For almost six decades, the descendants of Rosebell Baker were searching for the fathers of her children, with limited success. In Part One, we analyzed vital records and newspaper articles to determine that the father of Lucinda Baker was Samuel Chase Early. We continue the story to determine the father of Rosebell’s other child, Meldia Baker.
Soon after posting the information about Lucinda Baker, and about her parents Rosebell Baker and Samuel Chase Early, I was contacted by Ms. Suzanne Dungan on 11 October 2017 with the following information:
“The Rose Baker with Axie, Cora and McKinley is Lucinda’s mother, and my grandmother’s mom. The line is as follows:
William Baker and Elizabeth WalkerJames Madison Baker and Melvina Smith (from Lee Co. Virginia, daughter of William Smith and Elizabeth Edwards)
Rosabel Baker of Flat Lick, Ky.
Children:
Lucinda Baker (md. John B. Linville)
Axie Baker md. Mack Jones (lived in Whitley Co. Ky.)
Cora Baker
McKinley Baker there are at least 2 in Knox Co. and their birthdays are close which is really confusing!)
Meldia Baker (my grandmother)
My mom lived with “Granny Rose” for approximately 6-8 years as her mother, Meldia, worked in Corbin, KY and visited on weekends. Mom stated that Granny Rose “ruled the roost” and was very strict and god-fearing. She didn’t like census takers and government, etc. and stated that if a man married you in the church that you didn’t need to go to the county seat and buy a piece of paper to make it a marriage. She also told Mom that if a fellow proposed…you had to wait till the traveling preacher came around….and sometimes the man was gone by then. Now Mom and I don’t know if she was speaking from experience or not, but it kind of sounded like it!”
Ms. Dungan also related how her grandmother’s name was always misspelled, which explains most of the census records. She goes on to state:
“I know my grandmother’s father was Oliver Broughton who was tragically killed when my grandmother was a young child.”
Using this information, we’re able to find the following newspaper articles and records:
The Mountain Advocate (12 March 1915):
“Dewitt News
Blue Eyes
Wm Brewer and Oliver Broughton are visiting relatives in Ogle.
Ed Hubbard and Oliver Broughton were on Fighting Creek last Sunday.”
The Mountain Advocate (02 April 1915):
“Dewitt News
Blue Eyes
Oliver Broughton is visiting homefolks on Greasy Creek this week.”
The Mountain Advocate (24 August 1917):
“List of persons called into the service of the United States not exempted or discharged.
To District Board for Eastern District of Kentucky.
Local board for Knox county, State of Ky., hereby certified to district board for eastern district of Kentucky, the following list of the names and addresses of persons who have been duly and legally called for the military service of the United States, and who have not been exempted or discharged:
[many names to include]
Oliver Broughton, Flat Lick.”
Oliver’s draft card of 05 June [1917] shows that he was born 25 August 1893 in Dewitt and residing in Flat Lick. When compared to the notice in The Mountain Advocate, the draft card indicates age 24 in June, yet he would have been 24 when called into service in August. The draft card also shows he was married, presumably to Rosebell, but it is possible he may have been married to another person. Noting his age, Oliver was twenty-four years younger than Rosebell, who was born in 1869.
Almost a year later, and within two weeks after his 25th birthday, Oliver was murdered as reported in The Courier Journal (07 September 1918):
“Kentucky Soldier Is Killed By Negro
Oliver Broughton, On Furlough From Camp Zachary Taylor, Is Slain
Bourbourville, KY., Sept. 6 – Corp. Oliver Broughton, home from Camp Zachary Taylor on a furlough, was shot and killed at the Knox County fairgrounds late to-day by Will Castle, a negro. Castle was shot and fatally wounded by Officer Sam Lewis as he tried to escape.
Witnesses say that Broughton accidentally stepped on the negro’s foot at a side show and Castle drew a gun and commenced shooting. Broughton, who was unarmed, was shot through the breast as he was backing away.
