Caleb Headley

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Anthony Headley, Appalachia, Ballard Headley, Benjamin F. Headley, Caleb D. Headley, Caleb Headley, Caleb S. Headley, Catlettsburg, Christian Church, civil war, commissioner of revenue, Elisha Headley, Elizabeth J. Headley, Elizabeth Jane Farley, Fourteen, Fourteen Mile Creek, genealogy, George W. Headley, Guyandotte River, Henry H. Hardesty, history, Ida Cosby Fry, Johnny Headley, justice of the peace, Kentucky, Lincoln County, Logan County, Margaret Headley, Methodist Church, Nancy Headley, Pennsylvania, physician, Sarah A. Headley, Sarah Headley, Sulphur Spring Fork, Thomas Headley, Thomas J. Headley, Union Army, Virginia, West Virginia, Wetzel County, Will Headley, William Farley

From “Hardesty’s History of Lincoln County, West Virginia,” published by H.H. Hardesty, we find this entry for Caleb Headley, who resided at Fourteen in Lincoln County, West Virginia:

Has for nearly fifty years been a practicing physician. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1808, and his parents Thomas and Sarah (Asher) Headley, are both deceased. Caleb Headley has been twice married, his first wife, Nancy Wright, a Pennsylvanian, left him eight children: Elizabeth J., born June 2, 1829; Thomas J., November 23, 18931; Sarah A., December 8, 1833; Caleb S., March 30, 1838; George W., May 21, 1839; Benjamin F., May 31, 1841; Anthony, June 3, 1844; Elisha, born August 1, 1850. Mr. Headley was again married in Catlettsburg, Kentucky, to Sarah A. Farley, and the children of this union number six, born as follows: John T., April 20, 1867; Ida C., March 23, 1869; Caleb D., February 22, 1872; William F., August 25, 1875; Margaret, March 28, 1878; Ballard C., April 14, 1880. Mrs. Headley was born in Logan county, (now) West Virginia, May 26, 1849, and her parents, William and Elizabeth Jane (Clark) Farley, settled in Lincoln county in 1844. Caleb Headley came to Lincoln county in 1866, and is now a prosperous farmer, owning 600 acres of good land on Fourteen-mile creek, a portion of which is heavily timbered with oak, poplar and pine; coal and iron ore in abundance. There is a fine sulphur spring upon the land, on the creek three miles from Guyan river, which has been visited by people from many parts of the United States, and it is pronounced of excellent medicinal quality by all. Dr. Headley was commissioner of revenue one term, and was justice of the peace sixteen years in Wetzel county, West Virginia. He was in the late war, and ranked as captain of a company. Dr. Headley was a member of the Methodist Church for forty years, but on coming to Lincoln county, there was no church of that denomination, and he united with the Christian Church. His father was also a physician for many years. Direct mail to Fourteen, Lincoln county, West Virginia.

Source: The West Virginia Encyclopedia, Vol. 7 (Richwood, WV: Jim Comstock, 1974), p. 135.

Note: Caleb Headley is my great-great-great-grandfather through his daughter, Ida Cosby (Headley) Fry.

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Harts Creek Area Deed Index (1875-1910)

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A.H. Sanders, A.P. Sanders, Andrew J. Browning, Appalachia, Big Branch, Big Ugly Creek, Broad Branch, Brooks Summerville, Buck Lick Branch, Cassander Spurlcok, Charles Bowden Brumfield, Chloe Maynard, Climena Lucas, Clinton Spurlock, Daisy Brumfield, Ellen Ferguson, Evermont Ward Fry, F.F. Starcher, Fourteen Mile Creek, Francis Fork, G.H. Chenoweth, genealogy, George F. Miller, Giles Davis, Granville Mullins, Green Shoal Creek, Guyandotte River, Harts Creek, Henry C. Sias, Hezekiah Adkins, history, Hugh Evans, Isaac Gartin, J.H. Meeks, J.W. Breeding, J.W. Stowers, James C. Tomblin, James D. Porter, James I. Kuhn, Johnny Headley, Joseph E. Chilton, Joseph Gartin, Joseph Maynard, Julia Yantis Walker, Kiahs Creek, Koontz Realty Company, L.V. Koontz, Laurel Fork, Lena Ferrell, Leonard Lucas, Lettie Belle Fowler, Limestone Branch, Lincoln County, Lincoln Fuel Oil and Lumber Company, Mary A. Mullen, Mary Maynard, Midkiff, Nary Gartin, Nine Mile Creek, O.J. Wilkinson, Panther Branch, Patsy Ann Porter, Patterson Toney, Philip Hager, Polly Browning, Smith Ferrell, Squire Toney, Sulphur Spring Fork, Sylvanis Neace, Tucker Fry, Twelve Pole Creek, W.C. Mullen, W.L. Rector, W.L. Starcher, W.T. Gillenwater, Wallace Hager, West Virginia, William U. Stollings, Wirt Toney

