LIBfonKY
WEST VIRGINIA
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY
7 1972
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HISTORY
OF
WEST VIRGINIA
Old and New
IN ONE VOLUME
By
JAMES MORTON CALLAHAN
Professor of History and Political Science at
West Virginia University
and
WEST VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY
IN TWO ADDITIONAL VOLUMES
By Special Editorial Staff of the Publishers
VOLUME I
HISTORICAL
ILLUSTRATED
THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Inc.
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
"923
v.)
library
West Tirginia OnlYerslty
Copyright 1923,
by
James Morton Callahan
Author's Preface
The author of this volume of state history in completing the ardu-
ous and .confining labor involved in its preparation — undertaken pri-
marily with a purpose of service to the state — greatly appreciates the
opportunity and facilities for publication provided through the finan-
cial plans of the publishers to whom belongs all the business respon-
sibility of the enterprise. He also appreciates the co-operation of many
public spirited citizens in facilitating researches or in verification and
revision of data. He especially acknowledges the assistance of those whose
names appear as collaborators in the preparation of several chapters.
Although the author has spared no pains to secure accuracy of ma-
terial, he is conscious of imperfections and does not doubt that mistakes
may have escaped his detection. A large part of the credit for verifica-
tions and revisions is due to his faithful amanuensis (under permanent
engagement), whose earlier investigations on the evolution of the consti-
tution of West Virginia furnished a large part of the material for the
chapters on Sectionalism and the Constitution of 1872.
Morgantown, W. Va., C2^^
February 20, 1922.
628746
in
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I
Introduction : Use of Local History 1
CHAPTER II
Survey op Landmarks 12
CHAPTER III
Geographic Conditions 21
CHAPTER IV
Institutional Heritage from Old Virginia 40
CHAPTER V
The First Advance 49
CHAPTER VI
The Struggle for Trans-Allegheny Control 57
CHAPTER VII
Advance Guard of the Trans- Allegheny West 66
CHAPTER VIII
The Rear Guard of the Revolution 81
CHAPTER IX
New Call of the Frontier : Awakening of the West 94
CHAPTER X
Glimpses from Travelers' Records 115
CHAPTER XI
Expansion and Dispersion of Settlements 134
CHAPTER XII
Historic Highways 169
v
vi TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER XIII
The First Railroad 187
CHAPTER XIV
Wheeling-Pittsburgh Rivalry 200
CHAPTER XV
Ohio River Influences (to 1861) 210
CHAPTER XVI
Early Community Life, Economic and Social 219
CHAPTER XVII
Religion and Church 257
CHAPTER XVIII
The Tradition of Education 277
CHAPTER XIX
Rise of Local Newspapers 208
CHAPTER XX
Sectionalism and Constitutional Problems 315
CHAPTER XXI
Achievement of Statehood 335
CHAPTER XXII
Strategy of War 374
CHAPTER XXIII
A Traveler's Tales from the Oil Region (1864) 392
CHAPTER XXIV
Problems and Policies of Reconstruction 399
CHAPTER XXV
The Constitution of 1872 413
CHAPTER XXVI
Industrial Awakening along the Kanawha 424
CHAPTER XXVII
Expansion of Development North of the Kanawha 443
TABLE OP CONTENTS vii
CHAPTER XXVIII
The Awakening South of the Kanawha 483
CHAPTER XXIX
Oil, Gas and Coal Development 499
CHAPTER XXX
Development of Agriculture and Country Life 524
CHAPTER XXXI
Telephone and Highway Communication 538
CHAPTER XXXII
Political and Legislative History 551
CHAPTER XXXIII
Social and Institutional History 567
CHAPTER XXXIV
Development of Taxation and Finance 605
CHAPTER XXXV
Interstate Relations 621
CHAPTER XXXVI
Educational Development 628
CHAPTER XXXVII
West Virginia Literature and Literary Writers 671)
CHAPTER XXXVIII
West Virginia and the World War 697
CHAPTER XXXIX
The Last Decade, 1910-1921 711
CHAPTER XL
Suggestive Outline for Study of Local History 720
Index
Aberdeen Angus cattle, I, 529
Academies and seminaries, I, 291-296
Academies, old-time, I, 629
Academy, first, west of the Blue Eidge,
I, 110
Agricultural and household implements,
I, 223
Agricultural implements, I, 228
Agricultural paper, first west of the
Blue Eidge, I, 300
Agricultural statistics (1850), I, 254
Agriculture; status of farming in 1920,
I, 524; before the Civil War, 526;
apple producing counties, 527; corn
and other standard crops, 528; live-
stock, 528, 529, 530; farm machinery
improvements and agricultural educa-
tion, 531; State agricultural institu-
tions, 531-534; farms and livestock
(1900-1920), 536; acreage and produc-
tion, 537; statics of (1900-1920),
712, 713
"Aldermanic" act, I, 316
Aldermanic School Law (1796), I, 279
Alderson, I, 90
Alexander and Eastern Eailroad, I, 453
Alexandria, I, 526
Allen, Benjamin, I, 259
Allen, Samuel, letter of (1796), I, 122-
125
Alley, L. 8., sketch of, I, 425
Allied War Belief, World's war, I, 709
Along the Norfolk & Western Railway in
Virginia and West Virginia (illustra-
tions), I, 486
Alpena, Swiss colony at, I, 593
Ambler, Charles H., I, 210
American Gazetteer, extracts from
(1797), I, 125
American Telephone and Telegraph Com-
pany, I, 539
Ancient home of the Burrs, in Jefferson
County (illustration), I, 136
Ansted, I, 432
"Apple Pie Ridge," I, 527
Apples, varieties of, and producing
counties, I, 527
Aracome, I, 240
Arbuckle, Mathew, I, 76
Archer, Robert L., I, 710
Arnoldsburg, I, 159
Asbury, Francis (Methodist bishop),
I, 102; extracts from journal of, 115-
118; first journey of, to Western Vir-
ginia (1781), 268
Ashe, Thomas, extracts from his "Trav-
els in America" (1806), I, 128-130
Athens, normal school established at
(1872), I, 589
Atkeson, Mary M., I, 679
Atkinson, Alexander, I, 425
Atkinson, George W., I, 561-687
Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio Railroad, I,
483
Aurora, I, 185
Australian ballot bill, State senate
passes, I, 560
Automobile licenses, increase of, I, 547
Averill, W. W. Union raids under (1863),
I, 387
Averill Coal Company, I, 517
Avery, George D., I, 109
Avis, I, 429-430
Babcock Lumber and Boom Company,
I, 476
Bailey, Ann, sketch of, I, 220
Bailey, John, I, 100
Bailey, Minter, I, 183
Ballangee, Isaac, I, 430
Ballardsville, I, 167
Baltimore & Ohio Railway, I, 135-136-
144; built to Wheeling (1852), 171;
built to Cumberland (1842), 173; in-
corporation and organization of, 187 ;
surveys for, 188, 189; opening of,
to the Potomac (1832), 189; western
extensions, 189-196; engineering ob-
stacles between Cumberland and
Wheeling, 192, 193 ; industrial revival
along the line, 194, 195; reaches
Wheeling (January 1, 1853), 196;
Grafton-Parkersburg branch opened
(June 1, 1857), 197-199; military im-
portance of, in Civil War, 389-391;
branches of, I, 445; absorbs Ohio
River Railroad (1901), 470; its
freight discrimination against West
Virginia, I, 555
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company,
exemption from taxation by, I, 611,
612
Bank of Philippi (1855), I, 147
Bank of Summers, I, 430
Banks of Charleston, I, 436; of Hun-
tington, 437; of Wheeling, 467; con-
dition of (191921), I, 715
Baptist Church, I, 261-264, 274
Baptist churches, in 1850 and 1860, I,
276
Barbe, Waitman, I, 689, 692
Barbour county, first settlements in, I,
103, 146-252; divided in Civil war,
372
Barbour County Jeffersonian, I, 314
Barboursville, I, 114, 239
Barnard, Henry, I, 637
Barnes, J. Walter, I, 705
Barter, I, 226
Bath (Berkeley Springs), I, 89
Battelle, Gordon, I, 294
Batts, Thomas, I, 54
Beckley, I, 168, 240, 496
Beckleyville (Beckley), I, 168, 240, 496
Bedford county, I, 69
Beef cattle, I, 529
Beef industry, I, 529
Belington, I, 477
Belington and Beaver Creek Railroad,
I, 480
IX
INDEX
"Bell System Employees Benefit Plan"
(World War measure), I, 542
Belleville, I, 160 founding of (1785-86),
106
Bennett, Jesse, I, 160
Bennett, Louis, I, 563
Benwood, I, 240
Berkeley, Robert C, I, 648, 663
Berkeley county, f, 89, 243, 252, 368
Berkeley Springs, I, 239
Bethany, I, 240
Bethany college, I, 157, 295
Beverly, I, 103, 149, 239, 477
Big bottom survey (1773), I, 70
Big Sandy boundary dispute, I, 621
Blackman, David, sketch of, I, 149
Blacksburg, I, 240
Blacksville, I, 102
Blair, Jacob B., I, 364, 638; illustration,
349
Bland, Frances M., I, 693
Blennerhasset, Harman, sketch of, I,
108; 158
Blennerhasset, Margaret A., I, 682
Blennerhasset, Mr. and Mrs. Harman
(illustration), I, 108
S^d-letting, of the early times, I, 251
Bloomery Furnaces, I, 135
Blue Creek oil field (illustration), I, 512
Bluefield, I, 90; gateway to the Poca-
hontas coal field, 488, 489; industries
of, 489
Bluefield Colored Institute, established
(1895), I, 590, 630
Bluefield Telephone Company, I, 539
Blue Ridge Gap, at Harper's Ferry,
I, 31
Blue Ridge Railroad, I, 424
Boffri of Children's Guardians, created
(ISTO), I, 598
Board of Health, functions and work
of, I, 599, 600
Board of Public Works, absorbs immi-
gration office (1871), I, 593; 598, 615,
716
"Board of Regents," West Virginia
University, I, 647
Boatmen and steamboat men, I, 215
Bolivar, I, 239
Bollman, Eric, extracts from letter of
(1796), I, 121, 122
Bonded indebtedness (1920), I, 718
Bonnifield, Abe, I, 151
Bonnifield, Samuel, sketch of, I, 103
Boone, Daniel, I, 60; report of survey
by (1797), 100
Boone county, I, 113, 167, 252
Boreman, Arthur I., I, 336; illustration,
349; 354, 551, 637
Boothsville, I, 240
Bosworth, Squire, sketch of, I, 249
Boundaries, first, of West Virginia, I,
358
Bouquet, General closes Indian cam-
paign, I, 64, 65
Boys' and girls' club work, I, 533
Boys' Industrial School, I, 630
Braddock, Edward, defeated (1755), I,
59 ; died of wounds, 60
Brarlshaw, John, I, 137
Brandonville, I, 102, 239, 240
Brandywine, I, 54
Braxton county, I, 109, 252; early
schools of, 290
Bridgeport, I, 145, 239
Bridges across the Ohio, I, 465, 466
Briscoe, William, I, 51
Brook county, I, 156, 252
Brooke, C. F. T., I, 686
Brooke Academy, I, 294
Brooks, Elisha, I, 165
Brookville, I, 159
Brown, James H. (illustration), I, 349
Brown, William G., I, 364
Brownsville, I, 240
Bruceton, I, 73, 143, 240
Buckhannon, I, 147, 148, 239, 455; first
B. & O. train to (1883), 447; illustra-
tion, 454
Buckhannon and Northern Railroad, I,
464
Buckhannon Boom and Lumber Com-
pany, I, 455
Budget bill, I, 594
Buffalo, I, 161, 240
Buffington, Thomas, I, 114
Bull Creek oil district (1864), I, 393
Bullett lands, I, 99
Butlitt, Thomas, I, 71
Burd, James, I, 66, 67
Bureau of Markets, created (1917), I,
603
Bureau of roads (1913), I, 595
Bureau of roads, created (1913), I,
602, 603
Burke's Garden, I, 90
Burning Spring (1864), I, 393
Burning Spring run, I, 500
Burr, Peter, I, 136
Burr home Jefferson county (illustra-
tion), I, 136
Butcher, B. L., I, 636
Butcher, Gibson J., sketch of, I, 415
Butler, Frank, I, 648
Cabell county, I, 114, 252; early
schools of, 289
Cacapon Furnace Stack near Wardens-
ville, Hardy County (illustration), I,
231
Calhoun county, I, 109; county scat
contest in, 159, 252
Callahan, J. M., I, 650
Camden, G. D., I, 183
Oamden, Johnson N., I, 551, 552, 553,
557, 560
Camden, R. P., I, 183
Cameron, I, 196, 238
Camp meetings, early, I, 270, 271
Campbell, Alexander, I, 295
Campbell, A. W., I, 314; illustration,
349
Canaan Valley, native spruces in field
of blue grass (illustration), I, 525
Cannelton, I, 431
Caperton, Allen T., I, 553, 554
Caperton, Hugh, I, 99
Capitation taxes, I, 618
Capon furnace, I, 231
"Captive watercourses," I, 34, 35
Carlile, John S., I, 334, 341, 343, 347;
illustration, 349; 356, 362
Carpenter, Nicholas, I, 105
Carr, Robert S., I, 558, 559
Carroll, Charles of Carrollton, I, 189
Carter, James C, I, 636
Carter, John J., I, 511
Cassville, I, 240, 492
Catawba war-path, I, 37
Catholic Church, I, 272, 273; status in
1850, 274; in 1850 and 1860, 276
Cats vs. Rats, I, 51
Cattle raising, early, I, 228
INDEX
XI
Central District Telephone Company,
I, 539
Central Land Company of West Vir-
ginia, I, 430
Central Telephone Company, I, 545
Ceredo, I, 168
Chapman, George, I, 104
Charleston, I, 71, 99, 100; Wellsburg,
104, 110, 161-165; in 1854 (illustra-
tion), 164, 239; newspapers of, 307;
as state capital, 369 ; state capital
located at, 410, 411 ; constitutional
convention at (January- April, 1872),
414; Chesapeake & Ohio Railway
opened to, I, 425 ; history of since
incorporation (1861), 432, 433; con-
test with Wheeling, for state capital,
433 ; becomes permanent state capital
(1885), and its subsequent develop-
ment, 433-436; central portion (birds-
eye view of), 484; birdseye view of,
488; business section (birdseye view),
490; early telephone service at, 539
Charleston, Clendennin & Sutton Rail-
way, I, 478
Charleston division of the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad (see Coal & Coke Rail-
way)
Charleston Hotel, I, 180
Charleston, Ripley and Ravensvood
Turnpike Company, I, 180
Charleston-Sutton- Weston telephone line,
I, 539
Charles Town (1740), I, 51
Charlestown Academy, I, 293
Charlestown Free Press, I, 314
Charlestown Spirit of Jefferson, I, 314
Cheat River View, near Squirrel Rock
(illustration), I, 23
Cheat settlement, I, 103
Chesapeake .""-1 Ohio canal, completed
(1850), I, 135
Chesapeake & Ohio Northern Railway,
I, 442
Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, I, 331, 424,
425; opened to Charleston and Hun-
tington (1873), 425; Irish settlers
along, 426, 428-442 ; extension since
1890, 438-442, development of to
1920, 428, 429; founding and
growth of towns and cities along.
429-442; branches into timber and
mineral regions, 439; extensions in
1910-1921, 441, 442
Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Company,
I, 556
Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone
Company (Bell System), I, 540, 541
Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Com-
pany of West Virginia, I, 542; oper-
ations of (1920-22), 543, 544; loca-
tion of offices of (map), 548
Chesterman, A. D., I, 638
Chief mine inspector, office of created
I, 600
Children's Home, expenditure for (1912-
1920), I, 619
Chilton, William E., I, 563, 564
Chitwood, O. P., I, 40, 697
Christian, Charles R,, I, 693
Christian Church, I, 273, 276
Christian churches in 1850 and 1860,
I, 276
Churches (see also Religion and De-
nominations) ; chief, supported in
Western Virginia (1850), I. 274;
(1860), 275; 569; in 1916, 715
Cities, population since I860, I, 568
Cities and towns, uniform system for
government of (1911), I, 595
Citizens Bank of Hinton I, 430
City streets, brick and concrete, I, 550
Civil war operations: strategic, Monon-
gahela region, I, 374 ; Confederates
invade West Virginia, 375; Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad falls into control of
Federal troops, 376; McClellan's 20,
000 Union troops cross the Ohio at
Parkersburg and Wheeling, 376 ; Mc-
Clellan 's headquarters at Grafton
(June, 1861), 377; strategic points,
377, 378 ; Union victory at Rich Moun-
tain, 379; McClellan called to com-
mand the Army of the Potomac and
Lee sent to recover West Virginia,
380; railroad communication re-estab-
lished between Baltimore, Washington
and Wheeling (April, 1862), 381;
great transportation feat of the Civil
war, 381, 382; Confederates lose the
Kanawha valley, 382, and perma-
nently pushed over the Alleghenies,
383 ; Confederate raid down the
Kanawha valley (1863), 385; other
Confederate raids, 386-389
Clark, George R., I, 77; expedition into
Indian country (1779), 87
Clarksburg, I, 5, 71, 102, 144, 145, 239;
educational convention in (1841),
281 ; first newspaper published in,
303; free school convention at (1841),
317; the most important military post
in State, 377; industrial development
of, 458; educational convention at,
589
Clarksburg Telegram, I, 314
Clarks Gap, I, 496
Clay, C. C, I, 429
Clay county, I, 252
Claysville, I, 240
Clendenin, George, I, 99, 100
Clifton Mills, I, 73
Clifton Sewer Pipe Yard, New Cumber
land (illustration), I, 466
Clover Bottom, I, 90
Cloyd Mountain, battle of, I, 388
Coal, formation of, I, 29; first in the
Kanawha valley, 517
Coal development, progress of, I, 500 ;
estimated amount of deposits, 515;
exploration and experimental develop-
ment, 517; production in 1863-1920,
517, 518; notable production (1913-
1915), 520, 521; employes in 1920,
521; coal lands owned by great cor-
porations, 521, 522
Coal industries along the Kanawha
(1839-60), I, 167
Coal lands monopolized, I, 521, 522
Coal mines, regulation of, I, 601
Coal mining, I, 17; Virginia Railway
in connection with, 496; production
1900-1920, 713
Coal mining industries, I, 489, 491
Coal & Coke Railway, I, 478-482
Coal River branch, Chesapeake & Ohio
Railway, I, 439
Coalsmouth, I, 161
Coal Valley, I, 431
Cochran, Mrs. Joseph G., I, 704
Cochran, Nathaniel, I, 219
Coke, first produced in West Virginia
(1843), I, 518
Coke industry, I, 517
Xll
INDEX
Coke Ovens, Norfolk & Western Kailway
(illustration), I, 518
Cole, John L., I, 110
College of Agriculture, West Virginia
University, I, 531
Colonial Councillors, I, 41
Colonial judiciary, I, 41-45
Colonial militia, I, 46
Colonial sheriffs, I, 46
Colonnade Bridge, B. & O. R. R., Ruins
of (illustration), I, 192
Colored Institute (at Farm) established
(1891), I, 590
Colored schools, established (1866-67),
I, 589
Commencement Hall, West Virginia Uni-
versity (illustration), I, 650
Commercial fertilizers, I, 528
Commercial orchard, first, planted
(1851), I, 526
Commission of pharmacy established
(1881), I, 600
Commissioner of immigration, created
(1864), I, 593
Commissionership of statistics and labor
created (1889), I, 600
Community life, early, I, 219-252
Compensation Commissions, expenditure
for (1912-1920), I, 619
Compulsory school law passed (1901),
I, 589
Concord Church, I, 407, 408
Concord State Normal School, Athens
(illustration), I, 639
Conestoga wagons, I, 179
Connolly, John, I, 75
Consolidated Telephone Company, I, 541
Constitution; first, I, 317, 318; of 1830,
323; of 1851, 328-330; of 1861, 358-
362; of 1872. 413-423; of 1872, amend-
ments to, 420-423 ; proposed new, 423 ;
good roads amendment to, 547, 550; of
1872, 552; amendments to, 716, 717
Constitutional convention, first (1861),
I, 357
Constitutional convention January-April,
1872, I, 413-417
Constitutional convention of 1872, mem-
bers of (illustration), I, 412
Constitutional problems, early: conflict
between eastern and western Virginia
(up country Democracy), I, 315, 316;
inequalities of county representation,
319, 320; convention at Richmond,
320-323; constitution adopted by
popular vote (April, 1830), 324; dis-
cussion on state division, 324, 325;
struggle of western against eastern
Virginia continues, 325-328; conven-
tion of 1850-51, 328; constitution of
1851 ratified, 330; endeavors to unify
eastern and western Virginia, 331;
cleavage more fixed (1861), 333, 334
Convicts, use of, on public works, I, 603
Cooke, Philip P., I, 683
"Copeley" oil well, I, 506
Corbly, L. J., I, 638
Corn, I, 528
Cornstalk, Chief, I, 77; murdered, 84
Cornwell, John J., I, 523, 561, 564, 565,
693
Corwin, A. F., I, 511
Council of National Defense, World's
war (1916), I, 698
Counties: formation of early (1727-89),
I, 278 ; formation and population of
(1776-1830), 318; represented in
Wheeling conventions (maps), 360;
non-Union, during Civil war, 369-373;
foreign-born by (1870-1910), 583
County and Parish of Frederick (1744),
I, 258
County court system, re-established
(1872), I, 418; established (1872),
553
County fair, first in state, I, 228
County Farm Bureau, I, 533
County government, I, 595
County representation, inequalities of,
I, 318, 319
Covington & Ohio Railroad, I, 181, 424
Covington & Ohio Railroad Company,
I, 612
Crago, F. H., I, 638
Cranmer, Gibson L., I, 354
Crawford, J. U., I, 474
Creel, Alexander H., I, 157
Cresap, Michael, I, 75, 76, 77
Cresap's war, I, 75, 76
Crook, George, defeats Confederate force
(1864), I, 385
Cross Roads, I, 99
Crowder, Enoch H., I, 697
Crowl, Malissa, I, 277
Crozet, Claudius, I, 185
Culbertson, Andrew, I, 55
Cumberland county, I, 69
Cumberland (see also National) Road, I,
169, 216
Cunningham, Albert B., I, 690, 694
Dairy and beef industries, I, 529
Dairying, I, 529, 530
Damascus, I, 240
Dandridge, Danske, I, 692
Darkesville, I, 239
Darst, J. S., I, 627
Davis, Henry C, I, 136, 406, 472, 474,
480, 552, 554, 556
Davis, John J., I, 336
Davis, Rebecca Harding, I, 684
Davis, Robert, I, 285
Davis, Thomas E., I, 560
Davis, I, 474
Dawson, William M. O., I, 561
Deahl, J. N., I, 650
Dean, J. S. W., I, 663
DeBar, J. H. Diss, I, 367, 593
Decker Creek Iron Works, I, 142
Deepwater, I, 494, 495
Democratic control (1870-1896), I,
551-561
Democratic-Republic, I, 240
Dennis, Robert F., I, 425
Denominations, distribution of member-
ship by (1890, 1906, 1916), I, 585,
588; statistics of (1916), 587
Department of Agriculture, expenditure
for, I, 619
Department of Archives and History,
expenditure for (1912-1920), I, 619
Department of Archives and History,
Charleston, created (1905), I, 593
Department of Health, expenditure for
(1912-1920), I, 619
Department of Mines, created (1907),
I, 601 ; expenditure for, 619
Department of Public Safety, expendi-
ture for (1912-1920), I, 619
Detroit, expedition against, I, 84
Dickey, (Miss) M. L., I, 638
Dickinson, J. L., I, 625
Dinwiddie, Robert, I, 58, 59, 61, 66
INDEX
xm
Diphtheria, I, 251
Diss DeBar, J. H., I, 367, 593
District of West Angusta (map) I, 91
Division of child welfare and public
health nursing, I, 600
Division of vital statistics, I, 600
Doctor's saddlebag, I, 251
Doddridge, Joseph, sketch of, I, 259;
680, 681, 682
Doddridge county, I, 186, 252
Doddrill, W. C, I, 690
Dolbeare, Benjamin, sketch of, I, 249
Dorsey, Dennis B., I, 354
Dow, Lorenzo, I, 271
Down Draft kilns at the Crescent Yard,
New Cumberland, Hancock County
(illustration), I, 465
Downs, W. S., I, 548
Draper, C. Lyman, I, 4
Droop Mountain, battle of, I, 387
Duncan, E. S., I, 317
Dunkard Bottom, I, 73
Dunmore's war, I, 75-79
Dysentery, treatment of, I, 250
Early market towns, I, 526
East India School (1621), I, 277
Eastern panhandle, settlements of, I,
99; settlements in 1800-66, 134-136;
Wheeling chief town of (1818), 154:
Confederate operations in (1861), 389;
railroads in, 464
Education; (see also schools), I, 17;
tradition of, 277; interest of English
church in, 278; public schools estab-
lished by Virginia General Assembly
(1796), 279; Western Virginia cham-
pion of free education (1817-45), 280,
281 ; school statistics by counties
(Western Virginia) in 1833, 281;
school law of 1846, 282; Old Field
schools, 282-284; early schools in
counties and sections, 285-291 ; free
school systems in only three counties
(1863), 291; academies incorporated
(1797-1860), 291, 292; academies and
seminaries, 291-296; school statistics,
(1850), 296, 297; western Virginia
champions free schools, 316, 317, 588;
development of public (1863-1908),
590, 591; rates of State school levies
(1863-1913), 609, 628-644; schools and
the World's war, 706; statistics of
(1918-21), 715, 716
Education Association, first meeting, I,
636
Edwards, Seymour, I, 563
Elizabeth (Moundsville), I, 104, 239;
in 1864, 393
Elizabeth, Wirt County (illustration),
I, 446
Elizabethtown, I, 239
Elkhorn tunnel, I, 483
Elkins, Davis, I, 563
Elkins, Stephen B., I, 461, 561, 473
Elkins, I, 475, 476, 477
Elkins-Beverly county seat contest, I,
477, 478
Elk River, I, 34, 35
End of the World Cliff, Elk River
(illustration), I, 28
English Church, its interest in educa-
tion, I, 278
English money system used (1803), I,
223
Epidemics, I, 251
Episcopal ahurch, I, 257-261; status
in 1850, 274
Ethel, I, 441
Eureka-Belmont oil field, I, 506
Eureka pipe line, I, 510
European steamship lines, I, 331
Evansville, I, 185, 240
Fairfax, Thomas (Lord), sketch of, I,
53
Fairfax grant, surveyed by Washington
(1747-48), I, 53
Fairfield, I, 239
Fairmont, I, 102, 143, 144, 240, 462;
industrial development of, 459, 460 ;
normal school established at (1867),
589
Fairmont Academy, I, 294
Fairmont Male and Female Seminary,
I, 294
Fairmont State Normal School (illus-
tration), I, 641
Fairview, I, 104, 168
Fairview oil fields, I, 505
Falls of Grassy Creek over Lower Guy-
andot Sandstone (illustration), I, 30
Falls of Hominy Creek, Nicholas County
(illustration), I, 37
Farley, Thomas, I, 55
Farm implements and machinery, I, 531
Farmers' institutes and other organiza-
tions, I, 533
Faulkner, Charles J., I, 413, 555, 558,
560
Faulkner, E. Boyd, I, 556
Fayette county, I, 167, 252; non-Union.
384; development in, 431
Federal constitution, convention to act
upon (1788), I, 318
Fellowsville, I, 185, 240
Ferguson, Judge, I, 413
Ferries, I, 233
Fetterman, I, 240
Files, Robert, I, 56
Finance, development of (see also taxa-
tion), I, 605-620; 1917-20, 718, 719
First academy west of the Blue Ridge
I, 110
First agricultural paper west of the Blue
Ridge, I, 300
First boundaries of West Virginia, I,
358
First church building (1740), I, 258
First church house in Wheeling (1819),
I, 269
First constitutional convention of West
Virginia (1861), I, 357
First county fair in West Virginia, I,
228
First family settlement in the Kanawha
valley, I, 71
First general tax law (1863), I, 613
First iron manufactured west of the
Alleghenies, I, 142
First legislature meets at Wheeling
(July 1, 1861), I, 356
First ' ' long distance ' ' telephone line
(1894), I, 540
First Methodist preaching (1773), I,
268
First Methodist sermon preached in
Charleston (1804), I, 270
First National Bank of Hinton, I, 430
First National Bank of Parkersburg, I,
159
First newspaper in Shenandoah valley,
I, 299
XIV
INDEX
First postoffices established (1794), I,
232
First post roads, I, 232
First railroad to the Ohio (1853), I, 15
First settlers of the Shenandoah, I, 52
First State Capitol Building, Wheeling
(Linsly Institute), (illustration), I,
368
First telephone exchange in the state,
(1880), I, 538
First telephone toll line in West Vir-
ginia, I, 538
First through stage line between Balti-
more and the Ohio river, I, 170
Fish and game, preservation of, I, 602
Flatboats, I. 234
Flat Top coal field, I, 500, 517
Fleming, A. B., I, 558, 559
Fleming-Goff State election, I, 558, 559
Fleshersville (Preston), I, 146
Flick, W. H. H., I, 406
Fontaine, William E., I, 531
Food administration, World 's war, I,
703
Forbes, John, I, 63
Forbes road, I, 67
Foreign immigration (1880), I, 593
Foreigners (1860-1920), I, 578-584
Forest, death knell of West Virginia 's
greatest primeval, I, 476
Forest industries. I, 229, 230
Forests, virgin (1880), (map), I, 534
Forests, virgin (1913), (map), I, 535
Fort Belleville, I, 99
Fort Byrd, I, 62
Fort Clendenin, I, 99
Fort Chiswell, I, 61
Fort Cumberland, I, 61
Fort Duquesne, as Indian military center
(1756-58), I, 62
Fort Henry, I, 86, 93; last siege of,
(1782), 88
Fort Henry, September 11, 1782 (illus-
tration), I, 80
Fort Le Boeuf. built (1753), I, 58
Fort Lee, I, 97, 100
Fort Ligonier, I, 61
Fort Link, I, 93
Fort Loudoun, I, 62
Fort Neal (Neal's Station), I, 99
Fort Ohio, I, 62
Fort Pitt, Indians raise siege of (1763),
I, 64
Fort Randolph: Shawnee siege of, I, 87;
protects Greenbrier settlements, 90
Fort Spring, I, 70
Fort Stanwix, treaty of, I, 70
Fort Union, I, 70
Forts built on the Kanawha (1783-95),
I, 97, 99
Forts in French Indian wars, I, 61, 62
Foster, Peregrine, sketch of, I, 6. 7
Founders of West Virginia (illustra-
tion). I, 349
Four Minute Men, in World's war, I,
707
Fourth Methodist Church, Wheeling, I,
269
Frankford, I, 70, 135
Frankfort, I, 239
Franklin, Benjamin, I, 79
Franklin (Frankford), I, 70, 135, 238,
239
Franklin county, I, 69
Freed negroes, I, 245
Freight discriminations, I, 577
Freight wagoners, I, 179
French, James H., sketch of, I, 638
French, Minnie R., I, 691
French-Indian war, close of, I, 65
Fry, John, I, 101
Fuel administration, World's war, I, 705
Gallatin, Albert, naturalization of, I,
6; 95
"Gaps," formation of, I, 29, 30
Garnett, Robert, I, 378
Gary, I, 491
Gary, Miners' Homes and Gardens Near
(illustrations), I, 516
Gas development, I, 16 ; early glass
plants stimulate, 499; producing
counties, 510, 511; gas used as pump-
ing and manufacturing fuel, 512, 513;
piped abroad, like oil, 514; value of
production (1882-1921), 515; statis-
tics of (1906-1914), 713
Gassaway, I, 478
Gauley Bridge, Wise defeated by Rose-
crans at, I, 383
Geographic relations of West Virginia
(map), I, 20
Geographical conditions, I, 21-26
Geological and economic survey, created
(1897), I, 592
Geology, I, 26-36
Gibson, D. W., I, 357
Gilmer county, I, 252
Girls' Industrial School, I, 630
Girty, Simon, I, 77
Gist, Christopher, I, 54, 55, 58
Glacial action, I, 32-34
Glady Creek Fall at Duffy, Lewis
County (illustration), I, 479
Glasscock, W. E., I, 562
Glass industry (1920), I, 714
Glass plants, early, stimulate gas de-
velopment, I, 499
Glenlyn, I, 90
Glenville, I, 240; normal school estab-
lished at (1872), 589
Goff, James, I, 103
Goff, Nathan, I, 554
Goff, Nathan, Jr., I, 558
Good Intent Stage Company, I, ■ 171
Goodknight, James L., I, 648, 659
Good roads law of 1917 revised, I, 547,
548, 549
Good roads, movement for, I, 547-550
Governors of Old Virginia, I, 40
Gradual emancipation clause in State
Constitution (1862), I, 363
Grafton, I, 195, 196, 240, 457
Grafton & Belington Railroad. I, 457
Grafton-Parkersburg Branch, Baltimore
& Ohio Railway, I, 197-199
Graham, William, I, 110
Graham's Station, I, 110
Grandville, I, 239
Grant county, I, 252
Grantsville, I, 159
Gravel bar, I, 27
Grazing, I, 528
Greathouse, Daniel, I, 76
Great Kanawha, settlements along the
(1808-60), I. 161-167; south of the
(1807-60), 167, 168
Great War Path, I, 37
Great Western Mail, I, 169
Greeley, Horace, indictment against, I,
248
Green Bottom, I, 114
Green, Robert, I, 54
Greenbrier, I, 92
INDEX
xv
Greenbrier branch, Chesapeake & Oliio
Railway, I, 440
Greenbrier county, I, 92, 252 ; first news-
paper published in, 307
Greenbrier Land Company, I, 55
Greenbrier region, settlements in (1780-
1837), I, 137
Greenbrier settlements (1777-83), I, 90-
93
Greensburg, I, 240
Greenville, Treaty of, I, 97, 102
Greenville Furnace Company, I, 143
Greigsville, I, 193
Grimes, Thomas, I, 527
Grimes Golden apple, I, 527
Gross Sales Tax, I, 620
Guyandotte, I, 114, 161, 239
Guyandotte and Buffalo Creek branch,
Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, I, 441
Haddox, Ella M., I, 693
Hale, J. P., I, 166
Hall, Ellery R., I, 357
Hall, Ephraim B., I, 354
Hall, Granville D., I, 247, 690
Hall, James, I, 235
Hall, John, I, 357
Hamlin, I, 2JQ_
Hampshire county, I, 54, 55, 99 ; ferries
and early iron industries in, 135, 252
Hampshire county and parish, I, 258
Hampshire Furnace Company, I, 135
Hancock county, early settlers in, I, 104;
157, 252
Harahan, W. J., I, 428
Hardy county, I, 99, 252
Harmansville, I, 240
Harper, Robert, I, 51
Harper's Ferry, national arsenal erected
at, I, 134; Baltimore & Ohio Railway
reaches (1833), 189; 240; seizure of
the arsenal, 342 ; arsenal at, fired by
United States forces, 389; occupa-
tion by Confederates (September,
1862), 390
Harrington, F. C, I, 511
Harrison, Henry S., I, 691
Harrison, Nathaniel, sketch of, I, 403,
404; 407
Harrison, William A., I, 355
Harrison county, I, 102, 252 ; early
schools of, 287
Harrisville, I, 159, 239
Hart, Hastings H, I, 699
Hartford, I, 240
Harvey, William H, I, 691
Hatfield, H. D., I, 564
Hatfield-McCoy feud, I, 621
Hawthorne Nail Works, I, 142
Haymond, A. F., sketch of, I, 402
Haymond, Luther, I, 287
Hedgesville, I, 240
Hellfire band, I, 246
Helvetia, founded by Swiss Immigrants
(1869), I, 593
Hereford, Frank, I, 554
Herefords, I, 529
Hervey, James, I, 265
High school era, I, 632, 633
High schools, I, 636; development of
(1909-21), 716
Higher education: West Virginia Uni-
versity, I, 644-678; denominational and
private institutions, 678
Highway development (1910-1920), I,
548-550
Highway inspector, office of created
(1907), I, 602
Highways, historic, I, 169-186
Hildreth, S. P., I, 517
Hill, William, I, 704
Hinton, I, 429-430
Hinton, Evan, I, 409, 410
History, uses of local, I, 1-11
Hite, Joist (Yost), I, 51
Hite vs. Fairfax, I, 51
Hodges, Thomas E., I, 638, 648
Hogs, I, 530
Holden, I, 441
Holliday's Cove, I, 104
Holt, John H., I, 561
Homestead (Tomahawk) rights, I, 69
Hornbrook, Thomas, I, 354
Horses, I, 530
Hospital for the Insane at Weston, I,
146
Hospital for the Insane, Huntington, I,
597
Hospitals and charitable institutions, ex-
penditures upon (1870-1912), I, 617
House of Delegates, I, 594
Howard, John, I, 53
Hubbard, Chester D. (illustration) I,
349
Hubbard, W. P., I, 605
Hughes River oil district (1864), I, 393
Humane Society, expenditure for (1912-
1920), I, 619
Hunter, R. M. T., I, 335
Huntersville, I, 137, 239
Huntington, Collis P., I, 424, 425, 430,
437
Huntington: Chesapeake & Ohio Rail-
way opened to, I, 425; 437, 438; early
telephone service at, 539; normal
school established at (1867), I, 589
Huntington Chamber of Commerce, I,
438
Huntington National Bank, I, 437
Hurricane Valley tavern, I, 180 '
Hygienic laboratory, established (1914),
I, 599
Imboden, John D., I, 386
Imboden raid (1863), I, 386, 387
Indian dangers removed, I, 212
Indian depredations (1783-93), I, 101
Industrial awakening: along the Kana-
wha, I, 424-442; south of the Kana-
wha, 483-498
Industrial expansion north of the Kana-
wha, I, 443-482
Industries, early, I, 227, 228; along line
of new Chesapeake & Ohio Railway,
426, 427; of Charleston, 435; lumber
developed by the B. & O. Railroad,
450-453 ; in Morgantown, 463 ; of
Bluefield, 489; timber, 534, 535
Ingles-Draper settlement destroyed, I,
61
Inns: along the National (Cumberland).
Road, I, 172 ; along James River and
Kanawha turnpike, I, 179, 180
Insane, hospitals for, I, 146, 597
Institutions for dependents, defectives
and delinquents, I, 597
Insurance companies, regulated, I, 602
Intermittent fever, treatment of, I, 250
Internal improvements (1844), I, 326;
1858-60, I, 332
Interstate controversies, I, 717, 718
Interstate relations; minor questions, I.
