1. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: William Fredrick Blankenship
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 22
Birth Date: abt 1939
Marriage Registration Place: Russell, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date: 15 Feb 1961
Marriage Place: Lebanon, Virginia, USA
Father: Cloyd Allen Blankenship
Mother: Elizabeth Sutherland
Spouse: Eleanor Loveda Lusk
Certificate Number: 1961004106"
1."The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1995"; 1995; Edited by Dr, Thomas C.
Hatcher; Geneva Steele; Sandra Long and Christine Carr McGuire;"William V. and Gertrude B.
Milam"; Article; Pag3 203; submitted by Venellia Miller Perry, Rt 1, Box 508, Bluefield, WV 24701.
2. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Eleanor Loveda Lusk
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 22
Birth Date: abt 1939
Marriage Registration Place: Russell, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date: 15 Feb 1961
Marriage Place: Lebanon, Virginia, USA
Father: Terry Ishmale Lusk
Mother: Goldie Ellen Milan
Spouse: William Fredrick Blankenship
Certificate Number: 1961004106"
3. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Eleanor Loveda Lusk [Eleanor Loveda Blankenship] [Eleanor Blankenship]
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Date: 7 Dec 1938
Birth Place: Crumpler McD, West Virginia
Death Date: 26 Jun 2002
Father:
Terry E Lusk
Mother:
Goldia E Milam
SSN: 232583760
Notes: Mar 1954: Name listed as ELEANOR LOVEDA LUSK;
Apr 1969: Name listed as ELEANOR LOVEDA BLANKENSHIP;
02 Jul 2002: Name listed as ELEANOR L BLANKENSHIP"
1."The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1995"; 1995; Edited by Dr, Thomas C.
Hatcher; Geneva Steele; Sandra Long and Christine Carr McGuire;"William V. and Gertrude B.
Milam"; Article; Pag3 203; submitted by Venellia Miller Perry, Rt 1, Box 508, Bluefield, WV 24701.
Joseph Turner "Uncle Joe" Foster
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Joseph Foster"; Article; Page 146; submitted by herbert Foster, Son,
Avondale, WV 24811.
2. Sutphin Family Tree; Poated By hsutphin35; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Joseph T Foster
Birth ABT 1893 • Virginia
Death 28 OCTOBER 1951 • McDowell, West Virginia"
3. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: Joseph Turner Foster
Race: Caucasian (White)
Marital status: Married
Birth Date: 5 Apr 1889
Birth Place: Virginia
Street address: Vestal
Residence Place: Washington, Virginia, USA"
3. 1920 Census, Washington Co, VA; Abingdon District; taken 15 Jan 1930; Page 8A; Image 15 of 17;
Family #137/138.
Listed as Joseph T, Foster; age 37; born in VA; married; laying railroad track; in household of
mother-in-law, Margaret A. Wright.
4. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Sandy River District; Bradshaw, WV; taken 7 Apr 1930; Page 247A;
Image 13 of 51; Family #106/109.
Listed as Joe Foster; age 37; born in VA; married at 19; track layer in coal mine; head of household.
5. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Sandy River District; Bradshaw; taken 22 Apr 1940; Page 1207B;
Image 52 of 133; Household #403.
Listed as Joseph T. Foster; age 47; born in VA; married; 3rd grade education; lived in same place on
1 Apr 1935; trackman in coal mine; head of household.
6. McDowell Co, WV; WW II; Draft Registration Card #U-347; 27 Apr 1942; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Joseph Turner Foster; age 50; born 5 Apr 1950 in Washington Co, VA; living at Bradshaw, WV;
emplyed by Souther Coal Corp, Bradshaw, WV; person who will always know address, Victoria
Foster; 5'*' Tall; 180 lbs; brown eyes; brown hair; light complexion; no identification conditions.
7, 1950 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Bradshaw; taken 5 Apr 1950; Sheet Number 7; Dwelling #58
Listed as Joe F. Foster; age 58; born in VA; married; unable to work; head of household
8. McDowell Co, WV; Death Certificate #12834; WV Archives Web Site.
Joseph Turner Foster; age 57; born 5 Apr 1894 in Washington Co, VA; coal miner; lving at Bradshaw,
WV; son of unknown parents; died 28 oct 1951 in Bradshaw, WV; due to cancer of stomach; buried
31 Oct 1951 in Bradshaw, WV; informant, Chubbie Foster.
9. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: Joseph T Foster
Birth Date: 5 Apr 1891
Birth Place: Damacus Wash, Virginia
Death Date: 28 Oct 1951
Claim Date: 14 Nov 1951
SSN: 232146119
Notes: 17 Dec 1976: Name listed as JOSEPH T FOSTER"
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Joseph Foster"; Article; Page 146; submitted by herbert Foster, Son,
Avondale, WV 24811.
