Tales of the Cumberlands: Devils, Giants, Feudists, and Physicians- A Story-Telling Conference -Sept 21-24, 2017
An Interview with Stephen Conley
A very special event featuring storytelling, — both fact and legend, and a Ghost Walk, will be held September 21–24, 2017 at The Breaks Interstate Park, Kentucky/Virginia. The stories, drawn from the first families of Eastern Kentucky and Virginia, will focus on tales from the Virginia-Kentucky border region from frontier days to the early 20th century.
We interviewed Stephen Conley, Event Producer of the Conference to learn more details of this unique gathering of kinfolk, genealogists, historians, authors, educators, actors, poets, and musicians.
What is the central idea of the conference?
We want to bring the Appalachian past into the present with a celebration of our unique cultural heritage. The convention joins together, historians, actors, novelists and other narrators who convey multiple perspectives of mountain history and traditions. The three-day program is a mix of family lore, scholarly research and artistic performances.
If you are interested in the Central Appalachian region dating from Native Americans and Daniel Boone, through the Civil War; the Swift Silver Mine legends; the numerous feuds that made the our region famous; and the rise of the coal industry, then you should join us.
We are gratified by growing interest in our event, which started in 2013 in Wise County, VA. After a hiatus, the second convention was moved to The Breaks Interstate Park in 2016. We are now pleased to present this year’s program.
The older folks who can tell the stories, are dying off. Their children and grandchildren realize this, and are interested in family lore. With this precious resource disappearing, it’s so important to get the oral history down.
What are some special features of the conference?
Our program deals with both facts and legends… and we try to sort these out with a dialogue between historians and direct descendants during the conference.
Historians and genealogists provide the facts, based on events that have occurred over the past 200 years. We combine these facts with special memories as told by direct descendants of those families involved.
The outcome of this exchange is a fascinating mixture of the drama and struggles of early Eastern Kentucky/Virginia pioneers. The discussion provides context for understanding our place in Appalachia today and a rationale for celebrating our special cultural heritage.
This year features several major dramatic events that affected all of Eastern Kentucky and Virginia. Specifically, we report on the massacre of the Ira Mullins family at Pound Gap on Pine Mountain near Pound, Virginia and the capture and hanging of the accused killer, Marshall B. Taylor, known as “The Red Fox”.
Several speakers will address The Intriguing Life of Doc Taylor, who was a trained physician, follower of the mystic Swedenborg, and a U.S. Marshal in the 19th century. Taylor was hanged in Wise, Virginia, in 1893, having been convicted of the murder of the Ira Mullins family.
But legend says he may have been framed and escaped execution with the aid of local Masons.
Among those speaking will be Judy Bock, a direct descendant of Taylor, along with historians Nancy Wright Bays and Anthony Hawkins. Also featured is Oakley Dean Baldwin and his cousin, James Baldwin, descendants of the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency, who have much to share on the capture of Doc Taylor. We’re expecting some new information about “the Red Fox” to be brought to light.
Another notorious death we will deal with is the 100-year mystery of who shot “Big Ed” Hall. Rick Hall, a direct descendant of both “Big Ed” Hall and “Devil John” Wright will disclose who shot “Big Ed” and why he was killed.
We will also feature The Colorful Life of “Brandy Jack” Mullins of Bold Camp, VA. He was an infamous mountain character known of silver counterfeiting, moonshining and odd deeds. He travelled to Clay County, KY to his silver mine. His coins had more pure silver than real US coins, which is how officials caught him. Roderick Mullins, educator, historian and direct descendant of “Brandy Jack” Mullins will share tales about “Brandy Jack’s” life.
Billy Williams, a regional historian, will discuss the Legend of the Swift Silver Mine. There is a continuing mystery surrounding the lost silver mine and its possible locations.
Part of the conference involves meeting with Native Americans. Can you explain why they are included?
Yes, we are very interested in learning about the earliest settlers of Appalachia and their contacts with Native Americans.
