1. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Sandy River District; Iaeger; E.D. 24-56; taken 2 Apr 1940; Page
1069A; Image 2 of 29; Household #1.
Listed as Charles Kiser; age 8; born in WV; 2nd grade education; attending school; lived in same
house on 1 Apr 1935; in household of father, Fletcher Kiser.
1. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Sandy River District; taken on 1May 1930; Page 221A; Family #322.
Listed as Clarice Kennedy; age 2; born in WV; in household of father, Elijah Kennedy.
2. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1946); Page 410; WV Archives Web Site.
Roy Vanover age 18; born and living in Iaeger, WV; single; married on 2 May 1946 at Iaeger,
WV; Clarice Kennedy; age 18; born in Bradshaw, WV; single; living at iaeger, WV; with consent
of Creed and Maggie Vanover, parents of Roy Vanover; and Mary E. Kennedy, mother of Clarice
Kennedy.
1. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Roy Daniel Vanover
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 36
Birth Date: abt 1928
Marriage Registration Place: Buchanan, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date: 1 Feb 1964
Marriage Place: Grundy, Virginia, USA
Father: Creed Vanover
Mother: Maggie Powell
Spouse: Phyllis Nadine Beckner
Certificate Number: 1964004149"
2. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Roy Daniel Vanover
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 20
Birth Date: 31 Oct 1948
Marriage Registration Place: Buchanan, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date: 23 Dec 1968
Marriage Place: Grundy, Virginia, USA
Father: Roy Daniel Vanover
Mother: Clarice Kennedy
Spouse: Linda Mae Mitchem
Certificate Number: 1968049677"
3. Fanning Funeral Home, Iaeger, WV; Posted Obit.
"Roy Daniel Vanover Jr. (Junebug) age 68 of Iaeger went to be with his Lord and Savior on July 25, 2017 following a short illness. Roy was born October 31, 1948 in Iaeger, WV, a son of the late Roy Daniel Vanover Sr. and Clarice Kennedy Kiser. Roy served his country by enlisting in the U.S. Army and he was also in the Vietnam War. He was a former coal truck driver and mechanic. He loved to work on old cars and he loved nature. Roy was preceded in death by his father, Roy Daniel Vanover Sr., his mother, Clarice Kennedy Kiser and one infant sister. Those left to cherish his memory are his loving, caring, devoted wife of 49 years, Linda M. Mitchem Vanover of the home; his one and only child, Misty (Marty) Lawrence of Hanover; grandchildren, Maranda (John) Chafin of Iaeger and Malissa Lawrence of Hanover (who were his whole life); one sister, Sharon (Freddie) Peakes of Princeton; two brothers, Dennis (Elizabeth Gay) Vanover of Iaeger and Henry J. Kiser (Jaybird) of Wolfe; very special aunt, Jeanette K. Vanover of Florida; his step father, Charles (Charlie) Kiser of Wolfe; and a host of nieces and nephews. We know Roy (my daddy) is with his Lord and it’s very comforting for us. My daddy was very special; he was not only my best friend but also a wonderful husband, poppie, brother, uncle and a wonderful friend to many others. Funeral services will be Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 6 p.m. with Reverend Russell King and Reverend Martin West officiating at the Christ Cathedral Church in Iaeger. Friends are welcome to visit with the family at the church from 5 p.m. until the time of services. ..."
1. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Linda Mae Mitchem
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 18
Birth Date: 30 Jul 1950
Marriage Registration Place: Buchanan, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date: 23 Dec 1968
Marriage Place: Grundy, Virginia, USA
Father: Clinton William Mitchem
Mother: Essie Mae Walker
Spouse: Roy Daniel Vanover
Certificate Number: 1968049677"
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Wiley B. Griffith"; Article; Page 155; submitted by Elizabeth G.
McClanahan; HC 61, Box 18AA, Grundy, VA 24614.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Wiley B. Griffith"; Article; Page 155; submitted by Elizabeth G.
McClanahan; HC 61, Box 18AA, Grundy, VA 24614.
