Jesse "J.D." Pressley - The Overlooked Presley

  When we hear the surname "Presley", most people automatically think of the "King of Rock & Roll," Elvis Presley or his late daughter Lisa Marie Presley.  Both of them need no introduction.

But there was another member of the famed Presley fan that also dabbled in the entertainment business, at least for a short time.  That member of the Presley family was none other than Jesse D. "J.D." Pressley, Elvis' Grandfather.  And the different spelling of the last name is not a typographical error. Jesse spelled their name with a double "s" because of an old clerical error on Grandfather Presley's tax returns. Jesse just kept it. He would correct it later in life.

Jesse on the set of a TV show. Colorized by me.

Jesse was born on April 9, 1896, in Fulton, Mississippi. He married Minnie Mae Hood in 1913. They would go on to become the parents of several children including Elvis' father Vernon.

The dates vary per source, but around 1946 Jesse and Minnie divorced. Jesse relocated to Louisville, Kentucky in 1948 where he resided until his death in 1973. There, Jesse worked for the local Pepsi-Cola plant, although he was a carpenter by trade. He remarried, this time to Vera Kinnaird.

In 1958, surprisingly Jesse signed a recording contract with Legacy Records in Louisville, Kentucky. Jesse appeared on a Canadian television show called "Close Look" out of Toronto. Both Jesse and Vera were both interviewed on the show. During that interview Vera stated that Jesse had never sung in public until a friend with a tape recorder had persuaded him to make an audition record at Wiederhold's Recording Studio in Louisville.  It was after hearing that record that Gene Klingman of Legacy Records signed Jesse to a contract.

Klingman said that Jesse Presley sang "like a grandfather singing to his grandchildren", which is what the record company wanted. 

A few days later Jesse appeared on the TV show "I've Got A Secret" with Gene Kingman, president of Legacy Records, accompanying him on guitar.  On the show, Jesse sat in a rocking chair and sang two of what he called "cotton-pickin' songs."

Unlike his famous grandson, Jesse was no hip-swinger. At age 62, Jesse said "I'd break it if I did."   Nor did he play a guitar. In fact, he played no music at all.  And his only rocking is in an easy rocking chair. That was his only prop when singing.

Jesse went on to say that he didn't want to ride in on Elvis' name. "I'm trying to make my own way. He made his and if it's the Lord's will, I'll do it, too", Jesse said.  "I'm just going to be plain and common and do my best and put out some songs people like to hear."

Jesse was described as having a ruddy face from working outdoors most of his life. His hair was thin and turning gray. And his voice was described as being easy, with just enough twang to make it sound like the songs are from the cotton patch.  He was a man close to his home and his church.

Unfortunately, as quickly as his musical career started, it came to an end. In January 1959, Jesse said "I've gotten nothing out of my singing career. Guess I ought to give it up."

Jesse filed a $298.00 lawsuit against Legacy Records, claiming he did not get his share of the money he says was paid to Legacy for the three television shows he did.  Klingman, of Legacy Records, said the money was used to promote Jesse.  Klingman stated the firm hoped to put some of his records on the market but ran into financial difficulty. 

Jesse's musical career was over without his album or singles going public.  He would pass away in Louisville in 1973. He is buried alongside his wife Vera in Louisville Memorial Gardens West.

Five years after he passed, Legacy Records released "The Roots of  Elvis" containing the songs of Grandpa Jesse Presley. They were sold for $3.00 each or 2 for $5.00.

clipped from the Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY
July 14, 1978

Here, you can watch a few minutes of an interview with Jesse & Vera as well as two songs by Jesse - "Who's That Kickin' My Dog Around" and "The Billy Goat Song."

Here, you can listen to Jesse singing "Swingin' In The Orchard".

His music was exactly what it was described to be - a grandfather singing to his grandchildren. And it's unfortunate that his musical career was so short lived.

Bullet Riddled Deputy Drives A Quarter of A Mile To Get Help!

 Do you think that you could take two bullets to the chest and one to the back and still drive a quarter of a mile for help?  Not many of us could do that, even if we tried.  But in 1939, Floyd County Deputy Sheriff Marion Layne did just that.

Deputy Marion Layne, courtesy of
Officer Down Memorial Page

On January 5, 1939, Deputy Layne was investigating a previous shooting incident  between the communities of Garrett and Lackey there in Floyd County, Kentucky.

According to Sheriff Dial Salisbury, Layne was searching Arnold Felton (last name possibly Patton) to place him under arrest when teenage brothers Bert and Marvin Conley fired two bullets into his chest.

