Claud Vivian Adams -- Outstanding Citizen of the City

 

Claud V. Adams

Claud Vivian Adams was born on July 2, 1927 in Trigg County, Kentucky, the son of Major Richard Adams and Deanie Katherine Henderson Adams. Both Major and Deanie were natives of Trigg County where Major was a farmer and a carpenter.  Claud had three siblings, Lillian Nell Adams, Eliza Belle Adams and William R. Adams.

Claud attended school in Trigg County and after graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U. S. Army on February 17, 1946.  He was discharged from the service on July 20, 1947 and he returned to Trigg County.

On June 6, 1950, he married Bobbie Jean Thomas.  Bobbie was born November 8, 1933, the daughter of Josh Herschel Thomas and Inous Wallace Thomas. Herschel and Inous were natives of Trigg County where he had worked as a farmer.  Bobbie had two siblings, Betty Jane Thomas and Josh Howard Thomas. Bobbie worked as a seamstress at the Western State Hospital in Hopkinsville, Kentucky and the Economy CeeBee Grocery Store in Cadiz.  Claude and Bobbie had one child, a daughter, Connie Faye Adams, born on December 2, 1953 in Cadiz, Kentucky.

Claud worked in the Ford tractor and equipment business for over 31 years.  He was a partner of the Burke-Thomas Company in Cadiz.  As a parts manager he had a phenomenal recall for the part numbers and bin locations where parts were kept.  When a customer brought in an old part, Claud could recite the part's number and immediately locate the bin where the part was kept.

Claud served as an active member of the Cadiz Volunteer Fire Department.  The fire department was the oldest fire department in Trigg County having been founded in the late 1920s when a major fire burned downtown Cadiz.  Claud served as a volunteer fireman for 25 years.  In 1968, he became the Chief of the Cadiz Volunteer Fire Department, a position he held for 12 years until his death in 1980.

Claud also served as the chairman of the City of Cadiz Water and Sewer Commission for 8 years. He was also a member of the Pennyrile Area Development District Disaster and Emergency Service Commission. Claud’s other civic responsibilities including membership in the local Chamber of Commerce, the Trigg County Farm Bureau and Kentucky’s Western Waterlands.

Claud died on July 27, 1980 at the Trigg County Hospital at the age of 53 after a 14 month bout with cancer.   He was buried in the East End Cemetery in Cadiz.  His wife, Bobbie, died on November 9, 2002 in Denton, Texas where she had moved to be with her daughter.  She was buried in the East End Cemetery next to her husband.

 Claud and Bobbie Adams

Claud as a parts manager

Tombstone of Claud and Bobbie Adams

LINEAGE:  (Claud Vivian Adams was the husband of Bobbie Jean Thomas.  Bobbie was the daughter of Josh Hershel and Inous Undine Wallace Thomas and the granddaughter of Alfred Claude and Mamie Jane Stallons Thomas.  Alfred was the third child of Robert Allison and Emma Nora Cunningham Thomas.  Robert was the fifth child of Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas.  Stanley was the second child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas.  Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

Cordie Gilbert Thomas -- Miller and Restaurant Operator

 

                                        Cordie and Mina Thomas

Cordie Gilbert Thomas was born on August 28, 1903 in Trigg County, Kentucky, the second of three children born to Stanley Dyer Thomas and Willie Hite Thomas.  His two brothers were Jesse L. Thomas, born in 1900 and Hulan Henry Thomas, born in 1908. Stanley and Willie were both natives of Trigg County and Stanley was a farmer.

Cordie grew up in Trigg County and the 8th grade was the highest grade that he completed.  On September 19, 1925, he married Mina Louise Wallis.  Mina was born on December 26, 1905 in Trigg County, the daughter of Charles Addison Wallis and Lou Annie Wallace Wallis. Charles worked as a flour and grist miller.

The newly married couple moved in with the bride’s family in Cadiz and he joined his father-in-law and became a miller at the Cadiz Milling Company, where he worked for 32 years until his retirement.  Mina became a night telephone operator with the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company in Cadiz.  She worked for the company for 25 years as a telephone operator until her retirement in December 1960.

Cordie and Mina were involved in several civic and community business activities in addition to their regular jobs.  Cordie was a member of the first Water-and Sewer Commission for the City of Cadiz.  From 1938 to 1941, the Thomases managed the American Legion Club House which at that time was a very popular hangout place for teenagers and all ages. The club house unfortunately burned on December 14, 1941.  The couple was also the first managers of the American Legion Swimming Pool located on Swimming Pool Hill in Cadiz.