621, 622; boundary dispute with Mary
XVI
INDEX
land, 622, 623; the Virginia debt
question, 623-627
Irish immigration, I, 149, 150, 184
Irish settlement on Roaring Creek, I,
149
Iron, early smelting of, I, 5; first manu-
factured west of the Alleghenies, 142
Iron furnaces, early, I, 231
Iron industries, pioneer Monongalia
county, I, 142 ; early, in Hampshire
county, 135; early, of Wheeling, 155;
1790-1855, 231, 232
Iron and steel industries (1920), I, 715
Isaac Ballangee tract, I, 430
Itinerant preachers, I, 22, 223
Jackson, Jacob B., I, 555
Jackson, John J., I, 336, 337
Jackson, Stonewall, surrender of Har-
per's Ferry to, I, 390
Jackson, William L., I, 387
Jackson county, I, 109, 252
"Jackson Hall," I, 180
Jacob, John J., I, 551, 553
James River and Kanawha Canal Com-
pany, I, 331
James River and Kanawha Company, I,
234, 470
James River and Kanawha Turnpike, I,
174-181; tolls on abandoned, 426
Jane Lew, I, 447, 454
Jefferson county, I, 252, 368
Jefferson, Thomas, I, 279
Jenkins, Albert G., raid of, I, 386;
killed at Cloyd Mountain, I, 388
John Brown's Fort, Harper's Ferry, (il-
lustration) I, 390
Johnson, D. D., I, 553
Johnson, Fanny K., I, 691
Johnson, Joseph, I, 325
Johnson, William R., I, 425
Johnson, W. S., I, 625, 627
Jones, Beuhring H., I, 415, 686
Jones, Breckinridge, I, 698
Jones, H. C, I, 671
Jones, William E., I, 386
Journals (see Newspapers)
Judiciary, I, 594
"Jug" of Middle Island Creek, Tyler
County, (illustration) I, 32
Jury trial (Colonial), I, 47
Juvenile courts, I, 598
Kanaway county, military establishments
of, 100; 252; early schools of, 290
Kanawha, proposed name for new State,
I, 358
Kanawha City (Coalsmouth), I, 161
Kanawha House, I, 181
Kanawha, Pocahontas & Coal River Rail-
way, I, 436
Kanawha River, I, 32, 33 ; improvements
of (1820-70), 234, 235
Kanawha river section, early schools of,
I, 289
Kanawha Salines, salt works at, I, 165,
166
Kanawha Valley, first settlement in, I,
71; Lewis Summers' trip to (1808),
129-133; newspapers in, 309, 310; Con-
federate raid down, 385; first coal in,
517
Keel-boat passenger travel (1794-1810),
I, 235
Kelley, Benjamin F., I, 375
Kelly, Walter, I, 71
Kenna, Edward B., I, 693
Kenna, John E., I, 556, 558
Kenova, I, 492
Kenton, Simon, I, 77
Kermit, I, 492
Keyser, I, 136
Keystone, I, 491
Kimball, I, 491
Kingwood, I, 143, 194, 240
Koon, Samuel, I, 196
Koontown (Mannington), I, 196
Koontz, Arthur B., I, 565
Lake Kanawha, I, 32
Lake Monongahela, I, 32
Lamb, Daniel, I, 355; illustration, 349
Lampblack, product of natural gas, I,
514
Lancasterian Academy, I, 294
Land titles, I, 419
Latrobe, B. H., I, 192, 198
Lawnsville (Logan Court House), I, 167,
240
Lazier, William, I, 355
Lee, George H., I, 281
Lee, Robert E., sent to recover West Vir-
ginia, I, 380
Lee, Wilson, forms Methodist society at
Wheeling (1785), I, 269
Lees, Thomas J., I, 324, 682
Legal profession (Colonial), I, 47
Legislature, composition and meetings
of, I, 594
Leib, Charles, I, 685
Leighton, William, Jr., I, 686
Letcher, John, I, 351, 352
Levelton Male and Female College, I,
Lewis, Andrew, I, 55, 56, 61
Lewis, Charles, march to Fort Cumber-
land (1755), I, 60, 61
Lewis, John, I, 52, 56
Lewis, Virgil A., I, 636
Lewis, I, 76
Lewis and Upshur counties, first mill in,
I, 103
Lewisburg, I, 70, 100, 137, 180, 239;
battle of, I, 384
Lewisburg Academy, I, 295
Lewisburg Female Institute, I, 295
Lewis county, I, 146, 252; first news-
paper published in, 304 ; oil fields, 455 ;
oil "gushers" in, 506, 508
Lewis County Academy, I, 294
Lewisport, I, 239
Liberty loan drives, World's war, I, 702,
703
Libraries (other than private), 1850, I,
297
License tax imposed (1909), I, 602
Licenses, state taxes on, I, 617
Lilly, A. A., I, 564
Limestone, I, 27
Lincoln, Abraham, approves statehood
bill (December 31, 1862), I, 364, 365;
newspapers solidly support for second
term, 373 ; amnesty proclamations, 402
Lincoln county, I, 113, 252
Linsly Institute, first State Capitol
Building, (illustration) I, 368; first
State House of West Virginia (erected
1858), 369
Literature and literary writers: early
prose writers, I, 680, 681 ; poetry and
poets, 682-684; prose and verse of
Civil war and Reconstruction periods,
684-687; literature of 1885-1921
period, 687-694; conclusion, 694-696
INDEX
xvn
Literary Fund, created (1810), I, 279,
280; 282, 285, 316
Little Kanawha, early settlers along, I,
104-110
Little Levels, I, 70
Little Levels Academy, I, 295
Live Oak Paper Mills, I, 142
Livestock, I, 528, 529, 530, 536
Loan associations, provided for (1907),
I, 601
Local history, suggestive outline for
study of, I, 720
Logan, chief of the Mingos, murder of
family, I, 75, 76
Logan, I, 441
Logan county, I, 167, 252
Logan Court House, I, 167
Log schoolliouse, I, 630, 631
Lorentz, Jacob, I, 148
Louisa, I, 168
Lowther, William, I, 71
Lucas, Daniel B., I, 656, 685
Lumber industries (1920), I, 715
Lumberport, I, 240
Lung-fever, treatment of, I, 250
Lutheran church, I, 267, 268; status in
1850, I, 274
Lynchburg & New River Railroad, I, 187
MacCorkle, William A., I, 240, 560, 561
' ' Mad Anne Bailey, ' ' I, 99, 100
Madden, Joseph W., I, 671
Madison, I, 167
Magill, Mary T., I, 685
Mahon, Plyant, extradition case of, I,
621, 622
Mail boats, early, I, 14
Maiden, I, 166
Male and Female Academy at Buckhan-
non, I, 294
Mammoth Mound at Moundsville, Mar-
shall County, (illustration) I, 35
Mann, Adam, I, 70
Mann, Isaac T., I, 563
Mann, Jacob, I, 70
Mannings, James, I, 196
Mannington, I, 196, 240
Mannington oil field, I, 505
Manufacturing, development of (1909-
1920), I, 714, 715
Marietta, Ohio, founded, I, 105
Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad (char-
tered 1847), I, 198
Marion county, I, 102, 139, 141, 144,
252; early schools of, 286, 287; first
newspaper published in, 304; Philippi
court house, 343
Marion county oil field, I, 506
Marion House, I, 144
Marlin, Jacob, I, 55
Marlinton, I, 440
Marriage regulations, I, 225, 226
Marsh, J. F., I, 628, 634
Marshall, I, 240
Marshall county, I, 93; early settlements
in, 104, 252
Marshall County Agricultural Associa-
tion, I, 229
Martin, Alexander, I, 294, 648, 654, 662
Martin, Thomas B., I, 54, 90
Martinsburg, I, 90, 135, 239; first news-
paper at, 299; contestant for State
capital, 433
Martinsville, I, 240
Maryland, boundary dispute with, I, 622,
623
Mason, James M., I, 335, 350
Mason, John W., I, 40
Mason and Dixon line surveyed (1781-
84), I, 92
Mason City, I, 160, 240
Mason county, 1, 100, 160, 252
Matewan, I, 492
Mathews, H. M., I, 554
Matoaka, I, 495
Maxwell, Edwin, I, 556
Maxwell, Robert, sketch of, I, 249
McAlkin, I, 496
McCabe, James D., I, 260
McCarty, Edward, I, 135
McClellan, George B., his campaign in
West Virginia, I, 375-380
McCulloch's path, I, 67
McCullough traders' trail, I, 38
McDonald, Edward, I, 113
McDowell, James, I, 282
McDowell county, I, 252, 490, 491
McElhenny, Rev. Dr., I, 295
McGarry, J. D., I, 136
McGraw, John T., I, 440, 561
McGrew, James C, I, 193, 340, (illus-
tration), 349
McMurran, Joseph, I, 638
McWhorter, Henry, sketch of, I, 102
McWhorter, L. V., I, 690
Meade Collegiate Institute, I, 294, 295
Meadowville, I, 240
Mecklenburg (1762), I, 50
Medicine, early practice of (1862-1877),
I, 248-251
Mephisto Operation, War Eagle Coal
Company, Mingo County, (illustration)
I, 522
Mercer Academy, I, 295
Mercer county, I, 252; non-Union, 370;
struggle for county seat, 407, 408
Methodist church, I, 268-272; status in
1850, 274; in 1850 and 1860, 276
Methodist Episcopal Church of America,
organized (1784), I, 268
Methodist Episcopal Church South
formed (1845), I, 272
Methodist Protestant Church, formed
(1828), I, 271
Methodist Protestant churches, I, 271,
272
Meyers, John A., I, 532
Middle New River, settlements in (1783-
1856), I, 136, 137
Middle Wheeling, I, 240
Middlebourne, I, 109, 239
Middletown (Fairmont), I, 99, 143, 239
Middleville, I, 239
Mifflin county, I, 69
Miles End, I, 239
Milford, I, 239
Military roads, I, 66, 67
Mill at Grassy Creek, Nicholas County,
(illustration) I, 229
Miller, James H., I, 401 ; his sketch of
legal and political matters in Recon-
struction times, 403-405
Miller, Mrs. Alexander M., I, 691
Miller, Thomas C, I, 282, 636, 650
Miller, William M., I, 553
Mills, early, I, 229, 230
Minear, John, I, 73, 93, 230
Mineral county, I, 252
Miners' Homes and Gardens near Gary,
West Virginia, (illustrations) I, 516
Mingo county, I, 101, 252, 491
Mingo County Court House, (illustra-
tion), I, 492
Mining, statistics of (1889-1920), I, 713
XV111
INDEX
Milling disorders, I, 519, 523 ; legislation
regarding, 603, 604
Mining disturbances, cost of, I, 714
Miscville, I, 239
Monongahela Navigation Company, I,
173, 195
Monongahela River Railway Company,
I, 458
Monongahela river region, early schools
of, I, 285
Monongahela Valley, settlements in
(1776-1860), I, 139-152
Monongalia Academy, I, 141, 293, 644,
645
Monongalia county, I, 73, 92; roads and
ferries in, 140; means of communica-
tion improved, 141, 142; 194, 252;
early schools of, 285; first paper pub-
lished in (1803), 301
Monroe county, I, 112, 252; first local
newspaper of, 308
Montague, Margaret P., I, 689, 694
Montgomery, Samuel B., I, 565, 710
Montgomery county, I, 167
Montreal (Glenlyn), I, 90
Moore, Conrad, I, 99
Moore, James R., sketch of, I, 644
Moorefield, I, 99, 239
Moorfield settlement, I, 53
Morgan, B. S., I, 636
Morgan, Ephraim F., I, 5"65
Morgan, Morgan, Jr., I, 258
Morgan, Morgan, Sr., I, 50, 258
Morgan, Zachwell, first settler at Mor-
gantown, 1767, (illustration) I, 72; 73
Morgan county, I, 252
Morgantown, I, 5, 73, 92, 102; (1791-
1865), 139-143; 239; in 1868 (illus-
tration), 444; 460; developments at,
462, 463
Morgantown & Kingwood Railroad, I,
461; absorbed by B. & O. Railroad,
462
Morgantown Female Academy, I, 645
Morgantown Female Seminary, I, 294
Morgantown postoffice, (illustration), I,
703
Morris, Robert, I, 111
Moss, James, I, 70
Moss, John W., (illustration) I, 346
Moundsville, I, 104, 153, 240
Mount Carmel, I, 240
Mount Carmel School, I, 293
Mount Hope, I, 431
Mount Pleasant, I, 239
Mountain Home in southeastern Clay
county, (illustration) I, 224
' ' Mountaineers, " I, 25
Mullens, I, 495
"Murray settlement," I, 84
Musselman (C. H.) Canning Factory, I,
532
National Bank of Wheeling, I, 155
National Road (Cumberland), I, 169,
171, 216
National Union Convention, Baltimore
(June, 1864), I, 373
Native Spruces in Field of Blue Grass,
Canaan Valley, (illustration) I, 525
Natural conditions, I, 21-39
Natural gas, I, 227
Neal, James, sketch of, I, 104, 105
Negroes, freed, I, 245
Nemacolin's path, I, 66
New California, I, 109
New Cumberland, I, 104, 157, 465
New Haven, I, 240
Newport, I, 109, 158, 239, 240
Newspapers, early, I, 14; of Charleston,
165; early (1681-1820), 298; two,
in Western Virginia (1810), 299; first
in Martinsburg, 299; first in Monon-
galia county (1803), 301; pioneers in
different counties and localities, 304-
310; make-up of, 312; statistics for
1850 and 1860, 313
Nicholas, Wilson C, I, 111
Nicholas county, I, 99, 252
Norfolk & Western Railway Coke Ovens,
(illustration) I, 518
Normal schools, established (1867), I,
589, 636-644
Normal Training high schools (1915), I,
637
North Branch trail, I, 38
Northcott Science Hall, Marshall College,
(illustration), I, 643
Northwestern Bank of Wheeling, I, 154
Northwestern turnpike, I, 145, 184-186
Northwestern Virginia Academy, I, 287,
294
Northwestern Virginia Agricultural So-
ciety, I, 229
Northwestern Virginia Railroad, I, 195,
197
Notaries public, I, 46
Oak Hill, I, 167
O'Brien, Adam, sketch of, I, 221
Oceana, I, 240
Oceana Looking Northwest, (illustra-
tion) I, 497
Oglebay, Earl W., I, 703
Oglebay Hall, West Virginia University,
(illustration), I, 646
Ohio & Mississippi Railroad (chartered
1848), I, 198
Ohio Company, I, 55, 56, 58
Ohio county, I, 92, 93, 252; early schools
of, I, 288
Ohio River: influences of, I, 210 215;
navigation of, 215-218; completion of
Baltimore and Ohio Railway to (1852),
216; resumption of steamboat com-
munication with New Orleans (1867),
217, 218; navigation of, 234-237;
steamboat travel on (1838), 237; rail-
roads along, 464, 472
Ohio river homes, I, 215, 216
Ohio River Railroad, I, 469, 472
Ohio River Salt Company, I, 166
Ohio Valley, settlements in (1793-1862).
I, 161-168
Ohio Valley outlaws, I, 214
Oil development: general progress of,
I, 499; record (1826-1860), 500; in
Parkersburg district, 501; production
throughout the state (1876-1888), 503;
first, caused by drilling of salt wells,
500; in Parkersburg region, 501; pro-
duction in State (1876-1888), 503;
production in 1889-1921, 509 510; sta-
tistics of (1889-1920), 713
Oil fields, opening of, I, 505-509
Oil, gas and coal development, I, 499-523
Oil operators in West Virginia, I, 394
Oil pipe lines, laid from fields to sea-
board, I, 510
Oil region (in 1864), a traveller's narra-
tive of a visit to, I, 392-398
Oil wells at Rosedale, (illustration) I,
502
Old Field Schools, I, 279, 282 284, 288
INDEX
xix
Old Morgan Homestead, Front Street,
Morgantown, (illustration) I, 74
"Old Pack-horse Ford," I, 50
Orange county, I, 53
Ordinance of Secession: vote of western
members against, I, 339; signed by
Richmond convention, I, 352, 353
Orlando, (illustration) I, 481
Orr, James C, I, 357
Pack Ilorse settlement, I, 50
Pancoast, S. A., I, 135
Panhandle Railway Company, I, 464
Parish (Episcopal) of Frederick, I, 258
Parker, Granville, I, 413
Parkersburg, I, 104, 109, 158, 242; first
newspaper at, 306; 1864, 392; indus-
trial development of, 471; spectacular
founding of, 501; first telephone at
(1882), 538; branch of Baltimore &
Ohio completed to, 198
Parsons, I, 476
Parsons, James, I, 72
Paxton, James, I, 355
' ' Peace Conference ' ' at Washington
(1861), I, 335
Peeryville, I, 490
Pendleton, I, 54
Pendleton county, I, 54, 241, 252; first
school house erected in, 285; non-
union, 371
Penitentiary, contest over superintend-
ence of (1873), I, 553; 597
Pennsboro, I, 159
Pennsylvania, boundary question, I, 621
Pennsylvania road, I, 67
People's United Telephone System, I,
545
Peters, Christian, I, 70
Peterstown, I, 90, 113, 239
Petroleum development, 1, 16
Peytonia, I, 167
Peytonia Cannel Coal Company, I, 167,
517
Philippi, I, 146, 240 ; bloodless engage-
ment at, 376; illustration, 456; indus-
trial development of, 457
Philippi court house, storm center of
western secessionism, I, 343
"Philippi Races," I, 377
Physicians, early, of Wheeling, I, 154
Piedmont, I, 136, 206, 240
Piedmont and Cumberland Railway, I,
474
Pierpoint, Francis H., I, 293, 348; illus-
tration, 349, 354, 355, 356, 383
Pine Bottom, I, 159
Piney branch, Chesapeake & Ohio Rail-
way, I, 439
Pioneer domestic life, I, 221-226
Pitt, William, I, 62
Pittsburgh, her rivalry with Wheeling,
I, 200-209
Pittsburg & Steubenville Railway, I, 197
Pleasant county, I, 252; early schools of,
I, 289
Pleasantville, I. 239
Pocahontas coal, I, 483
Pocahontas coal field, I, 489
Pocahontas county, I, 137, 252; non-
union, 369
Pocahontas Development Company, I,
440
Poffenberger, Lydia S., I, 702
Point Pleasant, I, 100, 160, 239
Point Pleasant, battle of (1774), I, 77-
79
Point Pleasant Battle Monument, (illus-
tration) 1, 78
Point Pleasaut-liavenswood-Belleville toll
line, I, 539
Point Pleasant Register, I, 314
Political problems, recent, 1, 595
Politics, history of State, 1, 551
Polk Creek oil wells, Lewis Count v, I,
506
Polsley, Daniel, I, 355
Pontiac, I, 04; sues for peace (1765), 1.
65
Poor, care of the, I, 598
Poor Fund, I, 290
Population; Marion county (1865), I,
139; Monongalia county (1790-1830),
14U-141; of Western Virginia (1790-
1860), 252, 253; census of 1850, 253;
by color and condition (1860), 255;
by towns, 256; Charleston (1778-1920),
436; of Huntington, 438; of Wheel-
ing, 467 ; density of, by counties
(1920), (map), 566; from 1860 to
1910, 567-568; percent of increase or
decrease, by counties (1910-1920),
(map), 571; by race, sex, nativity,
age, education and social and domestic-
status (1900-1920), 569-573; by couu
ties (1860-1920), 573; by towns and
cities (since 1860), 574; by color and
condition (1860), 575; negroes, by
counties (1870-1920), 576; by sex
(1890-1920), 577; nativity and foreign
parentage (1860, 1870), 578; origin
of native and foreign-born (1870),
579; foreign-born by counties (1860-
1910), 580; foreign-born by country
of birth (1870-1910), 581; nationality
of foreign-born (1870-1910), 582;
nationality of foreign-born by counties
(1870-1910), 583; country of birth of
foreign-born white, for counties and
cities of 10,000 or more (1920), 584;
distribution of church members by
principal denominations (1890, 19(16,
1916), 585; statistics of religious
bodies (1916), 587; moral and re-
ligious life, 588; West Virginia, 1870-
1912, 609; 1910-1920, 711
Post, Melville D., I, 687, 688, 689, 694
Postofiice, Morgantown, (illustration) I,
703
Postofnces, early, I, 14; first (1794),
232; 1797-1841, 238, 239
Potomac Academy, I, 293
Potomac and Piedmont Coal and Rail-
way Company, I, 474
Potomac Companv, Washington, presi-
dent of, I, 95, 134
Potomac River below Harper's Ferry,
(illustration) I, 24
Potomac Seminary (Potomac Academy),
I, 293
Presbyterian church, I, 264-267; status
in 1850, 274; in 1850 and 1860, 276
Presbyterian colony (1798), I, 110
Presidential election of 1864, I, 373
Press (See Newspapers)
Preston, I, 146, 239
Preston county, I, 73, 102, 140, 143, 252 ;
unusual beginning of local journalism
(1839), 303, 461
Preston Railroad, Lumber and Mining
Company, I, 143
Price, George E., I, 557
Price, Samuel, sketch of, I, 415, 41(1
Princeton, I, 240, 407, 495
XX
INDEX
"Prison bounds," I, 244
Prohibition amendment carried (1912),
I, 422; ratified (1912), 595
Prohibition, legislation regarding, I, 600
Prolific early families, I, 220
Property, assessed value of (1919-1920),
I, 719
Prosecuting attorneys (colonial), I, 47
Pruntytown, I, 195, 239
Public Health Council, I, 60
Public officers, salaries for, I, 421, 422
Public school system, development of
(see also Education) ; work of first
superintendent, William B. White, I,
628, 629; first normal schools estab-
lished, 629; old-time academies, 629,
630; State institutes and schools, 630;
high school era, 632 ; school statistics,
1918-21, 633; changes in State boards
of education, 634; general develop-
ment, 1870-1920, 614-636; normal
schools, 636-644 ; historical sketch of
West Virginia University, 644-678
Public schools (see Education)
Public Service, expenditure for (1912-
1920), I, 619
Public Service Commission, created
(1913), I, 598, 717
Public whippings, I, 245
Pugh, Hugh, I, 104
Pure food law (1907), I, 595
Purinton, A. L., I, 638
I'urinton, D. B., I, 648, 655, 661
Putnam county, I, 110, 161, 252
Quakers, I 63,
Quarry Bun powder mill, I, 142
Bafting, I, 230
Bailroads: campaign against passes
(1885-87), I, 6; close out stage lines
(1852-54), 173; first line in West Vir-
ginia (Baltimore & Ohio), 187-199;
Chesapeake & Ohio Bailway, 425, 426,
428-442; projected, that failed, 443-
445; Baltimore & Ohio branches, 445-
464; lumber, 450-453; along the Ohio,
464-472; vs. steamboats, 471, 472;
Western Maryland Bailway, 472-478;
Coal and Coke Bailway, 478-482 ; Nor-
folk & Western Bailway, 483-494;
Virginia Bailway, I, 494-498; exemp-
tion from taxation of, 557; value of
properties (1919), 719
Bailroads vs. steamboats, I, 471, 472
Baleigh county, I, 168, 252
Bandolph Academy, I, 293
Bandolph county, I, 103, 148, 149, 150,
151 ; Irish settlement on Boaring
Creek, 149, 243, 252; remarkable in-
dustrial changes in, 472, 475
Bavenswood, I, 240
Baymond, Jerome H., I, 648, 650, 659,
660
Beal estate, re-assessments of, I, 615
Beay, Thomas P., I, 645
Beconstruction, first period of, I, 16;
problems and policies of, 399; condi-
tions at close of war, 399-402; test-
oath act, 402; registration law, 403;
judges, lawyers and office holders, 403-
405; suffrage reforms (1869-71), 406;
State capital located at Charleston
(1870), 410, 411
Eector College, I, 195, 294
Bed Cross Work, World's war, I, 708
Bed Sulphur and Kanawha turnpike, I,
409
Bed Sulphur Seminary, I, 295
Red Sulphur Springs, I, 240
Beeside, James, leading mail contractor,
I, 170
Eegistration law (1866), I, 403, 406, 407
Behobeth Church, first Methodist meeting
house west of the Alleghenies, I, 269
Beligion (see also churches and de-
nominations), I, 257, 569
Beligious freedom, act of, I, 257
Renick, Felix, description of a trip by,
I, 125, 126
Repairing damage on South Side Hill,
near Charleston, winter of 1918, (illus-
tration), I, 541
Repository, Wheeling's first newspaper,
I, 154
Republican control, early, I, 551
Revised school code (1909), I, 716
Bevolution: rear guard of, I, 81-93;
forts at beginning of, 81, 82; forts
erected during, 82, 83; military prep-
arations and operations in Western
Virginia, 83-89; invasions during, 86-
89; settlements and county creations
during, 89-93
Beyman Memorial Farms, I, 532
Beynolds, P. B., I, 648, 650, 657, 659,
661, 670
Bheumatism, treatment of, I, 251
Bich Mountain, Union victory at, I, 379
Bichmond, Educational convention at
(1845), I, 282
Bichmond Enquirer, I, 299
Bichwood, eastern portion, (illustration)
I, 451
Bichwood branch of Baltimore & Ohio
Bailroad, I, 450
Eipley, I, 240
Bitchie, Thomas, father of Virginia
journalism, I, 299
Bitchie county, I, 106, 146, 159, 186, 252;
early schools of, 289; first local paper
in, 307
Biver transportation (1793-1872), I, 233,
234
Eivesville, I, 143
Eoads, early, I, 14; 1786-1840, 232, 233
Boane county, I, 109, 252
Roberts, B. S., I, 387
Bobinson, Ira E., I, 564
Robinson, J. A., I, 664
Sogers, H. H., I, 494
Eomney, I, 239
Eomney County Court House, (illustra-
tion) I, 464
Eomney Literary Society, I, 293
Eonceverte, I, 429
Bosecrans, William S., his campaign in
West Virginia, I, 383, 384
Bosedale, oil wells at, (illustration) I,
502
Bosier, Joseph, I, 628
Eowan, John M., I, 557
Eowlesburg, I, 240
Eoyall, Anne (Newport), I, 681
Euffner, David, I, 165, 166
Euffner, Henry, I, 166
Euffner, Joseph, sketch of, I, 110; 165
Euffner family, pioneers of Kanawha
salt industries, I, 165, 166
Euffner Hotel, I, 180
Eumsey, James, I, 134
Bumseyan Monument, Shepherdstown,
(illustration) I, 96
INDEX
xxi
Rural schools, better day for, I, 631, 632
Eussel, William, I, 51
Salaries of officials, expenditure for
(1912-1920), I, 619
Salem, I, 102, 145
Salt industry, I, 227
Salt Spring, I, 111
Salt wells (1864), I, 394
Sand Fort colony, of Irish settlers, I,
184
Sandusky-Richmond trail, I, 38
Sandy Valley, early settlements in, I,
168
Santerville, I, 240
Savanna fort (Fort Union), I, 70
"Savage Grant," I, 114
Saw mills (1835), I, 230
Say're, Greek, I, 257
Scherr, Arnold C, I, 562
School Code Commission, appointed
(1918), I, 590
School Law of 1846, I, 282
School statistics, 1850 (see also Educa-
tion), I, 296, 297
Schools (see Education)
Schools and the World's war, I, 706
Schools for the deaf and blind, I, 630
Science Hall, West Virginia University,
(illustration) I, 655
Scioto-Monongahela trail, I, 37
Scotch-Irish, I, 13, 36, 52, 57, 63, 68, 69 ;
their interest in education, I, 290
Scott, John W., I, 648, 662
Scott, Nathan B., I, 561
Secession, advocated by eastern Virginia
(1850), I, 330
Second State Capitol, Charleston in Kan-
awha (1870-71), (illustration) I, 405
Senate passes Australian ballot bill, I,
560
Seneca trail, I, 38, 68
Settlements, first advance of, in eastern
panhandle, I, 50; pioneer (1760-1776),
70-74; New River region (1775-83),
90; in eastern panhandle (1787-91),
99; along the Kanawha (1791-1804),
100; in West Augusta district, 101,
102; delayed along the Big Sandy,
101; in West Fork Valley, 102; upper
Ohio, 104; south of the Great Kan-
awha, 111; in the eastern panhandle,
134-136; Middle New River and
Greenbrier, 136-138; the Monongahela
valley, 139-152; along the Ohio, 152-
161 ; early, in Calhoun county, 159 ;
along the Great Kanawha, 161-167;
south of the Great Kanawha, 167-168 ;
early, in Big Sandy Valley, 168
Sewell, Stephen, I, 55
Sewell Valley Railroad, I, 439
Shawkey, M. P., I, 628, 636
Shawnee (Seneca) trail, I, 38, 68
Sheep, I, 530
Shenandoah Valley, first newspaper in,
I, 299
Shepherd, David, I, 74, 86
Shepherd, Thomas, I, 50
Shepherdstown, I, 89, 134, 239; Episco-
pal churches at, 258; normal school
established at (1872), 589
Shepherdstown Academy, I, 292
Shepherdstown Register, I, 314
Shepherdsville, I, 239
Sherrard, Robert, I, 135
Shinnston, I, 145, 240
Shires organized (1634), I, 46
Shorthorn cattle, I, 529
Sistersville, I, 109, 240
Sistersville oil field, I, 506, 510
Slavery, I, 247, 248, 315
Smith, Benjamin H., I, 413, 551
Smith, Henry, narrative of (1794), I,
118, 119, 222
Smithfield, I, 54, 239
Smithville, I, 159, 240
Smootsville, I, 240
Snow Hill furnace, I, 166
Social history (see population)
South Branch country, I, 53
South Wheeling, I, 240
Southern Bell Company, I, 540
Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph
Company, I, 539, 541
Southern West Virginia (Colton's map
of), I, 400
Spencer, I, 109, 240
Splash Dam in the Kanawha River, (il-
lustration) I, 448
Spotswood, Alexander, sketch of, I, 49,
50
Springfield, I, 99, 238, 239
St. Albans, I, 436
St. George, I, 93, 476
St. Lawrence Boom and Manufacturing
Company, I, 429
St. Mathew's (Episcopal) Church of
Wheeling, formed 1819, I, 260
St. Marys, I, 157, 240
Stages, on National Road, I, 170; first
between Baltimore and the Ohio river,
170; fares, 177
Standard Oil Company, purchases hold
ings, I, 511
Starksville, I, 240
State Agricultural Experiment Station,
organized (1888), I, 532
State and State School levies (rates),
(1863-1913), I, 609
State Board of Agriculture, organized
(1891-1912), I, 532; created (1891),
602
State Board of Children's Guardians, es
tablished (1919), I, 717
State Board of Education (1919), I, 590,
647
State boards of education, I, 634
State Board of Embalmers, created
(1899), I, 600
State Board of Health, created (1881),
I, 555
State budget, I, 716
State Bureau of Roads, created (1913),
I, 717
State capital: contest between Wheeling
and Charleston, I, 433; vote by coun-
ties for Charleston, Clarksburg and
Martinsburg, 434; returned to Wheel-
ing (1875), 553; permanent removal
to Charleston, (1885), 556
State Capitol Building, first, (illustra-
tion) I, 368
State Capitol, Charleston (destroyed by
fire, January, 1921), (illustration) I,
591; 595, 719
State Department of Agriculture, created
in 1913, I, 717
State depository law, I, 604
State election, time of, changed, I, 556
State Executive Council of Defense,
World's war (1917), I, 698
State expenditures, huge expansion of,
since 1912, I, 618-620
xxn
INDEX
State government, development of, I,
590-604
State highway inspector abolished, I, 602
State highways, bonded indebtedness
authorized for (1920), I, 422
Statehood: achievement of; Secession
convention, I, 335-337; anti-Union
sentiment and action, 338; ordinance
of secession adopted, 339-341 ; United
States properties seized, 342; Union
meetings in western Virginia, 342,
343 ; first Union convention at Wheel-
ing, 345-353; second convention and
promulgation of new State, 353-356 ;
recognized by Congress of the United
States, 356 ; first constitutional con-
vention of West Virginia (November,
1861), 357; name and boundaries
adopted, 358; constitution (1861), 358-
362 ; ratified, 362 ; admitted into the
Union, December 31, 1862, 365 ; begins
legal existence, June 20, 1863, 366;
State seals adopted, 367, 368; United
States senators elected, 368 ; choice of
permanent capital, 369 ; Non-Union
counties during Civil war, 369-373;
presidential election, 1864, 373
State indebtedness, 1876-93, I, 613
State institutions, I, 594
State militia, organization of, I, 603
State Normal School, first, I, 636
State Normal School, West Liberty, Ad-
ministration Building, (illustration) I,
637
State officers, salaries of, 1, 594, 595, 717
State police created (1919), I, 603; es-
tablished (1919), 717
State politics (see Politics)
State prison (see penitentiary)
State Road Bureau, created (1913), I,
547, 549
State Road Commission, I, 547, 549, ex-
penditure for, 619
State roads and highways, system of
(1920), I, 603
State roads, system of (1920), I, 717
State Tax Commission, report of the
first, I, 614
State tax commissioner created (1904),
I, 562, 602
State taxes (1920, 1921), I, 719
State treasury: receipts and expendi-
tures of (1863-1912), I, 606, 607; re-
ceipts and expenditures (1913-1920),
608
Statutes of the State, revised by acts of
1881 and 1882, I, 555
Staunton, I, 54
Staunton and Parkersburg Pike, I, 137,
181-184
Steamboat; influences of, I, 215, 216
Steamboat freight rates, I, 236
Steamboats (1811-60), I, 235-237
Steamer and railroad cooperation, I, 216
Steam-propelled machinery; introduction
to saw mills, I, 230
Stebbensville, I, 239
Steele, William, I, 270
Stephenson, J. M., I, 336
Steubenville and Pittsburgh Railway, I,
207
Stevens, E. W., I, 155
Stevens, George W., I, 428
Stevenson, W. E., (illustration) I, 349
Stevenson, William E., I, 406, 551, 590
Stewart, J. H., I, 659
Stiles, W. C, I, 503
Stoke & Stockton (National) road line,
' I, 171
Stokeyville, I, 158
Storer, John, I, 630
Storer College, I, 630
Stove foundry, first, I, 143
Streams, pollution of, I, 599
Strother, David H., I, 241, 681
Stuart, Alexander H. H., I, 337
Suffrage question (1869-71), I, 406
Summers, George, I, 129 ; sketch of, 162,
163
Summers, Lewis, sketch of, I, 162, 163 ;
journal or diary of (1808), 129-133
Summers, Thomas, I, 163
Summers county, I, 252 ; non-Union,
370, 408; formed, 409, 429
Summerville, I, 239
Sunday School associations, I, 588
Suspension bridge, Morgantown (erected
1852), (illustration) I, 138
Suspension bridge, opened (July, 1856),
I, 208
Sutherland, Howard, I, 564
Sutton, John D., I, 129
Sutton, first B. & O. train to (May,
1891), I, 449
Suttonville, I, 239
Swearingen, Thomas, I, 50
Sweet Springs, I, 112
Swisher, Charles W., I, 562
Swiss immigrants found Helvetia (1869),
I, 593
System of state roads (1920), 1, 717
Tanneries, early, in Hampshire county,
I, 135
Tanner's Cross Roads (New California),
I, 109
Taverns, I, 243, 244
Tax assessment, reform in, I, 561, 562
Tax commission, second (1901), I, 616
Tax commissionership, created (1904),
I, 595
Tax law, first general (1863), I, 613
Taxable property, inadequate assessment
of, I, 556
Taxable wealth (1870-1910), I, 609
Taxation, reform in (1901), I, 595; de-
velopment of receipts by State treas-
ury (1863-1912), 606; expenditures
from State treasury (1863-1912), 607;
receipts and expenditures in 1913-1920,
608 ; State school levies, taxable wealth
and all taxes (1863-1920), 609; aver-
age rate of levy and classified taxes,
610; period from 1861-70, 611-613;
State indebtedness, 1876-93, 613;
period from 1870 to 1880, 613-614;
period from 1880 to 1890, 614-616;
period from 1900-1910, 616, 617; con-
ditions, tendencies and needs in 1912,
618; period since 1912, 618-620
Taxes, in thousands and per capita
(1904-1912), I, 609; classified, 610
Taylor, Zachary, I, 172
Taylor county, I, 194, 252; first paper
published in, I, 304
Tazewell, Littleton W., I, 315
Teachers, higher standards for, I, 631
Teays, Stephen, I, 100
Teays clays, I, 32, 33
Telephone department, I, 598
Telephone and telegraph companies,
valuation of their properties in West
Virginia (1921), I, 545
INDEX
xxm
Telephone toll line, first, in West Vir-
ginia, I, 538
Telephone service: first in State (1880)
and extensions, I, 538; chief operating
companies, 539-545; valuation of tele-
phonic and telegraphic properties, 545,
546
Temporary taxes (1871-74), I, 614
Terminal bridge at Wheeling, I, 465
Terraces, I, 33
Test oath, I, 404
Thncker Coal & Coke Company, Tipple
No. 11 Operation, (illustration) I, 520
Third State Capitol, erected by City of
Wheeling, 1875-76, (illustration) I,
554
Thompson, John R., I, 648, 655, 662
Thompson, Philip, I, 161
Thompson, Robert, I, 104
Thrift and war saving stamps, I, 710
Thurmond, I, 432
Tilton, William, I, 106
Timber industry and lands, I, 534, 535
Tipple at Micco, Logan county (illustra-
tion), I, 507
Titlow, C. R., I, 704
Toll bridges, I, 233
Toll lines (telephone) established and
consolidated (1894-1920), I, 540-545
Tolls, regulation of (1809), I, 175; free-
dom from (1825), 176; increase of
(1831), 178
Tomahawk (homestead) rights, I, 69, 74
Tomahawk rights men, I, 4
Topography, I, 25, 26
Tory conspiracies, I, 84-86
Towers, George I, 293
Towns and cities, uniform system for
government of (1911), I, 595
Towns, incorporation of (1762-1858), I,
230, 240; statistics in 1850, I, 253;
statistics in 1860, 255; population of
(1860), 256; population since 1860,
568
Township system, abandoned (1872), I,
418
Trade, early, I, 226, 228
Trails, I, 14, 36-39, 67, 68 ; in upper Ty-
gart's Valley, 146
Trans- Allegheny: settlements encouraged
by Virginia (1752), I, 56; struggle
for control of, 57-65; advance guard
of, 66-80; routes to, 66-68; early mi-
grations to, 68-74; rear guard of the
Revolution, 81-93; Washington's faith
in region, 94
Trans-Appalachian region; pioneer set-
tlement of, I, 13-15
Transportation (see highways, railroads,
roads and trails)
Transportation (1864), I, 397, 398;
1912-1919, 715
Travelers' records, glimpses from, I, 115-
133
Trent, William, I, 58; surrenders, 59
Triadelphia, I, 93, 240
Trotter, J. A., I, 636, 705
Tuberculosis sanitaria, expenditure for
(1912-1920), I, 619
Tuberculosis sanitarium, I, 597
Tucker county, I, 73, 151, 252; remark-
able industrial changes in, 472, 475
Tunnelton, I, 193
Turner, E. M., I, 648, 657, 658 666
Turnpikes, early (1836-56), I, 137; early
(1840-56), 142, 147, 158; minor (1827-
50), 180; ravaged by Civil war, 181,
233
Tuscorora Presbyterian church, built in
1730, (illustration) I, 265
Tygart, David, I, 55, 56
Tygart's Valley, Randolph County, I,
31, 71
Tygart's Valley settlements, I, 93
Tyler county, I, 109, 252; early schools
of, I, 288
Tyree Stone Tavern near Cliftop (illus-
tration), I, 172
Union, I, 112, 237, 239
"Union Society" of Methodist Episco-
pal church, I, 271
United Mine Workers, I, 519, 523, 714
United War Work Council, World 's war,
I, 709
University of Henrico (1619), I, 277
Univerity library, I, 651, 652
University enrollment of candidates for
degrees (1909-21), I, 716
Upshur county, I, 148, 183, 252; early
schools of, 285, 286
Valleyton, I, 240
Vancluse, I, 157
Vancouver, Charles, I, 101
Vancouver tract, I, 101
Vandalia, proposed colony of (1771), I.
