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- [S1324] Varney, Nancy Jane, History of the Varney's in Pike & Mingo Counties, & Elsewhere- 1936, (Name: Sent by Lisa Johnson-Nelsen, 4417 Hidden La., Lanexa, VA 23089 (804) 966-9378; Date: 1936;), cf Notes, and Source, for full text, lifted from website- jcw 30.06.2013 consolidated 20190307HAv- 4 citations... (271) links.
Alex Varney (268) facts
Source Medium: Manuscript- (267) facts
received by Express mail 21 April 2000
Source Medium: Manuscript- received by Express mail 21 April 2000;
and website: http://generations-past.net/varney/varney-history.html
[20180808 re-worked on bus, Passau to MUC]
Generations Past
There is no king who has not had a slave among his ancestors and no slave who has not had a king among his.
----Helen Keller
A History of the Varney's in Pike and Mingo Counties and Elsewhere as told me by my father, Alex Varney, and from other authentic sources.
by Nancy Jane Varney
September, 1936
The information I shall attempt to give in regard to the VARNEY family was given me by my father, the late Alex VARNEY, and is not of written record, but was handed down from generation to generation.
Some of the information, such as records of the families of my father's uncles and aunts has been given me by members of the families, and some by grand-children.
The first VARNEY of whom we have any history, was my great-great-grand-father, John VARNEY, who married Betsy HUNTER and lived in Bedford County, Virginia.
To that union were born three sons and two daughters that we know of.
The sons were: - Alex, - Andrew and
- Daniel.
The daughters were: - Mary and
- Nancy.
While the said John VARNEY was gathering salt-peter in a cave in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Bedford County, Virginia, a slide came and entombed his body, which was never recovered.
Alex, Andrew, Mary and Nancy migrated to this country and settled in what is now Pike County, Kentucky, and Mingo County, West Virginia.
I do not know whether the mother came to what is now West Virginia, with her four children, or came later. However, she came, as (since) we have always been informed that her body was buried at the mouth of Peach Creek, in Logan County, West Virginia.
Alex VARNEY, as I understand, the oldest son of John and Betsy Hunter, married Susie RUNYON and reared a family of
seven sons and five daughters, namely,
- John, - Sally
- Henry, - Jennie
- Frand (Frank), - Celia
- Andrew, - Matilda
- Adron, - Hulda Jane.
- Asa,
- Madison.
1. John married Annie ROMANS, settled about where the little town of Belfry now is, and later moved further up Pond Creek, as I understand, near where Stone, Kentucky now is.
The children of John and Annie VARNEY are as follows:
- W. A. (Anderson) VARNEY, married Jennie BLACKBURN,
- Henry married Lydia BLACKBURN,
- Flem married Sallie BLACKBURN,
- James married Ruth CANADA,
- Levi married Sarah Ann COLLINS,
- Adron married Lousia COLLINS,
- Floyd married Mary COLLINS,
- Lewis married Lucinda May, parents of Keenis VARNEY, of McAndrews, Kentucky,
- Vicy married Martin COLLINS,
- Celia married Moses CHAPMAN,
- Sally married Nathan COCHRAN, and
- Alex married Lousia PINSON, parents of the late Joe VARNEY, of Road Fork of Big Creek.
Lewis is the only surviving member.
2. Frank married Polly WILLIAMSON and settled on Brushy Creek; they reared a family of three sons and nine daughters.
The sons were: Mitchell, Lark and Henry.
- Mitchell married Susie SMITH,
- Lark, who was a Baptist preacher, married Delilah FRANCIS, the parents of Mrs. J. G. HARRISON, of Pikeville, Kentucky, and
- Henry first married Bell SESCO and his second or last wife was Lizzie WALTERS.
The daughters were
- Annie, who married Jack CANADA;
- Nancy married Elisa FIELDS,
- Susie who married Lee SCALF,
- Lishie married John FRANCES,
- Luemma married Ran HARRISON,
- Mary married Green CANADA,
- Vicy married Avery STATON,
- Easter married Joe FIELDS and
- Jane married Lark LOWE, Sr.
None of this family survive, Elder Lark VARNEY, being the last, died in June 1935.
3. Henry C., the third son of Alex VARNEY was born September 15, 1817, and died April 16, 1896.
He married Jane Yantas Mcneely settled on Rockhouse Fork of Pigeon Creek, and to them were born three sons and eight daughters.
The sons were
- Lewis, married to Elizabeth FARLEY, the parents of
- Sidney L., and
- Wallace VARNEY, of Williamson,
- T. B. VARNEY, of Matewan,
- Henry VARNEY of Chauncey,
- James and
- Dow VARNEY of Ragland,
- Mrs. Edna ESTEPP and
- Mrs. Jane FILLINGER of Ragland, and
- Mrs. Ida STEELE of Logan.
- E. D. (Dow) married Roxie CHAFIN,
- Alex deceased, either in child-hood or early manhood.
The daughters were
- Tilda, married Lewis FARLEY,
- Emily married Add RUNYON,
- Sara Ann married Ned CHAFIN,
- Polly married Alex OOTEN,
- Hulda married Lewis CHAFIN (parents of the late John CHAFIN),
- Nancy married Nathan CHAFIN,
- Vicy married John P. JUSTICE and
- Celia died in childhood or early womanhood.
Lewis and L. D. are the only surviving members of this family; they reside at Ragland, West Virginia.
4. Andrew, the fourth son of Alex VARNEY, and who was my grandfather was born July 28, 1819, deceased May 27, 18$6.
He was married to Nancy RUTHERFORD, March 1, 1838, settled and lived all his married life just below where Toler, Kentucky, now is.
To that union were born twelve children; seven sons and five daughters.
- Reuben the oldest, died at the age of three years.
- Alex, who was my father, was born July 12,1840, deceased March 19, 1919, was married to Pricy A. BEVINS, November 18, 1875.
They lived on Road Fork of Pond Creek.
To this union was born one daughter Nancy Jane, who has three children,
- Lucy Ellen,
- Wade and
- Pricy.
- Mary Ann, the third child of Andrew, born September 9, 1842, married Samuel G. FARLEY and lived on Buffalo Creek.
She deceased August 18, 1916.
To that union were born eight children-namely:
- Caroline, - Rebecca,
- Andy, - Vicy,
- Alex, - Leauder,
- Thomas and - Nancy Jane
Rebecca, Andy and Alex survive.
- Lewis, the fourth child, born April 23, 1844-died March 14, 1906, and lived on Road Fork of Pond Creek.
He married Samantha MAYNARD, to them were born ten children;
Pricy, Bell, Ida, Fanny, Melvin, John B., Rebecca, Ella, Roland and Julius.
After the death of his first wife Lewis married Mary RATCLIFF; to them were born two children:
- Clyde and Bertha.
Of all the children, Ella and Bertha survive.
- Caroline, the fifth child, born February 5, 1846, (still living) married Alvin HATFIELD;
reared four children:
- Elbert, - Emma,
- Howard and - John.
She lives near east end of the Hatfield tunnel.
