A project of the Johnson County Historical and Genealogical Society.

Van Lear was a sparsely populated farm community at the dawn of the 20th century. Known originally as Millers Creek, its pastoral nature was soon lost as it transformed into a thriving municipality. John C. C. Mayo, a young schoolmaster, was the force behind this development. With his geologic knowledge and his forward-looking business savvy, he foresaw the economic power of the veins of bituminous coal that lay undisturbed in much of Eastern Kentucky. Mayo and a small nucleus of businessmen acquired vast tracts of land and mineral rights. In the case of Millers Creek, these holdings were sold to a corporate behemoth, the Consolidation Coal Company (Consol). Mayo became one of Kentuckys wealthiest citizens, and Millers Creek became Van Lear.

By: Eunice T. Johnson, Pub. 1953, Reprinted 2016, 286 pages, Index, ISBN #0-89308-919-2. Perry County was created 1820 from Clay and Floyd Counties. It in turn was carved up to create in part and whole the counties of: Breathitt, Harlan, Knott, Letcher, and Leslie. This is the story of one of the most colorful communties in the Appalachian Mountains. Located on the north fork of the Kentucky River, It sits in the southeastern corner of the state bordering Virginia. This book covers the whole story from the time the first hardy pioneers moved across the mountains from Virginia to build cabins, stake out land claims, and subdivide this part of Kentucky into a county. The author has also included a section of the book entitled "Early Perrry County Families" Baker, Begley, Boling, Brashear, Campbell, Combs, Cope, Cornett, Davidson, Duff, Eversole, Francis, Fugate, Grigsby, Gross, Hall, Holliday, Ison, Johnson, Lusk, Morgan, Napier, Noble, Ritchie, Smith, Stamper, Webb and a list of individuals from the counties First Tax Book, 1821-1822.

" ... provides updated county and town listings within the same overall state-by-state organization ... information on records and holdings for every county in the United States, as well as excellent maps from renowned mapmaker William Dollarhide ... The availability of census records such as federal, state, and territorial census reports is covered in detail ... Vital records are also discussed, including when and where they were kept and how"--Publisher decription.

This puts "in permanent form the leading facts connected with the organization of the county and accounts of the men who first cut down the forests, grubbed the cane brakes and drove out the savages who disputed its possession ..."--Author's preface.

Lewis County, located in far northeastern Kentucky, was formed in 1806 and named for explorer Meriwether Lewis. The county was once teeming with industry as a supplier of finished goods and agricultural products. Historically, the county's proximity to the Ohio River allowed the export of timber and salt, and in the 1800s, railroad transportation made Lewis County an influential source of railroad ties, boat-building materials, and barrels. In later years, the area was most popular for its health resorts, spas, and "sulfur waters," which attracted visitors from as far as New York and Chicago. The images in this volume depict the county's military influence, as Lewis Countians had strong allegiance to the Union during the Civil War. The photographs featured in Images of America: Lewis County have been drawn from the archive of the Vanceburg Depot Museum and from various private collections.

This is the tragic story of William, Elizabeth Ann and Jenny Harold who were brutally murdered in the early morning of January 20, 1974, and of the trial of the accused, David James Roberts, wherein the death sentence was requested. Interwoven are important legal and constitutional issues. This is also the story of the author as a young man, student, lawyer and judge. The author was the judge for the Roberts trial and it was his first murder trial. Follow the actual evidence as it unfolds, assume you were on the jury, and decide the guilt or innocence of David James Roberts. Will you agree with the jury decision? Be ready for some surprises along the way.