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THE VESTS OF WHITE OAK MOUNTAIN, W.VA.
AND RELATED FAMILIES

VESTS

Jackson Vest and Nancy Lilly

Jackson Vest, born in Floyd County, Va., was a son of Charles Vest, originally from Campbell County, Va., and his wife Elizabeth Via (also spelled Vier). The 1850 census for Raleigh County, W.Va., has Charles Vest, age 70, farmer; Elizabeth, 55; and son Jackson, Shady Spring. Charles Vest - 1851 will from 1950 Beckley Post-Herald Centennial Edition.

Nancy Lilly, born 13 Jan 1835, Mercer County, W.Va./died 23 Aug 1909, was a daughter of Robert “Bearwallow Bob” Lilly and his wife Elizabeth Payne, according to a Lilly researcher. Robert's nickname referred to a place on his land that the bears favored.

Jackson and Nancy were married on 15 Feb 1855 in Mercer County. 

Regarding Nancy's birth family, under the Lilly Family in the History of Summers County (1908) by James H. Miller, it says, in part:

"From Thomas (Lilly) descended the following: Thomas Lilly, his oldest son, who married Delilah Payne, of Taswell County, Virginia, and settled on Bluestone River, seven miles from its mouth......The next Robert Lilly, known as "Bearwallow Bob," who also married a Payne, reared a large family and died in 1883, where he first settled, on the Bench of Bluestone, in Summers County."

In 1997 Nina Bennett Worley (daughter of Leonard Haliburton Vest and Emma Stella Gadd)  could recall five children of Jackson Vest and Nancy Lilly:

  • Columbus "Lum" Washington Vest, born 28 June 1856, Summers County, W.Va., died 02 Jan 1935 Summers County. Note: A Shady Spring history book erroneously lists his name as Christopher Columbus Vest. His birth record is for Columbia, a female.
  • Martha Adeline Vest, born about 1859, married to Edward Ashworth Kelly, born 07 May 1838, North Carolina, and died 1947, W.Va. West Virginia marriage record for Edward Kelly, 23, of North Carolina and Adline Vest, 15, Mercer County, W.Va., married 24 Dec 1874, Summers County, W.Va. (Thanks to Bennie for his help.)
  • Cindy Vest, a beautiful red-haired woman, a “character” in the good sense. There is a record of marriage for Lucinda Vest, 19, daughter of Jackson and Nancy Vest, and Samuel H. Smith, 24, a farmer, son of Jacob and Priscilla Smith, 10 Dec. 1888, Summers County, W.Va. According to an Ancestry.com contact, Samuel and Lucinda had four known children: Charles or Charley, born 01 Aug 1889; Jacob, Apr 1893; Ora May, 05 May 1896; and Carrie, born Feb 1900. Jacob married Irene, born abt 1897, and their children were Lillian, abt. 1916, and Beulah, abt. 1919.

Columbus Washington Vest and Malinda Jane Cochran

Columbus “Lum” Washington Vest, born  28 June 1856, Summers County, W.Va./died 02 Jan 1935, Summers County) married Malinda Jane Cochran (30 Sept 1857, Franklin County, Va./07 March 1933, Summers County, W.Va.), a daughter of Charles Cochran and Ruth Radford. .(See Cochrans.) Columbus and Malinda lived on White Oak Mountain in Raleigh County, W.Va., near the Summers County line. Columbus' death certificate. Malinda's death certificate.

Additional photos: Malinda Jane and husband Columbus Washington Vest
Columbus Vest and friends -- Left to right, Ed Vest, Isaac Via and Columbus Washington "Lum" Vest. The identification was made by Columbus's granddaughter. Isaac was the father of James Anderson Elmer Via. I don't have information on Ed Vest. 

Columbus and Malinda had four sons and a daughter:
  • Leonard Haliburton Vest, born 27 Nov 1880; died 20 March 1960 in his home on White Oak Mountain. Leonard had eight children –  stepson Dewey Abshire Anderson Via (1902); son Claude (Claudie) Raymond Vest (1901), whose mother was Leonard’s first wife Clara Plumley, who died a few months after Claude’s birth; and six daughters with wife Emma Stella Gadd, Verna Veatrice (1908), Golda Mae (1911), Sylvia (1913), Nina Arabelle (1916), Josephine (1920) and Ola Pearl (1922). Sylvia and Josephine died within a few hours of each other in 1921 of diphtheria. (Stella’s family Bible records the date as Sept. 2, 1921, for both girls. However, their sister Nina remembers Sylvia dying at 9 p.m. and the Josephine dying at 9 a.m. the next morning.) (See Gadd page 1 and Gadd page 2 for more information about Stella and her family.) Leonard Vest obituaries Additional photos of Leonard: Leonard 2, Leonard 3.

