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[NI0139] Lillian L. is buried in the New Monmouth Presbyterian Church cemetery in Rockbridge County, VA., along with her brother, Estill Clinton Conner.
[NI0140] Estill Clinton is buried in the New Monmouth Presbyterian Church cemetery in Rockbridge County, VA.
[NI0191]
Emmett was the youngest child of James Allen and Susan (Johnson) Conner. His first wife, Cora Belle Welch, was born Sep 29, 1880 in West Virginia, and was a daughter of John H. and Mary Ellen (Conner) Welch.
Mary Ellen Conner was a daughter of John C. Conner, Sr. and Margaret Muterspaw. She was born December 16, 1848 and was a half-sister to Emmett's father, James Allen.
In 1918, Emmett became the owner of his first farm land, purchasing the 26 and 1/2 acre tract from his mother's estate. The purchase price, according to land records, was $1,000.
In April, 1927, he purchased his second tract, buying 33 and 1/2 acres from Samuel J. Gaylor and wife. This land was known locally as the "Penoly" land. (Reference Deed Book 162, Pages 466-467 and Deed Book 80, Page 492, Rockbridge County Courthouse, Lexington, Virginia).
In April, 1930, he purchased another tract of land, this one containing 16 and 3/4 acres, from Miss Mary E. Horn. (Reference Deed Book 152, Page 152, Rockbridge County Courthouse, Lexington, Virginia).
In the fall of 1934, Emmett sold his Rockbridge County farm land to his cousin, Harry Snider and his wife, Isabel. At this time, he purchased another farm located in Augusta County, Virginia, near Stuarts Draft, Virginia and moved his family to that location in October, 1934.
Emmett was also a mail carrier. When he started delivering mail it was with a horse and buggy. My father, Everett, used to tell the story about how it was their responsibility to unhitch and put the horse away and turn the buggy around so it would be ready to go the next morning. One of his sisters, Louise, would normally help, and he, in the way of young'uns, would tell her things like "the boogie man is watching you and is going to get you", and eventually Louise would dart underneath the horse and race into the house, not to return outside that evening!
The farm at Stuarts Draft was purchased from Mr. Crawford Brooks and consisted of approximately 180 acres of land, a main farm residence, a tenant house, and numerous outbuildings. Most of the farm work was done with horses but eventually Emmett purchased an early Farmall tractor which had metal wheels with iron cleats on the rear wheels. It was a contrary old thing to start, having a hand crank, and it would kick back with a tremendous force, enough to break your arm if you were not careful.
At this same time, two of his sons, Emmett Kenneth and Everett Curtis (my father) purchased the adjoining farm from Mr. Russell Brooks. This farm consisted of approximately 80 acres of land and a house. Both are located on what was then called the "Old Ridge Road", (today called the "Indian Ridge Road") and both today are owned by an Amish family by the name of Kinsinger.
Cora Belle died October 14, 1941 from tuberculosis. On June 1, 1944, Emmett married Jessie (Clark) Cox. Emmett died June 13, 1945 from a heart attack.
Both Emmett and Cora Belle are buried in the Calvary United Methodist Church cemetery at Stuarts Draft, Augusta County, Virginia.
[NI0196] Dan (Junior) Holloway is a U. S. Navy veteran, serving 21 years, from about 1944 to about 1965. He retired as a Chief Petty Officer.
[NI0210]
Everett Curtis (called "Buck" by his family) spent his early years on his father's farm near Rockbridge Baths, Rockbridge County, VA. He graduated from the old Fairfield, VA High School in 1925. After getting out of school, he couldn't find a job in the Rockbridge area that he felt he would like. A cousin living in Winston-Salem, NC, told him to come to Winston-Salem and he would help him find a job there. He did so, arriving there in 1927. He got a job in the RJ Reynolds Tobacco factory, living in a boarding house. Next door to the boarding house lived a family by the name of Caudle. He begin noticing a young lady named Ethel Marie who lived there with her parents. They soon became acquainted and eventually started dating. They were married on July 28, 1928 in the Presbyterian Manse in Winston-Salem.