For many years Cordie and Mina wanted to have their own a restaurant.   They had some restaurant experience when they operated the Ben Wood Snack Bar in downtown Cadiz.  In 1959, their home in West Cadiz was taken by the government for Lake Barkley.  This enabled them to purchase the former Judge Hooks home in East Cadiz which they remodeled into a restaurant.  Mina’s love for decorative roosters caused them to name their new venture “Thomas Roost” which opened in 1960.  The restaurant became one of the most popular places to eat in Cadiz and hosted many showers, monthly meetings and family gathering during the years that the Thomases were the proprietors of the business. Cordie and Mina celebrated their final retirement when they closed the restaurant in 1968.

Cordie and Mina were the parents of one child, a daughter, Lillie Frances Thomas DeName, who was born in 1927 and married Johnny DeName.

Cordie died on April 12, 1973 in Cadiz at the age of 69 following a lengthy illness.  He was buried in the East End Cemetery in Cadiz.  Mina died on January 11, 2000 in Cadiz at the age of 94.  She was buried in the East End Cemetery next to her husband.

Cordie and Mina

 

Thomas Roost Restaurant

 

Cordie and Mina Tombstone

LINEAGE:  (Cordie Gilbert Thomas was the son of Stanley Dyer and Willie Hite Thomas and grandson of William Henry and Sidney Dyer Thomas.  William Henry was the third child of Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas.  Stanley was the second child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas.  Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

Homer Ray Futrell -- Property Valuation Administrator

 

Ray Futrell

Homer Ray Futrell was born on February 22, 1916 in Trigg County, Kentucky.  He was the younger of two sons born to Lamont Benton Futrell and Sallie Roberta Thomas Futrell. His older brother was Charles Hobart Futrell, born in 1911.  His father, Lamont, was a farmer who had inherited a part of his father’s farm located on the Cumberland River near the Linton community.  Lamont was the brother of the well known Trigg County physicians, Drs. Elias and John Futrell.

Ray grew up in the Linton community and graduated from the Cadiz High School in 1933.  He went on to attend Murray State University where he graduated in 1941.After graduation he went to work on his father’s farm in the Linton community.

On May 15, 1947, Ray married Jewel Kathryn Thomas in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.  Jewel was born on June 12, 1921 in Trigg County, the only child of Perry Amos Thomas and Hattie Bell Adams Thomas, both natives of Trigg County.  Jewel graduated from Murray State University in 1943 and was a teacher for 31 years in the Trigg County school system before her retirement in 1976. Joe and Jewel had one son, Timothy Ray Futrell, born in 1948.

In 1949, Ray ran for the position of the Trigg County Property Valuation Administrator.  The property valuation administrator (PVA) determines the value of property for tax purposes. The PVA is responsible for identifying property and its owners, listing property values on the assessment roll, and applying legal exemptions. For the following 32 years Ray was elected every four years as the PVA. During this entire period, he never faced an opposition in either in the primary or the general elections where his name was on the ballot.  He also served on the board of directors of the state property valuation administrator’s association.

Ray and his family had moved to Cadiz while he was serving his terms as the PVA, but he continued to operate the family farms in the Linton community of Trigg County and near Trenton in Todd County.

On Thursday, January 22, 1981, Ray had been admitted to the Trigg County Hospital in Cadiz after suffering chest pains.  Shortly thereafter he was transferred to the Jennie Stuart Hospital in Hopkinsville where he experienced further heart failure.  Later that evening he was transferred to the St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville.  There, following five hours of open-heart surgery, Ray died on Friday, January 23. He was 64 years old at the time of his death. He was buried in the East End Cemetery in Cadiz.

Jewel died on July 23, 1992 at a nursing home in Nashville at the age of 71.  She was buried in the East End Cemetery next to her husband.