The following deed index is based on Deed Book 53 at the Lincoln County Clerk’s Office in Hamlin, WV, and relates to residents of the Harts Creek community. Most notations reflect Harts Creek citizens engaged in local land transactions; some reflect Harts Creek citizens engaged in land transactions outside of the community. These notes are meant to serve as a reference to Deed Book 53. Researchers who desire the most accurate version of this material are urged to consult the actual record book.

Hezikiah Adkins to Julia Y. Walker     25 acres on West Side of Guyan River     7 January 1909     Fisher B. Adkins, NP     p. 40

Polly Browning to Joseph Maynard     75 acres Laurel Branch of Twelve Pole Creek     14 January 1905     Hugh Evans, JP    p. 412-413

Daisy Brumfield to Charley Brumfield     68 acres Big Branch of Big Ugly     7 September 1907     p. 219-220

J.E. Chilton to Lettie B. Fowler     150 acres East Side of Guyandotte River     15 February 1883     p. 365-366

G.D. Davis to Koontz Realty Company     113 3/5 acres (mineral)     8 May 1907     p. 329

Ellen Ferguson to L.V. Koontz     79 4/5 acres on Green Shoal Creek     14 December 1906     p. 304-305

Lena Ferrell to A.H. Sanders     49 acres (oil and gas)     5 December 1906     p. 305-306

D.C. Fry to Koontz Realty Company     4 acres     8 May 1907     p. 320-321

D.C. Fry to Koontz Realty Company     90 acres Green Shoal Creek     8 May 1907     p. 322-323

Joseph and Nary Gartin to W.R. and Mary Lucas and L.C. and Climina Lucas     75 and 15 acres on Sulpher Spring Fork of Fourteen Mile Creek     8 January 1910     p. 45-46

W.T. Gillenwater to Koontz Realty Company     82 acres (mineral)     16 July 1907     p. 315-316

Philip Hager to Koontz Realty Company     136 1/2 acres     17 May 1907     p. 318-319

Wallace Hager to Smith Ferrell     158 acres Broad Branch of Big Ugly     4 April 1907     R.E. Lowe, JP     p. 166-167

L.V. Koontz to Koontz Realty Company     799 2/3 acres Big Ugly Creek     24 June 1907     p. 310-311

J.I. Kuhn to Isaac G. Gartin     75 acres Little Harts Creek     1 September 1879     p. 281-284

J.I. Kuhn to Climenia Lucas et al     496 acres on Fourteen Mile Creek     6 June 1880     p. 288-291

James I. Kuhn to William Mann and Isaac Garten     1 August 1879     Francis Fork of Hezekiah Creek     p. 285-288

Lincoln Fuel, Oil, and Lumber Company v. A.P. Sanders, W.C. Mullen, and Mary A. Mullen     correction to deed     5 October 1910     p. 243-244

L.C. Lucas to Climena Lucas     37 acres on Fourteen Mile Creek     13 December 1909     p. 53

Chloe Maynard to Joseph Maynard     100 acres Twelve Pole Creek     10 October 1907     p. 410-411

Mary Maynard to Joseph Maynard     85 acres Twelve Pole Creek     21 October 1905     p. 409-410

George F. Miller to Koontz Realty Company     33 acres (mineral)     13 May 1907     p. 317-318

