Samuel B. Kegley: Pvt., Co., B, 5th Ky Inf., CSA. 1862 to 1863 (1 year, 2
months) In 1890, Samuel told the census-taker that he was “Shot through the
left breast, captured and Parolled”. His post office was Leadingham.
Samuel Kegley was the son of John Henry and Ann Moyers Kegley, ans was
born in Wythe Co, VA, Aug 15, 1841. Henry, as he was usually called, was,
in turn, a son of Martin Kegley and Mary Magdalene Meyers Kegley, ans was
born in 1807 in Wythe Co, VA. He resettled in what is now Elliott Co in
1859, where he died in 1898. Martin Kegley was a son of George Kegley,
Sr., who lived first in Annville, Pennsylvania. We know that George’s wife
was names Catherine, but her maiden name is unknown to us today. George
Kegley is considered to have been the progenitor of the Wythe Co, VA
Kegleys, and, for that matter, the Kegleys of Eastern Kentucky.
The first record I can find for Samuel Kegley is contained in the 1850
Wythe Co, VA census. At that time, he was 10 years of age and living in
the home of his parents, Henry and Ann Kegley. Since the Kegleys moved to
the present day Elliott Co in 1859, it may be correctly assumed that Samuel
would be found in the 1860 Carter Co census. This is further supported by
the fact that Samuel and Elizabeth Catron were married in Carter Co on May
17, 1863. Witnesses to the marriage were John Kegley and Mary Elliott with
C.W. Carter named as the presiding minister.
VA records indicate that the Kegleys and Catrons had close ties to that
state, and it may be that both families came into the Carter (Elliott) Co
area about the same time. We know that they all settled in the same
general area of northern Elliott Co.
Relatives tell the story that Elizabeth Catron and Samuel Kegley were both
present at a “working” somewhere in the Mauk Ridge area, and, upon seeing
Samuel, Elizabeth commented, “That man will be my husband someday”.
Elizabeth’s descendants also tell us that when she was a mere girl, barely
a teenager, her brother’s family was preparing to move from Wythe Co to our
Elliott Co. When the wagon was loaded and ready to begin moving, Elizabeth
climbed on and made the long journey across the mountains to eastern KY.
Although she lived to be very old, she was never back in VA and never saw
her parents again.
In 1870, when the first census of Elliott Co was taken, Samuel Kegley was
found living in the Moccasin Precinct. He was 30 years of age, Elizabeth
was 25. Three children were named in this census: William, age 6; Jackson,
3; and Sarah, 10 months.
The 1880 Elliott Co census reveals that Samuel Kegley was still a resident
of the Moccasin Precinct. He stated that he was 33 years of age, which
seems to be incorrect; Elizabeth was 35. Their children listed in the 1880
report were: William, 15; Jackson, 12; Sarah, 9; Virginia Carolina, 7;
Margaret A., 4; and James A., 1.
The 1890 Elliott Co Tax Assessments show Samuel Kegley the owner of 28
acres of land in the Moccasin Precinct. He indicated that his nearest
neighbor was James White.
When the 1900 Elliott Co census was taken, Samuel Kegley was a resident of
the Cracker’s Neck Precinct. At that time he said he was 59 years of age,
having been born in Jan 1841, which differs from the month of Aug indicated
on his grave marker. Elizabeth was 56, stating that she was born Sept
1843. Their children living at home with them were: Marget E., 24, born in
May 1876; James A., 21, Apr 1879; Julia A., 18, July 1882; and George, 7,
May 1893.
The oldest son, William F., called Frank by the family, had married Tinie
Conn. They established their home in Greenup Co, where Frank died on Dec
28, 1928. The next oldest son, Jackson, had also married and established a
home in the Moccasin Precinct. Sarah E., was the daughter called Ellen.
She married Sam Conn, a son of Freeling and Angeline Shelton Conn. Sam and
Elizabeth Kegley’s daughter called Virginia C., in the earlier census
reports, was Caroline, who married John Shelton. They established their
home in an area between Concord, on Brown Ridge and Caney Creek. They have
many descendants in this area today, mainly through Charlie and Johnnie
Shelton and Lizzie Shelton Dehart.
Samuel Kegley died Feb 17, 1910, therefore, he is not named in the 1910
Elliott co census. His widow, Elizabeth, still survived, and made her home
with her children until her death. Most of her later years were spent with
her widowed daughter, Caroline Shelton.
Samuel and Elizabeth Catron Kegley are buried in the tick Ridge Cemetery a
short distance out of Olive Hill.
The United States became involved in the Spanish-American War in 1898.
Descendants of Samuel Kegley say he went Immediately and attempted to
volunteer for service. Of course, being somewhat advanced in years, he was
not accepted for military service.
Finished
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