The Roane County Journal is a quarterly publication of the Roane County Historical Society. Society members know the joy of finding the latest issue in their mail boxes. Each 24 page issue of the Journal is filled with articles which may include Roane County history, census records, marriage records, birth and death records, photos, family histories, maps and queries from other Roane County researchers.

Volume 15 ran from September 2007 through June 2008. A brief summary is provided below. For additional ordering informatio, click here.

Mt. Hope- Thomas A. Jones, 67, Mount Hope business man, former postmaster, and a Roane county editor before coming here more than 30 years ago, died about 1 a.m. Sunday in a Beckley hospital after a short illness of a heart ailment.

Besides his widow, Mrs. Rebecca Jones, Mr. Jones is survived by his niece and adopted daughter, Mrs. Vivian Boyd; five sisters, Mrs. Sallie Wolfe and Mrs. Esta Walker, of Spencer; Mrs. Annie Warner, of Ravena. Ohio'; Mrs. Ona Ingram of Saginaw, Mich.; and Mrs. Alice Jones, of Pocatello, Idaho, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Mr. Jones was very active in religious, fraternal, and civic organizations. He was staunch Methodist, and until the union of the Methodist churches he was a pillar in the Grace M. E. church, of which he drove the first nail in its construction.

He was an active member of Macdonald Lodge No. 103, Masonic order, which is to have charge of the funeral; member of Sewell chapter No. 24, Thurmond; member of Beni Kedem
Shrine, Charleston; Past commander of Mt. Hope Knight Templar Commandery, No. 22, in which he ahs held all offices, and was at the time of his death a junior warden, in line for the stationary office of captain general. The commandery is to act as escort to Masonic funeral body. Also, at the time of his death Mr. Jones was president of the Past Commander association.

Mr. Jones was a past worthy patron in Winolla chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, and was the Watchman of Shepherds at the present time of Jabal Alreja chapter, White Shrine of Jerusalem.

Members of the Watchman of the Shepherd are to be flower bearers at the funeral.

In the civic orders Mr. Jones was very active in the chamber of commerce. an in the Lions club. By his fellow associates he is declared to have been "one of Mount Hope's best citizens, if not the best".

Funeral services are to be conducted this afternoon (Tuesday) at 2:39 by Rev. L. D. Roe at the Methodist church.

Active pallbearers are to be C. H. Fieldson, J. W. Lancaster, C. R. Heermans, J. E. Bing, C. H. Duncan and J. W. Lambert.

Among the honorary pallbearers named are:
J. W. Wade, Ed Roberts. E. O. Snider, R. H. Carter, P. M. Snyder, sr., T. H. Snyder, W. R. Gray, L. C. Patterson, T. M. Patterson, Dr. C. G. Anderson, Dr. G. G. Hodges, Dr. T. Adair, M. C. Moore. H. D. Gast, P. H. Garrett. A.D. Moseley, A. H. McIntire, W. E. Tissure, W. H. Boone, W. H. Darnell, Harry Abel, W. W. East, William Ward, John Carver, W. L. bailey, E. M. Tutwiler, W. W. Pharr, C. E. Howard, S. C. Higgins, sr., C. L. Buckley, Garland Potter, Allen Hoffer, J. E. Howard, Edward Graff, R. C. Simpkins, William Raies, and E. W. Dunkley.

(Thomas A. Jones passed away September 8, 1946.)
(Sumitted by Vickie Perkins Holland)

Strayed From Home; Found In Creek After 40 Minutes Search
Artificial Respiration Methods Fail; Funeral Services conducted Yesterday; Internment In Spencer Mausoleum

Two year old William Patterson Lampe, son of James E. and Jeanette Moore Lampe, who lived with his mother at the home of his great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Looney, in Holswade addition, was drown , Monday afternoon in Spring creek, which runs along at the foot of the hill back of the Looney residence.

He was found at 1:20 in three feet of water by Byron Holswade, a member of the searching party. The searchers were drawn to the spot by the youngsters dog who refused to leave the victim where he was found.

The child's mother is a teacher in rural schools, and Mrs. Looney was in Parkersburg, where her husband is a surgical patient in a hospital, at the time it was drowned. During the absence of Mrs. Looney and the mother, the tot was in the care of domestic help, who had let him go out into the yard, where he frequently played. Evidently the back gate had been left open and he strayed off to the creek's bank where it is presumed he slipped and fell into the water.

In Water 30 To 40 Minute

After being found by the searching party which consisted of neighbors and city and state police he was rushed to the DePue Hospital where artificial respiration and injections of adrenalin failed to revive him it was estimated he had been in the water from 30 to 40 minutes.

Funeral Services Yesterday

Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m. yesterday morning from the Vandale Funeral Home with the Rev. J. H. Whitt in charge. Internment was made in the Spencer Mausoleum. He is survived by his father, James E. Lampe, of Grantsville, his mother, Jeanette Moore Lampe, his great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Arnott and Wm. M. Looney and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. James H. Lampe, of Grantsville.

(William Patterson Lampe passed away May 9, 1938)
(Submitted by Evelyn Bissell Starcher)

Clover
Son of Rev. and Mrs. Herbert Smith Dies at the Age of Fifteen Years
(Error in obituary title should be Rev. and Mrs. Herbert Spencer)

Ray Spencer, 15 years of age, son of Rev. and Mrs. Herbert Spencer, died at the family home last Thursday morning. The death of this bright and promising lad came as a great shock to the parents of the youth and to the community. Death was caused by an abscess in the head. The boy was taken ill Wednesday. Dr. Smith, of Spencer, who was called., did not at that time consider the case as serious. About 2 o'clock Thursday morning it became apparent to the parents that the lad's condition had become critical and Dr. Camp, of Spencer, was called, but before he arrived at the home dissolution had taken place. Surviving are the parents, two sisters, and seven brothers. The funeral services were held Sunday, with internment in the Young cemetery. Rev. Herbert Smith is now reported seriously ill, his condition being attributed to shock resulting from the death of his son.

(Raymond Spencer passed away March 31, 1927)
(Submitted by Evelyn Bissell Starcher)

Robert Hoff, Dead

Robert Hoff, aged 82 years, one of the highly respected citizens of the county, dies at the home of his son, James Hoff. Mr. Hoff had been in declining health for a number of years, and the end came peacefully, after the long period of almost invalidity.

The funeral was conducted under the supervision of Undertaker Wells, and the remains were laid away in the Hoff burial ground near the home. Rev. M. P. Lowe conducted the funeral services.

Mr. Hoff is survived by two brothers, Anthony and E. D. Hoff, the former now more being more than 90 years of age. Three sons and three daughters were also left?James, Dan and William Hoff; Mrs. J. O. Boggs, of Murraysville, Mrs. Thornton Knight and Mrs. Thomas Ward. A fourth son was recently buried. ?Spencer Reporter.

(Robert Hoff passed away October 3, 1915.)
(The Roane County Journal; Vol. 4, No. 3; March 1997-courtesy of Janet Prine)