KY-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest 9 Apr 2001 Volume 01 : Issue 55 ______________________________X-Message: #1 Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 08:26:50 EDT From: Brice53218@aol.com Subject: OBIT: Elizabeth Simpson Napier, d. 2001, Garrard Co Lexington Herald Leader - 09 Apr 2001 LANCASTER Elizabeth Simpson Napier, 70, Old Richmond Road, Crab Orchard, mother of Robert W. Napier of Danville, died yesterday. Services 1 p.m. Tuesday, Harmons Lick Church of God. Visitation 6-9 p.m. today, church. Ramsey Funeral Home in charge. ______________________________X-Message: #2 From: Kelly Courtney-Blizzard [mailto:k.blizzard@verizon.net] Sent: Monday, April 09, 2001 7:22 PM Subject: ANNIV: Willoughby, 1931, Madison Co FRIENDS FROM MANY STATES JOIN LYSITE COUPLE IN GOLDEN WEDDING CELEBRATION. Mr. and Mrs. Sid Willoughby Are Feted with Dinner Feast and Program By Mrs. J. W. Patterson. Casper Tribune 1931 Lysite, Wyo.----(Special)---Tuesday was a golden day, the kind of day you read about in story books. It is a day moreover that will never be forgotten by the people of Lysite for on that day over 400 people gathered in Lysite at the Willoughby hotel to pay respects to Mr. Mrs. Sid Willoughby on their golden wedding anniversary; for fifty years ago Tuesday, June 23, 1931, petite and lovely Nannie Irvin Benton of the starry eyes and dusky wavy hair, a Kentucky belle of just nineteen summers, placed her hand and heart in the keeping of a stalwart, young Kentuckian, by name, Sid Willoughby, then a youth of twenty-two years. The Willoughby's were married at the bride's home in the early evening of June 1881. After the wedding supper the bride and groom crossed the Kentucky river by ferry to their new home at College Hill near Richmond, Kentucky; where the happy young couple became part of the household of Mr. Willoughby's parents.. At the golden wedding celebration at the Willoughby hotel, Tuesday, there were guests from Montana, Idaho, California, Nebraska, Louisana, Texas, Colorado, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, and of course scores of towns in Wyoming. The great number present showed how highly Mr. and Mrs. are esteemed by not only the community of Lysite but by everybody in whatever community they have lived. To many in this community Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby have been almost parents. Infact, they are called Mother and Father Willoughby by many, to whom they are not related. All the children of Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby, all their children by marriage, except one daughter in-law and one son-in-law and all their grandchildren except two were present. Four generations were represented as the Willoughby's now have one great grandchild. Dinner was served cafeteria style, a little after noon. The menu consisted of baked beans, boiled ham, rolls, chicken salad, sliced tomatoes, coffee, ice cream, and many, many lovely cakes. The biggest cake---made of six separate cakes in pyramid formation all snowy white and decorated with a lovely rose design---was made by the women of Lysite. The crowd was so large that it found necassary to hold the program of the afternoon in the hall. The program opened with a few well chosen words by Percy Shallenberger. Mr. Shallenberger then played the piano while Dr. Jewell, son-in-law of the Willoughby's played the violin. Dr. E. L. Jewell and Mr. Shallenberger very appropriately played "Long, Long Ago, "The Banks of the Wabash," (the Willoughby's lived in Indiana for awhile) , and "My Old Kentucky Home," Kentucky being the state where Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby were married a half century ago. Mrs. John Day, of Lysite then sang two very much appreciated selections, one of which was the Rosary. Mrs. Casill, who was formerly taught school in Lysite, Mrs. Glenn Lewis and Mrs. Lovina Johnson, local pastor and postmistress then sang some delightful old melodies, including "When You and I Were Young Maggie," and "Mother Machree." Mrs. Frank Jackson accompanying them on piano. Domingo LaRaury next entertained the audience with so! me gay little pieces on the guitar. Miss Frances Rate then entertained those present with a whimsical planologue, accompanied by Mrs. Van G. Okie. After this, Mrs. Okie who has sung professionally in Hollywood, Los Angeles and New York, charmed the audience