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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. 

Nancy Lilly, born Jan. 13, 1835, Mercer County, W.Va. and died Aug. 23, 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 Feb. 15, 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 Washington Vest (born June 28, 1856, Summers County, W.Va./Jan. 2, 1935, Summers County). Note: a couple of local history books erroneously list his name as Christopher Columbus Vest. A birth record has his name as Columbia.;
  • Martha Vest, married to Ed Kelly;
  • Elizabeth “Lizzie” Vest (born abt. 1858), married to a Plumley.
  • Albert Vest (born about 1870), married to Hannah; Albert was a talented musician and made finely crafted violins; and
  • Cindy Vest, a beautiful red-haired woman, a “character” in the good sense. A descendant said Cindy was for Lucinda.

Columbus Washington Vest and Malinda Jane Cochran

Columbus “Lum” Washington Vest (June 28, 1856, Summers County, W.Va./Jan. 2, 1935, Summers County) married Malinda Jane Cochran (Sept. 30, 1857, Franklin County, Va./March 7, 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 photo: Malinda Jane and husband Columbus Washington Vest

Columbus and Malinda had four sons and a daughter:
  • Luther Flemon Vest, born Nov. 26, 1885 or, according to his death certificate, 1883. Died Jan. 4, 1931

Additional photo: Vest brothers and friends. 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.

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. Nina wrote about her half brother, Claudie Raymond Vest, (Nov. 21, 1901/Dec. 8, 1961) who was raised by his grandparents Columbus and Malinda. Claude's mother Clara, first wife of their son Leonard, died in childbirth. Nina wrote, in March 1992:

"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 (Oct. 7, 1824/Nov. 2, 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 (June 30, 1833 in Franklin Co. Va./Oct. 2, 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 (Jan. 27, 1828/Aug. 8, 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 Nov. 7, 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, April 23, 1851/Feb. 24, 1933, according to his death certificate. Married Maude Eleanor (Addie) Shively. Children: Clyde Raymond, bNov. 22, 1886; Carl Frazier, b1888; Charles Frederick, b1890; the Rev. Till D. Cochran (obit from Raleigh County GenWeb), bMay 26, 1894/dSept. 27, 1989; Lola Mayme, bNov. 10, 1902; and Ada Lee, bFeb. 16, 1903/dApril 1903. (Either Lola or Ada's birthdates must be in error.)
  • Michael. (Source B: June 30, 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.
  • Martha, April 29,1860, Sources A and B. Married Peter Bennett. Children (no dates): Minta, Carie, Oscar, Roxie, Cecil, and Simon.
  • R.E. (Robert Edward), April 4, 1863/April 5, 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, dOct. 17, 1907; Michael Alexander; Mattie Sona; Robert Glen; Ruby Belle; Charles Jackson, died Nov. 19, 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, Sept. 28, 1866/died Sept. 17, 1952. (This entry and the photos were e-mailed from cousin Kathleen, Sept. 3, 2007.) Rachel married Jacob Bennett, born July 11, 1858, a son of William H. Bennett and Sarah Elizabeth Adkins. Jacob died in 1907. 

Photo: Rachel with children Orpha and Roscoe.
Photo: 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.

The first five children were listed in one section of Source A. Another section lists the first five children plus: Rachael (Sept. 28, 1866); Isiah (July 9, 1869/Feb. 1870) and Mary Eleandor (April 7, 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.