Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Flat Rock Hollow: Sentinel Valley Traverse

Video Below!

This past weekend, we explored Flat Rock Hollow below the two waterfalls we've visited before. The hollow winds between high bluffs and passes through one valley that hosts columns of standing stones on both ridges, hence our dubbing it "Sentinel Valley". We squeezed along one large fissure in a bluff before reaching our destination, an 80 - 100 foot high wet - weather waterfall! There is evidence that as the water approaches the precipice when the stream is running, it is sometimes 3 - 4 ft deep when it plunges to the forest floor below.
We've known about this waterfall for nearly two-years and were glad to have the opportunity to visit it. But...we must return this spring when the hills are alive with the sound of rushing water!


ENJOY!


Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Following is a bit of video from this year's Knob Creek Country Christmas organized by the Cooper Family. A great crowd turned out for the event to enjoy singing by the Cooper Brothers, a wonderful message by Mark Cooper, a few inspiring words from our friend, Robert Tallbird Ryan, and a recitation of The Soldier's Prayer by our own Rick Dowdle.

Enjoy the videos and consider joining us for this annual event next year!




Sunday, December 13, 2009

Combs Cemetery

Combs Cemetery, located near Melbourne on Jumbo Road, was established in 1883 by way of a donation of land from Robert Combs. Mr. Combs' wife, Elizabeth, was buried here in 1887.

This cemetery is important to us here at EIC for a very important reason. In it rests close family members of the EIC Crew including both of Rick's parents, Jim's Dad, and several generations of my own family (G Grandparents-Vines, GG Grandparents-Neel, and 3 sets of GGG Grandparents-Neel, Kidwell, Mynatt)

Actually, my GGG Uncle, James C. Mynatt, who is the brother of William Mynatt who I found at the Shell Cemetery a couple weeks back, is buried here with a Civil War plaque marking his grave. The brothers, James and William, were both members of the 37th Kentucky Mounted Infantry during the War Between the States. Union Soldiers, in fact!

The 37th Kentucky was responsible for protecting the Glasgow area of Kentucky and did so brilliantly by repelling Morgan's Raid and participating in the Battle of Saltville.

The earliest birth date I found while visiting this site was that of James M. Rush (1808), a lawyer by profession.

William K. Estes is also resting here and served as Izard County Clerk for many years during the latter part of the 19th Century into the 20th.

This Cemetery is lovingly maintained and hosts a gazebo and it's own chapel.




















Saturday, December 05, 2009

Shell Cemetery (Sage)

One of the most rewarding things about doing what we do is learning about
the pioneers who settled the Izard County area. It's especially exciting when it becomes personal as it did while researching the names of those resting near Sage in the Shell Cemetery.

The very first name from this cemetery I began researching online, William Mynatt, seemed to be a dead-end except for basic genealogical information. But as I began to read the descending lines from Calvin Mynatt of Tennessee, I discovered that William was my own Great-Great Uncle - brother to my Great Great Grandmother, Delitha (Mynatt) Kidwell. Small world, Izard!

Amidst the excitement is always a bit of disappointment, however. Take the grave of George w. King for instance - someone went to a lot of trouble and displayed much creativity in fashioning the stone that marks his place of rest. It's engraved with great care with the symbol of what must be an anchor as a center-piece as well as an unreadable inscription around its edge. But an online biography? No chance! Was he a mariner? If so, where? Did he serve in the navy of the confederacy? Did he just like boats? Finding a stone like this and not being able to put a story with it is indeed deflating. Perhaps someone out there in cyberville knows more of what can only be a very interesting story about an early Izard County pioneer.

Oh, and...nothing about Joseph King (1801-1859) either!

In fact, this particular cemetery has led me to spend hours searching for information online just to find out that there is a single biography available on James H. Roten in Karr Shannon's A History of Izard County (which, of course, I have a copy of but absolutely cannot remember where I stored it after using!) and that John Shell, the Tennessee Volunteer of the War of 1812, owned 3 slaves at one time (a good way down the page but the whole article is well worth the read).

If I had any hair, I'd be pulling it out!

Anyway, the Shell Cemetery is located at the end of a long lane and is quite remote. It lies among an ancient grove of magnificent cedars and is one of the most peaceful places of internment I have encountered in Izard County.

Enjoy the photos!




















Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Flat Rock (Sharp County)

Near Sidney in Sharp County, just across the Izard County line, is Flat Rock. It is a rock shelf with a small stream running across it that falls over...and through! Jim and I had set-out to visit this site the previous weekend but took a wrong turn and found the Saint Paul Cemetery, instead. Rick and Jim returned this past weekend and got a few photos and three video clips which are strung together below for your enjoyment!



View the video in a larger player at our Hunkahillbilly YouTube Page!.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Saint Paul Cemetery (Sharp County)

The Saint Paul Cemetery is located between Sidney in Sharp County and Mount Pleasant in Izard. It stands on a hilltop along Saint Paul Road and is home to the final resting places of several Civil-War vets. Sadly, as in several other similar instances around Izard county, the Civil-War vets buried here have little information available online about them.
Strangely, there are two Civil-War markers honoring the service of Hiram Ruben Meeker crediting him with service in both the CSA and the USA. According to the markers, he served in Company C of the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment in both armies!
I confirmed his service with the Union Army by finding his company roster. I was unable to find the Arkansas 2nd Cav's roster.
Reverend Grove Meeker who was born in 1797 is also buried here.
Other vets include Daniel C. White who fought with the 9th Illinois Cavalry (Union); Lieutenant Robert Wiley of the 4th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry Regiment(Confederate); J.W. Jones (or is it really W.J. Jones) in Company F, 3rd Missouri Cavalry Regiment(Union); J.E. Hedges of the 12th Kentucky Cavalry (Union).












Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Video: Piney Fork Traverse!


Below is a video from a ride Rick and I took this past Sunday through the eastern part of the county Featured in the video below is the ruins of the old McElmurry place.

Enjoy!



To watch more of our videos, visit our Hunkahillbilly YouTube Page!

UPDATE!

Reader Eddie Chet sent us photos of the Andrew Jackson McElmurry (1816-1853) Home which we believe to be the "Unknown Homeplace" visited on the video above. Following are photos of the home in use and after it had been boarded up.