During the early days one area of Letcher County that of the head of the North Fork of the Kentucky River is in the forefront of most sections of the county, as I remember today. Some of the oldsters were Uncle Abraham Potter, his wife, Aunt Sarah, Sam Wright and wife Martha, Uncle Alex Bentley whose first wife was a Webb, reared on Cram Creek and the daughter of Aunt Ellender. a mid-wife of marked distinction. While lower down on the little tributary, Webb Branch, were several of the old Webb's, among them being Uncle Enoch, known as '"Uncle Chunk" and his wife Aunt Frankie both of whom sleep today in the Old Webb Cemetery at Mayking.

Among the pioneer postoffices of the county was Wright, named for the Wright Family, which was maintained for many years in the home of Uncle Abraham Potter, with his wife, Aunt Sarah (Wright) as postmistress, and they lived pretty close up to the present Payne Gap. At the death of these two exemplary good citizens Alex Bentley became postmaster, and the site moved further up stream. But I have not said that the late Henry Potter and J. Mart Potter were sons of Uncle Abraham. Henry for years being identified as an active agent for The Northern Coal and Coke Co., from which The Consolidation Coal Co sprang, and J. Mart was sheriff of Letcher County for a four years tenure.

The writer was well versed on the community so far as law and order was concerned in the old days, for just over the border line was a section pretty well contamined with moonshine whiskey, the waters of "Bad" Branch, a three mile tributary of Pound, terminating right up to the top of the Pine. No one lived along this "Bad" Branch and it was free to moonshine operations and they were numerous. This moonshine element, of course, found free reins in peddling their distilled product on the head of the river with little or no interference. A little further up, and just over the border line of the two states, the notable Will Wallen was active for many years, and it was said in that day that "Will Wallen made the best moonshine liquor that ever flowed from a still". There were many who would have sworn to that title for Wallen.

There was a young man, well up in the twenties, a native of Long Fork who often visited the section, as name was Jim Johnson, known as "Red Necked Jim" who often visited places of ill fame where whiskey was sold in the open. On one occasion "Red Necked Jim" contracted with Sam Wright to do carpenter work on a new residence he was constructing. To promise Johnson worked about three weeks, and concluded, on a week-end to go over home for a few days visit with his folks. Wright paid him off, the amount of his payday being small, as wages were low in the old days. Johnson took into the pathless mountain for a direct pilgramage to Long Fork but he never reached home, it was learned a week or so later.

Then his folks worried that "Red Necked Jim" might have fallen prey to the moonshine element that infested the mountains in most areas. About this time the family dog of Uncle Abraham Potter carried a human foot with part of the leg still intact onto his premises. A search was immediately started, which reached into the intricasies of the vast wooded area between the river and Long Fork. Pretty soon a body was found, much of it having been eaten away by dogs or animals, but it was thoroughly identified as that of "Red Necked Jim" The badly decomposed body was buried near the scent roadside leading up the tributary. From that day till this the fate of Johnson has been wrapped in mystery, but that he was robbed and murdered is a foregone conclusion.

In the quietude of the Old Thornton Cemetery beside the busy throughfare, lying side by side are three old graves, that of Uncle and Elder Archaelus Craft minister for nearly fifty years, Aunt Letty Webb Craft and Wiley Craft their son. Eld. Craft's birthdate was 1818, and he died in 1885. Aunt Lettie was born in 1817, died in 1901, at 84. Wiley was killed by his first cousin, Wash Craft, under the boughs of an old poplar tree just past much of the golf course property on the old road. The tree has been gone for years. Wash Craft fled the county, locating in Clay county, but he was never indicted nor never tried for the crime. Yet a sickening tragedy, I recently took a perspective of the Thornton cemetery and just who, of the many hundreds of people, who mold there. Several were born long before 1800. There are many graves of accident victims, mine casualties, auto tolls, tricycle victims, and nearly every form of casualties, besides a possible dozen or more who sleep under Old Glory, dying in defense of their country, generally on foreign soil. Though well acquainted with the old cemetery I never realized that so many of the victims met lamentable, tragic deaths, all of which tells a grim and pathetic story of death in its varied forms.

Next to Rosedale postoffice which I detailed in my first effusion is Rockhouse, I believe the third oldest postoffice in Letcher County where Uncle Madison Collins, father of the late Dr. John Collins, widely known in his day, was its first postmaster. Many years later, of course, the office was changed to Colson, named in honor of Dave Colson, old-time Congressman from the old Eleventh district, native of Middlesboro. Rockhouse post-office was first supplied by the long foot-path route from Gladeville, Virginia (now Wise) and Hindman, Kentucky about sixty miles.

