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.

Located in east central Georgia, Johnson County was established from the already existing counties of Washington, Emanuel, and Laurens. It was created on Decemner 11, 1858, and was the 129th county to be organized in the state. From its inception, the county has been home to a hardworking and spirited people who are loyal to their neighbors and unyielding in their sense of civic and patriotic duty. It is their story that is celebrated, in word and image, within the pages of this treasured volume. Over 200 photographs from the archives of the Johnson County Historical Society, the Wrightsville Headlight, and the Johnson Journal shed light upon bygone days in the county, when residents lived and worked at a pace set by nature rather than technology. Readers will return to a hallowed time in a young and optimistic America, when the South was full of charming small towns and communities where no one knew a stranger. Teeming with faces of the past, this visual journey will pique the interest of anyone who has ever called the county home and will warm the hearts of those who remember the Johnson County of yesteryear.

" ... 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.