KYOWVA Genealogical and Historical Society

• President's Corner
  • - Message to Members
• Application Forms
  • - KYOWVA Membership
• Available Resources
  • - KYOWVA Newsletters
  • - Publications
  • - Surnames
  • - Queries
• Society Projects
  • - Oaklawn Cemetery Book

  Next Monthly Meeting:

  February 21, 2012, 7 p.m.

  All meetings are open to the general public. Programs begin 7:00 p.m. at the KYOWVA Library Room, Second Presbyterian Church, 901 Jefferson Avenue, Huntington, West Virginia.

  Society Projects

  The Oaklawn Cemetery Book, 200th Anniversary Cabell County History Book is still underway. See our Projects page for details.

  Visit KYOWVA

  Our library and offices are open 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday. Wednesday and Sunday hours are available by appointment only. Click here for information and directions to KYOWVA.

2011 Queries

DeFoe: I am looking for information about the DeFoe family from Cabell and Wayne counties. Also I have run into information that seems to indicate some couples would leave the state to obtain a marriage license. Does anyone know why? Also someone in Huntington should have the old DeFoe bible from William DeFoe 1800’s. Would anyone have info?
Contact: Richard Swann laserick@aol.com (Submitted 11 December 2011)

WITCHER: I have documents that belonged to John S. Witcher, including a marriage certificate and Commonwealth of Virginia document that says from the President and recorded in Volume 22 page 128 Adjutant General's office December 23, 1880. Signed by Secty of War 1880. I'd like to locate the family of this soldier. Any suggestions about places to call, email or post are appreciated. Regards, Greta.
Contact: G. Loughin shugrr22017@gmail.com Honea Path, SC (Submitted 3 July 2011)

BURGESS/CONARD: Hello. Can anyone help me with researching some family... I'm at a BRICK WALL!!!!! I'm trying to do this for my mother and I'm looking for any/all information on her parents and their ancestors: John William BURGESS - born April 1, 1880 Cabell/Wayne County??, West Virginia, died May 11, 1956 Cabell County, West Virginia - married - Della Mae CONARD - born (1885-1895?, Cabell/Wayne County??, West Virginia (unsure about this)), died July 15, 1965 Cabell County, West Virginia.  I think her parents are Bailey and Sarah Elizabeth Meadows Conard buried in Herrenkohl Cemetery, Cabell County, West Virginia, and I think John William Burgess' parents are Will and Sarah Ferguson Burgess, but that's about all I know. Evidently because of typos, Conard and Conrad seem interchangeable at times... just to help add to the confusion!! I'd like to know everything possible about these people and their families, but I just can't seem to find ANYTHING else! I'd really appreciate your help! Thank you VERY MUCH in advance for all your help and please feel free to pass my information on to anyone you might think would be interested, connected and/or be able to help. Sincerely,   Greg Martin. Researching surnames: Ash, Backus, Basnett, Becker, Benedum, Bennett, Bray, Burgess, Burnsides, Conard, Cremeans, Davisson, Dent, Evans, Esch, Ferguson, Foster, Graw, Hamsel, Hoskinson, Martin, Meadows, Shinn, Stevens, Stout, Swiger, Thomas, Weis, Williams, Willis, Yost, Zimmer.
Contact: Greg Martin gregmartingenealogy@juno.com (Submitted 19 May 2011)

Smith/Ward/Emmons/Neal: Am seeking parents of Austin SMITH (b 1812 Virginia or Ohio, d 1893 Guyandotte West Virginia).  He married three times: (1) Sarah WARD (b 1813 Ohio, md 1832 Lawrence County, Ohio, d. 1852).  (2) Lucy Ann EMMONS (b 1815 Virginia, md 1853 Ohio, d 1891 Guyandotte), and (3) Gilda Neal (b 1827, md 1892 Guyandotte, d 1909 Huntington West Virginia).  My current guess for Austin Smith's father is Augustine Smith (b Virginia, d Lawrence County, Ohio) but cannot document this.
Contact: Steve Treacy ptaddress@hotmail.com (Submitted 2 Dec 2011)