The Case of George Washington Goodpasture

George Washington “Wash” Goodpasture was born on Jan. 12, 1812 in Bath County, Kentucky, the son of John Goodpasture and Patience Turner. On October 18, 1833, he married Elizabeth Pieratt in Bath County, Kentucky. Within a few years, Elizabeth presumably died, leaving no children.

On April 26, 1838, George Washington Goodpasture married Elizabeth Oakley in Morgan County, KY. She was the daughter of John S. Oakley and Margaret Lewis. Oakley was a member of the first Morgan County court which met March 10, 1823, and in 1831, he served as a state representative from Morgan County.

Over the next 19 years, George Washington and Elisabeth Goodpasture became the parents of eight children. The family lived on Grassy Creek, a few miles southwest of West Liberty and in the course of time, Washington became a substantial landowner. The 1860 census shows that he had $4000 worth of real estate and $1500 in personal property. When the Civil War erupted, the family seemed to be leaning more toward the Southern cause.

On December 11, 1861, son Fountain Goodpasture, by then a young lad 17 years of age, enlisted at West Liberty as a private in Captain William Mynheir’s Co. A, 5th KY Mtd. Infantry, which was part of CS General Humphrey Marshall’s Brigade.

His father supplied 9559 pounds of pork to Marshall’s troops. The sale may have been arranged by Marshall’s Asst. Commissary William H. Burns, former Circuit Court Judge of Morgan County. Goodpasture was paid $430.02 by Marshall’s Brigade Commissary Major R. Hanes, on Dec. 26, 1861, near Paintsville, Johnson County, KY.

Payment for pork
delivered to Marshall's Brigade
Fountain Goodpasture’s Confederate service was short lived. He died on February 2, 1862, at Whitesburg, KY, possibly from sickness. The tragedy of his brother’s death did not deter Richard M. Goodpasture from enlisting. Records show him as a private in Co. B, 7th Kentucky Mounted Infantry but may have also served with Morgan Countian Captain John T. Williams, in Co. C, 1st Battalion KY Mounted Rifles or Williams’ subsequent company A, 2nd Battalion KY Mounted Rifles.

By 1863, tragedy struck again. Death took Goodpasture’s wife Elizabeth. With one son dead and another one in the Confederate service and the oldest daughter married, he was left to raise five children on his own, ranging in age between 6 and 16.

It was not long before the Grassy Creek area drew the attention of Union troops. It was here that Captain John T. Williams clashed with Union Troops led by Captain Carey, 24th KY Infantry (US) in April 1863. The following month, on May 16, 1863, Captain William E. Rice of the 10th KY Cavalry (US) appeared with a squad of men at the home of George Washington Goodpasture. According to loyal Union people in the neighborhood, Goodpasture was considered, “a notorious Rebel Sympathizer and his home is a regular stopping place for the Rebels when in the vicinity.”

Captain Rice arrested Goodpasture on the charge of disloyalty to the United States Government and as a Rebel Sympathizer, under the provisions of General Ambrose Burnside’s new General Order No. 38. The order, among other things, declared that, “all persons found within our lines who commit acts for the benefit of the enemies of our country, will be tried as spies or traitors, and, if convicted, will suffer death.” This included, “All persons within our lines who harbor, protect, conceal, feed, clothe, or in any way aid the enemies of our country.” As a matter of fact, the simple act of, “of declaring sympathy for the enemy,” was deemed as treason.

When the soldiers entered Goodpasture’s home, they found his son Richard M. Goodpasture inside, “who was likewise taken prisoner as a rebel soldier belonging to the 1st Bat Mounted Inft. Ky Vol. “

Richard M. Goodpasture Service Record
7th KY Infantry (CS)
Captain Rice and his men scoured Goodpasture’s place thoroughly. “From the indications & appearance of his home and surroundings I am satisfied that it is a rendezvous for rebels and parties in arms against the Government of the U. States, “noted Rice. “Several horses were found in his belongings among them one horse with Gov. brand.”

Captain Rice’s and his squad remained at Goodpasture’s place and encamped. During the night, two more horses came into Goodpasture’s stable, “fully equipped with Cavalry rigging,” noted Captain Rice, “which I am satisfied had been ridden by Rebel soldiers.” One of these horses was later claimed as the property of a Union man from Bath County, Kentucky, by the name of Cassidy.