Layne then went to his automobile and "someone" asked him, "You can't drive it, can you, Buddy?"  Layne replied "No."  And the unidentified male answered "Well, I'll just finish you," and fired  twice, one bullet striking Layne in the back.

Deputy Layne then managed to drive a quarter of a mile on to Garrett, KY for help.  On his deathbed, Layne named the brothers as his slayers. He stated that he drew his guns after two shots struck him but was "too paralyzed" to fire.

At the time of the shooting charges were not filed against the brothers. but Bert was held by the Sheriff's Department and Marvin was placed under guard at the hospital in Martin, KY with bullet wounds in his arm and  thigh, according to reports.  Now whether this is a mistake in the newspaper report I don't know. But if the deputy claimed that he was "too paralyzed" to return fire, then  who shot Marvin in the thigh and leg?


Deputy Lane passed away just two hours after the shooting.  He is buried in the Turner Cemetery on Whispering Pine Road in Raven, KY (Knott County).

Later on both brothers were acquitted of the crime, while Deputy Layne left behind a spouse, two daughters, his parents, siblings and other relatives who had to deal with the passing of their loved one.

Update on the "Most Violent Domestic Murder Case In Kentucky History"

 Back in September 2023, I did a blog entitled "The Most Violent Domestic Murder Case In Kentucky History."


I got that story from Leo & Heather of  "The Hillbilly Files" video . 

Well Leo of the Hillbilly Files recently did a follow up video on this case, in which he shared a little bit of the victims story.  So  I wanted to update you as well.

Angie Johnson shared this on the Hillbilly Files original video:

"Verna Long (victim) was my grandmother.  I never got to meet her. Thelma Bentley (victim), the woman who was left permanently blind, was my great aunt and I did know her while I was growing up. She was so kind and could do most anything regardless of her lack of vision. It brings up many feelings to hear this tragic story told outside of my family. This event impacted generations."

Robert Long, son of
victim Verna Long

Robert Long, the son of the Verna Long, the first victim, said this about that horrible day:

"Verna Long was holding my hand ( Robert was 8 years old) when drunk Anderson Adkins shot her 4 times as she started to run away after pumping gas for him.  I will never forget his chilling words & deliberate attempts to kill the entire Bentley family.   

On that day he did NOT ask Verna to reconcile the family. as he lied during his trial. (Beside him on the passenger seat was a whiskey bottle.)   He said, 'Verna, you love your children, don't you?' She replied, 'Yes, Anderson, I do.; Anderson Adkins said 'Well, Verna, I loved mine too.' 

He reached on the floor beside his right foot & pulled out his pistol & fired 5 shots. Verna shoved me to the front of the car & ran to the back.  

After shooting Mommy, he drug off to the west to find Bill Goff, but Mrs. Goff told him Bill was 'out'. 

As Ervil & I were pulling Mommy off the highway, Anderson returned & began firing at us & crashed his car.   The story from there was close to what was recited [in the original video]. 

I witnessed Mrs. Johnson's death & heard that conversation. She said, 'Anderson Adkins, I have never done anything to hurt you.' He said, 'Yes you have!' & fired.  We watched her tumble down the hill.  

Anderson Adkins STOLE the car & sped toward Harless Creek to seek the Bentleys.     

He verbally & physically abused his wife Elmo .Bentley & son, Jimmy who related his fear of his drunken father.   Anderson Adins robbed us of our family unity, a  further TRAVESTY." 

The Automobile Duel of Phelps, Kentucky

 
This is another one of those cases that for whatever reason just jumped out at me. I felt that I had to cover it even though I had very little information on it. So here is the story of the Phelps, Kentucky Automobile Duel. 

The Owensboro Messenger

Owensboro, Kentucky • 

Tue, Sep 20, 1927

Page 4

When it comes to duels, most people don't think about automobiles being used in those.  But on September 18, 1927, that is exactly what happened in the small Pike County, Kentucky town of Phelps.

The conflict between Phelps, Kentucky policeman Blaine Bowling and former Pike County teacher and Army veteran Francis Marion "F.M." Ball began around August 1927 when Bowling allegedly searched Ball for liquor. And the grudge turned deadly on September 18, 1927.

Francis Marion "F.M." Ball

Very little information is available regarding this incident other than two newspaper articles that I found.  But based on what information we found in the Messenger-Inquirer in Owensboro, KY, dated September 19, 1927, the story goes like this:

Headline from the Messenger-Inquirer 
September 19, 1927.

"When their automobiles met on Blackberry Creek, near Ransom, 35 miles from Pikeville Sunday, F. M. Ball was shot and killed by Blaine, after he had shot Bowling through the left arm. 

