Herman Groethausen Lacy Ann O'brian

John O'brian

Mary Mace

Lacy Ann O'brian
(1831-1916)

Family Links

Spouses/Children:
James Boggs

Lacy Ann O'brian

Born: 17 Mar 1831, , Kanawaha County, West Virginia
Marriage: James Boggs in 1845 in , Gilmer County, West Virginia
Died: 1916, Booger Hole, Clay County, West Virginia at age 85

bullet Notes:

Lacy was shot in her home in the Booger Hole area of Clay County, WV abt 1916 by parties unknown. Hers and other murders resulted in vigilante action and the following notice being prominently posted in many places in the area: "We the citizens of Clay County, seeing that we cannot get justice by law, have organized the Clay County Mob. We have pledged our lives to drive these people from our county or kill them. If we cannot catch and hang you, we will sneak upon and kill you as you killed Henry Hargis, Lacy Anne Boggs, the old peddler and Preston Tanner." "If before you leave, there is any stealing, killing or burning, we will get the blood-hounds and detectives and run you to the ends of the earth. Neal Sampson, Kooch Sampson, Fred Moore and Aaron Runyon are hereby notified to leave the state in ten days. Rose Lyons, Bill Moore and Elizabeth Sampson are notified to leave in 30 days." "P.S. Do not stop this side of the Ohio River."
This incident convinced the local authorities that the citizenry had reached the end of their patience and Howard Sampson was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Preston Tanner. No one was ever prosecuted for the murder of Lacey Anne.

Lacy married James Boggs in 1845 in , Gilmer County, West Virginia. (James Boggs was born on 22 May 1800 in , Greenbrier County, West Virginia and died on 11 Aug 1899 in , Roane County, West Virginia.)