- Harrison, the sixth child, born May 27, 1848, died March 3, 1924, and lived on Road Fork of Pond Creek,
married Pricy WEST; to them were born
- Mary, Martha, Matilda, Parlee, Mintie, John, Birdie and Nancy Jane.
Martha, Matilda and Birdie deceased.
After the death of the first wife, Harrison married Jane BALL, and after her death,
he married Anjaline Weddington BALL, who survives.
- Henry, the seventh child, born July 11, 1850, died March 31, 1919-lived at Lynn, West Virginia.
Married Peggy Christian FERRELL; reared three children;
- Tilden, Sink and Elsie; Sink deceased.
- Sallie, the eighth child, born July 7, 1852, still living, married Ulysses HATFIELD. She lived on Big Blackberry Creek.
To them were born six children;
- Wayne, Lydia, Fanny, Tilda, Bertha and Zettie. The latter four survive.
- John, the ninth child, born January 5, 1855, deceased February 21, 1926-lived near Toler, on Pond Creek and married Parlee WEST, and to them were born eight children- Alfred, Cora, Myrtie, Esta, Truman, Bessie, Marie, Tom and Marvin. Cora, Esta, Truman and Marvin survive.
- Nicholas, the tenth child, born March 23, 1857, married Matilda WILLIAMSON and lives on the farm where he was born.
They reared two children-Ira and Ida, a small son, Freddie and an infant daughter passed on.
- Matilda, born March 24, 1859, lives in East Williamson married John T. OLIVER and reared the following children. Rosa, Delia, Texie, Sherman, Alphia, John, Willie, Homer and Walker; one son, Filmore, died in early childhood.
- Nancy Jane, the youngest, born November 25, 1862, lives at Logan, West Virginia-married Alford BUSKIRK; to that union were born three children: Elsie, May and Richard A., who are all living.
After Andrew, whose family history I have just given, the next brother was
5. Adron, commonly known as "Uncle Add." He was born in the year of 1821. He married Lucy WEBB and settled at the mouth of Sycamore Creek, later lived around the mouth of Pond Creek, about twenty-eight years after his marriage moved to what is now the town of Kermit, West Virginia, and two years later moved to the mouth of Jennies Creek, there he lived until the time of his death, in February, 1906.
His family consisted of two sons:
- Thomas and Samuel;
the daughters were
- Sarah Ann, Francis, Nancy and Hulda.
- Thomas married Polly PARSLEY, settled near the town of Crum, West Virginia.
Their family consisted of five sons and three daughters;
the sons are - S. M. VARNEY of Sciotaville, Ohio,
- A. J. VARNEY of Williamson,
- J. H. VARNEY of Delbarton, West Virginia,
- John B., and W. J. VARNEY, both of Crum, West Virginia.
The daughters are - Francis FARLEY,
- Laura SAMMONS and
- Virginia SAMMONS, all of Crum.
Samuel married Cloah PARSLEY and lived near Crum.
Their sons are - Tom and A. C. VARNEY of Crum,
- Alex VARNEY of Kermit,
- Nicholas VARNEY of Nolan and
- Don VARNEY of Chattaroy, West Virginia.
The girls are - Lena, of Crum,
- Tennie of Kermit,
- Rebecca of East Williamson,
- Sara, Sallie, Mary and Polly-addresses unknown-also names of husbands unknown.
- Sara Ann, oldest daughter of Adron VARNEY, married William ETTER,
- Francis married Sylvester MCCOY,
- Nancy married James HENSLEY and lived in Martin County, Kentucky.
- Hulda was never married. She lived with her father and died in 1889.
- Melvin, a son of Adron VARNEY, died 1863 while a prisoner of war. He was not married.
6. Asa, another brother of Adron, first married Vicy RUTHERFORD and never settled at all. Their family consisted of two sons and two daughters -namely; - Matt married Mary MAY and lived in Roane County, West Virginia;
- Millie married a GRIFFY, also of Roane County;
- Floyd married Jane TROUT and
- Polly Jane married Harvey MAY, the last two named resided on Pond Creek.
Mrs. MAY still survives and lives on Ball Fork of Pond Creek.
After the death of his first wife, Asa married Basha MURPHY and to them were born nine children:
- Will, Wade, Charlie, Asa, Laune, Columbia and Nancy are living;
- one son, Ira and two daughters are dead.
The youngest brother of Adron VARNEY, etc., was
7. Madison, born in the year of 1830. He married Piata STATON and settled on Road Fork of Pond Creek, spent his life there and died at the old home place in January, 1908.
Madison's family consisted of one son and seven daughters.
- The son was Asa H. VARNEY, born December 4, 1854; married Nancy WEST, and to them were born five sons and seven daughters. The surviving sons are - K. L., - A. M.,
- W. P. T. and - C. B. VARNEY;
surviving daughters are - Martha, Pauley and Agnes BLACKBURN of Road Fork, Kentucky,
- Alice LIGON of Appomattox, Virginia and
- Bertha WILSON of Stone, Kentucky.
One son, Greene and three daughters-Laura Jane, Gertrude and Joyce died in infancy.
Asa H. VARNEY, was probably one of the most widely known of any of the VARNEYs. He was a great educator; taught in the public schools for forty-seven years-a Christian gentleman, a teacher of morals and manners, was a great lecturer and always held out the very best of encouragement and advice for the up-building of the young people and the country at large. I can not say enough to do justice to the great man. I started to school to him, as a teacher, and if my memory serves me right, went to him seven school terms. He was like a father, sympathetic and kind, always trying to help in every way possible.
He passed to his reward October 21, 1921.
The daughters of Madison VARNEY were as follows:
- Nancy married Thomas JOHNSON, resided near Catlettsburg, Kentucky, deceased.
- Pricey married Henry LOCKARD, deceased in May 1921.
- Juda married J.M. Hensley, lived on Road Fork of Pond Creek; deceased January 12. 1932.
- Jane married Joshua WEST and resides at Canada, Ky.
- Arminda married J.B. (Bud) Smith, resides near Hardy, Kentucky.
- Vicy married Johnson MCCOY and resides on Turkey Creek, Kentucky.
- Sally, another daughter of Madison and Piata VARNEY, died in childhood.
Sally, daughter of Alex VARNEY,.Sr., married John WHITE, moved to what is now Braxton County, West Virginia. I can not give much information in regard to her family, about all I know is that
- Arter WHITE was her oldest son and
- Mary was the name of her youngest daughter.
Jennie, another daughter of the said Alex VARNEY, married Calahan RUNYON and lived on Trace Fork of Pigeon Creek.
Her sons are - Alex,
- Albert and
- Green Runyon-all living;
daughters - Sara married Rush FLOYD, Sr., and
- Vicy (last name unknown.)
Both daughters deceased.
Celia, another VARNEY sister, married James WHITE, lived on Elk Fork of Pigeon Creek.
Their sons were
-Thomas White, deceased; - Allen White, deceased;
- Henry White married Victoria MAYNARD, now deceased and
- Comfort WHITE, married Anjaline EVANS and resides on Elk Fork of Pigeon Creek.
Daughters - Susan married Jonathan ESTEPP,
- Lucindia married W. B. ESTEPP,
- Betty married Sam GILMAN, after his death she married John L. HICKS.
