Customer Reviews (3)

Rasmussen's Book Tells a Basic Truth of WestViriginia
Anyone with any rudimentary knowledge of West Virginia history will appreciate this work by Barbara Rasmussen. A basic trait of most humans is that they will take care of the land they own and depend on for their existence. They will also have a sense of community unlike the many industrial giants that took advantage of not only West Virginia but many other parts of our country. West Virginia history is sadly filled with exploitation of the state's people and resources. Industrialism in West Virginia proved once again that without a sense of responsibility for helping your workers grow both personally and financially you breed a population of dependents and you end up with socialism. This lead to the Great Depression and we are just now climbing out of the socialist mess it left behind. I recommend that you read Rasmussen's book and decide for yourself where the truth lies.

Amateur work
This appears to be the senior thesis of a struggling C or D student.The writing is very poor and it appears that the writer decided what conclusions she would reach and then fit all the facts to reach that conclusion, and failed to consider other sides of the issue.A very one-sided, polemic and unintellectual book.

Rigged methodology and BAD history
The work of a biased amateur with no sense of the true West Virginia. The methodology is poorly conceived and rigged to yield the author's desired outcome. This book is a classic example of how not to do history. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the most comprehensive compilation of West Virginia soldiers in theRevolution and other wars, containing rosters and, in many cases, service records of thousandsof soldiers, with narratives on the various wars. The rosters and rolls, here collected for the firsttime, are drawn from both published and unpublished sources, the original records being inmany cases in the Department of Archives and History of the State of West Virginia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Publisher's Note for the 2006 reprint by Clearfield Publishing:
This is the most comprehensive compilation of West Virginia soldiers in the Revolution and other wars, containing rosters and, in many cases, service records of thousands of soldiers, with narratives on the various wars. The rosters and rolls, here collected for the first time, are drawn from both published and unpublished sources, the original records being in many cases in the Department of Archives and History of the State of West Virginia.

"The reader is struck by the extent of the troop rosters, especially in regard to detail. All manner of tidbits of information went into the routine rosters of participants, replete with rank and survival data."--West Virginia History. ... Read more

Product Description
Using official military records, the 1860 U.S. federal census, and a variety of other primary and secondary sources, the author lists 718 Union and 528 Confederate soldiers and sympathizers from Barbour County. These individuals are arranged by army and thereunder alphabetically. For each we learn the military unit (except for sympathizers), dates of service, duties, date of birth, names of parents, postwar occupation and other activities, and date of death. Mr. Shaffer's Introduction describes the background of the Civil War in Barbour County, while the Appendices specify the Union and Confederate units and military engagements in which Barbour citizens fought. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Publisher's note:
Following the passage of the Confederate Ordinance of Secession in April 1861, pro-Union Virginians met in Wheeling and began the process that would lead to the formation of West Virginia as a separate state. Despite the new state's allegiance to the North, the population of West Virginia remained divided in its loyalties, as author John W. Shaffer has described in his other book, Barbour County, A Clash of Loyalties: A Border County in the Civil War. In his latest effort, Union and Confederate Soldiers and Sympathizers, Mr. Shaffer enumerates over 1,000 individuals who comprised the fractious community of Barbour County.

Using official military records, the 1860 U.S. federal census, and a variety of other primary and secondary sources, the author lists 718 Union and 528 Confederate soldiers and sympathizers from Barbour County. These individuals are arranged by army and thereunder alphabetically. For each we learn the military unit (except for sympathizers), dates of service, duties, date of birth, names of parents, postwar occupation and other activities, and date of death. Mr. Shaffer's Introduction describes the background of the Civil War in Barbour County, while the Appendices specify the Union and Confederate units and military engagements in which Barbour citizens fought.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Virgina - West Virgina early records
Wonderful for researching the early settlers of that part of Virginia which became West Virginia. ... Read more

Product Description
The court records presented in this book involve land disputes; crimes such as theft or assault; inheritance disputes; appointment of officials such as surveyors or overseers of the poor; granting of business licensees; adoptions; payment of debts; incide ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An Important Resource for Monongalia County Historians and Genealogists
Monongalia County (West) Virginia, Records of the District, Superior, and County Courts, Volume 7: 18018-1814, is one volume of an 11 Volume work.The compiler, Melba Pender Zinn is a role model for genealogists.She has made the court records of Monongalia County for 1776-1822 readily available to amateur genealogists and family historians.I recommend the set to anyone interested in early West Virginia history, especially folks whose ancestors were pioneer settlers of Monongalia and Preston Counties (West) Virginia.

Recently I have obtained copies of several of the original records.I marvel at Mrs. Zinn's gift for reading and transcribing 18th and early 19th Century script. ... Read more

Product Description
Hampshire County was formed from the Virginia counties of Augusta andFrederick in 1754. Later, during the American Civil War, it became the first Virginia countywholly in the territory that is now West Virginia. Vicki Horton is the compiler of a half-dozencollections of Hampshire County genealogical source records.