with several selections from grand opera. Mrs. Okie seemed to be able to do anything she wished with her voice and her singing Tuesday showed that she was an artist of note. Mrs. Okie appeared to be very versatile for she played the piano, sang and then read a number of delightful negro dialect selections, which were humorous and harmonized with the holiday mood of those present. Mrs. Okie and Miss Frances Rate, artist pupil and a girl of great personal charm and talent next rendered some delightful old medleys in a duet. Mabel Jean Willoughby, granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby followed with a selection on the piano. Mabel Jean is just a little girl and she played a difficult piece very well indeed. Henry M. Jensen came next with some selections that are dear to those a generation ago. Mr. Jensen, accompanied by Mrs. Frank Jackson sang, "O Promise Me," and "Silver Threads Among the Gold." The mock wedding, which was the surprise for the day, followed. The mock wedding seemed to be the climax of the day and kept the audience in merry gales of laughter. Van G. Okie was best man, Frances Rate was the groom, John Hayden (a Denver boy) was the flower girl; John was dressed as no flower girl ever was or since dressed, his flowers consisted of gaily tied bunches of lettuce, onions and cabbage; Mrs. Van G. Okie was the bride, Frank Rate represented the bride's father and Livia Cunningham, a granddaughter of the Willoughby's was the brides's maid, while Mrs. Johnson officiated as the one who tied the blushing bride and groom together for better or worse. Mrs. John Day in a few well chosen words expressed to the Willoughby's on behalf -of the people of Lysite the community's appreciation for their fine helpful lives in this community and then prsented them with about $100 in gold. Mrs. Willoughby replied very sweetly in her genteel voice after which Mrs. Casill gave an interesting talk on the Willoughby's. Mrs. Casill also quoted some very lovely approprite poetry. A number of friends of the Willoughby's talked and gave reminiscenses after which Martin Basket, woolbuyer of Casper, introduced the Willoughby's and all their children to the audience. It was an inspiring sight to see Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby and all their children, now grown to manhood and womanhood standing before the audience. It reminded one of the good woman in the Bible where it states that her children shall rise up to call her blessed. Each of the children said a few words. Some spoke humorously and some seriously, but all spoke appropriately and a bystander could see that they were all cognizant of the sterling, fine couple who stood before them, their father and mother. The children seemed to feel the truth of those words of Robert Browning when he said: "Youth shows but half: trust God: see all, nor be afraid!" An account of a golden wedding would be incomplete without a brief resume of the bride and groom's life. After Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby were married in 1881, they lived at College Hill near Richmond, Kentucky for about eight years. There Harris (Loveland, Colo.); Hattie (Mrs. Dave Laing of Pasadena, Cal.); Eliza (Mrs. Johnson of Pasadena, Cal.); and Livia (Mrs. E. L. Jewell of Shoshoni) were born. The Willoughby's moved to Illinois and lived for a time near Bloomington. There Jessie (Mrs. B.F. Cunningham of Lysite) and Martin (deceased) were born. In 1896 the little growing family moved to Indiana where Walker (Saratoga, Wyo.) was born in 1899, the family accompanied by the family of Charlie Swaim took the train for Casper, Wyo. Casper was at that time the end of the railroad, a "cow town." Mr. Swaim met the Willoughby family and his own in Casper from where the two famlies started their long trip by spring wagon to Lost Cabin. The first night the little company spent at the Henry Johnson ranch near Casper; the next night they spent at Powder River, a stage station, at which place the stage driver let them sleep in his tent, and the following night, which was the first of May, they spread out a big tarpaulin and slept out in the open, fifteen in one bed.' The little party from Indiana were dressed light and they were severely chilled that night for it snowed about four inches; but thanks to the climate and air of Wyoming no one took cold. The following day the adventurers reached Lost