- Nancy married Lee HALL and is the only surviving daughter.
- Matilda VARNEY married Thomas HUNT, lived only a few years after her marriage, leaving two children
-Alex and Nancy HUNT.
- Hulda, the youngest of the Alex VARNEY family, married Andy HENSLEY and reared a family of six sons and one daughter.
The sons were - James M., married Juda VARNEY, deceased in October 1935,
- Compton married Polly BLACKBURN,
- Asa married Nancy STEELE,
- Andy married Nellie HUNT,
- Lewis married Missouri SMITH,
- Henry married Mariah, and
- the daughter, Jane was never married.
Cumpton and Henry are the surviving members of this family.
The body of Alex VARNEY, Sr., was interred on Elk Fork of Pigeon Creek.
Andrew, second son of John VARNEY, married Sallie TAYLOR and reared, as I understand, seven children, namely,
- Sam, - Alex Henderson,
- Alvis, - James,
- Vicy & - Matilda.
I can not give a thorough history of the said Andrew VARNEY's family as they were reared and many still live, in the head of Pigeon Creek, and I am not very familiar with them as a whole, but shall proceed to tell what I do understand in regard to them.
Sam VARNEY was the father of
- Mrs. Sara MUSIC, also
- Mrs. Jane MURPHY, wife of Johnson MURPHY, Sr., and mother of N. V. MURPHY of Rawl, West Virginia.
- Alex was a Christian preacher.
I know very little of the family of Henderson VARNEY, except that he was the grandfather of Hank VARNEY of Red Jacket.
- Alvis married a Sansom; they were the
- parents of Mrs. Floyd Hatfield and the
- grand-parents of Richard Ferrell of Williamson.
- James was the father of Andy VARNEY of VARNEY, West Virginia, and the grand-father of Riley VARNEY.
- Vicy married Moses MAYNARD and resides on Johns Creek; she was the
- mother of Mrs. Matilda WILLIAMS and the
- grandmother of
- Bob WILLIAMS,
- Mrs. Sally HATFIELD and
- Mrs. Zettie AKERS, all of Pikeville.
- Matilda married Nathan CHAFIN; of their family four daughters are as follows:
- 1 Vicy, wife of "Devil" Anse HATFIELD, whose son was the late Cap HATFIELD,
- 2 Betty, wife of Elias HATFIELD, Sr., the mother of
- Greenway HATFIELD of Williamson and
- Dr. H. D. HATFIELD of Huntington,
- 3 Mary wife of John Wallace WEBB, the mother of W. V. WEBB, of Williamson.
- 4 ? -jcw20180808 MUC
Mary, daughter of John VARNEY, married John TAYLOR. They were the parents of the following children:
- Peggie TAYLOR married Daniel Mccoy, whose son was Randall Mccoy, whose son was "Sheriff" Jim MCCOY,
- Jinnie TAYLOR married Elder John FERRELL,
whose son was Anderson FERRELL and
also a daughter, Martha HATFIELD, wife of Tolbert HATFIELD.
- William A. TAYLOR married Sallie MAYNARD, whose son was Alvis TAYLOR, the father of John TAYLOR of Stone, Kentucky.
- Harriette TAYLOR married Alvis MAYNARD, Sr., whose children were Alvis, Jr., and Billy MAYNARD;
- Alvis, Jr., being the father of Pierce MAYNARD and Mrs. Belle PINSON, and
- Billy the father of Mrs. Jane BISHOP and Mrs. Ann SHUMATE.
- John Taylor was never married.
- Matilda TAYLOR married Sam FARLEY, whose son was Ali, whose sons are R. T. FARLEY and J. B. FARLEY.
- Azandra TAYLOR, married Roseanne RATCLIFF, whose son was Calvin TAYLOR, whose daughter is Virgie MAYNARD.
- Sallie TAYLOR married Ali SMITH, whose son was Henry SMITH, whose sons are Tom and Ken.
- Cyrus Taylor married Louisa SLATER-no children. He was killed by a man named GUNNOE, during the Civil War.
As I am in possession of more history of William A. TAYLOR's family - I shall give it too.
- In addition to Alvis TAYLOR, before mentioned, there was
- another son, John TAYLOR married Jane PHILLIPS.
- The oldest daughter Margaret married Mitchell RUNYON.
- Next was Lydia married Fount LOWE, Sr.-grand-parents of Mrs. Amos RUNYON of Belfry, Kentucky.
- Vicy TAYLOR married Ransom HATFIELD, the parents of the late Mrs. Ester RUTHERFORD, whose son is W. T. RUTHERFORD of Hardy, Kentucky.
- Pricy TAYLOR Married Jacob SMITH, the parents of Will M. SMITH.
- Jennie TAYLOR married K. F. LESLIE, the parents of Mrs. Ollie Auxier MAYNARD of Pikeville.
- Sarah Ann TAYLOR married Dallas BEVINS, whose son is Mont BEVINS of Heisey, Kentucky.
- Harriette TAYLOR married Allen WILLIAMSON, whose son was Emsy B. WILLIAMSON of Fort Gay, West Virginia.
- Parlee TAYLOR married Ben D. WILLIAMSON whose son was the late John B. WILLIAMSON.
- Nancy another daughter of John VARNEY was the mother of the late Ambrose MORRIS, the grand-mother of John B. MORRIS of Road Fork of Big Creek.
Daniel, the youngest of John VARNEY'S family was reared by foster parents of great wealth. He remained and died in Virginia, and we have been informed that he was never married and he inherited a vast estate left him by his foster parents.
We have been informed, but do not know how authentic this information is, that there was
- another daughter of John and Betsy Hunter VARNEY, who married a STRATTON and remained in Virginia.
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John Varney (4) facts
20230716GHLn- edited, a lot.
edited, empty fields, 20230716GHLn- I found the website; this is one section:
http://generations-past.net/varney/varney-history.html
A History of the Varney's in Pike and Mingo Counties
and Elsewhere as told me by my father, Alex Varney, and from other authentic sources.)
by Nancy Jane Varney
September, 1936
The information I shall attempt to give in regard to the VARNEY family was given me by my father, the late Alex VARNEY, and is not of written record, but was handed down from generation to generation.
Some of the information, such as records of the families of my father's uncles and aunts has been given me by members of the families, and some by grand-children.
The first VARNEY of whom we have any history, was my great-great-grand-father, John VARNEY, who married Betsy HUNTER and lived in Bedford County, Virginia.
To that union were born three sons and two daughters that we know of. The sons were: Alex, Andrew and Daniel-The daughters were: Mary and Nancy.
While the said John VARNEY was gathering salt-peter in a cave in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Bedford County, Virginia, a slide came and entombed his body, which was never recovered.
Alex, Andrew, Mary and Nancy migrated to this country and settled in what is now Pike County, Kentucky, and Mingo County, West Virginia.
I do not know whether the mother came to what is now West Virginia, with her four children, or came later. However she came, as we have always been informed that her body was buried at the mouth of Peach Creek, in Logan County, West Virginia.
Alex VARNEY, as I understand, the oldest son of John and Betsy Hunter, married Susie RUNYON and reared a family of seven sons and five daughters, namely, John, Henry, Frand, Andrew, Adron, Asa, Madison, Sally, Jennie, Celia, Matilda and Hulda Jane.
