Family Tree

The Clark County Public Library is a lot more than books. In the nearly 11 years since Andy Gary has been working in the reference department, the library also has become a place for local historical research, genealogy and cultural preservation. “It's a big deal. I get excited about it,” Gary said. Thanks to a recent donation from Clark County native Lou Ray King, the library has enough photos, documents and records to keep librarians busy for years to come. King's collection of family heirlooms was almost lost to history.

Two Kinnaird brothers were in Danville recently looking for information on their family which has ties in Danville and in Garrard County. James Kinnaird of Lancing, Mich., was born in Danville, but Barrington "Barry" West Kinnaird Jr. of Sydney, Australia, never lived here. James was born after his parents came to Danville for a short time with his grandparents, Robert and Isabel Kinnaird, who lived in the former Blue Bird Tea House on Lexington Avenue. Robert had an automobile and was a traveling salesman after graduating from Centre College.

FORKLAND - It's as if Abe Lincoln had gathered up a handful of his own tribe to celebrate the 200th anniversary of his birth year in a way only family can. As Forkland prepares for its 37th annual festival on Friday and Saturday, they're gearing everything toward telling the story of the 16th president of the United States and his descendants. This year's theme is "Roots, Trunk, & Branches: Abraham Lincoln's Connections to the Forkland Community. " And there are many. After officially opening a museum in February to honor Lincoln, the community obtained a Lincoln Bicentennial grant to aid in producing a play and a book.

The annual McKinney Family Reunion will take place Saturday, July 26 from mid-morning until late afternoon, at Jackson's Chapel United Methodist Church, Spout Springs on Highway 82 between Hargett and Clay City. A potluck dinner on the ground will begin at 12:30 p.m. All descendants of Wilde McKinney and Elizabeth Jane Matthews McKinney are invited to bring a dish and participate to get to know members from other branches of the family tree and to help fill in gaps in the genealogy database.

Towne and Country Homemakers held their first meeting of 2008 on Tuesday, Jan. 8, at the Clark County Extension Office. Jennifer Howard, Clark County Extension agent, visited the club and talked about upcoming events available to all Clark County homemakers. She showed the members her mini egg baskets as a sample of what they can make at the Feb 15 workshop. President Deanna Wright presided and reminded members to complete their volunteer hours record by Feb. 1. The Clark County president's report was discussed and completed.

The ladies of the Wades Mill Homemakers Club enjoyed finger food, tea sandwiches and special treats at February's meeting, "Tea Time. " Everyone was encouraged to wear a hat and bring their special tea cup. Interesting stories were told about the different hats each lady wore. Tammy Fogleman led devotion with a reading of "Whip Up a Great Attitude. " Maryett Gyula led a lesson entitled "Make Time Your Friend," and Ms. Fogleman also spoke of "Adding Another Limb to your Family Tree.

May 27, 1984 The annual County Field Day was held Friday. Odell Gross School was first in Division I and Pilot View was first in Division II. Corky Haggard, of Hannah McClure School, won first in the sixth grade 500-yard dash. The annual reunion of the Winburn family was held May 13 at the Kiwanis Park, Irvine. The reunion was scheduled to be held at the fair barn but had to be moved due to flood waters. A basket lunch was served at noon and the invocation was given by Gertrude Crim, who also read the history of the family tree.

The Dream Makers Homemakers Club met Jan. 8 for a potluck dinner and s'mores at the Clark County Extension Office where Sharon Dunn shared the thought of the day, "We live as long as we are remembered," and the lesson for the day "Adding a limb to the family tree. " Kitty Bennett gave the inspiration. The potluck dinner table was decorated by Sheila Howard. She handcrafted a snowman centerpiece, and the s'mores added to the winter theme. Members enjoying the s'mores were Kitty Bennett, Kari Bennett, Sharon Dunn, Connie Carie, Kitty Faulkner, Lisa Kudak, Sandy Conn, Sheila Howard, Gloria Patrick, and Amy Neal was welcomed as a new member.

Dear Editor, Recently a friend sent me clippings of your article about my mother, Edna Lanier Toliver and her family home on North Third Street. It is good to know that she is still remembered for whatever reasons. Mr. Eric James, who wished to restore this house, I have never met. He found my address and phoned to ask for my memories of the house as I knew it in my childhood. I tried to answer his questions. I believe my daughter sent him some old photos of the interior.