The following day, Washington and Richard M. Goodpasture were taken to the camp of the 10th KY Cavalry near Owingsville, Bath County, and later on to Mt. Sterling. Here father and son parted ways. Richard M. Goodpasture was conveyed to Lexington, KY. On May 31, 1863, he was on his way to Camp Chase, Ohio.

On May 24, 1863, eight days after Goodpasture’s arrest, 29 year old Amos D. Lawson from Morgan County appeared at the headquarters of the 10th KY Cavalry and gave a written statement.” I am personally acquainted with Washington Goodpasture a citizen of Morgan County who was arrested by the United States forces under Maj. J. S. L. Foley and is now a prisoner at Mt. Sterling, Ky. The said Washington Goodpasture is to my certain knowledge a rebel Sympathizer and has from time to time entertained "Guerrilla" parties ____ One Capt John T Williams, Captain Cox and Boone Howard all soldiers of the so called "Confederate Army." I have seen him assemble with these men upon various and frequent occasions riding their horses and in fact seeming as one of them. His, "Washington Goodpastures" home is well known as a rendezvous for their Rebel soldiers and "Guerrillas" throughout this neighborhood.”

Meanwhile, a number of Goodpasture’s family, friends and acquaintances, including his brother-in-law Joseph Hairston Amyx, submitted a petition to the Union authorities, asking for Goodpasture’s unconditional release.

“To the General Colonel or Major or Any other officer that May have under your conntrole (sic) G W. Goodpaster A sitizen (sic) of Morgan County Ky Gentlemen we the undersigned sitizens (sic) and members of the union party would respectfully represent that the government authorities arrested G W Goodpaster one of our neighbors and have taken him off to parts unknown to us, we would therefore represent to your honers (sic) that the said G W Goodpaster is A good sturdy Citizen and have (sic) been much molested by being fed on both by union and southern soldiers not by his own solicitation but from the fact that he an industrious man and had feed on hand that his neighbors did not. And in view of the hole (sic) subject we the undersigned would humbly prey that you give him an unconditionally (sic) release & send him home to his gang of little Motherless children from the fact that he has been good and kind to his union Neighbors and has protected them in there (sic) person and property and has even went further than many of us could go for the want of provisions he has often sent and packed provisions him self (sic) to the familys (sic) of union men that was absent in the army of the united states that was no ways related to him.

if we believed he deserved punishment at the hands of the government we would not sign this petition.
May 29th, 1863

J. H. Amyx
William D. Prater
Wiley Wilson
J. D. Wilson
Andrew Wilson
S. H. Wilson
John Nickell
Andrew Cash
Stephen Nickell
Morrison Nickell
Andrew Nickell
Danca Wilson
A. P. Amyx
Charles Fallen
John Gose
Stephen Culberson
J. W. Nickel
Moses Lacy
J. K. Brown

Petition of Morgan County Citizens, page 1

Petition of Morgan County Citizen, page 2
A second petition, which has not survived in the records, was circulated on Goodpasture’s behalf, which generated 30-40 more signatures.

While still under arrest at Mt. Sterling, Washington Goodpasture was weighing his options. The charges against him were serious and if convicted he could face death. Knowing that much of his fate would hinge in great part on the petitions, he contacted John W. Hazelrigg, asking him to review them for him. If the military authorities could be convinced that a sufficient number of Union supporters in Morgan County were asking for his release, he would perhaps be able to post bond and return home.

In response, Hazelrigg wrote to Goodpasture,” Sir at your request I can state that I have examined the two petitions to the military authorities for your release & the names signed to said petitions amounting to some 50 or 60 names I can say that I am personally acquainted with all the men who signed said Petitions except about six that have signed I know them I know all are good Loyal Union men as to those six I can not say any thing (sic) about them as I am not acquainted with them I can further state that from my long acquaintance with you & also with Mr. Wilson that any promise or obligation that you may make or take on your Selves that I am perfectly satisfied that you will not violate you can use this letter as you choose yours very Respectfully
Jno W. Hazelrigg

Washington Goodpasture was finally taken to McLean Barracks in Cincinnati, Ohio. Goodpasture’s case was considered by the military authorities and on June 27, 1863, he took the oath of allegiance and was permitted to give bond for the sum of $3000.