John married Annie ROMANS, settled about where the little town of Belfry now is, and later moved further up Pond Creek, as I understand, near where Stone, Kentucky now is.
The children of John and Annie VARNEY are as follows: W. A. (Anderson) VARNEY, married Jennie BLACKBURN, Henry married Lydia BLACKBURN, Flem married Sallie BLACKBURN, James married Ruth CANADA, Levi married Sarah Ann COLLINS, Adron married Lousia COLLINS, Floyd married Mary COLLINS, Lewis married Lucinda May, parents of Keenis VARNEY, of McAndrews, Kentucky, Vicy married Martin COLLINS, Celia married Moses CHAPMAN, Sally married Nathan COCHRAN, and Alex married Lousia PINSON, parents of the late Joe VARNEY, of Road Fork of Big Creek. Lewis is the only surviving member.
Frank married Polly WILLIAMSON and settled on Brushy Creek; they reared a family of three sons and nine daughters. The sons were: Mitchell, Lark and Henry. Mitchell married Susie SMITH, Lark, who was a Baptist preacher, married Delilah FRANCIS, the parents of Mrs. J. G. HARRISON, of Pikeville, Kentucky, and Henry first married Bell SESCO and his second or last wife was Lizzie WALTERS. The daughters were Annie, who married Jack CANADA; Nancy married Elisa FIELDS, Susie who married Lee SCALF, Lishie married John FRANCES, Luemma married Ran HARRISON, Mary married Green CANADA, Vicy married Avery STATON, Easter married Joe FIELDS and Jane married Lark LOWE, Sr. None of this family survive, Elder Lark VARNEY, being the last, died in June 1935.
Henry C., the third son of Alex VARNEY was born September 15, 1817, and died April 16, 1896. He married Jane Yantas Mcneely settled on Rockhouse Fork of Pigeon Creek, and to them were born three sons and eight daughters. The sons were
1. Lewis, married to Elizabeth FARLEY, the parents of
Sidney L., and Wallace VARNEY, of Williamson,
T. B. VARNEY, of Matewan,
Henry VARNEY of Chauncey,
James and Dow VARNEY of Ragland,
Mrs. Edna ESTEPP and
Mrs. Jane FILLINGER of Ragland, and
Mrs. Ida STEELE of Logan.
2. E. D. (Dow) married Roxie CHAFIN,
3. Alex deceased either in child-hood or early manhood.
The daughters were
1. Tilda, married Lewis FARLEY,
2. Emily married Add RUNYON,
3. Sara Ann married Ned CHAFIN,
4. Polly married Alex OOTEN,
5. Hulda married Lewis CHAFIN (parents of the late John CHAFIN),
6. Nancy married Nathan CHAFIN,
7. Vicy married John P. JUSTICE and
8. Celia died in childhood or early womanhood..
Lewis and L. D. are the only surviving members of this family; they reside at Ragland, West Virginia.
Andrew, the fourth son of Alex VARNEY, and who was my grandfather was born July 28, 1819, deceased May 27, 18$6. He was married to Nancy RUTHERFORD, March 1, 1838, settled and lived all his married life just below where Toler, Kentucky, now is. To that union were born twelve children; seven sons and five daughters. Reuben the oldest, died at the age of three years.
Alex, who was my father, was born July 12,1840, deceased March 19, 1919, was married to Pricy A. BEVINS, November 18, 1875. They lived on Road Fork of Pond Creek. To this union was born one daughter Nancy Jane, who has three children, Lucy Ellen, Wade and Pricy.
Mary Ann, the third child of Andrew, born September 9, 1842, married Samuel G. FARLEY and lived on Buffalo Creek. She deceased August 18, 1916. To that union were born eight children-namely; Caroline, Rebecca, Andy, Vicy, Alex, Leauder, Thomas and Nancy Jane-Rebecca, Andy and Alex survive.
Lewis, the fourth child, born April 23, 1844-died March 14, 1906, and lived on Road Fork of Pond Creek. He married Samantha MAYNARD, to them were born ten children; Pricy, Bell, Ida, Fanny, Melvin, John B., Rebecca, Ella, Roland and Julius. After the death of his first wife Lewis married Mary RATCLIFF; to them were born two children-Clyde and Bertha. Of all the children, Ella and Bertha survive.
Caroline, the fifth child, born February 5, 1846, (still living) married Alvin HATFIELD; reared four children-Elbert, Emma, Howard and John. She lives near east end of the Hatfield tunnel.
Harrison, the sixth child, born May 27, 1848, died March 3, 1924, and lived on Road Fork of Pond Creek, married Pricy WEST; to them were born Mary, Martha, Matilda, Parlee, Mintie, John, Birdie and Nancy Jane-Martha, Matilda and Birdie deceased. After the death of the first wife, Harrison married Jane BALL, and after her death, he married Anjaline Weddington BALL, who survives.
Henry, the seventh child, born July 11, 1850, died March 31, 1919-lived at Lynn, West Virginia. Married Peggy Christian FERRELL; reared three children; Tilden, Sink and Elsie; Sink deceased.
Sallie, the eighth child, born July 7, 1852, still living, married Ulysses HATFIELD. She lived on Big Blackberry Creek. To them were born six children; Wayne, Lydia, Fanny, Tilda, Bertha and Zettie. The latter four survive.
John, the ninth child, born January 5, 1855, deceased February 21, 1926-lived near Toler, on Pond Creek and married Parlee WEST, and to them were born eight children-Alfred, Cora, Myrtie, Esta, Truman, Bessie, Marie, Tom and Marvin. Cora, Esta, Truman and Marvin survive.
Nicholas, the tenth child, born March 23, 1857, married Matilda WILLIAMSON and lives on the farm where he was born. They reared two children-Ira and Ida, a small son, Freddie and an infant daughter passed on.
Matilda, born March 24, 1859, lives in East Williamson married John T. OLIVER and reared the following children. Rosa, Delia, Texie, Sherman, Alphia, John, Willie, Homer and Walker; one son, Filmore, died in early childhood.
Nancy Jane, the youngest, born November 25, 1862, lives at Logan, West Virginia-married Alford BUSKIRK; to that union were born three children: Elsie, May and Richard A., who are all living.
After Andrew, whose family history I have just given, the next brother was Adron, commonly known as "Uncle Add." He was born in the year of 1821. He married Lucy WEBB and settled at the mouth of Sycamore Creek, later lived around the mouth of Pond Creek, about twenty-eight years after his marriage moved to what is now the town of Kermit, West Virginia, and two years later moved to the mouth of Jennies Creek, there he lived until the time of his death, in February, 1906.
His family consisted of two sons-Thomas and Samuel; the daughters were Sarah Ann, Francis, Nancy and Hulda. Thomas married Polly PARSLEY, settled near the town of Crum, West Virginia. Their family consisted of five sons and three daughters; the sons are S. M. VARNEY of Sciotaville, Ohio, A. J. VARNEY of Williamson, J. H. VARNEY of Delbarton, West Virginia, John B., and W. J. VARNEY, both of Crum, West Virginia. The daughters are Francis FARLEY, Laura SAMMONS and Virginia SAMMONS all of Crum.