Cabin where they felt the true hospitality of the west in general and Wyoming in particular. They stopped to fix their lunch at a sheep camp and a herder courteously added his supplies to their lunch and did all he could to make the newcomers feel at home. When the new arrivals entered the Lost Cabin store, everybody for some distance started to come into the store on pretext of bread or something in order that they might see the new settlers, as so many of the men in this part of the country had not seen women and children for many years. The party got rooms at J.B. Oakie's place. Mr. Willoughby and Harris, then a man of 17, went to the dining room to eat, however, it was in the days of the wild and wooly west where the west was the west we now read of in western story magazines and Mrs. Willoughby and the rest of the party had their meals brought to them as they did not care to enter the public dining room. Shortly afterward the Willoughbys bought a two room cottage at Lost Cabin from Ed Knap and the following year they added about fifteen rooms and started a hotel. This was in 1900. Here at Lost Cabin, Robert (now a rising young doctor in New Orleans, Louisiana) was born. In 1914, the Willoughbys, tore down their Lost Cabin hotel and had it moved to Lysite where they rebuilt it. This is now the pretty white Willoughby hotel, known for its hospitality for miles around as it stands today. The Willoughbys have been in Wyoming continously since then, except for a short trip back to Kentucky and another to California, until they have become a part and parcel of this country, loved and respected by all who have had this privilege of calling them friends. Many beautiful and appropriate gifts were received by the Willoughbys on their golden wedding anniversary, so many that if they should be named, a column would be necessary. They also received many telegrams of congratulations from friends who could not be present. A list of the guests would also be out of the question, because of the space that would be required, however, among prominent Casper-ites were noted Mr. J.A. Leary, division freight passenger agent for the C. B. & Q. railroad at Casper who represented the Burlington. Mr. J.C. Grisinger, superintendent, could not attend. The Burlington was also represented by the presence of Mr. Waygood, roadmaster, Mr. Peterson, lineman and local agent. The Willoughbys were known and loved by many Burlington employees for during the washout in 1923 the Willoughby hotel was home to most of the workers. Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Crossley and three children of Hyannis, Neb., were also present at this happy occasion. Mrs. Crossley, it might be remembered, was one of the girls of the Swaim family who made the trip from Casper to Lost Cabin via a spring wagon. Two romances blossomed out of this trip for it was in Lost Cabin that Mrs. Crossley and Mrs. Laing (Hattie Willoughby) met two dashing young cowpunchers from Montana, but thereby hang another tale. Submitted by VRootrose@aol.com ______________________________X-Message: #3 Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 08:52:41 -0400 From: "Mary Ann Merritt" Subject: BIO: Abuid Fairchild, Johnson Co. KY From: Ann Whalen Abuid Fairchild, Paintsville, Johnson County, Kentucky: Abiud Fairchild, a Revolutionary War soldier, was the progenitor of one branch of the Fairchild family of Eastern Kentucky. On February 18, 1834, he appeared in open court before the justices of the Floyd County, Kentucky Court and filed his declaration for a pension on account of his services in the Revolutionary War., wherein he stated, among other things, that he was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, in 1762, and that he removed to, and lived in Wilkes County, North Carolina until 1808 when he removed to Floyd County, Kentucky; that he first entered the service as a drafted soldier on or about October 10, 1778, in a Company of North Carolina Militia of which John Robbins was Captain; and that he joined his company at Wilkesborough, Wilkes County, North Carolina; and Captain Robbins not joining, William Gillery, the Lieutenant of the Company took command and commanded the Company throughout the whole tour, William Sutton, the ensign acting as lieutenant, and the sergeant, whose name to the best of his recollection was James Lewis, acting as ensign; that from Wilkesborough he