Welcome to the current incarnation of my old site Wykles and Kin of Virginia and West Virginia. Although that old site has not been updated since 2005, there’s still a great amount of information there. I decided to leave the old site “as is” and concentrate my new postings here at WordPress. I look forward to meeting new cousins through this blog.
The focus of this blog is original source material transcriptions and abstracts relating to the Wykle family and their collateral relatives of the Valley of Virginia and southwestern West Virginia. I seek to make available evidence that is not online through subscription databases or free library sites. Let’s work together and save trips to the Courthouse!
About Me: I am Debora Wykle Kerr, a resident of Virginia, the North American point where almost all my ancestral lines originate. I am currently President of the Genealogical Research Institute of Virginia (GRIVA), a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote, foster, and encourage serious and accurate genealogical and historical research by all means possible, including instruction, seminars, workshops and field trips. I belong to several lineage societies, including the Order of Descendants of Ancient Planters, Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars, and United States Daughters of 1812.
My Surnames: ARNOLD, ATHA, BELCHER, BECKETT, CANTLEY, CLARK, CLAY, DANIEL, HARPER, LAFFERTY, PIETKOSKI, SCOTT, STEWART, WIKLE, WISEMAN . . . just to list a few.
TIPS: Enter surnames of interest in the search box. Entries which contain those names will display in a list.
An index of all posts may be viewed by clicking here.
Comments are always welcome, but are moderated to keep spammers out.
The young lady in the banner photograph is my mother Rosa Lee PIETKOSKI Wykle. Her 1938 – 1939 report card from the Fayette County, West Virginia school system (Oak Hill) provides the background. The exact date and place of this photograph is unknown.
Your blog site is BEAUTIFUL! I just came across it this morning. I am related to the Cantleys of WV. I can’t wait to take some time to look over all that you have posted here.
Are you related to Shirley Ker? I know that your last names are not spelled the same. She is a Cantley descendent also.
Lani
Hi Lani – Welcome to the blog. I try to post something new at least once a month, so please come back. I don’t know if I am related to Shirley Ker or not. Kerr is my married name, and my husband’s folks came out of Ohio/PA. Which Cantleys in WV do you connect to?
This is Shirley Ker. I am a Ker by marriage also. Born and raised in West Virginia. You may know, especially Lani, that my sister Ellen passed away October 25, 2008. Also, my husband, Dennis Ker, passed away on October 23, 2007. Mother passed away 6 weeks before Dennis died. It’s been a rough year. I am still in Utah, and trying to pick up the family legacy. Lani, have you seen Aunt Janie lately. I went to the nursing home last summer when I was in California; she looked great but was sad to move away from her home. I have a couple of pictures of the two of us together.
Dear Debora,
Your heading on this site is the most beautiful collage for family history! Congratulations!
I am seeking to find the family of origin of my ancestor, John Lewis CLARK, born January, 1846, he stated Wytheville, VA. I think he may be John L. CLARK, son of James CLARK and wife Mahala FOLDEN CLARK. (her mother was Kissiah Williams).They were married in Monroe Co., VA, 1841. They are on the Giles Co. census 1850 (at Kimberling); 1860 Giles; 1870 Bland,Rocky Gap; 1880 Bland Rocky Gap. In 1880 James CLARK died. I assume buried at Rocky Gap. In July 1907 Mahala Folden CLARK died, Rocky Gap. Siblings of THIS John L. CLARK were Mary Muncy Leedy, Rufus W., Ralph, George R. Elizabeth A.
My ancestor, John Lewis Clark, served in the Confederate Army, went to Missouri in 1866. Eventually settled and married in Holt, Clinton, Missouri, first Marjorie ALBRIGHT, and in 1880 Gertrude BROOKING. First names of his children were Ida Lenora, Harry Lee, Clara, Silas Craig, James Edward, and Elizabeth. All children born in Missouri. Moved to Creswell, Oregon, in 1890. Died there 1920. Obituaries does not list any of his family back in Virginia. He was a schoolteacher, farmer, and Justice of the Peace. as well as member of Sons of the Confederacy, a Mason , and a Methodist.
A lovely lady in Bland Co., has been looking for him and thinks this is the right family. I just need to locate a record linking my John L. CLARK to his family back in Virginia and so far I have been unsuccessful. Thank you for your time and space on your lovely site. I am green with envy. Susan Currell Hollis hysaw@msn.com
Littleton, CO
Thanks for visiting my site, Susan. I will check the Clark resources for any links to the family line in your message. If I find anything, I will email you.