Kentucky’s Sons of the Six-Gun: Bluegrass Roots of the Old West

 

Introduction: From the Bluegrass to the Badlands

The American West may have been settled on horseback, but many of those horses carried men from Kentucky.
From the hollers of Rowan County to the banks of the Ohio River in Mason County, the Bluegrass State sent forth some of the most famous — and infamous — figures to ever wear a six-gun.

They became outlaws, lawmen, and legends — men who carried with them the same stubborn pride, quick temper, and moral code they’d learned back home.
In truth, much of the Old West was Kentucky, reborn on the frontier.

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Boone Helm: The Kentucky Cannibal

Born Levi Boone Helm in Lincoln County, Kentucky, in 1828, he grew up on the edge of civilization — a boy with an iron will and an uncontrollable temper.
After his family moved west, Helm’s violent nature erupted. He killed men in duels, robbed travelers, and during desperate winter treks through the wilderness, he ate human flesh — earning the infamous nickname “The Kentucky Cannibal.”
Helm was hanged in Montana in 1864, but his legend lived on as one of the West’s most terrifying frontiersmen.

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Virgil Earp: Hartford’s Gift to the Law

Long before the O.K. Corral, there was Hartford, Kentucky — where Virgil Walter Earp was born in 1843.
The Earp family later moved to Illinois and Iowa, but Kentucky was their first home.
That same steady, justice-driven spirit of the Bluegrass would carry Virgil into history as one of the Old West’s most respected lawmen — a man whose courage and calm hand defined frontier justice.

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Jack McCall: The Assassin from Jefferson County

Jack McCall, who shot Wild Bill Hickok in the back of the head during a poker game in Deadwood, was reportedly born in Jefferson County, Kentucky, around 1852.
He claimed his motive was revenge, but most historians believe he sought the notoriety that came with killing a legend.
McCall’s short, violent life ended on the gallows — one more Kentuckian forever tied to the West’s blood-soaked mythology.

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Clarence Hite: Kentucky’s Outlaw in the James Gang

Clarence Browler Hite, born in Logan County, Kentucky, joined Jesse James and the infamous James-Younger Gang during their string of robberies in the 1870s.
Wounded during the Northfield, Minnesota raid, Hite represented a type of man Kentucky produced often in the Reconstruction years — proud, desperate, and unwilling to bend to federal authority after the Civil War.
In many ways, he was a Confederate raider who never stopped fighting.

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Harvey “Kid Curry” Logan: Wild Bunch, Bluegrass Blood

Harvey Alexander Logan, known to history as “Kid Curry,” was one of the deadliest members of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch.
Though born in Iowa, both of his parents — William Harvey Logan and Martha Ann Sturdivant — hailed from Fleming and Rowan Counties, Kentucky, where they married before moving west.
Pinkerton detectives called him “the wildest of all the Wild Bunch,” and his story — like so many — began with Kentucky grit in his blood.

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Johnny Ringo: The Gentleman Gunfighter of Montgomery County Descent

John Peters “Johnny” Ringo, famed gunfighter and rival of the Earps, was born in Missouri in 1850 but descended from Kentuckians.
His father, Martin Albert Ringo, came from Montgomery County, Kentucky, and his grandparents, John Ringo Sr. and Mary Peters Ringo, were among that county’s early settlers.
Though Johnny’s end came in a lonely Arizona grove, the blood that ran through him came from the Kentucky foothills — genteel, proud, and defiant.

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Judge Roy Bean: The “Law West of the Pecos,” Born in Mason County

Phantly Roy Bean Jr., better known as Judge Roy Bean, was born in Mason County, Kentucky, around 1825, near the town of May’s Lick.
Before becoming Texas’s legendary “Law West of the Pecos,” he was a Kentucky boy with a restless spirit and a quick wit.
Operating out of his saloon, The Jersey Lilly, in Langtry, Texas, Bean dispensed his unique version of frontier justice — often with a bottle of whiskey in one hand and a six-shooter in the other.
His rulings were eccentric, his methods unorthodox, but his roots were pure Kentucky: a mix of stubbornness, humor, and self-assured independence.