79
Van Meter, John, I, 52
Van Meter, Isaac, extracts from diary
of (1801), I, 126, 127
Van Winkle, Peter G., (illustration) I.
349, 355, 368
Vickers, E. H., I, 605, 618, 650
Vienna, I, 239
Virgin forests (1880), (map) I, 534
Virgin forests (1913), (map) I, 535
Virginia, institutional heritage from, I,
40-48; first constitution of, 317; pub-
lic debt of (1861), 626
Virginia Central Railroad, I, 424
Virginia debt, West Virginia's portion
of, I, 554, 561; West Virginia's lia-
bility for, 617; question of, 623-627;
719
Virginia debt, settlement of, (illustra-
tion) I, 624
Virginia Debt Case, final adjudication
of, I, 619-620
"Virginia Debt Commission," I, 626
Virginia Free Press, I, 314
Virginia land office grants, I, 111, 112
Virginia laws: applied to West Virginia
(before 1863), I, 244-246
Virginia-Pennsylvania boundary dispute,
I, 74, 75, 92
Virginia road, I, 67
Virginia sectionalism, I, 315-317
Virginia Warriors Path, I, 36
Virginian Railway, I, 494-498
Virginias, proposed reunion of the, I, 403
Virginius, I, 239
Wade, B. F., I, 363
Wallace, George S., I, 697
Wallcutt, Thomas, extract from journal
of (1790), I, 119-121
Walpole, Thomas, I, 79
Walworth, R. H., I, 203
Wardensville, I, 240
Warfield, I, 168
Warm Springs and Huntersville Turn-
pike, I, 137
XXIV
INDEX
Washington, George, I, 4, 6; surveys
Fairfax grant (1747-48), 53; 58, 59;
as guardian of the West, 61 ; 63 ;
prophet of the West, 94-97; 101, 106;
his lands for sale (1802), 312, 526
Washington, I, 526
Washington Hall, Birthplace of West
Virginia, (illustration) I, 344
Washington's headquarters in 1747 as
boy surveyor for Lord Fairfax, (illus-
tration) I, 52
Watson, Clarence W., I, 563
Watson, I, 239
Watsontown, I, 99
Watts, Cornelius C, I, 561
Watts House, Morgantown (Built about
1800), (illustration) I, 141
Wayne, Anthony, I, 97
Wayne, I, 492
Wayne county, I, 168, 252 ; early schools
of, 289
Wayne County Coal Company, I, 517
Webster county, I, 109, 252
Webster Springs, (illustration) I, 452
Weddings and marriage regulations, I,
225, 226
Weed, Henry, sketch of, I, 265
Weights and measures, legislation, I,
600, 601
Welch, I, 490
Wellsburg, I, 104, 156, 157, 239
Wellsburg Herald, I, 314
Wertz, William W., I, 690
West (post -Revolution) : awakening of
the, I, 94-114
West Columbia, I, 240
Western Central Telephone Company, I,
545
Western (up country) democracy, I, 316
Westernford, I, 151
Western Maryland Bailway, I, 472-478
Western Virginia: population of (1790-
1860), I, 252; counties and dates of
formation (1754-1895), 252; composi-
tion and condition of population and
town statistics (1850), 253; agricul-
tural statistics (1850), 254; in 1778,
268; destiny of, 317; community life
in (1864), 395-397
Western Virginia Educational Society, I,
294
Westf all 's Fort, Tygarts Valley, Beverly,
Built 1774, (illustration) I, 71
Westfield, I, 239
West Fork valley, I, 102
West Hamlin, I, 441
West Liberty, I, 39, 104; normal school
established at (1867), I, 589
West Milford, I, 71, 145
West Virginia : destined for separate
Statehood, I, 12-19, 36; erection of, as
a State (1861-62), 15; pioneer settlers
of, 55; mother counties of 1790,
(map), 98
West Virginia 's greatest primeval forest,
death knell of, I, 476
West Virginia and Pittsburgh Railroad,
absorbed by Baltimore & Ohio Rail-
road, I, 449
West Virginia Central and Pittsburgh
Railway Company, I, 474
West Virginia Children's Home, I, 598
West Virginia Colored Institute, I, 630,
637
West Virginia Compensation Law, I,
598, 599
West Virginia Dairy Association, I, 534
West Virginia Demonstration Packing
School, I, 532
West Virginia Good Roads Federation,
organized (1919), I, 603
West Virginia Horticultural Society, I,
534
West Virginia Humane Society, I, 597
West Virginia Immigration and Develop-
ment Association, I, 594
West Virginia Industrial School for
Boys, I, 597
West Virginia Industrial Home for
Girls, I, 597
West Virginia Livestock Association, I,
534
West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company,
I, 441, 476
West Virginia Sheep Breeders' and Wool
Growers' Association, I, 534
West Virginia State Poultry Association,
I, 534
West Virginia Telegraph and Telephone
Company, I, 539
West Virginia Traction and Electric
Company, I, 468
West Virginia University: department
of history, I, 8 ; College of Agriculture,
531 ; sketch of, 590 ; foundation laid,
644-647 ; evolution of college depart-
ments, 650, 651 ; buildings, equipment
and library, 651, 652 ; policies and
politics, 652-661 ; co-education, 661-
669 ; chapel exercises, 660-670 ; recent
conditions and extensions, 670-673 ;
student registration (1912-1920), 673;
enrollment (1867-1921), 674, 675; en-
rollment College of Arts and Sciences
(1906-21), 676; attendance of women
(1906-1921), 677; enrollment in Col-
lege of Agriculture, 678; appropria-
tions (1920-21), 678
West Virginia University, Commence-
ment Hall, (illustration) I, 650
West Virginia University, Oglebay Hall,
(illustration), I, 646
West Virginia University, Science Hall,
(illustration) I, 655
West Virginia University, Women's Hall,
(illustration) I, 660
Weston, I, 102, 183 ; first B. & O. train to
reach (September, 1879), 447; 453
Weston and Elk River Railroad Com-
pany, I, 449
Weston, Showing Hospital at left, (il-
lustration), I, 596
Weston College, I, 294
West Union, I, 185, 239
West Union Academy, I, 295
Wetzel county, I, 104, 252; early schools
of, 288
Wheat, James S., I, 355
Wheeling, earliest known settlement of,
I, 73; 104, 152-156; first newspaper,
154; first trains into (1853), 193;
1820, 214; 238; first regular preaching
in (1812), 265; Methodist churches of,
269; newspapers of, 305, 306; a center
of Unionism, 344; meeting of second
Union convention at, 353; as State
Capital, 369; in 1870, (illustrotion),
371; contest with Charleston for State
Capital, 433 ; government, population
and banks of, 467; institution of, 468,
469; first telephone exchange at
(1880), 538
Wheeling and Belmont Bridge Company,
I, 201
INDEX
XXV
Wheeling and Kanawha packet line, I,
206
Wheeling Bridge and Terminal Company,
I, 465
Wheeling Bridge case, I. 200-209
Wheeling Bridge, old (blown down Ma}',
1854), I, 208
Wheeling Daily Register, seized by
United States government (1864), I,
373
Wheeling Female Institute, I, 294
Wheeling Improvement Association, I,
468
Wheeling Intelligencer, I, 314
Wheeling, Parkersburg and Cincinnati
(Ohio River) Railroad, I, 470
Wheeling-Pittsburgh rivalry, I, 200-209,
217
Wheeling Register, I, 314
Whelan, F. V., I, 184
White, Albert Bv I, 561
White, I. C, I, 32; his scientific oil in-
vestigations, 503-505, 713
White, William R,, sketch of, I, 628;
637; 638
Whitehill, A. R., I, 657
"White man's party," I, 406
White Sulphur Springs, I, 181 ; 240, 241 ;
271, 429
Wickham, William C, I, 424
Willey, Waitman T., I, 342; (illustra-
tion) 349, 356, 368
Willey, William P., I, 332, 333, 656
"Willey Amendment" to State Constitu-
tion (1862), I, 363
Williams, Isaac, I, 74; sketch of, 105
Williamsport (Pruntytown), I, 195
Williamston, I, 105
-Williamson, I, 491, 492
Williamsville, I, 239
Wilson, E. Willis, I, 555, 556, 558
Wilson, William L., I, 648, 655
Wilson, Willis, I, 6
Winans, Ross, I, 192
Winchester, I, 54
Winfield, I, 161
Wingerter, C. A. I, 249
Wirt county, I, 109, 252
Wise, Henry A., I, 316, 328, 338, 341,
382; defeated by Rosecrans at Gauley
Bridge, 383
Withers, Emma, I, 693
Women's Hall, West Virginia University,
(illustration), I, 660
Woodburn Female Seminary, I, 645
Wood county, I, 108, 158, 252
Woods, Katherine P., I, 691
Wool growing, early, I, 228
Workmen's Compensation Fund, I, 598,
618
Workmen's Compensation Law (1913),
I, 595
World's war: elective draft registra-
tion, I, 697, 698; State Councils of
Defense, 697-700; war legislation, 701,
702; Liberty Loan drives, 702, 703;
production and conservation of food,
703-705; fuel administration, 705;
school and the war, 706; the Four
Minute Men, 707; Red Cross work,
708 ; Allied War relief, 709 ; other war
activities, 710
World's war industries, I, 715
World's war legislation, I, 701, 702
World's war taxes (1917), I, 619
Writers, early, prose, I, 680
Wyoming county, I, 168, 252; early
schools of, I, 289
York county, first county west of the
Susquehanna, I, 68
Youghiogheny county, I, 92
Young, Houston G., I, 627
Young, John Russell; his narrative of a
visit to West Virginia oil region
(1864), I, 392-398
Zane, Ebenezer, I, 53, 73, 152, 153
Zane, Elizabeth, I, 88
Zane, Noah, I, 269
Zane, Silas, I, 73
Zane's Trace, I, 53; opening of (1796),
I, 152
History of West Virginia
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION : USE OP LOCAL HISTORY
The importance of local historical research is steadily gaining recog-
nition. This is reflected in a growing belief that local history should
have a place in the course of study in our schools. Teachers are dis-
covering that the surest way to kindle and to stimulate to activity the
child's attention is to build on his own experience in his home com-
munity life — whose origin and development he will be interested to
know. When local life touches the larger streams of national life, local
history may be employed to introduce or to illustrate national history.
If it has little connection with national life, the history of every local
community of whatever age may still be full of vital interest and may
be made very instructive. If presented in a systematic, organized
course, it is suitable to unfold the fundamental principles of historical
development. It contains the universal motives to human action, the
universal geographic conditions and influences, the law of development
from the simple to the complex, and the evolution of institutions to
meet human needs. The common people in their home life, government,
and industrial interests, have contributed a share to the onward move-
ment of civilization, and a study of the story of their community life
will fortify the student with a habit of mind which will fit him to study
more intelligently the history of the nation and the world.
The study of history, like charity, should begin at home. The first
step, as in geography, is to know thoroughly the home district. The
most natural introduction to a knowledge of the history of the world is
from local environment, through ever widening circles of interest, along
lines that vitally connect the past with the present. The child should
first observe systematically the phenomena and processes which lie near
to him. He begins this himself and only needs to be guided. He sees
the institutions and life of his own neighborhood and is interested in
them. In connection with local geography he can learn many things
about the society in which he lives, he can get first-hand experience
with institutions in the concrete. What he learns in regard to the
family, the school, the church, the industrial life and the affairs of local
government will aid in giving him a conception of what history is.
Students should be led to appreciate the common and lowly things
around them, to understand the familiar facts of local environment
whose truths are as significant as those of far-away places and remote
times, to have respect for law, and for the institutions which through
long ages of the past have been developed in the great school of human
experience, and now contribute to the welfare of all. The annals, and
records, and life, of quiet neighborhoods are historically important by
their vital connection with the progress and science of the nation and
of the world.
Local history may advantageously be studied as a contribution to
national history and to a larger "world history." Almost every com-
munity has some close and intimate connection with general history.
Here, the Indians assembled in council and participated in the war
dance or smoked the pipe of peace. There, a brave explorer passed
Vol. I— 1
2 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
centuries ago. Here, a self-reliant pioneer, armed with axe and rifle,
built his log cabin and began his mission of subduing the savage forest
heavy with the sleep of ages. Through yonder gap pressed the incessant
wave of frontiersmen clearing the way for civilization. Here, in patches
of cleared land, strewn with arrow heads, they planted the seed for
future harvests. Here, they experimented with the difficulties and
opportunities of the wilderness. There, they sprang into conflict for
the protection of their homes; near by is a stone marking the graves
of those who died fighting for freedom; and yonder monument is in
commemoration of the victory that was won. On every hand also are
the living monuments of the civilization which followed: the houses,
mills, bridges, mines, railways, oil derricks, schools, churches and courts.
In almost every community there have lived conspicuous representa-
tive leaders whose simple stirring lives may be studied as a fitting in-
troduction to the vigorous life and struggles of the common people
in bygone days. They represent the men who established, guided and
saved the nation. Through them the moving dramatic panorama of
the past may be unrolled and glimpses of institutional forces may be
given.
The pioneer epoch is a delightful gateway through which the chil-
dren of our common schools may find entrance to the fields of Ameri-
can history, and of general history. The pioneer life in many states is
rich in stirring events, in difficult enterprises, in deeds of fortitude and
nobility, in stories of strong men and women, which will thrill the
children with delight and awaken a deep and permanent interest. In
the settlement of almost every community plain, modest and uncele-
brated men performed important service. They faithfully did a great
work, the consequences of which are around us to-day. Prom many
unnoticed, scattered fields, where they sowed their seed, came at last a
mighty harvest. They toiled not in vain.
The story of the deeds of such men not only awakens human interest
but impresses the mind with the value of high character and purpose,
and animates us to do our work with a more intense and patient fidelity.
All should be grateful for the invisible, molding influences behind these
men : their humble but reverent homes, their simple churches and their
rustic schools. The striking phases of their simple, frugal life are full
of interest and furnish valuable data for later study of social history
and government : their houses, the home life around the great fireplace,
their furniture and dress, their meeting houses and long sermons in
cold churches, their log rollings, house raisings and husking bees, their
government, methods of travel and trade.
The study of such things as these will vivify the past — will "fill
its dim spaces with figures which move and live and feel." Our his-
tory is rich in inspiring educational materials which, if properly pre-
sented, will prevent the distaste for history which has so often resulted
from the study of skeleton outlines and the memorizing of tables and
dates.
Perhaps local history may find its best opportunity as a means of
illustrating in the simplest terms possible the fundamental principles
of community life. This idea has recently been applied in the schools
of Indianapolis where it has resulted in the preparation of a series of
civic studies on the history of the various institutions of the city, be-
ginning with a short history of the water supply. Thus local history may
be utilized as a means of civic instruction. Because of its usefulness
in illuminating fundamental civic ideas, it may find its own oppor-
tunity for development in connection with a well organized course in
civics. A child is led to see that the various institutions and arrange-
ments of the community have been developed in order to satisfy the
needs and wants of himself and other members of the community.
Local history will develop in the child's mind a conception of the
nature of community life and its relations. The story of a simpler pioneer
community shows most interestingly the presence of all the motives
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 3
and interests of community life, and it shows how they were the stimuli
for the development of the various phases of early community life and
community institutions: such as schools, mills, mines, banks, churches,
railroads, streets, and government. It shows also how under the hard
conditions of pioneer life, isolated from civilization, the various interests
received only partial satisfaction.
The fascinating story of local development from this standpoint
teaches its own lesson. It enables one to understand from concrete ex-
amples that society has advanced only by slow, blind groping move-
ments—with long halts and many struggles due to ignorance, stupidity
and prejudice, and that "it is only through labor and painful effort,
by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things."
The story of each town is one of interesting development: from the
primitive and the provincial to the modern and metropolitan; from a
sleepy condition of mere subsistance and isolation to a life of produc-
tive business and communication with the entire world ; from trail and
pack horse to railway and express train ; from an old log house built
as you please and surrounded by mud and broken glass to a modern house
built by permission of town council, and approached by sidewalk put
in by command of the town council, for the general good, — perhaps at
first against the strong opposition of individual citizens; from corner
smoke-befogged grocery with chairs and whittling material furnished
to the evening loafers' club to an orderly business house where loafers
are discouraged inside by lack of chairs and outside by rows of sharp
barbs and spikes; from the daily jam of the old postoffice after the
daily mail hack arrived to the modern office with iron rails to keep
the people in orderly line ; from the muddy roads of a rural village to
the paved streets of a city kept clean by a street cleaning force ; from
single, poorly organized schools to a system of graded schools with
proper supervision and inspection and culminating in a modern high
school ; from a few old books read only by a few to a modern free public
library ; from volunteer bucket brigade to an efficiently trained fire de-
partment ; from indiscriminate giving and lending to efficient, intelli-
gent organized charity; from the old wasteful Anglo-Saxon method of
working the roads to the modern plan of road construction and repair
under the supervision and direction of an efficient engineer; from un-
sanitary springs and wells to the modern system of water works and
water purification; from out-door cess-pools to a well-regulated sewer-
system ; from the old individualistic method of garbage disposal by
throwing in the streets to the sanitary compulsory method of dispos-
ing of garbage by city expense and city authority ; from pill vendors
and quacks to a respectable medical profession; from uncontrolled un-
sanitation to the sanitary control of modern boards of health, and to
medical inspection in the schools; a development from drift and laissez
fairc to intelligent direction.
The story of each phase of development is instructive and educative.
It would certainly be an excellent thing for the development of his-
torical science in America if teachers in our public schools would culti-
vate the historical spirit in their pupils with special reference to the
local environment. Something more than local history can be drawn
from such sources.
A multitude of historical associations gather around every old town
and hamlet in the land. West Virginia and other states of the Ohio
Valley are especially rich in them. There are local legends and traditions,
household tales, stories told by grandfathers and grandmothers, inci-
dents remembered by "the oldest inhabitant." But above all in impor-
tance are the old documents and manuscript records of the first settlers,
the early pioneers, the founders of our towns, and the captains of
industries. Here are sources of information more authentic than tradi-
tion and yet often entirely neglected. If teachers would simply make
a few extracts from these unpublished records, they would soon have
sufficient material in their hands for elucidating local history to their
4 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
pupils and fellow townsmen. The publication of such extracts in the
local papers is one of the best ways to quicken local interest in mat-
ters of history.
Much source of material for the study of local history may still be
found, although much of the earlier material was captured by Lyman
C. Draper on his pilgrimages of search. The old court records contain
much of human interest. Buried in dust and darkness of vaults or
basements and neglected corners in West Virginia court houses are
many old, time-stained records which now seldom see the light of day,
because few lawyers have business with them, and no one else is sup-
posed to have any interest in things belonging to so long a time ago.
These records are full of human interest, though mixed with masses of
rubbish which can never again be of any use to anybody. In a few
instances local historians have had the patience and endurance to dig
through thousands of manuscript pages of early records to collect the
scraps of real history which throw light on the men who redeemed
the country from the wilderness. Rich finds have sometimes been made
by thos,e who have taken the time to search. One investigator discovered
in a trash barrel in the basement of the Monongalia county court house
the names and locations of 1,215 of the "tomahawk rights" men who
first broke the wilderness solitude in northern western Virginia. But
generally little investigation has been done in a thorough and intelligent
way, though many persons have skimmed the surface.
While local history has a very useful function in showing the evolu-
tion of local institutions and local life, it has a larger function to trace
the relations of the local community to neighboring communities and
larger regions with which its life has been connected, to trace the rela-
tion of the community to the larger life of the state and of the nation
and of the world. When local life touches the larger stream of national
life, local history may be employed to introduce and to illustrate national
history. The most natural introduction to the knowledge of the history
of the region, the state, the nation, and the world is from local environ-
ment through ever widening circles of interest along lines that vitally
connect the past with the present. The annals and records and life of
the most quiet neighborhood may be historically important by their
connection with the progress of the nation and of the world. The
local history may be advantageously studied as a contribution to national
history. Almost every community in the Ohio Valley has some close
and intimate connection with general history.
The history of the entire region drained by the Ohio has been one
of the most important factors in our national history.
Its future significance in its relation to the rising nation was early
grasped by George Washington, the surveyor of lands for frontier
settlements along the South Branch of the Potomac, the messenger of
English civility who asked the French to evacuate the transmontane
region claimed by Virginia, the commanding officer whose men near
the Monongahela fired the opening guns of the world conflict which
terminated French occupation in trans-Appalachian territory and in
all continental America, the great American national leader who may
properly be called the first prophet and promoter of the transmontane
West as well as the "Father of his Country." The trans-Appalachian
streams of western Virginia contributed to making the great natural
waterway to the West a historic artery of commerce — and an entering
wedge to the occupation and possession of the Mississippi Valley. Early
communities in trans-Appalachian headwaters and tributaries of the
Ohio suggested the principles of the Ordinance of 1787, the basis of
the American policy of colonial government. The problems of their
early development were closely related to the most impoi'tant national
problems of domestic policy and of foreign relations and policies.
Their difficulties and necessities forced the nation away from a narrow
colonial attitude into a career of territorial expansion which provided
adequate room for future growth. The possibilities and needs of this
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 5
region were among the most prominent considerations in connection
with the invention of the steamboat, which became an important in-
fluence in the development of trade between the upper Ohio country
and the region of expanding cotton culture in the Southwest. To secure
the trade of the Ohio was the objective aim which determined the
East to undertake various internal improvements for better communi-
cation with the West — improvements which later contributed largely
to the preservation of the Union and the failure of the Southern seces-
sion movement.
To the larger events of history in which the upper Ohio was an impor-
tant factor, almost every community of West Virginia has had some
vital relation. Lord Dunmore's war was a focal point in western history
and an event of national importance in which all western Virginia had
a large interest. Wayne's victory in western Ohio in 1794 promptly
registered its results in trans-Appalachian Virginia in the increasing
activity of settlements in every part of the entire region.
The annals and records and life of the most quiet neighborhood in
the state may be historically important by their connection with the
progress of the nation and of the world.
For over a hundred years Morgantown, West Virginia, was only a
little village, without close connection with the great thoroughfares of
travel, but even in its earliest history it had a close relation to a larger
life. As early as 1772 it had a boat yard for the accommodation of the
western immigrants who followed the road from Winchester to Morgan-
town and thence continued the journey to Kentucky by the Monongaliela
and the Ohio. In 1791 it obtained a shorter- connection with the west
by a state road to the mouth of Pishing Greek, now New Martinsville.
In 1826 it was first visited hy steam boat and by 1830 it had regular
steam boat connection with Pittsburgh. About the same time it secured
better connections with the East by better road to connect with the
national road.
Glarksburg, as early as 1790, enlarged its vision and its usefulness
by marking a road through the wilderness to attract the Kentucky
settlers, and another to the Ohio at Isaac Williams' opposite Marietta
over which cattle collected at Clarksburg were driven to the new
Marietta settlements. By 1798 it had a Jpostoffice and soon thereafter
was connected with Chillicothe by mail route by way of Salem, Mari-
etta, and Athens. By 1830 it obtained a better connection with the
national road which enabled merchants to reach Baltimore by horse-
back in six days. It obtained additional communications with the East
by the construction of the Northwestern turnpike and later by the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad which was extended to Parkersburg in 1857.
The early smelting of iron on the lower parts of Cheat River was
largely a local industry at first but according to tradition it furnished
some of the cannon used by Perry at Lake Erie and by Jackson at New
Orleans; and the later development of iron works on Cheat and the
decline after 1846 were closely associated with the development and
change in national tariff policy. The story of the large iron works
procession twelve hundred strong, through the principal streets of the
neighboring village of Morgantown in the fall of 1840 as told by an old
resident presents a concrete picture of the methods of the presidential
campaign of that year.
At the opening of the Civil War the Monongaliela region became the
theater of contending armies in a series of introductory local episodes
whose significance cannot be measured by the size of the forces engaged
or the extent of territory covered. The local contest centering at Graf-
ton, West Virginia, from which McClellan drove the Confederates south
to Philippi and Huttonsville had a vital and important connection with
some of the chief national problems of the entire war. It prevented
the Confederates from establishing their military lines along the border
of Ohio and Pennsylvania which they had hoped to make the battle
ground. It not only determined the control of Northwestern Virginia,
6 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
including the Western division which by its geographic position between
the Ohio and the East was of inestimable value to Federal military
operations throughout the war. It greatly influenced the result of
later important military events of the war both at the East and at the
West. It was especially important in its relation to the protection of
Washington and the advance against Richmond. Last but not least it
encouraged the natural movement for the formation of a new state west
of the mountains, the logical conclusion of a long period of sectionalism
between tide-water and trans-montane regions of the Old Dominion.
In 1885-87 the government of West Virginia under the leadership
of Governor Willis Wilson urged proposed legislation to prevent the
distribution of railroad passes to state officers and party delegates at-
tending political conventions, waged a fierce and relentless war against
trunk line railroads which the governor said had discriminated against
the people of West Virginia in freight and passenger rates, and he
called a special session of the legislature to secure regulation of rates.
The story of this struggle is state history but it also illustrates a great
national movement of which it is a part, resulting in 1887 in the estab-
lishment of the Inter-State Commerce Commission which has later been
made more efficient by supplementary legislation to meet new conditions.
Often local history may be used to create an interest in the larger
history of the nation. This is illustrated by the increased interest in
the life of a man of national reputation who resided in the community
or visited it. Students at West Virginia University are stimulated to
take a new interest in the history in which George Washington was the
leader when they find that George Washington in 1784 stopped all night
three miles from our University on his return trip from a visit to his
western lands, in Western Pennsylvania. The story of how Washington
took up his abode in the room belonging to Gallatin, the young surveyor
who slept on the floor that night, and sent to Morgautown for Zachwill
Morgan is local history; but the conferences between Washington and
Morgan introduce one to problems of national history, to questions
of best roads between the East and West, and to plans for connection
by waterways between Virginia and the Ohio which eventually found
expression in the C. & 0. Canal and in suggestions and plans for a canal
connection with the Ohio by the James River and Kanawha route.
The naturalization of the Swiss emigrant, Albert Gallatin, at Morgan-
town in 1785 and his settlement a few miles below at New Geneva, which
was long ahead of navigation and trade on the Monongahela, were local
events through which the student may be introduced to the larger events
of regional and national history in which Gallatin participated; the
establishment of the first glass works west of the Alleghenies in 1796,
the establishment (in 1797) of the Payette gun factory in response to
the imminent danger of war with France, his public service as secretary of
the treasury under Jefferson and Madison and his diplomatic service
thereafter.
Through biography, even of local personages, the prominent events
or phases of national history may be introduced and studied. For the
early national period, this may be illustrated by the many brief allusions
to national events or conditions which are presented in the story of
Peregrine Foster, an early pioneer whose descendents have been useful
and representative citizens of West Virginia. Mr. Foster was born in
Brookfield, Massachusetts, in 1759. As a soldier of the Revolution he
witnessed the execution of Major Andre. After the war he became a
lawyer at Providence, Rhode Island, but the financial conditions of the
critical period, including the paper money craze, caused him great
pecuniary loss and drove him to the wilderness. In the spring of 1788
he joined the Ohio Company as a surveyor. With forty-seven New
Englanders he crossed the Alleghanies, followed the course of the
Youghiogheny and the Monongahela to Pittsburgh and went down the
Ohio by boat to Marietta where a government of the Northwest Terri-
tory was first established — three years before the settlement of Gallipolis
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 7
under the auspices of the Seioto Company. He soon returned to Rhode
Island for his family. In 1793, when the government at Philadelphia
was beginning its struggle for neutrality, he began again the long trip
which was necessary to reach the Ohio settlements; but, alarmed at
rumors which he heard of Indian dangers in the Muskingum Valley
and in the Northwest, he turned aside, ascended the Monongahela and
became a gloomy resident of Morgantown, Virginia (now West Virginia).
At Morgantown, in spite of the depressing sentences written in his
journal, he soon rose to prominence. In 1794, when he already had two
unremunerative appointments from the Governor and General Assembly,
he received a commission from the Governor appointing him magistrate
(justice of the peace) for the county of Monongalia, an office which
hardly paid enough to settle the bills for the bowls of toddy which the
court and the gentlemen of the bar drank together. In 1796, perhaps
as a reward for his services to the government in quieting disturbances
on the Monongahela, he received an appointment as the first postmaster
of the Village of Morgantown through which a post-road had been
opened, in 1794, from Hagerstown via Hancock and Cumberland to
Uniontown and Brownsville. After the alarming conditions northwest
of the Ohio had subsided and the troubles in the Northwest and South-
west had been adjusted, and in the midst of party strife which soon
resulted in the fall of his party, he moved to his original destination and
soon became a settler and land-owner near Belpre, where he died in 1804
soon after the events which enabled the West to obtain free navigation
to the sea, and on the eve of other events which were so soon to make
the neighboring Blennerhasset Island so famous and to give to the
Federal court the most prominent case which had yet arisen for their
decision.
In expanded form, this story gives one glimpses of several prominent
events or conditions in national history : the Rhode Island disorders of
the critical period, Rhode Island opposition to the new constitution,
the organization of the Northwest Territory under the Ordinance of
1787, the beginnings of the westward movement, early navigation on
the Ohio, the Whisky Insurrection, social life in a frontier village, Indian
difficulties and Wayne's victory, Jay's treaty and the British retirement
from American border posts, the Spanish treaty of 1795, the Alien and
Sedition laws, the development of Ohio into a state, and the Louisiana
Purchase.
Other illustrations, many covering a much larger period, may be
found by inquiry in almost every community.
The children should be taught how to study at first hand many of the
things which relate to life and mankind. They may be taken to the
county clerk's office to see what documents can be found relating to
the early history or government of the town, or to the cemetery to read
inscriptions on tombstones, or to the fields to find Indian arrows or imple-
ments, or to the scene of some battle or some other point of historic
interest. They may be requested to inquire at home for old newspapers,
old relics, old costumes, old weapons, or for the earlier experiences
of their parents. They may be encouraged to make a collection of such
things as will illustrate or illuminate the earlier periods of the life of
the neighborhood. Old settlers may be invited to talk to the school
concerning the hardships of earlier days, or old soldiers may be asked
to tell experiences of camp and the battlefield, or men of business affairs
may be requested to relate the no less interesting and more useful story
of the rise and growth of industries — the story of logging and lumber-
ing, mining and railroads.
In this way a lively interest may be awakened. Another important
result may be the formation of a museum of local historical collections,
which may be of use to the whole community. Such collections may
include : relics and pictures of Indians, old costumes, dishes, tools, coins,
weapons, etc.; photographs of citizens who have been local leaders or
prominent actors in great political and economic events; old letters or
8 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
diaries, or other manuscript records of the first settlers, or the early
pioneers; files of local newspapers; written accounts of the recollections
of old settlers and soldiers ; books or pamphlets which have any relation
to the locality or to the citizens ; written biographies of the first settlers,
or of men and women who have been prominent in the community.
These collections and industries may prove a means of kindling his-
torical interest in the community. The people — the town fathers, the
fathers of families, and all their sons and daughters — will quickly
catch the bearing of this kind of historical study, and many will be
willing to encourage it — for it takes hold upon the life of the community
and quickens not only pride in the past but hope for the future. By
such systematic work in the most important communities of a county,
it would be possible for some trained scholar with the modern, sci-
entific, historical spirit, to write a good history of the county. And
by such systematic work in all the counties of the state, it would be
possible to collect the materials for a good history of the state.
Heretofore the use of local history in the education of children has
been very unsystematic, and unfruitful of results commensurate with
its possibilities and value. The history department of the University
several years ago submitted to the superintendents of schools in the
principal towns in West Virginia a series of special questions concerning
the status of instruction in local history in their schools. The replies
received indicate that local history has usually meant state history and
that it has been taught in the eighth grade — sometimes as an elective in
the senior year of the high school — with a text, either as a separate
study or in connection with United States history and composition. At
Bluefield, it is also taught incidentally in the lower grades. In some
instances, as at Parkersburg, some attention is given to local industrial
and economic conditions. In very few instances has there been any
attempt to utilize the history of the community in the schools. This
is largely due to the lack of materials in available form.
Such materials might properly be made available through the careful
efforts of historical students either acting independently or identifying
themselves with the local historical organizations. In some instances
local organizations or public spirited citizens of means may be willing
to appropriate money to meet the situation. By systematic planning
and cooperation all necessary materials for illustrating the development
of each community may be obtained.
College departments of history should endeavor to find a means of
interesting advanced history students in the field of local history and
to enlist them in some phase of local history activity which, under the
direction of trained instructors might result (1) in the preparation of
useful articles for publication in the newspapers or magazines, (2) in
the encouragement of more efficient and valuable research in local history,
and (3) in some intelligent plan for the collection of local history in a
form suitable for use in the schools of our towns and rural communities.
Beginning in 1903, the department of history at West Virginia Uni-
versity has offered a seminar course on the history of West Virginia —
exclusively for advanced history students who are able to pursue co-
operative investigation in social, economic, political and constitutional
development. Such students are given some training in scientific
methods of historical research, interpretation and construction, and are
encouraged to prepare monographs or briefer articles which will have
some permanent historical value. They are taught especially the use
of census reports, the documentary material of the state government,
old newspaper files and other materials to which they can obtain access
at the University library. Efforts are also made to collect materials
from other parts of the state. In several instances, students have pur-
sued investigations which required an examination of materials in the
department of state archives and history at Charleston.
Since 1906, other efforts have been made to encourage the study of
West Virginia local state history, and, incidentally, the collection of old
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 9
manuscripts, old newspapers, old tools, old maps, old family letters or
other historical records which might be of use in securing historical data.
In 1909, the head of the department of history published and distributed
a suggestive outline for use in the collection and study of local history.
The investigations by advanced students of the University have con-
tinued to increase in amount and value, resulting in the completion of
several monographs, some of which have been published.
In several instances the work at the University or suggestions and
encouragement from the University, has resulted in useful local historical
activities in different parts of the state — such as the publication of the
Making of Marion County through cooperative studies at the Fairmont
High School under direction of Miss Dora Lee Newman, and the pub-
lication of an excellent history of Lewis County prepared by Edward
C. Smith.
Could not some plan be devised by which local historical societies,
or the state department of archives and history, would plan their
work regularly with a view of aiding teachers and advanced students of
American history either in collecting or in publishing? It has too fre-
quently happened that there has not been sufficient contact and coopera-
tion between our institutions of learning and the state or local historical
societies. Though occasionally the college instructor consults important
documents of the society to aid him in his seminar work, there is no
close relation which should exist between the chair of history and the
society. What can be done to remedy this situation?
A state or local historical society, or a state department of archives
and history, has a wide field of possible activities. Its functions may in-
clude: the collection and preservation of historical material, printed and
manuscript, public and private; the maintenance of a library and a
museum, and perhaps an attractive portrait gallery ; the publication of
original material and monographs ; encouragement of special researches
in history; the maintenance of courses of historical lectures; participa-
tion in the celebration of local and national events, and in movements for
civic betterment or various phases of civic life ; aid in the diffusion of his-
torical knowledge; the arousal and maintenance of public interest in
local history.
In order to attain its greatest useful development a local historical so-
ciety should not have too narrow conception of its functions. While the
reason for its existence is local history, it should take an active interest
in the larger life of the nation with respect to which many topics of local
history have their greatest significance. It may become deadened by too
close adherence to subjects which have no interest for anybody outside
the community. Its meetings may become the property of a few fossilized
antiquarians, and unattended by its sustaining members. It cannot hope
that its members or its proteges will deal with local history rightly unless
their minds are trained iu larger American history and can see quickly
the relation of their problems to the history which explains them and
gives them significance. With the increase of intercommunication, it
must especially endeavor to avoid "fussy fossilized local antiquarianism"
and to look chiefly to the larger features of local history or to "Amer-
ican history locally exemplified." It must not use its research and
publication funds to further the purposes of those who devote their time
to searches for genealogies "to prove their right to entrance into the
charmed circle of the Sons of This or the Daughters of That."
Its most valuable function is the encouragement of the collection,
preservation, preparation and publication of material illustrating dif-
ferent phases of the history of the state or smaller localities, or its
connection with the larger history of the nation and the world.
It should be strenuous in the solicitation of all kinds of historical ma-
terial. It must endeavor to induce private possessors of documentary
material and historical relics, to contribute their possessions to the
collections of the society. Through its field work it must endeavor to
obtain from those pioneers who have recollections worth recording,
10 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
detailed narratives of their experiences, of their memories of public men,
of the conduct of public affairs, of the social and economic conditions of
early times, of course, with full recognition of the limitations of such
testimony — gathering documentary materials from persons who will
yield readily to appeals by post; getting in touch with early settlers at
their periodical gatherings; investigating and securing records of
archaeological discoveries; interesting the newspapers and high school
teachers in local history, and, in general, awakening within the com-
munity an historical consciousness.
A state historical society, or department of archives and history,
should be in a position to assist investigators in special fields of local
history. To this end it should prepare suitable catalogues, calendars and
indexes to facilitate the examination of its most valuable materials, and
employ trained custodians who can render intelligent assistance to
investigators. It should also prepare and publish lists, and valuations
or general descriptions of various county or municipal records which
have not been collected. It might undertake the compilation of a suit-
able guide to materials for the study of local history in all parts of the
state. It should encourage the preparation of monographic studies by
advanced students in history, and should consult with the college or uni-
versity departments of history iu regard to the preparation of its publica-
tions. It should endeavor especially to enlist the interest of students
and others who have had special training in history aud allied subjects,
and who, therefore, have broader historical views than the antiquarians
and genealogists whose contributions so often have no practical benefit.
It might afford to subsidize the services of trained students of history to
prepare monographs which have a special value, or to write local history
in a form suitable for use in the schools, or to direct researches for the
collection of materials needed in the library. It might also be able to
develop a general information bureau which would be of great practical
value in responding to calls for statistical or historical facts.
It should make itself useful not only in encouraging historical research
and study, but also in providing for the diffusion of the results of this
research and study. It should publish original materials selected with in-
telligence, arranged systematically and ably edited with finished scholar-
ship ; and also valuable contributions by active and resourceful members,
or local citizens, or isolated students who desire to cooperate in this kind
of work through the local press or local societies and local clubs. Many
of these studies, connected in some way with the life of the community,
it may use to quicken that life to higher consciousness. If a student, a
teacher, a leader of industry or a statesman prepares a paper or delivers
an address on some phase of local history, or on some social question,
which has a general interest or permanent value, it should encourage
him to print it in the local paper or in a local magazine, perhaps in an
educational journal, or in pamphlet form. It should also maintain a close
touch with the newspaper press and inspire the local journals to publish
series of articles on local history. It should cultivate a sound historical
interest among the people and should be of practical value to the people.
