Dean and Shewmaker Monuments

Crittenden Press, Jan. 25, 1929.  Recently a handsome granite monument has been erected at the grave of the late Alfred Dean.  At the time of his death, Mr. Dean was living at his farm home, in the Forest Grove section, and he was buried in the family cemetery on his farm.  Having spent his entire life in that immediate

vicinity.  The marker was erected by Henry and Henry.

Mr. Dean known for many years known as one of Crittenden County's most progressive farmers.  He had attended County Court day on Monday and after the Court meetings he went to McConnel's Barber Shop and became suddenly ill with a heart attack.

He had reached his 88th birthday on February 8th, and was born on the Glendean farm and had lived there all of his life.  He father was the late Alexander Dean, member of a leading West Kentucky family.  Mr. Dean was a bachelor.

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Nov. 1911.  Henry and Henry have just turned out from their marble works a fine monument to be placed on the lot of P. E. Shewmaker and wife in the Mt. Zion Cemetery.  This is a very artistic piece of work and one of the heaviest in the county.

Peter Ewing Shewmaker was by trade a carpenter and also a farmer.  Peter was born in 1831 and died in 1917. He traveled a lot of years in his youth but returned to Crittenden County in 1871.

Soon after returning he purchased, what is still known today, as the Shewmaker Farm, located five miles from Marion on the Fords Ferry Road.

 Along with farming, he ran a successful general store which was located on the farm near the site of the home place today. 

He was married to Sarah J. Duvall.

Old Man Winter Came Early

Old man Winter for December 2013 came early this year, with a winter storm on December 6th.  Sleet started during the night on Thursday night and continued on into Friday and then turned into snow on Friday afternoon.  We had about 2 inches of sleet on the ground and then 4-6 inches of snow, and winter doesn't officially start until  Dec. 21st.

The old Victorian Robert F. Haynes home on N. College Street made a pretty picture with the Evergreens and the snow.  Makes one think of Christmas's many years ago.  The home was build in 1895, although in need of some repairs it is still an impressive and stately sight.  One hopes it will be restored to it's former beauty.  Definitely one of the oldest standing homes in Marion.

The Crittenden County Historical Society's cabin sits across the street from the Haynes Home and it looked right at home on the cold and snowy day.   It has been recently re-chinked by Carlos Travis, a local man that loves old homes and log cabins.  All we need is a fire in the fireplace and smoke coming from the rock chimney to really take us back to pioneer days. 

Crittenden County Men Remembered at Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941

Today is Pearl Harbor day, 72 years ago today when the Japanese attacked the U. S. Navel Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  

  Crittenden County had one native son to lose his life that fateful day, that terrible day in history when the peaceful harbor at Hawaii was attached.  His name was Thomas Collins, son of Thomas and Janie Collins.  

Thomas W. Collins was born August 8, 1921, and enlisted at Louisville in the Navy, on Nov. 8, 1939, as Apprentice Seaman.  He was sent to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station for seamanship instruction, and later transferred to the USS Downs.  He was stationed at the U. S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbon in the Hawaiia Islands, and was listed as Fireman 3rd Class, while attached to the Downs a destroyer ship.

He was killed on December 7, 1941, in the Japanese attack on the Hawaiian base.

 His body arrived in the states in October 1947, a Military funeral was held at the home of his brother, Eugene Collins and his remains were buried in the Rock Springs Cemetery in Wheatcroft, Ky next to his father.

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Wilbur K. Hunt, another Crittenden Countains, was awarded the Silver Star for Conspicuous Gallantry in Action on December 7, 1941.

The Silver Star is presented to Wilbur K. Hunt, Technical Sergeant, U. S. Army Air Force, for heroism in action while serving with the 22d Material Squadron during the attack on Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese forces (aircraft) on 7 December 1941. 

 Technical Sergeant Hunt performed exceptional service and displayed outstanding bravery in assisting the Squadron Commander of the 22d Material Squadron in dispersing the squadron under fire and bombardment of positions of vantage to deliver return fire and to secure adequate cover and safety, thus contributing in reducing the number of battle casualties.  

The heroism displayed by Technical Sergeant Hunt on this occasion reflected great credit upon himself and the military service.

Marion 1907 Grade School Graduating Class

Meet the Marion Graded School Graduating Class of 1907. 

This is part of the 1907 Graduating Class of Marion Graded School.  Some of the class were unable to have their picture made with the group because of sickness.

Back row, #1. Maude Gilliland, 2. Mary Coffield, 3. Cecil LaRue, 4. Marion Clement, 5. Lizzie Gilbert, 6. Addie Maynard, 7. Maurie Boston, 8. Ruby Cook, 9. Eva  Clement, 10. Jimmy Rankin, 11. Curt Hardin, 12. Maggie Moore (Teacher), 13. David Fohs, 14. Katie Shephenson, 15. Madaline Jenkins, 16, Mamie Love, 17, Anna Allen Elgin, 18. Aubrey Cannon, 19, Mildred Rankin, 20. Mae Cook.

