The Spiker Family Gathering Place

Return to the CURRENT EDITION
of the Spiker Gazette

• Introduction to our new family website, the Spiker Gazette & the Gazette staff.

• Dean Spiker, Cathy Gregis & Melanie Fouse went "grave hunting" to record the location of family graves.
• Chris & Renee Chambers had a baby girl, Ella Brooke, on June 13th.
• Keri Gregis Hurst & family moved to their new home in Oxford.
• Haley Conley wins award for her fiction writing published in FGCU's student-edited literary & arts magazine.

• Details of the First Annual Championship Bull Riders event on the John Spiker Farm in Jane Lew, WV.

• Week-long celebration in the beautiful Rocky Mountains to celebrate Paul Miller's 90th birthday.
• Melanie Fouse shares a touching sibling love story about her grandchildren.
• Larry & Cathy Gregis took a trip to New York. Cathy shares the highlights.
• Central Florida is the "lightning capital of the U.S." -- the Conley's felt the power when it struct at their home.

• Our interview with Melinda Spiker Chambers about the children's books she has authored.
• What do you get when a mother of three children marries a father of three children? The "Curry Bunch," of course. Meet mother Shelly (Gregis,) father Rob & their six energetic children on the Curry Farm.
• Yvonne Haines submits a story about her grandfather's (Felix Brigham Wood Zinn) life in WV.

• Introduction to the Sunny Pointe Guest House owned by John & Sue Spiker. Includes link to their new website.

• Mike Spiker submits an excerpt from his publication "Spiker / Zinn Farm History."

• A review of the year's family events.

• Paul Miller discusses his involvement in the Faith and Education Collaborative.
• Evan & Jennifer Thrush have a son, Liam.
• Dean Spiker's annual winter vacation in Florida at the Conley's home is shortened.

• A look at our ancestors and the tax man.

• Editors of the Gazette will be canvassing for stories at the family reunion next month.
• Haley Conley graduates with honors from Florida Gulf Coast University.

• Newspaper article remembering the "Flood of 1950."
• Evan Thrush accepts new position with John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland.
• Ryan Thrush completes further law enforcement training in his job as park ranger for the National Park Services.
• Updates about Shelly Curry's sons, Clayton & Robbie's, involvement in high school sports.

• Highlights of the 2008 Spiker Family Reunion.

• Editor requests copies of old family letters.

• Surprise party for Willa Dean Spiker's 80th birthday
• Editor requests documentation of the Spiker men in the military.

• Introduction to Gay Spiker's personal diary.

• Highlights of Alison Spiker's mission trip to Guatamala.
• Responses were received about Gay Spiker's diary.

• Mary Lucille DeBerry reminisces about how important education has been to the families living near the Spiker farm.

• No news to share - just wishes for the Happiest of Holidays and all the best in the New Year.

• Navigating our website is like going from room to room at the Spiker farm. Here's how it works.
• Rachel Fouse delivers fourth child, Caden Scott, on December 9.

• Exploring the connections of Bradford Spiker's manuscript, "The Good-Will Community," with Barr Wilson, John M. DeBrular, Port DeBrular, Geneva Haught, Gay Spiker, Orville & Gerry Bonnell, Mary Grace Maxwell, Ed Haught, and Sue Ann Maxwell Spiker.

• Our family's efforts to record some of the Spiker names in our history are sometimes hindered by conflicting "sources."
• John Bob Spiker was selected to fight the Southern Extreme Bull Riding Association Finals & is elected "Bullfighter of the Year."
• Chris & Jenny Nolan have a little girl, Alexis.

• Reunion schedule is announced. Requests made for auction items to benefit the South Fork Cemetery.
• Evan & Jen Thrush welcome son, Logan Paul, on March 27.

• Bobbi Conley looks forward to attending the family reunion for the first time in years.
• Reunion schedule is confirmed.
• Shawn Gifford & Rikki had a son, Alexander Douglas, born on May 11.
• Black bear spotted at the farm (from where Bear Run gets its name.)

• Highlights of the 2009 Spiker Family Reunion
• List of the attendees at the 2009 reunion.

• Announcing the Third Annual Championship Bull Riding at John & Sue Spiker's farm.
• John Bob & Lisa Spiker welcome their third daughter.
• Angela & Rob Benson welcome son, Blake Alan, on July 11.

• Recap of the Bull Riding event at John & Sue Spiker's farm.
• First peek at the restored Spiker buggy.

• Review of Quilly Manley Zinn's Will & the Estate Sale of John Zinn.

• The Spiker Buggy has been restored to it former glory. Photos included.