Unfortunately, while the researches in local history have often been
made by local investigators who strolled at random, without any regard
to the tenets of historical scholarship, sometimes performing some valu-
able service, but more often treating isolated subjects of no practical
value, the work in the department of history in the colleges and uni-
versities has been largely occupied with instruction in the general his-
torical culture which every student should have before he can specialize
in a narrower field. Could not the work of historical societies, or state
departments of archives and history, and of the college or university
departments of history, be readjusted to the benefit of both ? After college
students have received some training in digesting original material and
in weighing evidence, the department could assign them work on the
preparation of a thesis which would enable them to secure some experi-
ence in original investigation in some field of local history and thus
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 11
arouse their interest to pursue further work of this kind after the close
of their college courses. It is highly desirable that local history should
be written by those who have had sufficient training to enable them to
give the power setting for a local event. It seems desirable therefore
that college or university departments of history should make a special
effort to induce seniors, who have had proper preparation, to pursue
a seminar course in which they can secure special training in the prepara-
tion of some special study of local history under the personal supei*vision
and direction of well trained instructors. In this way trained students
from different communities may be able to arouse a widespread and
increased interest in local history which may result in the organization
of live local historical associations and the preparation of a series of mono-
graphs on local history whose publication will be immediately beneficial
to the people of the state. In this way there may be hope that the local
field which has heretofore been neglected or left in the hands of untrained
workers will be occupied by carefully directed students who approach
their work with the broad spirit of those who have a knowledge of the
historical development of mankind and are not liable to fall into the
absurd conclusions or mistakes of those who work with the merely
antiquarian spirit.
CHAPTER II
SURVEY OF LANDMARKS
Historically West Virginia occupies a unique place among the Amer-
ican commonwealths, and at the same time it has a history which in
many ways illustrates the larger life of the nation with which it has
an intimate connection at many points.
Its earliest settlements along the Potomac above the mouth of the
Shenandoah, possibly as early as 1726, were encouraged by the Old
Dominion partly as a protection of older settlements against the Indians.
Its trans-Allegheny territory, under the early claims of the Old Dominion
largely controlled the upper Ohio which was the key to the West in the
final Anglo-French struggle for control. Its early frontiersmen, plain
and self-reliant — the forerunners of a mighty tide of immigration far
greater in energy than in numbers which burst the barriers of the Alle-
ghanies — formed the rear guard of the Revolution and the flying
squadron of the nation.
Along its borders or across its wings or on routes across its interior,
it felt the pulse of the mighty westward movement. ' ' The early emigra-
tion which passed by the West Virginia hills and valleys and moved on
west where land was level and the prairies treeless, threw away opportu-
nities which some of their grandchildren are now returning to take at an
increased cost of a thousand per cent. ' '
West Virginia is the only state formed as a result of the sectionalism
which existed in every state crossed by the Appalachians. It is the pnly
case in which the sectional history within every state with an Appalachian
frontier reached its logical result.
Its destiny to form a separate state was partly determined by its
topography and the direction of the flow of its rivers, and partly by
the character of its people. Its political destiny was greatly influenced
by the construction of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad which opened a
market and began a new era of development, and besides facilitating
travel was a large factor in the military strategy of the Civil War and
the continued integrity of the American Union.
In the Civil War its destiny was closely related to the problem of
preserving the integrity of the American Union. It has a strategic
position of unusual importance, especially in relation to connections be-
tween the Middle West and the capitol at Washington. At the beginning
of the war, its loyalty to the Union prevented Lee from establishing
along the borders of Ohio and Pennsylvania the main Confederate
battle line of defense. Later, thi*ough the importance of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad, it helped to control the strategy of campaigns both
in the East and in the Middle South. Its destiny largely determined
the question of suitable facilities for transportation of troops and sup-
plies between East and Middle West by the most direct route.
In the work of re-enfranchisement of Confederate's after the Civil
War, West Virginia occupies a peculiar place. She accomplished through
two parties what in other states had been accomplished by one party —
a complete removal of suffrage disabilities imposed for participation in
the secession movement against the Union. The work, instituted by the
liberal wing of one party, was carried to completion by the other.
Two centuries ago the region of the eastern panhandle first felt the
touch of civilization, largely through migrations from the occupied val-
leys of Pennsylvania, southeastward across Maryland via Frederick on
12
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 13
the historic route which continued up the Shenandoah and beyond its
headwaters through passes to the trans-Allegheny West.
Naturally the region between the Blue Ridge and the Alleghenies
was settled before the region beyond the formidable Allegheny barrier.
Rut the occupation of the one led to the mastery of the barrier and to
the occupation of the other territory whose rivers formed another drain-
age system.
The early events of the history of Virginia's transmontane history,
although they probably attracted little attention at the time, and were
scarcely understood in their larger significance even by participants,
were important in their relations to the future problems in the estab-
lishment and growth of the nation.
The story of the exploration, settlement and development of the
trans-Appalachian region constitutes one of the most fascinating chapters
of American history. Its beginnings are filled with thrilling incidents in
relation to Indians, who, although they did not have their home in
the region between the Alleghenies and the Ohio when white men came
to occupy it, long continued to visit it on excursions (incursions) from
their tribal camps west of the Ohio. Prominent in the pioneer work of
establishing the new frontier were the Scotch Irish. Led by Virginians
who were inspired by the movement of settlement which advanced west-
ward from the Shenandoah to the South Branch, and coincident with
the growth of population in the region which was almost ready to become
Hampshire county, they took the initiative which precipitated the great
Anglo-French struggle for a continent — a struggle which began by
collisions between the frontiersmen of rival nations along the upper
Ohio and settled the national destiny of the West. At the close of the
struggle, from which they emerged with a new stimulus born of victory,
and with a determination unrestrained by proclamations of the King or
the colonial governor, they advanced from the ease and security of
older settlements into the trans-Allegheny wilds, steadily pushed back
the frontier and the Indians, and in the heart of the wilderness estab-
lished their homes on many streams whose fate had recently hung in
the balance. Here, they turned to the conquest and subjugation of
the primeval forest which the Indians had sought to retain unconquered.
Although a mere handful of riflemen, they served as the immovable
rear guard of the Revolution, securely holding the mountain passes
and beating back the rear assaults of savage bands which might other-
wise have carried torch and tomahawk to the seaboard settlements. At
the same time they served as the advance guard of western civilization
hewing out paths across the mountain barrier and experimenting with
the difficulties and opportunities of the wilderness.
The story of the settlement of every early community is full of the
heroic deeds of these plain, modest, uncelebrated men of the struggling
common people — men who sought no praise and achieved no great
fame, who were not conscious of their own greatness, but who were
always ready for any service which was needed to maintain an advanc-
ing frontier. Out of many springs among the hills emerged at last
the irresistible current of their strength. They toiled not in vain.
While building homes in the wilderness, far from the tidewater Bast
against which they were later forced to struggle for political and social
rights, they were raising the framework of a self-governing state des-
tined to play an important part in the history of the nation.
The new inducements to settlement, increasing after the battle of
Point Pleasant in 1774, and receiving a new stimulus at the close of
the Revolution, produced a rapid expansion movement which resulted
by 1790 in a total trans-Allegheny population of over 50,000 people
widely separated into many detached, isolated local groups, intensely
individualistic in spirit, and with frontier conditions which, in the
absence of transportation facilities to develop the vast resources of
the region, were little fitted to develop unity of action or co-operation.
In several sections the means of communication with the world de-
14 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
veloped earlier than one might expect under frontier conditions. Be-
fore 1790 steps had been taken to widen the chief pack-horse trails
from the East into wagon roads. By 1786 a state road was opened
from Winchester via Romney to Morgantown, and by legislative act
of 1786 a branch wagon road was authorized from a point on the
Morgantown road near Cheat. As early as 1788, the trail from Win-
chester via St. George and Philippi to Clarksburg was called a "state
road," although still only the "Pringle Pack road." In 1789 a road
was opened westward from Clarksburg to the Ohio opposite Marietta.
In 1791 (by authority of an act of 1786) an extension of the Morgan-
town road was opened from Morgantown to the mouth of Fishing creek
(now New Martinsville). An extension from Morgantown to the mouth
of Graves creek was authorized in 1795. About 1790, by act of 1785,
the old Kanawha trail westward from Lewisburg to the navigable waters
of the Kanawha was widened for wagons and by 1800 a state road,
located along the general route of the old trail, was opened to the Ohio.
By 1797 there were in the territory later formed into West Virginia
eight postoffices, of which four were located east of the Alleghenies (at
Martinsburg, Shepherdstown, Romney, and Moorefield). Communica-
tion of trans-Allegheny Virginia with the East and the world was
facilitated by the creation of postoffices at Morgantown and at Wheel-
ing in 1794 (six years later than Pittsburgh), at Greenbrier Court
House and West Liberty by 1797, at Clarksburg in 1798, at Union in
1800 and at Charleston in 1801. The first post road to Morgantown,
excepting a post route established by the Pittsburgh Gazette in 1793,
was opened in 1794 from Hagerstown, Maryland via Hancock and
Cumberland, and continued from Morgantown to Uniontown (Pennsyl-
vania) and Brownsville (Pennsylvania). About the same time, a post
road was opened from Morgantown across southwestern Pennsylvania
to Wheeling.
By 1795 mail boats on the Ohio were carrying mail between Wheel-
ing and Cincinnati and after 1796 additional facilities for communica-
tion with the West were secured by a land route known as Zane's Trace,
via Zanesville, Lancaster and Chillicothe, Ohio, to the Ohio at Lime-
stone, Kentucky, (now Maysville). Probably the next mail route from
the East was opened in 1798 via Gandy's (in Preston county) to
Clarksburg and later continued via Salem to Marietta, Athens and
Chillicothe. By 1801 another horseback route was established from
Lewisburg to Charleston. It was extended westward from Charleston
to Scioto Salt Works by 1804 and to Chillicothe by 1807.
In the transmontane region the first local newspapers appeared quite
early — only fourteen years after the establishment of the first local
paper in the older settled region of the Potomac. The oldest paper
within the limits of the state was the Potomac Guardian and Berkeley
Advertiser, started at Martinsburg in 1789, and not as large as its
title might suggest. In the Monongahela valley the first paper, the
Monongalia Gazette was established at Morgantown in 1803 eighteen
years after the establishment of the Pittsburgh Gazette and six years
after the founding of the Fayette Gazette at Uniontown, Pennsylvania,
and four years after the appearance of the Martinsburg Gazette (the
second newspaper established in the eastern panhandle). The s«cond
paper in the Monongahela valley, the Bystander was started at Clarks-
burg in 1810. The first local paper at Wheeling, the Repository, was
published in 1807, seven years before the appearance of a local paper
at Wellsburg (the Charlestown Gazette). In the Kanawha, the first
paper (the Spectator) appeared considerably later — in 1818 or 1819.
Although the majority of the periodical publications which were started
in West Virginia before the civil war were ephemeral the number
in existence in 1860 (according to Virgil A. Lewis) was forty-three —
including three Wheeling dailies.
Gradually, with the extension of agricultural clearings made by
steady and laborious work aided by axe and fire, there emerged the
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 15
larger problems of improvements in communication, transportation, and
industry, accompanied by an increase of refinement and culture and
a growing sectional opposition against the political domination of tide-
water Virginia. An era of larger industrial development, foreshadowed
by the construction of several turnpikes from the East to the Ohio, was
begun by the completion of the first railroad to the Ohio early in 1853
after a series of triumphs over the difficulties of the mountains.
The work of constructing these roads brought to the region new
elements of population which had a large influence on the later develop-
ment of the state.
Considering the different elements of population, different features
of territory, and different interests, the formation of the new state by
separation from the mother state (suggested even in the revolutionary
period under conditions which gave birth to Kentucky), was the
logical and inevitable l-esult of the half century of sectional con-
troversy between East and "West in regard to inequalities under the
constitution of 1776. These inequalities were only partially remedied
by the constitutional conventions of 1829-30 and 1850-51 — although the
latter made large democratic departures from the earlier dominating
influences of the tidewater aristocracy in the government, illustrated
by the change from appointment to election of state and county officers.
The secession of Virginia from the Union only furnished the occasion
and the opportunity to accomplish by legal fiction and revolutionary
process an act toward which nature and experience had already indi-
cated and prepared the way.
The first steps toward separation of western Virginia from the mother
state were taken by the irregular Wheeling convention of May 13, 1861,
(composed of 425 delegates from 25 counties), ten days before the elec-
tion in which the western counties decided against secession by vote of
40,000 to 4,000. A second irregular convention, which met June 11,
nullified the Virginia ordinance of secession, vacated the offices of the
state government at Richmond, formed the "Reorganized" government
of Virginia, elected F. H. Pierpont to act as governor; and, two months
later (August 20), made provisions for a popular vote on the forma-
tion of a new state, and for a third convention to frame a constitution.
Members of the legislature elected from the western counties met at
Wheeling on July 1, and, calling themselves the Virginia legislature,
proceeded to fill the remainder of the state offices. After organizing
the state government, they selected two United States senators who
were promptly recognized at Washington as senators from Virginia.
The popular election of October 24 resulted in a vote of 18,489 to
781 in favor of the new state. A third convention, in which forty-one
counties were represented, met at Wheeling on November 26; and, on
February 18, 1862, it completed a constitution which was ratified early
in April by a vote of 18,162 to 514.
The new state, erected by consent of the "Reorganized" govern-
ment of Virginia (representing forty-eight western counties) and by
the consent of Congress, revised its constitution (February, 1863) to
meet the conditions of Congress requiring gradual abolition of slavery,
and under the President's proclamation of April 20 was admitted to
the Union on June 20, 1863.
In the crisis in which the state was born there were serious sectional
differences. The strong sympathy for the Confederacy in the southern
and eastern sections resulted in a sad state of disorder — illustrated in
1864 by the governor's report that in the extreme southern counties it
was still impracticable to organize civil authority, and that in fourteen
counties there were no sheriffs or other collectors of taxes "because of
the danger incident thereto."
Even at the close of the war the new state was confronted by various
conditions which seriously threatened its integrity and independence.
In 1866, it rejected the overtures of Virginia for reunion and secured the
recognition of Congress in favor of its claim to Berkeley and Jeffer-
16 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
son counties, which had been annexed in 1863 by legal forms and were
finally awarded by decision of the United States supreme court in 1871.
The new state inherited from Virginia a boundary dispute with
Maryland which was not settled until 1912, and it soon became involved
with Virginia in a debt dispute which was partially decided by the
supreme court of the United States in 1911 and finally settled by a
decision of 1915 resulting in a. judgment against West Virginia for
nearly $12,400,000.
Beginning its existence without a permanent capital, without any
of the usual state institutions, excepting a lunatic asylum, and with-
out proper executive agencies to secure the general welfare, the state
promptly turned to solve the problems of its institutional and social
needs, including the establishment of a system of public schools, normal
schools and a state university. Executive agencies for inspection and
regulation were developed rather slowly.
The struggle against obstacles interposed by nature and against
difficulties resulting from sectional differences and policies was a long
one requiring persistent effort and energy.
The first period of reconstruction closed with a victory of the Demo-
crats in 1870, and the adoption of a new constitution in 1872. For
over a quarter century the Democrats retained political control, al-
though their majority steadily declined after 1880 and became a minority
in 1896. Sectional divergences disappeared in the growing unity result-
ing from industrial integration and the expansion of improved com-
munication.
The political revolution could not check the steadily growing eco-
nomic revolution, which since 1872 has largely changed the industrial
and social character of the state. The largest chapter in the history
of the state is that relating to the great industrial awakening, which
had its origin largely in the increasing demand for timber, coal, oil and
gas, and was especially influenced by inducements for the construction
of railroads and for the establishment of certain manufacturers for which
a portion of the state furnishes a clean, cheap fuel. Almost every county
felt the effects of the great transformation resulting from the exten-
sion of transportation facilities, the arrival of many immigrants from
neighboring states and from foreign countries, and the opening of new
industries which have precipitated a series of new problems not yet
solved.
The entire state has been changed, both in conditions of life and
habits of the people. Its development in material wealth in the last
decade of the nineteenth century and the first two decades of the
twentieth century, far exceeding all expectations, has surprised the
world. Industrial development has largely been due to construction
of railroads which now parallel all the chief rivers and connect all the
chief industrial sections with great industrial centers outside of the
state. It has also been encouraged by improvement of waterways.
Lumbering and associated industries have had a large influence upon
changes in the condition of life in several parts of the state. Manufac-
turing from feeble beginnings became one of the most important in-
dustries. Agriculture has passed from the stage of mere subsistence
to that of business production for the markets. Fruit growing in
recent years has made a remarkable advance, both in methods and in
increase of production.
The organized development of the petroleum industry in West Vir-
ginia, including the evolution of boring the wells and improvements
for storage and transportation of the product is full of interest and
one of the most instructive chapters in American industrial history.
With it is associated the equally interesting story of natural gas develop-
ment which became active after beginning of systematic search in 1882
and after 1906 gave West Virginia first rank among all the states in
gas production — a rank which was retained until 1914 when Oklahoma
captured it.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 17
Coal mining which had scarcely begun before the civil war has
steadily increased in activity since the nineties and has been the chief
basis of great changes in community life — especially in the southern
part of the state and along the Monongahela. The increasing impor-
tance of the coal industry after 1888 indicated the need of state regula-
tory legislation which was begun in 1890 by the creation of the office
of chief mine inspector and continued later by new provisions for pro-
tection against mine explosions and for improvement of mining condi-
tions. In coal production the state reached second rank in the United
States in 1909, but temporarily fell back to third in 1920.
The clays of great achievement apparently have not ended. A great
resource of water-power has scarcely been touched. Another resource,
the natural scenery of the state, which has been poorly appreciated at
home and not enough known elsewhere, has recently become a greater
source of enjoyment, and, with the extension of good roads, is becoming
more and more a source of profit through increasing travel and exten-
sion of summer resorts.
As a result of the development of vast i*esources, especially coal and
oil, the character of the population has greatly changed by a larger
influx, first from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Ohio, and later
from Europe, and the opportunities for moral and intellectual develop-
ment have greatly increased.
In the orderly development of the early communities of the western
wilds, in the maintenance of proper social and moral standards in
neighborhood life, in the continued growth of moral and spiritual ideals
both in the earlier periods of isolation and struggle for subsistence and
in the recent years of railway facilities and material wealth, the church
and the faith of the fathers have been prominent civilizing factors.
The various church organizations, although they long struggled against
poverty, have grown in material wealth, and have improved both in
doctrine and in usefulness.
The development of the state educationally in two decades has at-
tracted the attention of other states, and in some instances has fur-
nished examples of special features which have been adopted elsewhere.
The development of high schools was a prominent feature after 1909.
At the University, in the decade from 1909-10 to 1919-20, the enroll-
ment of candidates for degrees increased from 800 to 1,596, and the
total enrollment increased from 1,200 to 2,800 (or to 1,992 exclusive of
short course students).
In recent years citizens of the state have given some attention to
problems of economy and conservation, the importance of which has
finally been impressed upon them by the evils resulting from the long
period of exploitation and waste. Gradually, and more rapidly in
recent years the state has extended its functions of inspection and
regulation in response to necessities arising from new conditions.
A study of the long struggle for the possession and settlement of
the trans-Allegheny region now included in West Virginia, the efforts
to obtain communication with the larger world, the sources of widening
sectional differences which prepared the way for the formation of a
separate state for which the civil war furnished the occasion, the social
and political problems which confronted the new state in the period of
reconstruction after the war, and the factors and rapidly changing
conditions of the recent industrial revolution impresses one with the
fact that earlier ideals and earlier problems of government have greatly
changed.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the self-reliant pioneers who served
as the rear guard of the Revolution or as the advance guard of the Re-
public, to the later patriots who founded the mountain state with its
eastern arm stretched out in defense of the national capital, and to the
pioneers of the recent industrial development who, with foresight and
confidence, and at great initial cost, opened the way to new enterprise.
Vol. 1—2
18 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
They toiled not in vain. The result of their work is our valuable
heritage.
We owe also a duty to the present and to the future. If we have
the spirit of the fathers we shall not allow blind veneration of the crys-
tallized results of old issues, nor adherence to mere forms and meaning-
less shibboleths, nor the invidious and menacing ways of invisible lob-
bies of predatory interests, to block our progress in meeting the vital
issues of a new age.
A deep realization of the struggle by which we obtained our liberties
and our institutions is the firmest basis for a true patriotism and good
citizenship, which finds its expression not in glittering generalities, but
in an earnest effort to aid in the proper adjustment of wrong condi-
tions and the solution of pressing problems. Revering the fathers, who
in face of dangers paved the way for our liberties and our prosperity,
we must also be alert to understand present duties. The experience of
the past has shown that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, and that
a constant and intelligent interest and participation in public affairs is
the surest safeguard to the preservation of self government.
The people of each generation have some new issues to meet. Those
of the present, still maintaining what the fathers won, are struggling
to secure social and industrial justice by righteous adjustments of evils
which under changed conditions have resulted from the exploitive and
wasteful race for riches in a period dominated by great (and often non-
resident) captains of industry into whose hands the supply of natural
resources have rapidly been absorbed without a fair return for the sup-
port of institutions which will be needed by the people long after the
larger part of the wealth of forest and mine has been removed. In this
period the early pioneer ideals of squatter sovereignty and the unregu-
lated exploitation of "development" have broken down, and by force
of necessity are being replaced by the more recent ideal of social control
through regulation by law — to secure the general welfare by placing
restrictions on modern industrial captains and the rapacious industrial
wolves and sharks and promoters of frenzied finance whose economic
and political ideals have produced anomalous conditions for which the
highest political intelligence of the state is urged to find and apply a
remedy.
In seeking a defense for its continued existence, the new democracy
can find it in the ability to secure the execution of an enlightened
opinion through officials with functions adequate to grapple with exist-
ing conditions. It must secure legislation to curtail the special privi-
leges of the strong, to protect the weak from injustice and inequalities,
and to guard the interests of all. It must seek to make law the mother
of freedom for all, maintaining a definite minimum of civilized life in
the interest of the community (as well as the individual), a minimum
of sanitation (and protection from accidents and frauds), a minimum of
education, a minimum of leisure and of subsistence, and a minimum
of efficiency in local governing bodies. It must select leaders with high
standards of practical government and honest politics, with high and
broad ideals of what constitutes service to the state, and with a dominant
standard of success higher than the mere amassing of great wealth for
the aggrandizement of the individual regardless of the conditions of
its cost or of the civilization which results.
The great problems are no longer the appropriation and exploita-
tion of natural resources such as confronted the solitary backwoods-
man sinking his axe into the edge of a measiireless forest. The earlier
pioneer ideals, determined by experience under frontier conditions and
followed by those who laid the foundations of the state — ideals of con-
quest and personal development unrestricted by social and governmental
restraint — have recently been modified greatly by the changed economic
and social conditions of an era dominated by triumphant captains of
industry who regard themselves simply as pioneers of a new era chop-
ping new clearings for larger business, seizing new strategic positions
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 19
for power sites or dam sites, and opening the way to new enterprises.
They have broken down everywhere in the larger competitions and
struggles terminating in cannibalistic absorptions, and in trust forma-
tions to fight new industrial battles. The new conditions, born of the
struggles of a past whose life has almost vanished, have brought new
problems which must be met and solved by new struggles — through
methods of investigation, education and legislation. "It is only through
labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage that we
move on to better things."
The pioneer clearing is broadening into a field in which all that is
worthy of human endeavor may find a fertile soil to grow ; and the new
democracy, through law and government, is beginning to exact from
the constructive geniuses, who sprang from the loins of pioneer democ-
racy, a supreme allegiance and devotion to the common weal. The
people of the state, with increasing determination to preserve the heri-
tage which remains, have begun to initiate proper legislation to restrict
the evils of an era of unregulated exploitation, often under non-resident
management, which has subordinated public welfare to private greed.
"The future holds great promise and also grave responsibility for
the wise and conservative solution of far-reaching economic problems."
The past, although dead and gone if considered as a series of isolated
events, is still living and with us in the reservoired results of evolutions
marked by series of connected events. The past lives in the present and
is the guide to the future. Past experience is the best light to guide our
feet in the next forward step.
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CHAPTER III
GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS
"The earth is the mother of all, and the stones are her bones."
Man is a product of the earth's surface. This means not merely
that he is a child of the earth, dust of her dust ; but that the earth lias
mothered him, fed him, set him tasks, directed his thoughts, confronted
him with difficulties that have strengthened his body and sharpened
his wits, given him his problems of navigation or irrigation, and at the
same time whispered hints for their solution. She has entered into his
bone and tissue, into his mind and soul. On the mountains she has
given him leg muscles of iron to climb the slope.
The character and progress of a people are influenced by the soil
on which they live. The life of the inhabitants of a region is largely
determined by the character of the hills over which they roam or of the
fields on which they toil. Geological influences, both through the forma-
tion of soils and through deposits of rich mineral resources have greatly
influenced the industry of people and the course of history. Different
rocks or soils determine the location of different industries. In the
region where the Medina sandstone and Pottsville conglomerate appear
above the drainage, the people (few in number) have poor soil, bad
roads, few schools and fewer churches, and their principal occupations
are hunting, fishing, small farming, and possibly lumbering. In the
region of limestone surface the people have good soil, good roads, and
better schools and churches, and are prosperous farmers and stock
raisers or fruit growers.
Man can no more be scientifically studied apart from the ground
which he tills, or the lands over which he travels, or the seas over which
he trades, than polar bear or desert cactus can be understood apart from
its habitat. Man's relations to his environment are infinitely more
numerous and complex than those of the most highly organized plant
or animal. So complex are they that they constitute a legitimate and
necessary object of special study. Man has been so noisy about the
way lie has "conquered Nature," and nature has been so silent in her
persistent influence over man, that the geographic factor in the equa-
tion of human development has been overlooked.
Mountain regions discourage the budding of genius because they
are areas of isolation, confinement, remote from the great currents of
men and ideas that move along the river valleys. They are regions
of much labor and little leisure, of poverty to-day and anxiety for the
morrow, of toil-cramped hands and toil-dulled brains. In the fertile
alluvial plains are wealth, leisure, contact with many minds and large
urban centers where commodities and ideas are exchanged.
In all democratic or representative forms of government permitting
free expression of popular opinion, division into political parties tends
to follow geographical lines of cleavage. In the Civil War the divid-
ing line between North and South did not always ran east and west.
The men of the mountainous area of the southern Appalachians sup-
ported the Union and drove a wedge of disaffection into the heart of
the South. Mountainous West Virginia was politically opposed to the
tidewater plains of old Virginia, because slave labor did not pay on
the barren upright farms of the Cumberland Plateau.
Histoiy is not intelligible without geography. Its course is very
largely influenced by geographic facts — controls and responses — and
21
22 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
especially so among primitive peoples ignorant of this influence of
physical environment over their destinies. That the destinies of men
are very largely determined by their environment is admitted now even
by those who have firmly insisted on believing in the doctrine of free
will. Their food is determined by climate, their occupations are fixed
by physical features, their ideas and beliefs are suggested or colored by
the aspects of nature. Even the character of a given race is the resultant
of geographic influences and other influences operating parallel or con-
trary or in succession.
Geography forms the basis of history and often determines its trend.
Mountain passes determine the routes of migrations and the location of
earliest settlement iu newly discovered regions. Rivers were the first
highways into the interior and river valleys and indicated the lines of least
resistance for later commercial highways. Geological formations, or
breaks in transportation, determine the place of industrial centers and
towns. An ancient upward fold or anticlinal fracture of the earth's
crust, worn away by the scouring of a glacier or the erosion of water
may determine the industrial life of a region by bringing the coal meas-
ures to the surface and exposing them as "outcrops" which attract
drift miners.
The relief affects the movements of the air, thus influencing tem-
perature and the rainfall. The climate and the weather influences the
health and energy of people and thereby influences their character.
The temperature, humidity, wind, sunshine, barometric pressure, and,
perhaps, atmospheric electricity and amount of ozone, affects every-
body. An invigorating climate stimulates industry, sobriety, self-con-
trol and honesty. It is one of the conditions which promote civiliza-
tion. West Virginia is in the zone of high climatic energy. The early
task of clearing its forests by work in the cool bracing autumn or in
winter and the later task of subduing the weeds and sprouts, was child's
play compared with the clearing of an equatorial forest.
In addition to the relatively constant physical features of location,
land forms and water bodies, and the more variable but relatively con-
stant feature of soils and minerals and the still more variable feature of
climate which constitute physical environment, human life is affected by
certain geographic variables such as the migration of harmful animals
and plants. Man is influenced by migration of destructive insects such
as locusts, chinch bugs and boll weevil, and of destructive plants such
as the daisy and the Scotch thistle, or parasitic fungi such as wheat rust
and potato blight. He is also influenced by a geographic environment
of microscopic migrating creatures known as bacteria which by their
insidious attacks — subject to conditions of climate, ventilation, and
food — produce devastating epidemics of contagious human diseases such
as influenza.
Geographical surroundings have a strong influence on political
conditions. Each of its various climates may cause conflicting sectional
interests, and political differences or determine political policies. Lo-
cation may result in particular prejudices or special interests which
dominate political questions. Relief may result in lines of cleavage.
The relief of the Appalachians influenced political allegiance and was
a powerful factor in determining the fate of the Southern secession
movement. Rich mineral deposits give rise to the political problems
of ownership or of taxation. Climate, by determining crops, has a
strong effect on political relations. Illogical boundaries may be a source
of political troubles. In international relations, geographical condi-
tions determine direction of national expansion into adjacent terri-
tory unless restrained or controlled by the power of concerted inter-
national action.
According to Herbert Spencer, life is largely a process of establish-
ing an equilibrium with environment. Man is a creature of the earth.
He battles with his environment, responds to its influence and even-
tually adjusts himself to it or is driven from it. Only by wise and
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 23
intelligent adjustment to physiographic conditions can he succeed best
in industrial life. The wisest adjustment is coincident with the highest
success. Without proper interpretation of natural conditions of environ-
ment, he fails.
The steady operation of geographic causes in history have been lit-
tle altered by human counteraction. The mountains, which have lost
their mystery, still form a barrier which affects the convenience of
every traveler. Although by arts and industries man can promote
natural resources to greater usefulness and harness nature to serve
civilization, he cannot ignore nor defy the conditions of environment
which restrict him. Although by intellectual alertness, which marks
progress in civilization, he can modify or reorganize his environment, he
cannot annihilate it. Possibly by the abandonment of the wheat in-
Cheat River View, Near Squirrel Rock
dustry, he can exterminate the chinch bug in his own narrow territory,
but in starting other crops he finds other conditions necessitating con-
stant warfare or new adjustments. Although he can utilize for a
railroad the grade established along a river by centuries of the work
of excavation by nature, and although by great dams he can divert and
harness part of the water of the river to the work of great power plants,
he cannot hope to resist the steady working of the great natural forces
and their boundless effects on history. Although by inventions he may
increase human activities which finally assume the nature of geographi-
cal control, he is in all such cases guided and controlled by nature which
must favor human undertaking if success is attained.
The desire for improvement in the condition of life has been the
chief motive of human progress. For this purpose man has broken
down the barriers of isolation and made trade and civilizing forces.
One of the most interesting studies is the relation of geographic
environment to human activities. Geographic conditions present a
series of practical problems which are directly useful in the daily affaire
of life.
Physical environment largely influenced the life of the people who
established their homes in the region now included in West Virginia.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 25
"Mountaineers are always free." In their early history influenced by
ruggedness and inaccessibility they were backward and uneducated.
They were heavily handicapped by the relief of the mountains — by
roads that run up hill, and consequently by the necessity of slower and
inadequate transportation, by the greater wear and tear on animals
and engines that pulled the loads, and by the increased cost of trans-
portation. Influenced by inadequate transportation facilities to enable
them to find a suitable market for their natural products, some were
tempted to become law breakers by distilling "moonshine" whisky which
could be more conveniently taken to a lowland market in order to sup-
ply the needs of ready money. If they farmed, they were also at a
disadvantage from the erosion of the soil by the rain or from landslides
and also from the difficulties of cultivation on hillsides. Therefore they
sought to improve their condition by keeping cattle or sheep or goats
which could graze on the slopes. Later they had an advantage over
lower regions through their larger supply of timber; but this was par-
tially overcome by the keener business insight of men of the cities who
bought cheaply enormous tracts of the forests before the original owners
had any idea of their value. Often they were placed at a new disad-
vantage by a wasteful exploitation and destruction of timber, resulting
in new areas of erosion. Their civilization was retarded by their long
periods of enforced idleness by scarcity of good artisans and by lack
of encouragement to the professions. Unfortunately, also, in some in-
stances, under the conditions of their isolation, they engaged in family
feuds which sometimes lasted for generations.
Later their life was greatly affected by gas, oil and coal which, in
addition to their industrial influence, exerted important social and po-
litical influences. Gas and petroleum had a large influence on human
activity. Petroleum in addition to its value as a fuel contributed to
great improvements in machinery. Coal, although the most powerful
factor in the more recent development of the state, has sometimes seemed
to hinder civilization through the conditions of life in the mines and
in the mining camps, through the immigration to mining regions of
workers ignorant of American institutions and ideals and especially
through the precipitation of strikes resulting from the relation of miner
and mine operator.
The picturesque streams have a large potential water power, which,
when harnessed through dams and reservoirs, will supply future neces-
sities of heat and light and of additional power required for new indus-
tries and transportation systems.
West Virginia has an unusual topography which produces great
diversity of climate and a copious rainfall. On its highest mountains
the temperature may fall to 30 degrees below zero in winter, and in
other parts of the state may rise to 96 above in summer. It is the
meeting place of two well defined systems of winds blowing in op-
posite directions. Upon its Allegheny summits and slopes, clouds from
opposite seas meet and mingle their rains. Those from the Atlantic
break against the eastern side of the barrier and often produce terrific
rains which usually do not reach the western slopes except in case of
snow storms. Those from the far western seas, carried by warm winds
from the Gulf and Caribbean or by cold winds from British Columbia,
precipitate their loads of moisture throughout the remainder of the
state. Local storms may come from any quarter. The amount of rain
varies greatly in different years. The average yearly rainfall, including
melted snow is about four feet. It is always greater west of the Alle-
ghenies and greatest near the summit.
The chief rivers of the state have their rise in Pendleton, Poca-
hontas and Randolph counties — which form the highest part of a
plateau region which covers about one-third of the state and has a
high arm which curves around toward the southwest. The New river,
which has its source in North Carolina, after flowing in a northerly
direction on the eastern side of the plateau, turns toward the west,
26 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
cuts transversely through the table-land and mingles its waters with
the Kanawha. It is especially designed by nature as a great source
of water-power which after long ages of wasted energy may be har-
nessed and utilized in the new age to turn the wheels of exploitive
industry at the command of the awakening life along its course. Prac-
tically every other river of the state also offers superior water-power
advantages which have begun to attract both private capital seeking
to seize and public interest seeking to regulate and control.
The processes recorded by geology determined ages ago what regions
of West Virginia would become fertile farm land, what would be poor;
where the coal pits woidd be opened ; where the cement quarried ; where
the navigable rivers would flow ; where the streams whose steep gradi-
ents would furnish water, power; what slopes and valleys would grow
the valuable forests of broadleaf trees, and what sterile flats and ridges
would furnish the pines.
All the rock formation visible on the surface of the ground in West
Virginia, and as far beneath the surface as the deepest wells and the
lowest ravines give any knowledge, were formed under water.
The entire area of the state was once the bed of an ancient sea into
which ancient livers from a surrounding region of land poured layers
of mud, sand, and pebbles which by the pressure of ages and other
agencies became sandstone. In the deeper parts of this sea, far from
the shore, were many marine animals whose shells and skeletons were
precipitated to the bottom and by long pressure were cemented into
thick solid limestone. In shallow waters resembling swamps a rank
growth of vegetation furnished an accumulation of fallen trunks and
branches which in the course of ages beneath the water were trans-
formed into vast beds of coal whose later value made them an important
basis of industrial development.
After long ages, a large part of the bed of this sea with rocks un-
broken was elevated above the water and formed the plateau from the
highest part of which new born rivers began to cut their channels
toward the ocean. Later at different periods the mountains were formed
by shrinkings of the earth's crust causing stupendous foldings and
archings of the rocks into a series of parallel ranges whose remnants
often appearing in isolated or detached series of individual knobs still
remain after centuries of destructive erosion accompanied by the in-
cessant toil of wind, frost, and rivers, which also prepared soils suitable
for the needs of agriculture and its allied industries.
One if the great events of North American geology is the expansion of the
interior sea during Cambrian time. Early in the Cambrian period a narrow strait
extended from the region of the Gulf of St. Lawrence southwestward to Alabama.
It divided a western land area covering the Central States from an eastern
continent of unknown extent. The eastern shore of the strait was probably about
where the Appalachian Mountains now extend. The great Appalachian Valley ap-
proximately coincides with the position of the strait. During Cambrian and Silurian
time the Appalachian strait widened westward to Wisconsin and beyond the
Mississippi. It probably also expanded eastward, but there is no evidence remain-
ing of its farthest limit in that direction.
Before the widening of the Appalachian strait, in early Cambrian time, the
land to the eastward was probably somewhat mountainous. The. region of the
central States was comparatively low land. The continued activity of the agents
of erosion reduced the mountain range, whose bulk is represented in the Cambrian
sediments. Before the beginning of deposition of the great Cambro-Silurian lime-
stone the eastern land had become a low plain, whose even surface, subsiding,
permitted probably extended transgression of the sea.
Following the Cambro-Silurian limestone in the sedimentary series, there is a
mass of shale of widespread occurrence and of great thickness locally in the
Appalachian Valley. It marks uplift of the eastern land and erosion of the
residual material, perhaps together with the Silurian sediments, then lately accu-
mulated over the surface. Thus there was toward the close of the Silurian period
a restoration of moderate elevation to the eastern land and a return of the shore
from its eastward excursion to a position approximately along the eastern margin
of the Appalachian Valley. The changes of topography and geography from
early Cambrian time to this epoch of Silurian time have been called a first cycle
in Appalachian history.
The later Silurian sediments are of meager volume as compared with those
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 27
that preceded them, and of variable coarseness. They represent the varying
conditions of a zone across which the shore migrated back and forth. To the
eastward lay the generally low continental area, margined by a coastal plain
which stored the coarsest detritus of the land. Westward extended the shallow
interior sea. The migrations of the shore are marked in variations of coarseness
of the sandstones and sandy shales up to and including the Hockwood formation,
as well as by overlaps of strata, with an incomplete sequence due to erosion of the
missing members.
The moderate elevation of the eastern land had again been canceled by erosion
before the beginning of the Devonian, and the low level is recorded in the fine
shaly and calcareous deposits of the last Silurian epoch and the widespread black
shale herein called the Romney. The intermediate sandstone, the Monterey, marks
an oscillation of the shore, with contributions of sands from the coastal plain and
an overlap of later strata.
The lowlands of the early Devonian were general from New York to Georgia.
This topographic phase continued throughout the Devonian period in the region
south of Virginia.
Above Devonian strata throughout the province occur calcareous shales and
fine-grained limestones of early Carboniferous age. This gradation in sediments
from heterogeneous, coarse materials to fine silts corresponds to the similar change
from lower Cambrian sandstones to Cambro-Silurian limestone; and it marks the
degradation of the Devonian mountains to a general low level. In the early
Carboniferous time the relations of land and sea were stable, as they had been
during much of the Cambro-Silurian periods and throughout the early Devonian.
