1. 1920 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Hemphill; taken on 7 Jan 1920; Page 263A;
Image 7 of 30; Family #60/59.
Listed as Walter Smithers; age 30; born in TN; married; coal miner; head of household.
2. 1930 Census; McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Asco Road; taken 15 Apr 1940; Page 73B;
Image 18 of 47; Family #155/160.
Listed as Walter Smither; age 48; born in TN; married at 24; coal loader in coal mine; head of
household.
3. McDowell Co, WV; Death Certificate #12961; WV Archives Web Site,
J. Walter Smithers; age 60; born 18 Jun 1882 in TN; married; husband of Ethel Smithers, age 51; coal
miner; son of Ruben and Martha (Thompson) Smithers; died 15 Aug 1942 at Litwar, WV; due to ceberal
hemorrhage with hypertensive heart disease; buried 18 Aug 1942 in Iaeger Memorial, Roderfield, WV;
informant, A.Y. Smithers, Berwind, WV
4. FindAGrave.com Web Site; Iaeger Memorial Cemetery, Roderfield, McDowell Co, WV; submitted by
B. Walls; 22 Dec 2013.
J. Walter Smithers; born 18 Jun 1882; died 15 Aug 1942; buried here; headstone photo shown;
"FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN HUSBAND & FATHER"
5."The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1995"; 1995; Edited by Dr, Thomas C.
Hatcher; Geneva Steele; Sandra Long and Christine Carr McGuire; "Ay Smithers, Miner"; Article;
Page 241; submitted by Vivian S. Porter, PH.D.; 12701 Allendale Lane, Tampa, FL 33618-3003,
1. 1920 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Hemphill; taken on 7 Jan 1920; Page 263A;
Image 7 of 30; Family #60/59.
Listed as Ethel Smithers; age 29; born in TN; married; in household of husband, Jerry Walter Smithers.
2. 1930 Census; McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Asco Road; taken 15 Apr 1940; Page 73B;
Image 18 of 47; Family #155/160.
Listed as Ethel Smither; age 37; born in TN; married at 18; in household of husband, Jerry W. Smithers.
3."The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1995"; 1995; Edited by Dr, Thomas C.
Hatcher; Geneva Steele; Sandra Long and Christine Carr McGuire; "Ay Smithers, Miner"; Article;
Page 241; submitted by Vivian S. Porter, PH.D.; 12701 Allendale Lane, Tampa, FL 33618-3003,
.
1. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Big Creek District; Yukon; E.D. 24-15; taken 25 Arp 1940; Page
288A; Image 44 of 75; Household #384.
Listed as George East; age 26; born in VA; married; 7th grade education; lived in same place on
1 Apr 1935; coal miner; head of household.
2. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: George Washington East
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 26
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Date: 22 Feb 1914
Birth Place: Coeburn Wise, Virginia, USA
Residence Place: Yukon, Mcdowell, West Virginia, USA
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: Yukon, Mcdowell, West Virginia, USA
Employer: Carter Coal Co
Weight: 145
Complexion: Sallow
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Brown
Height: 67
Next of Kin: Dora A East
Household Members:
Name Relationship
George Washington East Self (Head)
Dora A East Wife"
3, Tazewell Co, VA; Marriage License #89-016806; Ancestry.com Web Site.
George Washington East; age 75; born 22 Feb 1914 in VA; widowed; this is his 2nd marriage;
3rd grade education; living at Box 692, War, WV; son of Walter and Martha (Lawson) East; married
on 6 Apr 1989 in Tazewell, VA; Evelyn Frazier; maiden name Phillips; age 62; born 2 Aug 1926 in
WV; widow; this is her 2nd marriage; last marriage ended in Sep 1981; 2nd grade education; living
at Box 692, War, WV; daughter of Carl and Minnie Mae (Graham) Phillips.
4. Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: George W. East
Social Security Number: 236-10-3412
Birth Date: 22 Feb 1914
Issue Year: Before 1951
Issue State: West Virginia
Last Residence: 24892, War, Mcdowell, West Virginia, USA
Death Date: Jun 1990"
5. Tazewell Co, VA; Death Certificate #90-023893; Ancestry.com Web Site.
George Washington East; age 76; born 22 Feb 1914 in Coeburn, VA; widowed; husband of Evelyn
East; coal miner; living at War, WV; son of Walter and Martha (Lawson) East; died 30 Jun 1990 in
the Tazewell Community Hospital, Tazewell, VA; due to carcinoma, metastatic to brain, primary site
unknown; buried in Big Creek Cemetery, near War, WV.
6. FindAGrave.com Web Site; submitted by Victoria Taylor-True; 15 Jul 2012.
" George “Peanut” East
Birth 1914
Death 1990 (aged 75–76)
Burial
Big Creek Cemetery II
McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 93623284"
1. 1930 Census, Wise Co, VA; Lipps District; taken 10 Apr 1930; Page 208B; Image 44 of 45;
Family #393/404.
Listed as Dora Adkins; age 22; born in VA; single, in household of father, Dave Adkins.
2. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Big Creek District; Yukon; E.D. 24-15; taken 25 Arp 1940; Page
288A; Image 44 of 75; Household #384.
Listed as Dora East; age 28; born in VA; married; no education; lived in same place on1 Apr 1935;
in household of husband, George W. East.
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1960); Page126; WV Archives Web Site.
Robert Cedarwall; age 21; born in Chicago; IL; single; living at 5233 N. Campbell Ave, Chicago, IL;
married on 12 Dec 1960 in Welch, WV; Minnie Jean Dotson; age 17; born and living in Welch, WV;
single; with consent of Claude and Ida Denton, parents of Minnie Jean Denton.
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1960); Page126; WV Archives Web Site.
Robert Cedarwall; age 21; born in Chicago; IL; single; living at 5233 N. Campbell Ave, Chicago, IL;
married on 12 Dec 1960 in Welch, WV; Minnie Jean Dotson; age 17; born and living in Welch, WV;
single; with consent of Claude and Ida Denton, parents of Minnie Jean Denton.
2. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1964); Page 15; WV Archives Web Site.
John Albert Rushbrook; age 21; born 11 Nov 1942 at Mohegan, WV; single; no previous marriage;
living at Box 226, Hemphill, WV; son of Hobert Augustus and Ellen Elizabeth (Yarber) Rushbrook;
married on 4 Feb 1964 in Welch, WV; Minnie Jean Denton; age 18; born 27 Aug 1945 in Welch, WV;
divorced; one previous marriage; living at Welch, WV; daughter of Claude Earl and Ida Isabelle
(Stumbo) Denton.
1. Russell Co, VA; Marriage License #28774; Ancestry.com Website.
A.J. Deskins; age 68; born in Tazewell Co, VA; widowed; one previous marriage; miner; living at
Tazewell, VA; son of George and Sallie (Wollege, sic, Woolridge) Deskins; married on 12 Sep 1957
in Lebanon, VA; Ida Mae Blankenship; maiden name Beavers; age 65 born in War, WV; widow;
two previous marriages; living at War, WV; daughter of Alex and Mary (Cyphers) Beavers.
2. McDowell Co, WV; Death Certificate # '72 019188; WV Archives Website.
Arthur J. Deskins; age 86; born 13 Feb 1886 in VA; married; husband of Ida Beavers Deskins; miner;
SS# 223-10-7641; living at Beech Hill, War, WV; son of George and Sallie (Woolridge) Deskins; died
30 Nov 1972 in Stevens Clinic, Welch, WV; due to cardiac failure with pneumoconiosis; buried 3 Dec
1972 in Maplewood Cemetery, Tazewell, VA.
1. 1900 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Big Creek District; taken 1 Jun 1900; Page73B, Family #11/11.
Listed as John Beavers, age 10, born Sep 1890 in WV, in household of father, Alexander Beavers.
2. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol __(1909); Page 229; WV Archives Website.