Their first child, Betty Grey, was born in Winston-Salem on May 3, 1929. They continued living in Winston-Salem until 1930, when they decided to move back to Rockbridge County, VA. They lived for awhile with Everett's parents, then moved into another house on another farm owned by his father. Two more children were born while they lived there, Curtis McElwee, born August 18, 1930, and Clyde Franklin, born March 30, 1933.
In 1934 Everett's father sold all of his Rockbridge County farm land. He bought another farm in Stuarts Draft, Augusta County, VA. At the same time, Everett and one of his brothers, Emmett Kenneth, purchased the adjoining farm. They moved to this location in October, 1934. Everett did not do much of the farm work, leaving that to his brother, Kenneth, however, he would receive a share of the crops which were produced, mostly wheat, which was taken to a local mill to be ground into flour, and hay and corn for stock feed.
Everett worked at a variety of jobs. He worked as a clerk in Hockman's grocery store in Stuarts Draft and during World War II worked as a stockroom clerk at the Wayne Manufacturing Company in Waynesboro, VA., which made parts for US Naval ships.
He also worked at a couple of machine shops, most notably the Industrial Machine Works in Waynesboro, VA. While working there, Everett got several fingers cut off his left hand in a bandsaw accident.
Twelve more children were born while Everett and Ethel lived on the farm at Stuarts Draft. Around 1958, he and his brother sold the Stuarts Draft farm and Everett bought a house at Fishersville, VA.
One day in August, 1964, Everett began suffering from chest pains, so after work he stopped by the doctor's office. The doctor immediately sent him to the hospital, where Everett died early the next morning, on August 8, 1964, from a heart attack (just short of his 58th birthday).
Everett is buried at the Augusta Memorial Park cemetery in Fishersville, Augusta County, VA.
[NI0248]
Bernard (Bernie) was killed in an automobile accident in Charlottesville, VA. His tombstone inscription is as follows:
Bernard Daniel Fox b. June 21, 1971 d. December 1, 1993
He is buried in the Christian Church cemetery located in Albemarle County, VA per below:
This section is located next to Evergreen Church - It is often confused with the larger section across the
road, which is Evergreen Cemetery. Per Larry Shifflett & Olen Morris - this cemetery is also known as
"The Pines". Also, it still in use today. This information was last compiled in September 1999.
Directions: From the intersection of Rt 29 & 33 (going west on 33). Go 7.5 miles on 33W to Rt 810, turn
left on Rt 810 and go 5 miles, turn right on Rt 615 (Evergreen Church Rd) and go 1.2 miles. Church will
be on your right and the cemetery on your left.
[NI0268] Jason Lee Campbell died in his sleep on Sunday, December 20, 1998. No autopsy was performed to determine the exact cause of his death but the doctors surmised a heart attack.
[NI0278]
Calvin Ray died at home (1403 5th Street, Waynesboro, VA) from a heart attack. He was buried on March 9, 2000 in the Green Hill Cemetery at Churchville, Augusta County, VA.
The following letter, written by Ray's 12 year-old granddaughter, Rachel Liptrap, was read at his grave-side service:
Dear Grandpa,
Grandpa, since you have died, tears have been running down our cheeks. We are very sad. We loved you as much as you have us. But now you have left us and we are not taking it so well. We could use a visit from you. So come in our dreams and tell us what it is like and how you are doing. Your wife could use it. I could use it, too. You were very special to me because you took me to the Dairy Queen for ice cream, letting me drive up the driveway, and much, much more. I am sure you were social to other relatives, too. But there is one thing we are all probably asking ourselves..."Why did you leave us so soon?" We were not ready then.
Love and kisses,
Rachel
[NI0431] Earl and Elizabeth (Lib) also had twins who died in infancy on April 10, 1947.
[NI0444] Dewey was a WWII veteran, serving in the U. S. Army, and participated in much combat action. He operated a business, "D. M. CONNER SAND, GRAVEL, and EXCAVATION" for much of his life. Today his surviving family members still run the business. There is an Augusta County, VA., road, "CONNER ROAD", named for him.