During middle and later Carboniferous time, however, there ensued that
general vertical movement of the eastern land area and the region of the interior
sea which resulted in the withdrawal of the sea to the Mississippi embayment.
The movement was not simple; it was composed of many episodes of uplift and
subsidence, among which uplift preponderated. In the repeated oscillations of level
the sea swept back and forth over wide areas. It received from the coastal plain
the coarse quartz detritus which had accumulated during previous ages, and the
concentrated sands and pebbles in beds which alternated with materials of less
ancient derivation. The Carboniferous strata include shale and sandy shale, de-
rived more or less directly from lands of moderate elevation, and also the coal
beds, each of which marks the prolonged existence of a marsh in which peat-
making plants grew. When the marsh sank beneath the sea the peat beds were
buried beneath sands or shales, and the peat by a process of gradual distillation
became coal. At the close of the Carboniferous a great volume of varied sediments
had accumulated. It represents a correspondingly deep erosion of the land mass;
but the uplift thus indicated appears to have gone on slowly, and it may be that
the surface was not raised to the height of the mountains of to-day. The vertical
movements giving rise to variations in strata, and even to mountain ranges, appear
to have been independent of the horizontal movements which caused the folding of
the Appalachian strata. There is at least no apparent direct connection between
the two phases of earth movement.
The whole geologic history of these subsidences and elevations is written
in the rocks themselves. The time during which the process continued cannot be
measured, but it was vast ages. Nor is it known how thick the accumulation
became before the land rose from the sea the last time, and the rock building
ceased. Layers of these rocky formations, aggregating nearly two miles in thick-
ness, are visible in Grant county, and it is known that these include neither the
bottom nor the top of the series.
The oldest of these vast sheets of rock laid down in the remote past, which
directly concern West Virginia history, is visible now as the bed rock in much of
Berkeley and Jefferson counties. It is a limestone rock. It was a deep sea forma-
tion, probably ; and is composed of shells and skeletons of small marine creatures
that died and sank to the sea bottom. They remained buried during ages, the
other layers of rock were deposited above them. Finally an upheaval raised the
mass above water. During succeeding long periods of time its overlying strata
were worn away by rain, frost, wind and ice, and the limestone was exposed. It is
exposed yet. The traveler who journeys across the lower Shenandoah Valley sees this
rock of incalculable age exposed here and there as ledges in the fields or along the
slopes of the hills. It is wearing slowly away, and its fragments form the fertile
soil which has made that part of the state famous for its fruit, wheat, cattle, and
sheep — and people also.
A newer limestone than the one in the eastern counties, covers a large
region from Greenbrier county northward, but not continuous to the Pennsylvania
line. Other regions have no limestone, but their soils are of decomposed sandstone
and shale.
During the time that the sea was advancing and receding across what is
now West Virginia, as the land was alternately elevated and lowered, there is
evidence of the breaking up and redistribution of a vast gravel bar which had lain
somewhere out of reach of the waves since earlier ages. This bar, or this aggre-
gation, whether bar or not, was made up of quartz pebbles varying in size from
a grain of sand to a cocoanut, all worn and polished as if rolled and fretted on
a beach or in turbulent mountain streams for centuries. By some means the sea
obtained possession of them and they were spread out in layers, in some places
800 feet thick, and were cemented together, forming coarse, hard rocks. We see
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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 29
them along the summits of the Alleghenies, and the outlying spurs and ridges,
from the southern borders of our state to the Pennsylvania line and beyond.
The formation is called conglomerate (Pottsville conglomerate) ; and the popular
names are "bean rock," "millstone grit," etc. A heavy stratum of this stone
forms the floor of the coal measures. The pebbles probably represent the most
indestructible remnant of mountains, once seamed with quartz veins, but degraded
and obliterated before the middle of the Carboniferous era, perhaps long before.
Beds of coal, unlike layers of rock, are made above water, or at its immediate
surface. While the oscillation between sea and land was going on, during the
Carboniferous age, West Virginia's coal fields were being formed. Coal is made
of wood and plants of various kinds, which grew with a phenomenal luxuriance
during a long period of summer that reigned over much of the northern half of
the earth. Each bed of coal represents a swamp, large or small, in which plants
grew, fell and were buried for centuries. The whole country in which coal was
forming was probably low and it was occasionally submerged for a few thousand
years. During the submergence sand and mud settled over it and hardened into
rock. Then the land was lifted up again, and the material for another bed of
coal was accumulated. Every alternation of coal and rock marks an elevation and
subsidence of the land — the coal formed on land, the rock under water. This was
the period when the sea was advancing and receding across West Virginia as the
Carboniferous age was drawing to a close.
Land seems to have been lifted up in two ways, one a vertical movement which
elevated large areas and formed plateaus, but not mountains; the other, a hori-
zontal movement which caused folds in the strata, and these folds, if large enough,
are ranges of mountains. In some eases these folds of earth-crust rose directly
across the channel of the earlier bed of a river which in spite of the steady upward
movement, continued to cut its way across, forming a gap such as that cut by the
Potomac at Harpers Ferry, by the South Branch at Hanging Rocks, by Mill
creek at Mechanicsburg, by Pattersons creek at Greenland, by North Fork at
Hopewell, by Tygart's river at Laurel Hill in Randolph and by Cheat at Brievy
Mountain in Preston. In these instances and in many others, the long and inces-
sant struggle of the rivers has wrought a grandness and picturesqueness of wild
scenery too little appreciated in the earlier struggle for possession and the later
reckless race for riches.
In different parts of the state, but particularly in Hampshire, Hardy, Grant
and Pendleton counties, many passes, popularly known as ' ' gaps, ' ' have been cut
through mountains by creeks and rivers which flow through them. Among some
of the best known are the following in Hampshire county: At the site of the old
chain bridge, a few miles above the mouth of the South Branch ; at Hanging Rocks
four miles below Romney where the same mountain is again cut by the South
Branch; two miles above Romney where Mill creek has made a pass through Mill
Creek Mountain; sixteen miles east of Romney where a small stream flows through
North Mountain, the passage being known as Blue's gap. The passage of the
South Branch through a mountain between Petersburg and Moorefield is well
known. Six miles above Petersburg in Grant county the north fork has made a
passage through New Creek Mountain. Similar passages exist through the same
range, excavated by small streams which appear totally unable to do so vast a
work. These gaps are known as Reel 's, Kline 's, Sosner 's and Greenland. Many
such passes exist in Pendleton county, but they are usually smaller than those
named. One of the best known is Greenawalt gap near Upper Tract; and another
is Judah's. These passageways through mountains record remarkable geological
histories. Each has been excavated by the stream which now flows through it and
which was there before the mountain was formed. The streams were flowing in
the same general courses which they now pursue before the particular mountains
came into existence. Slowly the underground forces exerted sufficient pressure to
fold the layers of rock and cause them to rise in the form of an arch directly
across the channel of the stream. The mountain was at first only an undulation, a
swell in the ground; directly across it the stream continued to flow, cutting the
channel deeper as the fold of rocks rose higher. The mountain gradually lifted
itself up from the interior of the earth but with such exceeding slowness that the
stream, acting like a saw, was able to keep the notch cut deep enough for a
channel. It sawed the gap down as the mountain rose, the two movements being
exactly equal. Some of the gapped mountains in West Virginia have elevated
their summits a thousand feet or more, but the stream has during all the immense
period of years sawed away and kept its channel open, and it continues still to
saw asunder the ledges which lie bare in the bottom of its channel. It is a process
which has gone on for many hundreds of thousands of years, and apparently the
forces are as active now as ever. The rivers are cutting deeper and ] erhaps the
mountains are rising higher.
A person passing through one of these gaps can see the exposed ledges which
form the mountain, bending as an enormous arch, the top of which is hundreds
of feet overhead, while the sides bend down and pass beneath the level of the
stream. Sometimes only a fragment of the arch is visible, the rest being buried
under accumulation of debris. The best gaps to observe are the Hanging Rocks,
below Romney ; Greenland gap, near Maysville, and Kline 's gap, near the source
of Lunice creek. The last two are in Grant county, the first in Hampshire.
These deep passes through mountains are not of interest merely as curiosities.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 31
or as freaks of nature, though as such they are very instructive; but they are of
great use for the passage of highways. Roads pass through nearly all of them,
and thus cross mountains without being compelled to climb over the summits.
The most titanic piece of mountain cutting in West Virginia, by which "a stream
has been able to wear itself a channel through ranges, is in the case of New river.
That stream rises east of the whole Allegheny range of mountains, and has cut
its way through them all to the west side. The best known and most spectacular
mountain pass in the state cut by a river that is older than the range it has
sawed asunder, is the gap through the Blue Eidge at Harper's Ferry.
The phenomenon of streams cutting gaps or passage ways transversely through
mountains, as at Hanging Rocks and Greenland gap, does not stand alone as
wonders which West Virginia rivers have been responsible for. There are a number
of places in the state where river channels have been cut through mountains from
end to end, deepening and widening those channels until what otherwise would
be one mountain is now two. One such instance is the Trough, through which
the South Branch of the Potomac flows below Old Fields in Hardy county. The
geographic and geological evidence indicates that this fact was accomplished in
much the same way as the gaps already described were cut. Apparently the river
was flowing in the same course which it now flows, at a time when the mountain
had not been lifted out of the earth. When the folding of the strata began to
raise the backbone of the mountain above the surface, it happened that the crest
of the mountain rose directly under the channel of the stream. The upheaval was
so slow that the river was able to cut its channel deeper as the mountain rose
higher, with the result that it sawed the mountain asunder from end to end and
now pours along the narrow gorge it has made. Another striking example is
Tygart 's Valley in Randolph county. A trough forty miles in length has been
excavated along the summit of a mountain, and this trough has been worn down
and widened until it is now one of the most attractive valleys of the state. Its
floor lies more than two thousand feet above sea level, and the walls of the valley —
Cheat mountain on one side and Rich mountain on the other — rise nearly two
thousand feet higher than the valley floor. The two mountains which now form
the opposite walls of the valley and whose summits are ten miles apart, air line,
are but the worn flanks of what was once one mountain. It was a vast fold
of strata, and if restored to its original dimensions it would rise to a height of
five thousand feet above the present valley.
The manner of the formation of this remarkable valley was simple, though
unusual. The evidence of the rocks that remain show that the mountain was an
enormous arch of folded strata, the spread of the arch being not less than ten
miles, and its height at least a mile. While the subterranean energy was lifting
the mountain, the strain was so great that the arch was ruptured. A crack was
formed longitudinally along the top. Running water took possession of this crack
along the mountain summit and followed it northward, and gradually deepened and
widened it into a valley. The work of the stream was facilitated by the softness
of the Hamilton shales which it excavated. The extensive valley thus formed was
made rich by the decay of the soft shale. The valley is forty miles long with a
flat bottom from one quarter of a mile to more than a mile in width. From
Elkins to Elkwater it contains some of the finest farms in the state. It attracted
some of the earliest white settlers to the state. Apparently it attracted the
Indians at a much earlier day whose remains may still be seen. In the early
stages of the civil war, it became a battle ground of contending forces in the
struggle for possession of West Virginia. On one rim of the valley the battle of
Rich Mountain was fought. On another rim, the battle of Laurel Hill was staged,
and on the floor of the valley, at Elkwater General Lee was checked in his effort
to recover ground lost to General McClellan several months before.
There is conclusive evidence that, in comparatively late geologic
time, even while this territory had much the same appearance topo-
graphically as it has to-day, the arrangement of the streams was very
different from the present. At that time the tributaries of Kanawha
river were Mud and Guyandot rivers, Twelvepole creek, and possibly
a small stream that occupied the valley of the present Ohio river above
the mouth of Guyandot river. When Kanawha river was diverted to
its present course, Teays valley was left to the former tributaries of
that stream. Mud river entered the valley near Milton and followed
it to Barboursville, where it united with the Guyandot and a short
distance beyond reached Ohio river. In attempting to adjust itself to
the new conditions Mud river meandered broadly over the wide valley
of the Kanawha. Its sluggish character continues to the present day,
as indicated by its name, even though it has succeeded in removing the
alluvium and is now cutting into the rock floor of the old Kanawha
valley.
The careful study of the stream valleys by geologists has proved
almost beyond question that the courses of the rivers in this section
32
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
were different before the Glacial period, from the present. At that
time the Ohio river did not exist, and the drainage of the southern part
of this state was to the west to about the position of the present Ohio
and thence northwest across Ohio. The northern drainage along the .
Monongahela valley was north to Pittsburgh and to the present site
of Lake Erie. The streams thus flowed north and northwest.
As the great glacier moved down from the north across the present
Great Lakes area, it cut off the outlets of these rivers with a wall of
ice and rock debris, the waters were thus dammed back filling the river
valleys almost, if not quite, to their sources. The waters spread out
between the walls of the valleys, forming lakes of quiet water with
small currents, in which were deposited sediments from the surrounding
hills, and from the melting ice. One of these lakes occupying the val-
ley of the Monongahela, lower Allegheny, and upper Ohio basins has
been named by Dr. I. C. White, Lake Monongahela. The water would
rise until it found a gap in the surrounding hills through which it
Showing Break Through at Neck op the Famous "Jug" op Middle
Island Creek, Tyler County
(Courtesy of West Virginia Geological Survey)
coidd escape. In the Monongahela lake this gap seems to be located
near Salem on the present line of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad from
Grafton to Parkersburg. The overflow passing through this gap grad-
ually lowered the waters. With the outflow at this point a current
would be formed in the lake thus carrying the sediment from the north
through the whole valley. The fine grained clays adapted to brick and
pottery manufacture are now found in this valley 100 to 150 feet above
the present river. The terraces representing long continued water levels
are marked topographical features today in this valley and the various
towns are located on them.
At this same time similar changes were taking place in the southern
valleys. The ancient Kanawha river was flowing through the Teays
valley to Huntington and thence to the northwest through a river named
by Tight, the Marietta river. When the ice sheet closed the outlet of
this river, the waters were held back, forming a lake similar to the
northern one, which may be called Lake Kanawha.
In this basin were deposited the fine grained, banded, Teays clays, 20
to 50 feet in thickness. The rising water in this lake finally flowed out
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 33
through a gap to the northwest and reached the Marietta river a1 I't.
Pleasant, a course which it has followed from that time, leaving the
Teays valley below St. Albans.
The ice barrier at the north and northwest across Ohio prevented
the outflow of the rivers in that direction, so the accumulating waters
passed to the east and south. The rivers in the valley of the present
Ohio near Huntington and Pt. Pleasant cut their way backward remov-
ing the barriers near Crown City and Gallipolis until they united, form-
ing the early Ohio river, which by further deepening of its channel and
backward cutting and meandering toward Pittsburgh, finally tapped the
Monongahela waters and established the Ohio drainage system nearly
as at the present time.
This is the generally accepted explanation of the origin of these
clays in the Monongahela, Teays, and adjacent valleys.
Campbell, however, in the Charleston and Huntington folios of the
U. S. Geological Survey, has given a theory of origin of the Teays
valley clays as due to local ice dams formed near Ashland, Kentucky,
and Milton, West Virginia.
The most interesting episode in the recent geologic history of this
region is the change in the course of Kanawha river from west to north,
resulting in the evacuation of its old channel along Teays valley. This
valley is but one of several similar features that occur within about 100
miles of the outermost limit of glaciation ; and in some of the most
noted cases on Monongahela river, clay analogous to that of Teays val-
ley has yielded fossil plants which, according to Dr. F. H. Knowlton,
belong to a Glacial flora. Although these abandoned channels seem
to be due to conditions which were general throughout the Ohio valley,
their relation to the surrounding topography, the variation, from place
to place, of the character of the sediments deposited in them, and the
difference in height to which these deposits extend, indicate that local
and special conditions determined each case of diversion separately.
According to Campbell the only hypothesis which appears to sat-
isfy existing conditions is that of local ice dams formed by the occa-
sional breaking up of river ice.
In applying this hypothesis to Teays valley it will be necessary
to suppose that a dam of this kind occurred in the vicinity of Ashland,
Kentucky, by which the stream was forced to abandon its valley back
of Ruscell and to seek a new channel farther north, by Ironton, Ohio,
where the present Ohio river is located.
In the course of time apparently another dam was formed in the
vicinity of Milton, and this barrier was so high and strong that it
backed the water up to the level of the divide on the northern side of
the valley, across which the stream found several outlets into the pres-
ent valley of Kanawha river. Pocatalico river also suffered changes
in its alignment about this time, for it has an abandoned valley almost
as clearly defined as that of the Kanawha. Similar features may be
seen on Elk river near Charleston. The divide between Coonskin branch
and Elk Twomile creek is low and rather broad and is deeply covered
with river deposits including bowlders as large as 7 inches in diameter.
Most of the large stream valleys of this region are marked by ter-
races cut into the bluffs and projecting spurs at about the same altitude
as the rocky floor of Teays valley. They ai-e particularly prominent
on Coal river and its various branches. They are remnants of old,
broad valleys within which the streams have cut their present narrow
channels. These broad valleys indicate a somewhat advanced cycle of
erosion, which was interrupted by elevation of the land and the inaugura-
tion of the present, or post Glacial, cycle.
Many changes in local streams occurred along the Potomac near
Pawpaw. The Potomac formerly occupied a large oxbow west of Paw-
paw, swinging northwest for two miles and turning to the present bed
of the river down Purslane valley. Southward from the Purslane val-
ley it made a lateral swing and occupied the low amphitheatre-like plain
Vol. 1—3
34 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
in which Pawpaw is now located. The river also undouhtedly once
flowed over the low divide, across the neck of land south of Little
Orleans, which is partly covered with river gravel, but the rock revealed
beneath the gravel by the Western Maryland Railway cut demonstrates
that if this short cut was abandoned owing to the channel being filled
with alluvium, in the same way that the change in the Purslane oxbow
is explained, the early channel was not cut as deep as the present
river bed.
A very interesting oxbow-cut-off is in process of formation at
Johnson's Mill on Sleepy creek, 5 miles south of Berkeley Springs.
The creek formerly flowed in the swampy alluvium-filled valley south
of its present course.
In other parts of the state, there are many examples of streams
which have been turned aside from their original channels by the long
chiseling processes of time. One example of this is found in Barbour
County. Indian Pork of Elk, and all the tributaries of Elk above the
mouth of Indian Fork formerly emptied into the Valley river a short
distance above Philippi. They now reach the West Pork at Clarksburg.
By consulting a map it will be seen that Indian Pork and the main
stream of the Elk have their sources five or six miles west of the Val-
ley river, and that they flow eastwardly, directly toward the river until
they approach within a short distance of it, and then, as Indian Pork
and Elk unite, they turn back toward the west-northwest, and flow in
a direction almost opposite to the former course and reach the West
Pork at Clarksburg. Thus, the streams which once were tributaries of
the Valley river are now tributaries of Elk. They are what geologists
call "captive watercourses." The process by which Elk was able to cut
them off and divert them from their former channels is easily under-
stood when a few facts concerning the geological history of the region
between Philippi and Clarksburg are taken into consideration. The
inquiry takes us back many thousand years and deals only with well-
established geological truths written in the contour and sculpture of
the region as it now exists.
During one of the later periods of geology, long after the close
of the Carboniferous age, the country between Philippi and Clarksburg,
as well as on all sides round, was more nearly level than now. Then
the bed of the river at Philippi and the bed of the West Pork at Clarks-
burg were practically at the same altitude above the sea, and were both
probably lower than they are now. Today the river at Philippi is
nearly 400 feet higher than the West Pork at Clarksburg. At the time,
the divide between the waters of the West Fork and those of the Valley
river was as far west as Elk City, or probably farther west. A change
took place, however, which has pushed the divide eastward until now it
is in several places within a mile of the bed of the Valley river, and
in some places not half a mile distant.
This change is a result of a tilting of the region. An uplift raised
the country along the Valley river several hundred feet and tilted it
toward the northwest. Thus, the streams tributary to the West Pork
were made to flow down a steeper incline. They began to cut deeper
channels because of the increased power given by their steeper gradients.
As they deepened their gorges they wore the divide back toward the
east, encroaching rapidly upon the headwaters of the streams emptying
into the Valley river. At that time Elk was a shorter stream than now.
Its source was at the divide near Elk City. But it deepened its chan-
nel and lengthened its course by cutting through the old divide and
pushing the new watershed further and further east until today it has
approached in places within less than a mile of Valley river. It inter-
cepted creeks flowing east. Its deeper gorge cut across their courses
and diverted their water toward the west. Indian Pork was first cut
off and then Mutton Run, or (as it is called in its lower course) Elk.
All the headwaters of Elk creek formerly flowed into the Valley river.
Those who look for the old channel by which those creeks reached
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
35
the river must bear in mind that an immense period of time must be
taken into account. However, there is strong evidence and much prob-
ability for locating it through the wide gap in the divide on the farm of
Jacob Shank, about three miles southwest of Philippi, in that region
called "Flat wood." The flatness of the region is due to the fact that
it occupies the old valley through which Indian Fork and the upper
tributaries of Elk once flowed on their way to the Valley river. This
old valley (now on top of a mountain) has been much cut and dis-
figured by gullies, ravines and brooks which have destroyed what was
once a level valley floor; but even yet the general level appeals at once
to the eye when seen from such distance that the local irregularities are
obscured.
Other instances of the capture of portions of the drainage of one
river basin by streams of another found in the neighboring region.
Glady Fork and Spruce Fork, in Upshur County, formerly emptied
The Mammoth Mound at Moundsville, Marshall County
(Courtesy of West Virginia Geological Survey)
into the Buckhannon river, but they have been cut off and diverted by
the encroaching channel of Stone Coal creek, and now follow that stream
to the West Fork at Weston. Another instance is found further south,
where Laurel Creek, Cow Run and Get Out Run, formerly tributaries
of French creek, emptying into the Buckhannon, have been intercepted
by streams emptying into the Little Kanawha. The same tilting of the
region toward the northwest which caused Elk creek to cut back nearly
to the Valley river, was also responsible for the encroaching of Stone
Coal creek and the sources of the Little Kanawha upon the waters of
the Buckhannon.
The entire region was picturesque and rich in vast and varied re-
sources which largely remained untouched for over a century after the
Indian trails of the wild region of sombre shadows and healthy climate
first attracted the advance guard of pioneer settlers. In spite of the
general roughness of surface, the soil was valuable, adapted either to
various purposes of agriculture or to stock raising and was capable of
large returns under improved methods of cultivation. There were iron
ores which formed the basis of earlier active industries, and an abundance
36 HISTOKY OP WEST VIRGINIA
of coal, oil and gas, fire-clays, sandstones and glass sands formed the
later basis for prosperous conditions felt by the entire region. There
was also a wealth of woods, which after remaining largely undisturbed
for over a century, has recently been almost depleted in most sections
by a system of exploitation which has left in its desolate path nothing
more important than the problem of conservation.
Before the westward invasion of white settlers the ancient ridges
between the Bine Ridge and the Allegheny plateau formed a great wilder-
ness rampart which forced the medley population of tidewater Vir-
ginia in a useful unity and neighborly community life, under the an-
cestral tutorship of the wide sea, which proved of great value in the
later struggle for independence from Europe and in the establishment
of the nation. The explorer finding a gap was always confronted by
other ridges of mountains, and following the channel cut by the Potomac
he was soon confronted by the mazy wilderness and other obstacles to
entrance into the mountain belt beyond. The education of mountain
and forest came later.
By its physical formation the trans-Allegheny territory included in
West Virginia was destined to be geographically distinct from the tide-
water region of the Old Dominion. The flow of its rivers toward the
Ohio largely determined its commercial connections after the abandon-
ment of the earlier transportation by pack-horses. Even the eastward
flow of the Potomac eventually determined its commercial relation
with Baltimore instead of with points in eastern Virginia — a relation
which through the influence of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad in the
crisis which precipitated the formation of West Virginia determined the
extension of its eastern panhandle to Harpers Ferry. Even the more
direct route of communication between the Kanawha and the James
rivers, presented obstacles which delayed the completion of an adequate
avenue of transportation until after the separation of the new state was
accomplished.
The second quarter of the eighteenth century mai'ked the beginning
of a longitudinal overflow movement southward and westward by ad-
vance up the Shenandoah from the western edge of the fertile lands
of Pennsylvania. Among these pioneers, following the earliest con-
tingents of Germans, were the Scotch-Irish — Scotch in blood, Irish
by adoption and Presbyterian in religion — who largely populated West
Virginia and won their way into Kentucky and to the farthest West.
The Appalachian barrier was finally crossed by the overflow from the
East. By 1773 the tides of life began to flow toward Pittsburgh which,
by the strange geological changes resulting from the ice invasion of
long ago diverting the ancient river system which had its headwaters
in West Virginia, was the natural gateway to the Ohio and the West
at which centered various lines of migration from Virginia, Maryland
and Pennsylvania. From the upper Shenandoah and the upper James
there was a smaller expansion to the middle New river region.
Early Trails
On the eve of its settlement by white men, the territory of western
Virginia was the hunting ground of tribes of Delaware, Shawnese and
Mingo Indians whose permanent settlements or villages were located
in Pennsylvania near the confluence of the Monongahela and the Alle-
gheny. Since 1713 they had occupied the region as tenants of the
Iroquois of New York who claimed the ownership. From the valley of
Virginia to the Ohio river they used various trails which later served as
the earliest paths of the pioneers.
One of the most eastern trails was the Virginia Warriors Path which
became a traders and explorers route ascending the Shenandoah valley
to the head of Clinch, thence passing through Cumberland Gap via
the site of "Crab Orchard," Kentucky, and Danville, Kentucky, to the
falls of the Ohio (Louisville).
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
37
Several trails connecting with the region drained by the Mononga-
hela were distinctly marked. Westward from the Virginia and Maryland
routes of travel which converged on the Potomac at Wills creek was a
transmontane trail which crossed upper Youghiogheny at "Little Cross-
ings" (Great Meadows) and the main Youghiogheny at "Stewart's
Crossing" (Connellsville) thence down the "Point" to the site of Pitts-
burgh.
Another was the old Catawba war-path between New York and
the Holston river leading also through the Carolinas (not an Indian
thoroughfare after white settlements were made in Virginia). This
path crossed the Cheat at the mouth of Grassy Run near the Monongalia-
Preston boundary line and farther south passed up the Tygart's valley.
Another, the Warrior branch passed up Dunkard creek and via Fish
creek to southern Ohio and Kentucky. Another, the Eastern trail
(Great War Path) from Ohio via Fish creek and Indian creek and
White Day creek through Preston county (near the site of Masontown
Falls op Hominy Creek, Nicholas County
(Courtesy of West Virginia Geological Survey)
and Reedsville and crossing Cheat at Dunkard Bottom) to the South
Branch of the Potomac — a route much used by the Ohio Indians in their
attacks on the white settlements. A branch starting between Masontown
and Reedsville passed southward between Independence and Newburg
via York's run and south of Evansville to Ice's mill on Big Sandy where
it met the Northwest trail from Maryland via the bridge at Deakin's
on Cheat. Another trail led from Maryland via Big Sandy near Bruce-
ton (Preston county) and via Cheat to the vicinity of Morgantown.
Another important Indian route of travel was the Scioto-Mononga-
hela trail which, after crossing from Lower Shawnee Town eastward to
the Muskingum valley and from Big Rock (near Roxbury, Ohio) south-
east via the watershed to the mouth of the Little Kanawha (Belpre,
Ohio) and after a junction with another trail from the mouth of the
Kanawha and the lower Scioto valley, crossed the Ohio and ran near
the old "Neal's station" (now Ewing's station on the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad) north of the present Kanawha station and above Eaton's
tunnel, thence via Dry Ridge to Doddridge county, passing through
Martin's Woods, north of Greenwood to Centre station thence east to
West Union tunnel (Gorham's) thence to the head of Middle Island
creek up Toms fork to the watershed in Harrison county and down Ten
38 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Mile creek into the Monongahela valley. There was also a trail from the
Ohio up the Kanawha and across the mountains to Randolph county.
Along the north side of the Kanawha passed the Sandusky-Richmond
trail and important branch of the Scioto trail, the principal "war path"
and trade path of the Shawanese country and the main route of the
Sandusky-Virginian fur trade ascending the Sandusky valley from Lake
Erie and descending the Scioto to the mouth at Lower Shawnee Town
and southward as ' ' Warriors Path ' ' through Kentucky to Cumberland
Gap and the Cherokee country. It reached the mouth of the Kanawha
over the highland watershed between the Scioto and the Hockhocking
rivers by a southeast route from a point on the Scioto above Chillicothe,
at the intersection of the Scioto-Beaver trail and a trail to Fort Miami
connecting with the Miami trail which passed through Licking and the
Kentucky river valleys to the watershed between the Green and the
Cumberland, thence by two branches — one through the Cumberland
mountains to the Cherokee country and the other through Cumberland
Gap to the Scioto trail.
The trails leading from the Ohio east were well known to the early
settlers who aften posted scouts on them near the Ohio to report the
approach of Indian war parties.
Indian trail and buffalo trace pointed the easiest way for fur trader
and pioneer settler across mountain barrier into the unbroken wilder-
ness drained by the Monongahela. The country gradually became known
by reports of hunters and traders who crossed from very early times.
Nemacoliu 's path, following in part an old buffalo trail across the moun-
tains, furnished a pack horse route for traders who had already reached
the Ohio before 1750. The blazing of this old Indian trail by Nemacoliu
and other Indians under direction of Cresap, acting for the Virginia
gentlemen who had received 100,000 acres of land drained by the Ohio,
precipitated a decisive war to settle the mastership of the western forests.
This little westward path, marked by Indians axe, became a path for
Saxon commerce and consequently a path for Saxon conquest leading to
the realization of the earliest dreams of the youthful Virginian who
while traveling over it in 1752 was already planning a highway to bind
the East and the West. It was later widened into a wagon road by
Washington and Braddock and became an important highway to the
lower Monongahela — although the first wagon load of merchandise over
it did not reach the Monongahela until 1789.
Farther south, crossing a wilderness mountain region over which
no roads were constructed for a century after the early era of settlement
of the region drained by the upper Monongahela, were four other trails
of no less importance for settlers of the region drained by the upper
tributaries of the Monongahela. The McCullough traders' trail led from
Moorefield via Patterson's creek and Greenland Gap across a spur of
the Alleghenies to the North Branch thence to the upper Youghiogheny
(west of Oakland) thence (via Brueeton Mills) to the Cheat near the
Pennsylvania line. A branch of it led down Horse Shoe run to the
mouth of Lead Mine run. The other three were more obscure. The
North Branch trail, over which came the larger number of the early
settlers on upper Cheat and many on the Buckhannon river and which
probably was the route of the Indians who conducted raids in Hamp-
shire county in 1754 to 1759, continued from Fairfax stone across Back-
bone mountain and down Lead Mine run and Horse Shoe run to Cheat
river — connecting here with an up-river branch to the vicinity of Parsons
and via the head of Leading creek to the Seneca trail at Elkins and to
the settlements of the Tygart valley, at the head of which it connected
with trails to the Little Kanawha, the Elk and the Greenbrier. The trail
to Greenbrier passed through Mingo Flats and west of the present
Marlinton pike crossed the mountain — dividing at the top of Middle
mountain into two branches, one of which continued to Old Field Fork
and the other to Clover Lick. The Shawnee (or Seneca) trail, although
the chief highway between the South branch and Tygart valley, travelled
westward yearly by pack horses laden with salt, iron and other merchan-
dise and later by many droves of cattle driven to the eastern market,
ascended the South Branch (passing the McCullough trail at Moorefield)
followed the North Fork and Seneca creek, crossed the Alleghenies
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 39
twenty miles south of the North Branch trail, and the branches of Cheat
above the mouth of Horse Camp creek, and passed near Elkins and
Beverly to the vicinity of Huttonsville in Randolph.
Another path, connecting with the old Shawnee trail from Pennsyl-
vania and Maryland from the head of North Pork and following the
general course of the later Staunton and Parkersburg turnpike, passed
up the South Branch to the mouth of North Pork (in Grant county)
which it followed to the mouth of Dry run (in Pendleton county), then
followed Laurel creek to the site of the later crossing of the Staunton
and Parkersburg pike, then turned westward, crossed the Alleghenies
thirty miles south of the Seneca trail, followed the East Pork of the
Greenbrier to the main river, crossed Shaver's mountain to the Shaver's
Pork of Cheat, thence crossing Cheat mountain to Tygart's valley, inter-
secting the Shawnee trail near Huttonsville and crossing to the head of
the Little Kanawha which it followed to the Ohio. Two other trails may
be noticed. One led from the headwaters of the South Branch via the
Sinks of Gandy, to Shaver's Pork of Cheat river at the mouth of Fishing-
Hawk, and across Cheat mountain via the heads of Piles creek to Valley
Bend (above Beverly). Another led from the Great Kanawha up the
Elk and Valley Pork and down Elk Water to Tygart's valley — a meeting
place of so many trails and probably a favorite hunting ground of the
Indians.
An old well known Indian trail, originally a buffalo trail and later
used by settlers till 1786 passed from the Kanawha up Kelley's creek
thence down Bell creek and down Twenty Mile to its mouth (now Belva)
up Gauley to a point over a mile north of Rich creek up which it me-
andered and thence passed over Gauley mountain through the site of
Ansted and across the branches of Meadow creek to the upper waters of
Muddy, an affluent of the Greenbrier. Over this trail many of the earliest
settlers twisted. It was used for the outward trip of Lewis' army in 1774
and was followed by the Indian invaders who attacked Donnally's fort
in 1778. The Gauley river route farther northeast also lead to the
heads of the Greenbrier. The chief old trail of the Indians and early
settlers from Lewisburg to the Ohio ran along the ridges at the heads
of the tributaries of the Great Kanawha, crossing Paint creek near its
source. It was a mere passage way for foot travel through the wilder-
ness— although over much of it one could ride horseback. It was used
considerably for early travel.
The trail up Dunlap and down Second and Indian creeks to New river
determined the early favored points of settlement in Monroe in the Gap
Mills valley and the basin of Indian creek. It was joined by side paths.
Another path crossed Peters mountain at Symmes Gap and passed near
Ballard and down Stinking creek to the mouth of Indian creek. The
Dunlap path was used by many immigrants from the Cowpasture, Calf-
pasture and Bullpasture valleys. The trails across Peters mountain and
the Narrows of the New were the routes of settlers who came down from
the upper James and Roanoke and the New.
The western Indian trail around the narrows of the Great Kanawha
led from the Kanawha up Paint creek, thence via the site of Beckley over
the northeast extension of Plat Top mountain, and across the New river
above the mouth of the Bluestone.
Among other trails was one via Horse Pen creek to the head of Clear
Pork, down Tug, to the mouth of Pour Pole, thence across the ridge
between the Sandy and the Guyandotte. An early hunters' trail from
the Greenbrier-New river section to Kentucky passed up East river via
Bluefield, the Bluestone-Clinch divide, and the Clinch and Powell's river.
CHAPTER IV
INSTITUTIONAL HERITAGE FROM OLD VIRGINIA
(From Articles by Dr. 0. P. Chitwood and Judge John W. Mason)
West Virginia history at its beginning and throughout its- course was
influenced by centuries of continuous institutional development or evolu-
tion, resulting from permanent and changing needs of organized society,
and from long experience in adjustments to secure these needs. It owes
a debt to the past from which its people inherited their manners and
customs of living, their social and religious ideals, their system of govern-
ment, and their laws. Its heritage from Old Virginia is well illustrated
by the earlier development of courts and laws.
On April 10, 1606, King James I granted to the Virginia Company
letters-patent for the establishment of two colonies in America, one to
be planted in northern and the other in southern Virginia. There was
to be a general council in England which was to exercise a supervisory
control over both the northern and southern colonies. The effort to
plant a colony in the north in the year 1607 proved a failure; but a like
attempt in the south the same year resulted in the establishment of a
permanent settlement at Jamestown. The local government of this colony
was entrusted to a council of seven men selected by the general council
in England.
In this council were vested all the powers of local government, legisla-
tive, executive, and judicial. In 1609 by a change in the charter, the
local council was displaced by a governor, who had almost absolute
power. The first governor, Lord De La Warr, arrived in Virginia in
June, 1610, and superseded Sir Thomas Gates, who had been governing
the colony fur about a month as the former V deputy. Lord De La Warr *s
council, consisting of six men chosen by himself, differed from the first
one in being only an advisory body.
Another important change was made in the government of the colony
when Sir George Yeardley became governor. In obedience to instruc-
tions issued by the company the previous year, he called together in
the church at Jamestown en July 30, 1619, the first representative
legislative assembly that ever convened in English America. This as-
sembly was composed of the governor and his council together with two
representatives from each of the eleven plantations. These representa-
tives of the boroughs, or plantations, were elected by the people and were
known as Burgesses. The Burgesses, after having been received by
the governor and council in the choir, retired to the body of the church
and entered upon their work. This was the beginning of the General
Assembly, whieh by 1680 had become a bicameral legislature. It corre-
sponded to its prototype, the English Parliament, and its lineal de-
scendant, our present legislature. The governor and his council were
the upper house and the Burgesses, chosen by the qualified voters, con-
stituted the lower house. After 1661 the laws provided that each county
should send two representatives to the House of Burgesses. The towns
of Williamsburg, Norfolk and Jamestown and the College of William
and Mary also had one representative each. Measures passed by the
Assembly could be vetoed by the company up until 1624, and by the
king after that time. The Assembly met at the call of the governor, who
had power to prorogue or dissolve it. Besides being a law-making body,
the Assembly was also for some time a court of justice. In the early
40
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 41
years it had original and appellate jurisdiction in both civil and criminal
cases, and was the highest court of appeal in the colony. In 1682 the
Assembly lost its right to hear appeals, but after this we find it exercising
the privilege of passing bills of attainder. At no time during the colonial
period were the acts of the Assembly subject to review by the courts.
The infant colony was governed by the Company until 1624, at which
time the charter was annulled and Virginia became a royal province.
No change, however, seems to have been made in the local governmental
machinery except that the governor and other officials that had been
chosen by the Company were now appointed by the King.
By 1682, the Virginia constitution had begun to crystalize into its
permanent form. The chief executive officer was the governor, who was
appointed by the company until 1624 and by the king after that time.
His duties from the beginning were pretty much the same as those that
engage the attention of our chief executive to-day. Besides being at the
head of the administration, he was commander in chief of the militia,
made numerous appointments to office, and exercised the power of pardon
and reprieve. He also had power to remit fines and forfeitures and
coidd pardon all crimes except willful murder and treason. Those
could be pardoned only by the king.
Next to the governor in the administration came the council, a body
of varying size but usually numbering about twelve or thirteen. The
councillors of the first governor, as we have seen, were chosen by him-
self. Appointments to the later councils were made on the recommenda-
tion of the governor by the company in the earliest years and by the king-
after the company's charter had been annulled. They were usually men
of means and influence, for a high property qualification ruled out
all but the well-to-do. They were not chosen for any definite period but
were re-commissioned whenever a new governor was appointed or a
new king came to the throne. The old councillors, however, were usually
continued in office by the new commissions and so they virtually held
their positions by life tenure. They not only received pay for their
services but also had a monopoly of most of the places of honor and profit
in the colony. Each one was usually the commander of the militia in
his own county with the rank of colonel. While the council was theo-
retically only an advisory body, yet it was frequently able to curb the
power of the governor. The councillors were also judges of the superior
court, and we have already seen that they constituted the upper house
of the Assembly. There is nothing in the governmental machinery of
West Virginia to-day that corresponds exactly to the old colonial council,
but to it our senate, our supreme court of appeals, and the governor's
staff all owe their origin.
