Cocanougher family gathers for reunion

Published 8:40 pm Friday, September 13, 2019

Jacob and Neley (Eleanor) Silvertooth Cocanougher were settlers in the 1780s in the cane brakes between Danville and Perryville when Boyle County was still a part of Mercer County.

The descendants of Jacob and Neley gathered for the family reunion July 28 at the American Legion Hall in Perryville.

The families have been holding reunions for over two centuries to remember their ancestors who made their way to Kentucky. The pioneer settlers moved in the 1790s to Long Run of the Beech Fork near Texas, in Washington County.

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Some of the original 500 acres is still owned and resided on by Bruce Cocanougher.

John Cocanougher (Connour) moved in 1800 to Indiana, then Illinois. Due to deed clerks hearing Connour instead of Cocanougher, the name was changed.

Through diligent research by Connour descendants including Bill Connour and his daughter Kami Voboril in Nebraska, this re-connection was made between the two families of John and George Cocanougher.

Seventy-two family members enjoyed the fellowship together with food, stories, laughter, pictures and various recognitions.

Cocanoughers and Connours from six states were on hand for the celebration.

After lunch, recognitions were made by gifts from Bruce Cocanougher’s crystal collection to the oldest present, Helen Connour Daugherty, 89, of Mattoon, Illinois; the youngest present Grayson Hawkins of Gravel Switch, Kentucky; the ones who came the furthest were five in the Connour-Voboril family; and to the Hatchett Family for their many, many years of attendance at the Cocanougher reunion.

Felix Reynolds of Lancaster made presentations of restored antique tobacco sticks and hand-designed walking sticks to the oldest man present, Denny Cocanougher, 87 of Perryville, and Jim Hatchell, the oldest male Hatchett.

Appreciation was expressed to who brought handmade gifts, food for the potluck meal, and Bruce Cocanougher and Felix Reynolds who made gifts for all those attending.

Bruce also made the annual gift of fried chicken from Mordecais in Springfield, and told stories of the Cocanoughers, and about work on the historic Cocanougher Cemetery on Long Run.

Others who helped were Bill and Kevin Jones, sound and copying; Celeste and Matthew Moore for taking photographs; Pat and Stewart Cocanougher, Mike Crain, and the Connors for their help to set up and clean up.

The 2020 reunion will be held 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 26, 2020, at the Perryville American Legion Hall on West U.S. 150.

For more information, contact Mike Crain at 3648 Leisure Creek Court, Lexington 40517 or phone (859) 368-3853 or email Postcardlex@aol.com.