I found a reference in an article about William (Rebel Bill) Smith who fought with the conf. in the civil war as a guerrilla . He died in 1903 athis brother in laws house at 8th St. Huntington WV .His brother in law was Major C.E.Prichard. I wonder if this was a misprint and meant C.N.

Dusty, Thanks!!!

The 1880 Census of Lawrence Country, Kentucky lists John W. Prichard with his wife and children. His occupation is listed as "dulcmore maker" or "dulemore maker" (Smith, Appalachian Dulcimer Traditions, 2nd ed. p. 79.).

But Smith asked John's granddaughter, Mrs.Golda Queen Frazier,if her grandfather made dulcimers, and she said no. Smith speculates that she might not have known that he did and that the brothers might have worked together.

Dusty, Thanks!!! Did the obit mention anything about his older brother John W.? It appears he may have been making dulcimers too. I can't seem to find and obit for John. It's almost like he dropped off the planet.

On page 77 of the second edition of Appalachian Dulcimer Traditions, Smith reports "a front-page obituary in the Huntington Advertiser for September 12, 1904" and continues, "This obituary states that Charles Napoleon Prichard was born in Bolt's Fork in eastern Kentucky, served in a Kentucky cavalry unit on the Union side in the Civil War, taught school in Kentucky after military service, came to Huntington at an unspecified date, and in 1887 launched a successful advertising paper full of humorous sayings, called the Cricket. [. . .] But the full-column story included nothing about dulcimers . . ."

Later on that same page Smith reports that the 1880 Census of West Virginia included Charles N. Prichard among the residents of Cabell County with an occupation identified as "Manf. Music Int."

On the next page Smith reports that Prichard's great-niece confirmed that her great uncle made dulcimers first at Bolt's Fort, Kentucky and then in Huntington, WV.

Perhaps he became a major in the Kentucky cavalry.

And on the labels he put in the dulcimers, Prichard called them "American Dulcimers."

Hey thanks Dusty for this info. I am trying to collect any and all info on Prichard. Kevin

Thanks, Dusty, it's one book I don't have yet. There are several things we're hoping the full obit will tell us, not the least interesting is why in the West Virginia Gazetteer and the Huntington City directory is he called "Major." I went to google books hoping their preview would include some of the WV pages, but it did not. Thanks again for that info. Findagrave is a great genealogical resource.

Thanks again

Dusty, I asked someone if Ralph had some detail information. I saw excerpts of his book. My library doesn't have his book but I plan on checking it out through inter library load. Let me ask you this, does his book have the entire copy of his obit? Does he mention why Prichard has the title of Major? What is the essential information? Did he include the entire obituary?

I assume you all know this already, but Ralph Lee Smith summarizes the obituary in Appalachian Dulcimer Traditions . I know it's not the same as having a copy of the original obit, but the essential info is there. You might also be interested in this photo:

The original photo can be found here: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=63396319 .

Jim, No they don't have to go to the state for the information. I think they gave me the maximum time. It could be sooner. A librarian has to research their microfilm and make sure they get all the references and then make copies. I guess it depends on their work load too.

Patty, did you ask why it would take two weeks for them to get them to you? Seems like an awful long time. Do they have to go to WV to get what you want?

Kevin, I just requested the obit today from the Cabell County Library. It will take about two weeks. I asked if they could send it electronically and they don't offer that. So it's coming snail mail.

Very good, Sherlock.

Cant wait to read it.

Well, now we have a face to go with the name. I told Rob I was going to request his obit from the library in Huntington. Hopefully that will shed some light on his dulcimer business and how his brother was involved.