As his victim fell Castle wheeled to escape, but was brought down by a shot from the gun of Lewis, who was in an automobile a short distance away and who witnessed the shooting. Castle was shot through the breast and will likely not recover. Feeling is high to-night and further trouble may result.”
Three days later in the Mt. Sterling Advocate (10 September 1918):
“Guarded from Mob
A heavy guard was placed around the Knox county jail to prevent the threatened lynching of William Castle, a negro, who is charged with having shot and killed Oliver Broughton, a soldier stationed at Camp Taylor and home on a five days’ leave. Broughton, it is said, stepped on Castle’s foot and the latter, it is charged, pulled a revolver and shot Broughton through the chest. Castle in trying to escape from the police was shot through the arm.”
His death certificate also notes “homicide at the hands of Bill Castle with pistol” and also indicates he was still married, although his birth date is noted as “don’t know 1891.”
Oliver and Rosebell’s daughter, Meldia, was about four years old. A year later, Oliver was exonerated from paying his taxes, and it is interesting to note that rather than stating “dead” like the other names, they annotate the reason as “killed at Fair Grounds.”
The Mountain Advocate (28 November 1919):
Knox Fiscal Court, July Term, July 1, 1919
It is ordered by the Knox Fiscal Court, that R. P. Mann, Sheriff, be and he is hereby exonerated of the following list, amounting to $792.00:
District No. 1, Exonerated List.
[many names to include]
Broughton, Oliver, killed at Fair Grounds, 1.50
Of special interest is the French Memorial Service in which Oliver was honored. He may have served overseas in World War I, although more research is required to support it. It may also be that he was honored along with the many other soldiers who died, regardless of type of service.
The Mountain Advocate (27 February 1920):
French Memorial Service
The French Memorial Service which was held at Union College Chapel Sunday afternoon was a great success and Deaton-Smith Post 69 of the American Legion has once more demonstrated its ability to do the right thing in the right way. The big chapel was filled to its utmost capacity by relatives of the boys, soldiers and sailors, students and citizens.
Following the Marseillaise by Union’s fine orchestra, Dr. Leslie Logan, the Post Commander, spoke on the objects of the American Legion.
Miss Ethel Miller gave a reading, “Viva La France.” “Christ in Flanders” and “My Son,” by Carrie Jacobs Bond, were beautifully rendered by Mrs. Charles F. Rathfon.
A fine address on “One Hundred Per Cent Amercanism” was delivered by Hon. Sawyer A. Smith.
Miss Drucilla Tye ably rendered “The Americans Have Come.”
The reading of the Honor Roll was given to Mr. Bart S. Reid who also presented the certificates to the representatives of the soldier boys who had died. Representatives who were not present will receive their certificates.
The Star Spangled Banner was sung by the audience, led by the orchestra which did good work thru out.
The religious side of the ceremony was in charge of Rev. R. L. Creal and Rev. T. J. Belcher.
The four “salts” as ushers, representing the Navy in which they had served were Josh Faulkner, Ham Golden, Herbert miller and Henry Hubbard. Soldier ushers where Charlie Hendrickson, Ben Shorter, Jas. Burgess and Godfrey Parrott.
Honor roll names are: –
[many names to include]
Oliver Broughton
I often wonder if Oliver’s certificate still exists.
Of Rosebell’s children, only the descendants of Meldia seemed to know the identify of her father. With her family sharing the information, we can now trace back Oliver’s associates to see if there is a connection to the other fathers. These “association” clues became very helpful in identifying the possible father of another daughter.
To be continued in Part Three…
Philip Farmer is currently assisting three families break down their genealogical brick walls and find information on their ancestors. He is also the author and publisher of “Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh,” a 500-page, 155-year biographical history of the Farmer’s immigration from Ireland into Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Harlan County, Kentucky. The continuation of Stephen Farmer’s story from 1800 into the mid-1900’s is currently in work.
