Death record said he was 25 indicating birth in 1869 (SV-238)
1880 census indicates birth in 1865-6 (SV-249)
Elliott Cress joined with him on sureity for his marriage (SV-98)
1870 VA census: Levi Cress, living in Wise Co. aged 4 with parents and 4 siblings. (SV-713 & SV-715)
1880 VA census: Living in Wise Co., VA aged 14 with parents and siblings (SV-200 & 249 & 314 & SV-576)
1887 Leslie Co., KY Marriage Record (SV-98.3)
March 1888 He deeded 300 acres (from 500 acres of land owned by Levi Shepherd) to Wm Cress
(I think Wm. his brother) SV-297 H/390.
Between Feb. 1890 and Apr. 1892 he moved his family from KY to Wise Co., VA
He was killed in a mine accident (SV-60)
Big Stone Gap Newspaper, The Post, had very brief article said that he was working at the Looney Creek Mine and was killed when a carload of slate rock fell on him. (SV-237)
Marriage of Bettie & Wm Vernon says her parents were Willie & Rebecca Cress. (SV-18)
Parents shown for him are somewhat speculative - need to find on census!!
Note SV-12 IGI for Wm Cress found another b. 1875 Leslie Cty, KY
Wise County, VA Coal History:
1890 Virginia Coal and Iron (VC&I) laid rail from Bristol to Big Stone Gap
1891 Rail was laid to Norton from Tazewell county
1892 First carload of coal left Wise county
1895 First carload of coke left the county
1903 3,400 coke ovens in the Big Stone Gap area