2. Sutphin Family Tree; Poated By hsutphin35; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Nancy O Foster
Birth ABT 1892 • Virginia
Death 13 JUNE 1949 • McDowell, West Virginia, United States"
3. 1920 Census, Washington Co, VA; Abingdon District; taken 15 Jan 1930; Page 8A; Image 15 of 17;
Family #137/138.
Listed as Vick Foster; age 27; born in VA; married; in household of mother, Margaret A. Wright, with
husband and children.
4. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Sandy River District; Bradshaw, WV; taken 7 Apr 1930; Page 247A;
Image 13 of 51; Family #106/109.
Listed as Vick Foster; age 34; born in VA; married at 16; in household of husband, Joseph T. Foster.
5. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Sandy River District; Bradshaw; taken 22 Apr 1940; Page 1207B;
Image 52 of 133; Household #403.
Listed as Nancy V. Foster; age 48; born in VA; married; 4th grade education; lived in same place on
1 Apr 1935; in household of husband, Joseph T. Foster.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Joseph Foster"; Article; Page 146; submitted by herbert Foster, Son,
Avondale, WV 24811.
2. 1920 Census, Washington Co, VA; Abingdon District; taken 15 Jan 1930; Page 8A; Image 15 of 17;
Family #137/138.
Listed as Ruth Foster; age 7; born in VA; in household of grandmother, Margaret A. Wright, with
parents.
3. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Sandy River District; Bradshaw, WV; taken 7 Apr 1930; Page 247A;
Image 13 of 51; Family #106/109.
Listed as Ruth Foster; age 17; born in VA; single; in household of father, Joseph T. Foster.
4. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Sandy River District; Bradshaw; taken 22 Apr 1940; Page 1207B;
Image 52 of 133; Household #403.
Listed as Ruth Foster; age 27; born in VA; single; 8th grade education; lived in same place on
1 Apr 1935; in household of father, Joseph T. Foster.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Joseph Foster"; Article; Page 146; submitted by herbert Foster, Son,
Avondale, WV 24811.
2. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Sandy River District; Bradshaw, WV; taken 7 Apr 1930; Page 247A;
Image 13 of 51; Family #106/109.
Listed as Betsy J. Foster; age 6; born in VA; single; in household of father, Joseph T. Foster.
3. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Sandy River District; Bradshaw; taken 22 Apr 1940; Page 1207B;
Image 52 of 133; Household #403.
Listed as Betsy Foster; age 17; born in VA; single; 8th grade education; lived in same place on
1 Apr 1935; in household of father, Joseph T. Foster.
1. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Sandy River District; Bradshaw, WV; taken 7 Apr 1930; Page 247A;
Image 13 of 51; Family #106/109.
Listed as Ray Foster; age 1 mon; born in WV; in household of father, Joseph T. Foster.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1995"; 1995; Edited by Dr, Thomas C.
Hatcher; Geneva Steele; Sandra Long and Christine Carr McGuire; "Frank W. Turner"; Article; Page
250; submitted by Mrs. F.W. Turner, Box 366, Welch, WV 24801.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1995"; 1995; Edited by Dr, Thomas C.
Hatcher; Geneva Steele; Sandra Long and Christine Carr McGuire; "Frank W. Turner"; Article; Page
250; submitted by Mrs. F.W. Turner, Box 366, Welch, WV 24801.