2. FindAGrave.com Web Site; submitted by rebecca belcherbecky; 2 Jan 2009.
" Elizabeth Griffith Mcclanahan
Birth unknown
McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Death 23 Mar 2008
Grundy, Buchanan County, Virginia, USA
Burial
Noah Stewart Cemetery
Paynesville, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 32580358 "Additional Information Posted:
"ELIZABETH GRIFFITH McCLANAHAN, 75 years of age of Grundy, VA, went to be with our Heavenly Father Sunday, March 23, 2008 at her home following a brief illness. Born in McDowell County, WV, she was the daughter of the late Wiley B. and Christina Day Griffith. She was a resident of Buchanan County most of her life, was a member of Crossview Church of Christ and sang in the Grundy Church of Christ Choir. Mrs. McClanahan graduated from Mountain Mission School Class of 1951 and from the Chicago School of Interior Decoration and Design. She received her certificate from the Buchanan County Vocational School in Carpentry, worked at Mountain Mission School for more than 30 years as a Receptionist, taught Home Economics and Carpentry."Elizabeth retired as Assistant Director at the Buchanan County Department of Social Services. She designed and constructed clothing and had a patent on her necktie skirts and vests and loved refinishing antique furniture with her son. She was involved with the Boy Scouts of America for several years as an assistant den mother serving under Kathleen Penn and Mary McGlothlin. She also received the Eagle Scout Mother's Pin award.
"She is survived by 1-Son: James Ragus McClanahan Jr. and wife Yolanda Harriet, Grundy, VA, 1-Granddaughter: Della Elizabeth "Liza" McClanahan-Bell and husband Noah, Fort Polk, LA, 1-Grandson: James Ragus McClanahan III and wife Suzannie, Grundy, VA, 3-Sisters: Eva Stoyer, Winter Haven, FL, Eonia Church and husband Jim, Homosassa, FL, Earley Joy Keyon and husband Mel, Lebadon, IN
"Also, survived by 1-Great-Granddaughter on the way: Malay Kinzlei McClanahan-Bell, due on May 5, 2008, several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.
"She was preceded in death by 9-Sisters.
"Funeral Services for ELIZABETH GRIFFITH McCLANAHAN will be conducted Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 1:00 P.M. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Evg. Dennis Wimmer and Evg. Hobert Kennedy officiating with burial to follow in the Noah Stewart Cemetery, State Line Ridge No. 2, near Paynesville, WV.
"Friends may call at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel Tuesday afternoon at 5:00 P.M. with services at 7:00 P.M.
"Active Pallbearers will be: Ray Collins, Curtis Ragus Mullins, Sr., James Ragus McClanahan III, Ryan Mullins, James O'Quinn, Johnny Dalton, William Dickey, Hank Blankenship, Clark Kennedy Jr., Jeff Burks, Teddy Keen, and Phillip Justice.
"Honorary Pallbearers will be: Tamara Dalton, Frannie Baxter-Minton, Agnes Mullins, T.C. Mullins, Jr., Dr. Clint Sutherland, Dennis Johnson, Terry Watts, Mel Kenyon, Jim Church, Julian Smith, Marlene Back, Elizabeth McCoy, Mickey McGlothlin, Dr. Thomas McDonald, Wanda Mullins, Zolina Elswick, David Epling, Thomas David McDonald, Jr., Thomas Dingus and Curtis Ragus Mullins, Jr. "
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Wiley B. Griffith"; Article; Page 155; submitted by Elizabeth G.
McClanahan; HC 61, Box 18AA, Grundy, VA 24614.
2. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1950); Page 356; WV Archives Web Site.
Shelvin McGinnis Rowe; age 19; born and living in Bradshaw, WV; single; married on 24 Apr 1950
in Lex, WV; Eonia Griffith; age 20; born and living in Bradshaw, WV; single; with consent of Stella
Powell, mother of Shelvin McGinnis Rowe; and Georgia Mathis, guardian (child is orphan).
1. McDowell Co, WV; WW I Draft Registration Card #354: 5 May 1917; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Wiley B. Griffith; age 30; born 10 Mar 1887 in Carter Co, KY; farmer; living at Bradshaw, WV; married
wife and 2 children; medium height; blue eyes and dark hair; weak eyes, bad lungs and side trouble.
2. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1910); Page 35; WV Archives Web Site.
Wiley Griffith; age 22; born in KY; single; farmer; living in Bradshaw, WV; son of Reese and Mary;
married on 19 May 1910 at the home of the bride; Christina Day; age 19; born in McDowell Co, WV;
single; daughter of T.J. and Elay (sp?).
3. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Wiley B. Griffith"; Article; Page 155; submitted by Elizabeth G.
McClanahan; HC 61, Box 18AA, Grundy, VA 24614.
"WILEY B. GRIFFITH
"MINER
"Wiley B. Griffith was originally from Harlan,
Kentucky. He was one of seven children born
to Reece and May Ann Griffith. At the age of 12
while he and his father were crossing the rail-
road track, his father was hit and run over by
the train and decapitated. Having lost his
father, he and one of his older brothers hoboed
a train to Charleston, WV. They got jobs pick-
ing slate in a coal mine and later sent for his
mother, sister, and brothers. Later he migrated
to Bradshaw, WV. where he got a job in the
coal mines.
"He met and married Christina Elizabeth Day,
the daughter of Tom and Elvia Day of Pay-
nesville, WV.
"At the age of 30, while working in the mines,
he was caught in a slate fall and lost one of his
legs. After the amputation of his leg it was
impossible for him to work inside the mines. He
was gifted with the ability to do almost any kind
of work. He was a unique and versatile person,
and worked at many jobs to support his family.
He did carpentry, was a Blacksmith (making
tools, knives, etc. from spring leaves out of
automobiles), served as a veterinarian and was
a moonshiner for a while. Because of his ability
to work with animals, he even trained his mute
to transport the moonshine from one destina-
tion to another unaccompanied. This way he
would not be caught by the revenuers with the
moonshine. However, neither Wiley or the mule
were ever caught! Later he was able to get a
truck, and even though he only had one leg this
did not deter him from driving. With his determi-
nation and effort, he was able to use that one
foot to feed the gas, use the brake and clutch.
He hauled coal he picked from slate dumps,
and said it to people for heating purposes. He
moved miners and their families from one coal
camp to another in search of employment. He
never let the tragedies, trials and hardships in
his life discourage him. He was a survivor and
truly a legend in his time.
"Wiley and Christina were the parents of twelve
girls. They named all the girls with names that
began with the letter "E” (Edna, Ethel, Evelyn,
Elsie, Evie, Eva, Edith, Ellen, Emmie, Ellie, Eonra
and Elizabeth). They lived in the Bradshaw/Jola
area, in the Turkey Branch section at the foot of
Bradshaw Mountain.
"Four of their daughters expired when they
were infants. Wiley lost Christina and. two of his
daughters during the typhoid epidemic in 1936,
In 1949 while traveling down Oosley mountain
on his way to prayer meeting services, he was
killed in what was determined an automobile
accident. However, due to mysterious circum—
stances surrounding his death, it is believed he
was robbed, murdered and pushed over the `
mountain in his car. `
"Many years before his death, he became a
Christian, and went into the ministry, becoming
a self-educated country preacher of the Church
of Christ faith. To those of the Bradshaw/dole
area, he was remembered as Preacher Wiley
Griffith, the country preacher With the peg-leg.
He designed and made his peg-1695 from
poplar trees. He had two peg-legs. one hº used
for work, and the other one was for Sunday. He
carved a foot for his Sunday peg-leg. Inserting
springs in the ankle and toe sections for mobili—
ty. This wav he would also wear a pair of shoes
"After the death of Christina, Wiley married
Rachel Christian. They were the parents of one
child, a GIRL. Her name also started With the
letter “E", and because she was born at 5
o’clock in the morning, they called her Early!
Submitted by: Elizabeth G. McClanahan H.C. 61
Box 18AA Grundy. VA 24614."
4. McDowell Co, WV; Death Certificate #17449; WV Archives Web Site.
Wiley Griffith; age 62; born 10 Mar 1885 in Kanawha Co, WV (sic, Carter Co, KY); married; Blacksmith
for coal mine; living at Jolo, WV; son of Reese and Marie (Hicks) Griffith; died 26 Oct 1949 in Grace
Hospital, Welch, WV; due to injuries from automobile accident at Bradshaw, WV; buried 29 Oct 1949
in Stewart Cemetery.