The 1912 Rose Run Riots of Bath County, Kentucky

 

The Rose Run Riots of Bath County, Kentucky (1912)

Bath County, Kentucky is known for its rolling hills, springs, and horse country—but over a century ago it was also home to one of the most significant iron-ore operations in the state. The Rose Run Iron Company, situated between Olympia and Polksville, promised jobs and industry for a rural county that badly needed both. By the summer of 1912, however, those promises gave way to strikes, sabotage, armed guards, and a court-ordered disarmament that locals would long remember as the Rose Run Riots.

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A Promising Mine

Geologists had been aware of Rose Run’s value for decades. The Kentucky Geological Survey identified the Rose Run and Preston deposits as among the most significant iron-ore banks in Kentucky, with ore bodies running through the Brassfield (Clinton) beds.¹ By 1905, the Rose Run Iron Company near Owingsville was producing tens of thousands of tons. A U.S. Geological Survey bulletin noted “the mine of the Rose Run Iron Company near Owingsville, Ky.” and tallied roughly 25,000 tons of ore shipped that year.²

This wasn’t a backwoods furnace—it was an operation with outside capital, professional engineers, and connections stretching as far as St. Louis.³ The tramlines and wooden trestles that carried ore out of the hills symbolized more than infrastructure. They were lifelines, and in 1912, they became battlegrounds.

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The Strike of 1912

By early summer 1912, the mineworkers of Rose Run had walked out. Wages, hours, and dangerous conditions fueled the decision. The strike dragged on for months, leaving the operation divided between strikers, loyal men who stayed on the job, and company-hired guards watching over the property.

On Wednesday evening, July 17, 1912, around 6 p.m., the trouble surfaced again. The Bath County News-Outlook reported:
*“Lawlessness broke out again… two bents of a trestle were damaged.”*⁴

The matter-of-fact tone only underscored the seriousness. This wasn’t the first incident, but it was one that made the county sit up. A damaged trestle could derail cars, cost money, and kill men.

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Violence Makes the Wires

By September, the dispute had gone beyond Bath County and hit the regional news wires. On September 20, 1912, a Lexington dispatch printed in the Augusta Daily Herald summarized the scene:

• The strike had been “in progress for the past three months.”

• The company had posted armed guards.

• A reward was offered for the “trestle burners.”

• Around 300 strikers were holding firm.

• And, perhaps most damning, there had been “much damage” at the plant.⁵

Just days later, another wire report described an explosive encounter. Strikers lined up on both sides of the track and challenged ten guards riding a train near the mines.⁶ The imagery is stark: a train rolling into contested territory, guards staring down a gauntlet of men who had once worked those very tracks.

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Court Cracks Down

By October, Bath County’s legal authorities were compelled to intervene. On October 23, 1912, Bath Circuit Judge Young issued a sweeping order requiring the strikers to **“come into court and surrender their arms.”**⁷ Newspapers across the region described it as a “drastic order” intended to halt the “rioting and fighting at the Rose Run mines.”

Reports from the same period noted that not only had a trestle been destroyed, but two company-owned tenant houses were also burned.⁸ Violence was no longer limited to the mine’s infrastructure—it had reached into the homes tied to the company itself.

One out-of-state paper even singled out a man named Browning, a former employee, in connection with the unrest.⁹ Whether he was an instigator, a symbol, or simply a recognizable name among the strikers remains unclear, but his mention shows how personal the conflict had become.

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Legacy of the Riots

The Rose Run Riots did not become as bloody or infamous as the coal wars in Harlan or Mingo, but for Bath County the summer of 1912 marked its own labor war. Families were split, property was destroyed, and a sitting circuit judge ordered workers to lay down their guns in open court.

The mining continued in later years—photographs from 1919 show men still working the Rose Run ore banks—but the events of 1912 left an imprint.¹⁰ Long after the smoke cleared, locals could point to the old trestle embankments along Rose Run Creek and recall the season when the county’s promise of iron and industry nearly came undone.