1. "McDowell County, WV Genealogy & Family History"; Facebook Page; Posting by John Casali;
12 Aug 2021.
"I am posting because some will remember Corte Construction company that was officed in the Koppers building in Kimball. This is my good friend of 99 years old, Mirto Corte, one of 3 brothers who ran that company. Today, I drove him from his retirement center home in Blacksburg, VA to tour our hometown of Kimball and McDowell County. That is his childhood home in the background, that his father built in the Italian stucco style. The kitchen was on the second floor, and today he mentioned that his mother would step out on the little balcony above the street in Norwood subdivision. In the 1900's, there were a number of Italian stone masons who immigrated to McDowell County to perform skilled trades, such as stone cutting/setting, and Mirto Corte's father and my grandfather, Antonio Casali, were two of them. Mirto Corte will be 100 years old on September 1, 2021. I am fortunate to have been able to spend the day with him in McDowell County. Thanks to Markella Balasis Gianato and Jimmy Gianato for visiting with us at Ya'sou in Kimball."Reply Posted by Brian Mitchem:
"My father worked for Corte construction back in the 1970's and 1980's. Bernard Mitchem."
2. "You know you're from McDowell County, WV when......."; Facebook Posting by John Casali; 16 Sep
2021.
"It's a sad day to report that a dear friend since my childhood, Mirto Corte, born in Kimball, WV in 1921, and 100 years old on Sept. 1st, passed away early this morning. I am posting to this group because I realize how many of you knew about Mirto Corte and/or Corte Construction from the huge response to my post of about a month ago about a trip that he and I took to spend the day in our original hometown of Kimball in McDowell County, WV. The upper photo below depicts us in front of his childhood home in Norwood subdivision of Kimball, built in the Italian stucco style by his father, and he was able to clearly recall so many other memories and places, including the offices of Corte Construction Company, which he and his two brothers (Ennio and Stelio) founded. From so many responses to that post, it became clear how many lives Mirto Corte had touched, in McDowell and elsewhere. So I know that many of you would want to know, and will be saddened, about his passing. He was a great friend to my parents, Tony and Shirley Casali, and the lower photo is my Mom with Mirto in 2005. Mirt had just turned 100 years old on September 1st, 2021, and a birthday party had been planned by his daughter Carolyn Corte Stafford (now of Riner, VA) at their cabin on Claytor Lake. We were all looking forward to that, but it had to be cancelled because Mirto had contracted the Covid virus. I had talked with him last week by phone, and he seemed to be doing well, but he took a turn for the worse and had to be hospitalized. I talked to him again yesterday in the hospital, with the phone held to his ear. It's particularly sad to me that he had just turned 100, and then had this happen. However, everyone that knew Mirto will take joy in knowing that his life was a full one, wherein he helped many people and had such a lasting impact. After getting an aeronautical engineering degree in the early 1940's, he worked on WWII aircraft for Curtiss-Wright, at a time when his skills were at a premium for our country. Later, he joined his brothers in Corte Construction, and they built many commercial buildings in WV and VA. He retired from that and led a successful steel supply business in Bluefield, when he also served several volunteer organizations tirelessly. After his second retirement, Mirto and his wife Dot moved to Skidaway Island in Georgia, where he became very active as a project leader for Habitat for Humanity and other volunteer efforts. Then they moved back to Virginia's New River Valley, where he lived since, and he and I would spend time together. I will miss this great friend, who taught me how to fly fish, to water ski, and after my Dad Tony passed away, was a voice of strength and wisdom whom I could consult on many matters. Today, in driving back home from an appointment, I noticed the largest and most clear rainbow I have ever seen, one which compelled me to pull over and admire it. I'll take that as a clear sign that my dear friend Mirto Corte is in heaven now. Thank you for reading this."
1. Wyoming Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1946); Page 137; WV Archives Web Site.
Pietro Pizzino; age 22; born in Micajah, WV; single; living in Glen Fork, WV; son of Charlie and
Catherine Pizzino; married on 27 Sep 1946 in Glen Fork, WV; Freda Reid; age 16; born in Itmann,
WV; single; living in Glen Fork, WV; daughter of Harry and Mary Jane Reid.
2. Wyoming Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1951); Page 153; WV Archives Web Site.
Pietro Pizzino; age 27; born in Micajah, WV; divorced; living at Glen Fork, WV; son of Carmelo and
Catherine Pizzino; married on 24 Mar 1951 in Marianna, WV; Patricia Annette Murray; age 28; born
in Otsego, WV; single; living in Marianna, WV; daughter of Grover Carlton and Grace Blake Murray.
1. Wyoming Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1951); Page 153; WV Archives Web Site.
Pietro Pizzino; age 27; born in Micajah, WV; divorced; living at Glen Fork, WV; son of Carmelo and
Catherine Pizzino; married on 24 Mar 1951 in Marianna, WV; Patricia Annette Murray; age 28; born
in Otsego, WV; single; living in Marianna, WV; daughter of Grover Carlton and Grace Blake Murray.
