Welcome to the Tolliver Family!

This web site is for all Tollivers whether the name is spelled Toliver or Tolliver.

*This website is being updated, some features/content may be temporarily unavailable for the next couple weeks.

Dove’s Trail 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

TOLLIVER REUNION

June 24-25, 2011

Carl D. Perkins Community Center

Route 32/Flemingsburg Road

Morehead, KY

Tolliver family members arrived in Morehead, KY Friday and Saturday, June 24-25 from eight different states. Most were descendants of John b. 1760. Others were descendants of Moses b. 1750, Jesse b. 1756, Lucy b. 1770, Zachariah b. 1792, Wade Hampton b. 1815, and Jane b. 1830. John, Moses, and Jesse were Revolutionary War soldiers.
Friday evening we were entertained by Colby Meshulam, Layla Walker, C. J. Wing, Dean Lyon, and John Tolliver. A question and answer period followed with Dr. J. D. Reeder responding to questions concerning the Tolliver-Martin Feud.

Saturday morning was an informal meet and greet time followed by a carry-in lunch organized by Carla Eberwein. After lunch the group was divided into smaller family groups where each person could meet his/her closest cousins. Each group came up with a family story to share.

The big news this year is that DNA testing has proven the existence of a previously unknown son of John Toliver b. 1760. Over the years I have been intrigued with this man because he was born in NC along with 4 of his children. The most telling clue was he named a daughter Tabitha. I had corresponded with descendants and found a lady in CA who was willing to pay for a man in KS to have his DNA checked. Patrick Tolliver agreed to do this. We were all excited when his DNA was an exact match with Bill and three other descendants of John 1760. This John Jr. was born in Ashe Co., NC and went to Lawrence Co., IN about 1819 In 1824 he purchased land in Tippecanoe Co., IN and moved his family there.

Robert Moxley and his son, Steven, and Don Tolliver and his son, Randy, cleaned the Old Tolliver Cemetery in NC in May. Don also placed new flowers on each grave and put up a new American flag. All four are descendants of John 1760. Don has also done extensive work on the cemeteries in Knott and Letcher counties.

Sabrina Tolliver-Kiser was recognized for having her book, Dove’s Trail, published. It is based on a true story of how Lytte Tolliver rescued his horse that was stolen in Letcher Co., KY during the Civil War. He followed them all the way to NC before he was able to get the horse back.

Fred Brown, author of Days of Anger, Days of Tears about the Tolliver-Martin Feud brought us the sad news of the passing of Juanita Blair (co-author with him) and also Chris Barker, the artist who did the cover of his book. He also told us that his ancestors (the other side of the feud) had fought alongside the Tollivers in the Revolutionary War at King’s Mountain. Of course, Fred is our good friend. If you remember, we adopted him as a Tolliver a few years ago.

The youngest person present was Landon Nickell, son of Felicia and Zacharee Nickell. The oldest person in attendance was Deloris Tolliver. Jerri and Jay Buxton from Joplin, MO traveled the longest distance. The raffle prize was won by Ken Whiteaker. Gifts were the "I’m a Tolliver" bears.

The Reunion closed with the announcement of the silent auction winners. The proceeds of the auction pay for various expenses of the Reunion.

I appreciate Gail and Ken Whiteaker and family for being responsible for the registration, picture-taking, etc. Also, a big thank you to Carla Everwein and her crew for all the work they did with the Silent Auction and the potluck lunch. And thanks to the attendees for bringing items for the Silent Auction and delicious food for lunch and for sharing the stories that make our Reunion one of the best.

The Tolliver family appreciates the hospitality shown by the Morehead Chamber of Commerce, Ponderosa Restaurant, Quality Inn, and the residents of Morehead.

Next year will be our Tenth Reunion.  The date is June 22-23, 2012.  I am very excited that Rachel Starnes (Sabrina’s daughter) has volunteered to plan some youth activities for the next Reunion. Terri Tolliver will help with face painting. Also, Lea Ann Lyon has volunteered to organize some activities for Friday evening. In addition, people have requested that I be available to meet with individuals and answer genealogy questions. I appreciate all your suggestions. A successful Reunion requires everyone’s input. Let me know your thoughts on making it the best ever.

Emma Lee Tolliver

ELT1000@aol.com

Tolliver Cemetery, Letcher Co., KY

Lytte Toliver b. 1827 in NC, son of James Toliver b. 1795 NC, grandson of John Toliver b. 1760, is buried in this cemetery.  Donald B. Tolliver has recently used a bulldozer to grade the road to this cemetery.  He also keeps the area clean and neat.  If anyone would like to visit this area, let me know and I will connect you with Don.  He would be happy to show you where it is located.

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.

Dedication of Monument

October 27, 2007

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.

Days of Anger, Days of Tears

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.

THE TOLLIVER FAMILY

Tolliver researchers have long talked about 5 Tolliver/Toliver brothers from North Carolina.  In 1916 Florence Wilson Houston wrote a book titled Maxwell History and Genealogy, in which she stated that "Charles Toliver lived in Ashe Co., North Carolina and about the year 1816 he moved to Lawrence County, Indiana, where he entered land in 1817.  He had four brothers and two sisters:  John; Moses (who) lived in North Carolina and died on the way to Indiana; Jesse; William; Lucy, (who) married William Maxwell;...(and) Sarah, (who) lived in North Carolina;  Charles Toliver married Susan Edwards."  From this book, we can talk about the five Tolliver bothers from North Carolina in the 1700s.  Moses was born before 1755 and died after 1812 on the way to Indiana.  Jesse was born in 1756 in Fauquier County, Virginia nd died in Ashe County, North Carolina.   John was born in 1760 and died in 1863 in Alleghany County, North Carolina.  Charles was born in 1765 and died in Lawrence County, Indiana.  Sarah was born in 1766 and died in 1836 in Coffee County, Tennessee.  Lucy was born in 1770 and died between 1844 and 1850 in Lawrence County Indiana.

Information found in military pension files indicates that about 1770, or five or six years before the Revolutionary War began, John, Jesse, and Moses (and probably Charles and William) moved from Virginia to Surry (later named Wilkes) County, North Carolina, east of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The father was still living and was involved in this move, but he is not named in any of the pension records of Jesse or John.

According to Revolutionary War Pension Records transcribed by John C. Tolliver, Jr. at the National Archives, John's family was in Prince William Co., VA (named Fauquier Co. in 1759) in 1756. Frankey, the widow of his brother, Jesse, stated that her husband had been born in 1756 on the Rappahannock River in Fauquier Co., VA and that the family moved shortly thereafter to the James River, 30 miles above Richmond, VA, and that they came to Wilkes Co., NC about 5 or 6 years before the Rev. War which started in 1776 and ended in 1783. The Tolivers bought and were granted many acres of land in what is now Wilkes Co. along Roaring River, Mulberry Creek and the Yadkin River. Eventually they moved over the Blue Ridge to what is now Alleghany Co., NC. Here they acquired vast acreage along the New River and its tributaries. In the above record John states that some time after the Battle of King's Mountain (1780) he moved with his mother to the west side of the Blue Ridge. This raises the question of what happened to his father. To add to the confusion in the late 1770's Dr. John and Mary Hardin Taliferro moved from VA into Surry Co., NC and settled on Stewart's Creek.

DNA PROJECT

If you are interesting in participating in the Tolliver/Toliver/Taliaferro DNA Project, click on the following link. DNA Test

Click here for restoration work on the Old Toliver cemetery in NC .