 Ray Futrell Tombstone

 Jewel Futrell Tombstone

LINEAGE: (Homer Ray Futrell was the son of Lamont Benton and Sallie Roberta Thomas Futrell and the grandson of William Henry and Sidney Dyer Thomas. William Henry was the third child of Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas.  Stanley was the second child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas. Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

Wallace Reid Gordon -- Piano Tuner and Grocery Operator

 

Wallace Reid Gordon

Wallace Reid Gordon was born on March 12, 1923 in Golden Pond, Kentucky. He was the son of William Thomas Gordon and Sophia Smith Gordon.  William was a native of Trigg County, Kentucky and had worked as a mail carrier and school teacher. Sophia was born in Canton, Kentucky and was a homemaker and a substitute mail carrier.  Wallace had one sibling, a sister, Mary Helen Gordon, who was born in 1925.

Wallace was raised and went to grade school in Golden Pond.  For high school, Wallace went to Murray, Kentucky where was a student at the Murray College Training School.

It was at the Murray College Training School on February 8, 1940 that Wallace who was 18 years old and a junior at the school was involved in a tragic accident.  He was in the school’s chemistry lab preparing to conduct an assigned experiment with the chemicals red phosphorous and potassium chlorate.  He was alone in the lab at the time and it is assumed that he accidentally jarred the containers of the chemicals or dropped something in them causing an explosion. The explosion severely damaged his right eye and injured his left eye.  In addition, flying glass severed an artery in his head causing severe bleeding.  Fortunately, a Murray Boy Scout, Maurice Evans, found Wallace and administered first aid to stop the bleeding.  Evans was subsequently credited with saving Wallace’s life. The accident resulted in Wallace being permanently blinded In both eyes.

Even though he was blind, Wallace graduated from the Training School and went on the complete one year of college at Murray State.  In 1947 he attended a special school for the blind in Louisville.

On March 7, 1948, Wallace married Sally Isabelle Finley of Trigg County.  Sally, born December 19, 1928, was the daughter of Burnett Finley and Myrtle Mable Cunningham Finley and was the granddaughter of Rosa Lee Bridges.  Her parents were farmers and she had grown up on the farm in Trigg County.  Wallace and Sally were the parents of two children, Karen Renee, born in 1949 and John Anthony, born in 1950.

Wallace and Sally made their home in Golden Pond where Wallace operated a grocery store and service station from 1948 to 1959 while Sally worked at the Trigg Knit Hosiery factory in Cadiz. She temporarily left Trigg Knit to operate a beauty salon in Cadiz, but later returned to Trigg Knit where she worked until she retired in 1979.

Wallace obtained an amateur radio, or “ham radio” license in 1956.  He talked with persons in many foreign counties for over thirty years. He made numerous amateur radio friends throughout the United States.  Wallace was known in the county for his expertise as a ham operator.

In 1959 Wallace attended the Piano Tuning School in Louisville. He completed their program in the spring of 1961.  He then began working as a piano tuner and repairman, a position he held for more than 25 years.

Wallace and Sally moved from Golden Pond to Cadiz in 1967.  Sally died on March 14, 1985 at the age of 56 in Nashville.  She was buried in the East End Cemetery in Cadiz. Wallace died on February 19, 1995 in Hopkinsville at the age of 71.  He was buried next to his wife in the East End Cemetery.

 Sally Finley Gordon

Tombstone of Wallace and Sally Gordon

LINEAGE: (Wallace Reid Gordon was the husband of Sally Isabelle Finley.  Sally was the daughter of Burnett and Myrtle Mable Cunningham Finley and the granddaughter of Elmer “Ell” and Rosa Lee Bridges Cunningham. Rosa was the seventh child of Cullen T. and Martha Virginia Thomas Bridges.  Cullen was the twelfth child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges. William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)

Willard Barkley Mitchell, Jr.--Young Victim of a Tragic Accident

 

Willard Mitchell, Jr.

Willard Barkley Mitchell, Jr. was born on September 21, 1965 in Caldwell County, Kentucky. He was the oldest of three children born to Willard Barkley Mitchell, Sr. and Janie Marilyn Williams Mitchell.  His father Willard or Pete as he was known was a native of Caldwell County and worked as an employee of the International Shoe Company in Hopkinsville.  His mother was a native of Trigg County.  About a month before Willard, Jr. was born, Pete died tragically at the age of 26 when the car he was driving went out of control and struck a tree.

Willard Jr.’s two older siblings were brothers, Gordon Keith Mitchell, born in 1963 and Gregory Lynn Mitchell born in 1964.  After Pete’s death, Janie married Troy Dixon and she and her sons settled in Trigg County.  She worked as an employee of the Johnson Controls factory in Trigg County.