Samuel married Cloah PARSLEY and lived near Crum. Their sons are Tom and A. C. VARNEY of Crum, Alex VARNEY of Kermit, Nicholas VARNEY of Nolan and Don VARNEY of Chattaroy, West Virginia. .The girls are Lena, of Crum, Tennie of Kermit, Rebecca of East Williamson, Sara, Sallie, Mary and Polly-addresses unknown-also names of husbands unknown.
Sara Ann, oldest daughter of Adron VARNEY, married William ETTER, Francis married Sylvester MCCOY, Nancy married James HENSLEY and lived in Martin County, Kentucky. Hulda was never married. She lived with her father and died in 1889.
Melvin, a son of Adron VARNEY, died 1863 while a prisoner of war. He was not married.
Asa, another brother of Adron, first married Vicy RUTHERFORD and never settled at all. Their family consisted of two sons and two daughters -namely; Matt married Mary MAY and lived in Roane County, West Virginia; Millie married a GRIFFY, also of Roane County; Floyd married Jane TROUT and Polly Jane married Harvey MAY, the last two named resided on Pond Creek Mrs. MAY still survives and lives on Ball Fork of Pond Creek. After the death of his first wife, Asa married Basha MURPHY and to them were born nine children-Will, Wade, Charlie, Asa, Laune, Columbia and Nancy are living; one son, Ira and two daughters are dead.
The youngest brother of Adron VARNEY, etc., was Madison, born in the year of 1830. He married Piata STATON and settled on Road Fork of Pond Creek, spent his life there and died at the old home place in January, 1908.
Madison's family consisted of one son and seven daughters. The son was Asa H. VARNEY, born December 4, 1854; married Nancy WEST, and to them were born five sons and seven daughters. The surviving sons are K. L., A. M., W. P. T. and C. B. VARNEY; surviving daughters are Martha, Pauley and Agnes BLACKBURN of Road Fork, Kentucky, Alice LIGON of Appomattox, Virginia and Bertha WILSON of Stone, Kentucky. One son, Greene and three daughters-Laura Jane, Gertrude and Joyce died in infancy.
Asa H. VARNEY, was probably one of the most widely known of any of the VARNEYs. He was a great educator; taught in the public schools for forty-seven years-a Christian gentleman, a teacher of morals and manners, was a great lecturer and always held out the very best of encouragement and advice for the up-building of the young people and the country at large. I can not say enough to do justice to the great man. I started to school to him, as a teacher, and if my memory serves me right, went to him seven school terms. He was like a father, sympathetic and kind, always trying to help in every way possible. He passed to his reward October 21, 1921.
The daughters of Madison VARNEY were as follows: Nancy married Thomas JOHNSON, resided near Catlettsburg, Kentucky, deceased. Pricey married Henry LOCKARD, deceased in May 1921. Juda married J.M. Hensley, lived on Road Fork of Pond Creek; deceased January 12. 1932. Jane married Joshua WEST and resides at Canada, Ky. Arminda married J.B. (Bud) Smith, resides near Hardy, Kentucky. Vicy married Johnson MCCOY and resides on Turkey Creek, Kentucky. Sally, another daughter of Madison and Piata VARNEY, died in childhood.
Sally, daughter of Alex VARNEY,.Sr., married John WHITE, moved to what is now Braxton County, West Virginia. I can not give much information in regard to her family, about all I know is that Arter WHITE was her oldest son and Mary was the name of her youngest daughter.
Jennie, another daughter of the said Alex VARNEY, married Calahan RUNYON and lived on Trace Fork of Pigeon Creek. Her sons are Alex, Albert and Green Runyon-all living; daughters-Sara married Rush FLOYD, Sr., and Vicy (last name unknown.) Both daughters deceased.
Celia, another VARNEY sister, married James WHITE, lived on Elk Fork of Pigeon Creek. Their sons were-Thomas White, deceased; Allen White, deceased; Henry White married Victoria MAYNARD, now deceased and Comfort WHITE, married Anjaline EVANS and resides on Elk Fork of Pigeon Creek. Daughters; Susan married Jonathan ESTEPP, Lucindia married W. B. ESTEPP, Betty married Sam GILMAN, after his death she married John L. HICKS. Nancy married Lee HALL and is the only surviving daughter.
Matilda VARNEY married Thomas HUNT, lived only a few years after her marriage, leaving two children-Alex and Nancy HUNT.
Hulda, the youngest of the Alex VARNEY family, married Andy HENSLEY and reared a family of six sons and one daughter. The sons were James M., married Juda VARNEY, deceased in October 1935, Compton married Polly BLACKBURN, Asa married Nancy STEELE, Andy married Nellie HUNT, Lewis married Missouri SMITH, Henry married Mariah, and the daughter, Jane was never married. Cumpton and Henry are the surviving members of this family.
The body of Alex VARNEY, Sr., was interred on Elk Fork of Pigeon Creek.
Andrew, second son of John VARNEY, married Sallie TAYLOR and reared, as I understand, seven children, namely,
- Sam, Alex Henderson, Alvis, James, Vicy and Matilda. I can not give a thorough history of the said Andrew VARNEY's family as they were reared and many still live, in the head of Pigeon Creek, and I am not very familiar with them as a whole, but shall proceed to tell what I do understand in regard to them.
- Sam VARNEY was the father of
- Mrs. Sara MUSIC, also
- Mrs. Jane MURPHY, wife of Johnson MURPHY, Sr., and mother of N. V. MURPHY of Rawl, West Virginia.
- Alex was a Christian preacher.
I know very little of the family of Henderson VARNEY, except that he was the grandfather of Hank VARNEY of Red Jacket.
- Alvis married a Sansom; they were the parents of Mrs. Floyd Hatfield and the grand-parents of Richard Ferrell of Williamson.
- James was the father of Andy VARNEY of VARNEY, West Virginia, and the grand-father of Riley VARNEY.
- Vicy married Moses MAYNARD and resides on Johns Creek; she was the mother of Mrs. Matilda WILLIAMS and the grandmother of Bob WILLIAMS, Mrs. Sally HATFIELD and Mrs. Zettie AKERS, all of Pikeville.
- Matilda married Nathan CHAFIN; of their family four daughters are as follows:
- Vicy, wife of "Devil" Anse HATFIELD, whose son was the late Cap HATFIELD,
- Betty, wife of Elias HATFIELD, Sr., mother of Greenway HATFIELD of Williamson and Dr. H. D. HATFIELD of Huntington,
- Mary wife of John Wallace WEBB, the mother of W. V. WEBB, of Williamson.
Mary, daughter of John VARNEY, married John TAYLOR. They were the parents of the following children-
- Peggie TAYLOR married Daniel Mccoy, whose son was Randall Mccoy, whose son was "Sheriff" Jim MCCOY,
- Jinnie TAYLOR married Elder John FERRELL, whose son was Anderson FERRELL and also a daughter, Martha HATFIELD, wife of Tolbert HATFIELD.
