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Willaim Westley Fields
Elder William Westley Fields, Born 1836 and died 1899, and his wife Anna Bond Fields Born 3-6-32 and died in 1916. They lived and raised their family on Peter Cave when it was Three Forks, KY. William Westley was a veteran of the Civil War, Union side. He served as a Chaplain, was Taken prisoner at King’s Salt Works, but managed to escape one night. He was the first Moderator of the Sardis association of the Old Regular Baptists. He preached for 39 years. They Had a large family and the two of them are buried on Big Peter Cave.
Jesse "Boy" Fraley
Boy was born March 15, 1886 to Thomas Jefferson and Lucinda Meadows Fraley. He married Maggie Lafferty in Floyd County, Kentucky and they lived at Thomas until the Dewey Lake took their homestead. At that time in the 1920's, Boy moved his young wife and children to Hall Branch at Tomahawk. He purchased a 70 acre farm from Sanford Williamson. Boy supported his family by farming, digging coal from a coal bank on his land, and trading livestock. Boy was a man of few words and did not believe in conversation while eating at the kitchen table. He loved playing checkers with neighbors and family members and could not stand to lose. He kept busy on the homestead clearing new ground, sawing fire wood, and hauling coal on a sled from a coal bank. He would stack rocks on the property to form a fence on embankments to keep the soil from eroding. Whittling with his pocketknife and creating toys, such as spinner tops made from empty thread spools, was his favorite hobby. He died Christmas Day, 1963 from a stroke. He is buried on his farm at Tomahawk. Boy and Maggie's six children were Sarah Lucinda, Ila, Willard, Elesta L., Jesse J., and Mae. Many grandchildren and great grandchildren survive and some are still living on or near the family farm.
Sources http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/a/k/Roxanne-L-Baker/GENE10-0001.html
Sources http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/a/k/Roxanne-L-Baker/GENE10-0001.html
Maggie Lafferty Fraley
Mary Magdalene “Maggie” Lafferty was born to Charles William and Sarah Burchfield Lafferty on November 17, 1890 in Floyd County, Kentucky. She had eight siblings: William Jackson, Johnny, Morgan, Homer, Millard, Jesse, Lena Mae, and Floyd.
A few years after marrying Jesse “Boy” Fraley, the couple moved their young family to Martin County at Tomahawk. They bought a farm on Hall Branch on January 21, 1924. This 70-acre farm was purchased from Saint and Sally Williamson for $102. They were given two years to pay for this farm with 6% interest. Boy and Maggie reared six children on this parcel of land: Sarah Lucinda, Ila, Willard, Elesta, Jesse, and Mae. From what I’ve been told, Maggie’s house was where all the young people liked to gather-in on Saturday night to play games, square dance, play horseshoes, or eat. Some grandchildren still live on or near this home place.
Maggie worked hard in the cleared fields right beside her husband and children. Boy was a push-over for salesmen because he just couldn’t say, “No!” so Maggie made important decisions and did all the livestock trading for the family. She did not wear the pants in the family, however. She was a devout Christian and did not believe women should wear slacks, not even when berry-picking.
Maggie entertained her grandchildren by playing the harmonica for them or telling them stories of her youth. She would tell us about riding a horse into Prestonsburg and having to cross the Big Sandy River when it was flooded, especially in the spring. Being a young lady wearing a dress, she would sit side saddle and brave the dangerous swift waters. She would have to tie herself onto the horse so the raging waters would not sweep her away. Her long dress tail would always be soaked until she obtained a big safety pin she kept just to pull the skirt between her legs and pin it to her waist as she made these trips. Many times she and the horse would be swept downstream and delay her arrival home. Once a month she would have to ride into town for supplies as she was the eldest daughter. The older boys could not be spared as they had to help their dad on the farm from daylight to dark, if they wanted the family to survive the harsh cold winters.
Maggie had an eighth grade education and was sometimes asked to substitute teach. She would teach her grandchildren reading skills from a hymnal or from the Bible. She was always patient and all it ever took was a disappointing look from Ma and we would stop our misbehaving.
