Feature: Elmer Dennis Hopkins 60 Years Ago: Elmer Dennis Hopkins retired from the Louisville and Nashville Railroad 28 April 1960. Except for a break of less than 10 months for service in the U.S. Army from May 1918 to June 1919, he had worked for L & N since 15 December 1915.1 Elmer was working […]
Mullins
This Week in the Family History: March 29–April 4
Feature: James Bailey Hankins 103 Years Ago: Three days after his 16th birthday, James Bailey Hankins enlisted in the U.S. Army on 30 March 1917 at Earlington, Hopkins County, Kentucky.1 His brother William Perry had joined several months earlier on 3 October 1916,2 and their brother Albert Elvie joined a year later on 20 March […]
This Week in the Family History: February 23–29
Feature: Lillie Vashti Lanier 110 Years Ago: Lillie Vashti Lanier married Jesse H. Walls 26 February 1910 in Fulton County, Georgia.1 They lived at 9 Carroll PL in Atlanta when the 1910 U.S. census was taken 4 May 1910.2 How long Lillie and Jesse were married and where they lived after 1910 is unknown. They […]
This Week in the Family History: January 26–February 1
Feature: David Gamble 206 Years Ago: David Gamble was drafted into Nash’s Regiment of the South Carolina Volunteer Milita 1 February 1814 while living in Laurens District. He served as a sergeant in Captain Nathaniel T. Martin’s Infantry Company until 10 August 1814.1 David lived in Heard County, Georgia when he applied for bounty […]
This Week in the Family History: May 1–7
May 1 ► 239 years ago: Elizabeth “Betsey” Berry was born in 1777 in Virginia. [Hankins line] ► 163 years ago: Spencer Mullins died in 1853 in Rockcastle County, Kentucky [Taylor line] ► 107 years ago: Joseph Smith Lanier died in 1909 (location unknown). [McCauley line] May 3 ► 5 years ago: Kathryn Louise “Katie” […]
This Week in the Family History: March 27–April 2
March 27 ► 115 years ago: James Bailey Hankins was born in 1901 in Dalton, Hopkins County, Kentucky. [Hankins line] March 30 ► 250 years ago: Winifred Mullins was born in 1766. [Taylor line] April 2 ► 122 years ago: Elmer Dennis Hopkins was born in 1894 in Wallins Creek, Harlan County, Kentucky. [Hopkins […]
Thoughts on a Short Walk at Cumberland Gap
Last Saturday, I went for a walk at Cumberland Gap — Within the Shadows of the Cumberland Gap Heritage Walk. It took less than two hours to walk the 1.2 mile stretch of Wilderness Road Trail, stopping along the way to watch presentations by “former” Gap travelers. My ancestors who came to Kentucky through the Gap […]
My Maternal Direct Line “Brick Wall”
“How far back can any of you take your direct female line?” That is the question someone asked this week on the Rockcastle and Laurel County, Kentucky Facebook group page. I gave a quick answer but thought it deserved a closer look in honor of Women’s History Month. Starting with my maternal grandmother my direct […]
Surname Saturday – Owens
Wesley Owens and Louis Mullins Wesley Owens was born on 20 May 1801 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. He was the 10th of 13 children born to David Owens and Winifred Mullins. The family moved to Rockcastle County, Kentucky between 1800 and 1810 along with Winifred’s parents and several of her brothers. Louis Mullins […]
Surname Saturday – Owens
Alfred Owens and Rebecca Mullins Alfred Owens was born on 20 Sep 1803 probably in Wilkes County, North Carolina but possibly in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. He was the 11th of 13 children born to David Owens and Winifred Mullins. The family moved to Rockcastle County, Kentucky between 1800 and 1810 along with Winifred’s parents […]