NATIONAL REGISTER

Janie Willard Parrish from Texas and Linda Johnson Thomas from Maryland visit the Olde Wythe County Poorhouse Farm

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Cousins and their families visit Abner Bruce Graham Jr. on July 6, 2001. These Dean and Graham cousins are descendants of Bill and Gracie Graham Childress

Abner Bruce Graham's Dean and Graham cousins, descended from Luemma Adeline Dean Graham and Andrew John Graham honor the memory of the "No Longer Invisible People'' at the Olde Wythe County Poorhouse Farm,  established in 1858. The monument was recently donated by Grubb Funeral Home and Wytheville Monument Company. Jessie Venable, CSA marker and Jettie Fulford Linville marker (read THE TOMBSTONE on this site) are placed on either side of the larger donated monument. The Wythe County Poorhouse Farm Cemetery's is 3. of a mile from this memorial spot in the front yard of the Poorhouse Farm. 

A record book is on display at the LIVING HISTORY BOOK and in the procession of the Grahams of Census Records and Burial Records of the many who were laid to rest in this beautiful rural cemetery in Wythe County, Virginia. The Grahams will gladly help any one with an ancestor who may have lived at the Poorhouse Farm or who may be buried in the cemetery. Related questions can be sent by e-mail to abnerb@valink.com or mailed to 248 Poor House Farm Lane, Wytheville, Virginia 24382

Descendants of Bill and Gracie Graham Childress, daughter of Luemma Dean and Andrew John Graham visit cousin Abner Bruce Graham Jr. at the LIVING HISTORY BOOK at the Olde Wythe County Poorhouse Farm on July 6, 2001. The families
traveled from Crockett, VA, Tucson, Arizona, Abingdon, Virginia and from Maryland.

Don Branscome and some of his wife, Ellen's family this summer. Don is on the far left, Ellen is the one against the door you can hardly see....I think she was hiding. She, Jr. and I have been best friends since grade school.The others are out of state family of Don and Ellen. Ellen's sister Linda Spiker write the Historical Review about the Poorhouse Farm .

Cousin and friend, Don Branscome visits The Grahams at the LIVING HISTORY BOOK - his name is also on our VETERANS WALL OF HONOR

Don and Ellen Branscome extended family........

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GOD BLESS AMERICA

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Johnston/Johnston find ancestors at the Wythe County Poorhouse Farm
May 2001

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   HERITAGE FESTIVAL AT FOSTER FALLS, 9-15-2001

LIVING HISTORY, WYTHE COUNTY POORHOUSE FARM

Jack Cox, parents Eva Maria Graham Cox and George David Cox stands beside Abner Bruce Graham Jr. We learned from Mr. Cox that his Dad worked for Appalachian Power Company and was sent to the Poorhouse Farm to check on the electricity often during WW1. He also remember his Mom telling him and taking him to visit Mary Graham's family in Max Meadows when he was very, very young. This new history will be included in the Graham and Johnstone tree at the LIVING HISTORY BOOK. Sarah's Cassell ancestors link to the Graham Forge family and of course Abner's Dean grandmother married Andrew John Graham. 

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        July 15, 2001 - Poorhouse Farm - Family and Friends

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Locust Hill United Methodist Church, Max Meadows, Virginia

The land for this Church in Locust Hill, Max Meadows, Virginia was donated for by the Virginia Iron Coal and Coke Company so the oar miners and the many families who once lived in this area  would have a place to worship. The Boarding House for the miners where the Graham and Dean family pictures were taken was just past the location of this church. The boarding house is no longer standing but the church is still being used each Sunday. This photograph was taken at the Easter Sunrise Service, 2001. Rev. Rick Lindamood assisted by Lee Thomas, from Brick Church held the beautiful Sunrise Service. Abner Bruce Graham Jr. gave praise as his ancestors before him had watched the sun rise from this very spot....near this country church with so many Dean and Graham family connections. After the service, a delicious breakfast was served. During breakfast, my life time friend Nancy Moore Scott Wilson gave me an antique 1905 calendar with needle card from Benj.Topham & Co. Wytheville, Va. Until his death in 1901, George Topham, my grandfather and his brother Benjamin were partners in Topham Brothers Store, Wytheville, Va. This Topham's business was near the railroad station in those early years.

Max Meadows United Methodist Church and Abner Bruce Graham Jr.

