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)*..."
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1965); Page 402; WV Archives Web Site.
Robert Eugene Bailey; age 23; born 18 jun 1942 in Bluefield, WV; single; living at 1800 Carolina, Ave;
Bluefield, WV; son of Robert Ernest and Sarah Louise (Porterfield) Bailey; married on 21 Aug 1943 at
Elkhorn, WV; Eva Joan Semonco; age 21; born 1 Sep 1943 at Elkhorn, WV; single; living at Box 43;
Elkhorn, WV; daughter of Andrew B. and Mary (Deamon) Semonco.
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1965); Page 402; WV Archives Web Site.
Robert Eugene Bailey; age 23; born 18 jun 1942 in Bluefield, WV; single; living at 1800 Carolina, Ave;
Bluefield, WV; son of Robert Ernest and Sarah Louise (Porterfield) Bailey; married on 21 Aug 1943 at
Elkhorn, WV; Eva Joan Semonco; age 21; born 1 Sep 1943 at Elkhorn, WV; single; living at Box 43;
Elkhorn, WV; daughter of Andrew B. and Mary (Deamon) Semonco.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; Geneva Steel, Sandra Long,
and Tom Hatcher; "Delmer Mullins"; Article; Page 214; submitted by Martha Gillespie, 3937 North
Ridge Road East, Ashtabula, OH 44004-4352.
2. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; Geneva Steel, Sandra Long,
and Tom Hatcher; "Mary Settles Mullins Sullivan"; Article; Page 247; submitted by Martha Gillespie,
3937 North Ridge Rd, East, Ashtabula, OH 44004-4352.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; Geneva Steel, Sandra Long,
and Tom Hatcher; "Delmer Mullins"; Article; Page 214; submitted by Martha Gillespie, 3937 North
Ridge Road East, Ashtabula, OH 44004-4352.
2. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; Geneva Steel, Sandra Long,
and Tom Hatcher; "Mary Settles Mullins Sullivan"; Article; Page 247; submitted by Martha Gillespie,
3937 North Ridge Rd, East, Ashtabula, OH 44004-4352.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; Geneva Steel, Sandra Long,
and Tom Hatcher; "Delmer Mullins"; Article; Page 214; submitted by Martha Gillespie, 3937 North
Ridge Road East, Ashtabula, OH 44004-4352.
2. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; Geneva Steel, Sandra Long,
and Tom Hatcher; "Mary Settles Mullins Sullivan"; Article; Page 247; submitted by Martha Gillespie,
3937 North Ridge Rd, East, Ashtabula, OH 44004-4352.