Bowling is a policeman at Phelps Ky. About a month ago, Bowling is alleged to have searched Ball for liquor, and it is said that this brought about yesterday's affair.

According to reports, Ball stopped his automobile and began shooting at Bowling as Bowling's car came alongside, firing eight or ten times. Only one shot took effect. Bowling emptied his pistol at Ball, the fatal shot penetrating his side and passing through the body. Bowling was accompanied here by Officer Blackburn of Pond Creek and placed in jail.  

Ball was a former teacher in the Pike County schools."

In October 1927, Bowling was tried and sentenced to ten years in prison for the murder of Ball.  He appealed that conviction but on April 30, 1929, the Court of Appeals upheld the conviction and the 10 year sentence. 

Clipped from the Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY
May 1, 1929.

Not much else is known about Blaine Bowling. His trail goes cold after this.  

Ball was buried in the Ball Family Cemetery on Pinson Fork in Pike County, KY.  He left behind a wife and two children. 

The application for the U.S. Government
Headstone for Francis M. Ball.

The Headstone of Francis Marion Ball
courtesy of Paul Phillips / Find-A-Grave

The History of Ellisville, Kentucky

 Have you ever passed through a community and asked yourself "I wonder what it's history is?"   I do that sometimes. And one of the communities I've had that thought about is Ellisville located in Nicholas County, KY.  Now I've only passed through Ellisville a handful of times.  But each time I have, when I see the "Ellisville" road sign I start thinking about its history. How did the community start? Where did it get its name? What businesses were here?  All those types of questions.

The small road sign coming into Ellisville.

Ellisville, formerly Ellis Station, is located on Hwy 68, better known as the Lexington-Maysville Road on what used to be the James Ellis farm.  Ellisville became the first county seat of Nicholas County in 1805.

According to Riley Mola's post on Findagrave.com, " prior to 1782, James Ellis built a log tavern to protect himself and other pioneers from the attacks of the British and native Americans. It was there, on August 19, 1782, that the Soldiers en route to the battle at Blue Licks stopped to eat and rest. 

The Old Stone Tavern in 2018, courtesy of 
Christopher Riley's Flicker account.

The Ruins of the Old Stone Tavern at Ellisville,
courtesy of Google Maps, August 2023.

[When the act] was passed that moved the county seat of Nicholas County to the farm of James Ellis. Ellis deeded the county the necessary acreage of land, across the road from his home, to build a courthouse and a jail. Later in 1807, James Ellis built his final residence nearby his log tavern. This home was also a tavern that was later a residence of the McClanahan Family. Charles McClanahan, a pioneer who is buried in the cemetery, help move the stones to the site where the Stone Tavern was being built, when he was only 10 years old.

Arieal view of Ellisville, courtesy of Google Maps.
The red dot is the Old Stone Tavern location. And 
according to Mr. Riley, the old courthouse and jail 
used to sit across the road from it. 

James Ellis sold scores of lots to individuals who wanted to live in the new county seat, and the residents named the area Ellisville in his honor. But the county seat was short lived, for in 1816 another act was passed that moved the county seat from Ellisville to Carlisle. The Courthouse and jail were razed and moved there also. Following its demotion from county seat, progress suffered at Ellisville and many of its businesses shut down.

Although the community was no longer the county seat, it still kept its name and persisted for many decades before it lost all its business. Many families continued living there, and soon Ellisville established a cemetery on the McClanahan's farm for the community to lay their loved ones to rest. Today, the cemetery is privately owned and is not visible when driving down US 68.

The abandoned Ellisville Cemetery. Now overgrown.
Photo courtesy of  Riley Mola / Find-A-Grave.

James Ellis's Stone Tavern still stands to this day and the remains of the pioneers of Ellisville are interred in the cemetery just across the road. A few country homes, The Old Stone Tavern, and fields of tobacco are all that's left of the beautiful little town of Ellisville as we drive down US 68."

UPDATE: According to the Nicholas County Tourism Department,, the Stone Tavern is still standing as of today, "but barely."  It's most likely not safe for anyone to enter or visit.

Mr. Riley Mola's description of Ellisville is about the only one you can find online. Just as the town has about all vanished physically, it has also done so historically. There's not much information out there at all. 

This is why the work that historians such as myself and others do is so important. Unless we preserve what little history is left, it will soon be forgotten.

The O'Banion Logan Story

Carl Newton Mahan: The Youngest Murderer To Ever Stand Trial

I'm not sure why, but this case from 1929 is once again receiving a lot of attention.  Several YouTube videos have been done on the case within the past year. So let us too take a look at the case.

