Martin Co. History

A Warfield Skirmish	Warfield, KY 40, 971	A plundering, burning, Confederate detached force, under command of Col. V. A. Witcher, harassed east Kentucky and West Virginia during most of the Civil War. In fall, 1864, they took horses and cattle in this area from friend and foe. While Witcher's men made barbecue, Home Guards from Louisa attacked from hill to west. After exchange of fire, both withdrew. (Reverse) Warfield - First Martin County seat, 1870. Established about 1850 as a coal, salt and lumber community by George Rogers Clark Floyd and John Warfield of Va. mountains. Products shipped by river boats to Catlettsburg. Floyd was son of one Governor of Virginia, brother of another. Coal mines used thru Civil War as hiding place against marauding by enemy.
Pioneer Ward	Inez, Courthouse lawn, KY 3, 40	James Ward born in Virginia, 1758. He settled on Rockcastle Creek, three miles south of here, where he lived 50 years and died, 1848. Private, Virginia regiments, War of the Revolution, 1775-76, 1778. Came to Kentucky, 1779. With the Clark expedition against Indians, Chillicothe and Piqua, Ohio, 1780. In battles of Bryan Station, and Blue Licks, 1782. (Reverse) Educator Ward - William B. Ward, 1877-1952. Buried in Saltwell Cemetery. Known as educator, author and leader in the field of education, 50 years. Principal in schools of eastern and northern Kentucky; head of the Old Sandy Valley Seminary at Paintsville. Author Outline of U.S. History; publisher The Mountain Journal and The New Day. Descended from Pioneer Ward.
County Named, 1870	Inez, Courthouse lawn, KY 3, 40	For Col. John P. Martin, born Va. 1811, came to Kentucky in 1828. State House of Representatives, 1841-43; U.S. Congress, 1845-47. State Senator, 1857-61. Delegate from State at large to Democratic National Convention, 1856. Delegate to futile Ky. Peace Convention in Sept., 1861. Floyd County citizen for seventeen years. Died there in 1862 at age 51. (Reverse) Henry L. Clay, D.D. - One of the distinguished natives of Martin County. Teacher in the schools here and in Williamson, W. Va. Ordained into the Methodist Ministry, serving 33 yrs. in W. Va. Dist. Supt. in Ashland, Charleston and Huntington. On committee that formed The Methodist Church, 1939, uniting the Northern, Southern and Protestant Methodists. Rev. Clay born Inez 1875, died Florida 1964.
Moses Stepp	10 mi. S. of Lovely, Pigeon Roost Valley Rd.	Colorful frontiersman. An ancient headstone at grave shows he was born 1735, died 1855. Enlisted for three short periods in Revolution and fought Indians and Tories in west Carolinas and east Tennessee. Legend tells that he was captured by the Cherokees and tortured by nailing his ears to a tree. He tore loose and escaped. Came to this area, 1826, for rest of life. More about Moses Stepp, Originally published in the Martin County, Kentucky SUN, November, 1994 by Evelynn Cassady
William McCoy, Sr.	Inez, Courthouse lawn, KY 3, 40	Noted local attorney. Born at Pleasant, 1873. Read law, was admitted to bar in 1896. Martin County attorney, 1906-1914. Considered an expert on old land patents and deeds of eastern Ky. Interest in education led to appointment by Gov. Flem Sampson as a commissioner on first State Textbook Commission, 1928. Promoted education as great hope for county. Died, 1950. (Reverse) Lewis Dempsey - Financier and developer of this region. He was born in 1852, near Warfield. Founded Inez Deposit Bank and served as its president for 33 years. Owned vast coal and timber lands which he kept for the county's future development. Often loaned money to promising young people for education and helped start many in business. He died here in 1937.