Amish/Mennonite’s have deep-rooted history in Moorefield area

For most of us, Amish families traveling in their old time, horse-drawn, buggies are an unfamiliar sight, but the Amish/Mennonites have a long history attached to the village of Moorefield.

According to information provided by Gladys Coons Cook, Christian Hostetler’s grandson Solomon, married Polly Hon, the daughter of a Nicholas Countian. Polly and Christian’s sixth child, John married Hannah Tilley and moved to Nicholas County sometime after 1888. Their son Oliver lived and died near Moorefield, leaving a family who moved away. His twin sister, Ann married Harvey P. Hamilton, childless she and her husband lived in an old brick house on a road before the present East Union road was built.

Albert Warren Hostetler, the son of John and Hannah, first came to Nicholas County around 1885 to visit with the Barr family.

During his visit he attended a revival at the Concord Church where he met Sarah Coons whom he married in 1886 at the East Union Christian Church. They lived and reared their children on what was known as the old Burnaw farm, and as the Patrick Berry place on the Moorefield road.

Their son Estle, married Sue Ewell of Nicholas County and bought his father’s farm on Whetstone Road where they lived until 1942 then moved to Ohio.

Estle and Sue’s only daughter, Sarepta Jane, married Everett D. Smith, a Woodford County farmer in 1920. They owned and lived on what was known as the Pannel Bramblet farm on highway 13, in an old log house on top of a hill that overlooked Carlisle.

The youngest son of Albert and Sarah Hostetler married Netta Jane Kerns of East Union, December 19, 1917. They lived all 47 years of their married life at what was known as the Patrick Berry farm on the Moorefield road.

Albert served in the Navy during World War 1, was a deacon of the Carlisle Christian Church and was elected magistrate from District 5 in 1945.

Albert and Netta Janes daughter, Alberta married Charles Russell Boyd, they owned and operated Boyd’s Green Acres Farm in Bethel, Ky.

Dr. Oliver Smith Kash was a native of Morgan County, Ky. He moved his practice to Moorefield around 1885 where he spent 25 years as the town doctor known for his courteous manner and sympathetic nature.

His son Clarance also became a doctor, his son Oliver became a noted editor and journalist, and his granddaughter, Betty Ann, married a relative of Daniel Boone.