- William A. TAYLOR married Sallie MAYNARD, whose son was Alvis TAYLOR, the father of John TAYLOR of Stone, KY.
- Harriette TAYLOR married Alvis MAYNARD, Sr., whose children were Alvis, Jr., and Billy MAYNARD
-Alvis, Jr., being the father of Pierce MAYNARD and Mrs. Belle PINSON, and
-Billy the father of Mrs. Jane BISHOP and Mrs. Ann SHUMATE.
- John Taylor was never married.
- Matilda TAYLOR married Sam FARLEY, whose son was Ali, whose sons are R. T. FARLEY and J. B. FARLEY.
- Azandra TAYLOR, married Roseanne RATCLIFF, whose son was Calvin TAYLOR, whose daughter is Virgie MAYNARD.
- Sallie TAYLOR married Ali SMITH, whose son was Henry SMITH, whose sons are Tom and Ken.
- Cyrus Taylor married Louisa SLATER-no children. He was killed by a man named GUNNOE, during the Civil War.
As I am in possession of more history of William A. TAYLOR'S family-I shall give it too.
In addition to Alvis TAYLOR, before mentioned, there was another son, John TAYLOR married Jane PHILLIPS.
The oldest daughter Margaret married Mitchell RUNYON.
Next was Lydia married Fount LOWE, Sr.-grand-parents of Mrs. Amos RUNYON of Belfry, Kentucky.
Vicy TAYLOR married Ransom HATFIELD, the parents of the late Mrs. Ester RUTHERFORD, whose son is W. T. RUTHERFORD of Hardy, Kentucky.
Pricy TAYLOR Married Jacob SMITH, the parents of Will M. SMITH.
Jennie TAYLOR married K. F. LESLIE, the parents of Mrs. Ollie Auxier MAYNARD of Pikeville.
Sarah Ann TAYLOR married Dallas BEVINS, whose son is Mont BEVINS of Heisey, Kentucky.
Harriette TAYLOR married Allen WILLIAMSON, whose son was Emsy B. WILLIAMSON of Fort Gay, West Virginia.
Parlee TAYLOR married Ben D. WILLIAMSON whose son was the late John B. WILLIAMSON.
Nancy another daughter of John VARNEY was the mother of the late Ambrose MORRIS, the grand-mother of John B. MORRIS of Road Fork of Big Creek.
Daniel, the youngest of John VARNEY'S family was reared by foster parents of great wealth. He remained and died in Virginia, and we have been informed that he was never married and he inherited a vast estate left him by his foster parents.
We have been informed, but do not know how authentic this information is, that there was another daughter of John and Betsy Hunter VARNEY, who married a STRATTON and remained in Virginia.
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The Varneys
Varney family
This picture is of some of the descendants of Lewis Varney and Betsy Farley who started their family on a farm in Ragland, Mingo County, West Virginia.
Times change but the Varney family has kept to the old traditions of family reunions. In the past on what is now called Memorial Day the Varney family including aunts, uncles, cousins and other assorted kin, gathered together at the Varney Cemetery in Ragland, Mingo County, West Virginia, to decorate the graves of deceased relatives and to honor their memory. In those days this event was called Decoration Day. Flowers were cut from various yards to be used in decorating the graves. The day was filled with the singing of hymns and preaching by various ministers. This was usually an all day affair. After the ceremonies the families gathered at the residences of local kinfolk for food and fellowship.
Although we no longer go to cemeteries to decorate graves we still enjoy getting together to renew ties and enjoy the fellowship of kinfolk.
Click Varney History for a short lesson on the Varney's by Nancy Jane Varney.
For more information on the Varneys please go to the Thompson Directory.
You will find more information and many more names.
I am interested in sharing any family history information and in correcting any misinformation. Please send corrections or additions to my email box.
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John Varney and Betsy Hunter
The oldest VARNEY I have information about is John Varney. He was born about 1760 in Bedford County, Virginia. He died sometime after 1805 in Bedford County, Virginia. The family story is that he was gathering salt-peter in a cave in the Blue Ridge Mountains when a slide came and entombed his body which was never recovered. Salt-peter was used in the making of gun powder at that time.
He married, probably about 1780 since their first child was born in 1781. Nothing is known about this lady. She probably died sometime between 1783, the birth of her last child, and 1792, the year John married Betsy. She and John had two daughters.
John then married Elizabeth “Betsy” HUNTER, 6 Sep 1792, in Rockbridge County, Virginia. She was born about 1783 in Bedford County, Virginia, the daughter of William Hunter. Betsy and John had three sons.
Mary Ann “Polly” Varney born 1781; died 11 Dec 1871 in Canada, Kentucky. She married John W. TAYLOR on 13 April 1804 in Amherst County, Virginia. He was born about 1779 in Amherst County and died 9 Sep 1814 in Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia, during the War of 1812. She married an unknown after John’s death.
Nancy Varney born between 1781 and 1790 and died after 1815. She married Ambrose MORRIS born 1770 in Halifax County, Virginia. He was the son of Ambrose Morris
Alexander Varney born about 1797 in Bedford County; died 1870. He married Susannah RUNYON (1797-1852) in Bedford County.
Andrew Varney born 19 Jun 1800 in Bedford County and died after 1849 in Logan County, Virginia (now WV). He married Sarah “Sally” STRAFFORD on 9 May 1820 in Floyd County, Kentucky. She was born 7 Jun 1805 in Logan, Virginia and died Jun 1879. She was the daughter of John Miles Stafford and Nancy Runyon.
NOTE: Andrew and Sally had a daughter, Matilda, who married Nathan Chafin. Nathan and Matilda had a daughter, Levicy who married Devil Anse HATFIELD of the Hatfield and McCoy Feud.
Daniel Varney born 1805 Bedford County, Virginia
Alexander, Andrew, Mary, and Nancy migrated to what is now Mingo County, West Virginia and Pike County, Kentucky. Nothing more is known about Daniel. It is unknown if Betsy came with her children to West Virginia or came later but family stories always said that her body was buried at the mouth of Peach Creek in Logan County, West Virginia.
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Alexander Varney & Susannah Runyon
Alexander Varney, son of John and Betsy Hunter VARNEY, was born in Bedford County, Virginia about 1797 and died after 1870 in Logan County, WV. He married Susannah RUNYON, known as Susie, on 17 Oct 1819. She was the daughter of John Runyon (c1761-c1840) and Elizabeth RUNNER (b1767-?). Susannah was born 1797 in Virginia and died 10 Aug 1852 in Pike County, Kentucky. After Susannah’s death Alexander married Susan PAYNE on 2 Jan 1853. She was born about 1795 and died about 1857. Given the birthplaces of their children they must have moved several times between West Virginia and Kentucky. Alexander and Susannah had twelve children:
John Varney born (c1816-b1880) in Pike County, Kentucky; married Anna ROMANS (c1817-a1880) in 1833.
Henry C. Varney, Sr. born 15 Sep 1817 in Virginia and died 24 Apr 1886; married Jane Yantas McNEELY(1823-1893) before 1842.
Andrew Varney born 28 Jul 1819 in Logan County, Virginia and died 27 May 1886; married Nancy RUTHERFORD on 01 March 1838.
