I Am Digging It

Digging into our family history creates deep connections. Genealogy is about finding our roots. As we research our family tree, we realize how our lives are intertwined with the history of our great nation. My family history includes the Quillin family, the Ewing family, the McNair family, the Jones family, the Bridges family, the King family and the Hulsey family. It is an honor to share their family stories. Search each family name by clicking the labels on the bottom right side.

Sunday, October 1, 2023

IRA QUILLIN CEMETERY

https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2679389/ira-quillin-cemetery

Find a Grave Cemetery: #2679389
The Information about this cemetery was added on 25 Jan 2019 by:
Phyllis Peterson
MEMBER FOR 10 years
Phyllis Peterson’s FIND A GRAVE ID is: 47360019

Ira Quillin Cemetery
LOCATION
West End of CR 697
Hiltons, Scott County, Virginia, USA

This cemetery is located slightly to the west of due north of Herman Chap Methodists Church, on the old QUILLIN farm on Fowlers Branch. It is located on the hillside a few hundred yards past the end of the maintained Route 697. The cemetery is unfenced and clean. It is marked by two large cedar trees which were placed at the head and foot of CICERO QUILLIN's grave. TROY DORAN took GUY SANDERS and me to the cemetery and gave us a list of six of the eleven or more persons buried there. Troy made the list by discussing it with his mother, AUDREY QUILLEN DORAN. TROY presently leases the farm from his uncle, ROBERT QUILLEN, who owns it. ROBERT said that his father gave him a list of eleven people who were buried there, but the list was lost long ago. IRA QUILLIN SR died during the Civil War and is thought to have been buried near Manassas, VA. [From Donald W. Lane, Jan 2003]

8 people were added:

Cicero Columbus Quillin
BIRTH 1855
Scott County, Virginia, USA
DEATH 4 Apr 1890 (aged 34–35)
Scott County, Virginia, USA
BURIAL
Ira Quillin Cemetery
Hiltons, Scott County, Virginia, USA
Drowned in the Clinch River. (Marked by two large cedar trees at head and foot of the grave)
MEMORIAL ID 196357272 ·
Created by: Phyllis Peterson
Added: 25 Jan 2019
Find a Grave Memorial 196357272

Patton Presley Quillin
BIRTH 10 Jan 1860
DEATH 10 Mar 1933 (aged 73)
BURIAL
Ira Quillin Cemetery
Hiltons, Scott County, Virginia, USA
Created by: Phyllis Peterson
Added: 25 Jan 2019
Find a Grave Memorial 196357210

Elizabeth Isabell Reynolds Quillin (wife of Patton Presley Quillin)
BIRTH 16 Apr 1871
DEATH unknown
BURIAL
Ira Quillin Cemetery
Hiltons, Scott County, Virginia, USA
Created by: Phyllis Peterson
Added: 25 Jan 2019
Find a Grave Memorial 196357688

Martha Virginia Hart Quillin (wife of Patton Presley Quillin)
Gravesite Details Marked with a fieldstone
BIRTH 11 Sep 1863
DEATH Dec 1896 (aged 33)
BURIAL
Ira Quillin Cemetery
Hiltons, Scott County, Virginia, USA
Created by: Phyllis Peterson
Added: 25 Jan 2019
Find a Grave Memorial 196357220

Ira D. Quillin Jr.
BIRTH 14 May 1863
DEATH 11 Sep 1928 (aged 65)
BURIAL
Ira Quillin Cemetery
Hiltons, Scott County, Virginia, USA
Created by: Phyllis Peterson
Added: 25 Jan 2019
Find a Grave Memorial 196357184

Henry Clay Quillin
Not on Audrey Quillen's list, but known to be buried here according to his grandchildren
BIRTH 1868
DEATH 1894 (aged 25–26)
BURIAL
Ira Quillin Cemetery
Hiltons, Scott County, Virginia, USA
Created by: Phyllis Peterson
Added: 25 Jan 2019
Find a Grave Memorial 196357596

Billy Vineyard A Baby
BIRTH unknown
DEATH unknown
BURIAL
Ira Quillin Cemetery
Hiltons, Scott County, Virginia, USA
Created by: Phyllis Peterson
Added: 25 Jan 2019
Find a Grave Memorial 196357368

Mrs Wright
BIRTH unknown
DEATH unknown
BURIAL
Ira Quillin Cemetery
Hiltons, Scott County, Virginia, USA
Created by: Phyllis Peterson
Added: 25 Jan 2019
Find a Grave Memorial 196357317

Monday, September 25, 2023

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Gate City, Virginia

Looking back to the time when my people would have lived in Gate City, it is important to understand the history of that city. All of these places are mentioned in my family history. The below information was taken from Wikipedia.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/22/88/34/2288346e179c70894a22631b72793fe5.jpg

Gate City, Virginia - Wikipedia

Gate City is part of the Kingsport–Bristol (TN)–Bristol (VA) Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA. This combined area – commonly known as the "Tri-Cities" region.