5. FindAgrave.com Web Site; submitted by Clifford Edsel Miller.
"Rev Wiley B. Griffith
Birth 10 Mar 1887
USA
Death 26 Oct 1949 (aged 62)
USA
Burial
Noah Stewart Cemetery
Buchanan County, Virginia, USA (Believe this cemetery is located in McDowell Co, WV)
Memorial ID 95472997"
6. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1995"; 1995; Edited by Dr, Thomas C.
Hatcher; Geneva Steele; Sandra Long and Christine Carr McGuire; "Herman "Moon" Mullins";
Article; submitted by Linda Richardson, 24 Langford Ave, Westover, WV 26505.
7. "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.
1. 1900 Census, McDowell Co, WV, Sandy River District, taken on 28 Jun 1900, Page 255A,
Family #284.
Listed as Christina Day, age 8, born in WV in Oct 1890, in household of father, Thomas Day.
2. 1910 Census, McDowell Co, WV, Sandy River District, Bradshaw, taken on 25 Apr 1910, 69A,
Family #71.
Listed as Christina Day, age 18, born in WV, in household of father,Thomas J. Day.
3. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1910); Page 35; WV Archives Web Site.
Wiley Griffith; age 22; born in KY; single; farmer; living in Bradshaw, WV; son of Reese and Mary;
married on 19 May 1910 at the home of the bride; Christina Day; age 19; born in McDowell Co, WV;
single; daughter of T.J. and Elay (sp?).
4. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Wiley B. Griffith"; Article; Page 155; submitted by Elizabeth G.
McClanahan; HC 61, Box 18AA, Grundy, VA 24614.
5. McDowell Co, WV; Death Certificate #1928; WV Archives Web Site.
Christina Griffith; age 48 yrs, 6 mons, 2 days; born 16 Aug 1890 in VA; married; wife of Wiley Griffith;
living at Jolo, WV; daughter of Thomas and Elvie (Mullins) Day; died 18 Feb 1939 in Welch
Emergency Hospital, Welch, WV; due to typhoid fever; buried 20 Feb 1939 in Paynesville, WV;
informant, Wiley Griffith.
6. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Christinia Day Griffith"; Article; Page 156; submitted by Elizabeth G.
McClanahan; HC 61, Box 18AA, Grundy, VA 24614.
"CHRISTINA DAY GRIFFITH
"Christina Day was the third of seven children
born to Tom and Elva Day of Paynesville, W. Va.
She was a beautiful petite dark haired woman,
4’10 tall, weighing approximately 90 pounds.
"Her father had numerous acres of land,
mostly mountain, but rich in coal and timber.
He was a mountain farmer and dealt in cattle.
"ln those days girls were taught the usual
methods of homemaking. Christina mastered
all the duties associated with keeping a home,
however, she was gifted with an unusual talent
for designing and sewing clothing.
"The Day family usually went to Church on
Sunday. One Sunday after Church there was
baptizing. This took place in the creek at the
mouth of Three Forks. This being a special
occasion, they had dinner on the ground, which
was the custom of that time. lt was at this bap-
tizing where Christina met Wiley B.
"Wiley had hitch-hiked to Bradshaw from
Charleston, W. Va. in search of work. That
night he had slept in an old abandon log school
house up in Three Forks. He had no money,
had not eaten in two days, and only had the
clothes on his back. When he came by where
the baptizing was and saw they were having
dinner on the ground, he stopped for some—
thing to eat. He addressed Christina and asked
her for food. Being the kind and compassionate
person she was, she gave him something to
eat. When the service was over, he asked her
if he could walk her home. When they got to
her house, he asked her if he could come
courting. She told him, he would have to get a
job and clean himself up first. He got a job
loading coal by hand in the mines. They started
courting and later were married.
"Tom Day gave each of his children a parcel
of land and $50.00 when they got married. He
gave Christina 25 acres in Turkey Branch.
Wiley built them a two room log cabin. it was
there that tour of their 12 daughters were born.