This year’s program expands its subject matter to include talks about Native Americans and other ethnic groups in the mountains. Three speakers will discuss The History of Native Americans in Appalachia and The First Contact with the White Man. We meet descendants of the earliest settlers of Appalachia to learn their stories. Chief Lee Vest of the Yuchi Tribe, David Hackett, a historian and Allen Belle, storyteller, and historian will present this information and provide a unique perspective about our forefathers.
We also have Dwight Collins, a writer and community advocate, who will speak on “The Mystery of the Melungeons,” addressing ways that recent DNA research may help solve the riddle of their origins. Finally, we have DNA research presented that demonstrates a confirming DNA link between Benjamin Bolling of Eastern Kentucky/Virginia and the Indian Princess Pocahontas. This presentation is by Oakley Dean Baldwin, author, and descendant of the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency.
As part of our interests in DNA and genealogy, many of our cousins want to know with certainty “who is who” and DNA provides important answers. We have four experts (Nancy Clark Hays, Rochelle Hubbard, Nancy Wright Bays, and Jane Cantrell Brookman) who explain how DNA research fits in with genealogical research and how to avoid common pitfalls. Attendees can learn what our experienced experts found in their search in the woodshed in the presentation: Tracking Bloodlines… Techniques and Dead Ends to Avoid.
How are Devils, Giants, and Feudists connected to the conference? What is that about?
What many people do not know is that Eastern Kentucky had two major legendary figures, both coming from Letcher County.
Martin Van Buren Bates, born in 1837 was a natural giant, standing at 7 feet 8 inches, who fought during the Civil War. Later he joined the Robinson’s Circus with his nephew John Westley Wright, and they traveled the world. The Giantess Anna Swan was part of P.T. Barnum’s Circus in New York City. When P.T. Barnum planned a trip to Europe, Martin was introduced to Anna Swan, the Giantess of Nova Scotia (over 8 feet tall). During a shipboard romance, they fell in love and were married in London. Queen Victoria sponsored them and held a reception for at St. Martin’s in the Fields.
We have a session on The Giant Martin Van Buren Bates and Giantess Anna Swan Bates presented by Maxine B Quillen, a direct descendant of Martin Van Buren Bates and Richard Crowe, author, historian and storyteller.
The other legendary figure was “Devil John” Wright, (aka “Bad John”) who served as US Marshal during the Hatfield -McCoy feud in Pike County and West Virginia, the Eversole-French Feud in Perry County, the Baker -White Feud in Clay-Leslie Counties and numerous other smaller yet violent episodes, including a bank robbery by the Frank and Jesse James gang in Huntington, WV.
“Devil John” was a “shootist,” demonstrating his accuracy with a pistol from horseback. “Devil John” got his name from his reputation of always “getting his man,” who ended up either captured or dead.
But there are more legendary characters. For example, Daniel Boone was present in East Kentucky near Prestonsburg and Paintsville and later in Kona, KY during 1767–69. Clabe Jones was one of many other mountain personalities. We present a roundtable discussion of these icons involving Anthony Hawkins, a historian; Jack Wright, a musician and storyteller; Roderick Mullins, a historian; Dwight Collins, a historian and writer; Billy Williams, a historian; Luke Bauserman, storyteller and author and; Nancy Wright Bays, genealogist, historian, and author.
Are there any new stories to be presented that you have never heard about?
This story is very unusual… something that is new to me. Of course, there are many caves and rock outcroppings that early settlers lived in as shelter until they could construct their homes. It was common to live there for several months. We have Luke Bauserman, a master raconteur and author to tell us about Wooden Caves: A History of Hollow Tree Living Stories. He is an author who writes about the shadowy past of mountain folklore and always has some new interesting information.
Does the fact that you are holding the conference at The Breaks Interstate Park bordering Kentucky and Virginia have any significance?