Max Meadows United Methodist Church
Lots of people you may know.

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Olin Armentrout, Pete Lawson

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Dean/Johnstone descendants have enjoyed playing in Shoestring Branch

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DEAN AND GRAHAM COUSINS
SHARE MEMORIES 

Pictured is Abner Bruce Graham, Junior and Emmie Rachael Payne Spencer Nichols as they posed for Sarah Helen Johnstone Graham during a tour of THE LIVING HISTORY BOOK at the Olde Wythe County Poorhouse Farm, established in 1858.

They are first cousins. Emmie's mother is Cora Graham Payne and Abner Junior's Daddy, Abner Senior are brother and sister.

Cousin Emmie gave  Junior her Daddy's antique wood working tool that he is proudly showing Rachael Cannon, News7 from Roanoke in the photograph taken during an interview on June 15, 2001 for the television station. This photograph can be seen on one of the links from the Dean Research Web Site.

These loving cousins and their families share many special memories and Abner Junior's and Emmie's common grandparents are Luemma Adeline Dean Graham and Andrew John Graham. 

Jack and Emmie's signature is part of the LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM where new history is added daily.

Emmie explained how some of the Old Items were once used to the youngsters listening in during the tour.

Youngsters enjoy feeding apples to the cows at the Poor Farm.

These two first cousins, Abner Bruce Graham Junior, born April 24, 1944 and Emmie Rachael Payne Spencer Nichols, born April 15, 1914 are deep into sharing memories and history at the LIVING HISTORY BOOK at the Wythe County Poorhouse Farm, established in 1858 .....their common grandparents are Luemma Adeline Dean Graham and Andrew John Graham. 

These grandparents and Emmie's parents are buried at the Hurst Cemetery in Wythe County, Virginia

Abner Bruce Graham Junior's parents are Ethel Marie Adams Graham and Abner Bruce Graham Senior.They are buried at West End Cemetery in Wytheville, Virginia. Emmie Rachael Payne Spencer Nichols' parents are Cora Matilda Graham Payne and Ruben Hasten 'Dooley' Payne. 

Emmie thoughtfully gave her cousin Abner Junior an antique wood working tool that her Daddy often used.

This is the way we scrub our clothes, this is the way we scrub our clothes....... 
and we used home made lye soap to do it with......... " it sure did did our clothes clean! "

"Look at the Bronze Plaque" .... The National Register of Historic Places, Wythe County Poorhouse Farm, established 1858.

Photographs from a memory filled day at the LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM by Sarah Helen Johnstone Graham

Historical Highway Marker, Peppers Ferry Road, Wytheville, Virginia

DR. JOHN KERN RECEIVING A WYTHE COUNTY BRONZE  MEDALLION FROM WYTHE SHARITZ, JUNE 16, 2001

DAN PORTER AND WYTHE SHARITZ, JUNE 16, 2001 UNVEILING CEREMONY FOR POORHOUSE FARM’S VIRGINIA HISTORICAL  HIGHWAY MARKER

THE GRAHAMS WERE AWARDED A BRONZE WYTHE COUNTY MEDALLION BY WYTHE COUNTY OUT OF GRADIDUTE FOR THE WORK AND EXPENSE INVOLVED IN THE RESTORATION OF THE WYTHE COUNTY POORHOUSE FARM BY SARAH AND ABNER GRAHAM JR.

Cousins - Abner Bruce Graham Jr. and Mary Dean Waltrip and her son Patrick enjoy the Dean Family History that Mary shares with 10000 extended family Dean cousins on her site.

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Willie Grubb Umberger Tavenner and her friend Kathy Grubb

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Grover & Ocie Gravley 
Heritage Festival, Wythe County, VA

Veteran of US Air Force, Robert Burnett and his daughter Sherrie Doss share family history with Sarah Helen today

First cousins enjoy Heritage Day at Max Meadows, VA September 29, 2001 - they are the daughters of Teresa Bralley Armbrister and her sister Sandy Bralley Bass......Sandy and Teresa are child hood friends of Tammy Graham Akers, our
daughter....the girl are students at Ft. Chiswell High School. 

Suzanne C. Hickerson, newspaper reporter for the BRISTOL HERALD COURIER interviews the Grahams and tours the Olde Wythe County Poorhouse Farm on December 15, 2000. She said, "it is really interesting to take a step back in time."