“A 29 year old Vanceburg housewife has been charged with second degree murder of a 10 month old baby in what police term a ‘weird’ incident.” “The circumstances- Mrs. Norma Jean Smith had arranged with a friend, Mrs. Helen McKinney, Carrington Street, to help with wallpapering a room at the Continue Reading

Blood for Blood: Lynch Law in Lewis County

“Our reporter learned the particulars from a passenger on the Carrie, last Wednesday, of twin tragedies that occured in Lewis county, Kentucky, last Monday and Tuesday, in which a life for a life was given. Washington Lee, the chief actor in the drama, was a white man living near Tollesboro, Continue Reading

Acid Thrower From Vanceburg Thought to Have Come to Portsmouth

“Marshall Schmitt received a letter today from Robert Kress, of Buena Vista, stating that he brought a man to this city Tuesday night whom he has every reason to believe was the man who threw muriatic acid in the face of Captain Hoobler, near Vanceburg, Tuesday evening.” “It was about Continue Reading

Snow Blamed in Two Deaths at Vanceburg

“Two deaths in rural Lewis County Thursday were blamed on the last week’s bitter weather and road-clogging snow, which prevented doctors from reaching the patients.” “Joseph King, 65, died of pneumonia at his home on Oak Ridge about 2 PM Thursday as his family struggled home with medicine through roads Continue Reading

Oliver Piatt Captured at Vanceburg

“Oliver Piatt is in jail, charged with cutting Ulysses Grant Chapman with a knife. The trouble occurred April 26th, at a dance on Rocky Fork.” “Piatt skipped to Kentucky immediately after the cutting and has been living near Vanceburg. A warrant was issued from Squire Hall’s court and Constable Shields Continue Reading

The Murder of Frank Ginn

“Vanceburg, September 21- A posse headed by Deputy Sheriff CF Ferguson is searching in the vicinity of Vanceburg for Jesse Carrington, who is wanted by authorities in connection with the shooting Saturday night of Frank Ginn, 49, at the Ginn home at Charters.” “Carrington, who lived with Ginn, came home Continue Reading

1953: Indian School House

A photo of a one-room schoolhouse on Kentucky Route 377, locally known as Indian, in Lewis County, Kentucky. Teacher, Janie Miracle (far right) stands with her class in front of the school. The photograph was developed by Fowler’s of Portsmouth, Ohio, on May 12, 1953.

Death Claims Woman at Age of 101 Years

“Mrs. Sarah Johnson said to be the oldest woman in Lewis county, Kentucky, died several days ago at her home near Vanceburg. Mrs. Johnson was 101 years old, according to relatives. She leaves three daughters and five sons. Her husband, Joseph Johnson, died 15 years ago. Mrs. Johnson, despite her Continue Reading

Newlyweds & Family Drown in Ohio River on Christmas Day

“For persons, a father, son, daughter and son-in-law, the latter of bride and bridegroom married Christmas eve, are missing and relatives say they perished in the Ohio river in a Christmas Day tragedy Wednesday afternoon, 25 miles west of Portsmouth. A game warden was the last to see them alive, Continue Reading

Mrs. Elsie Emma Petty

Mrs. Elsie Emma Simpler Tolle Tomblin Petty Obituary “Vanceburg, February 22 – Mrs. Elsie Emma Petty, 56, widow of Clarence Petty, died of complications at her home in East Vanceburg at 2 PM Wednesday. She had been bedfast eight months.” “Born August 11, 1894, she was a daughter of the Continue Reading