One of the biggest mysteries when it comes to crime is what causes young kids to do bad things? We know that we are all a product of our environment.  But could there also be underlying factors as well?  

This is a true story of a 6 year old boy-turned-killer in Paintsville, Kentucky.

Paintsville is the county seat of Johnson County. It was originally known as Paint Lick Station, then Paint Creek, before becoming Paintsville in 1843.  

Paintsville has given birth to numerous celebrities over the years, including country music star Crystal Gayle, Major League Baseball stars Willie Blair and Johnnie LeMaster, and may more.  But it was also the home of the youngest murderer in American history - Carl Mahan. 

Carl Newton Mahan

Carl Mahan was born on September 22, 1922 there in Johnson County. He was the son of John Mahan and Cora Dixon Mahan.

Cecil Vanhoose was born March 17, 1921 in Johnson County, the son of Albert Jackson Vanhoose and Vera Ann Blair Vanhoose.

These two families were neighbors and friends. And on May 18, 1929, six year old Carl and eight year old Cecil, who had been playmates, were out scouting for scrap metal.  This was just months before the stock market crash of 1929, but according to other historians, the folks of Paintsville were already falling into poverty.  So the boys were out looking for scrap iron in hopes of selling it for a few cents to buy some candy.

Scrap iron was found by the two, but that piece of scrap iron would cause the death of Cecil.  How? Well I'm about to tell you. 

The two boys began arguing over the possession of the scrap iron. The argument lead to a fight. The two battled for some time when Mahan told Vanhoose that he was going to kill him, and started toward home.  When Mahan got home, he climbed upon the back of a chair and got his father's shotgun.  He aimed the gun at Vanhoose and pulled the trigger.  He then returned the shotgun to its place. John Mahan, Carl's Father, stated that Carl told him that he "wouldn't have done it if he had known the gun was loaded."

Cecil Vanhoose, the victim

  Although mortally wounded, Cecil ran toward his home crying "Mamma! Mamma!".  He ran a few yards before he collapsed. Neighbors ran to his assistance, placed him in a car and rushed him to the hospital.  But he breathed his last breath just as they reached the hospital.

When questioned by the authorities, Mahan admitted to the shooting.  He showed the officers how he got the gun. He then showed them how he opened the door and fired the gun at Cecil.  He allegedly told the officers that he intended to kill Cecil and would do the same thing again.

 Young Cecil Vanhoose was buried in the Mayo Cemetery in Paintsville, KY. And Mahan was arraigned for his murder and was scheduled to stand trial on May 23, 1929. However the judicial system in Johnson County found itself with a case for which there had been no precedent.   The prosecutor stated that there was nothing in Kentucky law to guide him in prosecuting a child under 10 in serious matters. The law suggested that a child under that age could not be "held to account." So it was up to the jury to decide what to do.

The Gravesite of Cecil Vanhoose - Mayo Cemetery, Paintsville, KY.

The defense asked for a jury trial because they were afraid that the judge would sentence Carl to reform school.  The request was granted.  However the jury selection set off an altercation between Sheriff Harry Adams and Judge John W. Butcher, and the Sheriff was fined $3.00 (the equivalent of $53.53 in today's money.) The Judge claimed that the Sheriff was not bringing in veniremen and the Sheriff reported that he was not being furnished with the venire lists.  The County Jailer ended up becoming a peacemaker in the matter.

The selected jury consisted of: William Puckett, farmer; Lum Green, farmer; Samuel Cantrell, storekeeper; Sanford Stapleton, teamster; Tina Hazelett, miner; Frank Brown, farmer; Ray Turner, farmer; Bascom Stanley, farmer; Isaac Hamilton, farmer; James Gibbs, miner; Tom Hazelett, teamster, and Sam Brown, miner. 

Carl Mahan went on trial laughing and talking with his friends and did not realize that he was being tried on a serious charge.   

During the trial Carl told his side of the story of the shooting. The two had been seeking scrap metal to sell.  Carl found the "prize piece" of scrap metal of the hunt, and Cecil tried to take it away from him. Cecil, being older and bigger succeeded in taking the scrap metal from Carl.  Carl  then went into his house, stood up on a chair, got his fathers shotgun off the wall, opened the door, pulled the trigger. The charge struck Cecil, and he died later.

The Mahan Family Home in Paintsville, KY

Witnesses for the prosecution included Manuel Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Manuel Fitzpatrick, and Albert Vanhoose, father of the slain boy.    Vanhoose testified that he was not at home and knew nothing of the shooting until later. He was not cross examined.

