John J.
Dickey Diary
Submitted by: Phyllis Hefelfinger
Felix T. Begley - Bull Creek - March 27, 1898 pgs. 2204-2205
I was born March 6, 1834 in Leslie County, then Perry near the mouth of Cutshin. My great grandfather BEGLEY came from Ireland. He was a weaver by trade. He came with my grandfather and is buried on Cutshin. He had a by-word "Damn-an-it". He spoke broken English.
My grandmother was MINNY SIZEMORE. She was a daughter of "Old GEORGE of All" SIZEMORE, who came with my grandfather, Wm BEGLEY from Hawkins County,Tennessee. He had sons as follows: HENRY, JOHN, NED, and GEORGE; MINNY (Wm BEGLEY), RHODA (ROBERTS), Ruth (John JONES), Susan (BOLLING).
"Old GEORGE of All" was a hairy man and a prize fighter. He wounded Wm TWITTY in a fight, so that he died. SIZEMORE nursed TWITTY would cry and tell him he had nothing against him. All he asked of him was to fight again if he got well. SIZEMORE is a Cherokee Indian name. He is said to be half or more Indian.
The SIZEMORES are very numerous in the mountains. The SIZEMORES settled first on Middle Fork, then went to Clay, Floyd and other counties.
Note by Dickey: (POLLY NORTH), 85 years old, whose mother was RHODA SIZEMORE say they came from New River. J.J.D.)
Submitted by: Phyllis Hefelfinger
MRS. POLLY NORTH, CUTSHIN
(*LESLIE COUNTY)MARCH 27, 1898
pgs. 2205-2206
I am 85 years old, was born in this county. My
father was a Wilder, my mother Rhoda Sizemore. The first
preacher I ever heard was Chenault, a Baptist, and he
preached on Cutshin. William Mattingly was the first
school teacher. I remember he taught when I was a child.
My grandmother's maiden name was Aggie Shepard. I remember
to have heard my Grandfather Sizemore say to her
"Dam-an-it Shepard I can't stand you much longer". At Glade
on Bower's Creek John Gilbert killed a wolf. It had killed
a two-year-old mule of his. He rode on the pelt as long
as he lived. I have seen Rev. John Gilbert have to hold on
to the fence because he had taken a dram too much. I have
heard him say many a time at the close of the service on
Sunday as he would start for the door "Dear, dear me brethren
have you any bull yearlings to sell?" I have wove many a yard
of cloth from nettle which grew wild. It made white cloth.
Note added in Diary-by John J. Dickey: The old lady chews tobacco.