The Pine Mountain, the rooftop of the Appalachians, runs 125 miles through Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia and joins the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina. The Breaks, often called the Grand Canyon of the South, are of special because our forefathers, the Potters, owned part of the land. Prior to that, Native Americans could conduct raids in Virginia, slip through the Breaks, and raft or canoe down the Russell Fork and the Levisa Fork to the Big Sandy River and be at the Ohio River in 4–5 days. This region was important historically and remains so today.
In terms of presentations, we have several that examine this area closely. We have Randall Osborne, an author, and historian with The Civil War Era in the Big Sandy River Valley. Our relatives, including the Adams; Bates; Craft; Caudill; Johnson; Mullins; Potter; and Wright families were active participants in the Civil War. So we can learn how the history of this area influences who we are today. And as part of this story, participants can have lunch with Robert E. Lee, as portrayed by David Chalas, a Civil War re-enactor.
Another significant event that occurred nearby was a major violent labor/management dispute that resulted in many deaths, and gave us the origin of the term “red-necks”. James Baldwin, great grandson of W.G. Baldwin of the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency, will present The Matewan Massacre of May 19, 1920: Coal Miners, The Original “Red Necks” and Murders. His great-grandfather played an important role in that event and he will provide us with some first account observations.
The borders of Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee represented significant opportunities for illegal activities between states, and for legal authorities.
In a presentation about the Breaks, as a region, Carl Mullins, a historian of distilled spirits and Austin Bradley, Superintendent of The Breaks Interstate Park will inform us about Moonshine Then and Now: Tales of Illicit Drugs and The Breaks.
I understand that you have incorporated both music and a dramatic play as an unusual part of the program.
Music and song are in the heart and soul of Appalachian people.
Learning to listen to the spirit that moves inside of us is a very critical part of our historic culture. Our music and song originate from a variety of sources and we care very much about our fiddles, banjos, dulcimers, mandolins and guitars. As a special event, we are honored to have our cousin, Sarah Bates, a documentarian and musicologist, and Lorraine Dechter, a CBS/NBC/PBS producer to give us a lesson in Mountain Music Stirrings: Origins of Appalachian Folk Songs.
Our cousin Nancy Bays Wright has written a dramatic skit for us as special event featuring the “voices of our relatives.”
A lantern-lit “Ghost Walk” is planned for Friday evening with storytellers dressed in period costumes.
Actors narrate the conflicts among Red Fox, “Devil John” Wright, Talton Hall and others in the late 1800s. Divided loyalties arising from the Civil War, coupled with rapid changes brought about by industrialization, frayed the social fabric and resulted in violence during this tumultuous period in the Cumberlands.
I know that you have also planned a post-conference tour. What does this tour include?
On Sunday, September 24, we have planned a very special event with a bus tour of Jenkins historic sites.
C.R. Tackett, the town attorney of Jenkins, and other local government officials will discuss the history of Jenkins and industrial development of the Appalachian region. This guided bus tour will include historic sites of the Zeeger Coal Museum , Murdered Man’s Cemetery, Talt Hall’s Grave, Pound Gap and Raven’s Rock.
Can you give us details about where the conference is held?
The Breaks Interstate Park is located between Haysi, VA, and Elkhorn City, KY, and is within driving distance of Pikeville, KY, and McDowell County, WV. The event runs from 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, through 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23. The Jenkins area tour is planned for Sunday, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Pre-registration for the storytelling convention is not required. Attendees seeking reservations at Breaks Interstate Park may call The Breaks reservation desk directly at (276) 865–4413 for a 10% discount on lodge rooms, cabins or camping.
How much does the conference cost?
The event is open to the public, and admission is free. A donation of $25 per couple or $15 per individual is suggested for the Wise County, VA, Food Bank.
Last year’s storytelling convention, which focused on the exploits of local lawman “Devil John” Wright, raised $3,000 for the Letcher County Food Pantry of Whitesburg, KY.
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If you come to the conference, stop by and say hello, Cuz. As foundering families of Eastern KY and VA, many of your relatives will be there.