• Examining hot the South Fork Church's "Rules of Decorum" may have shaped some of Bob Spiker's expectations for his children's behavior in church.
• Obituary of Genevieve "Jenny" Stout Summers.

• An interview with twins Boots & Ann about what Christmas was like when growing up at the Spiker farm.

• The love letter Alice Spiker sent to husband Brad has a very special place in the hearts & homes of their descendants.

• Children's book written by Melinda Spiker Chambers & illustrated by Sue Ann Maxwell Spiker wins Mom's Choice Award.

• Census reveals Burns Harlan's slightly unusual way of naming his children.

• Preparing for the 2010 Reunion.
• Pete Deremer will graduate from WVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources next month.

• Sarah Smith reminds everyone to look through boxes of letters and post cards from the Spiker family that she dropped off at the farm.

• Highlights of the 2010 Spiker Family Reunion.
• Melanie Fouse distributes bookmarks she designed by incorporating pictures taken at the Spiker farm.
• Introduction to Guy Zinn's professional baseball cards.

• In Loving Memory of Francena Miller 1919-2010

• Recap of the Bull Riding event at John & Sue Spiker's farm.
• A bull named Super House, calved by John Bob Spiker, had his first out in the PBR Ford Tough Series and is still unridden.
• Robby Currey III elected to WV State FFA Secretary Office.

• Barbara Thrush shares her thoughts & family photos about her husband Ryan's career as a National Park Ranger.

• Requests for sources about David Spiker & his father that will help us positively identify the family connection.

• Wayne Struzik shares his adventures of meeting up with an old military buddy that he hadn't seen in 50 years.
• YouTube videos of Appalachia base player, Chris Chambers, and of Bullfighter, John Bob Spiker.

• No news to share - just wishes for the Happiest of Holidays and all the best in the New Year.

• Resolve to scan, document, organize and share all those family photos you've been saving.

• Why it's so important to talk to our families before they leave us. Includes easy ways to interview them.

• It's important to document our family's living history, but it is even more important to be aware of our family's medical history.
• Brad Stotts became a father in February to daughter Kista.

• Melinda Spiker Chambers tells what it was like to be interviewed on "The Balancing Act," a nationally televised weekday show on Lifetime Television.

• Schedule announced for 2011 Spiker Reunion.

• Haley Conley's cross-stitched wall hanging sets Auction record for an individual item of $550.
  Highlights of the 2011 Spiker Family Reunion.
• Alice Spiker passed away on May 25 at age 94.

• Lisa "Kate" Spiker sets up a website detailing the goings-on at John and Sue Spiker's farm in Jane Lew, WV.
• Christ Chambers' bluegrass band, Appalachia, is also busy updating their website.
• Jonelle Swiger reserves spot for use as a Farmer's Market.
• Haley Conley & Pat Cloughessy became engaged on July 1.
• Robby Currey III completed first year as a WV State FFA Secretary & runs for National FFA office.

• Introduction to the descendants of Isaac Monroe & Catherine Bradford Spiker, including photos & memorials.
• Jonelle Spiker Swiger wins Grand Prize in WV Living Magazine's second annual photo contest.
• Surprise party for Ryan Thrush's 40th birthday.

• Marty Spiker tells us about the good, and the not so good, times daughter Alison Morris & her husband had while staying a spell at the Spiker farmhouse.

• An excerpt from "Ritchie County Crimes & Calamaties" tells the tale of counterfeiters William and Emmanual Alkire (in our family tree by marriage.)
• John Bob & Kate Spiker welcome fourth daughter, Katelyn Fay.

• Brad Spiker's manuscript "Good-Will Community" hints that George Farley Bush was a Southern sympathizer.

• No news to share - just wishes for the Happiest of Holidays and all the best in the New Year.

• The US government releases the census to the public exactly 72 years after it was taken. Announcing the release of the 1940 census.
• Cathy & Larry Gregis take an extended vacation to Florida & share emails of their adventure.

• The 6th Annual Bull Ride moves to June.
• Adelene Spiker passed away in Mar.
• Sarah Smith sells framed & matted photos of her photography of the Spiker Farm.
• Zach Gifford becomes a father in April to daughter Hailey Jade.
• Article with Del Monte's Chris Struzik appears in Progressive Grocer magazine.

• Haley Conley shares some fun and interesting facts that she has been collecting about the Spiker family.
• Highlights of the 2012 Spiker Family Reunion

• Remembering Willa Dean Bonnell Spiker 1928-2012
• Haley Conley and Pat Cloughessy get married on 10-11-12 at Sanibel Island, Florida.