The only cloud to mar the pleasure and success of the "1907 Commencement" was the fact of so many of the pupils being ill, an epidemic of measles being abroad in the city.  Eleven of the graduates were unable to attend the ceremonies.   

Noted with pleasure the name of Miss Ruby Cook, of Crayneville, who wins the honor of being Valedictorian of the 1907 class of thirty-four graduates of the eighth grade.  She being the daughter of Dr. O. C. Cook, the well known physician of Crayneville. 

And also that of Miss Ruth Hill, the daughter of H. O. Hill, of Chapel Hill, as Salutatorian.  These honors are won by hard study and these young ladies deserve much praise.

New Steamboat on The Cumberland

Steamboats and Paddle Wheelers were a big part of Crittenden County history.  In the early days before roads were available, the river was the transportation for the county, we are surrounding on three sides, by the Ohio, the Cumberland, and the Tradewater.  

Here is an article from the July 1920 Crittenden Press, telling about the New Steamboat, Grace Devers. 

The new steamboat, Grace Devers, owned by Capt. F. O. Devers of Dycusburg made an excuration trip to Cave-In-Rock.  The board had a good crowd which was very orderly and seemingly very enjoyable.

The Grace Devers was built for the Cumberland River trade between Dycusburg and Paducah, making daily trips between these point.

Capt. Devers is well known to many independent readers, all of whom wish him great success.   The people here at Dycusburg are greatly pleased over the fact that our new passenger steamer, the Grace Devers is making daily trips on schedule time from Dycusburg to Paducah and return.  

On her maiden trip we celebrated equal to the signing of the armistice on the maiden trip down by firing guns and throwing a vast number of bouquets after her, which floated triumphantly after her on the calm surface of the picturesque Cumberland.

The boat is named for Mr. Devers' wife, who is a very charming and hospital lady and who has toiled with great earnestness and faithfulness in assisting her husband to get the boat completed.

An ad that appeared the the Press about an upcoming event for the Grace Devers.  Sounds good to me, would have loved to taken the trip with them. 

Eli Nunn Civil War Letter

In the days of the Civil War, families were always anxious to hear from their family that was away in the war.  John Nunn, an early pioneer settler of Crittenden County who lived in the Bells Mines section, received a welcome letter from his son, Eli L. Nunn in 1862.  Eli was born May 24, 1842.  He was quartermaster in Company A., 13th Kentucky Cavalry, C.S.A.  The letter reads as follows:

September 4, 1862, Dear father, I am in camp near Paris Tenn., and living very well at present.  I have been in two fights and heard the bullets whistle. I have been in every skirmish since I've been out and I am ready for another one.  

Home is the best place in the world but I have got my foot in it now and I will stand like a man as long as I am able.

Pa, I'll say this to you if they do take your negroes away, I will come back if no misfortune happens to me.  Pa, as to my clothing, I have two shirts and two pair of pants, one suit of each.

Tell mother ot kiss John and sister for me, give the rest of the children my love and all inquiring friends.

I'll close my letter,  Yous truly, E. L. Nunn

 Eli and four of his children, Eli sitting on their front porch,  daughters, Nell, Mable and Eva and wife Maria, about the year 1899.  House was located on Hwy. 365. 

           

Eli Nunn did make it through the war and returned home to Crittenden County.  He married Maria Amelia Phillips, Nov. 24, 1870 and they had a family of eight children.

He was a prosperous farmer and well known and respected by all his friends and neighbors.

Eli and Maria were buried in the old Nunn Family Cemetery, not too far from their home.  Later their bodies and the bodies of Eli's parents, John and Emily Nunn and of their children, Harriet and Kittie Nunn, were moved to the Mapleview Cemetery at Marion.

Honoring Our Veterans Used to Be a big event

Thank you Veterans for your service.








This article is from an old Crittenden Press about 1957.  The Veteran's Day program was held at Fohs Hall.  It must have been a beautiful program.

Fohs Hall was the scene for a very colorful and interesting Veteran's Day assembly presented by the Marion American Legion Post.  After the student body and guests were seated, an honor guard, consisting of William Duke Taylor, J. R. Tharp, Wendell Travis and Guy Sullenger, presented the colors.

The Marion High school band played the National Anthem and Rev. Roy Ridenour gave the invocation.  The pledge to the flag was then given by all.

The guests, recogonized by Mrs. Tohmas Tucker, were Mrs. George Wynn, state Auxiliary officer.  Mrs. John Quertermous, president of the Marion Auxiliary, Howard stout, post commander and William Allen, judge advocate of the state.  Mr. Allen was guest speaker and gave a stirring talk on wars, starting with earlier ones and working up to the Korean conflict, the meaning of our flag and what Veteran's Day will mean in years to come.

An American flag was presented to Mrs. Reba Gilliland, principal of Marion Grade School by Peggy Brown.

To add to the celebration, the band marched from Fohs Hall to Main S.t, down Main to Carlisle, down Carlisle to the High School, playing the individual songs for each branch of the service.

* I don't believe these individual service songs are played much anymore.  When I was growing up we knew the verses to all the the branches, Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force and we would sing them.  They are beautiful songs with lots of energy behind them.