The old postoffice at Democrat, and it's in a strong Republican community, was ordered established by Dr. T. A. Cook for many years a highly reputable physician of the county, who, by the way was an astute Republican. He asked and urged that the office be named Republican, not thinking that just over in Knott County there was already a Republican postoffice, and the Postoffice Department were ironclad on having but one postoffice of the same name in the state. It was with much reluctance, however, that Dr. Cook bowed to the will of the "Powers that be" in Washington, and without consulting Dr. Cook the office was designated, Democrat. Mrs. Williams, relative of Dr. Cook, and highly efficient is the present postmistress.

About one hundred and ten years ago a few of the old pioneers of the Adams, Craft and Webb families in the community that is now Mayking met to worship, and from that day of devout and fervent prayer they discussed the organization of a Baptist Church at regular intervals. At length the congregation organized themselves into a body, and the church became the Thornton Church of Old Regular Baptists. Today the Thornton Church is a power in the community, with a large, growing membership, and a splendid building in which to worship. Thanks to the late Eld. G. Bennett Adams, long since deceased who was the church's pastor for many years. Today the memory of Eld. Adams is honored beyond measure by the people of the community, and every church member, although his passing was more than six years ago, his great work will live on and on. Eld. Ray Collins is the Thornton Church's present pastor, and he is doing a splendid work, while the church grows on in influence and importance.

1850 Letcher Co KY Census District 2
150 150 Potter Isaac 49 M W Farmer 300 NC Can't read/write
150 150 Potter Mary 41 F W VA Can't read/write
150 150 Potter John 20 M W Farmer KY
150 150 Potter Janeperlina 19 F W KY
150 150 Potter Hanner 17 F W KY
150 150 Potter Mary 14 F W KY
150 150 Potter Abraham 12 M W KY
150 150 Potter Nancy 10 F W KY
150 150 Potter Margaret 7 F W KY
150 150 Potter Isaac 5 M W KY
150 150 Potter Mahaly (twin) 2 F KY
150 150 Potter Manerva (twin) 2 F KY

1860 Letcher Co KY Census
133 133 Poter Abraham 22 M W Farm Laborer 185 KY
133 133 Poter Margaret 25 F W VA Can't read/write

1870 Letcher Co KY Census Precinct 2
21 21 Wright Joel 52 M W Farmer 1600 500 VA Can't read/write
21 21 Wright Elizabeth 50 F W Keeping House KY Can't read/write
21 21 Wright William 17 M W KY At School
21 21 Wright Martin 13 M W KY At School Can't read/write
21 21 Wright Samuel 10 M W KY Can't read/write

22 22 Potter Abraham 28 M W Farmer 600 200 KY
22 22 Potter Sarah 23 F W Keeping House KY Can't read/write
22 22 Potter Elizabeth 2/12 F W KY
22 22 Potter Sarah 11 F W KY At School Can't read/write
22 22 Potter William 8 M W KY AT school can't read/write
22 22 Potter Solomon 6 M W KY

1880 Wise Co VA Census Robinson ED 103
217 233 Potter Abraham W M 41 M Merchant KY KY KY
217 233 Potter Sarah W F 32 Wife M Keeping house KY KY KY
217 233 Potter William H W M 15 Son S Works on farm KY KY KY
217 233 Potter King S W M 14 Son S Works on farm KY KY KY
217 233 Potter Elisa E W F 10 Daughter S KY KY KY attends school can't write
217 233 Potter Albritton W M 7 Son S KY KY KY attends school can't write
217 233 Potter Joel M W M 5 Son S KY KY KY
217 233 Potter Minna E W F 2 Daughter S KY KY KY

1900 Letcher Co KY Census ED 75 District 2 Millstone
150 151 Potter Abraham Head W M Aug 1836 63 M 32 KY VA NC Farmer
150 151 Potter Sarah Wife W F Mar 1848 52 M 32 7 4 KY KY KY
150 151 Potter Creed F Son W M Sept 1882 17 S KY KY KY
150 151 Potter Mary R. J. Daughter W F Sept 1887 12 S KY KY KY
150 151 Roberts Mandy Servant W F May 1886 14 S KY KY KY

1920 Letcher Co KY Census Jenkins District 0059
657 667 Addington J H Head O F M W 37 M KY US KY D Labor
657 667 Addington Rebecca Wife F W 35 M KY KY KY O Home
657 667 Addington Edna Daughter F W 14 S KY KY KY
657 667 Addington Sarah Daughter F W 11 S KY KY KY
657 667 Addington Joel Son M W 8 S KY KY KY
657 667 Addington Georgia Daughter F W 6 S KY KY KY
657 667 Addington Bill Son M W 2 S KY KY KY
657 667 Addington John H Son M W 1/12 S KY KY KY
657 667 Potter Sarah Mother in law F W 72 W KY KY KY