Know all men by these Presents that I George W Goodpaster of Morgan County State of Kentucky hereby acknowledge myself to be held and firmly bound unto the United States of America in the sum of Three Thousand Dollars for the payment of which well and timely to be made, I hereby bind Myself and each of my heirs, accountants, administrators and assignees -
Sealed with My seal this Twenty Seventh day of June AD 1863

Now the condition of the above obligation is such whereas the above bounded George W Goodpaster has been arrested on the charge of disloyalty to the United States Government and taken and subscribed the oath of allegiance to the Government of the United States of America.

Now if the said George W. Goodpasture shall and truly keep his said oath of allegiance then this obligation shall be void otherwise of full force and effort.
And it is hereby agreed and understood that in case the said George W Goodpaster should violate any of the conditions of the obligation any officer in the military service of the United States acting under the orders of the nearest Post Commander may seize and sell or otherwise dispose of any and all property of the above named obligant to an amount sufficient to satisfy and discharge the amount above named without having recourse to any proceedings at law.

G. W. Goodpaster

After fulfilling his obligations to the US government, Washington Goodpasture was able to return home to Grassy Creek.

Meanwhile, his son Richard was sent from Camp Chase to Johnson's Island on June 14, 1863. After five and a half months, Richard M. Goodpasture was sent to Point Lookout, on Nov. 30, 1863 and released on taking the oath of allegiance on Jan. 10, 1864. He returned home to Morgan County but his stay would be less than two weeks.

His father may have obeyed the conditions of his bond and oath temporarily but not long after his release from McLean Barracks, Washington Goodpasture was actively involved again in supporting the Southern cause und thus, drawing the attention of the military authorities once more. On January 27, 1864, a well-armed force of over 100 Union home guards left Mt. Sterling on a scout to Morgan County, KY. On the third day, the men proceeded via Allen Day’s and Dock Cockerell's old farm to Grassy Creek and made a charge on Washington Goodpasture’s house. Noted Daniel D. Hurst, one of the participants, “got some nine or ten prisoners and very bad ones. Among them was a man by the name of Michael, also Thomas Ross, Aca Carter, Jerry Plummer and two of Wash Goodpaster's sons.”

Asa Carter, a former member of the 5th KY, was Fountain Goodpasture’s old sergeant. After being discharged from his unit for disability on July 29, 1862, Carter operated with other irregulars in the area and was considered a, “notorious Guerrilla” and subsequently charged with murder. Plummer and Ross were also former members of the 5th KY Infantry. Ross had joined Diamond’s 10th KY Cavalry but Plummer, a native of Lewis County, KY, was a deserter and, like Asa Carter, was operating with irregulars in the area. The records do not give us the names of Washington Goodpasture’s sons who were taken prisoner that day but they were, in all likelihood, sixteen year old James H. and Richard M. Goodpasture.

The scout continued for two more days until a portion of the home guards took the prisoners, 19 in all, back to Mt. Sterling. “We turned all of them over to our soldiers with the proper recommendations,” noted Henry C. Hurst. “We also captured about 25 good horses. We gave the Guerrillas a plain hint of what they would get next time.”

In the absence of subsequent records, we can only assume what happened to Washington Goodpasture and his family. On Nov. 18, 1864, Washington married 22 year old Elizabeth Ann Amyx, in Morgan Co. KY. She was the daughter of his brother-in-law Joseph Hairston Amyx and his first wife Francis Caroline Nickell. The couple later settled at Aarons Run, near Mt. Sterling, KY and added five more children to the family. Both Richard M. and James H. Goodpasture survived the Civil War and moved to Missouri and Ohio, respectively. Their siblings John O., Clarke C. and George W. Goodpasture went west, eventually settling in Oklahoma and Kansas. Both sisters remained in Kentucky. Nancy Ann Goodpasture, who had married Dr. John Mason Kash at the beginning of the Civil War, died in 1868. The youngest, Elizabeth, settled with her father in the Mt. Sterling area where she remained for the rest of her life.