In Maggie’s later years, she sat by a coal stove in a rocker smoking her stone pipe. She kept her salt and pepper hair in a twisted bun at the back of her small head. She loved for me, her granddaughter, to brush her hair. She would sit for hours and let me play “beauty shop” with her hair. Many times, I would have her soaking wet where I would take a comb, dip it in a glass of water, and then comb through her hair. She would never complain or say an ill word to me. She always bragged on what a fantastic job I had done and assured me that someday I could be a beautician if that was what I decided to do.
Maggie died April 4, 1980 on Good Friday. She is buried in the family cemetery on the homestead. All her children have passed on, but she still lives in the hearts of her grandchildren.
By: Linda McCoart
A few years after marrying Jesse “Boy” Fraley, the couple moved their young family to Martin County at Tomahawk. They bought a farm on Hall Branch on January 21, 1924. This 70-acre farm was purchased from Saint and Sally Williamson for $102. They were given two years to pay for this farm with 6% interest. Boy and Maggie reared six children on this parcel of land: Sarah Lucinda, Ila, Willard, Elesta, Jesse, and Mae. From what I’ve been told, Maggie’s house was where all the young people liked to gather-in on Saturday night to play games, square dance, play horseshoes, or eat. Some grandchildren still live on or near this home place.
Maggie worked hard in the cleared fields right beside her husband and children. Boy was a push-over for salesmen because he just couldn’t say, “No!” so Maggie made important decisions and did all the livestock trading for the family. She did not wear the pants in the family, however. She was a devout Christian and did not believe women should wear slacks, not even when berry-picking.
Maggie entertained her grandchildren by playing the harmonica for them or telling them stories of her youth. She would tell us about riding a horse into Prestonsburg and having to cross the Big Sandy River when it was flooded, especially in the spring. Being a young lady wearing a dress, she would sit side saddle and brave the dangerous swift waters. She would have to tie herself onto the horse so the raging waters would not sweep her away. Her long dress tail would always be soaked until she obtained a big safety pin she kept just to pull the skirt between her legs and pin it to her waist as she made these trips. Many times she and the horse would be swept downstream and delay her arrival home. Once a month she would have to ride into town for supplies as she was the eldest daughter. The older boys could not be spared as they had to help their dad on the farm from daylight to dark, if they wanted the family to survive the harsh cold winters.
Maggie had an eighth grade education and was sometimes asked to substitute teach. She would teach her grandchildren reading skills from a hymnal or from the Bible. She was always patient and all it ever took was a disappointing look from Ma and we would stop our misbehaving.
In Maggie’s later years, she sat by a coal stove in a rocker smoking her stone pipe. She kept her salt and pepper hair in a twisted bun at the back of her small head. She loved for me, her granddaughter, to brush her hair. She would sit for hours and let me play “beauty shop” with her hair. Many times, I would have her soaking wet where I would take a comb, dip it in a glass of water, and then comb through her hair. She would never complain or say an ill word to me. She always bragged on what a fantastic job I had done and assured me that someday I could be a beautician if that was what I decided to do.
Maggie died April 4, 1980 on Good Friday. She is buried in the family cemetery on the homestead. All her children have passed on, but she still lives in the hearts of her grandchildren.
By: Linda McCoart
Willard Fraley
Willard Fraley was born on December 13, 1917 to Jesse (Boy) and Maggie Lafferty Fraley of Thomas in Floyd County, KY. A few years later, the family moved to Martin County where Willard attended school at Stidham and Tomahawk. He dropped out in third grade to work and hunt on the family farm on Hall Branch. In 1935, he enlisted in The Three C’s in Pike County, when he was seventeen years old, by saying he was born January 22, 1917. (January 22 was the birth date of his younger sister.) While in the Three C’s he was shot in the stomach, but it was not a service connected injury.
