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 southeastern 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!
I also maintain a separate photo blog which features pictures of many of the people whose records are covered here. Please visit the Wykles and Kin Photo Blog. I have provided a surname index to help you find people of interest easily.
About Me: I am Debora Wykle Kerr, a resident of Virginia, the North American point where almost all my ancestral lines originate. I am a past 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, The Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars, National Society Southern Dames of America and the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
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 to the front page of this blog may be viewed by clicking here. Please visit the ARTICLES and REPORTS tabs for separate listings of their content.
Comments are always welcome, but are moderated to keep spammers out. Old comments may be removed from time to time at my whim.
(West) Virginia Wykles and Kin 
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.
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.
+1
Hello, Debora. I just stumbled upon your site this morning, and I feel we must be related. My name is Patricia Lee (Murphy) Minch, and I live in Northern California. My 5th great-grandparents were Alexander (1736-1794) and Sarah (Laverty) Clark of Monroe Co., VA(WV). My 6th great-grandparents were Ralph (1715-1792) and Rebecca Elizabeth (Stewart) Laverty of Bath Co., VA.
My current research focus is the William Campbell family of Monroe Co., who I believe lived adjacent to Alexander and Sarah Clark on Indian Creek. Alexander and Sarah Clark’s youngest son Samuel (1782-1821) married their neighbor William Campbell’s eldest daughter, Mary “Polly” Campbell, in 1805 in Monroe Co. That couple (Samuel and Mary “Polly”) removed to Gallatin Co., IL, around 1814, where Samuel died in 1821, and Mary “Polly” then removed to Franklin Co., MO, to be near her brother James. I’m trying to find out more about her father, William Campbell, who his parents might have been, and I have some flimsy evidence along that line. I believe he was born about 1760 in VA but don’t know exactly where. His first wife is unknown. He bought property along Indian Creek in 1794 and 1798. His second wife was Prudence Rowles (Rolls, Roles), whom he married in 1816 in Monroe Co.
But here’s a more pressing question for you: In 2010 an old home along Indian Creek (4+ miles south of Union) was sold by Remax of Union, WV. The house was billed as “the 1820 William Campbell House.” The buyers were a Mr. and Mrs. David Weikle and, try as I might, I haven’t been able to get hold of them to determine what they may know about the history of the house. Inasmuch as you are also related to the Wykles/Weikles of Monroe Co., do you have any idea who David Weikle is and how I might reach him? I’d love to compare notes with you. I do have some additional Alexander Clark material you may not have.
Pat
Hi Debora,
My grandmother May Wykle was born in 1909. She was born to Oma Daniel but was soon taken in by William Pembroke Wykle and later adopted by him. Wondering how this happened and if anyone knows anything about May. I don’t see her name anywhere in the Wykle family archives. I’m thinking perhaps there is a Daniel connection. Also wondering about adoption records during this time.
Thanks,
Ann
Hi there. I happened to stumble upon this site when doing research on my Wykle family. I look forward to poking around when I get a few minutes to sit down and do so. I am starting my search with my great, great grandma Ollie Belle Wykle and will be progressing from there. Thanks for all of your hard work and for sharing it with us! -Andrea
My name is pameal wykle and I don’t know anyone that I am kind to..
Hi Pamela – You might be interested in a Wykle group over on Facebook that covers Wykles from all over the country. You can find that page here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AllWeichels/
That might be a good place to tell what you know about your last name and look for help.