The colonial judiciary developed into its final form at a pretty early
date. When the colony was first settled, the local council tried all
causes except certain ones specified in the charter. These were to be sent
to England for trial, and appeals to the council and company in England
were to be allowed in certain other cases. Ordinary cases were decided
by a majority vote, but all capital offenses were tried by a jury of twelve
men. When the local council was superseded by the governor and his
council, the power of dispensing justice was probably passed on from
the former to the latter body. At any rate, we find the governor and
council acting as a court of justice from 1619 to the end of the colonial
period. During the first years, (lie meetings of the council for the trial
of causes were held at irregular intervals. It was not many years, how-
ever, before a system of regular quarterly terms had been evolved, and
the council court had received the name of Quarter Court. In 1659, the
sessions of the Quarter Court were reduced to three a year. The term
Quarter Court had now become a misnomer, and in a few years that of
General Court was substituted for it. In 1684, the sessions were made
semi-annual, and from that time until the Revolution the court met
regulai'ly in April and October.
The Quarter or General Court took cognizance of both civil and
42 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
criminal causes, and its jurisdiction was both original and appellate.
At first the governor and council decided causes of all kinds; but after
the county courts had grown into importance their jurisdiction was
restricted to the more important civil and criminal cases. The governor
presided over the court and passed sentence on convicted criminals.
Trial by jury was employed in important criminal cases; other decisions
were made by a majority of the judges present. The court held its
sittings at the capital, first at Jamestown and later at Williamsburg.
There seems to have been no state-house in Virginia for a long time, and
the business of government was for a while transacted in the house of
the governor. Later in 1663, we find that the sessions of the General
Court and Assembly were being held in ale-houses. However, a fine
state-house was built when Williamsburg became the capital, and the
General Court and Assembly were comfortably housed in this magnificent
building.
After the sessions of the General Court were reduced to two a year,
criminals were sometimes necessarily kept in prison six months before
they could be tried. The need for a more speedy administration of
justice led to the formation of a new criminal tribunal, the Court of Oy el-
and Terminer. The establishment of this court as a permanent tribunal
dates from the first quarter of the eighteenth century. The governor
named the judges of this court, but in making out the list, he usually,
and after 1755 always, confined himself to councillors. The sessions of
the Court of Oyer and Terminer were held twice a year, and at such
times as to divide equally the intervals between the terms of the General
Court. Its jurisdiction was confined to important criminal cases. After
appeals to the Assembly were discontinued in 1682, these two courts
were the highest tribunals in the colony. The only appeal from their
decisions after that time was to the king and the Privy Council.
It had general original jurisdiction, and appellate jurisdiction from
the county courts. It was a court of last resort except as to certain
causes which might be appealed to the Courts of England and, for a
time, certain causes which might be reheard by the General Assembly of
the Colony.
The Judiciary System of Virginia was radically changed by the con-
stitution of 1776 and the laws made under it. The General Court
remained in name, but was deprived of much of its jurisdiction. A
Chancery Court was then created and equity jurisdiction taken from
the General Court.
By the act of the General Assembly of 1777, five judges were au-
thorized, and they were required to hold two terms of court every year.
By the act of December 22, 1788, the state was divided into districts.
The number of judges was increased and one of these judges was re-
quired to hold a term of court every year in each district. These terms
were in addition to the two sessions to be held by all the judges annually.
These district courts were courts of general jurisdiction except that they
had no chancery powers. In 1809 the district court was abolished and the
Circuit Superior Court of Law, substituted. The state was divided into
circuits, and courts held in every county of the circuit by a judge of
the Grand Court.
When the Chancery Court was abolished by the constitution of 1831,
the Circuit Superior Court of Law was superseded by the Circuit Su-
perior Court of Law and Chancery. These courts were also held by
judges of the General Court, one being assigned to each circuit. For
many years, the General Coui't had exclusive appellate jurisdiction in
criminal cases. It will be observed that prior to the constitution of
1851 all judges except those of the court of appeals were judges of the
General Court. After an existence of 190 years, this most important
of all Virginia courts was abolished by the constitution of 1851.
By the act of General Assembly of 1788, District Courts were created
and held by judges of the General Court. These courts were superseded
by the Circuit Superior Court of Common Law in 1809.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 43
It has been the policy of the people of Virginia since the earliest
times to keep separate common law and chancery jurisdiction. In
colonial times chancery was considered as a separate jurisdiction but was
exercised by the ordinary courts sitting as courts of chancery.
The constitution of 1776 authorized the General Assembly to appoint
"Judges in Chancery." From that time until 1831 the two jurisdictions
were not only kept entirely separate but were exercised by separate
courts, except that County and Corporation Courts had jurisdiction in
both Common Law and Chancery, and even in these courts separate
"order books" were required. In 1777, three chancellors were au-
thorized to hold the ' ' High Court of Chancery, ' ' but only one chancellor
(George Wythe) was appointed. He held this court until 1802 when
two additional chancellors were added and subsequently the state was
divided into four districts. The chancellors' court was abolished by
the constitution of 1831, and chancery jurisdiction given to the judges
of the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery.
In 1851 when the General Court was abolished the Circuit Court was
established. This court had substantially the same jurisdiction as the
Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery. The constitution of
1851 established a somewhat complex judicial system, and made some
very radical changes. Under this constitution, for the first time in the
history of Virginia, judges were elected by the people and the term of
office limited to a certain number of years. The state was divided into
twenty-one judicial circuits, ten districts, and five sections. A judge
was to be elected for every circuit and required to hold at least two
terms of court a year in every county in his circuit. A district court
was to be held at least onee a year in every district by the judges of the
circuits constituting the sections and the judge of the Supreme Court of
Appeals for the section of which the district formed a part ; this was an
appellate court. For each section a judge of the Supreme Court was
to be elected by the voters therein.
The one important unit of local government in colonial Virginia
was the county, and the most important part of the local governmental
machinery was the monthly or county court. In 1634, the colony was
divided into eight shires, or counties, in each of which a court was to
be held every month. But this was not the beginning of the monthly
courts. We find that as early as 1624, two local courts had been estab-
lished, which were to meet every month and decide petty cases coming
up from the precincts adjacent to them. New counties were formed
from time to time and each was given a court as soon as it was organized.
The judges were at first known as commissioners of the monthly
courts, but were afterwards honored with the title of justice of the peace.
The office was one of dignity and was usually filled by men of influence
and ability. Except for a short time during the Commonwealth period,
the justices were always appointed by the governor. They were not
chosen for any definite period, and it seems that their commissions could
be terminated at the discretion of the governor. But it was the usual
practice for the governor in issuing new commissions to name the old
members. So the court was practically a self -perpetuating body. Since
the adoption of the constitution of 1851 justices have been elected by
the people for a number of years instead of being appointed for an indef-
inite term by the governor. They received no fees or salaries until recent
years. The number of justices to a county varied at different times and
in different counties, but usually ranged from eight to eighteen.
The justices after 1643 could decide certain minor civil and criminal
cases individually and their jurisdiction has remained substantially the
same from that time until the present. When they met together as a
county court they had a wider jurisdiction in both civil and criminal
cases. This local tribunal consisted of all the justices of the county,
though four was the necessary quorum for the transaction of business.
All decisions were governed by the opinion of the majority of the jus-
tices present. In some cases questions of fact were decided by a petit
44 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
jury. The local tribunals were at first known as monthly courts be-
cause they convened once a month. But by a statute of 1643 they were
to sit only once in two months, and were henceforth known as county
courts. By the end of the seventeenth century, it had again become the
custom to meet every month, and this practice continued until the end
of the colonial period.
There was no lack of variety in the penalties that the early justices
enforced against offenders. Whipping was a very common mode of
punishment. As a rule the number of stripes given did not exceed
thirty-nine, but they were generally made on the bare back. In the rec-
ords of one count}* three cases have been found in which culprits received
one hundred lashes each on the the bare shoulders; and in another
county the sheriff was ordered to give a law-breaker one hundred and
twenty lashes on the bare shoulders. Other ways of punishing offenders
were to require them to sit in the stocks, lie neck and heels together, or
make public confession in church. Fornication and adultery were very
much frowned upon by the county courts. In the early years, men and
women who had committed those sins were sometimes whipped, and
sometimes were compelled to acknowledge their fault in church before
the whole congregation. A few instances are recorded in which women
who had erred from the path of virtue or had slandered their neighbors
were compelled to make public confession while standing on stools in
the church, with while sheets wrapped around them and white wands in
their hands.
The justices had many duties to perform in addition to those of trying
cases. They ordered the opening of new roads and saw that surveyors
appointed by them kept the highways opened and cleared. The levy
of the county was apportioned by them, and the list of tit.hables was some-
times taken either by themselves or by officers chosen by them for that
purpose. The justices licensed taverns and regulated the prices at which
drinks could be sold. All grievances and claims against the general
government were heard and examined by the county courts. During
a considerable part of the seventeenth century, they also had the power
to make or assist in making the by-laws of their respective counties.
The court "nominated inspectors of tobacco, granted divorces, regulated
the relations of whites to the Indians, tried eases of piracy, erected
ducking-stools, pillories, whipping posts and stocks, appointed collectors
of county levies, and regulated the relations of master to servant."
The Virginia courts were governed in their decisions by the com-
mon law of England and by the Parliamentary statutes that were enacted
before the colony was settled, but not by any of the latter that were
enacted after that event except those that made mention of the planta-
tions. The first act of assembly that has been found in which the
common law of England is recognized as being in force in Virginia was
passed in 1662; but in all probability the common law was to some extent
observed by courts during the entire colonial period with the exception
of the time during which the colony was under military rule.
The benefit of the writ of habeas corpus was not formally extended
to Virginia until 1710, when this privilege was brought over by Lieu-
tenant-Governor Spotswood. But the right was enjoyed in Virginia
before this formal recognition of it was made by the crown ; for a writ
of habeas corpus was granted to Major Robert Beverley in 1682.
It was not to be expected that the common law of England could be
adapted to conditions in the new world without modification either by
statutory enactment or by judicial interpretation. As a matter of fact,
both methods were employed. A good many laws were passed by the
assembly dealing with local conditions, and the courts exhibited marked
originality in devising penalties for offenses. Some of these penalties
seem unduly harsh as judged by modern canons, but they were quite
in harmony with the sentiment and practice of the age. The number of
capital offenses was very much larger in colonial times than to-day, and
many of these severe laws were still in force after the Revolution. The
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 45
stealing of a hogshead of tobacco lying by the public highway, forgery
and the making of counterfeit were still punishable by death as late
as 1792. '
The severity of the criminal laws was mitigated by the custom oi
allowing the "benefit of clergy." When the court granted the benefit
to an offender, it substituted burning in the hand for the death penalty.
The old English custom required that the letter "M" be branded in
the hands of murderers and "T" in those of other felons. This imprint
was burned into the hand not merely to punish the offender, but also to
put a mark on him which would show that he had received the benefit of
clergy and thus keep him from deceiving the court into granting the
privilege a second time. Clergy was allowed to a criminal only once
during his life time.
The county court system remained substantially as it was organized
in the colonial period until 1851 when by the constitution of that date
changes were made in the selection of justices.
These changes had an injurious effect upon the "County Courts."
This marks the beginning of the down-fall of a system which had been,
for nearly two centuries, exceedingly popular. Many distinguished men
had served on this court, among whom was John Tyler, afterwards a
district judge of the United States, and the father of President John
Tyler. President Thomas Jefferson's first office was that of a justice
of the peace and member of the county court. An effort was made in
the constitutional convention of 1829-30 to abolish this court, but it was
resisted by such distinguished lawyers as Chief Justice John Marshall,
Governor Giles, Ex-President Madison, Benjamin Watkins Leigh, Philip
P. Barbour and others. The system was attacked on the grounds that
the appointment of members by the governor for life upon the recom-
mendation of the court itself, was not in harmony with republican princi-
ples— that being self-chosen for life, they could perpetuate their own
body according to their liking for ever. In addition to this it was
insisted that a court with such extensive jurisdiction should not be
selected from among men who had but little or no knowledge of law,
as was the case with a large number of the justices, or as was aptly ex-
pressed in a debate in that convention by Mr. Henderson of Loudoun
county: "the Magistrates were, in general, worthy men but they were
not acquainted with law and were not capable of duly discharging the
duties that were required at their hands." The convention, however,
endorsed the system and continued it in the constitution. The question
again arose in the convention of 1851, and although the court was not
abolished, its usefulness was, to a great extent, destroyed. In 1869 the
decisive step was taken by Virginia of radically changing this ancient
tribunal, by requiring the court to be held by a judge learned in the law.
The County Court system was not embraced in the first constitution of
West Virginia, adopted in 1863, but was restored in almost its original
form by the constitution of 1872. It was very unpopular in West Vir-
ginia, and was abolished by a constitutional amendment in 1879.
There were no cities in Virginia in the seventeenth century. The
first town to grow into such importance as to need a local government
of its own was Williamsburg, the capital. In 1722, Williamsburg re-
ceived a chai'ter from the king which constituted it a city and gave it
a separate government. The management of the affairs of the city
was entrusted to a mayor, recorder, six aldermen and twelve council-
men. The king appointed the first mayor, recorder and aldermen, who
were to elect twelve councilmen to hold office during good behavior.
These officials were to be a self-perpetuating body, as all vacancies
were to be filled by cooptation. They were to meet every year to choose
one of the aldermen as mayor for the ensuing year. The mayor, re-
corder, and aldermen were the judges of the Court of Hustings, and were
also justices of the peace in Williamsburg. The jurisdiction of this court
w*as enlarged from time to time, and by 1736 it was equal to that of the
county courts. In 1722, Norfolk was granted a city charter and a form
46 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
of government that was almost an exact copy of that of Williamsburg.
There were no other incorporated cities in Virginia before the Revolution.
The Assembly appointed trustees for the unincorporated towns whose
duties were "to attend to the surveying, letting and selling of the town-
land."
In every county there was a regiment of militia composed of all
the able-bodied men between the ages of sixteen, eighteen or twenty,
and sixty (these were the different limits at different times)-, except
certain classes of persons who were exempted from militia duty by law.
There were usually from eight to ten companies in a county, the number
of men in each ranging from fifty to seventy-five. Every captain called
his company together for drilling four times a year or oftener, and once
or twice a year all the militiamen of the county came together for a
general muster. The whole regiment was commanded by a colonel or
inferior officer, who was appointed by the governor and was usually
a member of his council.
When the shires were organized in 1634, sheriffs were appointed,
apparently for the first time. Before this time the duties of the sheriff
were performed mainly by the provost marshal, though the com-
mander of the hundred also sometimes executed the orders of the gov-
ernor. It seems that the sheriffs were appointed at first by the monthly
courts, but during the eighteenth century they were appointed by the
governor. The appointment was generally made on the recommendation
of the justices, and so they virtually made the selections. The sheriff
was one of the justices, though he did not act as such during his year
of office. His fees were paid in the fluctuating currency of that day,
tobacco, and when the price of tobacco was low, the place was by no
means a lucrative one. In 1710 the remuneration was so small that the
assembly deemed it necessary to pass a law making the office compulsory.
The duties of the colonial sheriff were not very different from what they
are now. He executed the orders and sentences of the courts and as-
sembly, made arrests, and summoned jurors and others to court. He
also usually collected the taxes, and sometimes took the lists of tithables,
that is, acted as assessor. The sheriff was also the keeper of the county
prison. Prison rules were in one respect more humane in colonial times
than they are now. The prisoners were not all shut off from the ad-
vantages of fresh air and exercise, but most of them were allowed to
walk about during the day time within a certain area around the jail.
By an act of 1765, the limits within which prisoners were allowed their
freedom were to include an area of not less than five nor more than ten
acres. Many persons sent to jail for debt used to take houses within the
prison limits and thus lived at home while serving out their terms of
imprisonment.
The office of constable was established early in the history of the
colony. We cannot say exactly when constables were first appointed,
but we know that by 1657 the office was an established part of the gov-
ernmental machinery of the counties. Every county was divided into
precincts, in each of which a constable was elected by the county court.
Any person elected constable could be forced to serve for one year. The
duties performed by the colonial constable were about the same as those
that have engaged his successors up to the present time.
Another important office was that of clerk of the county court.
County clerks were usually appointed by the secretary of state, and
were regarded as his deputies. The appointments were not made for
any definite period but were revocable at the pleasure of the secretary.
This patronage not only extended the influence of the secretary through-
out the colony, but also proved a source of considerable revenue to him,
as it was the custom for all the clerks to pay him a fee every year.
Prior to 1662, there was not a notary public in Virginia. Owing to
the lack of such an officer to attest oaths, statements sworn to in Virginia
were not given the credit in foreign countries to which they were entitled.
For this reason the Assembly in 1662 appointed one notary public for
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 47
the colony, and some years later authorized him to choose deputies
throughout the colony.
The legal profession was not, as a rule, encouraged by the legislation
of the colonial period. In 1643, it was enacted that all lawyers must
be licensed in the Quarter Court before being allowed to practice their
profession. Their fees were restricted to twenty pounds of tobacco for
every cause pleaded in the monthly courts and to fifty pounds for every
one in the Quarter Court. Within two years the assembly repented of
having allowed lawyers this amount of liberty, and passed a law pro-
hibiting attorneys from practicing in the courts for money. The reason
given for this action was that suits had been unnecessarily multiplied
by the "unskillfulness and covetousness of attorneys." The prohibition
of "mercenary attorneys" was repealed in 1656 and re-enacted in 1658.
The courts must have gotten along badly without the assistance of paid
attorneys, for in 1680 the assembly again passed a law which recognized
the right of lawyers to charge for their services. This law was soon
afterwards repealed, but professional attorneys had been again admitted
to the courts by 1718. During the eighteenth century we find no statutes
forbidding lawyers to receive compensation for their services, but the
fees charged by them continued to be restricted by the assembly.
It was not, perhaps, until 1732 that a license to practice law was
required. In May, 1732, the governor and council were authorized to
license persons to practice law who had been examined by men learned
in the law. * * * This act was repealed in 1742 but revived in 1745.
It was required by these acts that no persons should be licensed to
practice law unless found worthy in morals and in legal learning. This
precaution has, by the letter of the law, been observed ever since, although
as a distinguished law writer has remarked, "It is very loosely applied
in practice." No one can now obtain a license to practice law in this
state without first having a certificate from the county court of the
county in which he has resided for a year that he is man of good moral
character; and he must also have passed a satisfactory examination under
the rules and regulations prescribed by the Supreme Court of Appeals
or shall have diploma of graduation from the law school of the West
Virginia University.
During the first years of the colony 's history, there was no attorney-
general in Virginia to give legal advice to the Quarter Court. But the
governor and council could send to England for an opinion if a cause
came before them involving a question of law which they felt incapable
of deciding. The first attorney general mentioned in the records was
Richard Lee, who was appointed in 1643. The attorneys-general were
appointed by the governor, and sometimes with the consent of the king.
He had to prosecute criminals before the General Court and the oyer
and terminer court, and to give his advice to these courts whenever
it was needful.
In 1711, it was found necessary to appoint prosecuting attorneys for
the counties. Before that time breaches of the penal laws were prose-
cuted in the counties by those persons who had reported them to the
courts, and informers were given one-half of all fines imposed for of-
fenses reported by them. It sometimes happened that an informer would
compound with the accused for his half of the fines and would then stop
the prosecution. This would cause the case to be thrown out of court,
and so the crown would fail to receive its half of the fine. There was
need, therefore, of a better method of prosecuting offenders in the
counties, and Governor Spotswood issued a proclamation appointing
prosecuting attorneys for the counties. These new officers came to stay,
and from this time on we find them performing their duties in the county
courts. They were deputies of the attorney-general and had to prosecute
offenders in the county courts as the attorney-general did in the General
Court and oyer and terminer court.
The right of jury trial was one of the privileges that the first settlers
brought with them from England, and this right was put in practice
48 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
before the settlement was a year old. In Dale's scheme of military gov-
ernment there was no provision for juries; but when the regime of free-
dom was inaugurated by Governor Yeardley. the people began again to
enjoy the right of trial by jury. In both the General Court and the
oyer and terminer courts, important criminal offenses were tried by a
petit jury after indictments had been made by the grand jury. The petit
jury in both courts was usually composed of twelve men. The
petit jury came into the county courts as early as 1642. The grand jury
did not make its appearance in the county courts until 1645, and ap-
parently was not permanently established there until more than thirty
years later. A part of the work that now falls to the grand jury was
done in the colonial period, especially the early part of it, by the church-
wardens. They were required to present such offenses as adultery,
drunkenness, swearing, absence from church, and other offenses of like
character. There was a property qualification for jury service in both
the higher and lower courts. In the early years, it was the practice for
juries to be kept from food until after they had rendered their verdict.
A few cases are recorded in which juries of women were called on to
decide questions of fact in cases in which women were charged with
witchcraft or of concealing bastard children. In the seventeenth century
perplexed coroners in a few cases appealed to the ordeal of touch to
decide the guilt or innocence of persons accused of murder.
Up until 1732, the Virginia laws did not recognize the right of a
layman to claim the benefit of clergy unless he could read. In that year
the Assembly extended the benefit of clergy to negroes, Indians, and
mulattoes, and ordered that the reading test should thereafter never be
required of anyone who should claim the privilege. In the eighteenth
century, branding seems to have been regarded as a mere act of form
in Virginia, for it could be done with a cold iron.
CHAPTER V
THE FIRST ADVANCE
Over two hundred years ago * the cosmopolitan Lieutenant-Governor
Alexander Spotswood of Virginia led an expedition which, by penetrat-
ing the fifty miles intervening between the frontier and the peaks of the
Blue Ridge, and descending beyond the valley of the Shenandoah, broke
down the first barrier which had checked the westward expansion of the
English in America and began a conquest which made Virginia the
mother of an empire.
Born in 1676, at Tangier in Morocco, of an illustrious Scottish family
which had furnished an archbishop who had found a sepulchre in West-
minster Hall, and he himself a soldier who had fought with Marlborough
at Blenheim, Spotswood became the first great expansionist and one of
the first true republicans of the Old Dominion.
Coming to Virginia in 1710, he soon took an active interest in plans
to break through the mountain blockade beyond which the traditional
enemies of England and their Indian allies were already actively en-
gaged in trade. He was confident that the colonists with proper en-
couragement would soon extend their settlements to the source of the
James.
Riding at the head of a gay and merry body of thirty cavalier adven-
turers, marshalled and guided by the sound of the hunter's horn, and
followed by a long retinue of negro slaves and Indian guides, spare
horses, and sumpter-mules laden with provisions and casks of native
Virginia wine, he left Williamsburg on June 20, 1716, traveled via
King William and Middlesex counties and via Mountain Run to the
Rappahannock, thence up the Rapidan to his own estates at Germanna,
(colonized by Germans 1714) where all their horses were shod, thence
to Peyton's Ford and via the present site of Stannardsville (in Green
county) and over the rugged road through the Blue Ridge by Swift
Run gap to the Shenandoah about ten miles below the site of Port Re-
public, and some writer has said that he continued westward through
mountain defiles to a lofty peak of the Appalachian range (perhaps in
Pocahontas county ) .
According to John Fontain's journal of the expedition, each day's
inarch was enlivened by the chase and each night's rest, after the meal
of grouse and pheasants shot in forest glades, was enlivened by laughter,
song and story which were stimulated by stores of various liquid mix-
tures from the vineyards of Virginia lowlands. Looking westward from
a peak of the mountains, Spotswood was fascinated by the suggestion
awakened by the view of a more distant mountain peak, to the west and
north, from which Indian guides said one could see the sparkle of the
fresh-water sea now called Lake Erie. On the Shenandoah, which Spots-
wood at first named the Euphrates, "with ceremonious salute, and
1 At the end of one hundred years, the Virginians knew little or nothing of
the country except along the coast and on the rivers where they could go in ships
and boats. They found more territory east of the mountains than they could well
care for and protect, and much more than they then had any use for, and they
had not deemed it prudent to go to or to attempt to investigate the country
beyond the high mountains, and it was proven by Col. Wm. Byrd that in 1709 it
was not known that the Potomac passed through the mountains. There was no
attempt to extend their missionary work beyond the vicinity in which they lived,
and no doubt they had all the work of that kind they could do, and the country
and the people beyond the mountains were unknown to them.
Vol. 1—4
49
50 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
appeal to the store of creature comforts," the adventurers took formal
possession of the "Valley of Virginia" in the name of the Hanoverian
monarch of England and buried the record in an empty bottle near the
camp which they had pitched.
Returning to Williamsburg he gave a glowing description of the
healthful region visited; and, perhaps in order to commemorate the
recent jovial invasion of a wilderness, previously unbroken by the white
man, he established the " Transmontane Order" of the "Knights of
the Golden Horeshoe," and gave to each of the members of his expedi-
tion (and to others who would accept them with a purpose of crossing
the mountains) miniature horseshoes bearing the inscription "Sic jurat
transcendere montes." Howe in his Historical Collections of Virginia
states that in commemoration of the event the king conferred the honor
of knighthood upon Spotswood and presented to him a miniature golden
horseshoe on which was inscribed the above motto.
From his excursion and hunting picnic among the hills he obtained
visions which expanded his views as an expansionist and induced him
to propose ambitious and aggressive imperial plans for control from the
mountains to the Lakes — plans which although held in abeyance at
the time and for many years after his removal from office in 1722, and
after his death in 1740, were finally revived under a later expansionist
governor, also a Scotchman (Dinwiddie) — and pressed to execution at
a fearful cost.
Spotswood gave the stimulus which soon attracted to the passes of
the mountains the pioneers who were later gradually awakened to the
possibilities of a great movement which resulted in the winning of the
West. The short journey from Germanna to the Shenandoah was the
first march in the winning of the territory now included in West Vir-
ginia. The leader of the expedition continued to encourage western
settlement by treaties protecting the frontier from Indians and by
legislation for exemption of the inhabitants of newly-formed counties
from quit rents. Some of his followers led in the westward movement
along the Potomac and in the Northern Neck.
The earliest permanent settlers in the eastern panhandle, however, en-
tered from Pennsylvania by the "Old Pack-horse Ford" (at Shepherds-
town). By 1727 Morgan Morgan settled on Mill creek (in Berkeley
county) and Germans began a settlement which later grew into a vil-
lage called New Mechlenberg (now Shepherdstown).
Probably there were hunters and a few settlers on the Virginia
side of the Potomac above Harper's Ferry before the date of recorded
settlement. As early as 1715, the Shepherds and others held plantations
on the Maryland side of the river in that vicinity, at the mouth of
Antietam creek. This seems to indicate that the Valley was well known
to Marylanders at that early date. Possibly there was a small settle-
ment on the Potomac on the site of Shepherdstown even before the
place was named Mecklenburg. The earliest name applied to the place
was Pack Horse or Pack Horse settlement. Among the earliest families
in the neighborhood were the Cookuses, Kepharts, and Mentzins. In
the common burial ground on the Cookuses' land, were old burial stones
which appeared to bear the date 1720, 1725 and 1728. After 1755 the
Pack Horse settlement was known for a short time as Swearingen's
Ferry, in honor of Thomas Swearingen who at that date established a
ferry on his own land at the bottom of what was later called Princess
street. Soon thereafter, during the French and Indian war, Thomas
Shepherd began to lay out his recently acquired land into streets and
lots to form a town which at first was called Mecklenburg but was
later named for its founder. The settlement of the village was inter-
rupted and delayed by the war with the Indians. Finally, in 1762,
under an act of the Assembly the town was formally created under the
name of Mecklenburg.2
2 In the year 1765 the famous town ordinance was made against the rats and
mice which afflicted the housekeepers of the old town so sorely. A town meeting
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 51
In 1730 and within a few years thereafter, other daring pioneers
settled upon the Opequon, Back creek, Tuscarora creek, Cacapon, and
farther west on the South Branch. Among; those who founded homes
along the Potomac in what is now Jefferson and Berkeley counties
were the Shepherds, Robert Harper (at Harper's Perry), William
Stroop, Thomas and William Forester, Van Swearinger, James Porman,
Edward Lucas, Jacob Hite, Jacob Lemon, Richard and Edward Mercer,
Jacob Van Meter, Robert Stockton, Robert Buckles, John and Sam-
uel Taylor and John Wright. In 1736 an exploring party traced the
Potomac to its source. Charles Town was begun about 1740, two years
later than Winchester.
In 1732 Joist (Yost) Hite and fifteen other families cut their way
through the wilderness from York, Pennsylvania, and crossing the Po-
tomac two miles above Harpers Ferry proceeded to the vicinity of
Winchester and made settlements which exerted a great influence upon
the early neighboring settlements in the territory now included in West
Virginia. He also became involved in a famous land dispute :: of in-
terest to settlers in the eastern panhandle — a dispute with Lord Fair-
fax who had inherited under a grant of 1681 a large estate south of
the Potomac including the present counties of Mineral, Hampshire,
Hardy, Morgan, Berkeley and Jefferson and one-eighth of Tucker and
three-fourths of Grant. This lawsuit, which Fairfax began against
Hite in 1736 and which was not settled until all the original parties
were resting in their graves, a half century later, arrested development
of the lower valley and stimulated settlement farther west. Several
German immigrants, induced by insecurity of titles in the lower Shenan-
doah crossed the Alleghanies and built cabins in the New, the Green-
brier and the Kanawha valleys.
was appointed to determine the best course to pursue in order to rid the village
of these pests. The result of the meeting was that it was "ordered that Jacob
Eoff is authorized to procure a sufficient number of cats to destroy the rats that
infest this town and to procure the same on the most reasonable terms in his
power, as soon as possible, and that the money he expend in procuring the same
be levied for him the tenth day of June next. ' ' All the country people came to
the village on the next market day with bags and baskets full of cats and kittens,
and held a cat marked probably on the spot where, later, the old market house
was erected. Mr. William Briscoe wrote a most amusing poem based upon this
order of the old town council.
3 Hite 's litigation with Lord Fairfax which began in 1736 was not decided
until 1786. The decision was finally in favor of Hite and those claiming under
him. In this controversy the right of the case was undoubtedly with Hite. While
the lands in dispute unquestionably fell within the boundaries of the Northern
Neck as fixed by the commission of 1745, yet Lord Fairfax, in accepting the
Eapidan as the southern boundary of his grant, agreed' that all crown grants made
prior to that date should be confirmed. This agreement was not kept, and his
litigation with Hite served in considerable measure to arrest the development of
the lower Valley.
William Russel, with whom Hite 's litigation was speedily settled, was a Horse
Shoe Knight, who came over with Gov. Spotswood from England in 1710, accom-
panied the Governor across the Blue Ridge in 1716.
In 1733 Lord Fairfax addressed a petition to the King, setting up his claims
to the lands in controversy. This resulted in an order in Council restraining the
Virginia Government from perfecting those grants until the boundaries of the
Northern Neck could be settled. This order is evidence that in 1734 forty families,
numbering about 250 persons, were settled on and near the Opequon in the vicinity
of Winchester.
By the year 1736 Hite and his partners had succeeded in settling 54 families
upon the tract, when Fairfax entered a caveat against the issuing of patents in
them. When the dispute between Fairfax and the Crown ended in 1745, Hite and
his associates claimed their patents, insisting that the Council orders for their lands
should be construed as grants within the meaning of the Act of 1748, which con-
firmed the grantees of the Crown in possession of their lands. This Fairfax re-
sisted, claiming that the only titles confirmed by that act were those cases in
which patents had actually been issued by the Crown. Hite and partners then
instituted a suit against Fairfax (in 1749). In October, 1771, a decree was entered
in favor of the plaintiffs. Fairfax appealed to the King in Council, but the
Revolution ended the appeal. The case was finally decided in the Virginia courts in
1786 in favor of Hite and his associates.
52
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Farther up the Shenandoah at " Belief ont," one mile from the site
of Staunton, John Lewis in 1732 established a first location in Augusta
county which at that time comprised all the undefined territory of
Virginia west of the Blue Ridge mountains. The issue of patents in
1736 brought to Augusta and Rockbridge from the lower Shenandoah
and from England a stream of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, some of
whom pushed their way with their descendants into the adjoining coun-
try known as Bath, Allegheny and Craig counties.
The descendants of these first settlers of the Shenandoah were
among the pioneers who later crossed the Alleghenies and established
homes in the valleys of the Monongahela, the Kanawha and the Ohio.
From the Shenandoah to the South Branch the advance was rapid —
unobstructed by difficult mountains adventurers and home-seekers could
either ascend the Potomac or take the shorter route across North Moun-
tain. As early as 1725 John Van Meter, an Indian trader from the
Hudson river, traversed the Upper Potomac and South Branch valleys.4
George Washington's Headquarters in 1747 as Boy Surveyor for
Lord Fairfax
In 1735 the first settlement in the valley of the South Branch was made
in what is now Hampshire county by four families named Cobun, How-
ard, Walker and Rutledge. A year afterwards Isaac Van Meter, Peter
Casey, the Pancakes, Foremans and others reared homes further up the
4 When Mr. VanMetre returned to New York he advised his sons, that if they
ever migrated to Virginia, to secure a part of the Soueh Branch bottom. He
described it as "The Trough," and the finest body of land he had ever seen. One
of his sons, Isaac VanMetre, who was about to migrate, took his father's advice, and
about the year 1736 or 1737, settled in Virginia. Mr. VanMetre returned to New
Jersey shortly afterward, and in 1740 came back, only to find other settlers on
his place. He went back to New Jersey again, and in 1744 returned with his
family to make a permanent settlement. Jn the meantime a large number had
settled in the neighborhood, and already much progress could be noted.
In 1763 many of them were giving their time and attention to rearing large
herds of horses, cattle, hogs, etc. Some of them became expert, hardy and ad-
venturous hunters, and depended chiefly for support and money making on the sale
of skins and furs. Considerable attention was given to the culture of the pea vine,
which grew abundantly late in the summer season.
The majority of the first immigrants were principally from Pennsylvania, com-
posed of native Germans or German extraction. A number, however, were direct
from Germany, and several from Maryland, New Jersey and New York. These
immigrants brought with them the religion, customs and habits of their ancestors.
They constituted three religious sects, viz. : Lutherans, Menonists and Calvanists,
with a few Tunkers, and were very strict in their worship.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 53
South Branch — some of them located within what is now Hardy county.5
By 1748 there were about 200 people along the entire course of the
stream.0
The expansion of settlements was influenced by conditions result-
ing from the great land grants owned by Lord Fairfax. In 1736 hear-
ing glowing accounts of the South Branch (from John Howard who
had gone via South Branch, crossed the Alleghenies and gone down
the Ohio), Fairfax ordered a survey of his boundary and soon began
to issue 99 year leases to tenants at the rate of $3.33 for each hundred
acres, and to sell land outright on a basis of an annual quit rent of
33 cents.
In 1747-48 following the erection of the Fairfax stone at the head
of the Potomac in 1746 much of the land within the Fairfax grant in
the South Branch country was surveyed by Washington and laid off
in quantities to suit purchasers. Nearly 300 tracts were surveyed in
the two years.7
5 All these settlements were at that time in Orange county (formed from Spotts-
sylvania in 1734) which extended to the "utmost limits of Virginia," including
in its boundaries all of what is now West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and
Illinois.
<s The Moorfield settlement became a center of later dispersions not only
upstream but also across the divide — especially by the MeCulloch trail later (about
1785-86) widened into a state road from Moorfield to the Potomac, and by the
branch trail known as the Horse shoe trail. Among its people who migrated to
the Ohio was Ebenezer Zane who began the settlement at Wheeling and later cut
' ' Zane 's Trace ' ' across southeastern Ohio and thereby determined the sites of
Zanesville, Lancaster and Chillicothe.
7 Lord Fairfax always considered himself a British subject, although he re-
mained quietly on his estate near Winchester during the revolution. His sympathies
with the royal cause were well known; and had he been an ordinary person he
would have been roughly treated by the patriots in the valley of Virginia. But
the great friendship that existed between him and General Washington saved him.
Out of respect for Washington, Fairfax was spared. But when Cornwallis sur-
rendered at Yorktown, October 19, 1781, Fairfax saw that all was over. It may
be said that it was his death blow. He took to his bed and never again left it,
dying soon after in his ninety-second year.
He never married and, of course, left no child to inherit his vast estate. All
his property, or the greater portion of it, was devised to his nephew in England,
the Rev. Denny Martin, on condition that he would apply to the Parliament of
Britain for an act to authorize him to take the name of Lord Fairfax. This was
done, and Denny, Lord Fairfax, like his uncle, never marrying, he devised the
estate to Gen. Philip Martin, who never marrying, and dying without issue, devised
the estate to two old maiden sisters, who sold it to Messrs. Marshall, Colston and Lee.
During the Revolution Virginia Legislature enacted laws against such an
estate as that of Fairfax. One of these laws against estates entail was proposed by
Thomas Jefferson as early as October, 1776. It abolished the system of perpetual
rents and favored estates in fee simple. Although it did not break up the Fairfax
estate at once it stopped the rent on land already sold. A later law confiscated
the estates of Tories.
At the close of the Revolution the Fairfax lands were confiscated by Virginia
and thrown open to settlement under the regulations for other state lands, and
in time they became the property of many farmers. The project for large manors
on South Branch and Patterson creek was never realized. In 1782 the Assembly
confiscated the claims of the Fairfax heirs, having previously declared invalid the
claims of the Vandalia and Indiana companies. In 1789 David Hunter received a
patent for lands which had formally belonged to Fairfax, but being refused pos-
session he brought suit in the court of Shenandoah county, which decided against
him in a decision which was later reversed by the Supreme Court of the state.
Later David Martin to whom Fairfax had bequeathed the right to the disputed
property appealed to the United States Supreme Court which sustained the lower
court of Shenandoah (1813) and in 1816 causing many to fear that the confiscation
of the Indiana and Vandalia claims might not prove a permanent settlement of
their title to western lands.
Lord Fairfax had an eye to money-making and resolved to realize as much
as possible from his property. His desire was to provide a perpetual income. It
amounted to the same thing as renting his land forever at a fixed yearly rental.
He required a small sum, usually two and one-half cents an acre, or even less, to
be paid down. He called this "composition money." He required a sum of
about an equal amount to be paid every year "on the feast day of Saint Michael
the Archangel." He did not always charge the same sum yearly per acre. He
was greedy and overbearing, and if a person settled and improved his lands
without title, and afterwards applied for title, he took advantage of it, and
charged him more, thinking he would pay it sooner than give up his improvements.
54 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Coincident with the surveys and sale of Lord Fairfax's land on the
lower South Branch many frontiersmen — not approving the English
practice wanted full title in fee — pushed higher up the Shenandoah
and South Branch valleys. New settlements crept up the South Branch
into regions now included in Pendleton county, whose triple valleys
had already been visited by hunters and prospectors — one of whom had
built a cabin about 1745 a half mile below the site of Brandywine. In
1746-47 Robert Green of Culpeper entered several tracts giving him a
monopoly of nearly 30 miles of the best soil. In 1747 he gave deeds of
purchase to six families who were probably the first bona fide settlers
of Pendleton. In 1753 there was a sudden wave of new immigration
and four years later the territory now included in Pendleton had a
population of 200 — equally divided between the South Branch and the
South Fork, and most numerous toward the Upper Tract- and Dyer
settlement. The earlier settlers in the region now occupied by Hamp-
shire and Hardy counties included Dutch and Germans and Irish and
Scotch and English. The territory included in Pendleton was largely
settled by Germans from the Shenandoah.