• Husband & wife, Alison & Grant Morris, earn their medical degrees.
• Twins Delene (Boots) & Delane (Ann) celebrate 80th birthdays in February.
• Clayton Yeager graduates high school
• Morgan Hurst graduates high school.
• Chris Chambers releases new solo music album titled "Weathervane."

• Mike Spiker reveals the establishment of the South Fork Cemetery Association and Uncle Paul's generous contribution to the fund.
• RC Brunstetter will be going to NC State in January to play football as a Long Snapper.
• Jonelle Spiker Swiger appears in singer Gary Allan's music video titled "It Ain't the Whiskey."
• Haley & Pat Claughessy announce they're having twins.

• Haley & Pat Cloughessy's twin sons, Greyson Patrick and Logan Andrew arrive on May 20.
• Boots, Ann and Paul all celebrate birthdays, as did Coon, who turned 90 on September 10.

• Introduction to the "home renovations" being made to our website.
• Schedule announced for the 2015 Spiker Reunion
• Peyton Grett graduates from Olathe High School
• Devon Yeager graduates from Doddridge County High School
• Robby Currey III graduates from Marshall University
• Pete Deremer & Stephanie McGowan announce engagement
• Kari Deremer & Dustin Duda announce engagement
• Brock Stotts & Missy Spangler got married in September 2014
• Drew Spiker & Katie Onachila got married in November 2014
• Katie & Christian Shaffer announce they are expecting their first child in August
• Brock & Missy Stotts are expecting their first child in October
• Twins Greyson & Logan Cloughessy celebrate 1st birthday with a touching video.
• Melinda & Sue Ann's newest books has been published.

• Highlights of the 2015 Spiker Family Reunion
• John Bob & Kate Spiker welcome fifth daughter, Caroline.
• Cruz Hayes graduates high school
• Remembering Paul Ausborn Miller 1917-2015

• We can always find Mike Spiker at the reunion, he's the grey-haired guy in the yellow shirt.
• Pete Deremer takes trip to Italy.
• Katie & Christian Shaffer welcome daughter Adalyn.

• Photo scrapbook of the Spiker Farm.
• Mark Spiker takes Medical Mission trip to Ecuador.

• RC Brunstetter transfers to WVU.
• A few photos reinforcing that Spikers love everything Blue & Gold.
• Kari Deremer opens Etsy store.

• Paula Kay Miller Nolan introduces us to her mother, Catherine Gay Spiker Miller.
• Brock & Missy Stotts welcome son Beckett Terry on September 22.

• Joan Struzik Cerney & Ruth Strauss Stahl introduce us to Jake's sister, Grace Gurdle Spiker.

• Bobbi Conley reflects on Christmases at Bob Spiker's home.
• Sue Ann Spiker and her farm are seen in an episode of DIY Network's show, "Barnwood Builders."

• Mike Spiker's outline of the Spiker / Zinn Farm History - Union District, Ritchie County, West Virginia.

• Family photos suggest a possible relationship with Phebe Cunningham

• Delane King - affectionately known to us as Aunt Ann - has passed away.
• Ryan and Barbara Thrush's eldest son graduates with Double-Major.

• We can't get enough of these videos of some of our youngest players.
• Grant & Alison Morris reveal they're expecting their first child.

• A special memorial gathering will be held at the farm house on Saturday to remember Paul Miller.
• The Schedule of Events is revealed.
• A family video - Spikerhendge - is released.

• Memorial service for Paul & Francena Miller
• Currey family travels to Washington D.C. to remember & honor Veterans.
• While on vacation, Angie Benson helps save a life.
• Coon Larew has a fun time riding in the Farmer's Day Parade.

• We are a family of painters, sculptors, and authors, of ranchers, gardeners, and apiarists. So it makes sense that the virtual "inventory" consists of items that family members have made with their own hands.
• We complement our "family line of goods" with products or services that reference our family and the communities in which they live and toss in a few genealogy-related elements to balance everything out.

• Prevent memories from being lost and make them easily available to the rest of the family.
• Discover options for scanning photos & documents.

• Preserving the stories behind our family heirlooms.
• Print out our Heirloom Inventory Form

• Proving we didn't make all this stuff up.
• Locating important family records.
• Print out our Family Group Sheet
• Print out our Source Checklist

• We go back 100 years to see how much - or how little - political views have changed in Ritchie County.
• Drew & Katie Spiker become parents.
• Rob & Shelly Currey are honored as Doddridge County 2016 Outstanding 4-H Volunteers

• We disagree. Christmas doesn't come earlier every year.
• View Family Christmas cards & photos.