George Washington Goodpasture died on April 18, 1900 and his buried next to his last wife Elizabeth Ann Amyx in the Machphela Cemetery, Mt. Sterling, Montgomery County, KY.

Links of Interest
George Washington Goodpasture's grave marker
Machphela Cemetery, Mt. Sterling, Montgomery County, KY.


Additional Information
"GENERAL ORDERS, No. 38. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO, Cincinnati, Ohio, April 13, 1863.
"The commanding general publishes, for the information of all concerned, that hereafter all persons found within our lines who commit acts for the benefit of the enemies of our country will be tried as spies or traitors, and, if convicted, will suffer death. This order includes the following class of persons:
"Carriers of secret mails.
"Writers of letters sent by secret mails.
"Secret recruiting officers within the lines.
"Persons who have entered into an agreement to pass our lines for the purpose of joining the enemy.
"Persons found concealed within our lines belonging to the service of the enemy, and, in fact, all persons found improperly within our lines who could give private information to the enemy.
"All persons within our lines who harbor, protect, conceal, feed, clothe, or in any way aid the enemies of our country.
"The habit of declaring sympathy for the enemy will not be allowed in this Department. Persons committing such offenses will be at once arrested, with a view to being tried as above stated, or sent beyond our lines into the lines of their friends. It must be distinctly understood that treason, expressed or implied, will not be tolerated in this department. All officers and soldiers are strictly charged with the execution of this order. By command of Major-General Burnside"
[Source: Major General Ambrose E. Burnside and the Ninth Army Corps: a narrative ..., by Augustus Woodbury; 1867; pp. 265/266]



The article is in part based on facts and testimonies contained in the George Washington Goodpasture case file which is located in the Union Provost Marshal Records. Supporting evidence, such as other primary source material, service records, census listings as well as biographical data was researched and provided by the author, Marlitta H. Perkins. Feb. 2012 Copyright © 2012. All Rights Reserved.

The War In The Mountains Of Kentucky

The following letter was written by a soldier in the 39th KY Mtd. Infantry by the pen name "Gitaway". It vividly describes the hardships people in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky had to endure during the Civil War. The letter appeared in the Ironton Register on January 22, 1863. Transcription by author.

Special note: I'd like to warn the reader that parts of this letter may be considered offensive but are reproduced "as is" in order to retain historical accuracy. It does not reflect in any way, shape or form the opinion of the author of this blog.

Russell's Place, Lawrence Co., O.
January 16, 1863

Editor Register: Supposing that my experience in Northeastern Kentucky might interest some of your readers and have a tendency to make them more happy in the enjoyment of their homes, by eclipsing their imaginary evil by a rehearsal (though in a very imperfect manner) of the real evils to which their less fortunate loyal neighbors are subjected in the mountains of Kentucky I venture, for the first time, to place myself before the public as a letter writer, and ask the sympathy of your readers in looking over my many imperfections. In introducing myself to your readers I will just say that I am a refugee from Southwest Virginia - I was a man of small means, but prospering in business. I could not advocate a rebellion against the best Government the world has ever seen, and help to establish upon its ruins an aristocracy. I lost all, and by circuitous journey of about five hundred miles, enduring untold exposure of myself and family, reached Ohio in a shocking state of destitution. I have pretty successfully battled with privation.

In October last, I cast my lot upon the tented field, in the 39th Kentucky Regiment, and engaged to raise a company for that regiment. I was getting along tolerably well recruiting, when we left Catlettsburg, (about the 28th day of October) and marched up Big Sandy to Piketon. -

Your readers are already informed of our success of running the rebels, capturing guns, horses, &c., &c., and about eighty prisoners. After we got to Piketon, a respectable citizen of Letcher county, adjoining Pike on the west, (an ex-member of the Senate) and myself, went to Letcher for the purpose of recruiting. We heard of no trouble until we got to Letcher, where we learned from the faithful women, that the country was full of the most inhuman guerrillas. By taking the side of the mountain a part of the way, we reached my friend's residence. He had not been at home before three months, having been compelled to leave his home when Marshall invaded the State last summer. We entered his house, and I witnessed the hurried greeting pass between him and his wife and children, lasting about five minutes, when his faithful wife convinced us that we were trifling with life itself by staying a moment longer. We left, to seek refuge in the holes and cliffs in those mammoth mountains. We took up our quarters on the top of a spur, leading to the towering misty top. After dark, our faithful adviser came to us, and did not forget to bring that most needed by us, something to eat. While we were devouring the content of the tin pan, she lost no time in telling us the news; we had missed being murdered only by our hasty retreat. The guerrillas came in fifteen minutes after we were gone, tried to track us, cursed, and beat the earth with rage. She then went on to tell us the nature of their warfare, &c., -