  • Luther Flemon Vest, born 26 Nov 1885 or, according to his death certificate, 1883. Died 04 Jan 1931. He died single. Photo: Luther and his brothers.  Front, left to right: brothers Sanford Walter, Luther Flemon, Leonard Haliburton and Ethiel B. Vest. Back, left to right, Howard Vest, Edward Bennett, John Vest and unidentified man. (Identification of men in the back row is from A History of Shady Spring District, compiled by the Shady Spring District Woman's Club, 1979. Page 431. The caption says that Sanford was "inducted into the army at time of picture.") Note: the Vest brothers had a cousin Edward Bennett, son of Jacob Bennett and Rachael Cochran.



"We all remember Uncle Sanford as a man with a deep personal relationship with God. He lived with my family when I was a tiny girl and I still have the impression 40 some years later that this was the only true saint I will ever meet.  It wasn’t what he said or even what he did. Sanford just had this 'aura' that even a little girl picked up on.  He was a devoted member of the Bluestone Primitive Baptist Church. At one point in his old age, he lived with my parents. I remember that he would take a walk each evening. I wanted to tag along but Uncle Sanford would not let me go with him. He would walk fast and leave me behind. One winter day when the snow was very deep, he only walked a short way into the wood. I followed and saw him kneeling in prayer. That's why he wouldn't let his little niece come with him on his walks. These were his private times with God."


A musical family

Nina, daughter of Leonard and Stella, recalled that her grandmother Malinda loved to read. She also said the Vests were a musical family. In March 1992, Nina wrote about her half brother, Claudie Raymond Vest, (21 Nov 1901/08 Dec 1961) who was raised by his grandparents Columbus and Malinda. Claude's mother Clara, first wife of their son Leonard, died in childbirth.

"Your Uncle Claude could play the harmonica, any string instrument. They used to gather at my Grandmother's (Malinda Cochran Vest, White Oak Mountain) and play at night (Saturday nite). How they could play. James Vest, Dad (Leonard Vest) and brothers were always there. Jim played guitar and John the accordian. (Dwight Quesenberry) would be there too. When I hear a train whistle blow, I can just hear Claude, play on the harmonica the train blues. I cry & cry -- your mother (Nina's sister Golda) could play string music. I loved for her to play the violin. Your great uncle Albert Vest, brother to my grandaddy Vest (Columbus Washington Vest) could make...violins and play them. Wonderful. Verna (Nina's sister) could play strings too. I couldn't - I play just a little piano..."

COCHRANS

Charles Cochran and Ruth Radford

Here are my notes, from several years ago, on Charles Cochran and his wife Ruth Radford.. If you have corrections or additions, please e-mail me. We always spelled the name Cochran but it is spelled Cockram in some documents. My information comes from Source A (see list below) unless otherwise indicated.

Charles Cochran (07 Oct 1824/02 Nov 1919), records at Stuart, Patrick County, Va.,  son of Edward Cockram Jr. and Mary Rakes. (Information from Internet source N. Clifton who states Charles’ mother’s name was Bashie Mary Rakes.) His siblings are: Mary Jane (30 June 1833 in Franklin Co. Va./02 Oct 1925, at Elgood, Mercer County, W.Va., wife of Stephen Sparrel Via. Mary Jane Cochran photo 1 and photo 2. Photos and information courtesy of Cousin Brenda.); Rhoda, Nathan, Anna, Patsy, Harden, Arta, Edward III.

Charles' grandparents were Edward Cockram Sr. and Mary (Source B states that Edward Sr. married Mary Preston or Isham, believed to be Indian or Mary Polly Edwards) and, according to Source D, Charles Rakes and Jane, thought to be an Indian.

Ruth Radford (27 Jan 1828/08 Aug 1900), records at Rocky Mt., Franklin County, Va. (Records at Rocky Mt., Franklin Co., Va.) She was a  daughter of William M. Robert Radford (1792/1861) and Elindor Underwood (1792/1879).

Charles and Ruth were married on 07 Nov 1848, Franklin Co., Va., by minister Howery Michael. This information is at the Rocky Mt., Franklin County Courthouse. Charles was a Civil War veteran. According to a section of the History of Summers County (West Virginia) by James Miller, Charles "emigrated to this (Summers) county from Franklin County, Va. in 1872...He was a Confederate soldier throughout the Civil War." 

Here is some information from cousin Dean Bennett, who got the story from Virginia Tibbett of Mullens, W.Va.:

“….daughter of Glen Cochran…One story she gave me that needs to be verified is ...Charlie was captured during the Civil War and marched to Boston. He was declared dead…After the war ended the prisoners was sent by ship to Norfolk, Ruth had accepted the fact that he was dead since he had not arrived home after a couple of months. Then (more than she could take) he walked in. He had walked all the way from Norfolk... True or not remains to be seen...”