Mrs. Fitzpatrick testified that she heard the quarreling from her back door. She stated that she heard Carl Mahan tell Cecil Vanhoose that if he did not give up the piece of scrap iron that he would kill him.  She stated that Vanhoose continued to hold on to  the scrap iron and Carl again cried out that he would get a gun and kill him.  She stated that  she thought it was just a childish quarrel and never paid anymore attention to the boys, until she heard a gunshot about five minutes later.  She went on to state that Cecil, though shot, was running from the yard  and she overtook him and helped put him into an automobile. He was taken to the hospital where he died on the examining table. 

Mr. Fitzpatrick testified that he was at home at the time but not in the rear of the house so he did not hear any of the argument between the two boys. 

The jury deliberated just thirty minutes before rendering a verdict of guilty of the charge of manslaughter. Judge John W. Butcher sentenced six year old Carl to 15 years in the Glendale, Kentucky reform school. 

Judge John W. Butcher

Defense Attorney John Wheeler immediately announced that he would file a motion for a new trial. Judge Butcher took the motion under advisement. 

Just as promised, Attorney Wheeler filed the motion for a new trial under the charges that 

*the court permitted incompetent evidence to be introduced,

*refused to allow the defense to introduce certain evidence,

*that as the defendant is under the age of seven the court had no jurisdiction,

*that the jury's verdict was not supported by competent evidence,

*that since the child was charged with murder and not charged with delinquency, the court had no jurisdiction in the case except to transfer it to the Johnson County Circuit Court for trail, and lastly,

*the court improperly instructed the jury. The jury received only meager instructions from Judge Butcher. He said, in part: "I can see only two things in this case - acquittal or conviction. If you gentleman believe that this boy did not know it was  wrong to take the life of another, or  that he did not know what he was doing at the time of the killing, you must bring in a verdict of not guilty.  But if you believe that he knew it was wrong to kill and knew what he was doing, you must bring a verdict of guilty."

Judge Butcher  stated that he would not act upon the motion for a new trial until Judge Bailey has passed on the prohibition writ.

Overruling of the motions by County Judge John W. Butcher, who presided at the jury trial that found Carl guilty automatically sent the prohibition writ  before District Judge J.F. Bailey of Lexington.

In addition to filing for a new trial, the Counsel for Mahan requested a writ to prohibit him from being sent to reform school.  Judge  J.F. Bailey issued the writ. 

Judge J.F. Bailey

Judge Bailey held that Judge Butcher exceeded his authority when he pronounced sentence after a jury had found the boy guilty of manslaughter. "There is no doubt he exceeded his authority", said Bailey. He held that Judge Butcher had no jurisdiction to give a final decision on anyone charged with murder.

Judge Bailey went on to say that there was no law in Kentucky under which a child under 10 years' might be confined to a reform school.

During the proceedings Carl sat with his parents and Mrs. Harry Neugel, social worker of Cincinnati.  Carl amused himself by looking at the comic section of newspapers, chewing gum, and playing quietly. He paid no attention to what was going on.

Governor Flem Sampson refused to intervene in the case, stating "I feel sure there will be no miscarriage of justice, that the courts will handle the case properly."

Mrs. Emma Hunt, director of the Kentucky Children's Bureau, took the first steps toward deciding young Carl's future.

Mrs. Hunt called a conference of defense and prosecution counsel in the recent trials. She said she had not decided what would be done by the bureau to which Carl was paroled by County Judge John W. Butcher after he had been declared delinquent.

After reviewing the views of those invited to the conference she stated that she will make her recommendations to the bureau's governing board the following week.

Psychologists ran tests on Carl and revealed that Carl had no criminal tendencies and that he didn't realize the wrong he had committed. 

On June 26, 1929, Kentucky Attorney General J.W. Cammack, to whom the authorities had left the final decision on an appeal, announced that his department had completed a study of the case records. And it was understood that he would take no action.

That left young Carl in the custody of his parents, protected from imprisonment by a writ of prohibition issued by Judge J.F. Bailey. One month and three days after the original trial, the case was done.

Six Year Old Carl Mahan with his family: L-R
Cora Mahan, Mother, John Mahan, Father, and Grandmother Roxie Tackett

Carl and his family would move to Louisville, KY at some point after the trial.  It was there in April 28, 1958 at the age of 35, Carl Mahan would take his own life.  

In a closing note, as I was researching this case, I found both of these boys - Carl Mahan and Cecil Vanhoose, in my ancestral tree. In fact, young Cecil was somewhat closely related to me.