POPCULTURE · HISTORICAL MARKER
Baby’s Grave Site
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1
Sarah Elizabeth, “Little Sally,” was the daughter of Roseanna McCoy and Johnse Hatfield. She was born in the spring of 1881 and died when she was only eight months old. In 1880, Roseanna met Johnse at an Election Day celebration on Blackberry Creek, in Pike County Kentucky. They slipped away from the crowd and when they returned the polling place was deserted. Fearful of her family’s reaction Roseanna went home with Johnse to West Virginia. Devil Anse would not allow his son to wed the daughter of Randolph McCoy. Roseanna loved Johnse and stayed with him in Devil Anse’s home but became discouraged because he was unfaithful. Disillusioned, she returned home to Kentucky to have Johnse’s baby. Her father rejected her and Roseanna went to live with her Aunt Betty at Stringtown, Kentucky. Sarah Elizabeth is buried on the hilltop under the pine trees above the Uriah McCoy house. Broken-hearted after the baby’s death, Roseanna grieved at the grave and lost her will to live.
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