They did not hesitate to forcibly enter the house, and after having searched for and devoured, whatever might be found to eat, they proceeded to plunder chests, trunks, &c., -

Never did they stop, after searching in the usual places for valuables, but would open bed-ticks, pillows, &c., and search them; and finish by taking the clothes of the family. -

They took the mother's dresses, even the underclothes, and the children's clothes of every description; then they turned their attention to cups, plates, knives and forks, spoons, &c. and even the thimble, needles, pins, scissors, &c., and on two occasions made women pull off their shoes, and some bare-footed things, who could get them on, would strut off in them. As to bee-stands, and out-of-doors property, they have settled that point long since.

On the following day we got with half a dozen others, who were saving their lives by hiding in the caves and cliffs. Let us imagine, for a moment, the feelings of those unfortunate women, destitute of every thing almost that sustains life, or affords comfort to themselves or children. See the mother wade through snow ten inches deep, climb to the top of a steep ridge, chop her wood, drag it to the bottom, and with caution watch for fear of losing her axe, chop her wood at home, and keep fire, get corn, and go to a neighbor's house, and grind their meal, cook for the family, and for us, and then, after dark, bring it to us, sometimes two miles, up a huge mountain. -

Horse-mills are substituted for water-mills in the dry season, but there are no horses to run them. It is heart-rendering to witness the suffering of those unfortunate people and their unwavering and unshaken fidelity and loyalty to the Union, although there seems to be but little hope of their country's redemption from the hands of their merciless invaders. They do not ask pay for their patriotism; they are not for the Union only so long as it adds weight to their purse; they are not for the Union to save even their property; but they are for the Union because they love the Union. No section of the country is more entitled to our sympathy, East Tennessee not excepted - than Letcher and Perry counties, Kentucky.

We found on the top of a huge mountain a house where our camp fire could not be seen from any frequented place, and in fact it was so nearly surrounded by cliffs, that it was scarcely visible from any point, until within a very short distance. Here, in this horrible condition, we remained for one long and wearisome week, hearing every day the tales of sorrow and murder, while saving our lives by concealment; others, less fortunate, fell into the hands of an enemy, who is a stranger to mercy, and dumb to the positions of their victims. The widow's wail and the orphan's cry seem to be but music in their savage ears.

An aged citizen, of high respectability, was led out in the presence of his family and shot down in the road. A boy of fifteen years with whom I was intimately acquainted, was treated in like manner; leaving his widowed mother in a hopeless condition, she being poor and dependent upon this son for her support. A third was shot in both arms and the shoulder, but he did not die; others had the name of being parolled, but were followed by them and shot. We were told by many of those good women, that even their own lives were threatened, and to be cursed, and abused in the most shocking manner, was an every day occurence. One woman told us that in a few days after her house had been plundered, she saw some of the plunderers pass, wearing her clothes, having been cut and made into shirts.

After a week of suffering in our rock house, and being sickened to hear those tales of murder and robbery, I determined to try to get through to Harlan county, where there was a State guard numbering something over two hundred, and by passing through great danger, we succeeded in getting to the State guard. We tried in vain to get that organization to go and attack the guerrillas; there was a want of guns and ammunition, &c., and a number of the men lacked shoes and other articles of clothing; so after staying there a week, I started with the intention of getting back to Piketon to my regiment.