marched with his Company via Salisbury, Charlotte, and Camden, South Carolina to Perosburg they marched up the Savannah River to Three Sisters, at which place his company, under Captain Gillery, left the other troops and marched down the river about three miles to White House where they remained on garrison duty to guard a ferry on the Savannah River for about six weeks, when they marched to Turkey Hill where they were discharged on April 10, 1779, Captain or Lieutenant Gillery signing his discharge; that from April 10, 1779 to June 1, 1780 he served as a volunteer on short excursions under orders of Colonel Benjamin Cleaveland to proceed in pursuit of the Tories and to report as to their strength, etc; that is the latter part of June or the first of July, 1780, he volunteered and joined for duty under Colonel Benjamin Cleveland at Wilkesborough, North Carolina, and was placed in a company by Colonel Cleveland, the names of the officers not remembered; and that in July, 1780, the company, Colonel Cleveland commanding, marched to Ramsour's Mills (North Carolina), arriving there after the battle (June 20, 1780) between the Mecklenburg troops and the Tories was over, and the Tories defeated; that from Ramsour's he returned home to his residence in Wilkes County, having been in the service about two weeks; that he next volunteered and served in the company under Captain William Jackson, Colonel Cleaveland, being the commanding officer, joining his company for duty at Wilkesborough on or about September 1, 1780. From Wilkesborough he marched with his company in the direction of King's Mountain and while on the march they fell in with the Virginia troops under the command of Colonel William Campbell, whose troops were mounted; that Colonel Cleveland with all the mounted troops under his command proceeded with Colonel Campbell to King's Mountain, leaving the footmen, including this soldier, to follow with all possible expedition; that the footmen reached King's Mountain, October 8, 1780, the day after the battle; that he returned to Wilkes County and received a discharge signed by Captain Jackson for a three month tour; that he next volunteered and served under Captain John Cleveland, son of Colonel Benjamin Cleaveland, reporting for duty at Wilkesborough, on or about March 3, 1781; that he marched with his company...there being about forty of them under Captain Cleveland...to the old Trading Fort on the Yadkin River in Rowan County and returned from the expedition about April 25, 1781. Abiud removed from Wilkes County, North Carolina to what is now Johnson County, Kentucky, in 1808 and settled on Big Paint Creek near Fish Trap Meeting House, a famous Baptist Church building, about six miles from Paintsville. Abiud J. (6) Fairchild, married to Rebecca Johnson/Jackson, Drafted October 10, 1778, into North Carolina Militia, Wilkes County, North Carolina. Abiud--pronounced with a silent 'u'--also frequently lost the 'a' which was why some folks called him 'Bid'; aka: Abina, Abind, Abicia, Abiced, and Abiad. During the Revolutionary War, Abiud was a Pvt. for over two years in N.C. before being promoted. He fought in the Battle of Kings Mountain, N.C. On 23 Oct 1786 his father gave him land in Wilkes County, N.C. By 1790 Abiud was in Franklin County, GA. and was granted 150 acres on Walton's Ford Creek. His wife, Rebecca, died around 1801. He married a second time and had three more children. His second, unknown wife, died--perhaps giving birth to their last child, Lowry around 1813-1815. It is possible that, a widower in his 50's with a newborn, he asked his older offspring to 'take the wee ones'--Lowry, Celia (then 4) and Enoch (then 9). Census records from 1820 Floyd County, Ky. show Abiud's daug., Mary, (m. to George Blair) with two children too old to be their own, and daug, Hannah, (m. William Lowrie Reed) with an infant named Lowry . . . who is probably her brother as Abiud is alone in the Census records. Abiud's pension was 18 Feb 1834 in Floyd County, Ky. Sometime after 1840 the families moved to Johnson County, Ky. where Abiud lived on Jennie's Creek until his death. ('Early Fairchilds in America', Jean Fairchild Gilmore, Gateway, 1991) Ann Whalen [mailto:whalen2008@msn.com] End of ky-footsteps-digest V01 #055 ********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. **********************************************************************