Granville Mullins to William U. Stollings     10 acres Limestone Branch     28 March 1910     p. 416

Sylvanis Neace to J.W. Breeding     75 acres on Buck Lick Branch of Guyandotte River (Laurel Hill District)     12 February 1910     p. 133-134

J.D. Porter et ux to W.L. Rector     Big Ugly Creek     27 March 1902     p. 333-339

Patsy Ann Porter to Joseph Maynard     Tract on Ridge Between Laurel Branch and Wiley Branch     4 August 1908     p. 414-415

W.L. Rector et ux to G.H. Chenoweth 3/16 undivided interest in tracts on Harts Creek and Big Ugly Creek     28 December 1903     p. 340-

W.L. Starcher et ux to F.F. Starcher     interest in four tracts on Big Ugly Creek    27 September 1907     p. 347-349

A.H. Sanders et ux to L.V. Koontz     Stowers Farm on Green Shoal     10 December 1906     p. 288-291

A.H. Sanders et ux to L.V. Koontz     49 acres on Big Ugly Creek     12 March 1907     p. 301

A.H. Sanders et al declaration of trust to A.P. Sanders     25 July 1907     p. 329

A.P. Sanders to W.C. Mullen     150 acres Big Ugly Creek     2 October 1907     p. 164-165

A.P. Sanders to A.H. Sanders     278 acres Lick Branch of Laurel Fork of Big Ugly     31 October 1907     p. 227-228

Henry C. Sias to John T. Headley     75 acres on Steer Fork of Fourteen Mile Creek     17 February 1909     p. 1-2

Cassander Spurlock et ux to A.H. Sanders     89 1/3 acres on Big Ugly Creek     5 December 1906     p. 307-308

Clinton Spurlock et ux to E.W. Fry et ux     15 acres near Nine Mile Creek on Guyandotte River     3 June 1901     p. 194

Clinton Spurlock to Clinton Spurlock and E.W. Fry     7360 square feet at Midkiff     1 January 1906     p. 195-196

J.W. Stowers et al to A.H. Sanders     144 1/3 acres     7 December 1906     p. 308-309

Brooks Summerville et ux to F.F. Starcher     interest in four tracts on Big Ugly Creek     1 November 1907     p. 346-347

James C. Tomblin to Andrew J. Browning     Painter Branch, Big Branch of Harts Creek     19 March 1875     Jeremiah Lambert, JP     p. 170-171

Patterson Toney et ux to L.V. Koontz     437 acres on Big Ugly Creek     29 December 1906     p. 302-303

Squire Toney et ux to Koontz Realty Company     295 52/100 acres Big Ugly Creek (mineral)     27 June 1907     p. 312-314

Wirt Toney et ux to Koontz Realty Company     203 61/100 acres (mineral)     4 May 1907     p. 324-326

O.J. Wilkinson, commissioner of school lands, to J.H. Meeks, trustee     1 February 1910     Piney Fork of East Fork     p. 104-105 [references Abner Vance]

NOTE: I copied all of these deeds.

Church of Jesus Christ, General Assembly (1915)

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A.B. Workman, Addison Vance, Allen Fry, Band of Hope Church, Bartram Fork Church, Charles Workman, David Farley, David Thompson, Ed Curnutte, F.M. Merritt, Fisher B. Adkins, Fletcher Loyd, genealogy, General Assembly, George Tucker Hensley, Gill Church, Grover Gartin, Guyan Church, H.L. Stevens, Harkins Fry, history, Isaac Marion Nelson, James Chafin Brumfield, James Hensley, Jeff Lucas, John Gartin, John McCloud, John Workman, Johnny Headley, Low Gap Church, Lower Laurel Church, Mont Steel, Montana Church, Mount Era Church, P. Snow, Pilgrims Rest Church, Radnor, Radnor Church, Ranger Church, Sam Ferguson, Stephen Yank Mullins, Steward Porter, T. Parson, W.F. Adkins, Wayne County, West Virginia, Whirlwind Church, Will Farley, William Adams, William Alderson Adkins

General Assembly of the Church of Jesus Christ, meeting at Radnor, Wayne County, WV, 1915

Caleb Headley 5

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Appalachia, Caleb Headley, Fourteen, genealogy, Gladys Kirk, history, Johnny Headley, Moses Headley, Sarah Headley, Ward Adkins, West Virginia, Will Headley, writing

On July 18, 1903, Billy and Sarah Sias, with Sarah and Moses C. Headley, sold 30 of the remaining 34 acres of Caleb Headley’s estate to Cosby (Headley) Fry. It was located just across the creek from Caleb’s old home place.