At this time the rebels were out on a scout; they were going to Perry county to gather stock. They met with complete success in driving a home guard off, and taking all the property in the neighborhood. This band of robbers is under command of Ben. Caudill, a Minister of the Gospel; he takes the liberty, however, to curse the Union and Union men; he says they are cursed and damned, and why may he not curse and damn them, and God damn them. I and four recruits who were willing to risk their lives through the dangers we had to pass in getting to Pike, started on our dangerous march; we went as far as we could by day-light, and having no hope of escape. -

We then decided to take the night for it, and as the snow was about eight inches deep, and the night very cold, we supposed the secesh would not travel. We had to wade the water, where the ice would not bear us, and our road was in the creeks a great part of the way. It was not long till our pants up to the knees were as stiff as stove pipes. So we made our way through the worst of the danger, but I found that I was frost-bitten; so we determined to call at a house and thaw, and risk the consequences. The people were all loyal on this creek, but the dangers was in the rebels being scattered through the country to stay all night, for it was their custom to rat around all day, and stay where night overtook them. We found no one at the house, however, but the lady and some small children. There we were thunderstruck by the unwelcome tidings that the 39th had been routed, scattered, and driven from Pike, losing all our guns, clothes, ammunition, suppiles, &c.

All hope was lost of our getting through to any Union forces in that direction. We were then in the midst of enemies, being fifty miles in any way we could go before we were clear of them. Pike, Letcher and Perry counties having for their lines on the South side, the Cumberland Mountains; Pike being at the head of Big Sandy waters, and Letcher, Perry, and a part of Harlan counties at the head of Kentucky River. From the Cumberland Mountain can be seen confused masses of huge mountains for fifty miles northward. To view the country from the top of any of those mighty monuments, one would suppose that he was in the midst of an uninhabitated wilderness, as there is no sign of human habitation, the settlements being buried beneath or between those wonderful mountains; The spectator is almost lost in profound admiration; such a vast, almost endless field of wild and romantic scenery, is presented to the view. As far as the eye can see, is the summit of one lofty mountain towering above another one.

We had a hard and dangerous journey of it, but, thankful to say, we got out side their lines. When we got where we could travel the road in the day time, I was pained, and yet gratified to witness the kindness and attention of the people to a soldier; after they had done all in their power, and more than a soldier wished, they were not satisfied, and seemed to be pained, because they could not do more.

After we began to get nearer the old settlements, these attentions began to wane; as we had no money, the recruits began to fear, that we would have rather a hard time of it in making so long a journey, so I went alone to Richmond, Kentucky, and obtained transportation to Lexington. I went to the Provost Marshall's office to report myself, and when I entered my eyes were almost dazzled. I beheld a blue ground streaked with shoulder straps, and the room was full of officers. The Marshal was not there. A jug sat under the desk, which seemed to command a great deal of attention. The shoulder straps were all in a good way; they played ball with chairs, bats, &c. I got transportation to Covington the next day, and after staying there two days, I got transportation to Catlettsburg on the "Fannie McBurnie".

I was very sick when I got on the boat, so I did not feel like drawing rations, and I supposed that I would get cabin fare, and would not need anything to eat that day. But, on the following morning I asked the cooks if I could not buy some breakfast; one said I could in one hour, so I waited till I thought the lazy hour had crept away, and went to see about it, I asked if it was ready. A thick-lipped nigger answered, "we have to fix for de white folks first, and you next," I had no gun or pistol, I replied that he was devlish saucy nigger, he said he knew he was and had something to uphold him. I did not understand what it was. I went to a young man belonging to an Ohio regiment to talk the matter over, and to see if I could not get redress; he was as nice a young man as I could wish to see; moral, educated, and intelligent. He told me he had been ordered down from the cabin, and his feelings were much hurt. I will close this hasty and imperfect letter, by asking the reader to look over errors, as it is my effort and written in haste.

Gitaway

The Boggs Murders on Colliers Creek, April 24, 1865

During the final days of the Civil War, members of Captain William Horton's Co. M, 10th KY Cavalry [CS] terrorized Unionists in what is now Elliott Co. as well as in Lawrence County, Kentucky. On April 24, 1865, Hugh Boggs and his first cousin, James Boggs were working in a field near the mouth of Colliers Creek when they were shot and killed by John L. Sparks.