According to family tradition, there was a “Granny Radford” who was a Native American. I haven’t found any evidence that Ruth is that person. There are a couple of indications in Charles’ family history that two of his female ancestors were Indians so that may be the source of the legend.

Charles and Ruth's children are:

  • Andrew Jackson (A.J.) Cochran, 23 April 1851/24 Feb 1933, according to his death certificate. Married Maude Eleanor (Addie) Shively. Children: Clyde Raymond, b 22 Nov 1886; Carl Frazier, b1888; Charles Frederick, b1890; the Rev. Till D. Cochran (obit from Raleigh County GenWeb), b 24 May 1894/d 27 Sept 1989; Lola Mayme, b 10 Nov 1902; and Ada Lee, b 16 Feb 1903/d April1903. (Either Lola or Ada's birthdates must be in error.)
  • Michael Cochran. (Source B: 30 June 1855/1884). His wife’s name was Arta Angeline Vest, according to A and Ana Angeline “Lina,” daughter of Anderson Vest, according to B. They did not have children.
  • R.E. (Robert Edward) Cochran, 04 April 1863/05 April 1939, according to his death certificate. It says he was married to Jane Cochran. Source B has his wife as Virginia Belle Pack. Children: Fred Emmet; Lena Ruth; Mary Amanda “Polly”; Annie, d 17 Oct 1907; Michael Alexander; Mattie Sona; Robert Glen; Ruby Belle; Charles Jackson, died 19 Nov 1913 at birth; John Edward, died at birth; Eva, died at birth; Ona Ivan, died at birth, Susie Faye. Source B states that Robert and Virginia had “13 children including Robert Glen and others including four that died at birth.”
  • Rachel Cochran, 28 Sept 1866/died 17 Sept. 1952. (This entry and the photos were e-mailed from cousin Kathleen, 03 Sept 2007.) Rachel married Jacob Bennett, born 11 July 1858, a son of William H. Bennett and Sarah Elizabeth Adkins. Jacob died in 1907. According to a family tree on Ancestry.com, Jacob and Martha's husband Peter Bennett were brothers. Rachel Cochran Bennett obit 

Photos: Rachel with children Orpha and Roscoe.   Bennett brothers, the eight sons of Jacob and Rachel. Front row, left to right: Elbert, Roscoe, Oliver, Edward. Back row, left to right,: Earl, Earnest, Mike, Noah.

  • Mary Eleandor Cochran, 07 Apr 1872. Her sister Rachel's obituary lists her as "Ella Parker." Mary E. Cochran, 19, of Franklin, Va., married Cornelius Parker, 25, son of J.A. and Sarah Parker on 30 Sep 1891 in Summers County. Marriage record (summary is in error: Parker not Barker).
  • Isiah Cochran, 09 July 1869/Feb. 1870.

The first five children were listed in one section of Source A. Another section lists the first five children plus: Rachael (28 Sept 1866); Isiah (09 July 1869/Feb. 1870) and Mary Eleandor (07 April 1872).

SOURCE A: A Xeroxed copy of family history that was produced in connection with a family reunion in southern West Virginia. Verna Vest Bennett gave me a copy in the 1970s. A note says this is a “Record of Charles Cockram, son of Edward Cockram and Mary Rakes (records at Stuart, Va. - Patrick County). It also has a notation that the birth dates of Charles and Ruth’s children came from Charles Cockram’s family Bible in the possession of his niece Gay Parker, daughter of Mary Eleandor.
SOURCE B: An online source, N. Clifton.  Ms. Clifton sent me three e-mails with about 35 pages of Cochran Family information.
SOURCE C: “The History of Summers County” by James A. Miller of Hinton, WV, 1908. This information is on Page 546:
“Charles Cochran, one of the oldest citizens of this county, resides in Jumping Branch District. He emigrated to this county from Franklin County, Virginia in 1872. His wife’s name was Ruth Radford. He is now eighty two years old, hale and healthy. He was a Confederate soldier throughout the Civil War. He at this time has two sons living – Robert, who married Miss Pack, a daughter of Preston Pack, and A.J., who married a Miss Shively. Robert is a prosperous farmer in Jumping Branch District. A.J. has been a justice of the peace eight years. He also held the office of Constable for the Jumping Branch District for several years, and has been a member of the Democratic County Executive Committee, and aggressive in the causes of his party. One son, Michael, died in 1884. He married a Miss Vest, daughter of Anderson Vest. In 1894, he was accidentally cut by a scythe while mowing his meadow, from which wounds he died. He had also held a position as constable for a number of years.
SOURCE D: Another online source: Ed Talbott. Mr. Talbott sent two text files with information with information on both the Cochran and Rakes Families. He lists several sources including “The History of Floyd County, Virginia” and “Mountain Legacy: A 200-Year History of One Family Line in Southwest Virginia” by Gayle Fuller Stanley.