“Beginning on a beech and white oak corner to John H. Fry & the company on a point below the Hinkles branch thence,” the deed for this 30-acre tract reads, “with John H. Fry line to Albert Neace corner thence with said Neace line to S.A. Sias corner thence down the creek with the meander of said creek to the mouth of the branch opposite Sarah Headley house she now lives in thence up said branch to the mouth of the first drain on the lower side of said branch thence up said drain to the back line between the company & Caleb Headley deceased thence with said line to the beginning it being part of Caleb Headley’s deceased.”

The remaining four acres of Caleb Headley’s estate remained in tax books from 1903 until 1910, when it was dropped with the following notation: “improper by sheriff.” Oddly enough, its value had risen from $2.50 per acre to $4.00 per acre in 1905.

In 1903, the same year Sarah and Moses Headley sold the remainder of the family estate to the Frys, they bought 45 acres of land (containing the original home place) from Sarah Sias. They kept it until 1909, when they sold it to Zack Neace. In 1918, Neace sold it to Van Alford, a son-in-law to Johnny Headley.

By the early twenties, Sarah Headley still made her home with her single sons, Ballard and Moses. In 1922, Moses married Lizzie Nelson (at his residence according to records) and soon left Sulphur for good. First, he settled in Chapmanville, then South Charleston, where he died and was buried.

“Uncle Mose married Lizzie Nelson and moved to Chapmanville,” said Ward Adkins, late resident of Sulphur Springs, in a 2003 interview. “He lived in a log cabin he had built and moved in there before they even finished a floor.”

In 1924, Ballard Headley married Claire D. Clark. About that same time, Will Headley opened a store near his home at the mouth of Sulphur.

“They had a small grocery store, him and Maw, from about 1924 until about 1927 just over from where the church house is now,” said Adkins.

In July of 1929, Johnny Headley’s wife, Emaline, died of dysentery flux and he remarried early the following year to widow named Emarine Elkins.

Throughout that time, Sarah Headley just came and went, staying with first one relative and then another.

“Ever since I can remember she would drop in and maybe stay a week with us, then she’d go somewhere else and stay,” said Adkins. “She’d go up on Harts Creek a lot of times and stay. She’d stay with Bal maybe a week and Uncle Johnny over on Steer Fork.”

“She used to come to Grandpa Johnny Headley’s and stay a few nights,” said the late Gladys Kirk, a granddaughter of Johnny Headley and a resident of West Fork. “Then she would go on back to Will’s. I was small at that time, maybe eight or nine years old. She wouldn’t do anything. She’d sit around. She was too feeble to cook or anything. She held on to a big red handkerchief she packed with her everywhere she went. It was folded. We never got to look in it but it looked like she had something in it. She told someone it was her burying clothes, whatever that meant. And when Grandmaw Headley would get meals ready Grandma Sarah would make the kids line up and she’d say, ‘They’s nobody going to the table to eat until they washed their hands.'”

Around 1935-36, Sarah Headley moved in with Will permanently.

“I guess she finally got too old to go from place to place,” said Adkins. “Anyhow, she come to our house and stayed there till she died. She’d got rid of her furniture by then but she had a whole set of these old big woven baskets she kept her clothes in. She was a kind person. I liked to hear her tell tales, you know. And I don’t know how many skirts she would have on at once. Six or seven — maybe more. She’d pull up that apron, run her hand down in there, get her pipe and her tobacco out. She died in 1945 when I was away fighting in World War II.”