Considering the needs of the South Branch region, the Assembly
in 1754 made provision for the formation of the new county of Hamp-
shire from the territory of Frederick and Augusta with boundaries
extending westward to the "utmost parts of Virginia." The county
was organized in 1757. The presiding justice of the first county court
was Thomas Bryan Martin, a nephew of Lord Fairfax. Romney was
established by law in 1762 (by Fairfax).
In the meantime, to meet the exigencies of the expansion of west-
ern settlers, commissioners of Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland in
1744 negotiated with the Six Nations (at Lancaster, Pennsylvania), a
treaty by which for 400 pounds they ceded to the English all the region
between the Alleghenies and the Ohio. Settlements were delayed, how-
ever, first by the barrier of the Alleghenies and later by the uninvit-
ing character of narrow defiles and dense wilderness, and uncleared
valleys beyond, which furnished ample cover for treacherous Indians
opposed to the adventurous pioneers seeking to penetrate the wild hunt-
ing grounds.
The first direct stimulus to settlement farther west came from the
earlier settlements established about 1732 on grants including the site
of Winchester and the site of Staunton. Following the expansion of
settlements up the Shenandoah and the James, the most adventurous
settlers following the hunters began to push their way across the divide
to the New river and then farther west to lands now included in West
Virginia. A century before the establishment of permanent settle-
ments, the New river region of West Virginia westward to Kanawha
Falls was visited by a party of Virginians under Captain Thomas Batts
with a commission from the General Assembly "for the finding out the
ebbing and flowing of ye South Sea." The earliest settlements in the
New river region of West Virginia had their bases in the earlier settle-
ment of 1748 by the Ingles, Drapers and others at Drapers Meadows
(later known as Smithfield near Blacksburg, Virginia) and were pos-
sibly also influenced by the settlement of 1749 by Adam Harman near
the mouth of Sinking creek (Eggleston's Spring, Giles county) and
the neighboring settlement made by Philip Lybrook in 1750. They
received their direct incentive from the report of Christopher Gist who
in returning from his Ohio exploring expedition of 1750 passed down
the Bluestone valley and crossed the New river a short distance below
In making these early deeds it was stipulated that the person who bought
should "never kill elk, deer, buffalo, beaver or other game," without the consent
of Fairfax or his heirs.
Land along the South Branch in those days was not so valuable as at present;
yet it found ready sale. Four hundred acres, near Moorefield, sold for one hundred
and twenty-five dollars in 1758. Under the British rule the land all belonged to
Fairfax, and all who occupied it must pay him perpetual rent. No man could
feel that he absolutely owned his own land.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 55
the mouth of Indian creek at Crump's Bottom (in Summers county).
In 1753 Andrew Culbertson induced by fear of the Indians to leave
his home near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, journeyed via the settle-
ments in Montgomery and Giles county to Crump's Bottom. A year
later Thomas Farley obtained the Culbertson tract and erected a fort
at Warford farther west. Around the scattered settlements several
others were begun in the same year. Pioneers from Pennsylvania came
both by the James and by the South Branch and Greenbrier rivers.
The discovery of the Greenbrier by a lunatic citizen of Frederick
county in 1749, excited the enterprise of two men from New England,
Jacob Marlin and Stephen Sewell, who took up residence upon the
Greenbrier where they were found in 1751 by General Andrew Lewis,
agent of the Greenbrier Land Company which had obtained a grant of
100,000 acres of land of which about 50,000 acres was surveyed by
1755 when operations stopped until about the close of the French and
Indian war (after which they were renewed in spite of the King's
Proclamation).
The earliest incentive to actual occupation in the Monongahela and
Ohio region was furnished in 1748 by the formation of the Ohio com-
pany which received from George II a grant of 500,000 acres along
the Ohio between the Monongahela and the Kanawha and which planned
settlements by which to divert the Indian trade from Pennsylvania.
Plans for settlement by Germans from Pennsylvania were prevented by
Virginia's law against dissenter.8 Four years later, transmontane set-
tlements were encouraged by the house of burgesses through an offer
of tax exemption for ten years.
Many of the first settlers, west of the mountains considered the soils
of the region nonsupporting and intended to remain only until the
game should be exhausted.
Daring frontiersmen began to seek trans-Allegheny homes farther
north. The earliest attempts at settlement along the waters of the
Monongahela were made by David Tygart and Robert Foyle on Tygart's
Valley river (in Randolph) in 1753, by Thomas Eckarly and his brothers
on Cheat at Dunkard's Bottom (in Preston) in 1754 and by Thomas
Decker and others near the mouth of Deckers creek (in Monongahela)
in 1758. Permanent settlements were not made until after the close
of the French and Indian war, and until the treaty negotiated with
Pontiac at the forks of the Muskingum by General Bouquet rendered
peace on the border more certain.
The center of the region which in 1754 (at the formation of Hamp-
shire county) contained the pioneer settlers of West Virginia may be
indicated by an irregular line drawn from the Blue Ridge through
Harpers Ferry, Charleston, Martinsburg, Berkeley Springs, Romney,
Moorefield, Petersburg, Upper Tract and Franklin, Marlinton, and
thence down the Greenbrier and through Monroe county to Peters
Mountain. The total population has been estimated at 10,000 whites
and 400 blacks.
Soon after the Lancaster treaty of 1744, by which the Iroquois
granted to the English the control of the region north of the Ohio, a
small number of pioneer farmers made at Draper's Meadows (upon New
river) the first permanent English settlement on waters flowing into
the Ohio — a settlement which prepared the way for the later first set-
tlements on the Middle New in the territory which is now a part of
West Virginia.
For nearly a quarter of a century civilization halted at the eastern
8 In 1751 the Ohio company desiring to obtain an additional grant for the
region between the Great Kanawha and the Monongahela sent Christopher Gist
to make explorations along the Ohio. After Gist made his report in 1752, the
company petitioned the King for the grant and for permission to form a separate
government in the region between the Alleghenies and the Ohio. After years of
waiting and negotiation, the Ohio and Warpole companies were merged into the
Grand Ohio Company, which continued the efforts to secure the formation of the
proposed province of Vandalia with its capital at the mouth of the Great Kanawha.
56 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
base of the trackless Alleghenies in the valleys west of the South Branch
country. There the frontiersmen toiled in clearings and gained strength
to force the barrier which for a time stopped their advance to lands of
another drainage system. Gradually their interest in the trans-Alle-
gheny region was quickened through information brought by a few
daring traders, adventurers or explorers.
By 1749 the preparation for a new advance was illustrated in the
formation of the Ohio company and the Greenbrier company. In
that year also two men, Jacob Marlin and Stephen Sewell, the first
trans-Allegheny pioneers, were occupying a cabin in the wilderness on
the Greenbrier (near the site of Marlinton, West Virginia), near a
branch of the old Iroquois war path from New York to the headwaters
of the Tennessee. In 1751 John Lewis and Andrew Lewis reached the
Greenbrier to survey land. By 1753 Robert Files and Dayid Tygart
with their families had settled in Tygarts Valley near the Seneca war
path — Files having built a cabin at the site of Beverly on the creek that
bears his name, and Tygart three miles above on the river that bears
his name. About the same time three men named Eckarly, members
of the Dunkards religious organization, and hiding in the woods to
escape military duty, built a cabin on Cheat river (on Dunkard Bot-
tom) near the old Catawba war path and two miles from the site of
Kingwood on land still claimed by the Iroquois Indians.
These settlements were on territory which the settlers had no legal
right to occupy. Both those on Tygarts and that on Cheat were soon
broken up by the Indians. The entire Files family was murdered.
Tygart, being warned, fled eastward with his family, crossed the Alle-
ghanies by an obscure path (probably the Fishing hawk trail) and
reached settlements in Pendleton county. Two of the Eckarlys were
killed but one was absent and escaped.
Meantime the colonization schemes of the Greenbrier company and
the Ohio company had. failed, partly through fear of the Indians and
partly through failure to attract German protestant immigrants from
eastern Pennsylvania. The German protestants, with whom the Ohio
company had arranged for settlement in the territory between the
Monongahela and the Kanawha, learning that they would be subject
to extra taxes laid on dissenters from the English church in Virginia,
refused to go. In 1752 the Virginia House of Burgesses attempted to
encourage trans-Allegheny settlements by an offer of ten years' exemp-
tion from taxes to all protestant settlers in that region, but under the
changed conditions existing two or three years later, protestants doubt-
less preferred to pay their taxes in the East than to risk exemptions in
the West.
CHAPTER VI
THE STRUGGLE FOR TRANS-ALLEGHENY CONTROL
The beginning of West Virginia history is closely associated with the
final struggle between France and England for control in North
America. It is especially connected with the Anglo-French struggle
for control of the Upper Ohio valley into which the hunters, trappers,
fur traders of Pennsylvania and Virginia were venturing by scores
through the passes of the Blue Ridge and the Alleghenies by the middle
of the Eighteenth century — a region which France had long considered
her own. These adventurous borderers of the upland, frequently forced
westward in search of new lands, understood the situation far better
than the inhabitants of the tide water region of the middle colonies.
They were the advance agents of British occupation, few in number
at first, and frequently obliged to suspend their operations on the farther
frontier and to fall back upon the border line of settlement distinguished
by log cabins of men who were raising horses, cattle, sheep and hogs,
or even farther back to the region occupied by the small, rough hold-
ings of the border farmers.
These frontiersmen, clad in primitive costume which was partly
borrowed from the Indian, were rough in manners and speech, crude
and unlettered, but among them were some of superior caliber who
in time of great public need naturally assumed leadership and exercised
an elevating influence on their fellow-frontiersmen.
Many of these borderers who sought new and cheap lands which
could be found upon the western frontier were Ulster Scotch-Irish who
had emigrated in large numbers from northeast Ireland to America
during the first half of the Eighteenth century, especially settling in
Pennsylvania and in the Carolinas.
Gradually, as the pressure upon available land became greater, the
younger generations of Pennsylvania Scotch-Irish moved southwestward
through the troughs of the Alleghenies, either tarrying on the upper
waters of the Potomac and the South Branch or pressing on to the deep
and fertile valleys of southwest Virginia and North Carolina.
These Ulster bordennen, easily developing into expert Indian fighters,
formed, with the English colonial adventurers and Protestant Germans
who commingled with them, a highly important factor in the coming bat-
tles for English supremacy in the new land beyond the mountains.
The territorial claims of England and France were in conflict west
of the Alleghenies. There had never been any commonly recognized
boundaries. Under colonial charters, the English had a basis of claim
to all the interior westward to the Pacific, although France, after 1700,
was willing to allow them only the Atlantic slope to the Appalachians.
In June, 1744, taking advantage of a clause of the treaty of Utrecht
(1713), in which France acknowledged the suzerainty of the British
king over the Iroquois Confederacy, the English obtained from the
Iroquois at a great council held at the Pennsylvania outpost of Lan-
caster a grant of the entire control of the Ohio valley north of the river
which the Iroquois claimed by conquest in previous encounters with
the Shawnee. This grant became a chief corner-stone upon which the
English based their pretensions to the West. Soon thereafter a small
group of agricultural frontiersmen in the neighboring valley of Vir-
ginia made a settlement at Draper's Meadows (upon New river), the
first permanent settlement of the English upon westward-flowing waters.
57
58 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Soon thereafter prominent Virginians recognizing a Virginian claim
to the "Northwest" line mentioned in an early charter, planned to
secure an advantage in the West over Pennsylvania which, because
of internal dissensions, had been slow in taking steps to settle the Ohio
basin. In May, 1749, they secured from the British king a charter
for the Ohio Company which was formed for fur trading and coloniz-
ing purposes in the region west of the mountains. By the terms of
this charter, they obtained a half million acres south of the Ohio and
along the Ohio — "which lands are his Majesty's undoubted right by
the treaty of Lancaster and subsequent treaties at Logstown" (on the
Ohio west of Pittsburgh). In return for this grant they agreed to
build a fort on the Ohio and to plant on their lands 100 families within
seven years. Meantime, France was taking steps to strengthen her
claim. In 1749, a French reconnaissance force under Celeron de Bien-
ville obtained from the fickle Iroquois admittance through the Chau-
tauqua gateway and proceeded to drive out the English traders and
to take possession by planting leaden plates at the mouths of the prin-
cipal streams tributary to the Ohio. The governor of New France
planned for the immigration of 10,000 French peasants to settle the
region before the English agricultural pioneers could reach it.
The English quickly replied to the report that France was propos-
ing to construct a line of posts along the Ohio from its headwaters to
its mouth. The Ohio Company promptly sent Christopher Gist (in
1750) to explore the country to the falls of the Ohio (now Louisville),
to select lands for the Company, and to carry friendly messages to the
Shawnee. In 1750-51, he made explorations in territory now included
in the states of Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, and in western
Maryland and southwestern Pennsylvania, and met many Scotch-Irish
traders who were operating on the upper Miami, at Logstown on the
Ohio and at Venango on the Allegheny. On his return via the Ken-
tucky river and the Yadkin he made a favorable report which greatly
stimulated interest in the West. In 1752, after accompanying Col.
Joshua Fry to Logstown on a mission to conciliate the Indians, he built
a cabin (still standing) near the site of the present town of Connells-
ville, Pennsylvania. There Washington found him in 1753.
Meantime the Company took another step toward occupation by con-
structing a fortified trading house at Wills creek (now Cumberland,
Maryland), and by securing the aid of Colonel Thomas Cresap and an
Indian named Nemacolin in blazing a trail 60 miles long over the
Laurel watershed to the mouth of Redstone creek (now Brownsville,
Pennsylvania) on the Monongahela where another stockade was soon
built (1752). Over this famous historic path came a few daring Vir-
ginia settlers to plant themselves on the Monongahela which had become
a river of strategic importance in connection with the French claim to
the summits of the Appalachians.
The French made the next move. In the spring of 1753 while the
Virginians lost time in debating, French authorities built Fort Le Boeuf
upon a tributary of the Allegheny to protect the portage rout south-
ward from the French fort at Presq'Isle, and soon sent a small detach-
ment which seized the English trading post at Venango at the mouth
of the Allegheny tributary.
In November (1753) the Virginia governor, Dinwiddie, sent Major
George Washington (who took Gist as his guide) to remonstrate against
the French occupation of this region. Late in 1753, after considerable
haggling with his Assembly (which had no love for the Ohio Company),
he decided to force matters by sending a small body of men under Capt.
William Trent of Hampshire county to build a log fort at the forks of
the Ohio.
In January, 1754, he decided to send a larger body of men under
the command of Washington to protect Trent and to resist any at-
tempts of the French. In order to stimulate enlistment, he offered
200,000 acres of land on the Ohio to be divided among the men and
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 59
the officers. In February he was finally able to persuade the deputies
to vote supplies for the enterprise — a slender allowance of 10,000
pounds. On March 31, Washington, with 300 Virginia frontiersmen,
started to the Monongahela. At Wills creek, lie met Trent and his
company of men who, after beginning a stockade at the forks, had been
compelled to surrender on April 17 by a force of French and Indians
numbering over 300 persons. Continuing his march westward upon
the over-mountain path with a determination to hold the strategic point
from which Trent and his troops had been expelled, he arrived late in
May at Great Meadows which he selected as his military base.
On May 28, while leading a scouting party, he stumbled upon Jumon-
ville who was suspiciously haunting his path. He promptly attacked
and routed the enemy in a brief engagement which quickly precipi-
tated a general conflagration. To protect himself against an avenging
expedition from Ft. Duquesne which was proceeding in boats up the
Monongahela to Redstone creek, he withdrew to Great Meadows and
erected Fort Necessity where, after a desperate siege on July 3, by
French and savages aggregating double his number, he signed articles
of capitulation, in the midst of a fierce thunderstorm and, at day-
break on July 4, marched out over Nemacolin's path toward Wills
creek.
The defeat, attributed by Governor Dinwiddie to the delay of the
Assembly in voting the money for the expedition, resulted in the with-
drawal of practically all the British traders and pioneers from the
trans-Allegheny region to the older settlements, leaving France once
more in complete possession of the West.
Dinwiddie, strongly impressed with the gravity of the situation, and
perceiving that a crisis was at hand, persistently appealed to the British
authorities for assistance to regain the western country from France,
and finally was able to secure two Irish regiments of 500 men each
under the leadership of General Edward Braddock who arrived at
Alexandria, Virginia, with his regiments near the end of March, 1755.
At Braddock 's camp there was held, on April 14, a conference between
the governor of Virginia and four other colonial governors. After
considerable delay in discussing the best route to the Monongahela and
in obtaining wagons from Pennsylvania for the expedition, Braddock
pushed west through Frederick, Maryland, to the Potomac at Williams-
port, and, in order to obtain a satisfactory road, crossed the Potomac
and marched nearly due south to Winchester, and from that point fol-
lowed the road through Hampshire county across the Potomac at the
mouth of Little Capon river and from that point followed the Potomac
to Wills creek (Fort Cumberland) which was reached on May 10. Here
he wasted a month waiting for his cannon and in arranging for Indian
scouts to lead his army through the almost unbroken wilderness beyond.
On June 10, he started to cross the divide. Finding that the old
Nemacolin path (Washington's old road) was fit only for footmen and
pack-horses, he set 300 axemen to work to widen the road for artillery
and transport wagons. In reply to those who urged greater progress
by making a temporary road, he insisted upon the importance of a per-
manent highway for the future and directed that streams and ravines
should be bridged and hillsides graded. In eight days he advanced
only 30 miles. Although he moved westward at the rate of only five
miles a day, he opened across the Alleghenies a good wagon road over
which the Star of Empire later moved westward.
Sixteen days after he left Cumberland, acting upon the advice of
Washington, he pushed forward toward Fort Duquesne a part of his
force, 1,200 men, with a few cannon and wagons and pack-horses, leav-
ing Colonel Dunbar to follow at a slower pace with the heavy baggage
and the reserves. On July 8, at the mouth of Turtle creek, a tributaiy
of the Monongahela, eight miles from Fort Duquesne, he reached the
fatal ravine where he was flanked on both sides by the French and their
allies and defeated with heavy losses.
60 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Leaving the dead nnburied, the retreating army fled rapidly in the
direction of Fort Cumberland, led by Colonel Washington. On the
route, Braddock died from his wounds received in the battle, and was
buried near Fort Necessity. Dunbar, who had camped on the Laurel
hills, destroyed his valuable stores following the panic which resulted
from the news of the disaster, and joined in the disorderly flight to
Fort Cumberland. Among his fleeing wagonners, riding a horse whose
traces he had cut, was young Daniel Boone, later famous as a frontiers-
man.
The disaster was complete. It was a momentous crisis in the border
settlements of western Virginia. Every frontier settlement was in im-
mediate danger. Both settlers and traders withdrew promptly from
the trans-Allegheny region.
Contrary to expectations, however, the French and Indians did not
pursue immediately, but, becoming panic-stricken in their fear of ven-
geance, fled to Fort Duquesne almost as fast as the British and Vir-
ginians retreated over the ill-fated path of Nemacolin. After the
celebration of their victory they formed small parties to attack the
English settlements. Before winter they were in absolute control of
the trans-Allegheny country — a control which they retained for three
years. Braddock 's road, which had been cut through the wilderness
with so much labor, furnished a convenient pathway for French at-
tacks on the English border.
Some idea of the conditions may be obtained from the following
extracts from a journal kept by Col. Chas. Lewis while marching to
Fort Cumberland to defend the frontier against the Indians after the
defeat of General Braddock in 1755 :
Oct. 20. — We left Winchester under the command of Majr. Andrew Lewis
and marched 10 miles to Capt. Smiths a very remarkable man. I was this day
appointed Capt. over 41 men of different Companies. A remarkable dispute be-
tween Lieut. Steinbergen and an Irish woman. — 10 Miles.
21st. — Marched from Capt. Smiths & crossed great Cape Capon, a beautiful
prospect & the best land I ever yet saw. We encamped this night on the top of a
mountain. The roads were by far the worst this day and our march was for
that reason but 13 miles. Our men never the less were in high spirits, about 8
o 'clock this night a soldiers musket went off in the middle of our encampment
without any damage.
22d. — This day we marched from Sandy To]) Mountain to Little Cape Capon,
the land very good. We encamped this night at a poor mans house entirely for-
saken, the people drove off by the Indians, we found here a plenty of corn, oats,
stock of all kinds, even the goods & furniture of the house were left behind. This
night about 9 o'clock we were joined by the Honble. Coll. George Washington and
Capt. George Mercer A. D. C. — 15 M.
23. — Very bad weather, snow, rain, we marched very slow today & arrived
at the South Branch where we encamped at a house on the Branch, having come
up with Coll. Washington, Capt. George Mercer A. D. C. — 9 Miles. Very ill na-
tured people here.
24. — A very wet day, we marched to Patterson Creek on which we encamped in
a house deserted. We found here good corn, wheat & pasturage. Before we
marched we discharged our pieces being wet, and charged them in expectation of
seeing the Enemy. Coll. Washington marched before with Capt. Ashby's Company
of rangers. — 14 Miles.
25. — Marched from Patterson Creek & passed many deserted houses. I was
this day very curious in the examination of the mischief done in the houses & was
shocked at the havoc made by the barbarous & cruel Indians. At one Mecraggins I
found the master of the family who had been buried but slightly by his friends
after his assassination, half out of the grave & eaten by the wolves, the house
burnt, the corn field laid wastej & an entire ruin made. At half after six we
arrived at Fort Cumberland cold and hungry. We had this day by Maj. Lewis'
order two women ducked for robbing the deserted houses. — 20 Miles.
31st. — An Irishman arrived at the Fort with two scalps, it seems he was the
Sunday before taken prisoner by a party of 52 Indians and being left in custody
of two while the party proceeded towards the inhabitants, he with his guard arrived
at the Shanoe Camp.
Nov. 2. — Ensign Bacon arrived at the Fort from Pattersons Creek, where he
had been to erect a fort. On his way he heard the Indian hollow & saw many
tracks of Indians in the woods, this alarmed the Fort but being late 'twas not
possible to send out a party, but orders were given for a hundred men to parade
in the morning under Capt. Waggoner.
21st. — A very bad morning, it still continuing to rain. A party of one hun-
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 61
dreil men paraded under Capt. Waggoner to search for the Indians on Pattersons
creek according to Ensign Bacons information of the day before. Ma.j. Andrew
Lewis & myself went volunteers on this command we returned the same day with
the party, no Indians or tracks of Indians to be seen.
Dec. 5th — This morning we marched for Fort Cumberland and met about five
miles from Crissips a relief commanded by Lieutenant Lynn of twelve men, we
accepted of this relief and gave up our command to Mr. Lynn according to order.
6. — Five deserters were this day punished each receiving one thousand lashes.
In this last command I may with the greatest truth aver that I saw the most
horrid shocking sight, I ever yet beheld, at a house adjoining the cornfield in
which our soldiers were employed iu gathering corn, we saw the bodies of three
different people who were first massacred, then scalped, and after thrown into a
fire, these bodies were not yet quite consumed, but the flesh on many part of them,
we saw the clothes of these people yet bloody, and the stakes, the instruments of
their death still bloody & their brains sticking on them, the orchards all down,
the mills all destroyed and a waste of all manner of household goods. These people
were in my opinion very industrious, having the best corn I ever saw and their
plantation well calculated for produce and every other cpnvcniency suitable to
the station of a farmer.
In the period of uncertainty which followed Braddock's defeat,
Washington stood out as the guardian of the West. In measures for
defense of the exposed frontiers, he was the ehoice of Governor Din-
widdie who recommended the chain of forts along the Alleghenies
from the head of the Potomac to the Holston river. For the protec-
tion of 350 miles of open border, he had under his command less than
1,500 men, including many expert riflemen, but a turbulent and un-
disciplined soldiery, without uniforms, electing their own officers, fixing
their own terms of enlistment and proudly disdaining all manifesta-
tions of authority which did not appeal to their individual judgments.
His laborious task was a thankless one. His plans were restricted by
the irritable and jealous Virginia Assembly which granted stores with
tardiness and insufficiency and also by the frontiersmen themselves
who had to be fairly driven into the unpopular service by means of the
draft. Strongly feeling the obligation which rested upon him, he
continued to pelt the governor, the Assembly and other influential men
with letters appealing for necessary assistance.
Recognizing the difficulty of redeeming western Virginia by a new
expedition to the Mononhagela, Virginia, in the winter of 1755, planned
an expedition by route farther south to strike a blow against the Shaw-
nee towns in Ohio.1 This was the first English military expedition to
the waters of the Ohio south of Pittsburgh. The expedition, consisting
of about 350 men under command of Andrew Lewis, started February
18, 1756, from Fort Frederick in Augusta county, passed down New
river and through the Drapers Meadows and by a difficult route through
the woods with plans to reach the Indians beyond the mouth of Big
Sandy. The route was partly through West Virginia, apparently by
way of Tug Fork, and crossed into Kentucky near the mouth of Big
Sandy. For some reason, possibly because of the loss of supplies in
crossing the river and partly as a result of the cold weather the ex-
pedition turned back and was broken up by desertions before its return,
many members perishing from cold and hunger. Its failure probably
encouraged new Indian assaults and foraging.
Under the skillful supervision of Washington, the Virginia and Caro-
lina borderers erected beyond the main settlements a line of stockaded
block-houses at strategic points usually determined by the principal
mountain passes. Among the most important affecting western Vir-
ginia were: Fort Ligonier on the Loyalhanua (in Pennsylvania), Fort
Cumberland on the Upper Potomac, Fort Chiswell on the gentle slopes
i This expedition probably resulted in part from a recent Indian invasion on
the upper New river. On the day before Braddock's defeat the Shawnese com-
pletely destroyed the Ingles-Draper settlement and escaped with their prisoners,
crossing the New above the mouth of Bluestone and from thence passing over the
northeast extension of Flat Top and via the site of Beckley over the trail to the
head of Paint creek and thence down the Kanawha. After the return of Mrs. Ingles,
measures were adopted by Governor Dinwiddie to defend the frontier.
62 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
of the Valley of Virginia, Port Byrd on the upper Holston, and Fort
Loudoun on the Little Tennessee. Around these log strongholds, which
became famous in border story, raged a long contest of fierce and bloody
warfare while the larger operations of the war were being conducted
farther north. The importance of this border contest was its aid in re-
taining the Ohio valley which really was the key to the situation.
In addition to these important stockades many smaller forts were
used as places of refuge but they were inadequate for the security of
settlers. The following is a list of those built in the important settle-
ments within the territory east of the mountains which is now a part
of West Virginia :
Port Ohio, built in 1750 as a frontier storehouse of the Ohio Company,
near the site of Ridgely (Mineral county) on the route later known as Mc-
Culloch 's path.
Sellers fort, built in 1756, at the mouth of Patterson Creek (Mineral
county) ;
Ashby's Port, built in 1755, on Patterson's Creek (near Frankfort,
Mineral county) about 25 miles from Fort Cumberland;
Fort Williams, six miles below Romney;
Furman Fort, on the South Branch, three miles below Eomney;
Fort Pearsall, built in 1755 on the South Branch, near the site of Eomney;
Fort Buttermilk (sometimes called Fort Waggoner), built in 1756 on
the South Branch three miles above Moorefleld;
Fort Pleasant, at Old Fields (near Moorefleld) on the South Branch;
George 's Fort, in the vicinity of Petersburg ;
Fort Hopewell, on North Fork about six miles above Petersburg;
Fort Pearson (or Peterson), built in the fall of 1756 near the mouth of
Mill Creek (Grant county) ;
Fort Upper Tract, erected in 1756, west of the South Branch near Fort
Seybert ;
Fort Seybert, on the South Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac
(twelve miles northeast of Franklin (Pendleton county) ;
Ruddell's Fort (Riddle's) built in 1755 on Lost River (Hardy county);
Fort Warden, near the site of Wardensville (in Hardy county);
Fort Cox, built in 1755 on land of Friend Cox at the mouth of the Little
Capon river;
Fort Maidstone, built in 1755 or 1756 near the mouth of Capon;
Fort Capon, at the forks of Capon in the Great Cacapon valley;
Fort Edwards, near the present village of Capon Bridge;
Hedges' Fort, on Black Creek (west of Martinsburg) ;
Fort Evans, two miles south of Martinsburg;
Fort Neally, on Opequon Creek.
Fort Duquesne was a central hive from which savages swarmed to
attack the Pennsylvania and Virginia settlers east of the mountains.
It furnished the inspiration and the sinews of war to Indians of the
Ohio region who followed the trails across western Virginia to attack
the settlers of the South Branch county and those on the Potomac. In
1756 parties of Indians made unsuccessful attacks in Hardy county (on
Lost river), and others committed depredations near the site of Martins-
burg. In the battle of the Trough (near Moorefleld) they killed many
settlers. In 1757 another party, many of which were mounted on stolen
horses, almost annihilated a company under command of Captain Mer-
cer at Capon river, in Hampshire county. For two years bands of
warriors under Kilbuck hung about the settlements on the upper Po-
tomac. In 1758 they invaded Pendleton county via the old Seneca war
path and surprised and burned the fort at Upper Tract, killing every
occupant. Then they appeared before Fort Seybert on the South Fork
(Moorefleld river) and after inducing the occupants to surrender, mas-
sacred all except a girl who escaped and one boy, James Dyer, who was
carried into captivity. After burning the houses they retreated via
Greenwalt Gap and the Seneca war path. Many of the backwoodsmen,
uncertain of their security, retired to the Shenandoah or farther east,
leaving their house unprotected from the Indians' torch.
Finally, after a period of defeat and humiliation, important events
turned the scale of war. In England, a master of organization in the
person of William Pitt was placed in control and in the winter of 1757-58
he prepared for victory by using his substantial parliamentary majority
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 63
to equip the dogs of war. In Pennsylvania too, preparation was made
for greater efficiency in fighting. After Braddock's defeat and the
resulting attack of the Indians upon the unprotected frontier settlements,
whose settlers had been unable to induce the peaceful legislature to pro-
vide them with powder and lead and other warlike stores, the Quakers,
who had always opposed appropriations for war or even the establish-
ment of militia for self-defense, found themselves in a very embarrassing
situation. Threatened with expulsion, in 1756 they voluntarily a7id
public spiritedly retired to private life and patriotically allowed Scotch-
Irishmen to be elected to the legislature in their places. Such a patriotic
act of political disinterestedness, has seldom been paralleled in the history
of legislative bodies. To the Scotch-Irish in no small degree was due
the result of the final contest against the French in western Pennsylvania.
They had no conscientious scruples against prosecution of war or the
voting of a strong militia act for defense. Under the changed conditions,
with Scotch-Irishmen in the lead, the legislature voted needed supplies
of war for an expedition to recover the Monongahela and the Ohio.
Immediately after the retreat of Braddock's army, Washington had
begun the agitation for an attack upon the French strongheld at Fort
Duquesne, feeling the futility of waiting on the frontiers to be attacked.
In 1756 and again in 1757, he urged the necessity of sending an expedi-
tion over the Alleghanies to drive the French from the Monongahela
and the Ohio. In 1758 he was gratified at the decision in favor of a
movement to execute his recommendations. Under the new British plans
of offense, Brigadier John Forbes, with 1,900 regulars (including 1,200
Scotch Highlanders) and 5,000 provincials was ordered to recapture
Fort Duquesne and to repair the loss occasioned by Braddock's tragic
failure.
Virginia and Pennsylvania decided to stand together in a common
effort to drive the French from the Ohio. But what route should be
used in crossing the Alleghanies? At first Forbes selected Williamsport,
Maryland, as his base but following some advice from John St. Clair
he changed his original plan and made Raystown (Bedford, Pennsyl-
vania) his base of supplies. Apparently, however, he planned for a
while to march by way of Carlisle and Bedford to Fort Cumberland
with a plan to use Braddock's road from that point to the Monongahela.
He planned to cut a road from Bedford to Fort Cumberland in May,
1858, when he ordered Washington's regiment to Fort Cumberland.
Washington fully expected that Braddock's road would be cleared for
use and in July wrote to Bouquet suggesting that Virginian troops should
be ordered to proceed to Great Crossings and construct forts there, but
he found Colonel Bouquet unalterably fixed on a new route to the Ohio
from Bedford. Although Washington was prejudiced in favor of the
Virginia route he gracefully accepted the final decision in favor of the
new rival route, led the Virginians northward over the newly cut road
to Fort Bedford, plunged westward to the Loyalhannon and himself
supervised the cutting of Forbes' road westward from Fort Ligonier
toward Hannastown (Greensburg) and Fort Duquesne.
Washington, at the head of the Virginians, put new life into the
expedition. He desired to push forward more rapidly. When the
expedition reached Hannastown (on November 5, 1758) after fifty days
had been spent in opening fifty miles of road, he was surprised to learn
that General Forbes, who was so sick that he could not walk, had de-
cided to stop the advance and go into winter quarters. Fortunately,
however, following the arrival of news that the French garrison at
Fort Duquesne was not in a condition for resistance, he was sent forward
with 2,500 men to attack. In five days he advanced from Hannastown
to a point within seventeen miles of the Ohio and on November 25 he
reached the fort, a pile of blackened ruins. The French, deciding not
to risk a fight, had burned their barracks and stores and scattered by
land and water, some down the Ohio (to Fort Massac), others to
Presq'Isle, and the commander with a small body guard to Fort Maehault,
the Venango of former years. Their retreat to Canada was rendered
64 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
impracticable by the English control of Lake Ontario following the
capture of Port Frontenac.
The power of the French in the Ohio valley was ended. Their few
posts hundreds of miles further west were too remote to menace the
Virginia frontier. The fate of western Virginia no longer hung in the
balance. The way was cleared for the colonization which soon followed.
The race best suited to conquer the wilderness had won.
Settlements were threatened with delay, however, by two events
which followed the treaty of Paris of 1763 and put the patience of the
backwoodsmen to another test. The king, desiring to prevent conflicts
with the Indians, commanded his "loving subjects" not to purchase or
settle lands beyond the mountains "without our especial leave and
license." The Indians of the West, the unconquered allies of France,
were uripacified and, organized under the superior leadership of Pnntiac,
formed an active "conspiracy" to resist the Anglo-French treaty of
peace and to renew the war on their own account. The injunction of
the kins resulted in no great inconvenience to those who felt the call
of the West. Pontiac's war proved more inconvenient.
The seizure of English forts at Mackinac, Sandusky, St. Joseph and
at Ouiatanon (near Lafayette) on the Wabash resulted in a reign of
terror along the western frontier. Fortunately Detroit and Fort Pitt
successfully withstood the attacks made upon them. In measures for
defense on the upper Ohio, Virginia and Maryland were far more
active than Pennsylvania whose conduct was critized by General Am-
herst.
Pontiac's blow fell almost simultaneously at all points from Illinois
to the frontier of Virginia. In the reign of terror which followed, the
settlers fled from the frontiers for protection. They deserted the Green-
brier; they hurried to points east of the Alleghenies. More than five
hundred families from the frontiers took refuge at Winchester. The
Indians who prowled through western Virginia extended their raids
to the South Branch of the Potomac.
The Indians made a determined effort to take Fort Pitt. They tried
treachery, deception and direct assault. They dug holes in the river
bank, and burying themselves out of sight, kept up a fire for weeks,
they tried to set fire to the fort by shooting burning arrows upon the
roof. They offered the garrison safe passage across the mountains to
the settlements if it would agree to evacuate, they falsely represented
that resistance was useless. The commandant replied that he intended to
stay and that he had plenty of provisions and ammunition and that
additional armies were approaching to exterminate the Indians. Ap-
parently discouraged by this answer, the Indians for a time ceased to
push the siege vigorously. In July, however, they renewed the attack
with great fury. Finally on the last day of July, 1763, evidently ex-
pecting the arrival of General Bouquet from the East, they raised the
siege and disappeared.
Meantime General Bouquet was marching to the relief of Fort Pitt,
with five hundred men and a large train of supplies. As he marched
west from Cumberland he found the settlements broken up, the houses
burned, the grain unharvested, and desolation on every hand, showing
how relentless the savages had been in their determination to break up
the settlements. On August 2, 1763, he arrived at Fort Ligonier, which
had been besieged, but he found that the Indians had departed. Leaving
part of his stores there, he hastened forward toward Fort Pitt and on
the route his troops were attacked at Bushy run. After a desperate
battle which was closed by stratagem in causing the Indians to fall
into a trap, he marched forward to Fort Pitt and prepared to end the
war. Deciding that his force at that time" was not large enough to
enable him to invade the Indian country west of the Ohio, he proceeded
to collect about two thousand men. In the summer of 1764 he carried
the war into the enemy's country, and struck directly at the Indian
towns in order to bring the savages to terms. Before he had advanced
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 65
very far west of Pittsburgh, he learned that the tribes had resorted to
various devices to retard his advance and thwart his purposes. But he
proceeded rapidly, and with such caution and in such force that pre-
vented any danger of an attack by the alarmed Indians, who now fore-
saw the destruction of their towns and sent a delegation to ask for peace.
Although he signified his willingness to negotiate peace on condition
that the Indians surrender all white prisoners in their hands, he did
not halt in his advance to wait for a reply. Soon he was within striking
distance, and the Indians in order to save their towns and having learned
something from their defeat, promptly accepted his terms and delivered
over two hundred prisoners, a large number of whom were women and
children.
Finally in 1765, after the Indians had become wearied of their
confederacy and cowed by repeated defeats, the French induced Pontine
to sue for peace.
Thenceforth until the beginning of the Revolutionary war, westward
expansion beyond the mountains did not encounter more than customary
local opposition from a few tribesmen who jealously watched the passage
of the Appalachians.
Vol. 1—5
CHAPTER VII
ADVANCE GUARD OF THE TRANS-ALLEGHANY WEST
The successful outcome of the final English struggle against French
and Indians determined the destiny of the unsettled trans-AUeghany
territory which English frontiersmen desired to occupy, and opened the
way for permanent foundations of a great republic yet unborn. In
the ten years of peace which followed the peace of 1763 and the defeat of
Pontiac, the frontier line of settlements, disregarding the king's procla-
mation of 1763, 1 advanced across the Alleghanies and through the wil-
derness to the Ohio at an estimated average rate of seventeen miles per
year, until temporarily stopped by the Indian attacks of 1774.
The first settlers of trans-Alleghany Virginia came on foot or on
horseback by the trails or roads which usually followed old Indian paths.
For thirty years wagons were not used for travel or transportation across
the mountains. The two or three wagons that found their way into the
region after the close of the Revolutionary war, or soon thereafter, were
taken along by a slow and laborious process.
Two main routes of travel were opened in the contest for control
of the Ohio, but others farther south became important. Some had
already been used by early traders with the Indians.