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Endnotes

1. Kentucky Geological Survey, “Iron Ore,” notes Rose Run and Preston deposits as the most significant iron-ore deposits in the state, with a 1919 photograph of Rose Run mining.

2. E. C. Eckel, Iron and Manganese, U.S. Geological Survey, Contributions to Economic Geology (1905): “Section at mine of Rose Run Iron Company near Owingsville, Ky.” Production ~25,000 tons in 1905.

3. Engineers’ Club of St. Louis, 1904 roster lists Philip N. Moore as treasurer of the Rose Run Iron Company of Kentucky.

4. Bath County News-Outlook, July 17, 1912: “Lawlessness broke out again… about 6 o’clock p.m. two bents of a trestle were damaged.”

5. Augusta Daily Herald, Sept. 20, 1912, Lexington dispatch: strike three months, armed guards, reward, ~300 strikers, “much damage.”

6. Wire report, late Sept. 1912 (New York–area press): strikers “lined up on both sides of the track” and challenged “ten guards on a train” near Rose Run.

7. Owensville, Ky., Oct. 23, 1912 press report: Circuit Judge Young orders strikers to “come into court and surrender their arms” to halt rioting.

8. Regional brief (Mt. Sterling press), Oct. 1912: “trestle and two tenant houses destroyed” in Bath County during Rose Run strike.

9. Out-of-state Kentucky digest, Oct. 1912: mentions former employee “Browning” in relation to Rose Run unrest.

10. Kentucky Geological Survey archives, 1919 photograph of Rose Run mining operations in the Brassfield (Clinton) beds.

The Man Who Beat Alcatraz; The Story of Kentucky's John Paul Scott

 

For nearly three decades, Alcatraz stood as the unbreakable fortress of American incarceration. Surrounded by the treacherous, ice-cold waters of the San Francisco Bay and fortified with the nation’s tightest security measures, “The Rock” was believed to be escape-proof. But in December 1962, a prisoner born in Springfield, Kentucky, would prove otherwise—if only for a fleeting moment.

John Paul Scott, inmate AZ-1403, was not as widely known as Al Capone or “Machine Gun” Kelly, but he carved his own place in criminal history by accomplishing something thought impossible. He didn’t just escape from Alcatraz—he swam to freedom.

A Kentucky Beginning

John Paul Scott was born on January 3, 1927, in the small town of Springfield, Kentucky, nestled in the heart of Washington County. His early years are not heavily documented, but by the time he reached adulthood, Scott had drifted into a life of crime. He was convicted in Lexington, Kentucky, for armed bank robbery and illegal possession of firearms. The nature of his offenses and his repeated escape attempts earned him a 30-year sentence and a ticket to Alcatraz—the last stop for the country’s most troublesome federal inmates¹.

Life Inside the Rock

Arriving at Alcatraz in 1959, Scott was assigned to culinary detail in the prison's basement area beneath the main kitchen. While this may have seemed like a mundane assignment, it provided him the opportunity to observe the infrastructure of the prison more closely—and it was here that the seed of escape was planted.

Scott began working alongside another inmate, Darl Lee Parker, and over time, the two hatched a bold plan. Using a concoction of stolen tools, strings coated in abrasive powder, and pure ingenuity, they gradually sawed through the iron bars of a basement window. With each shift, they concealed their work by covering the window with cardboard and strategically placed grease².

The Great Swim

On the cold evening of December 16, 1962, Scott and Parker made their move. Slipping out of the kitchen basement, they descended to the rocky shore of the island and entered the bay’s frigid waters.

Unlike other escapees before them, they had fashioned flotation devices out of prison-issued rubber gloves, which they inflated and wore as water wings. The water temperature hovered around 54°F (12°C), and the tides were strong—conditions many believed impossible to survive³.

Just minutes into the swim, Parker lost consciousness and was pulled back to the shore by currents, where he was recaptured. But John Paul Scott kept going. With determination fueled by desperation, he continued to battle the waves, the tide, and the cold.