Francis “Franklin” Varney was born about 1820 in Logan County, Virginia and died about 1871; married Polly WILLIAMSON on 17 Mar 1839 in Pike County, Kentucky.
Sarah “Sally” Varney was born about 1823 in Virginia and died in Braxton County, West Virginia; married John WHITE.
Adron Varney was born 1825 in Virginia and died in Feb 1906; married Lucy WEBB.
Mahulda Jane Varney was born 1827 in Pike County, Kentucky; died Feb 1870 in Logan County, West Virginia;
Martha Jane “Jennie” Varney was born about 1829 in Virginia and died after 1870 in Logan County, West Virginia.
Madison Varney was born Mar 1830 in Kentucky and died Jan 1908 in Kentucky married Plata STATON.
Asa H. Varney was born about 1833 in Virginia; died before 1900; married Abisha MURPHY on 22 Aug 1888.
Carolina Matilda Varney was born about 1836 in Kentucky and died before 1860; married Thomas HUNT in 1853.
Celia Varney was born about 1837 in Virginia; married James WHITE.
Alexander and/or his family can be found on the following censuses:
1820 Federal Census for Floyd County, Kentucky
1830 Federal Census for Pike County, Kentucky
1840 Federal Census for Logan County, Virginia
1850 Federal Census for Pike County, Kentucky
1860 Federal Census for Logan County, Virginia
1860 Federal Census for Hardy Township, Logan County, West Virginia
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Henry C. Varney
Henry Clinton VARNEY, Senior, was the son of Alexander Varney and Susannah RUNYON. He was born 15 Sep 1817,, in what was then Logan County, Virginia. He married Jane Yantus McNEELY before 1842. He died 24 Apr 1896, in Mingo County, WV.
Jane Yantus McNeely
Jane Yantus McNeely was born 9 May 1823, in Virginia. She was the daughter of John McNeely and Polly DEMPSEY; she died on 24 May 1893. Henry and Jane are both buried in Varney Cemetery, Ragland, Mingo County, West Virginia. They had twelve children. All of their children were born in what became Mingo County, West Virginia.
Matilda Jane Varney born about 1844. In about 1863; she married Ira Lewis FARLEY who was born circa 1843. She died 2 Jul 1872, in Logan County, WV.
Sarah Ann Varney born 1846. On 31 May 1860, she married Edward “Ned” CHAFIN who was born about 1843 and died before 1893. In May of 1893, she married Lewis SHEPPARD.
Emily Varney was born about 1848. About 1868, she married Adam “Add” RUNYON. He was the son of Alexander Runyon and Sarah STARR. He was born about 1850 and died between 1892 and 1900. Emily died after 1900.
Alex Varney was born after 1850. He died either in childhood or early manhood and never married.
Jane “Polly” Varney was born about 1851. About 1868, she married Alexander OOTIN who was the son of William Ooten and Polly Runyon. He was born about 1848 and died after 1910. Polly died after 1910.
Mahulda “Huldy” Varney was born 14 Jun 1852. She married John “Lewis” Chafin who was the son of Pleasant Chafin and Mary “Polly” CHAPMAN.
Lelah Ann Varney was born 6 Oct 1855 and died before 1860.
Celia Varney was born about 1856 and died young. She never married.
Nancy Jane Varney was born 15 Oct 1857. She married Nathaniel “Nathan” Chafin who was the son of Pleasant Chafin and Mary “Polly” Chapman.
Visa Catherine Varney was born 15 Sep 1860. She married John P. JUSTICE in Logan County on 5 Feb 1876. He was born 24 Dec 1852, and died 12 Feb 1927. She died 9 Jan 1904, in Ragland, Mingo County. WV.
Lorenzo Dow Varney was born 5 Aug 1863. He married Roxie Chafin on 3 Mar 1892, in Logan County, WV. He died on 29 Oct 1944.
Lewis Varney was born 30 Sep 1865. He married Elizabeth "Betty" FARLEY (1867-1913) on 16 Feb 1883. She was the daughter of Thomas Benton Farley and Nancy Jane PINSON. He died 19 March 1953.
Lorenzo and Lewis inherited the home place. My understanding is that there was a road that ran through the property. Lorenzo took one side of the road and Lewis the other. Lewis was born, raised his family, and died there.
Henry and/or his family can be found on the following censuses:
1850 Federal Census for District 32, Logan County, Virginia
1860 Federal Census for Pigeon Creek, Logan County, Virginia
1870 Federal Census for Hardy Township, Logan County, West Virginia
1880 Federal Census for Hardee Township, Logan County, West Virginia
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Lewis Varney and Elizabeth Farley
Click here for a picture of Lewis and Elizabeth and their family.
Lewis Varney
Lewis Varney was born on the 30 of September 1865, the last of the twelve children of Henry Varney and Nancy Yantas McNeely. He was born on a farm in what is now Ragland, Mingo County, West Virginia. He was married to Elizabeth Farley, known as Betty, on 16 February 1883, in Logan County, West Virginia by Comfort Brewster.
According to a story I received from the Charleston Daily Mail dated 18 Mar 1953, he carried the mail by horseback between Ragland and Logan. The story says that he liked to recall that he made the 70-mile round trip three times a week and received $1.62 a day.
Family stories say that after the death of their parents, Lorenzo and Lewis inherited the home place. There was a road that ran through the property and Lorenzo took one side of the road and Lewis the other. Lewis was born, raised his family, and died there on 17 March 1953, at the age of 87. He was buried with Betty in the Varney Cemetery in Ragland.
Elizabeth "Betty" Farley
Betty Farley was born on 5 September 1867, in Bias, Mingo County, West Virginia. Her parents were Thomas Benton Farley and Nancy Jane Pinson. Thomas Benton Farley was a Confederate veteran of the Civil War. Betty died on on 18 January 1913, in Ragland. She is buried with Lewis in the Varney Cemetery in Ragland.
Lewis and Betty had twelve children all born in Ragland, Lee Township, Mingo County, WV:
John B. Varney was born 2 Mar 1884. Family stories say that he was a physician as were three of his uncles on his mother's side. He died on 5 Mar 1907, at the age of 23. He never married.
Sidney Varney was born 6 Oct 1886; died 13 Mar 1959. He married Margaret, last name unknown about 1925. She died in 1929 and he then married Magdalena WRIGHT before 1935. She was born 10 Apr 1910; died 22 Nov 1992. She was the daughter of Arthur Wright and Emma BARTON.
Henry C. Varney was born 24 Nov 1887; died 11 Dec 1962, in Gallipolis, Gallia County, Ohio. He married Magdaline "Maggie" STANTON on 4 Nov 1914. She was the daughter of a Confederate veteran, Berry Stanton and Mary Frances ELWICK. Maggie was born 22 Mar 1890, and died 21 Mar 1980.
Edna Varney was born 10 Dec 1889; died 24 Apr 1968. She married Wilburn "Wibb" ESTEP (1868-1949) before 1920. After his death, she married G.W. CISCO.
Ida Varney was born 24 Jan 1892; she died 15 May 1948, in Switzer, WV. She married William Hugh STEELE (b.1888) on 9 Jun 1912.
