1. 1880 Census, Pike Co, KY; Mouth of Caney Creek Precinct; taken on 9 Jun 1880; Page719A,
Family #40.
Listed as William W. Little; age 8; born in KY; in household of father, William Little.
2. FindAGrave,com Website; submitted by E.M. Smith; 25 Feb 2022.
"William Howard Little
Birth Aug 1872
Kentucky, USA
Death 11 Feb 1910 (aged 37)
Virginia, USA
Burial Burial Details Unknown
Memorial ID 237051360"Additional Information Posted:
"William Howard Little of McDowell County, W.Va., was convicted of murder in 1909. He was executed on Feb. 11, 1910, by the Commonwealth of Virginia. However, Mr. Little maintained his innocence to the bitter end and modern researchers have built a case that he was, in fact, not guilty."Mr. Howard was born in August 1872 in Kentucky, a son of William Little and wife Margaret Johnson Little.
"The 1880 U.S. Census has him living in Pike County with his parents and siblings: William, a farmer, and his wife Margaret; and their children, William H., 8; Josephine, 6; Floyd, 4; Belledry (also seen as Belle or Bellderry), 3; and Synthia (also seen as Cynthia), 7 months. Census Place: Mouth of Caney Creek, Pike, Kentucky; Roll: 439; Page: 718A; Enumeration District: 104.
"In 1892, Howard Little, 20, a U.S. marshal, killed a romantic rival in Pike County, Ky. He was sentenced to life in prison but, after serving four years, was pardoned by the Kentucky governor.
"The 1900 U.S. Census for McDowell County, W.Va., has Howard Little, 27, living with his widowed mother, Margaret Little, 58. The census says Howard Little was married in 1892. But only Howard and his mother are living in the household. Census Place: Sandy River, McDowell, West Virginia; Page: 28; Enumeration District: 0075; FHL microfilm: 1241764. The census was taken in July 1900.
"In September 1900 in Mingo County, W.Va., W.H. Little, 28, a resident of McDowell County, W.Va., married Matilda Mounts, 17, a resident of Buchanan, Va. A second marriage record online says they were both residents of Pike County, Ky. (West Virginia Vital Research Records) William Howard and Matilda "Tilda" Little had four children: Grant, Edna, Robert, and Sadie.
"In 1909 Mr. Little was charged with murdering George Meadows and his family in their home in Hurley, Buchanan County, Va. There were six victims: George and his wife Lydia; the three Meadows children, Will, Noah and Lafayette, all under 10 years old; and Elizabeth E. "Betty" Baker Justus, Lydia's mother. George was both bludgeoned and shot and other family members were killed with the blunt side of an axe or hatchet. The Meadows home was then set on fire. George's body was outside the home. The Meadows family was buried in the Justice Cemetery in Buchanan, Va.
"One account says at the time of the Meadows murders in Virginia, Little and his family were living in Bull Creek, McDowell County. Geographic note: these locations in Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia were, to the state the obvious, in different states but close by.
"Mr. Little was found guilty and executed on Feb. 11, 1910.
"Newspaper articles at the time said Mr. Little went to his death "game" and stoic and dignified. His only concerns were about his children and his final resting place. He wanted to be buried in a family cemetery in Mohawk, McDowell County, W.Va. He made sure money was available to make that happen. An article said his body was taken to Mohawk.
"A brief item reprinted from the Roanoke World, said, "The condemned man still declares he is innocent but says he is ready to die. The only thing that worries him is he desires to be buried at home, and the future of his children." (The Bluefield Telegraph, W.Va., Feb. 3, 1910, Page 5.)
"THE MAN FROM THE TRAIN
"Evidence and observation that points to Mr. Little's innocence are detailed in a true-crime book: "The Man from the Train: The Solving of a Century-Old Serial Killer Mystery," 2017, by Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James. Ebook: Page 17-27 and Page 407-418.
"The authors – father/daughter -- researched a series of killings of entire families that happened in the late 1800s/mid-1900s. They believe the murderer was a man who rode the rails (thus the title) and sought out isolated homes with a woodpile and an axe conveniently available. He attacked around the midnight hour and left no one alive. The authors believe that Howard Little and many other people who lived near the murdered families were falsely accused (and in some cases executed or lynched) for the serial killer's crimes. Generally, the accused were white people of low social standing or black people.
"Mr. Little was a big man, handsome and hard-working. He was a foreman at Ritter Lumber Co. He was not without flaws. Though married he was known as a "Don Juan." At the time of the Meadows murders, he was having an affair.
"The case against Mr. Little:
• His prior conviction for murder.
• Interest in Betty Justus's money. Her son Senate/Sennit Justus worked at Ritter Lumber and said Little asked how much money Mrs. Justus carried around with her. (Little's wife said he had money and she could lead authorities to it. But a stash of money was never found).
