The Mountain Laurel
The Journal of Mountain Life

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Heart of the Blue Ridge


Genealogy - February, 1985

Issue: February, 1985


Dear Editors,

I've been subscribing to your marvelous newspaper for a year now. It is enjoyed more in our home than our daily newspaper. Your articles take me back into my grandparents past - their world, their time. The old folks that write articles in The Mountain Laurel - I just want to reach out and touch them, talk to them. They help bring so much to life for me.

As a child my grandmother, Martha Ellen Sutphi(e)n Rettig, and I would sit for hours on the porch swing where she'd share lots of tales about Laurel Fork, Carroll and Floyd Counties. Over the years I wanted so badly to visit the place where my grandmother grew up. Last year my dream came true. My husband and I visited newly-found relatives in your area and we're helping Mary Sutphin of Meadows of Dan compile the family tree.

I'd welcome any information concerning Martha (b. 1885, d. 1967) Sutphi(e)n and her husband William E. (b. 1882, d. 1955) Rettig. They moved to Dayton, Ohio where they raised their family of five. All now deceased.

Your newspaper does have a way of bringing folks together that's for sure. That in itself is a wonderful Christmas present to me.

A Grateful Reader,

Mrs. Joyce Dannemann
2026 Meadow Lake Court
Norfolk, VA 23418


Dear Editor,

I have information and photographs of the Shelor, Webb and Slusher families that I will share with others.

Marvie Shelor
Shelor Plant Co.
P.O. Box 665
Grandview Drive Ext.
Sparta, N.C. 28675


Dear Editors,

This past summer I was visiting my daughter in Evington, Va. I bought a copy of your paper because of the genealogy section.

I'm tracing my family roots, and I would appreciate any information on Henry Lee Campbell, my great-grandfather, born in Roanoke County, Va. 1848.

His father was John Campbell, born in Va 1805. John married a Mary B. Jordan on May 26, 1830. Her father was Jerimiah Jordan.

Also John Campbell is listed on the 1860 Census in Roanoke Co. Va., P.O. Salem Dist. # 57. He and his family are listed as follows: Campbell, John (age 55) a blacksmith; Mary (age 51) his wife, John (age 23) a blacksmith (son); Mildred (age 20) Daughter; Jeremiah (age 17) son; Henry Lee (age 12) son; Charles (age 8) son.

I've been doing research in the Campbells for the past 4 years. I'm at a stand point. Hopefully one of your readers will know more about my family in Virginia.

My great-grandfather, Henry Lee moved to Kentucky. He married on Oct. 16, 1879 in Brekinridge, Ky to Martha Belle Northern. They had my grandfather, Phillip E. Campbell Aug. 18, 1890, Breckinridge Co., Ky.

My father, Phillip John Campbell was born Sept. 18, 1921, Casey Co., Ky.

Thank you,

Mrs. Phyllis Campbell Felthager
1505 E. Main St. Sp 4
Trinidad, Colorado 81082


Dear Editor,

I would like very much to hear from someone named Conner. My Grandmother was Laura Adline Conner. She married Henry Franklin Wagoner. Her parents were William and Betsy Conner. His parents were Sam and Betty Wagoner. I have a lot of cousins on Wagoner side that I know about, but some I have not seen. I wonder if I have some distant cousins on the Conner side. I never knew my grandparents, so I would love to hear from some of their descendants. I think they were all mountain people at one time, but died many years ago. If anyone knows of them, please write me.

Thank you,

Mrs. Olyer Turner
105 Stokesland Ave.
Danville, VA 24541