• Save the Date - 2017 Reunion
• Sarah's photo of the South Fork Baptist Church appears in Charleston newspaper.

• Introducing: Jacob Verlynne "Lynn" Spiker (part 2 of 2)
• Gracie Spiker mentioned in friend's 1966 Will.

• Project ideas for the auction.
• Sarah Spiker Smith offers photos for sale.

• Bobbi Spiker Conley announces the discovery of a new family heirloom -- a business ledger/diary written by members of Granville Preston Zinn's family.

• Some reunion activities could be affected by weather.
• Cousin Stanley Wolfe's family, Minard's Spaghetti Inn, celebrates 80 years in business.

• Highlights of the 2017 Spiker Family Reunion

• Focusing on links and tools that are more specific to OUR direct ancestors and the communities in which they live(d).
• Resources broken down by Country, State, County, City/Township/Community, Surname
• It's time for the 11th Annual Spiker Farm Bull Ride.

• Photos of ancestors involved in cleaning and erecting monuments.
• Printable Cemetery Survey Templates
• Requesting volunteers to help document ancestor memorials.

• The old barn gets a facelift with the addition of new artwork -- a barn quilt painted in traditional Mountaineer blue and gold.
• Introducing Melanie Fouse's newest grandson, Leland.
• Drone images of the 11th annual Spiker bull riding event.

• When one wall of the old Cellar House fell, Mike and others repaired the damage with modern blocks, saving the ancient sandstone blocks for other purposes:
• Grandmother Gay's Lily Pond
• Spikerhenge
• Fire Pit

• An introduction to our 5th great-grandfather from Ireland.
• Visiting the Bradford Farm Family Cemetery in Pennsylvania.
• Christian and Katie welcome their 2nd daughter to the family.

• Aerial view of the Spiker Family Farm
• Morgan Hurst becomes a mother.
• John Bob & Kate welcome daughter number six.
• Announcing the marriage of Cole and Kylie Grett.

• Some call it a "do-over" or a "start-over" but ours is more of a "reboot" or "rebuild" - see what that means for our family tree.

• Cousin Gary W. Zinn introduces himself to the family.
• Two new articles have been uploaded to our Library.
• South Fork Church announces bus tour to see the Ark in Kentucky.

• Photos of the church and cemetery.
• Lumber from Marion Bukey Zinn's farm was used to build the church.
• The leftover lumber was used to build Gay Spiker's sister & brother-in-law's home.
• EVENT in April -- the Annual Ramp Dinner at Berea's South Fork Grange

• Two die and two are injured in Oxford, WV fire.
• Newspaper articles provide details.
• RC Smith and Mikayla Yeager are graduating
• EVENT in April -- The Ritchie County Historical Society Genealogy & History Fair

• Construction of the Spiker family's home was completed in 1918. Here's a little history.
• Barbara Thrush sends us a pic from Kylie and Cole Grett's wedding.

• The OLD family pictures are here.
• The NEW family pictures are here.
• The CREEPY family pictures are here.

• We reveal the identities of the women in the "Creepy Photo" -- they are William Buckner & Anna Marie (Ward) Zinn's daughters, Ila Ota Zinn and Eliza Jane Zinn. 
• It's time for the 12th Annual Spiker Bull Ride!
• Gary Zinn submits two more stories for our Library.
• Spiker cousins recreate an old family photo.

• Gay Spiker's sister, Ethel, married Clyde Radcliffe. In this edition, we remember their children.
• Includes a Photo Album of several of the descendants of Isaac Monroe and Catherine Zinn Bradford Spiker.
• Cole and Kylie Grett are expecting their first child in February 2019.
• Remembering cousin Joan Struzik.

• Three buildings, one church, and the cemetery - from 1841 to present.
• Grant, Alison & Zelia are moving to Ohio.

• Photos of the 12 stained glass memorial windows.
• Introduction to those memorialized.

• From Robert Raikes to Robert Spiker - the Sunday School Movement
• Little "Bobby Spiker's" readers

• From Bradford Spiker to Robert Spiker - brother teaching brother
• Introducing the Sunny Point School
• Harvey Shepler salvages the lumber; Brad Spiker rescues the outhouse

• From Gary Zinn to Elma Mae Leggett
• Introducing the Summers School - What is was REALLY like walking to school
• Remembering Aunt Boots - Delene Winew Larew

• From Elma Mae Leggett to Cathy Spiker Gregis
• Introducing the Point Pleasant School
• Grant & Alison Morris welcome their second child, a daughter.
• Cole & Kylie Grett welcome their first child, a son.

