) was born 21 Dec 1831 in Cabell Co. Va., and died 19 Sep 1898 in Ona, Cabell Co., WV. He married OLIVIA ELINOR CARDWELL 19 Dec 1859 in Lawrence County, Ohio, daughter of MONOAH CARDWELL and SARAH HOLLENBACK. She was born 15 Apr 1844 in Cabell County, Virginia, and died 10 Mar 1891 in Barboursville, Cabell County, WV. Children of ANDREW BATES and OLIVIA CARDWELL are: LUCY ELENA BATES, b. 23 Jan 1861, Cabell Co., WV; d. 21 Jan 1936; m. CHARLES HENRY BILLUPS, Nov 1879.
THOMAS JEFFERSON BATES, b. 29 Nov 1862, Cabell, Co. WV; d. 13 Sep 1924; m. (1) MATTIE DEAN, 02 May 1884, Cabell County, WV; b. Dec 1862, Virginia; m. (2) NANCY PATTERSON, 31 Jul 1893, Cabell County, WV; b. Tazewell, Tazewell County, VA. MANOAH NATHAN BATES, b. 04 Jan 1865, Cabell Co. Ona WV; d. 10 Feb 1946; m. REBECCA JANE PIKE, 05 Jun 1884, Cabell County, WV; b. 18 Jul 1868, Ohio; d. 08 Sep 1950, Cabell Co., WV. WILLIE ROMANZA BATES, b. 06 Dec 1867, Cabell Co. Ona WV; d. 09 Jul 1935, Cabell Co., WV; m. JOHN JACOB PATTERSON, 27 May 1888; b. Barboursville, Cabell Co., WV; d. Barboursville, Cabell Co., WV. ANNA MARTHA BATES, b. 22 Jun 1870, Cabell Co. Ona WV; d. 21 Apr 1891; m. ROBERT TAYLOR HALL, 13 Apr 1889. SARAH MELCENIA BATES, b. 21 Mar 1873, Cabell Co. Ona WV; d. 11 Apr 1874. NANCY BELLE ZORY BATES, b. 13 Mar 1875, Cabell Co., WV; d. 21 Nov 1938, Cabell Co., WV; m. WILLIAM THOMAS PATTERSON, 29 Mar 1896, Cabell County, WV; b. 16 Jun 1871, Tazewell County, VA; d. 07 Jun 1942, Cabell Co., WV. IDA MERIAM ELIZABETH BATES, b. 25 Dec 1877, Cabell, Co. WV; d. 20 Jun 1940; m. SAMUEL L. PIKE, Cabell County, WV MARY SUSAN BATES, b. 23 Oct 1880, Cabell Co. Ona WV; d. 04 Dec 1953, Cabell Co., WV; m. AMBROSE SAWYERS, 28 Aug 1895. INFANT BATES, b. 05 Jun 1883, Cabell Co. Ona WV; d. 05 Jun 1883, Ona WV ELIZA VICTORIA BATES, b. 04 Jun 1885, Cabell Co. Va.; d. 18 Jan 1907. ELIZABETH ANNE BATES (JAMES) was born 1836 in Cabell Co., WV. She married WILLIAM H. BILLY CHINN 20 Nov 1855 in Cabell County, WV. He was born 1836 in Lawrence County, OH. Children of ELIZABETH BATES and WILLIAM CHINN are: ALFRED CHINN, b. Abt. 1856 REBECCA J. CHINN, b. 1860. LEANDER W. CHINN, b. Dec 1860 ALBERT G. CHINN, b. 17 Nov 1864; d. 1940; m. JOSIE NANCY B. CHINN, b. Abt. 1865. JOHN W. CHINN, b. 29 Mar 1866.
DAISY D. CHINN, b. Abt. 1868 WILLIAM CHINN, b. Abt. 1871. NEVADA CHINN, b. 07 Jul 1877. JOSEPH LEONARD CHINN, b. 28 Oct 1879. I have not been able to make a definitive connection to the Bates in Lawrence County, Ohio out of Moses Bates (or any in Kentucky). I believe that the descendants of Moses Bates may have ended up in Lincoln County. Moses Bates was the son of Daniel Bates from Pittsylvania County, Virginia who was married to Lydia Bradshaw. Moses was born 9 May 1797 in Virginia and died 15 Nov 1872 in Lawrence County, Ohio. He first married Betsey Smith on 27 Dec 1824 in Lawrence County, Ohio. He later married Elizabeth Chinn (b. 1817 in Ohio), daughter of William Chinn and a Blackfoot woman born in Pennsylvania. Elizabeth Chinn and Moses Bates were married on 24 Sep 1840 in Lawrence County, Ohio. Born to this couple was John W. Bates (8 Apr 1858, Lawrence County, Ohio). John W., son of Moses Bates of Lawrence County Ohio, had a son named Samuel L. Bates who was married twice. First to Mary Susan Beckett and second to Julia J. Porter and was buried in the Lucas Porter Ross Cemetery on Madison Creek. Samuel owned land on Smith Creek. Samuel L. married Julia Porter and is buried in the Lucas Porter Ross Cemetery on Madison Creek in Salt Rock. He owned land on Smith Creek. I am interested in hearing any family stories about the Bates Family in Lincoln County. At the Archives Simeon Edward Vickers and Bertha Smoot Vickers Collection: Ms2009-091 This 2-box collection includes letters, postcards, and miscellaneous writings from 1861-1957 of the Vickers family of Horse Creek, West Virginia. Simeon Edward Vickers (18 June 1873-22 Nov 1955) married Bertha Pearl Smoot (4 Nov 1878 10 Aug 1960) April 1, 1896 in Lincoln County, WV. They raised their family on a farm
on Peter Cave Fork, Horse Creek, near Alkol, West Virginia. Children of Simeon and Bertha are: Artia [Arteagia] Sherwood Vickers (1897-1980) Flossie Reber Vickers Backus (1899 1946) Raymond Whitfield Vickers (1901-1971) Van Vernon Vickers (1902 1986) Pearl Ayrmen Vickers Egnor (1908- ) Pansy Sybil Vickers Lusher (1910-2000) Gabriel Edward Vickers (1913 1983) Millicent Ruth Vickers Kidd (1915 1989) Lillian Evangeline Vickers Fox (1923-) Favorite Photo Be sure to share your favorite photos in our newsletter. This photograph is reported as being taken in Hamlin during the 1950 s.
Lincoln County Genealogical Society Location: Hamlin-Lincoln Public Library, 7999 Lynn Avenue, Hamlin, WV 25523 Meetings: Members: Ideas: 2 nd Saturday every month at 10 am $10 for individuals, $15 for families, $25 premium Kimberly.Donahue@gmail.com Publications: Lincoln Roots 1900 Lincoln County Census, A-L, Annotated, $30 Lincoln Roots 1900 Lincoln County Census, M-Z, Annotated, $30 Lincoln County Delayed Birth Records, 1866-1899, $20 Who, When, & Where of Lincoln County, Volume 1 (1981), $20 The Curry Funeral Home Reports, $30 For more information, email Lula Yeager at luye3909@yahoo.com. www.facebook.com/groups/lcgswv