Our latest research trips have been to Williamson, West Virginia, and to Logan West Virginia, in search of Alexander Bishop and Hawkins Bishop. We tracked Hawkins to Ashland Kentucky to his grave, and discovered the huge story of his murder. It all started with finding his death certificate online through the West Virginia Vital Research page, and realizing after I printed it out, that it clearly showed murder as the cause of death. When we got to West Virginia, we tried to find the archived copies of the local newspaper, by going to their office, they told us they were on file at a local college. When we got out there, and asked, two young ladies helped us find the right year, and no sooner than we put in the file that contained October of 1933, we spotted his story- Huge-front page headlines! Using that information, and the locations given on his death certificate, and some information from the courthouse, we traced down the exact location of his murder. It was a very quiet area, and just almost creepy. We both got a strange feeling out there, what with the deserted houses in the area, late in the day, and the silence, it was just strange. I took a good many pictures out there, then we left, drove up 10 in West Virginia, to 60, the intersterstate, and took it to Ashland Ky. We stayed the night out there, and drove to the graveyard the next morning, and the library.
We weren't so lucky on Alexander. We couldn't find anything at all on him that would give us more clues about this man's life. His death certificate shows him having died of liver disease. I have a picture of him here at home, that I had located years ago, from Pike County, but we know basically nothing of his life, other than what was published in periodicals. He was a vice president of Williamson bank, a traveling salesman, and involved in coal mining, in some way. One thing that is not mentioned in any of the periodical notes, is that apparently he was a teacher for a time as well, as he is shown in the picture attending a "Teachers Institute" in Pike Co Ky, in 1909.
To this date, I have been unable to track down any descendants of Alexander Bishop or of Hawkins Bishop. If you are reading this, and you are a relative, please- get a hold of me!
Here's all we have on the two:
First Alex-
Descendants of Alexander Bishop
Generation No. 1
1. ALEXANDER2 BISHOP (MILES1) was born Nov 30, 1868 in Lick Creek or Mouth Card, Pike County, Kentucky, and died May 19, 1945 in Williamson, Mingo County, West Virginia. He married JANE MAYNARD 1899.
Notes for ALEXANDER BISHOP:
Alex in the 1930 Mingo County, West Virginia Census: Alix Bishop 60 1869 Kentucky Head White Williamson, Mingo, WV Jane Bishop 50 1879 Wife Williamson, Mingo, WV Nancy J Bishop 10 1919 Daughter Williamson, Mingo, WV
From the Pike County Court Order Books Index:
1890- Bishop, Alexander- Land Warrant- Bk L, pg 449 1890- Bishop, Alx- Aptd. Dep Co Court Clerk- Bk L, pg 486 1937- Bishop, Alex- VS Berlie Flanary, al- Bk 9, pg 328, and page 331 1937- Bishop, Alex- VS Dewey Matney- Bk 9, pg 331
Following are notes of what I have found concerning Mingo County and the last name of Bishop . I do not know if nor how this information pertains to Alex. Taken from MIngo Milestones, 1895-1995; written by Annette Blair Damron-p.o. box 449, Lenore , West Virginia 25676 - 304-475-4045 Charles E. Bishop- b. 9-18-1932? WV Cpl 150 Inf 78 div. Flora F. Bishop b. 4-18-1896 d. 9-22-1973 George Bishop b. 1883 d. 1977 President of Williamson Supply Co. married Hazel D. b 1890 d. 1947 children: George W. Bishop Jr. b. 1915 died 1977 Florida prob. bur. Va married Dorothy Scott b. 1914 d . 1975 d/o Carl Cecil and Dorothy Smith Scott. children George Bishop III. Mrs. Marvin C. (Betty) Lemmons Henry Bishop b. 1858 d. 1901 married Nannie E. Watkins b. 1875 Va 4 children ? in 1900 and by 1910 Nan is a presser . Children: Electa Bishop Ms. Eanestil Bishop Belle Bishop Henry Bishop ____________________________________________ _____ From a biography of Alex Bishop of Mingo County West Virginia - published in the History of West Virginia, Old and new - 1923- The American Historical Society, Inc. Chicago and New York, V ol. III- pg 209.
Alexander Bishop -both vice president and cashier of the First National Bank of Williamson, county seat of Mingo County, of which he was one of the organizers, and is also secretary and treasurer of the War Eagle Coal Company and an official in several other coal producing companies, of minor order. (This article also states that Miles had long been a representative agriculturist and stock grower.) Alex gained his early eduction in rural schools and studies two years at the Presbyterian College at Pikeville. He was a farmer and logger, and in 1895 left college to become a traveling salesman for a wholesale shoehouse. He took the position of general manager of a mercantile establishment called Varney, Williamson, and Company at Williamson West Virginia, after about one year of traveling. He became employed in 1899 at Williamson Bank. After the Williamson Bank fell a part in 1903, he joined together with other business men to form the First National Bank of Williamson. He was elected a member of the County Court of Mingo County, was it's president from 1918-1923. He served about 10 years as a member of the city council, an active member of the local Kiwanis Club, the O'Brien Lodge No 101, Free and Accepted Masons, he was a democrat, and a member of the Presbyterian Church of Williamson.