The motive for these killings is mere speculation but it may have been a contributing factor that James Boggs' brother Hugh [sometimes confused with the victim Hugh Boggs] was a Union soldier who served in Co. B, 14th KY Infantry.
Sparks, on the other hand, was a member of the 10th KY Cavalry, Co. M, [CS] who had seen previous service in the 5th KY Mounted Infantry and Fields' Rangers [CS].
It may be of interest to note that Sparks was also listed as a particpant in a raid in Lawrence County on the very same day the killings took place.

27 year old Hugh Boggs left behind a four months pregnant wife and three small children, including 2/12 year old William Boggs who, according to tradition, would cry out for his father "Hugh! Hugh!" when taken to the cemetery.

It is also told that Sparks rode away after the murders wearing a fine pair of boots he had pulled off Hugh Boggs' feet. It is said that he afterwards sent a taunting message to the Boggs family, boasting of the deed. John L. Sparks subsequently fled to Scott County, Virginia.

Hugh Boggs' brother Jesse, a Confederate soldier, who is rumored to have served in the same unit as Sparks, pursued his brother's killer to Virginia. His younger brother Lorenzo Dow was too young to bear arms but followed his older brother Jesse and was present when he finally caught up with Sparks while he was working his land. Jesse Boggs shot Sparks down without mercy and left him for dead. Further records show that Jesse, formerly a member of the 64th VA Infantry and possibly a member of the 10th KY Cavalry [CS], surrendered at Cumberland Gap on May 5, 1865.

John L. Sparks survived and remained in Virginia for the rest of his life, maintaining very little contact with his relatives in Kentucky. His immediate family rejoined him and in 1868 a son was born to him and his wife Polly. The couple had ten children, five of which reached maturity. John L. Sparks began the practice of medicine and was generally known as "Doctor Sparks". According to descendants, he died in 1893.


Additional Information
Hugh Boggs: Son of William Boggs and Ann Johnson; married to Louisa Stidham. Born 1838.
Not to be confused with Hugh Boggs, son of David Boggs and Sarah Holbrook, a member of the 14th KY Infantry, Co. B, and a brother of the second victim, James Boggs. He died in Nebraska in 1914.

Jesse T. Boggs: Son of William Boggs and Ann Johnson;
Born 1830. Member of the 10th KY Cav.; formerly 64th VA Infantry. Surrendered at C-Gap 5/5/1865. Resided in Wise Co. VA in 1860. Born ca. 1830. Brother of the first victim, Hugh Boggs.

Lorenzo Dow Boggs: Son of William Boggs and Ann Johnson.
He was too young to bear arms, but he had followed his older brothers. He was present when his brother, Jesse, killed John Sparks in Virginia because John, who had been a member of Jesse's company in the Confederate Army, had bush-whacked Jesse's cousins, who had been pro-Union. Dow knew every spring and trail from Blaine to Wise County, Virginia.

James Boggs: Son of David and Sarah Holbrook Boggs.
Born April 17, 1837, Lawwrence Co. KY
Not to be confused with James H. "Goins" Boggs, Co. B, 14th KY Infantry [US]; James H. was discharged Jan. 31, 1865. Son of Hugh and Hannah Blevins Boggs.

John L. Sparks: Son of Levi and Sarah Lyon Sparks.
Born ca. 1820, Wilkes Co., NC. "He was carried as a baby to Lawrence County where his parents settled on the headwaters of Big Blaine Creek about 1821. He grew to maturity in the home of his parents and when fully grown, he was a tall, thin man." He was married to Mary "Polly" Hay about 1850, a daughter of James Hay and Elizabeth Johnson, b. abt. 1822. John L. and Polly lived on what is referred to today as the "Calvin Dobyns farm" on upper Blaine Creek. His neighbors included his brothers, Calvin and Wiley Sparks.

The wife of his half-brother Garrett Sparks was an aunt of Hugh Boggs [Elizabeth Boggs, b. abt. 1808, d/o John O. Boggs & Nancy Wells]. It has been handed down that during the Civil War John L. had a falling out with Garrett Sparks, possibly over the fact that three of Garrett's sons, Levi J., Walter & David L., served in the 14th KY Infantry, Co. B. As a result, John L. Sparks ransacked Garrett's house, even ripping apart the feather beds. It is possible that this incident led to further violence which resulted in the killing of Hugh and James Boggs. The latter is pure speculation on my part, of course.