To the shock of both prison officials and the broader public, Scott made it.

A Shocking Discovery

Around dawn the next day, a teenage boy bicycling along the waterfront at Fort Point—located beneath the Golden Gate Bridge—spotted something strange: a shivering, semi-conscious man lying on the shore. The boy alerted the authorities, and the man was soon identified as none other than John Paul Scott.

He was suffering from hypothermia and exhaustion, but he was alive. The Coast Guard transferred him to Letterman General Hospital at the Presidio, where he was treated and stabilized before being returned to Alcatraz⁴.

This marked the first—and only—known instance of a prisoner successfully swimming from Alcatraz to the mainland.

The Aftermath

Scott’s escape stunned prison officials and reignited national debate over the viability of Alcatraz as a maximum-security facility. His successful swim shattered the myth of its natural defenses and exposed vulnerabilities in the prison’s infrastructure. Just three months later, in March 1963, Alcatraz was permanently closed, citing rising costs and concerns over outdated security systems⁵.

Scott, meanwhile, was transferred to other federal prisons including Leavenworth and Marion. His life behind bars continued for several more decades until his death on February 22, 1987, at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee, Florida⁶.

Legacy

While Scott’s escape was short-lived, his story remains a testament to human endurance, cunning, and the will to survive. Though other inmates—including the famous Anglin brothers—vanished during escape attempts, none were ever confirmed to have reached the mainland alive. Only John Paul Scott achieved that feat.

He may not have remained free, but for a brief moment, the boy from Kentucky defied the odds and beat Alcatraz.

References

1. Wikipedia contributors. "John Paul Scott (prisoner)." Wikipedia.
2. "The Alcatraz Escape That Worked." Blue Ridge True Crime.
3. SFGenealogy. "Alcatraz: The Only Successful Escape."
4. Reddit - Today I Learned. “Scott is the only confirmed escapee to reach the San Francisco shore.”
5. "Closure of Alcatraz." AlcatrazHistory.com.
6. Federal Bureau of Prisons Records; summary via Find A Grave and official archives.

Glen Rogers : The Casanova Killer

 

Glen Edward Rogers, infamously dubbed the "Casanova Killer" and "Cross Country Killer," is a convicted serial killer whose violent spree across the United States in the mid-1990s left a trail of devastation.

Born on July 15, 1962, in Hamilton, Ohio, Rogers's life of crime culminated in convictions for two murders, with suspicions of his involvement in several others. He is currently on death row in Florida, with his execution scheduled for May 15, 2025.

Early Life and Troubled Beginnings

Rogers was one of seven children in a working-class family. His early years were marked by instability; he was expelled from school before turning 16 and married young. The marriage ended in divorce, with allegations of physical abuse. These formative years set the stage for a life characterized by criminal behavior and violence.

The Cross-Country Killing Spree

Rogers's confirmed murders span several states, with his killing spree beginning in 1995:

• Sandra Gallagher (California, September 1995): A 33-year-old mother of three, Gallagher met Rogers at a Van Nuys bar. Her strangled and burned body was found in her pickup truck the next day.

• Linda Price (Mississippi, October 1995): Price was found stabbed to death in her bathtub. She had been living with Rogers, who disappeared shortly after her murder.

• Tina Marie Cribbs (Florida, November 1995): Cribbs met Rogers at a Tampa bar and was later found stabbed in a motel bathtub. Rogers was arrested in Kentucky driving her car.
  
  Andy Jiles Sutton (Louisiana, November 1995): Sutton's body was discovered in her apartment, stabbed and hidden inside a waterbed mattress.

Arrest, Trials, and Convictions

Rogers was apprehended on November 13, 1995   after a high-speed chase in Waco, Kentucky.

He was first tried and convicted in Florida for the murder of Tina Marie Cribbs, receiving a death sentence in 1997. Subsequently, he was extradited to California, where he was convicted in 1999 for the murder of Sandra Gallagher and again sentenced to death. Despite the California sentence, Rogers remains incarcerated in Florida.