• Schedule of Events
• John Hicks Sets All-Time Best State Record

• Introducing James & Caroline Spiker of Indiana
• Introducing Ken & Georgia Ann (Spiker) Varner of Iowa
• Peyton Grett earns Sociology Degree

• List of who attended the festivities on Sunday (well, most of them.)
• Fishing Contest winners
• John Hicks signs Letter of Intent 

• Cheyenne Curry wins three Banners
• Mikayla Yeager crowned Queen

• Mike & Marty Spiker celebrate at the Greenbrier in WV
• 1979-2019 -- their 40th Wedding Anniversary

• Derek Gifford reacts quickly to safeguard those in his care.
• Receives award in recognition of his courageous and potentially life-saving actions.

• Bob Spiker and his father left their marks on a box turtle's shell.
• News article from The Ritchie Standard reveals that cousin William "Buckner" Zinn may have started the tradition.
• Update to original article: 13-year-old boy from Washington County, PA is part of the tradition as well.

• Several stories about our cousin Buckner Zinn
• Civil War Pension Index for the 6th WV Infantry, Company E

• Overview - COVID-19 Timeline
• Overview - N1H1 aka "Spanish Influenza" Timeline
• Transcription from local newspapers reveal some of the impact of the 1918-1919 "Spanish Flu" on our ancestors in Ritchie County.
• An old Spiker remedy for preventing the flu (and maybe COVID-19)

• This year's reunion has been POSTPONED.
• The "next generation" is encouraged to write their "Memories of the Spiker Farm"

• Decorating the graves of the Civil War dead
• Memorial Day becomes a national holiday
• Honoring fallen members of the American armed forces from all wars

• Melanie Fouse challenges the next generation to write their family stories.
• Katie Spiker Shaffer submits her story titled My Farm Memories
• Remembering the late Tom "Buzz" Kuhn.

• Our 2nd great-grandfather and his family
• His march in the Tennessee & Virginia Railroad Campaign
• His death in the Battle at Cloyd's Mountain

• Jacob Bradford's widow remarries
• Mentions of other ancestors in the battle
• Two future Presidents
• Killed in Battle - living to tell the tale

• The flag carried by the 14th infantry
• The records of Company F are preserved
• A consolidated list of the solders of Company F
• Unclaimed Civil War Medals 

• Funded by members of the Spiker family.
• Installed by members of the South Fork Church
• See photos

• Letters sent to our grandparents Jake Spiker and Gay Zinn
• Where they came from; how we got them
• Majority are "Courting" letters dated 1905 through 1907

• Gay sends first Christmas Greeting Card to her sweetheart, Jake Spiker
• Merry Christmas!

• Gay and Jake begin writing letters almost daily.
• Gay "quits" her former beaus
• Letters mention: Goldie Ward, Alco Zinn, Otley Zinn and others

• The valentines that Gay and Jake mailed to one another weren't what we were expecting.
• Their quirky senses of humor played out like a romantic comedy.
• Photos of the "Vinegar Valentines"

• From the "courting letters," we learn when the couple met and decipher the meaning of "bringing in the wood," among others.
• YES! A reunion is being planned for May 2021. 

• Others began noticing Jake and Gay's courtship
• Letters reveal that the couple frequently stopped at the Court House Cave in Harrisville
• Letters mention: Perry Zinn, Agnes Burwell, and Lena Ward

• Jake and Gay's relationship is attacked by the local Rumor Mill.
• Letters mention: Roy Bee, Blaine Nutter, Francis Hemsworth, Ben Rogers & Bertha Wade, Ralph Sommerville & Ona Douglass, Ernest Zinn & Gay Calhoun, Howard Loudin & Essie Zinn, Lloyd Dotson & Emma Gay Jet, Charlie DeBrular & Dochie Gribble, Lloyd Gray & Ocal Haught, Jennings Law & Dulcie Post, and others.
• Haley & Patrick relocate to Arkansas
• Obituaries - Larry Gregis, Sylvia Zinn, Myra Zinn 

• Gay and Jake discuss their wedding plans.
• Gay and Jake's wedding and their first home.
• The Spiker Family Reunion of 2021
• Three teens graduate from high school: Christian Hicks, Carigan Hayes, and Connor Smith.
• Kayelin Perry marries David Spiker.

• S.W.A.K. and other declarations of love
• Slow, misdirected, and lost letters
• Letters mention: Oxford Postmaster Ernest Erickson Zinn and wife Vallie Gay (Calhoun) Zinn.
• Derek Gifford donates Welcome Sign to West Milford park.

• Horse is spooked and runs off.
• Drives into bees nest.
• Need to put down an injured horse - but not on Sunday.