• Comparison of the bullets in George Meadows' body to a gun in Little's possession. The bullets "fit" the gun. This was pre-ballistic testing.
• A bloody penny. On the morning after the murders, Little bought a newspaper with a "bloody penny" and the news agent turned it into the police.
• The "angry allegations of his wife, which were repeated in the newspapers, although she didn't not testify in court." She also narked him out when Little was trying to leave the area.
• Testimony of Mary Lee, who lived with the Little family. She said he was out late the night of the murders and was restless the next day.
• A cut on his leg. The morning after the murders, Little was home cutting brush. Mary Lee said Little came in the house and asked for bandages, but the wound was "dry."
• A wet jacket. On the morning after the murders, his jacket was wet and the idea was Little had washed blood out of it.
• Possession of a lantern that 20 "witnesses" said belonged to the Meadows home. The authors believe the lantern was carried by The Man from the Train until he got back to the railroad. He set it down in the middle of the road and then Little came along and carried it home. It was found hanging in his barn."…Little was executed in the electric chair in Richmond on February 11, 1910. He went to his death calmly, composed and dignified. He denied any involvement in the Meadows murder until the last moment of his life. He was buried in his family cemetery in McDowell County, West Virginia."
"ONLINE SOURCES
"https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2019/09/laurel-creek-murders-part-1.html"https://crimereads.com/when-the-devil-comes-to-town-unmasking-a-100-year-old-axe-murderer/
"http://www.oocities.org/rmbaker66/jstsmrdr.html
"https://www.billjamesonline.com/the_man_from_the_train_part_i/"
1. Fanning Funeral Home; Welch, WV; Posted Obit.
"Timothy Dean Marcus, age 49, of Coalwood, passed away Friday, October 12, 2012, at his residence. Born February 24, 1963, in Welch, WV, he was the son of the late Daniel and Pearlie Mae Marcus.
"Survivors include one daughter Valerie Marcus Moody of Morganton, N.C. one son Gage Allen Marcus of Morganton, N.C. and one stepdaughter Megan Ann Price of Morganton, N.C two Sisters, Tina Strong of Coalwood, W.V.; and Sherry Young and Husband James of Spartanburg, S.C; one brother, David Wayne Marcus and Robin of Springville, V.A.; grandchildren Zoey and Lilly Moody, Nathan Marcus, Sveva and Emma Price; stepmother Lenora Marcus of Coalwood."Memorial services will be conducted Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at 1 P.M. at the Pentecostal Holiness church in Coalwood W.V. with the Reverend George Masterson officiating...."
1. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name David Wayne Marcus
Gender Male
Race White
Marriage Age 19
Birth Date 28 May 1958
Marriage Registration Place Giles, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date 9 Jul 1977
Marriage Place Pearlsburg Giles, Virginia, USA
Father Daniel Marcus
Mother Pearlie May Freeman
Spouse Robin Jean Cline
Certificate Number 1977030433"
1. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name Robin Jean Cline
Gender Female
Race White
Marriage Age 16
Birth Date 25 Sep 1960
Marriage Registration Place Giles, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date 9 Jul 1977
Marriage Place Pearlsburg Giles, Virginia, USA
Father Ralph Cline
Mother Elizabeth Pauline Keene
Spouse
David Wayne Marcus"
1. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name Allen Gregg Strong
Gender Male
Race White
Marriage Age 22
Birth Date 26 Aug 1962
Marriage Registration Place Buchanan, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date 25 Feb 1985
Marriage Place Grundy, Virginia, USA
Father Oden Dwight Strong
Mother Phyllis Ann Goodwin
Spouse Tina Gaye Marcus
Certificate Number 1985005157"
1. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name Tina Gaye Marcus
Gender Female
Race White
Marriage Age 19
Birth Date 20 Jul 1965
Marriage Registration Place Buchanan, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date 25 Feb 1985
Marriage Place Grundy, Virginia, USA
Father Daniel Marcus
Mother Pearlie Mae Freeman
Spouse Allen Gregg Strong
Certificate Number 1985005157"
1. West Virginia, U.S., Marriages Index, 1785-1971; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name Martha Mounts
Gender Female
Birth Date abt 1862
Birth Place Logan County, West Virginia
Age 18
Spouse's Name Johnson Trent
Spouse Gender Male
Spouse Age 18
Spouse Birth Place Logan Co, West Virginia
Marriage Date 20 Feb 1880
Marriage Place Logan, West Virginia
Marital Status Single
Race White
Ethnicity Canadian
Father's Name Isaac Mounts
Mother's Name C Cline
Spouse Father's Name L Trent
Spouse Mother's Name Nancy Rattizz"
1. 1870 Census, Logan Co, WV, Tridelphia District, page 547B, Family #44.