Caleb Headley 3

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Appalachia, Burl Farley, Caleb Headley, Cole and Crane Company, genealogy, history, John Henan Fry, Johnny Headley, Moses Headley, Sarah Headley, Ward Adkins, Will Headley, writing

In 1881, Dr. Caleb Headley died of a lingering Civil War wound, leaving his young widow, Sarah, in a tough predicament. As the 32-year-old mother of six children — ranging in age from fifteen to two — she assumed charge of the family estate (a $100 house and 455 total acres), all of which was situated on a creek where she had no in-laws or immediate family to assist her. She chose not to remarry but did commence some sort of an affair with a Porter, which resulted in the birth of a son named Moses C. Headley on December 20, 1884.

The initial task of keeping the family afloat financially fell on Caleb’s oldest son, Johnny Headley. “After Caleb died, Uncle Johnny had to keep Grandma Sarah, and his brothers and sisters,” said Ward Adkins, an 81-year-old step-great-grandson to Doctor Headley, in a 2003 interview. “He ran rafts and made whisky and he farmed to make money. Everybody made whisky. It wasn’t a big thing.” In the mid-1880s, Johnny Headley married Emaline Susan Sias, a daughter of Henry C. and Sarah (Plumley) Sias, and settled on nearby Steer Fork.

Sarah, meanwhile, deeded off large parts of her property to provide for her remaining children. In 1884, she sold 174 acres of the family property to William A. “Billy” Sias, a neighbor and son of the local postmaster. Two years later, she sold 160 acres adjoining the homeplace to John Neace.

Around that time, her oldest daughter, Ida Cosby Headley, married John Henan Fry, a son of Christian T. and Elizabeth (Hunter) Fry of Green Shoal. They settled near Sarah on Sulphur. “Old man John Henan Fry was a quiet, docile kind of fellow and easy-going,” said Adkins. “Aunt Cos was awful good to kids, but now some of her boys were pretty rough and kind of sneaky. They’d pilfer a few things along the way from neighbors. They said they had a big cave up in that hollow and it was plumb full of chicken feathers and bones and geese feathers where they’d steal them chickens and things and take them up there and eat them. They just done as they pleased.” John Henan and Cosby Fry remained nearby until 1923, when they moved to Daisy in Logan County. (In 1925, Everett and Annie Sias bought their property.)

In the late 1880s, based on tax records, Sarah Headley’s financial woes continued. The valuation of her home, estimated at $100 from 1882 until 1887, dropped to $50 by 1890, before finally leaving the record books altogether by 1891. In that same time frame, the Headley home was destroyed by fire.

“Will said when he was eleven or twelve years old, the house burned and the family almost starved to death,” said Adkins. “He said the corn crib was close enough to the house when it burned that the fire parched all the corn. Well, they ground that corn up in an old coffee grounder, I guess. Then they’d ‘thrash’ birds at night using pine knots for light. One would kick the brush pile and scare the birds out and the other one would take the brush and knock them down. And Will said they’d clean them birds and cook them in with that parched corn they ground up and make a gruel. They ate that all winter. They had it tough. Grandma Sarah dug may apples and sold them for three cents per hundred pound.”

In this time of extreme hardness, Will Headley, Sarah’s third oldest son, went to live with her brother, Burl Farley, a wealthy timber man on Big Harts Creek in Logan County.

“When Will was about twelve year old, he went up on Harts Creek somewhere to stay with his uncle Burl Farley,” said Adkins. “Uncle Burl was pretty well to do. He worked for Cole and Crane Timber Company up on Pigeon Creek — the Brown’s Fork of Pigeon, I believe Will said. Will worked up there with him. Uncle Burl ran the timber part of it and Granddad took care of the stables and ran errands.”

“Will used to pushboat for a company on the Guyan River,” Adkins continued. “They took stuff out like ginseng. He told me it was so cold one winter — you might have heard them talk about that cold Friday or cold Saturday — his ears froze and busted. He said they bought chickens where they tied up for the night and they would dip them down in the water and pull them back out and all them feathers would just pull right out. He called it ‘scalding them’ but it wasn’t. It was just so cold it shrunk their skin up and the feathers come out easy.”