JAMES WESLEY ROARK, son of JAMES ROARK and ELIZABETH MULLINS, was born in March of 1852 in Kentucky, and died before 1910. He married VIRGINIA COOK, daughter of ANDERSON COOK and DRUCILLA HUFFMAN, about 1869. She was born in September of 1847 in Virginia, and died after 1930.
Notes: On page 232 of the 1850 census for District 54 in Russell County, Virginia (dated November 21, 1850), Anderson Cook is listed as the head of the household for house #1588, he's a farmer, born in Russell County, Virginia, and he's 32 years old. Also listed are Priscilla (born in Russell County, Virginia, age 28), Randell (born in Russell County, Virginia, age 13), Jacob (born in Russell County, Virginia, age 13), Henry (born in Russell County, Virginia, age 12), Ewing (born in Russell County, Virginia, age 10), Elihu (born in Russell County, Virginia, age 7), John (born in Russell County, Virginia, age 5), Jane (born in Russell County, Virginia, age 4), Archer (born in Russell County, Virginia, age 1), and Samuel (born in Russell County, Virginia, age 1 month). They are living next to a Jacob Cook who's 42 years old.
On page 53 of the 1860 census for Letcher County, Kentucky (dated July 6, 1860), James Roark is listed as the head of the household for house #345, his occupation isn't listed, born in Virginia, and he's 71 years old. Also listed is Elizabeth (birthplace unknown, age 54), Martha (born in Kentucky, age 20), Manerva (born in Kentucky, age 18), Marinda (born in Kentucky, age 14), and James (born in Kentucky, age 8).
On page 53 of the 1860 census for Letcher County, Kentucky (dated July 6, 1860), Anderson Cook is listed as the head of the household for house #176, he's a farmer, born in Virginia, and he's 45 years old. Also listed are Drewsiler (born in Virginia, age 36), Ewins (born in Virginia, age 20), John (born in Virginia, age 14), Jane (born in Virginia, age 12), Archelolos (born in Virginia, age 10), Samuel (born in Virginia, age 9), William (born in Virginia, age 5), Eliga (born in Virginia, age 4), and Eliza (born in Virginia, age 7 months).
On page 13 of the 1870 census for Precinct 3 in Letcher County, Kentucky (dated July 22, 1870), Wesley Roark is listed as the head of the household for house #80, he's a farmer, born in Kentucky, and he's 18 years old. Also listed are Virginia (born in Kentucky, age 22), and Marien (born in Kentucky, age 3). Virginia's parents are in house #82.
On page 26 of the 1880 census for District 45 (Barnetts Creek) in Johnson County, Kentucky (dated June 16, 1880), James W. Roark is listed as the head of the household for house #161, he's a farmer, born in Kentucky, father born in Kentucky, mother born in Tennessee, and he's 28 years old. Also listed are Virginia (wife, born in Kentucky, parents born in Virginia, age 33), Marion (son, born in Kentucky, age 13), Elizabeth (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 9), John A. (son, born in Kentucky, age 8), William H. (son, born in Kentucky, age 6), James A. (son, born in Kentucky, age 4), Drussilah (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 2), and Mary E. (daughter, born in March of 1880 in Kentucky, age 2 months).
On page 46 of the 1900 census for District 53 (Salyersville) in Magoffin County, Kentucky (dated June 23, 1900), James W. Roark is listed as the head of the household for house #399, he's a farmer, born in March of 1852 in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, married for 30 years, and he's 48 years old. Also listed are Virginia (wife, born in September of 1847 in Virginia, parents born in Virginia, she's given birth to 13 children and 11 are still living, age 52, Harry B. (son, born in October of 1882 in Kentucky, age 17), Hattie (daughter, born in July of 1886 in Kentucky, age 13), Ida (daughter, born in July of 1889 in Kentucky, age 10), Gracie (daughter, born in June of 1891 in Kentucky, age 8), and Lee Montgomery (servant, farm laborer, born in September of 1881 in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, age 18). They are living next to son James.
On page 10 of the 1910 census for District 102 (Salyersville) in Magoffin County, Kentucky (dated April 21, 1910), Virginia Roark is found living in the home of her son. Harry Roark is listed as the head of the household for house #80, he's a farmer, born in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, married for 9 years, and he's 27 years old. Also listed are Della (wife, born in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, she's given birth to 3 children and all are still living, age 26), Roy (son, born in Kentucky, age 7), Richard (son, born in Kentucky, age 5), Hattie (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 2), Mary Conley (relationship not named, born in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, age 13), and Virginia Roark (mother, widowed, born in Virginia, parents born in Virginia, she's given birth to 15 children and 4 are still living, age 63). They are living next to daughter Grace.
On page 16 of the 1920 census for District 71 (State Road) in Magoffin County, Kentucky (dated January 21 & 22, 1920), Virginia is found still living with her son Harry. Harry Roark is listed as the head of the household for house #132, he's a farmer, born in Kentucky, father born in Kentucky, mother born in Virginia, and he's 37 years old. Also listed are Dellia (wife, born in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, age 36), Roy (son, born in Kentucky, age 17), Richard (son, born in Kentucky, age 14), Haty (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 12), Fannie (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 9), Louis (son, born in Kentucky, age 6), Ida (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 2 years 4 months), Nannie (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 6 months), and Virginia Roark (mother, widowed, born in Virginia, parents born in Virginia, age 72).
On page 55 of the 1930 census for District 45-16 (Russell) in Greenup County, Kentucky (dated April 29, 1930), Virginia is found living in the home of her son. James L. Roark is listed as the head of the household for house #325, he's a house carpenter, born in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, first married at age 22, and he's 54 years old. Also listed are Lydia (wife, born in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, first married at 16, age 51), Sonny (son, born in Kentucky, age 21), Mary (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 15), Mannie (son, born in Kentucky, age 8), and Virginia Roark (mother, widowed, born in Virginia, parents born in Virginia, age 83).
The children of JAMES ROARK and VIRGINIA COOK are:
- MARION ROARK, b. 1867, Kentucky.
- ELIZABETH B. ROARK, b. September 1870, Kentucky, m. ABEL H. CAUDILL.
- JOHN ANDERSON ROARK, b. February 16, 1872, Letcher County, Kentucky, d. August 26, 1948, Hoods Creek, Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky, buried in Dixon Cemetery, Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky, m. LYDIA ELIZABETH BLAIR.
- WILLIAM H. ROARK, b. 1874, Kentucky, m. DELLA LEMASTER.
- JAMES L. ROARK, b. October 1875, Kentucky, m. LYDIA EMILY (unknown last name), 1896. She was b. December 1889, Kentucky.
- DRUCILLA ROARK, b. October 5, 1877, Letcher County, Kentucky, d. April 14, 1940, Leatha, Magoffin County, Kentucky, buried in Leatha, Magoffin County, Kentucky, m. HERNANDO C. CRACE.
- MARY ELLEN ROARK, b. March 2, 1880, Magoffin County, Kentucky, d. January 15, 1952, Flat Fork, Magoffin County, Kentucky, buried in Adams Cemetery, Lick Creek, Magoffin County, Kentucky, m. JOHN D. ADAMS.
- HARRY B. ROARK, b. October 1882, Kentucky.
- HATTIE ROARK, b. July 1886, Kentucky.
- IDA ROARK, b. July 1889, Kentucky.
- GRACE ROARK, b. June 28, 1891, Kentucky, d. August 13, 1973, Salyersville, Magoffin County, Kentucky, m. ELZIE CONLEY.