The Morehead Theatre Guild will present Bloody Rowan October 5-7 and October 12-14, 2012 at the old Courthouse Theater in Morehead, KY. This play was written by and will be directed by Dr. J. D. Reeder. It is part of the Morehead State University’s 125th anniversary celebration. Dr. Reeder is a Tolliver descendant and an authority on the Tolliver-Martin Feud. It is also known as the Rowan County War.
Country Music Duo Halfway to Hazard
David Tolliver and Chad Warrix
Credit: www.HalfwaytoHazard.com
David and Chad have toured with Country superstar Tim McGraw and his wife, Faith Hill. David is the great-great-great-great-great-grandson of John Toliver b. 1760 and Tabitha Howell. He is the son of Jackie Tolliver from Knott Co., KY.
The Tollivers are very proud of David. Check their website for their music and tour dates.
10th Annual Tolliver Reunion
Carl D. Perkins Community Center
Route 32/Flemingsburg Road, Morehead, KY
June 22-23, 2012
Purpose – To meet and share information with other Tollivers and to learn more about our family as well as to have fellowship.
Friday, June 22 – 1:00 Registration; set up tables and chairs’ display and share family information; visit and renew friendships at the Community Center.
5:30 Dinner at Ponderosa (near Quality Inn)
7:00 Family Talent-Hobby Show and fellowship.
Saturday, June 23 – 9:00 Registration and informal sharing of information and visiting.
11:45 Potluck Lunch
1:00 Welcome and introductions. Divide into family groups to share information and meet cousins.
1:45 A representative from each family group will share interesting tidbits learned in their small group. If you have an old relic, bring it and tell us about it. If you have an interesting story to share, please let us know.
3:00 Announce winning bids from the Silent Auction. Tour cemeteries and feud sites on your own.
6:00 Dinner at Ponderosa
Housing: The Quality Inn in holding 50 rooms until June 1st. Call 1-606-784-2220 to make your reservation. Tell them you are a part of the Tolliver Reunion. Cost:$62.96 plus tax per night. There is an indoor pool, hi-speed wireless internet, and continental breakfast.
Silent Auction: Money is used to support the Reunion, such as mailings, building rental, registration materials, printing, cookies, beverages, and ice. You may bring items either Friday or Saturday. We appreciate Carla Eberwein for her leadership in this endeavor.
Contact: Emma Lee Tolliver at ELT1000@aol.com or 614-267-6556 for further information.
In 2011 family member Sabrina Toliver-Kiser published her book Dove’s Trail with help from the Jesse Stewart Foundation.
“Based on a true story that has been handed down for generations, the retelling of Mel’s journey reveals the determination and endurance of a mountain family”
Books sell for $8.50 (plus $1.50 shipping)
To order book(s) payment can be sent to:
Sabrina Kiser
6903 US 68 North
Wilmington, OH 45177
Email can be sent via her daughter Rachel Starnes
by Fred Brown and Juanita Blair
Days of Anger, Days of Tears gives the history of the Rowan County War. It was written by Fred Brown, Jr. and Juanita Blair. It is the best book available concerning the Tolliver-Martin Feud.
To order the book by mail, send a check for $27.32 to Mrs. Gina Brown, 211 Rogers Ave., Mt. Sterling, KY 40353. Cost includes postage.
Many of you will remember Fred Brown coming to the Tolliver Reunion every year. He was there this June. Less than a month later (July 21, 2011) Fred was killed in an automobile accident. Fred was an author, historian, newspaper columnist, business owner, realtor and community volunteer. He wrote several books in addition to the above book.
Juanita Blair died in 2010.
If you are interesting in participating in the Tolliver/Toliver/Taliaferro DNA Project, click on the following link. DNA Test
Morehead, KY
The Tolliver Family Association dedicated a monument, featuring the names of those killed during the Rowan County War, also known as the Tolliver-Martin Feud, at the old passenger depot (Chamber of Commerce Office) on Railroad Street. Taking place from 1884-1887, the bloody conflict earned Rowan County a reputation for violence that was international in its scope. Beginning with an election day riot on the Courthouse lawn, the Feud claimed a steady stream of victims for nearly three years, ending at last in a two hour shootout on Railroad Street involving at least sixty gunman, that added four names to the dead list. Remarkably, only one murder resulted in a successful prosecution. County officials, themselves partisan, made only a token effort to staunch the bloodshed. The Feud’s most lasting legacy was a school so small it opened its doors on its first day to only one student, then doubled its enrollment the second day. Over the years it grew in scope and influence, until today it literally reaches out to the stars. Yes, Morehead State University traces its roots directly back to those dark and violent times, when it was founded in an effort to educate and civilize a people mired in conflict. If any of your ancestors were surnamed Day, Stewart, Young, Hargis, Alderson,Goodan, Bowling, Keeton, Wilson, McKenzie, Nickel, Trumbo, Humphrey, Martin, Tolliver or Logan or any of a host of others, they may have found themselves in the thick of this conflict. The idea for the monument originated with Tolliver family descendant and feud researcher J. D. Reeder. Its placement near an official Kentucky Historical Society Highway Marker commemorating events in the Rowan County War will provide a permanent record of the names of those who died and serve to educate future generations about this important event in local history.
Names on the monument are: 1884 Solomon Bradley, John G. Hughes, Floyd Tolliver, John P. Martin; 1885 Ben Rayburn, John Marlow, Stewart Bumgardner, Stewart Caudill; 1886 Whit Pelfrey, John C. Day, William O. Logan; 1887 H. M. (Mason) Keeton, John B. Logan, William H. Logan, Hiram Cooper, Craig Tolliver, Jacob F. (Jay) Tolliver, Jr., John R. (Budd) Tolliver, Wylie V. Tolliver, John N. Witcher.
Family members from the families of Bradley, Martin, Tolliver, Logan, and Cooper attended the dedication.
If you would like to help us pay for the monument, please send a check to Dr. J. D. Reeder, 230 Lyons Ave., Morehead, KY 40351.
Byron Crawford wrote a nice article in the Courier-Journal about the dedication Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007.
Janie Strunk, great-great granddaughter of John Martin stands between Jim and Harry Tolliver, great grandsons of Craig Tolliver. It was John Martin who killed Craig’s brother, Floyd, and Craig and his friends who killed John Martin. After the dedication, time was spent sharing stories. Janie was quoted as saying, “Everybody was just sharing hugs.” It was an emotional time, a time for healing.