The contents of Mrs. Horton's abstracts , virtually all of which place one or more individuals inHampshire County during the years of coverage, range over orders to bind orphaned and poorchildren (sometimes mentioning complete families), grand jury lists, indictments, commissions,overseers of the roads, ordinary licenses, suits, oaths of office, militia lists, and more. Thisvolume also includes the oaths of Hampshire County residents who had served in theRevolutionary War and were applying for pensions. ... Read more

Product Description
This publication represents the most comprehensive digest of Mason County'soldest marriage records extant. Based on a thorough re-examination of the original licenses andministers' returns, it pulls together more than 11,000 marriage entries from 1806 to 1915. Themarriage entries are arranged alphabetically according to surname of the groom and are followedby the name of the bride, the date of the marriage or marriage license, and a reference to theoriginal marriage book where the record may be found. ... Read more

Product Description
In the 17 July 1889 issue of the Cumberland Daily Times the writer of an article about Elkins, West Virginia, refers to it asThe magic city of the wilderness . That phrase accurately describes the sentiments of many people during the summer of 1889 as the City of Elkins began to emerge like a bright star rising on the horizon. The livelihoods of thousands of laborers employed in building the railroads and running the industries that would fuel the development of the new city also depended on its success. And hundreds of families from throughout the region were headed for Elkins to stake their claims and establish their homes in a city which they believed had an exciting future. This book hopes to capture that moment by bringing together a large amount of information that relates to Elkins, West Virginia, during the summer of 1889. ... Read more

Product Description
These alphabetically arranged entries reveal free or slave status; color; gender; date, place, and cause of death; age; parents; place of birth; informant; occupation; name of spouse or consort; and page and line number of entry. The index lists only those names that differ from the surname of the decedent. Slaves are grouped by owner. An informative list of commonly used medical terms and their meanings is included. ... Read more

Product Description
This book can be described as funny, irreverent, and serious all at once! It is a 1950's-era coming-of-age story that takes in the coal mining district of Mingo County, West Virginia. This area is the home of the famous Hatfield-McCoy feud, and the author is a great nephew of "Devil Anse" Hatfield, the leader of the clan. Told with a humorous tongue in cheek, these Appalachian stories of childhood hopes, loves, adventures and misadventures are spiced with social and political commentary on the times. Even if you didn't grow up in the Appalachians, you'll enjoy this reminiscence of a more innocent time. 2003, 5½ x 8½, paper, 136 pp. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A thoroughly delightful book
This short biography of the author's childhood is a wonderful coming of age story in the harsh mining environment of Southern West Virginia, and is somewhat similar to "Crum", a fictional novel by Lee Maynard. This remembering and re-telling of the youthful thoughts, fears and emotions is incredible, as is his vivid portrayal of the harsh lives of the coal mining families.This needs to be required reading in West Virginia schools.

Cozy up to superb storytelling
Here's a sample: "About 90 of the registered Democrats had to be paid with cash or liquor before they would come to the polls and vote. But, they were honest. Once you bought them, they stayed all day, refusing to sell out to the opposing side even at a higher price. It was a matter of honor."
Despite the sterotypical portrayal of West Virginians, I embrace my WV heritage. Andrew Chafin is one of the reasons why. He exemplifies the inherent creativity, dry wit, intuition, determination, and intelligence that characterize many Appalachians. His memoir is a fun and enlightening read. I highly recommend it.

A Great Read!
This is the best book I have read in months!

I have read and studied the Hatfield and McCoy Feud for years. This is a great companion book to anyone wishing to learn more about the Hatfield and McCoys.It offers a unique perspective on both the people involved and the land where it occured.This is not a history book of facts and figures, but a well-told story of warmth and pride.

The author, a descendant of the Hatfields, has bathed the mountains of his boyhood home with pride, and restored the unfortunate suffering image of the West Virginian.

AN EXCELLENT STORY!
AN EXCELLENT STORY! REQUIRED READING FOR MY ENTIRE FAMILY! SHOULD BE ON EVERY BOOKSHELF IN AMERICA! Growing Up in Bloody Mingo was a joy to read. I couldn't put it down.This coming-of-age story set in the West Virginian Mountains of the 1950's offers the reader both an enjoyable read and a lesson in history. I was impressed by the originality of the story, the unique characters, and the author's honest portrayal of adolescence in America. I laughed myself to tears as I read about the adventures of the main character, but I have also obtained a newfound respect and admiration for West Virginains, especailly the brave and proud coal miners that suffered so our nation could prosper.Growing Up in Bloody Mingo awakens the childhood and high school memories that lie dormant in all Americans, regardless of age.
If I could compare this book to any other, it reminds me somewhat of Stand by Me. ... Read more

Product Description
Originally, Berkeley County incorporated all the territory in what is now the "Eastern Panhandle" (including present Jefferson and Morgan Counties), and extended from the Potomac to the Shenandoah Rivers on the north and east. This volume begins with descriptions of the daily life and customs of the early settlers, including farming, hunting, building a log cabin, cooking, witchcraft, medicine, etc. An important crossroad during the French and Indian War as well as the Civil War, Berkeley County "sent more soldiers to the wars of the country per capita than any other county" of Virginia. A detailed chapter on its military history contains muster rolls from several different wars. Of special interest is a full transcript of the "Faulkner Report," which was commissioned by the governor of Virginia in response to Maryland’s claims to part of the northern section of what is now West Virginia. The report was thorough, convincing, and full of historical data. A large biographical section (about 100 pages) is followed by lists of town officers and a history of the schools, churches and "miscellaneous." A new fullname plus subject index has is provided. ... Read more