However, due to lack of work and hard times
they began moving from one location to anoth-
er seeking employment. Christina helped all
she could by sewing for people. Wiley felt they
could do better it he made and sold moon-
shine. He moved Christina and the girls back
on the mountain in the backwoods and started
his mocnshining business. The only means of
getting to the place where they lived was by
pack mule.
"Wiley was gone most of the time making and
selling moonshine. This left Christina and the
girls to do all the work, raising a garden for
their food as well as corn for the livestock.
Being so far away from everyone and with all
the work she had to do, she was unable to
make extra money from sewing. Times were
hard, there was no money to buy clothing,
shoes or material and thread for sewing. There
were times when she would have to pull
threads from pieces of cloth to repair the girls
dresses. They did not have shoes, so in the
winter they would wrap rags around their feet
to keep them from getting frostbite.
"The moonshining business did not pay off as
Wiley expected, so once again he started mov—
ing the family to different locations to find work.
Later he got a job at Bradshaw, W. Va. and
moved Christine and the girls back to the
mountain. This was where he was working
when he was caught in a slate fall in the mines.
His right leg was crushed and had to be ampu—
tated. He was about 30 years cid.
"With no income Wiley did whatever he could
to feed his family. He did shoe cobbling and
later as his leg healed, he made a peg-leg so
he could walk.
"Living on the mountain, and with no means
ot transportation, Wiley and Christina moved
back in the cabin in Turkey Branch. Christina
and the girls worked hard doing the farming,
and the older girls, Edna, Ethel, Evelyn and
Elsie had to do all the plowing, planting and
harvesting of the crops for the family and live-
stock. Also, they had to dig coal from the coal
bank to heat the cabin in the winter.
"With so many in the family, they had out—
grown the cabin. also it was about to fall down.
Wiley and the girls were in the process of build-
ing a larger house when Christina’s health
began to fail. The many years of hard work she
endured taking care of her family had finally
caught up with her. She became very trail and
weak. There was a typhoid epidemic. Christina
and five of the girls, (Edna, Ethel, Evie, Eonia
and Elizabeth) came down with Typhoid tever.
Wiley lost two of his beautiful daughters, (Ethel
and Evie), and his beloved Christina in a three
month period.
"King Solomon in Proverbs 31:10-31, “The
wise sayings of King Lemel of Massa," and
Luke the Christian apostle, in Acts 9:36—42,
“The story of Dorcas, a Christian woman,"
gives a perfect description of Christina.
"AS A WlFE, to her husband she was more
than precious gems. He could trust her and
she satisfied his needs. She did not hinder him,
but helped him all her life.
"TO HER CHlLDREN, she was a woman of
strength and dignity, had no fear of old age.
When she spoke, her words were wise, and
kindness was the rule of even/thing she said.
She watched carefully all that went on through-
out her household, and was never lazy. She
was a woman that reverenced God. Her chil-
dren and her husband blessed and praised her.
"TO OTHERS SHE WAS A TRUE FRIEND,
she sewed for the poor "and generously gave to
the needy. The good deeds she did brought her
honor and recognition from those that knew her.
"Material wealth was nonexistent in the Griffith
household, but they were rich in love. Christina’s
mark of love was always visible to her husband,
children and others. This mark of love is still evi-
dent today in the lives of her daughters, grand—
children and great grandchildren.
"She was truly the wife, mother and friend as
described in Proverbs 31 :10-31, and she was the
Dorcas of her time as described in Acts 9:36-42. __
"Christina Day and Wiley B. Griffith were the
parents of 12 girls. They named them all with
names that began with the letter “E". (Edna,
Ethel, Evelyn, Elsie, Evie, Eva, Edith, Ellen,
Emmie, Ellie, Eonia and Elizabeth) Submitted by;
Edna Griffith Mullins, Eva Griffith Slayer, Eonia Griffith
Easter, Elizabeth Griffith McClanahan, HC 61, Box 18AA,
Grundy, VA 24514 "
7. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1995"; 1995; Edited by Dr, Thomas C.
Hatcher; Geneva Steele; Sandra Long and Christine Carr McGuire; "Herman "Moon" Mullins";
Article; submitted by Linda Richardson, 24 Langford Ave, Westover, WV 26505.