Rogers during his capture in Waco, KY in 1995.

Claims of Additional Murders

While in custody, Rogers claimed responsibility for up to 70 murders across the country, though these claims have not been substantiated. He later recanted, stating he was joking. Nevertheless, law enforcement considers him a suspect in several unsolved cases that share similarities with his confirmed crimes.

On a regional level, Rogers is believed to have killed 71-year old veteran Mark Peters of Hamilton (Butler County). Peters' body was found in January 1994 in Beattyville KY in Rogers' family cabin.

Alleged Involvement in the O.J. Simpson Case

In a controversial twist, Rogers claimed involvement in the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. According to the 2012 documentary My Brother the Serial Killer, Rogers told his brother and a criminal profiler that he had been hired by O.J. Simpson to steal a pair of earrings from Nicole and that he was instructed to kill her if necessary. The Los Angeles Police Department dismissed these claims, maintaining confidence in Simpson's guilt.

Rogers' Mugshot as an inmate.

Imminent Execution

After decades on death row, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Rogers's death warrant in April 2025. His execution by lethal injection is scheduled for May 15, 2025. This decision has brought a sense of closure to the families of his victims, who have waited years for justice to be served.

Conclusion

Glen Rogers's life is a chilling narrative of charm turned deadly, leaving a lasting impact on communities across the United States. His case serves as a stark reminder of the complexities involved in tracking and prosecuting serial offenders, as well as the enduring pain inflicted upon victims' families.

Dreaming Of The Dead In Appalachia

We are going to do something a little bit different with this blog. Instead of a historic event, we are going to discuss Appalachian folklore as it pertains to dreaming of the dead.

In 1999 my Great-Uncle passed away. A couple of nights ago I dreamed that he came back to life - back from the dead. We were all wondering if he would be different having done so. We all gathered at his house. And much to our surprise, he was pretty much the same person as he was before he passed all those years ago. There were some little things that were different, but for the most part, he was the same Uncle that we remembered.

 Two weeks ago my younger brother was in a near-fatal accident. He was in the woods and a large tree uprooted and fell on him. He pulled through and was released from the hospital three days ago.

Last night I dreamed that my Mom "got tired" of my brother and had him killed. That was a nightmare. But in that nightmare there was a miracle-performing minister holding services in the area. So, we took my brothers body to this minister, and sure enough, he brought him back to life.

 Now I know that having very similar dreams two nights in a row had to have a meaning. What that meaning is, I don't know at this point. But it prompted me to do some searching on Appalachian folklore on the subject. This is what I found.

 Dreaming of the Dead in Appalachian Folklore: What It Means and How to Protect Yourself

 Have you ever dreamed of someone who has passed away coming back to life? In Appalachian folklore, such dreams are full of meaning and warnings. Let's dive deep into what these dreams mean, how to interpret them, and how to protect yourself afterward, all based on traditional Appalachian beliefs.

 What It Means When a Deceased Person Comes Back to Life in Dreams

According to Appalachian folklore, dreaming of the dead can mean several things:

1.) Unfinished Business: The dead may have something left undone, either for themselves or for you.

2.) Message or Warning: The dead could be bringing advice or a warning about future events.

3.) Guilt or Regret: Your own unresolved feelings or grief might be surfacing.

4.) Change or Renewal: It might symbolize something in your life being "revived" — hope, love, opportunity.

5.) Bad Omen: Sometimes, it can be a forewarning of sickness, death, or major misfortune.

 Appalachian Interpretations of Dreaming of the Dead

Old Appalachian beliefs say specific behaviors in dreams tell you even more:
If the dead are uneasy: Their spirit may not be at peace.
If the dead speak: Their words are important and should not be ignored.
If the dead are happy: It might mean blessings or peaceful closure.
If the dead offer you food or objects: You must refuse, or risk shortening your own life.

Protective Traditions After Dreaming of the Dead

After such dreams, Appalachian tradition advises several protective steps:

1) Tell the Dream Before Breakfast: Prevent it from coming true by telling someone the dream before your first meal.