1930 Mingo County West Virginia- Other Bishop's
Jordon Bishop 49 1880 West Virginia Head White Harvey, Mingo, WV Sadie Bishop 54 1875 Wife Harvey, Mingo, WV Archie Bishop 16 1913 Son Harvey, Mingo, WV
Jess Bishop 30 1899 Kentucky Head White Lee, Mingo, WV Grace Bishop 26 1903 Wife Lee, Mingo, WV Junia Bishop 4 1925 Son Lee, Mingo, WV
J L Bishop 29 1900 West Virginia Head White Lee, Mingo, WV Lula Bishop 24 1905 Wife Lee, Mingo, WV Katherine Bishop 9 1920 Daughter Lee, Mingo, WV Ruby Bishop 6 1923 Daughter Lee, Mingo, WV Herman Bishop 4 1926 Son Lee, Mingo, WV Marie Bishop 9 1920 West Virginia Stepdaughter White Magnolia, Mingo,W
Crockett D Bishop 60 1869 West Virginia Head White Stafford, Mingo, WV Mary J Bishop 50 1879 Wife Stafford, Mingo, WV
Troy Bishop 22 1907 West Virginia Head White Stafford, Mingo, WV Fannie Bishop 18 1911 Wife Stafford, Mingo, WV Thelma C Bishop 1 1928 Daughter Stafford, Mingo, WV
George W Bishop 42 1887 Ohio Head White Williamson, Mingo, WV Hazel Bishop 36 1893 Wife Williamson, Mingo, WV George W Bishop 16 1913 Son Williamson, Mingo, WV
Frank R Bishop 42 1887 Kentucky Head White Williamson, Mingo, WV Laure Bishop 40 1889 Wife Williamson, Mingo, WV
Frank R Bishop 45 1884 Virginia Head White Williamson, Mingo, WV Lasea A Bishop 45 1884 Wife Williamson, Mingo, WV
Charles E Bishop 37 1892 Kentucky Head White Williamson, Mingo, WV Flora Bishop 34 1895 Wife Williamson, Mingo, WV Anna Jae Bishop 3 1926 Daughter Williamson, Mingo, WV
Notes for JANE MAYNARD:
Mary, daughter of John VARNEY, married John TAYLOR. They were the parents of the following children-Peggie TAYLOR married Daniel Mccoy, whose son was Randall Mccoy, whose son was "Sheriff" Jim MCCOY, Jinnie TAYLOR married Elder John FERRELL, whose son was Anderson FERRELL and also a daughter, Martha HATFIELD, wife of Tolbert HATFIELD. William A. TAYLOR married Sallie MAYNARD, whose son was Alvis TAYLOR, the father of John TAYLOR of Stone, Kentucky. Harriette TAYLOR married Alvis MAYNARD, Sr., whose children were Alvis, Jr., and Billy MAYNARD-Alvis, Jr., being the father of Pierce MAYNARD and Mrs. Belle PINSON, and Billy the father of Mrs. Jane BISHOP and Mrs. Ann SHUMATE. John Taylor was never married. Matilda TAYLOR married Sam FARLEY, whose son was Ali, whose sons are R. T. FARLEY and J. B. FARLEY. Azandra TAYLOR, married Rose Anne RATCLIFF, whose son was Calvin TAYLOR, whose daughter is Virgie MAYNARD. Sallie TAYLOR married Ali SMITH, whose son was Henry SMITH, whose sons are Tom and Ken. Cyrus Taylor married Louisa SLATER-no children. He was killed by a man named GUNNOE, during the Civil War.
Children of ALEXANDER BISHOP and JANE MAYNARD are:
i. ELWIN HAWKINS3 BISHOP, b. Aug 28, 1900; d. Jan 15, 1952, Fayette County, West Virginia; m. MARY ECHOLS; b. Abt. 1918.
Notes for ELWIN HAWKINS BISHOP:
Informant of Elwyn's death was his wife, Mary Echols Bishop, as she is listed on his death certificate. Cause of death is listed as Uremia, due to Malignant Hypertension. Physician attended him from 11-20-1951 until his death. He is buried at Ridgelawn Cemetery, he lived in Fayette County, West Virginia, so am assuming this is where that graveyard is. He was in Lair Memorial Hospital at the time of his death. Elwyn was named after his uncle, Hawkins Bishop, and worked at an industrial plant as the head of a shipping department. Death certificate confirms his parents were
Alex Bishop and Jane Maynard.
Notes for MARY ECHOLS:
Source: Elwyn's death certificate-
ii. MARY JUNE OR JANE BISHOP, b. May 22, 1920.
------------------------------------------------
Descendants of Hawkins Bishop
Generation No. 1
1. HAWKINS2 BISHOP (MILES1) was born 1873 in Pike County Kentucky, and died Oct 08, 1933 in Logan County, West Virginia. He married STELLA FERRELL in Morgan County Kentucky. She was born May 12, 1883 in West Virginia, possibly, and died Feb 17, 1920 in Logan County, West Virginia.
Children of HAWKINS BISHOP and STELLA FERRELL are:
i. HELEN G.3 BISHOP, m. WILLIAM A. MITCHELL.
ii. GLADYS BISHOP, m. JAMES LAYNE.
iii. MARY JANE BISHOP, m. LUTHER GILMORE.
iv. WARREN BISHOP, m. NELL ALDRIDGE.
v. STELLA BISHOP, b. Abt. 1910, Wayne County West Virginia; m. JIM MURPHY OR MURPHRY.
http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=nancyb&id=I019
Miles Bishop Tree on Ancestry- corrections and updates welcome!
No comments:
Post a Comment