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Dewey David Belcher was born on Apr. 25, 1900 in Russell Co., Virginia. He was the son of Ulysses Grant "Asa" Belcher (1869-1930) and Mary Alice Shepherd (1870-1958).

Married in 1887, Dewey's parents migrated to Boyle Co., KY in the 1910s. They are buried in the Wilson Cemetery located near Johnson Branch Road.

Dewey's father, Asa, was born in Elk Garden, Russell Co., VA. He was the son of Charles Wesley Belcher (1831-1911) and Eliza "Elsey" Dye (1833-1900). Both of Asa's parents were also born in Elk Garden and lived their entire lives in that area.

Dewey's mother, Mary Alice, was also born in Russell Co., VA, as were her parents. She was the daughter of James Harvey Shepherd (1845-1922) and Nancy C. Griffeth (1854-1887).

Dewey's first wife was Fannie Honaker (1897-1924). They married in 1917 when Fannie was 19, Dewey 17. Born in Russell Co., VA, Fannie was the daughter of Oscar Honaker (1861-1938) and Mary Ann Thompson (1865-1939). Fannie died in Honaker, Russell County from TB at the age of 26. Her burial site is currently unknown.

In 1927, Dewey married, Lena Victor Honaker (1909- ?), Fannie's younger sister. He was 27, Lena 18. They were married for about ten years. Dewey and Lena had two known children, Margaret Belcher (1933-1933) and Marcie Belcher (1935-35). Margaret was stillborn. Marcie, born premature, died after just two days after her birth. Both are buried in the Wilson Cemetery #4 without markers.

Dewey, known for his wild lifestyle, lost his life at the age of 37 on June 12, 1937 in an arranged gun fight with Virgil Lee King (1903-1966). The incident took place just down the road from Virgil King's home on Tennessee Ridge at a place called "the rock".

At the time of Dewey's death his older brother, Wesley Elden Belcher (1897-1967), was already spending life in prison in Ohio for killing a police officer. He escaped (age abt 41) in 1939 and was never recaptured. He married, changed his name (Patrick Ernest Rhyme) and residence (Trumbell Co., Ohio). He died in an auto accident at the age of 69.

Dewey was buried near his home in the Wilson Cemetery #4 located just below Tennessee Ridge. His parents and two children are also buried there.

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The information contained in this memorial for Dewy Belcher, his wife, children, ancestors and descendants is though to be correct. This memorial is revise/corrected, however, as new information becomes available.

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