2) Salt in the Corners: Sprinkle salt in the corners of your room or house to ward off bad spirits.

3) Turn Shoes Upside Down: Turn your shoes upside down by the door to turn away bad luck.

4) Burn Sage or Sweetgrass: Cleanse the home of any lingering spirits.

5) Say a Special Prayer: Face east and pray: _"God protect the living and give peace to the dead."

6) Visit the Grave: Leave flowers or stones to soothe restless spirits.

7) Carry Iron: A nail, iron key, or horseshoe nail in your pocket offers protection.

 

Final Thought: In Appalachia, dreams of the dead were not ignored. They were respected, feared, and sometimes acted upon quickly. Whether seen as warnings or messages of love, the wisdom of the mountains reminds us: "Dreams of the dead walk close behind us. Be wise, be ready, and walk in the light."

Sources and Authenticity 

Most of this information comes from Appalachian oral traditions, where folklore was passed down by word of mouth. Some key written collections include:

• The Silver Bullet and Other American Witch Stories (Hubert J. Davis)
• Signs, Cures, and Witchery: German Appalachian Folklore (C. W. Sullivan III)
• Witches, Ghosts, and Signs: Folklore of the Southern Appalachians (Patrick W. Gainer) 

• The Foxfire Book Series (interviews with Appalachian elders) 

• University folklore archives (UNC, Berea College, Western Carolina University) 

These old beliefs blend influences from Scots-Irish, German, Cherokee, and African traditions that made up the culture of the Appalachian Mountains.

Holdin' Things Together: The Dunbar Faris Story

 Over the past couple of years, I have been collecting thoughts and information on this individual. My intentions were to write a book about him. It is a project that I’ve wanted to do for quite some time. And to be honest, it’s long overdue. I reached out to the family a few times to schedule an interview so that I could get some information, but they were never available. So reading between the lines, they apparently were not interested.

So instead of a book, I'll do the best I can with what information I have here in this blog.

When it comes to music artists, Kentucky has given birth to as many or maybe more than any other state.  Renowned artists such as Ricky Skaggs, Dwight Yocum, Noah Thompson, Tyler Childers, Chris Stapleton, Loretta Lynn, Crystal Gayle, Bill Monroe, Billy Ray Cyrus, The Everly Brothers, Keith Whitley, Tom T. Hall, The Judds, Montgomery Gentry, Tyler Booth, Patty Lovelace, and many others are the products of Kentucky.

I’ve often said that there is more talent up in the hills and “hollers” of Kentucky than people realize, and sadly, most of it goes undiscovered.

Fleming County, Kentucky is a small county located in the Northeastern section of Kentucky.  The population in the latest U.S. Census was just over 15,000 people. The county seat is Flemingsburg.  The county was formed in 1798 from part of Mason County. The county was named for Col. John Fleming, an Indian fighter and early settler.

Fleming County is known as the Covered Bridge Capital of Kentucky, having more covered bridges than any county in the state.

The county has also produced such notable citizens as Jazz pianist Herman Chittizen, U.S. Navy Medal of Honor Recipient Edward Alvin Clary, Willis A. Gorman who was a Union Army General during the  Civil War and would later serve in the United States House of Representatives for Indiana and a territorial Governor for Minnesota.  Fleming County also produced other notable citizens such as Claiborne Fox Jackson, pro-Confederate Governor of Missouri during the early stages of the Civil War, Alvin Saunders, United States Senator for Nebraska, and Franklin Sousley, one of the Iwo Jima flag raisers.

But Fleming County was also the home of another notable figure- Colonel Dunbar D. Faris.

Now, you may be asking "just who was Dunbar Faris?"  Well, before we can tell you who he was, we must start the story from the beginning.

According to FamilySearch.org, Dunbar’s Great—Great Grandparents, William and Arenia Bravard Faris, came to Kentucky from Maryland.  The exact date of their arrival to Fleming County is unknown, but we know it was after 1791.

William and Arenia had two sons, John Faris, and Ephraim Faris.
 