8. "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.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Wiley B. Griffith"; Article; Page 155; submitted by Elizabeth G.
McClanahan; HC 61, Box 18AA, Grundy, VA 24614.
2. McDowell Co, WV; Death Certificate #550; WV Archives Web Site.
Eva Griffith; age 18 yrs, 8 mons; 14 days; born 23 Apr 1920 in Buchanan Co, VA; single; daughter of
Wiley and Christina Griffith; died 6 Jan 1939 in Jolo, WV; due to typhoid fever; buried 7 Jan 1939 in
Paynesville, WV; informant, Wiley Griffith.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Wiley B. Griffith"; Article; Page 155; submitted by Elizabeth G.
McClanahan; HC 61, Box 18AA, Grundy, VA 24614.
2. FindAGrave.com Web Site; submitted by Clifford Edsel Miller; 16 Aug 2012.
" Ellie Griffith
Birth 18 Mar 1922
USA
Death 1939 (aged 16–17)
USA
Burial
Noah Stewart Cemetery
Buchanan County, Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 95473553"
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Wiley B. Griffith"; Article; Page 155; submitted by Elizabeth G.
McClanahan; HC 61, Box 18AA, Grundy, VA 24614.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Wiley B. Griffith"; Article; Page 155; submitted by Elizabeth G.
McClanahan; HC 61, Box 18AA, Grundy, VA 24614.
2. McDowell Co, WV; Death Certificate #8752; WV Archives Web Site.
Edith Griffith; age 2 mons, 4 days; born 20 May 1925 in McDowell Co, WV; daughter of Wyley and
Christina (Day) Griffith; died 24 Jul 1925 in Roderfield, WV; due to starvation and "weakness"; buried
26 Jul 1925 in Buchanan Co, VA.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Wiley B. Griffith"; Article; Page 155; submitted by Elizabeth G.
McClanahan; HC 61, Box 18AA, Grundy, VA 24614.
2. FindAGrave.com Web Site; submitted by Clifford Edsel Miller; 16 Aug 2012.
" Ellen Griffith
Birth 20 Jun 1927
USA
Death 1939 (aged 11–12)
USA
Burial
Noah Stewart Cemetery
Buchanan County, Virginia, USA (sic, McDowell Co, WV).
Memorial ID 95473399"
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Wiley B. Griffith"; Article; Page 155; submitted by Elizabeth G.
McClanahan; HC 61, Box 18AA, Grundy, VA 24614.
2. FindAGrave.com Web Site; submitted by Clifford Edsel Miller; 16 Aug 2012.
"Emmie Griffith
Birth 4 Jun 1929
USA
Death 1939 (aged 9–10)
USA
Burial
Noah Stewart Cemetery
Buchanan County, Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 95473331"
1. McDowell Co, WV; WW I Draft Registration Card #354: 5 May 1917; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Wiley B. Griffith; age 30; born 10 Mar 1887 in Carter Co, KY; farmer; living at Bradshaw, WV; married
wife and 2 children; medium height; blue eyes and dark hair; weak eyes, bad lungs and side trouble.
2. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1910); Page 35; WV Archives Web Site.
Wiley Griffith; age 22; born in KY; single; farmer; living in Bradshaw, WV; son of Reese and Mary;
married on 19 May 1910 at the home of the bride; Christina Day; age 19; born in McDowell Co, WV;
single; daughter of T.J. and Elay (sp?).
3. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Wiley B. Griffith"; Article; Page 155; submitted by Elizabeth G.
McClanahan; HC 61, Box 18AA, Grundy, VA 24614.
"WILEY B. GRIFFITH
"MINER
"Wiley B. Griffith was originally from Harlan,
Kentucky. He was one of seven children born
to Reece and May Ann Griffith. At the age of 12
while he and his father were crossing the rail-
road track, his father was hit and run over by
the train and decapitated. Having lost his
father, he and one of his older brothers hoboed
a train to Charleston, WV. They got jobs pick-
ing slate in a coal mine and later sent for his
mother, sister, and brothers. Later he migrated
to Bradshaw, WV. where he got a job in the
coal mines.