On the evening of May 12, 1978 a storm containing high winds accompanied by a tornado with over two inches of rainfall struck parts of Trigg County causing disaster conditions and a power back out for several hours in some parts of the county.  It was later estimated that $1.5 million in damages were attributed to the tornado and the severe rain storm shat raked through the county that night.

When the storm began, twelve year old Willard, Jr. was at the home of his grandmother located on Hwy. 525 known as New Hope Road about seven miles south of Cadiz.  The tornado that swept the area knocked out the power about 8 p.m. at the grandmother’s house.  Willard crossed the road to his own home to retrieve some matches to light candles at his grandmother’s house.  He was returning to his grandmother’s house about 8:30 p.m. when he darted across  the road  in  the  path  of  a  1978  Chevrolet pickup  truck  being driven west  bound  on  the  New Hope  Road.   Willard’s was  wearing a  green  army  coat  that had been pulled up over head and shoulders apparently blocking the view of where he was going, The driver of the truck,  neighbor Wesley Wallace,  apparently  saw  Willard in the road and attempted to avoid the  accident.  Mr. Wallace  apparently  hit  his  brakes  and swerved  into  the  left lane  but  could  not  avoid  hitting  the youth.  Willard was taken to the Trigg County Hospital Emergency Room by his step - father, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.  There were no arrests made in the incident. Mr. Wallace was taken by ambulance to the hospital emergency room about 10:30 p.m. that night for treatment of shock.

Willard, Jr. who was in the seventh grade at Trigg County Middle School was buried on Sunday afternoon, May 14, 1978 in the Blue Spring Church Cemetery in Caldwell County near the grave of his father.

 

 

Tombstone of Willard Mitchell, Jr.

LINEAGE: (Willard Barkley Mitchell, Jr. was the son of Willard Barkley, Sr. and Janie Marilyn Williams Mitchell and the grandson of Sanford Frazier and Lillie Mae Gresham Williams.  Sanford was the son of George Raymond and Ida Elizabeth Hargrove Williams.  Ida was the first child of Jefferson and Ida Bridges Hargrove.  Ida was the third child of Starkie T. and Elizabeth Lawrence Bridges.  Starkie was the second child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)

Edwin C. Thomas -- Mystery Murder in the Civil War Era

 

Edwin C. Thomas was born on April 14, 1830 in Trigg County, Kentucky.  He was the first child of James Thomas, Jr. and Margaret Ethridge Thomas.  James Jr. was the sixth child of James Thomas and Mary Standley Thomas.  Edwin had five siblings, Carroll Thomas, born in 1831; an unnamed infant; James Clark “Muck” Thomas, born in 1835; Pollie S. Thomas, born in 1837 who died as a child and Amanda Jane Thomas, born in 1838. Edwin’s family was a farm family who lived on Donaldson Creek.

Edwin married Amanda C. Brandon on March 29, 1849 in Stewart County, Tennessee.  Amanda was a native of Stewart County and was born on June 4, 1830, the daughter of William and Abigail Skinner Brandon.  Census records indicate that Edwin and Amanda lived in Trigg County in 1850, the year after their marriage but in 1860, they were living in Smithland, Kentucky on the Ohio River where Edwin had become a riverboat pilot.

Little is known about the life of Edwin Thomas except his death in 1864.  His death is recorded in the July 21, 1864 issue of the Louisville Courier Journal in a news column simply titled “Murder” which went on to say that “about twelve o’clock yesterday, a murder occurred in the bar of Graham’s Hotel on Fourth street between Main and Water.”   Witnesses to the event say that Ed Thomas, a river pilot, was observed standing at the bar conversing in a low tone with Joseph Graham.  Mr. Graham was the proprietor of the hotel.  The bystanders said they were unable to hear the full conversation between the two gentlemen, but presumed from the gestures that it was of an unpleasant nature.

Ed was overhead as saying to Mr. Graham, “Joe, you have been following me around all day, and have insulted me several times.  You shall do so no more.”  Mr. Graham replied, “I did not insult you,” and drew a pistol from his pocket and taking deliberate aim at Thomas, fired.  According to the news article, “The ball took effect, it entered the left breast of Thomas and inflicted a mortal wound.  After being shot, the wounded man turned, walked through the dining-hall, and on reaching the alley to the rear of the building he fell on his face, and expired in less than ten minutes.”  Mr. Graham turned himself in to the police authorities and was confined in jail.  An article in the July 23, 1864 issue of the Courier Journal states that Mr. Graham was arraigned for the murder, but because of the illness of the presiding judge, the case was postponed.  No further information could be found about the murder of Edwin C. Thomas.