Ephraim Faris, shown here, was Dunbar’s Great-Grandfather. He was born in Maryland in 1791. He came to Kentucky with his parents sometime in the late 1700’s or early 1800’s.  He married Kentucky native Rachel Elizabeth Kelley.  They settled in the Hillsboro community of Fleming County. Ephraim and Rachel had at least eight children, including James F. Faris.

James F. Faris, shown here, was Dunbar’s Grandfather. He was born in 1832 in Fleming County, Kentucky. He married Catharine Ann Knox, also of Fleming County. Together they had at least eight children, including James Monroe Faris.

James Monroe Faris (picture unavailable), a blacksmith, was born in Fleming County, Kentucky in 1860.  He married Sarah Alice Story, also of Fleming County. They had at least 8 children, including Dunbar D. Faris.

 Dunbar D. Faris was born in Fleming County, Kentucky on April 17, 1909, the son of James Monroe Faris and Sarah Alice Story.

Little is known about Dunbar's childhood, upbringing, or his family life. But that's okay.

So are you still wondering just who Dunbar Faris was? Dunbar Faris was a country and western entertainer and musician from Fleming County, Kentucky. He owned the Fox Valley Country Music Show & Barn Dance, a venue that showcased country music performances.

It was here that, at age 13, Debbie Wilson, another fairly successful music entertainer, began singing regularly on weekends, which helped launch her career in country music.

An enhanced newspaper ad for the Fox Valley Country Music Show featuring Col. Dunbar Faris

Growing up as a boy in Morehead, Kentucky, some of my childhood memories include our family going over to neighboring Fleming County to the Fox Valley Country Music Show and Barn Dance.  We didn’t go every weekend.  And, we didn’t go that often. But when we did go, I enjoyed it.

Fox Valley Country Music Show & Barn Dance barn as it looked a few years ago. It closed in the late 1980's.

In addition to his Barn Dance & Country Music Show, Dunbar became a fixture at regional events such as fairs and festivals.

 In 1957, Faris released the single "I Love You Till The End Of The World" backed with "You Have Forgotten Me."

His contributions to country music have been recognized in compilations such as "Country Music on the Excellent Label - Volume 2," which features tracks like "I Love You Till The End Of The World" and "You Have Forgotten Me."

He is also widely known for his cover of Merle Haggard's  "Holdin' Things Together", which was my Mom's favorite by Dunbar.

For those interested in his musical style, several of his songs are available on YouTube, including "You Have Forgotten Me," "Decisions," "I Love You Till The End Of The World," and "My Record & A Friend."

Dunbar was tragically killed in an automobile accident in  June 1993.  

Clipped from the Lexington Herald-Leader, June 22, 1993

While not widely known on the national stage, Dunbar Faris made significant contributions to the country music scene in Kentucky, both as a performer and as a promoter of local talent.

Donald Harvey: The Angel of Death

Donald Harvey, infamously known as the "Angel of Death," was an American serial killer who claimed to have murdered dozens of hospital patients during his career as a nurse's aide. His heinous crimes, which took place over a span of nearly two decades, have made him one of the most notorious medical murderers in history. His case shocked the nation and raised serious concerns about the oversight of medical professionals and the vulnerabilities of hospital patients.

 Harvey was born on April 15, 1952, in Butler County, Ohio. He grew up in a seemingly normal household but later exhibited disturbing behavioral patterns. Despite this, he was able to secure a job in the medical field, where he found himself in a position of power over vulnerable individuals. He started his killing spree in the early 1970s, using his role as a nurse’s aide to access and ultimately end the lives of his victims.

 His first known murder occurred in 1970 at the Marymount Hospital in London, Kentucky. He later confessed to suffocating a patient, an act he justified as a form of "mercy killing." This justification became a recurring theme throughout his killing spree. He convinced himself that he was alleviating suffering, though his methods were anything but humane.