Chapman Johnston; age 38; born in Giles Co, VA; single; contractor; living in Welch, WV; son of
D.P. and Alice; married on 29 Dec 1909 at English, WV; Ida Mae Beavers; age 19; born in McDowell
Co, WV; single; daughter of A.D. and Mary B.
3. 1900 Census, McDowell Cop, WV; Big Creek District; War; taken 5 Jan 1920; Page 46B; Image 2 of
41; Family #14/14.
Listed as Ida M. Johnston; age 28; born in WV; married; in household of husband, Chapman
Johnston.
4. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Ida Mae Beavers Johnson
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 45
Birth Date: abt 1893
Marriage Registration Place: Buchanan, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date: 6 Aug 1938
Marriage Place: Grundy, Virginia, USA
Father: Alex Beavers
Mother: Marybell Syphers
Spouse: John Wallace Blankinship
Certificate Number: 1938018421"
5. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1995"; 1995; Edited by Dr, Thomas C.
Hatcher; Geneva Steele; Sandra Long and Christine Carr McGuire;"Describing My Mother - A Tribute
To Mary Alice Cox Travis"; Article; Page 270; submitted by E. Guylinda Cox Baily.
6. Russell Co, VA; Marriage License #28774; Ancestry.com Website.
A.J. Deskins; age 68; born in Tazewell Co, VA; widowed; one previous marriage; miner; living at
Tazewell, VA; son of George and Sallie (Wollege, sic, Woolridge) Deskins; married on 12 Sep 1957
in Lebanon, VA; Ida Mae Blankenship; maiden name Beavers; age 65 born in War, WV; widow;
two previous marriages; living at War, WV; daughter of Alex and Mary (Cyphers) Beavers.
7. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Ida Mae Deskins [Ida Deskins] [Ida Mae Beavers]
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 23 Jun 1892
Birth Place: War McDowell, West Virginia
Death Date: Jul 1981
Father: Alex Beavers
Mother: Mary B Cyphers
SSN: 232761354
Notes: Dec 1963: Name listed as IDA MAE DESKINS;
14 Nov 1988: Name listed as IDA DESKINS"
8. Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Ida Mae Deskins
[Ida Mae Beavers]
Gender: Female
Race: White
Death Age: 90
Birth Date: 23 Jun 1891
Death Date: 29 Jul 1981
Death Place: Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
Registration Date: 6 Aug 1981
Father: Gus Beavers
Mother: Mary Belle Cyphers
Spouse: Arthur Deskins
Certificate Number: 1981023626
Military Status: none"Additional Information Given:
Retired owner of drug store
1. Fanning Funeral Home; Iaeger, WV; Posted Obit.
"Roger “Buddy” Luster, 70, of Keystone, WV, passed away, Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at his residence.Born January 21, 1949 in Eckman, WV, he was the son of the late Berley and Betty Mitchem Luster.He was a resident of McDowell County most of his life. He was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. He loved the outdoors.In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by, one sister, Debbie Jessee, three brothers, Shorty Luster, Motoe Luster, and Dukie Luster.Survivors include, his wife of 39 years, Doris “Dobie” McPeake Luster of Keystone, WV, five sons, Timmy Luster and wife Shante of Keystone, WV, Tony Luster and Fiancée Jessica of Keystone, WV, Jessie Luster and wife Jessica of Tazewell, VA, Rusty Luster and fiancée Tara of Union City IN, Eric Luster and wife Angie of Greenville OH, ten grandchildren,Timothy Jr, Selbena, Annabelle, Lucy, Ashley, Andrew, Patrick, Jeremy, Nathan, Cameron, two sisters, Barbara Graham and husband Johnny of Bluefield WV, Ruby Jackson and husband Jerry of King, N.C., one brother, Gene Luster and wife Gina of Bluefield, WV.Funeral Services will be conducted Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 1 P.M. from the Fanning Funeral Home Chapel in Welch WV; with Pastor Randy Green officiating; burial will follow at the Jarrett Family Cemetery in Eckman, WV. Bud Graham, Poncho Isom, Danny McPeak, Wesley Luster, Eric Graham, Clyde Graham will serve as pallbearers.Friends may call Saturday, January 18, 2020 from 12 Noon to 1 P.M. at the Fanning Funeral Home Chapel in Welch WV.Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.fanningfuneralhomes.comFanning Funeral Home of Welch is serving the Luster Family."
1. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by F. Hylton; 10 Nov 2010.
" John C Calhoun
Birth 31 May 1895
Keystone, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Death 12 Sep 1962 (aged 67)
Welch, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Burial
Oak Grove Cemetery
Bluewell, Mercer County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 61415306"Additional Information Posted:
"Occupation: Coal Miner"
1. McDowell Co. WV; Death Certificate #14968; WV Archives Website.
Stella H. Calhoun; age 43; born 26 Feb 1905 at Mudfork, VA; married; wife of John C. Calhoun;
Colored; nurse living at Keystone, WV; daughter of William and Mary A. (Dickerson) Higginbotham;
died 20 Nov 1948 at her home in Keystone, WV; due to atab wound of chest; homicide; buried 24
Nov 1948 in Oak Grove Cemetery, Bluewell, WV; informant Eula H. Mitchell, Bluefield, WV.
2. "Welch and Its People"; "Stella Higgingbotham Calhoun"; Article; Rose Marino; 1985; Page 11.
".. she was stabbed to death at home by John Finney, 39, a Keystone Negro employed as a handy
man around the house."
"...The stabbing was witnessed by ErnestineIrving of Keystone. Finney was attested for murder."
3. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by F. Hylton; 10 Nov 2010.
"Mrs Stella H Higginbotham Calhoun
Birth 26 Feb 1905
Mud Fork, Tazewell County, Virginia, USA
Death 20 Nov 1948 (aged 43)
Keystone, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Burial
Oak Grove Cemetery
Bluewell, Mercer County, West Virginia, USA
Plot Section F
Memorial ID 61415140"Additional Information Posted:
"Father: William Higginbotham
Mother: Mary Dickerson
Occupation: Nurse"
1. 1920 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Sandy River District; Avondale; taken on 25 Feb 1920; Page 241A;
Image 13 of 35; Family #133/137.
Listed as Vera Mae Warix; age 1yr, 4 mons; born in WV; in household of father, Lige Warrix.
2. 1930 Census, Floyd Co, KY; Martin; taken on 9 Apr 1930; Page 254A; Image 11 of 16;
Family #112/123.
Listed as Vannah Warrix; age 11; born in KY; in household of father Lige Warrix.
3. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1995"; 1995; Edited by Dr, Thomas C.
Hatcher; Geneva Steele; Sandra Long and Christine Carr McGuire; "John Cephas Warrix, Miner";
Article; Page 260; submitted by Peggy Baker, 2150, W. Meyer, L #2304, Oak Creek, WI 53154,
"Mae lived and worked in Ohio, and then moved to Napa, Calfornia where she passed away."
2. Bristol, VA; Marriage License #4994; Ancestry.com Website.
James Wiley coldiron; age 44; born in Ashe Co, NC; divorced; two previous marriages; miner; living at
Claremont, CA; son of Ambers Walter and Sarah Belle (Henderson) Coldiron; married on 14 Mar
1944 in Bristol, VA; Vera Mae Warrix; age 25; born and living in Iaeger, WV; divorced; one previous
marriage; daughter of Lige and Mattie (Amburgy) Warrix.
1. Bristol, VA; Marriage License #4994; Ancestry.com Website.
James Wiley coldiron; age 44; born in Ashe Co, NC; divorced; two previous marriages; miner; living at
Claremont, CA; son of Ambers Walter and Sarah Belle (Henderson) Coldiron; married on 14 Mar
1944 in Bristol, VA; Vera Mae Warrix; age 25; born and living in Iaeger, WV; divorced; one previous
marriage; daughter of Lige and Mattie (Amburgy) Warrix.