1. "McDowell County WV Heritage", MCHS, 1995, Vol I, "Henry and Fannie Harmon" article, Page 195.
Henry Harmon; born abt 1870; died in 1937; married Fannie Underwood on 8 Feb 1899, daughter of
Peter and Annie Underwood.
Daughter, Mary E. Harman; born in 1901; married Noah Coleman. Noah Coleman; born in 1898;
died in 1968; "buried in cemetery on Bluefield (VA?) /Tazewell, VA road"; children: Sonny, Glen,
Othello, Alva, Gene, Raymond, Doc, Noah, and Glenna. Alva Coleman; born on 5 Jul 1919; married
Junita Hughes, daughter of Noah and Ellen Craig Hughes.
2. 1920 Census, McDowell Co, WV, Sandy River District, Bradshaw, taken on 31 Jan 1920, Page 223A,
Family #164.
Listed as Alvira Coleman, age 2 months, born in WV, in household of father, Noah Coleman.
3. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV, Sandy River District, taken on 10 Apr 1930, Page 253A,
Family #214.
Listed as Alva Coleman, age 11, born in WV, in household of father, Noah Coleman.
4. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1937); Page 122; WV Archives Web Site.
Alva Coleman; born 5 Jul 1919 at Lex, WV; living at lex, WV; son of Noah and Mary; married on 31
Jul 1937 at Lex, WV; Gladys Myers; born 2 Jul 1921 at Marytown, WV; living at Bradshaw, WV;
daughter of John and Rosa.
5. FindAGrave.com Web Site; submitted by Valerie Neal; 23 Apr 2014.
" Alva Otis Coleman
Birth 5 Jul 1919
West Virginia, USA
Death 14 Dec 1979 (aged 60)
Bradshaw, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Burial
Riffe Cemetery
McDowell County, West Virginia, USA "
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1937); Page 122; WV Archives Web Site.
Alva Coleman; born 5 Jul 1919 at Lex, WV; living at lex, WV; son of Noah and Mary; married on 31
Jul 1937 at Lex, WV; Gladys Myers; born 2 Jul 1921 at Marytown, WV; living at Bradshaw, WV;
daughter of John and Rosa.
1. FindAGrave.com Web Site; Elkhorn City Cemetery, Elkhorn City, Pike Co, KY; submitted by
MaxineStevensWinchester; 13 Jun 2014.
William Elbert Slone; born 4 Dec 1887 in Pike Co, KY; died 16 Oct 1919 in Pike Co, KY; buried here;
no grave marker photo shown; death certificate posted.
"Elbert was the son of Morgan and Eliza Ann Salyer Slone. He married Bessie, the daughter of Tilden and Rose Anna Ratliff Swiney. The couple were the parents of Willard and Ample Slone. At the time of his 1917 WWI Draft registration, Elbert was working as a farmer. Many times, after the harvest, men would begin to work for the coal companies, as miners, until it was time to plant the fields in the spring. This may have been his situation, or he may have elected to change occupations. Either way, Mr. Slone was working as a coal miner and was killed, in a mining accident, by falling slate."
1. FindAGrave.com; Iaeger Memorial Cemetery, Roderfield, McDowell Co, WV; submitted by
MaxineStevensWinchester; 9 Apr 2013.
Bessie Swiney Potter; born 13 Mar 1901; die 1 Oct 1970; buried here; double headstone photo shown
with husband, Arson Potter; "THY KINGDOM COME"; "IN LOVING MEMORY".
" Spouses:
Arson Potter (1892 - 1971)
William Elbert Slone (1887 - 1919)
Children:
James Mullins (1915 - 1994)*
Willard Slone (1917 - 1978)*
Ample Slone Levy (1919 - 1985)*
Britton Potter (1921 - 1994)*
Roland Potter (1923 - 1978)*
Ed Potter (1924 - 1991)*
Ray Tilden Potter (1925 - 2010)*
Alvery Potter (1928 - 1997)*
Clara Potter Dillinger Cason (1931 - 2016)*
Marvin Potter (1933 - 1979)*
Maxine Potter Swangin (1935 - 1986)*
Betty J Potter Swango (1937 - 2013)*
Keen Johnson Potter (1939 - 2011)*..."