Harvey’s methods of murder were varied and cruel. He poisoned patients with arsenic and cyanide, smothered them with pillows, tampered with their oxygen supplies, and administered lethal doses of medications. Despite the growing number of deaths under his watch, hospital officials failed to notice any clear patterns or raise suspicions about his activities for years.

 After leaving Marymount Hospital, Harvey moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he continued his killings at the Veterans Administration Medical Center and Drake Memorial Hospital. He took advantage of lapses in hospital regulations, targeting the elderly and terminally ill. His access to a variety of drugs and medical equipment enabled him to kill discreetly, avoiding detection for years.

 Harvey's crimes were not confined solely to hospitals. He also killed people in private homes, including his partner’s father. He was meticulous in covering his tracks, often selecting victims who were already seriously ill or near death, making it difficult to distinguish his murders from natural causes.

 In addition to his medical knowledge, Harvey was also fascinated with the occult and dark rituals. He kept meticulous records of his killings, maintaining a macabre list of victims. His intelligence and methodical nature allowed him to evade capture for a disturbingly long time.

 Authorities finally uncovered Harvey’s crimes in 1987 when a suspicious autopsy revealed cyanide poisoning in one of his victims. Further investigation led to his arrest, and during interrogation, he shockingly admitted to killing dozens of people. His confession included detailed accounts of his methods and motivations, leading to widespread horror and disbelief.

 At his trial, Harvey pleaded guilty to multiple counts of murder to avoid the death penalty. He was sentenced to multiple life terms, ensuring he would never be free again. His sentencing brought some closure to the families of his victims, but many were left with the haunting realization that hospital patients had been at the mercy of a cold-blooded killer for years.

Lexington Herald-Leader, Lexington, KY, August 19, 1987

While Harvey initially claimed to have killed over 70 people, the exact number of his victims remains unknown. Some experts believe the true toll could be even higher, given the difficulty of linking deaths in hospital settings to foul play, especially when the victims were already in poor health. Eight of those killings were in Kentucky, according to newspaper accounts.

The Paducah Sun, Paducah, KY, August 21, 1987

 Harvey’s case raised serious concerns about hospital security and oversight in medical institutions. Many questioned how a single individual could have committed so many murders without drawing suspicion. As a result, hospitals began implementing stricter protocols to monitor patient deaths and the actions of medical staff.

 The concept of the "Angel of Death" killer—medical professionals who murder their patients—has since become a significant area of study for criminal profilers and forensic investigators. Harvey's case serves as a chilling example of how individuals in positions of trust can exploit their authority for sinister purposes.

 Even in prison, Harvey remained a disturbing figure. He showed little remorse for his crimes, often justifying his actions as acts of mercy. However, his methods and selection of victims suggested that he took pleasure in having control over life and death rather than acting out of compassion.

 On March 30, 2017, Harvey was attacked by another inmate in his prison cell at the Toledo Correctional Institution in Ohio. He was severely beaten and succumbed to his injuries two days later. His death was met with little sympathy from the public, with many viewing it as a form of poetic justice for the pain he had inflicted on so many.

The Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY, March 31, 2017

 The legacy of Donald Harvey remains one of horror and caution. His case highlighted the vulnerabilities in the medical system and the importance of vigilance in patient care. His story is a grim reminder that even those entrusted with the well-being of others can sometimes harbor the darkest intentions.

 Harvey's crimes also led to increased scrutiny of medical professionals who have access to lethal substances. Hospitals and healthcare facilities have since adopted more stringent checks and balances to prevent similar cases from occurring in the future. 

The psychological profile of Harvey has been widely studied, with experts attempting to understand what drove him to commit such atrocities. While he claimed to have started as a mercy killer, his continued killings suggested a deeper, more sinister compulsion.

 Ultimately, Donald Harvey's story is a terrifying example of how a single individual, when left unchecked, can wreak havoc on society. His case serves as both a warning and a call to action for medical institutions to remain ever-vigilant against those who seek to abuse their power. The scars left by his reign of terror remain a chilling testament to the dangers of misplaced trust in positions of authority.


UPDATE: Here is another list of just some of his victims:
Donald Harvey - Wikipedia