Jane Varney was born 17 Oct 1894; died 20 May 1970. She married William Hamilton FILLINGER (1888-1954) about 1913.
Thomas Benton Varney, named for his maternal grandfather, was born on 31 Dec 1896; died on 9 Mar 1980 in Williamson, Mingo County, WV. He married Verda HATFIELD (1895-1979) on 18 Aug 1916. She was the daughter of Valentine Hatfield and America Hatfield.
James Varney was born on 18 Apr 1899; died in 1975. He married Mae DEMPSEY (b 1912).
Lorenzo "Dow" Varney was born 20 Feb1902; died 18 Nov 1960, in Mingo County, WV. He never married.
Wallace Varney was born 19 Feb 1905; died 27 Nov 1979. He was a twin. He married Goldie Mae SMITH (1907-1989) about 1924.
Wayne B. Varney was born 19 Feb 1905. He was the twin to Wallace. He died 1 Dec 1905, at the age of 9 months and 11 days.
Nancy Alice Varney was born 28 Sep 1907; she died 22 Jan 1934, 17 days after the birth of her only son, Carl Ray THOMPSON. She was 26 years old. She married Arthur Francis "Frank" Thompson (1897-1971) on 3 Aug 1923 in Birch, Mingo County, WV. She left 6 small children.
Lewis and/or his family can be found on the following censuses:
1870 Federal Census for Hardy Township, Logan County, West Virginia
1880 Federal Census for Hardee Township, Logan County, West Virginia
1900 Federal Census for Lee Township, Mingo County, West Virginia
1910 Federal Census for Lee Township, Mingo County, West Virginia
1920 Federal Census for Lee Township, Mingo County, West Virginia
1930 Federal Census for Lee Township, Mingo County, West Virginia
1940 Federal Census for Lee Township, Mingo County, West Virginia
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Arthur Francis Thompson
Click for a photo album of Frank and Nancy Thompson and their family.
Frank, as he was known, was born 25 October 1897 in Goodwin Ferry, Giles County, Virginia. His father was Robert Harvey Thompson. His mother was Emma T. Vaught of Giles County, Virginia.
Frank was raised in Giles County, Virginia. He was living and working in Newport, Giles County, VA in 1918 when he signed up for the draft in World War I. Sometime after that he moved to Mingo County, West Virginia. There he met and married 18 little girl reading a bookyear old Nancy Alice Varney. Nancy tragically died of pneumonia on 22 January 1934. She died days after the birth of her sixth child, at the age of 27. Frank was left with five small daughters under ten and a new born baby. The baby, Carl Ray Thompson, was raised by Nancy's brother, Henry Varney and his wife, Maggie. Frank married Letia Estep who had a son, Aubrey, from a previous marriage. She became a mother to the five little girls. Frank died on 2 April 1971 and was buried with Nancy at the Varney Cemetery in Ragland, Mingo County, West Virginia.
Nancy Alice Varney
was born 28 September 1907 in the old home place in Ragland, Mingo County, West Virginia. Her children were born in the same house. She lived there all her life. She was the youngest of the twelve children of Lewis and Elizabeth Farley Varney. Nancy and Frank had six children:
Helen Marie Thompson (1924-2003) married Marian Hysell
Francis Lee Thompson married Richard Cramer
Eva Faye Thompson (1927-2002) married Warren Rogers
Betty Jane Thompson married Charles Wellman
Emma Lou Thompson (1931-1978) married Darrell Ervin
Carl Ray Thompson (1934-2008)
Frank and his family are found on the following censuses.
1910 Federal Census for Newport, Giles County, West Virginia
1920 Federal Census for Lee Township, Mingo County, West Virginia
1930 Federal Census for Lee Township, Mingo County, West Virginia
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The Thompson's
The origin of our branch of the Thompson family is unknown.
The oldest member of the family that I know about is F. M. Thompson. We know that he had a son in Giles County, Virginia in or about 1868 and he was married to Elizabeth. We know this from the Giles County Wedding license for his son Robert Harvey Thompson.
Robert Harvey Thompson had a son named Arthur Francis Thompson who married Nancy Alice Varney of Ragland, Mingo County, West Virginia. Their son was Carl Ray Thompson.
Hopefully, more information will come to light, but for now this family's history is a mystery.
Robert Harvey Thompson
Robert Harvey Thompson was known as Harvey or Harve. I have been able to find out very little about him. Robert Harvey Thompson His marriage license states his parents were F.M. Thompson and Elizabeth from Giles County, Virginia. He married Emma T. Vaught on 26 February 1889 in Giles County, Virginia. He was born about 1871, in Virginia and died 21 December 1946, in Montgomery County, Virginia. His residence and birth place were listed on his Wedding Certificate as Giles County, Virginia and his occupation was farming.
Emma Templeton Vaught
Emma remains another mystery. The wedding license states that she is the daughter of Riley H. Vaught. No mother is listed. The license says she is 25 years old which would mean she was born about 1864 but her gravestone says she was born 26 February 1858 and died 20 November 1918. She is buried in the Vaught Cemetery in Spruce Run, Giles County, VA. Her stone states that she is the wife of R. H. Thompson,
Harvey and Emma had three known children:
Mary Myrtle Thompson (1891-ca 1955) married Efford Oran Wysong.
Kate Camilia Thompson (born ca 1894) married Luther Kessinger.
Arthur Francis Thompson (1897-1971) married 1st Nancy Alice Varney; 2nd Lelia Estep.
After the death of Emma, Robert married Mary B. Criner (circa 1901-1975) in about 1920. They had eight known children, all born in Virginia:
Robert Andrew Thompson born ca 1921;
John Harvey Thompaon born ca 1922;
Fred Harding Thompson born ca 1924;
William Sunday Thompson born ca 1926;
Evelyn Thompson born ca 1929;
Lois Jane Thompson born ca 1931;
Charles Winston Thompson;
Kenneth Howe Thompson born ca 1938.
Harvey's family is found on the following census:
1910 Federal Census for Newport, Giles County, Virginia
1920 Federal Census for Newport, Giles County, Virginia
1930 Federal Census for Blacksburg, Montgomery County, Virginia
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Varney, Lewis & Elizabeth Farley family ca 1911.jpg
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Lewis and Elizabeth Farley Varney about 1911 http://generations-past.net/varney/family.html
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10 children by my count. John died in 1907, so there should be 11. One missing, not unusual. -jcw |
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Varney Farley, Lewis_Eliz desc Varney website The Varneys.jpg
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http://generations-past.net/varney/varney.html
The Varneys
Varney family
This picture is of some of the descendants of Lewis Varney and Betsy Farley who started their family on a farm in Ragland, Mingo County, West Virginia.
Times change but the Varney family has kept to the old traditions of family reunions. In the past on what… |
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Thompson, Robert Harvey Varney website.jpg
20230716GHLn- http://generations-past.net/thompson/thompson.html
The Thompson's
The origin of our branch of the Thompson family is unknown.
The oldest member of the family that I know about is F. M. Thompson. We know that he had a son in Giles County, Virginia in or about 1868 and he was married to Elizabeth. We know this from the Giles County… |
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1855 - Bef 1861 (< 5 years)