According to the 1870 census, Edwin’s wife, Amanda, was still living in Smithland, with their three living children, James William Thomas, born in 1850; Margaret Alice Thomas, born in 1852; and Dewitt Stanley Thomas, born in 1854.  A fourth child, Laura Dean Thomas, was born in 1857 and died that same year.

Amanda died on July 1, 1876.  The location of Edwin and Amanda’s burial sites could not be found.

LINEAGE:  (Edwin C. Thomas was the first child of James, Jr. and Margaret Ethridge Thomas.  James, Jr. was the sixth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

Harry Clinton Coleman -- Mechanic

 

Harry and Irene Coleman

Harry Clinton Coleman was born on April 11, 1918 in Trigg County, Kentucky. He was the first of five children born to Herman Conrad Coleman and Johnnie Pearl Bridges Coleman. Herman was a farmer in Trigg County. Harry’s siblings were Mira Everdeane, born in 1920; Nila Jean, born in 1926; Ernest Layton, born in 1928 and Howard “Tommy”, born in 1933.

Harry worked as a young man as a farmer with his father.  In 1933, the U.S. Congress established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) as a relief program for unmarried young men between the ages of 18 and 25. Harry joined the CCC and traveled to Bunker Hill, Nevada where he worked in a camp for six months. He returned to Trigg County where he worked again as a farmer and as a truck driver.

On January 31, 1942, Harry was drafted into the U.S. Navy and was sent to the Naval Training Station in Great Lakes, Illinois. He was later sent to navy training units at the Navy Pier in Chicago and in Treasure Island, California where he completed his training as an aviation machinist.  On May 6, 1943, Harry left California bound for the Fiji Islands, where he served as part of the Far Eastern Theater of War.  He was then sent to the New Hebrides Islands. Following serving over two years in the South Pacific, Harry was sent back to California where he was discharged from the service on November 10, 1945.

Retuning to civilian life, Harry worked for six months in California driving a semi-trailer truck on the west coast before returning to work for the Henry White Chevrolet Company in Cadiz as a mechanic. He worked at the Chevrolet dealership for five years then became a driver for a private trucking company for several years.  He later went to work at Fort Campbell military base where he worked as a mechanic on combat vehicles.  He worked in this position for seventeen years before retiring in January 1970. After enduring heart surgery, Harry drove a school bus for the Trigg County School system before officially retiring in 1986.

On November 2, 1946, Harry married Thelma Irene Fourshee.  Irene was born on September 16, 1925 in Trigg County, the daughter of Riley Isaac and Edna Earl Carr Fourshee. Edna Earl was the granddaughter of Drewry and Peachie Tart Bridges.  Irene grew up in Trigg County and graduated from Trigg County High School in 1944.  She worked in varied positions over the years including teaching school, working as a secretary at the local five and dime store, as a deputy in the County Clerk’s office and in an attorney’s office. She later went to work for the Home Service Company in Cadiz.   The business moved to a location on East Main Street in Cadiz and in 1970 she and a partner purchased the store from its owners, changing its name to Trigg Supply Company.

Harry and Irene had no children. Harry died on March 13, 2003 at the age of 84 at his home in Cadiz.  He was buried in the East End Cemetery in Cadiz.  His wife, Irene, died on March 15, 2016 at the age of 90 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.  She was buried in the East End Cemetery next to her husband.

 Tombstone of Harry and Irene Coleman

Harry Coleman's Draft Card

LINEAGE: (Harry Clinton Coleman was the son of Herman Conrad and Johnnie Pearl Bridges Coleman.  He was the grandson of William Stanley and Eliza Helen Davis Coleman and Starkie Emerson and Matilda Elizabeth Wallis Bridges.  William Stanley was the seventh child of Alfred Boyd and Alpha Thomas Coleman.  Alpha was the second child of Perry and Elizabeth Bridges Thomas.  Perry was the third child of James and Mary Standley Thomas. Starkie Emerson was the fourth child of Starkie and Elizabeth Lawrence Bridges.  Starkie was the second child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)