Listed as Martha Mounts, age 11, in household of father, Isaac Mounts.
2. West Virginia, U.S., Marriages Index, 1785-1971; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name Martha Mounts
Gender Female
Birth Date abt 1862
Birth Place Logan County, West Virginia
Age 18
Spouse's Name Johnson Trent
Spouse Gender Male
Spouse Age 18
Spouse Birth Place Logan Co, West Virginia
Marriage Date 20 Feb 1880
Marriage Place Logan, West Virginia
Marital Status Single
Race White
Ethnicity Canadian
Father's Name Isaac Mounts
Mother's Name C Cline
Spouse Father's Name L Trent
Spouse Mother's Name Nancy Rattizz"
3. McDowell Co, WV; Death Certificate #7570; WV Archives Website.
Martha Trent; age 76; born in 1869 in WV; married; wife of Johnson Trent; housewife; living at
Baisden, WV; daughter of Isaac and Clara (Cline) Mounts; died 13 May 1936 in Stevens Clinic,
Welch, WV; due to hypertensive heart disease; buried 15 may 1936 at Baisden, WV; informant,
Walter Trent, Baisden, WV.
1. Wyoming Co, WV; WW II Draft Registration Card #3729; 26 Oct 1940; Ancestry.com Website.
Clinton Cozart; age 30; born 23 May 1910 at Milam Fork, Tipple, Wyoming Co, WV; living at Glen
Rogers, WV; employed by Raleigh-Wyoming Mining Co, Glen Rogers, WV; name of person wo will
always know address, Mrs. Blanche Marrical, friend, Glen Rogers, WV; 5' 11-1/2" tall; 172 lbs; brown
eyes; black hair; ruddy complexion; scar on left thigh.
2. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name Clinton Cozort [Clinton Cozart]
Gender Male
Birth Date 23 May 1910
Death Date 5 Feb 1996
Claim Date 17 Oct 1963
SSN 236013528"
3. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name Clinton Cozart
Gender Male
Birth Date 23 May 1910
Death Date 5 Feb 1996
Cause of Death Natural
SSN 236013528
Enlistment Branch ARMY
Page number 1"
4. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by Patty Greene; 3 Dec 2008.
"Clinton C. Cozart
Birth 23 May 1910
USA
Death 5 Feb 1996 (aged 85)
USA
Burial Palm Memorial Gardens
Matheny, Wyoming County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 31921415"Additional Information Posted:
"Son of James W. Cozart (Deceased) & Endora "Dora" Green-Cozart-Pendry-Stewart (1886-1983)."Brother of Rozella Cozart (Deceased), Etta Cozart (1908-Deceased), Vida Pendry Halsey (1917-2006), Ted Lawrence Pendry (1920-2013) & Frank T. Pendry (1929-2013).
"PVT, US Army/Air Corps, World War II
1. U.S., Index to Public Records, 1994-2019; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name Clarence Clinton Cozort Jr [Clarence C Cozort Jr] [Clarence J Cozort Jr]
Birth Date Mar 1948
Residence Date 2011-2020
Address Po Box 324
Residence Glen Fork, West Virginia, USA
Postal Code 25845
Second Residence Date 1989-2020
Second Address Po Box 61
Second Residence Sabine, West Virginia, USA
Second Postal Code 25916
Third Address General Delivery
Third Residence Sabine, West Virginia, USA
Third Postal Code 25916"
1. Stafford Funeral Home, Lynco, WV; Posted Obit.
"Selena Jane Cozort, 42, of Glen Fork, WV passed away on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at Wyoming Healthcare Center, New Richmond, WV. She was born on April 1, 1982 in Mullens, WV a daughter of Clarence Cozort, Jr. of Glen Fork and the late Nancy Allen. Selena loved singing for the Lord, playing basketball, coloring and being with friends and family. In addition to her mother she is preceded in death by her step father Gordon Hickman, grandparents Claude Allen and Clinton and Sally Cozort, two aunts Betty Bowman and Doris Taylor, two uncles Jackie Allen and Pete Cozort, and her lifelong friend Shirley Cook. In addition to her father, survivors include a brother Justin Cozort and wife Kasey, a niece Aria Cozort, her grandmother Mandy Allen, eight uncles Richard Robbins and wife Sharon, Ezra Cozort and wife Kathy, Joe Cozort and wife Theresa, Dennis Allen and wife Suzan, Claude Allen, Randall Allen and Darrell Allen and wife Tammy, aunt Donna Allen, life friend and cousin Sarah Cozort Allen, and a host of other loving cousins and friends. In keeping with her wishes she will be cremated. The family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, WV".