Research on the Edwards family of Southwestern Boyle County is not an easy task. Those who remained in the Scrubgrass Creek area are easily found, but those who struck out for parts unknown are the elusive branches of the family tree, especially Mary “Polly” Edwards, who married Simon Taylor. I have been looking for information on the family since the 1980s, years before I found Mary was the daughter of Lewis Edwards and Mary Hindman, a widow, who were in Washington County, Ky., in the late 1700s.

Appreciating what you learn at the knees of your parents isn't always evident until years later. One of the things we - my sister and brothers - were told about as we were growing up was our ancestry. Mother and Daddy tried to instill in us a proper love and appreciation for our ancestors. This didn't seem to work on anybody but my sister. Certainly, it didn't work on me. I haven't always been interested in family history. As a matter of fact, now I quite frequently lament I didn't pay enough attention when aunts, uncles, grandparents and such visited.

The Clark County Public Library is a lot more than books. In the nearly 11 years since Andy Gary has been working in the reference department, the library also has become a place for local historical research, genealogy and cultural preservation. “It's a big deal. I get excited about it,” Gary said. Thanks to a recent donation from Clark County native Lou Ray King, the library has enough photos, documents and records to keep librarians busy for years to come. King's collection of family heirlooms was almost lost to history.

Kim Whitehouse Milburn of Danville is happy her mother left family history, including a family tree, deeds, newspaper clipping and photographs. She'd be happier if someone had written the identities of people on the back of the pictures. As she looked through a small suitcase of papers and pictures, she found numerous photos without names, but she knows they are kinfolks because they look familiar. She grew up in Forkland, where many of her ancestors had lived before, but she knows little about them.

Research on the Edwards family of Southwestern Boyle County is not an easy task. Those who remained in the Scrubgrass Creek area are easily found, but those who struck out for parts unknown are the elusive branches of the family tree, especially Mary “Polly” Edwards, who married Simon Taylor. I have been looking for information on the family since the 1980s, years before I found Mary was the daughter of Lewis Edwards and Mary Hindman, a widow, who were in Washington County, Ky., in the late 1700s.

One of our country’s Founding Fathers reportedly said if we want to know where we’re going we have to know “from whence we came,” and Thomas Jefferson said protecting our liberty requires “constant vigilance.” Nearly a century later, Abraham Lincoln was quoted as urging the citizenry to study history in order to “avoid the mistakes of the past.” Too often we take for granted the Constitution and the freedoms guaranteed therein. As a student in Washington, D.C., I recall that one could freely walk into a congressman’s office and usually expect to meet with him, even without an appointment.

In a few days, the Christmas gift-buying season will get into full swing with the annual day-after-Thanksgiving "Black Friday" sales. And a lot of kids will be hoping Santa will be first in line at every store with their wish lists. But not every youngster is thinking of himself or herself when it comes to wish lists. I happened to meet a few of these kids the other day at Jennie Rogers Elementary School. These seven students played what could be called a game of Christmastime role reversal.

Danny Brown Randolph grew up in Boyle County where his ancestors located after traveling in the late 1700s from New Jersey and West Virginia. The family produced surveyors, farmers, large landowners and many who served in the military. Randolph got interested in his family history several years ago and got the needed help of tracing his Randolph and other family lines from his co-worker, Monty J. Bryant of Danville. He knew little about the family until he learned of the three Randolph brothers, Nathaniel, Malachi and Enoch, who made their way to Kentucky after the Revolutionary War. Nathaniel and Malachi fought for America against the British and settled in Mercer County, and their brother, Enoch moved to Henderson County.

JUNCTION CITY - Samuel Henry Randolph had ties to Boyle and Mercer counties. Born in 1872, in Perryville, Randolph later moved to Junction City. He was the son of Thomas Jefferson Moore Randolph, who was born in 1850 and died in 1930 at 80 years old, and Mary E. Graves, both of Mercer County. Thomas' second wife was Nancy Board Bailey. Samuel's grandfather was George M. Randolph, who married Julie Ann Hatchell. The couple had six children. Samuel was the great-grandson of Revolutionary War soldier Pvt. Malachi F. Randolph (1757-1832)

May 27, 1984 The annual County Field Day was held Friday. Odell Gross School was first in Division I and Pilot View was first in Division II. Corky Haggard, of Hannah McClure School, won first in the sixth grade 500-yard dash. The annual reunion of the Winburn family was held May 13 at the Kiwanis Park, Irvine. The reunion was scheduled to be held at the fair barn but had to be moved due to flood waters. A basket lunch was served at noon and the invocation was given by Gertrude Crim, who also read the history of the family tree.