"He met and married Christina Elizabeth Day,
the daughter of Tom and Elvia Day of Pay-
nesville, WV.
"At the age of 30, while working in the mines,
he was caught in a slate fall and lost one of his
legs. After the amputation of his leg it was
impossible for him to work inside the mines. He
was gifted with the ability to do almost any kind
of work. He was a unique and versatile person,
and worked at many jobs to support his family.
He did carpentry, was a Blacksmith (making
tools, knives, etc. from spring leaves out of
automobiles), served as a veterinarian and was
a moonshiner for a while. Because of his ability
to work with animals, he even trained his mute
to transport the moonshine from one destina-
tion to another unaccompanied. This way he
would not be caught by the revenuers with the
moonshine. However, neither Wiley or the mule
were ever caught! Later he was able to get a
truck, and even though he only had one leg this
did not deter him from driving. With his determi-
nation and effort, he was able to use that one
foot to feed the gas, use the brake and clutch.
He hauled coal he picked from slate dumps,
and said it to people for heating purposes. He
moved miners and their families from one coal
camp to another in search of employment. He
never let the tragedies, trials and hardships in
his life discourage him. He was a survivor and
truly a legend in his time.
"Wiley and Christina were the parents of twelve
girls. They named all the girls with names that
began with the letter "E” (Edna, Ethel, Evelyn,
Elsie, Evie, Eva, Edith, Ellen, Emmie, Ellie, Eonra
and Elizabeth). They lived in the Bradshaw/Jola
area, in the Turkey Branch section at the foot of
Bradshaw Mountain.
"Four of their daughters expired when they
were infants. Wiley lost Christina and. two of his
daughters during the typhoid epidemic in 1936,
In 1949 while traveling down Oosley mountain
on his way to prayer meeting services, he was
killed in what was determined an automobile
accident. However, due to mysterious circum—
stances surrounding his death, it is believed he
was robbed, murdered and pushed over the `
mountain in his car. `
"Many years before his death, he became a
Christian, and went into the ministry, becoming
a self-educated country preacher of the Church
of Christ faith. To those of the Bradshaw/dole
area, he was remembered as Preacher Wiley
Griffith, the country preacher With the peg-leg.
He designed and made his peg-1695 from
poplar trees. He had two peg-legs. one hº used
for work, and the other one was for Sunday. He
carved a foot for his Sunday peg-leg. Inserting
springs in the ankle and toe sections for mobili—
ty. This wav he would also wear a pair of shoes
"After the death of Christina, Wiley married
Rachel Christian. They were the parents of one
child, a GIRL. Her name also started With the
letter “E", and because she was born at 5
o’clock in the morning, they called her Early!
Submitted by: Elizabeth G. McClanahan H.C. 61
Box 18AA Grundy. VA 24614."
4. McDowell Co, WV; Death Certificate #17449; WV Archives Web Site.
Wiley Griffith; age 62; born 10 Mar 1885 in Kanawha Co, WV (sic, Carter Co, KY); married; Blacksmith
for coal mine; living at Jolo, WV; son of Reese and Marie (Hicks) Griffith; died 26 Oct 1949 in Grace
Hospital, Welch, WV; due to injuries from automobile accident at Bradshaw, WV; buried 29 Oct 1949
in Stewart Cemetery.
5. FindAgrave.com Web Site; submitted by Clifford Edsel Miller.
"Rev Wiley B. Griffith
Birth 10 Mar 1887
USA
Death 26 Oct 1949 (aged 62)
USA
Burial
Noah Stewart Cemetery
Buchanan County, Virginia, USA (Believe this cemetery is located in McDowell Co, WV)
Memorial ID 95472997"
6. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1995"; 1995; Edited by Dr, Thomas C.
Hatcher; Geneva Steele; Sandra Long and Christine Carr McGuire; "Herman "Moon" Mullins";
Article; submitted by Linda Richardson, 24 Langford Ave, Westover, WV 26505.
7. "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.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Wiley B. Griffith"; Article; Page 155; submitted by Elizabeth G.
McClanahan; HC 61, Box 18AA, Grundy, VA 24614.