In 1771, Silas Engart received a land grant of 200 acres that included the location of the future town. By the time of Scott County's formation in 1815, landowner James Davidson, Sr. donated approximately 13 acres of his plantation for establishing the county seat. The location of the town was such that it would emerge as an important commercial center for people and goods traveling through Big Moccasin Gap and the North Fork of the Holston River.

In 1817, the town was renamed Estillville (the place where most of my ancestors resided) in honor of Benjamin Estill, a local judge instrumental in the formation of the new county. As a result of the county seat's location near Big Moccasin Gap and the North Fork of the Holston River, the town grew into a commercial center for people passing through on their way westward, for farmers hoping to sell goods, and businessmen in town for legal affairs. A regular wagon train and coach line service conveying people, mail, and commercial goods between Bedford and Estilville.

Gate City received its present name in 1886, when Attorney General Rufus A. Ayers pointed out that proximity to Big Moccasin Gap marked the town as the "Gate Way to the West." The town was incorporated in 1892.

By the beginning of the twentieth-century, Gate City was one of several "boom towns" located in southwestern Virginia. Although the streets were little more than dirt byways in the town, the area was a vibrant commercial and transportation center. Up to six daily passenger trains passed through Gate City. The town also had a railroad log yard where logs from all over the county were stored and then loaded to be later transported by train. Iron ore from the Snowflake and Nickelsville areas as well as glass sand from the south of Clinch Mountain were manufactured and shipped from Gate City. In addition, the town had a thriving manufacturing center in the area of Water Street where wood pumps, staves, sleds, and harnesses were built. By 1915, the town supported two livery stables on Willow Street and a blacksmith shop on Jackson Street, as well as a dentist's office, an ice plant, a casket shop, and a furniture manufacturing business.

Saturday, September 23, 2023

Ira D. Quillin History Sheet

File:Second Battle of Bull Run.jpg - Wikipedia

Ira is from the generation that makes genealogy interesting. Substantiating ties to parents is more difficult since the early U.S. Censuses only have the names of the head of household, followed by the categories of the ages of persons living in that household. Ira was born in 1831 to John W Quillin and Rebecca (Lawson) Quillin. I’ve never seen a complete date for his day of birth. They were residing in Scott County, Virginia, and the 1830 census would match up to the number of people John would have had in his household with his mother Peggy (Nation) Quillin and possibly a sister living with them.

In 1850, census takers began to list every member of the family by name and their age. By that time (by only a year), Ira was married and out of the household. I feel certain, though, as to Ira’s family ties because he was included in family history books from that era. He is included in Quillin family history books, Vineyard Family history books, and Lawson Family history. Plus, Ira and his new bride are living next door to his parents in 1850. His story goes as follows:

The State of Virginia indexed all marriages from 1740-1850. This index was compiled from the information recorded by Jordan R. Dodd in “Early American Marriages: Virginia to 1850. Jordan Dodd is a valid source, as he recorded much of the early history from that area. Dodd listed the marriage date of “Ira Quillin” and “Edna Vineyard” as 18 October 1849 and the marriage place as Scott, Virginia. I, of course, found the information on Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.

In 1850, Ira and Edna Quillin lived next door to his parents, John and Rebecca Quillin. Also, next door and quite close in the vicinity are: Thomas Quillin (John’s brother, Ira’s uncle) and wife Polly; Thomas M. Quillin and wife Eleanor (Ira’s brother); Henry S. Quillin and wife Nancy (Ira’s brother). These families all live on nearly 3,000 acres of land. I believe this is the land that Ira’s grandfather, Teague 1772, purchased when he sold his property in NC and moved to VA. Ira and Edna would have had the support of extended family in the area. Their first child, Hannah Melvina Quillin, was an infant. They would eventually have 6 children; my great-grandfather, Beverly Johnson Quillin, was their third child.

When I widen the lens in 1860, I see that Edna and Ira live near her extended family, as well. Nearby neighbors include many Vineyards and Harts. Edna’s mother was Hannah Hart. Edna’s father was George Vineyard. But what was to come soon for Edna and Ira was the Civil War, which would change life forever, not only for them but for all the brothers and sisters of so many families. Many times, families found brothers fighting on opposite sides.

Ira died during the Civil War and Edna was left alone with 5 children, possibly 6. I have unsubstantiated information about Ira’s service to the Confederate army. It is by word of mouth, and I have yet to find the documentation. Sadly, records were destroyed during this horrendous war between the states, and I may never know Ira’s complete story, but what I DO know is what was told to me by the Quillens who stayed in the Gate City area.

That story is as follows: Please see the attachment about Joel Shelley. These stories were covered in my post on Sept. 15,16,17.