The Early Justus Family of Buchanan County

by Ed Talbott, III [1999]

Simeon “Simmy” Justice, Jr. was born about 1777 and was the son of Simeon Justice, Sr. and Elizabeth Turley. Simeon married Keziah Salisbury about 1807 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Keziah went by the nicknames of “Prisa” and “Kizzie” at various times in her life. She was the daughter of Richard Salisbury and Polly Milton of Pittsylvania County, VA. Richard Salisbury served during the American Revolution.

Sometime before 1810, Simeon and Keziah moved to Beaver Creek in Floyd County, Kentucky and started a family – the children are listed below. About 1836 the entire Justice family moved to Guesses Fork in Buchanan County. Simeon and several of his sons received large land grants in Guesses Fork and across the ridge on Panther Creek in McDowell County, WV. Simeon possibly died prior to 1850 and Keziah died on November 23, 1855. They are probably buried in the old Justus Family Cemetery on the right hand fork of Guesses Fork, as three of their children are also buried there. Time has long since worn away most of the markings on the fieldstones there.

There has been some speculation that Guesses Fork could have been originally called Justice’s Fork. I believe the name was originally Gist’s Fork for the explorer Christopher Gist who probably traveled through Buchanan County in 1750. Knox Creek was well populated prior to the 1836 arrival of the Justice family and the large hollow of Guesses Fork almost certainly would have been named prior to that date.

Children of Simeon and Keziah Justice:

(For the children of Simeon and Keziah, I will use the spelling of Justus verses Justice because about 1860-1870 this spelling begins to take precedence in the Guesses Fork area)

Polly Jane Justus was born about 1808 in Floyd County, Kentucky. She married Samuel M. Smith and together they raised 8 children in the Hurley area. Samuel owned huge tracts of land on Knox Creek and Lester’s Fork in the early 1800’s. Late in life they moved to Todd County, Minnesota and are buried there.

Saulsbury Justus was born in 1811 in Floyd County, Kentucky. He married Amy “Anna” Sturgill in Kentucky – she was the daughter of John Sturgill, Jr. and Amy Hall. Saul and Anna raised a large family of 11 children on the right hand fork of Guesses Fork. At least two of their sons served for the Confederacy in the Civil War. Saul and Anna are buried at the old Justus Cemetery on a point above the mouth of House Branch on Guesses Fork.

Joab Justus was born about 1812 in Floyd County, Kentucky. He married Mary “Molly” Wolford about 1839 on Knox Creek and they had three children. Molly was the daughter of John Wolford, Sr. and Mary “Polly” Charles. Joab later married Sarah “Sally” Cline on December 11, 1846 in Pike County, KY. Sarah was the widow of David Charles and a daughter of Michael Cline. Sally and Joab had five children. The final resting place of Joab is unknown at this time (possibly on Lester's Fork near current Roseann).

Lucinda Justus was born about 1813 in Floyd County, Kentucky. She married William “Billy” Hall and they had a family in the Knox Creek area. I have little information on this Hall family. Lucinda’s daughter, Rachel Hall, married Joshua Justus. Joshua served in the Civil War and is buried on a point above the railroad at the mouth of Guesses Fork.

Annia Justus was born about 1816 in Floyd County, Kentucky. She married Edward J. “Ned” Collins on June 26, 1834 in Pike County, Kentucky. Ned was the son of Meredith Collins (Rev. War veteran) and Margaret Holloway. Annia and Ned raised a large family of nine children on the Tug River. Ned passed away in 1879 at War Eagle in Mingo Co., WV. Anna moved back to Guesses Fork for her golden years and died on October 10, 1891 at the age of 75. She is buried in the Old Justus Cemetery at House Branch on Guesses Fork.

King Hiram Justus was born about 1820 in Floyd County, Kentucky. He married Margaret “Peggy” Jackson in Floyd County, Kentucky. Her parents are unknown at this time. King Hiram served as Captain of the Hurley men who served in Company H, 10th Kentucky Cavalry, CSA during the Civil War. King Hiram and Peggy raised a family of 10 children on the left hand Fork of Guesses Fork. King Hiram’s log cabin stood until about 1920 and a picture of it was published in the Virginia Mountaineer. King Hiram Justus is buried in the Justus Cemetery on the left hand fork of Guesses Fork under a fieldstone marked only HJ. A new military stone was placed in 2018.

James Raleigh Justus was born on August 1, 1828 in Kentucky. He married Elizabeth “Betsy” Davis on February 17, 1851 in what is now Buchanan County, VA. James and Betsy raised seven children in the Hurley area. During the Civil War he served under his brother in Company H, 10th Kentucky Cavalry, CSA. On August 6, 1863, James was shot and killed in his own yard by Unionist “bushwhackers.” He is buried in the old Justus Cemetery at House Branch on Guesses Fork.

William Whiley Justus was born May 6, 1830 in Floyd County, Kentucky. His first wife was Margaret “Peggy” Blankenship. They were married on August 16, 1849 in what is now Buchanan County, VA. Peggy must have passed away shortly after their first son was born. William remarried Louisa “Eliza” Blankenship on August 15, 1858 in Buchanan County, VA. Eliza was the daughter of Hezekiah Blankenship and Rachel Sanders. They raised a large family of 11 children on Guesses Fork. William Whiley also served during the Civil War in Company H, 10th Kentucky Cavalry, CSA. Eliza passed away on April 16, 1906 and Whiley on February 9, 1908. They are buried under two homemade markers in a well tended cemetery on Lick Branch in the right hand fork of Guesses Fork.

Rhoda Justus was the youngest of the family and she married Muncy Monk Lane. I know very little about this family and would like any additional information that someone would like to send me.

If you have any additional information to send me or any corrections to make please e-mail me at aquilaet@gmail.com. This article was written in 1999 - much new information has probably been uncovered since that time.

Ed Talbott