Then Willard enlisted in the U S Army on July 29, 1940 at Ft. Thomas, KY in the Btry B, 548th FA Bn. He did not depart from service until May 18, 1947 at Fort Dix, NJ in the Headquarters Company 13th Port Battalion where he was honorably discharged. In 1945, Willard fought during World War II in France where he was stationed at Camp Roosevelt. He was paid $250 to re-enlist, mustering out pay was $300, and he collected $426.21 of this amount. He, also, was sent to ETO for a year in 1946. In 1947, he was given $35.60 travel pay and a total amount of $114.12 when discharged. All in all, he dedicated over eleven years of his life to serving his country. He said he stayed in service to have his teeth worked on. When he was discharged, he had a mouth full of gold teeth.
While in service, Willard was trained as a cook and utilities repairman. In addition, he was taught barber skills. He tried being a paratrooper, but soon transferred out of that, because he hurt his ankles during his jumps. He wore a built up shoe on one foot for many years due to these injuries.
Many times Willard would be promoted to S/Sgt, only to do something and be put back to private. When asked why, he would answer, “I did not want to be over a group of men, and I did not have the education to be.” When he enlisted, Willard had turned in that he had an eighth grade education.
Willard received the Army of Occupation Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Rifle M1-Expert and was issued several lapel buttons. His character and efficiency rating as a soldier were both Excellent.
Willard did talk, often, about entertainment for the troops. Favorites of his were Jimmy Dickens and Shirley Temple. He said that most of the soldiers kept pictures of Shirley Temple hanging on walls in the barracks. She was the soldiers’ favorite pin-up girl.
While in service, Willard bought some war bonds. He could never collect for them because his copies burned in a house fire and the service copies also were destroyed by fire. So, neither party had proof the bonds ever existed.
Willard married Pauline Sammons (d/o Brown and Dora Gillespie Sammons) August 9, 1947. This union produced five children: Linda Joyce Fraley McCoart, Robert Larry Fraley, Patricia Gayle Fraley Horn, Judy Kay Fraley Logan, and Dane Barry Fraley. Willard died on June 11, 1983 of a tractor accident. He is buried in the Fraley/Maynard Cemetery on Hall Branch.
Then Willard enlisted in the U S Army on July 29, 1940 at Ft. Thomas, KY in the Btry B, 548th FA Bn. He did not depart from service until May 18, 1947 at Fort Dix, NJ in the Headquarters Company 13th Port Battalion where he was honorably discharged. In 1945, Willard fought during World War II in France where he was stationed at Camp Roosevelt. He was paid $250 to re-enlist, mustering out pay was $300, and he collected $426.21 of this amount. He, also, was sent to ETO for a year in 1946. In 1947, he was given $35.60 travel pay and a total amount of $114.12 when discharged. All in all, he dedicated over eleven years of his life to serving his country. He said he stayed in service to have his teeth worked on. When he was discharged, he had a mouth full of gold teeth.
While in service, Willard was trained as a cook and utilities repairman. In addition, he was taught barber skills. He tried being a paratrooper, but soon transferred out of that, because he hurt his ankles during his jumps. He wore a built up shoe on one foot for many years due to these injuries.
Many times Willard would be promoted to S/Sgt, only to do something and be put back to private. When asked why, he would answer, “I did not want to be over a group of men, and I did not have the education to be.” When he enlisted, Willard had turned in that he had an eighth grade education.
Willard received the Army of Occupation Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Rifle M1-Expert and was issued several lapel buttons. His character and efficiency rating as a soldier were both Excellent.
Willard did talk, often, about entertainment for the troops. Favorites of his were Jimmy Dickens and Shirley Temple. He said that most of the soldiers kept pictures of Shirley Temple hanging on walls in the barracks. She was the soldiers’ favorite pin-up girl.
While in service, Willard bought some war bonds. He could never collect for them because his copies burned in a house fire and the service copies also were destroyed by fire. So, neither party had proof the bonds ever existed.
Willard married Pauline Sammons (d/o Brown and Dora Gillespie Sammons) August 9, 1947. This union produced five children: Linda Joyce Fraley McCoart, Robert Larry Fraley, Patricia Gayle Fraley Horn, Judy Kay Fraley Logan, and Dane Barry Fraley. Willard died on June 11, 1983 of a tractor accident. He is buried in the Fraley/Maynard Cemetery on Hall Branch.