Possibly as early as 1740 Virginians, Marylanders and Pennsylvanians
opened trade with the Indians of the Monongahela and in beginning
operations they consulted with Indians in regard to the easiest route
and chose the route later known as Nemacolin's path, leading from the
mouth of Wills creek (Cumberland, Maryland) to the "forks of the
Ohio" (Pittsburgh). This route was cleared and marked in 1750 under
the general direction of Colonel Thomas Cresap of Old Town, Maryland,
for the Ohio Company, by Nemaeolin, a Delaware- Indian residing at
the mouth of Dunlap's creek, which was first known as Nemacolin's creek.
Another early route was Dunlap's path leading from Winchester via
Wills creek to the mouth of Dunlap's creek. From the mouth of Wills
to the top of Laurel Hill, near the Great Rock, it was identical with that
of Nemaeolin. By Virginia statute of 1776, it had a temporary legal
existence as a part of the dividing line between the newly created
counties of Monongalia and Youghiogheny, but later it passed into
oblivion.
Another route, originally an Indian trail, much travelled by early
traders and adventurers, and used by Captain Trent in February, 1754,
on his way to the Monongahela, was the road opened by Colonel James
Burd in 1759 from the summit of Laurel Hill to the mouth of Redstone,
to facilitate communications from Virginia and Maryland to Fort Pitt by
use of river transportation. This road may be regarded as the extension
1 In the decade between the French and Indian war and the opening of the
Revolution, settlements could he made only in opposition to the policy of the
English government. Although Governor D'inwiddie in 1754 in order to encourage
volunteers to enter military service had set apart 100,000 acres along the Ohio to
be granted to soldiers, George III, desiring that the trans-Allegheny region should
remain a hunting ground for the Indians, or at least expecting to control the
later settlement and government of- the territory, on October 7, 1763, issued a
proclamation forbidding the colonists to grant warrants, surveys or patents in
the territory until it could be opened by treaties with the Indians — thus theoretically
extinguishing their titles to lands beyond the proclamation line. Two years later
he directed the governors of Virginia and Pennsylvania to remove by force all
settlers in that region — an order which was never executed in Virginia.
66
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 67
of Braddock's road to the nearest navigable water of the West, and it
probably led to some settlements between 1759 and 1703 in the vicinity
of the newly erected Fort Burd, at Redstone.
While Braddock's road was under construction across the moun-
tains, in June, 1755, another army road was begun by Pennsylvania,
under superintendence of Colonel James Burd and others, on a route
from Shippensburg via Raystown (Bedford) and the old Turkey Foot
settlement to intersect Braddock's at some convenient point — probably
at Great Crossings (Somerfield). At great cost and with much labor
it was opened to the top of the Alleghany mountains about eighteen
miles from Turkey Foot before the arrival of the alarming news of Brad-
dock's defeat and its opening was completed via Dunbar's camp to Union-
town several years after Forbes' expedition of 1758. It was called the
Turkey Foot road or Smith 's road.
Forbes' road was constructed in 1758 through Carlisle and Shippens-
burg to Raystown and thence via Ligonier and Hannastown (Greens-
burg) to the present site of Pittsburgh. To connect with it Washington
in the same year cut a direct road from Cumberland to Raystown.
From Bedford on the old Forbes' route, a western branch known as
the Pennsylvania road via Berlin, Connellsville to Uniontown and thence
to Redstone was subsequently established.
Meantime the combination of Braddock's and Dunlap's road became
known as the established Virginia road.
These two roads — the Pennsylvania and the Virginia — were the two
great emigrant and pack horse routes before 1800. They made Red-
stone a notable place for travel and trade principally for points on the
Ohio but also for higher points on the Monongahela in the present limits
of West Virginia. By 1796 the mouth of Dunlap's creek was a great
shipping place for mill stones made on Laurel hill.
McCulloch's path, an early Indian and traders' trail westward from
Winchester and Moorefield passed up Patterson's creek through Green-
land Gap; crossed the Alleghenies at Mount Storm (in Grant county,
West Virginia), led across Maryland on the general route of the North-
western turnpike to the Little Yough near the route of the B. & 0. rail-
way, across the Big Yough, through Herrington and Murley's Glades,
via the Crab Orchard across the Pennsylvania line into Fayette county
east of the summit of Laurel hill which it crossed at Wymp's Gap,
thence (passing slightly north of Morris' Cross Roads) to McCulloch's
old camp on the Monongahela between the mouth of Cheat and Neal's
Ferry. This trail was known to the people of the South Branch as
early as 1756. One branch of it reached Cheat river at Dunkard's Bot-
tom (three miles from Kingwood, Preston county), at which the first
permanent settlement was made in 1766. By 1784, this path eastward
from Dunkard's Bottom had become somewhat overgrown with briers,
but a new road from a lower point on Cheat (at Ice's Ferry near the
Pennsylvania line) ascended the Laurel hill north of Cheat, connected
with the main McCulloch path at the ford at James Spurgeon's on Sandy
creek (New Bruceton, Preston county), thence continued northeastward
via the crossing of the Youghiogheny (about fifteen miles from Spur-
geon's), and to Braddock's road. Branching from the McCulloch trail
at or near the present town of Gorman, in Grant county, a path crossed
the Allegheny mountain, or more properly the Backbone mountain,
near the Fairfax stone, thence reaching Cheat river at Horseshoe bend,
in Tucker county. This has been called the Horseshoe trail. William
Mayo knew of that trail as early as 1736, and probably followed it to
the waters of Cheat river. During the French and Indian war an escaped
prisoner, who was making his way home from Ohio, fell on the trail at
the Horseshoe bend, and followed it to the South Branch. Following
his directions, settlers took their way to Cheat river in 1766 and 1769
and located permanently. This was the trail followed by Simpson and
the Pringle brothers, the deserters from Fort Pitt, when they made their
way to the site of Buckhannon and Clarksburg, an account of which
G8 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
is found in Withers' Border Warfare. The path crossed Tygart's river
below Philippi and passed near Clarksburg. It was of great import-
ance in the early years of the settlement of the present counties of
Tucker, Barbour, Harrison and Upshur.
Twenty miles south of the Fairfax stone, the Shawnee (or Seneca)
1 rail .from the upper waters of the South Branch crossed the Alie-
ghanies to the waters of Cheat near the site of Harmon, thence passing
across the branches of Cheat above the mouth of Horse Camp creek,
near Elkins and Beverly and near Huttonsville. It was much nsed
by early settlers and became important for a century as the chief high-
way between the South Branch and Tygart's valley. Over it, travelled
hundreds of pack horses loaded with salt, iron, and other merchandise,
and many droves of cattle fattened for the eastern market. In the
Civil War it furnished an avenue of escape for a detachment of Con-
federates cut off from General Garnett's army at the battle of Rich
mountain, five miles west of Beverly, in 1861, and it was used by Imboden
and Jones in driving eastward the horses and cattle captured in their
great raid of 1863. Fifteen miles farther south the Fishingbawk trail
crossed the Allegheny mountain above the Sinks of Gauley, and crossing
Cheat river at the mouth of Fishinghawk creek, entered Tygart valley
at Beverly. The Tygart family fled east by that trail at the time of the
massacre on the site of Beverly in 1754.
Some fifteen miles further south another trail crossed the Alleghenies
from the head of the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac
to the waters of the Greenbrier river. It crossed the summit of the
main Allegheny mountain in Pocahontas on the route of the later Staun-
ton and Parkersburg turnpike, and passed near the flint mines at Crab
Bottom, in Highland county, Virginia, and Indians who went there for
flint no doubt made use of that path both east and west. It was much
used by early settlers in Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties.
Further south, connecting the Greenbrier valley with the East was
another trail. Over it marched the army led by General Lewis to Point
Pleasant in 1774. Many of the settlers in the Kanawha valley reached
the western country over that trail. It was also one of the highways to
Kentucky. In addition to the principal paths connecting the frontiers
with the East there were trails from settlement to settlement and from
house to house. Paths led also to hunting camps and elsewhere. So
numerous were these trails that a missionary who visited the settlements
of northern and central West Virginia about the close of the Revolu-
tionary war complained that it was with the greatest difficulty he could
get through the country at all.
In the new advance across the mountains, the Scotch-Irish pioneers
were especially prominent. They were the flying column of the nation,
both in gaining possession of the Ohio valley and finally in enforcing
the demand for the entire Mississippi valley. They had a long training
for their appointed mission. The society of pioneers which formed in
the beginning of the eighteenth century in the great valley of Pennsyl-
vania and its lateral extensions was the nursery of the American back-
woodsmen. By 1730 the tide of pioneers began to ascend the Shenandoah
from which it occupied Piedmont; and then, receiving new recruits
from the East, they passed over the mountains to the West ; and with
the wall of the Alleghenies between themselves and the East, and with
a new fire, the fire of militant expansion, put into their veins by the cross-
ing, they found new problems which aroused new ambitions.
The Scotch-Irish immigration westward across Pennsylvania from
the Susquehanna began somewhat later after a closer local acquaintance
with the German element. York county was erected 1749, the first county
west of the Susquehanna. Its first election precipitated a riot between
the German and Irish factions. This was followed by a proprietary
order preventing the further sales of York county land to the progressive
Irish. Thus a large number of the latter were encouraged to push north-
westward to the north or Kittatinnv vallev, a region which in 1750
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 69
was formed into Cumberland county, from which by later immigration
were formed several counties including Bedford in 1771, Franklin in
1784, and Mifflin in 1789. Those who remained behind in old York
county to participate in continued political controversy were finally,
in 1800, after a decade of bitter strife and contention, separated from
the stubborn German section of the county by the formation of Adams
county in which the happy Irish faction predominated. But as early
as 1757 the progressive Scotch-Irish began to move farther west and
were supplanted by the thrifty Germans who followed closely upon their
heels. •
It was the more southern wholesale Scotch-Irish migration, however,
which carried the Virginia frontier more rapidly toward the Ohio, thus
preparing the way for a larger national history. The advance of the
Virginians into the South Branch country, where Washington became
surveyor of the frontier estates of Lord Fairfax, served to hasten the
final struggle with France beyond the mountains. Looking down the
Monongahela, Virginia saw the gateway of the West and yearned to
possess it. In the crisis resulting from the French advance toward the
gateway, Dinwiddie sent Lord Fairfax's surveyor on the difficult journey
to warn the French against trespass. The encounter which followed
furnished a new opportunity for the Scotch-Irish2 and began a new
era in American history.
The people were determined to occupy the land without purchase
of Indian titles, and during the peace on the frontier from 1764 to 1774
proceeded first to secure tomahawk rights3 and soon thereafter to estab-
lish settlement rights — pushing the frontier to the Ohio and into Ken-
tucky. A tomahawk right, respected by the frontiersmen, was often
merged into a settlement right. Although Virginia took no step until
1779 to sell lands in West Virginia, and no titles can be traced beyond
that year, she respected the claims of the earlier settlers and in fact
taxed these settlers on their lands before patents were issued. Pioneers,
in order to hold their 100 acres on a settlement right, erected any kind
of a pole cabin or log cabin near a good spring of water. They could
preempt 100 acres additional if found free of prior claims. Surveys, both
the earlier ones and the later ones, were inaccurate and unsystematic
and laid foundations for many future law suits some of which are still
on the court dockets. In early years, speculators patented large tracts —
10,000 to 500,000 acres — often overlapping scores of farms, but they
could not hold land already occupied, and in many cases the large
tracts were sold for taxes or otherwise transferred to the people in
smaller tracts. These permanent settlements, tentatively beginning as
early as 1764, became especially augmented both in extent and number
from 1772 to 1774, numbering a total population of about 30,000 by
1775. They were seriously affected by the conditions which precipitated
the battle of Point Pleasant in 1774, and by the renewed danger of
2 The Scotch-Irish were proud of their ancestry and desired to be distinguished
from the real Irish. This is illustrated by the following incident: Joseph and
Samuel McClung had charge of the collection of the tithes on the watershed of
the Greenbrier. In 1775 they posted a list of the men liable for this tax. At that,
time Andrew Donally was living in that section, on Sinking Creek. In some way
they had heard a rumor that Donally had changed his name by omitting the O ; the
rumor stating that he was a papist and that his name was really O 'Donnally. So in
posting the lists they placed the O before his name. Donally 's wrath was great.
A verbal apology would not suffice, He compelled these two gentlemen to have
prepared a formal instrument setting out the facts, and apologizing for the insult,
which paper after being witnessed by Win. Hamilton, Wm. McClennahan, James
Hughart and Richard May (his neighbors) was taken before the May term of the
Botetourt County Court, 1770, where it was proved and in due and solemn form
ordered to be recorded.
3 From 176G to 1777 inclusive, 1,197 tomahawk claims were marked within the
limits of the old Monongahela county of the Revolution, and later established
before commissioners. These homestead rights increased from 7 in 1766 and 2- in
1769 to 91 in 1770, 143 in 1772, and 247 in 1773, then decreased to 168 in 1774,
but increased to 227 in 1775.
70 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Indian attacks beginning about 1777 and continuing in some sections
until the treaty of 1795 following Wayne's victory against the Indians
in northwestern Ohio. Was it any wonder that the Indians fought to
retain a country which they and their fathers had used for a summer
retreat for many generations — a land famous for game and fish and with
abundance of fruits and nuts which could be obtained without toil?
Especially after the treaty of Fort Stanwix4 the enterprising yeo-
manry actively pushed forward over the mountains to the Greenbrier and
New rivers, to the Monongahela, down the Ohio as far as Grave's creek.
Preparation for settlement further down the Ohio was begun by the
survey of land of George Washington at the mouths of the Kanawhas.
The first settlements made in the District of West Augusta before 1774
were grouped in a circular belt around a large wilderness of heavy forest
land which remained largely unsettled for two decades later. The chief
points of the circle were the Middle New and Greenbrier rivers, thence
westward down the New aud Big Kanawha to the Ohio, the Monongahela
with its upper branches (Cheat, Tygart's valley, Buckhannon and West
Pork) and the region around Wheeling and Grave creek on the Ohio.
In 1760 James Moss reared his cabin at Sweet Springs, now in Monroe
county. In 1769 the Woods family settled and built a fort on Rich
creek about four miles east of the site of Peterstown which fourteen
years later became the home of Christian Peters, an American soldier
who served in Lafayette's corps at Yorktown. To the same region in
1770 came the Manns, Cooks, Millers, Alexanders, Nickels, Campbells,
Dunsmores, Hokes, Lakes, Calloways, Sweene.ys, Haynes, Erkines,
Grahams, and Hutchiusons — largely from the Virginia valley. Adam
and Jacob Mann (of English origin from Kent) and others built a fort
on Indian creek about ten miles west of the present town of Union ;
the Cooks from the valley of Virginia built a few miles from its mouth,
the Keenys later built a fort on Keenys Knobs farther down the river.
By 1769 settlers began to push up the Greenbrier and to form the
more western nuclei of settlements which later contributed to the advance
down the Kanawha, to the Ohio and over the divide to the Monongahela.
A settlement was made at a fort on Wolf creek (Monroe county) and
another farther north (in Greenbrier county) at Port Spring. In 1769
the first permanent settlement in Greenbrier county was made at Prank-
ford by Colonel John Stuart, Robert McClenachan, Thomas Renick and
William Hamilton followed by others from Augusta county. In the
same year, Thomas Williams settled about two miles south of the site
of Williamsburg and near him William McCoy and William Hughart
established homes. In 1770 on the site of Lewisburg was built the old
Savanna fort which became Fort Union. Later settlements were made
in 1771 at the foot of Hughart 's mountain by John Patton and on Cul-
berton's creek by William Blake, in 1772 on Muddy creek by William
McKinney, and in 1773 on Big Clear creek by William McClung (who
patented a large tract on Meadow river) and on the site of Port Donnally
by Andrew Donnally. In 1774 a settlement was made on the White
Sulphur Springs lands. Farther up the stream by 1773 a settlement
was established at Little Levels (now in Pocahontas) by John McNeil
and others from the lower valley of Virginia.
At the same time settlers began to venture down the Kanawha. In
1770 the land around the site of Montgomery was originally taken up
by Levi Morris who later came by mule from Alexandria, Virginia, and
built the first house there. In 1773 the big bottom survey on which
<iBy the terms of the treaty of Fort Stanwix (now Rome, New York) in 1768
the Six United Nations ceded to the King of England practically all of West
Virginia, except what is known as the "Indiana Cession," a large territory north
of the Little Kanawha (about 4,950 square miles), which they reserved and
granted to Captain William Trent and other Indian traders in consideration of
merchandise taken from them by the Indians on the Ohio in 1763. The General
Assembly of Virginia repudiated the title of the traders who therefore never came
into possession of any part of the cession.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
71
Charleston now stands, was located by Colonel Thomas Bullitt. In
the same year Walter Kelly from North Carolina invaded the trackless
forest which lay between Camp Union and the mouth of the Kanawha
and made the first family settlement in the Kanawha valley (at the
mouth of Kelly's creek). In 1774, on the site of Old Brownstown (now
Marmet) on the Kanawha, Leonard Morris made a permanent settlement.
The same year settlements were made at the mouth of the Kanawha
(on the site of Point Pleasant), on lands surveyed by George Wash-
ington in 1770. Kelly's place became the point of embarkation for
later home-seekers and travelers from the East and was often called the
"Boat Yards."
Even earlier the pioneer settlers were penetrating into the wilds
drained by the Monongahela. By 1772 nearly all the land in Tygart's
valley was located — although few patents were obtained for it until ten
Westfall's Fort, Tygarts Valley, Beverly, Built 1774
or fifteen years later. Two forts were built (at Beverly and near Hut-
tonsville) in 1774. In 1764 at the mouth of Turkey creek on Buck-
hannon river a forest camp was established by the Pringles and others
who had deserted from garrison duty at Fort Pitt and after roaming
through Maryland went west down Horseshoe to Cheat thence over
the divide to Tygart's valley. To this camp came prospective settlers
who by 1769 brought their families to the Buckhaunon valley and made
several settlements which were followed by others at Booth's creek in
1770 and at Simpson's creek and Hacker's creek in 1772. In 1764 John
Simpson, a trapper from the South Branch established his cabin op-
posite the mouth of Elk creek on the site of Clarksburg, around which
settlers began to locate lands in 1772.
In 1772, Col. William Lowther and his brother-in-law. Jesse ani
Elias Hughes, starting from the present site of Clarksburg (to which
they recently moved from the South Branch) followed the West Fork
of the Monongahela to its head waters near the present site of Weston
and crossing the divide followed Sand creek to the Little Kanawha and
proceeded to name the tributary streams, including the Hughes river.
Early in 1773 Lowther built below the site of West Milford a cabin
72
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
which was still standing in 1908, and there he lived until Ms death iu
1N14. Jesse Hughes, who had married Miss Grace Tanner (a sister of
one of the pioneer settlers of Roane county) settled on Hacker's creek.
About 1772 or perhaps a year later, Captain James Parsons taking
his brother, Thomas, with him left Moorefield and passed over the Alle-
gheny and Backbone mountains to Cheat by the Horse Shoe trail (pass-
ing near the Fairfax stone)5 and selected at Horse Shoe some lands for
which they later obtained patents. Later in crossing back and forth on
Zachwell Morgan, First Settler at Mobgantown, 1767
their fine horses while locating and surveying their lands they stra-
tegically reversed the shoes on their horses in order to elude any strag-
gling bands of Indians who might be tempted to steal a horse to ride.
o This route was first discovered about 1762-63 by James Parsons iu finding
his way eastward across western Virginia from the region beyond the Ohio to
which the Indians had carried him after capturing him at his home near Moore-
field. It was also used about the same time by the two Pringle brothers who after
desertion from Fort Pitt in 1761 had found their way via Geneva, Pennsylvania, to
the Glades of Preston county (near Aurora) and later (feeling insecure from the
visits of an increasing number of hunters from the South Branch) pushed farther
toward the interior (to the Buckhannon river) in company with a straggler named
Simpson who passed on to establish his cabin at the site of the future town of
Clarksburg.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 73
hi 1774 a colony from Moorefield led by John Miiiear buill a fori on
the Horse Shoe and cleared some land. In 1 770 Minear removed to
St. George where he built a mill. Jn that year he carried on pack horses
across the mountains the irons for the saw-mill. These families were
long prominent in the history of the region which later became Tucker
count}7.
By 1766 pioneer settlers reached the middle Monongahela region
now included in Monongalia county. In 1767 the first permanent settle-
ment at Morgantown was made by Zachwell Morgan and others and from
this point David Morgan emigrated up the river to lands now included
in the bounds of Marion county, in which several settlements were made
by 1772. About the same time settlements were made at various points
in the territory now included in Preston county ; in 1769 on the waters
of Big Sandy near the sites of Clifton Mills and Bruceton, in 1770 on
the Sandy creek Glades and east of Cheat (the Walls settlement) and
in 1770-73 at Dunkard Bottom by hunters from the South Branch who
led the way for permanent Virginia settlers.
The earliest known settlement of Wheeling was made in 1769 by
Col. Ebenezer Zane and two brothers,!' who leaving the South Branch
near the present site of Moorefield, followed the trail frequented by
Indians and traders from Cumberland to Redstone fort, the present
site of Brownsville, Pennsylvania, and there^' learning— trf-a- beautiful
and fertile country bordering the waters of the Ohio/ crossed the inter-
vening country to the head-waters of the stream now known as Wheel-
ing creek, and travelled along its banks to its confluence with the Ohio.
Here they marked out a claim on the island in three divisions including
nearly all of the present site of Wheeling and built a rude cabin.6 lu
the following spring Colonel Zane brought his family from the South
(; It was in December, 1767, that Col. Zane, "who was the first to explore the
country from the South Branch of the Potomac, through the Allegheny glades, to
the Ohio Biver, set out on an expedition, thither to make a location. He was
accompanied on that excursion by Isaac Williams, two men named Bobinson, and
some others; but setting off rather late in the season, and the weather being very
severe, they were compelled to return without having penetrated to the Ohio river.
While crossing the glades they were overtaken by a violent snow storm. This is
always a cold and stormy region but at this time the snow fell to an unusual
depth, and put a stop to their further progress. It was followed by intensely cold
weather, which, with the great depth of snow, disabled them from supplying the
necessities of their camp by hunting, and they were compelled to subsist upon
the peltries of the animals killed in the early part of their journey. Before they
were able to retrace their steps homeward, they were much reduced in health and
spirits. On the way home, such was the extremity of the cold, that one of the
Robinsons died of its effects, Williams was much frost-bitten, and the whole party
suffered exceedingly."
The succeeding spring, 1768, Col. Zane finally left his home on the South
Branch, with his family and household goods, accompanied by two younger brothers,
some negro slaves and other laborers, to found a new home somewhere in these
Western wilds. Taking the trail of the Indian traders from Ft. Cumberland, his
journey brought him to the waters of the Monongahela, at Bedstone Old Fort,
now Brownsville, Pa. Here he remained a year, but not liking the country, nor
the quality of the land in that vicinity, he concluded to make a wider excursion
in search of a more eligible location. Leaving his family at Bedstone he pushed
forward through an unbroken wilderness, in company with his brothers Jonathan
and Silas, carrying a pack of meal, which together with the game their guns and
dogs could provide, furnished their meals of subsistence. After many days' journey
they struck the waters of Wheeling Creek. He was accustomed in after years to
describe the impression of this scene as like a vision of Paradise.
They succeeded in ferrying themselves to the other side. Here, on instituting
an examination, they were surprised to find an island, where they had expected to
find a large and compact body of land connected with and forming part of the
western shore. Staking out their claim on it and returning to the eastern side they
marked out other claims to the choicest land, and set about such "improvements"
as would confirm the title until the regular state patent could be obtained. When a
rude cabin had been built, sufficient clearing made, and all the preparations made
for future occupancy, it was determined to leave Silas Zane in charge of their
interests while the others returned to Bedstone for the family, household goods,
horses and cattle, with which they were to begin a new life in the wilderness.
Thus, in September, 1769, was laid the foundation of what is now the large, populous
and prosperous city of Wheeling.
74 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Branch via Redstone fort from which they floated down the Monongahela
and the Ohio in canoes and pirogues. With him came Isaac Williams
and domestic servants and laborers who had charge of the live stock.
In 1770 other families from the South Branch joined the settlement
including Col. David Shepherd, John Wetzel and the McCullochs. Con-
stantly recurring warfare with the Indians checked the growth of the
settlement, which in 1782 consisted of a fort and a few log cabins sur-
rounding it. Its early history was made up of almost continuous strug-
gles against the efforts of the savages to destroy it.
These settlements augmented by new arrivals in 1774 constituted
an advance guard through which the Indians must penetrate to reach
the interior in which new accessions were arriving from Maryland,
Pennsylvania, and Virginia. By their position they also became a ren-
Old Morgan Homestead, Front St.
Built 1774. Morgantown, W. Va.
dezvous for pioneer speculators who were engaged in entering lauds on
the borders of Kentucky and Ohio. In 1774 protection against hostile
Indians was provided by the construction of Port Fincastle which at the
formation of Ohio county in 1776 was changed to Port Henry in honor
of the new governor of Virginia.
South of Wheeling, a settlement begun at Grave creek in 1770, re-
ceived new accessions in 1772.
Northward, in the territory included in Brooke a few settlers ar-
rived in 1772, followed by others in 1774. Farther south, around the
mouth of the Little Kanawha, many tomahawk rights were marked and
several settlements begun between 1772 and 1776. The number of settle-
ments in that vicinity was much increased in 1774 and 1775.
While the Monongahela and Ohio settlements rapidly increased,
the boundary between Virginia and Pennsylvania was still unsettled.
Beyond the western line of Maryland, where Virginia's and Pennsyl-
vania's possessions came in contact, a bitter dispute arose, almost
leading to open hostilities between the people of the two states. Virginia
wanted Pittsburgh, and boldly and stubbornly set up a claim to the
territory at least as far north as the fortieth degree of latitude. This
would have given Virginia part of Fayette and Greene counties in
Pennsylvania. The line to thirty-nine degrees, originally claimed by
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 75
Perm as the southern boundary of his grant would have given him a
large part of the Monongahela region which is now included in West
Virginia. In September, 1767, the surveyors of the Mason and Dixon
line, who had been accompanied by an escort of the Six Nations until
they reached Petersburg, Pennsylvania, continued westward from that
point alone beyond the western limit of Maryland marking the northern
boundary of what is now Preston and Monongalia counties. They were
threatened and finally stopped near Mt. Morris on Dunkard creek, at
the crossing of the Warrior branch of the Great Catawba war path, by
the Delawares and Shawnees who claimed to be tenants of the country.
The survey was not finally completed until seventeen years later.
In 1773 Governor Dunmore of Virginia sent Dr. John Connolly to
Fort Pitt to resist occupation by Pennsylvania which had just estab-
lished courts at Hanna's Town (near Greensburg) with determination
to exercise jurisdiction over the lower Monongahela valley. He soon
occupied Fort Pitt, changed the name to Fort Dunmore, and established
a rival court and rival magistrates precipitating the bitter struggle
which was stopped only by the Revolution.
Lord Dunmore 's war was the inevitable culmination of a long series
of mutual grievances and outrages between the Indians of the Ohio
valley and the Scotch-Irish and German frontiersmen of western Virginia
and Pennsylvania who had, with migratory instinct after the close of
the French and Indian war and the smothering of Pontiac's conspiracy —
and in spite of the policy of the English government — relentlessly pushed
westward, converting aboriginal hunting grounds first into their own
game forests and then into virgin farms. Although the native title to
lands eastward from the Ohio to the mountains was quieted in 1768
by the treaty of Fort Stanwix, and reinforced in 1770 by the treaty of
Lochaber with the southern Indians whose boundary was then fixed at
the Kentucky river, many of the Indians denied the validity of the
cessions.
Year by year the exasperation of the borderers, planted firmly among
the Alleghenies, grew greater, and the tale of wrongs they had to
avenge, grew longer. The savages grew continually more hostile, and
in the fall of 1773 their attacks became so frequent that it was evident
that a general outbreak was at hand. The Shawnees located on the
Scioto were the leaders in all these outrages; but the outlaw bands,
such as the Mingoes and the Clierokees, were as bad, and were joined
by parties of Wyandottes and Delawares, as well as various Miami and
Wabash tribes.
The spring of 1774 opened with everything ripe for an explosion.
Borderers were anxious for a war. Early in the spring, when the hostile
Shawnees began their outrages, Lord Dunmore 's lieutenant (Dr. Con-
nolly), issued an open letter commanding the backwoodsmen to hold
themselves in readiness to repel an attack by the Indians. All the bor-
derers instantly prepared for war, and were anxious to find an oppor-
tunity to fight. Cresap 7 and others near Wheeling regard Connolly's
letter as a declaration of war. ' ' Cresap 's war ' ' was the result.
i Most prominent among the leaders of the whites in this Indian warfare was
Captain Michael Cresap, a Marylander, who removed to the Ohio early in 1774,
and after establishing himself below the Zane settlement (Wheeling) organized a
company of pioneers for protection against the Indians. He was appointed by
Connolly, a captain of the militia of the section in which he resided, and was later
put in command of Fort Fincastle. He was a fearless and persistent Indian
fighter, and just the one to lead retaliatory parties across the Ohio into the
red men's country. As soon as Cresap 'a band received Connolly's letter they pro-
ceeded to declare war in regular Indian style, calling a council, planting the war
post, etc. "What is sometimes known as " Cresap 's war" ensued. Several Indians
while descending the Ohio in their canoes were killed by Cresap 's company. Other
Indians were shot within the Ohio border by intruding and exasperated whites.
When Logan, chief of the Mingos, established a camp near the mouth of Yellow
creek, about forty miles above Wheeling, it was regarded as a hostile demonstration.
Cresap and his party, at first proposed to attack, but finally decided otherwise.
Logan's people, however, did not escape. Opposite the mouth of Yellow creek
76 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Border warfare was precipitated by an attack on Indians at the
mouth of Captina creek and a general fight of Indians and whites at.
a rum dispensary opposite the mouth of Yellow creek — resulting in
the death of almost all the members of Chief Logan's family. Lord
Duumore, although he acted with discretion, was ambitious for glory
and properly thought that a war against the Indians would prove a
political measure to distract attention from the growing difficulties
between the mother country and the colonies.
Later, when the Indians rose to avenge the murder of Logan's fam-
ily in "Cresap's war," Dunmore himself prepared for the attack.
Apprized by messengers from Cresap and Connolly that the frontier
settlers were alarmed at the situation he promptly sent a defensive and
punitive force of upper Potomac settlers (about 400 in number) under
Major Angus MeDonalds who hastened to Wheeling, erected Port
Fincastle, and after descending the Ohio in canoes and boats to the
mouth of Captina creek invaded the Shawnee country and destroyed
their towns and cornfields as far as Wappatomica (on the Muskingum)
near the site of Coshocton.
The little army suffered many hardships, and encountered many
perils. At times their only sustenance consisted of weeds and one ear
of corn a day. The soldiers returned in a few weeks without serious
loss. This forceful invasion of the Indian country was sufficient declara-
tion of war, and produced a general combination of the various Indian
tribes northwest of the Ohio.
Soon thereat ter Dunmore raised an army of two wings or divisions 9
each 1,500 strong, one to advance under Dunmore over a northern route
via Fort Pitt and to descend the Ohio to the mouth of the Kanawha
to meet the other, an army composed of backwoodsmen under Gen.
Andrew Lewis, which was instructed to rendezvous at Port Union and
march down the Kanawha.
The backwoodsmen of the Alleghenies felt that the quarrel was their
own and were eager to fight. They were not uniformed save that they
all wore the garb of the frontier hunter ; most of them were armed with
good rifles and all were skillful woodsmen, and although they were
utterly undisciplined they were magnificent individual fighters.
On September 8th with 1,110 men Lewis advanced on a fatiguing
inarch, making his road as he went, from Camp Union, guided by Capt.
Mathew Arbuckle (an experienced frontiersman) along the trail via
Muddy en-el-, Keeny's Knob, Rich creek, Gauley, Twenty Mile, Bell
<m the Virginia side of the Ohio resided the unscrupulous Daniel GTeathouse, and
fellow frontiersmen. They kept a carousing resort, known as Baker's Bottom,
where the Indians were supplied with rum, at Baker's cabin. On the last day of
April, a party of nine Indians from Logan 's camp, on the invitation of Greathouse,
visited Baker 's place and while plied with liquor were set upon and massacred.
The nine included a brother and sister of Logan, the latter being the reputed
squaw of John Gibson. Michael Cresap was not present and had nothing to do
with the deed, but Logan evidently believed him to be the guilty party. Vengeance
and retaliation were resorted to equally by both sides.
8 The decision to send this force was probably in part the result of the
action of Indians in preventing McDonald from completing a survey of some lands.
The royal authority had promised the Virginian troops a bounty in these western
lands as reward for their services in the French. and Indian war. A section had
been allowed them by royal proclamation on the Ohio and Kanawha rivers. When
in the spring of 1774 McDonald and party proceeded to survey these lands they
were driven off by the Indians.
s In August the governor began his preparations and the plan for the campaign
agreed upon. An army for offensive operations was called for. Dunmore directed
this army should consist of volunteers and militiamen, chiefly from the countries
west of the Blue Eidge. The northern division, comprehending the troops col-
lected in Frederick, Dunmore (now Shenandoah), and adjacent counties, was to be
commanded by Lord Dunmore in person; the southern division comprising the dif-
ferent companies raised in Botetourt, Augusta and adjoining counties east of the
Blue Ridge, was to be led by General Lewis. The two armies were to proceed
by different routes, unite at the mouth of the Big Kanawha, and from thence cross
the Ohio and penetrate the northwest country, defeat the red men and destroy all
the Indian towns they could reach.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 77
creek and Kelley's creek to the Kanawha (September 21) which was
followed to its mouth (some in canoes and some by trail).
It was a distance of one hundred and sixty miles from Camp Union
to their destination at the mouth of the Kanawha. The regiments passed
through a trackless forest so rugged and mountainous as to render their
progress extremely tedious and laborious. They marched in long files
through "the deep and gloomy wood" with scouts or spies thrown oul
in front and on the flanks, while axmen went in advance to clear a
trail over which they would drive the beef cattle, and the pack-horses,
laden with provisions, blankets and ammunition. They struck out
straight through the dense wilderness, making their road as they went.
On September 21st they reached the Kanawha at the mouth of Elk
.creek (present site of Charleston). Here they halted and built dug-
out canoes for baggage transportation upon the river. A portion of the
army proceeded down the Kanawha, while the other section marched
along the Indian trail, which followed the base of the hills, instead
of the river bank, as it was thus easier to cross the heads of the creeks
and ravines. Their long and weary tramp was ended October fi, when
they camped on the high triangular point of land jutting out on the
north side of the Kanawha river where it empties into the Ohio.
At his camp, at Point Pleasant, General Lewis anxiously awaited
Dunmore, whom he expected to join him, but who meantime had de-
cided to march direct to the Scioto to a point not far from the Indian
town of Chillicothe near the Pickaway plains.
While the backwoods general was mustering his "unruly and turbu-
lent host of skilled riflemen" the Earl of Dunmore had led his own
levies, some fifteen hundred strong, through the mountains at the Poto-
mac Gap to Port Pitt. Here he changed his plans and decided not to
attempt uniting with Lewis at Point Pleasant. Taking as scouts George
Rogers Clark, Michael Cresap, Simon Kenton and Simon Girty, he
descended the Ohio river with a flotilla of a hundred canoes, besides
keel boats and pirogues, to the mouth of the Hockhocking, where he
built and garrisoned a small stockade, naming it Fort Gower. Thence
he proceeded up the Hockhocking to the falls, moved overland to the
Scioto, finally halting on the north bank of the Sippo creek four miles
from its mouth to the Scioto, and about the same distance east of Old
Chillicothe, now Westfall, Pickaway county. He entrenched himself in a
fortified camp, with breastworks of fallen trees, so constructed as to
embrace about twelve acres of ground.
Finally on October 9th General Lewis received through messenger
(Simon Girty and others) Dunmore 's orders to cross the Ohio to meet
him before the Indian towns near the Pickaway plains. Although deeply
displeased at this change in the campaign, he arranged to break camp
fhat he might set out the next morning in accordance with his superior's
orders. He had with him about eleven hundred men. His plans, how-
ever, were rudely forestalled.
During the night Chief Cornstalk — who, after an unsuccessful at-
tempt to prevent the war, was now determined to bring it to a successful
issue, and who, seeing his foes divided, had determined to strike first
the division that would least expect the blow — ferried across the Ohio on
improvised rafts a few miles above Lewis' camp his 1,000 braves, picked
warriors from between the Ohio and the Great Lakes. Before daylight
the alarm was given in the camp and the drums beat to arms. General
Lewis, thinking he had only a scouting party to meet, ordered out
Col. Charles Lewis and Colonel Fleming each with 150 men. Later, when
the ringing sound of the rifles announced that the attack was serious,
Colonel Field was at once dispatched to the front with 200 men just
in time to sustain the line which, with the wounding of Lewis and Flem-
ing, had given way except in a few places. He renewed the attack,
which after his death was continued by Capt. Evan Shelby. The fight
was a succession of single combats. The hostile lines although over
a mile in length were never more than twenty yards apart. Through-
The Point Pleasant Battle Monument
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 79
out the action the whites opposite Cornstalk could hear him cheering
his braves to be strong. Shortly after noon the Indians began to fall
back and by one o'clock the action had ceased except the skirmishing
which continued until sunset. Although the Indians had reached a
position rendered strong by underbrush, many fallen logs and steep
banks, under cover of the darkness they slipped away and made a skill-
ful retreat. The whites, though the victors, had suffered more than
their foes and had won the battle only because it was against the entire
policy of Indian warfare to suffer a severe loss, even if a victory could
be saved thereby.
The battle of Point Pleasant was distinctly an American victory,
fought solely by the backwoodsmen, and as purely a soldiers' battle in
which there was no display of generalship except on Cornstalk's part.
It was the most closely contested of any battle fought with the north-
western Indians and the only victory gained over a large body of them
with a force but slightly superior in numbers. Although to call it "the
first battle of the American Revolution" would be inaccurate, it was of
the greatest advantage to the American cause in the struggle for inde-
pendence: for it kept the northwestern Indians quiet for the first two
years of the Revolutionary struggle. It was almost equivalent to the
winning of the Northwest : for if it had not been possible to occupy that
region during the early years of the Revolution, it is not improbable that
the treaty of 1783 might have fixed the western boundary of the United
States at the Alleghenies. It opened an ever-lengthening pathway to
western settlement. "Thenceforward new vigor was infused into the
two chief forces of the country — American expansion and American
nationalism."
Lewis, leaving his sick and wounded in the camp at the Point, and
reinforced by the arrival of the Pincastle men under Colonel Christian
who reached the ground at midnight after the battle, crossed the Ohio
with a thousand men and pushed on to the Pickaway plains. When
but a few miles from Lord Dunmore's encampment he heard that ne-
gotiations for a treaty of peace with the Indians were in progress. His
backwoodsmen, however, flushed with their success and eager for more
bloodshed were with difficulty restrained; but although grumbling
against the earl for sending them back they were finally induced to
march homeward a'fter the treaty at Camp Charlotte.
Lord Dunmore's war was a focal point in western history. In it
fought the daring frontiersmen who had carried American institutions
across the Appalachian barrier, and who later became the rear guard
of the Revolution.
A plan to found a new province in the Ohio valley, first urged by
Dinwiddie as early as 1756, assumed definite shape in 1771 when Thomas
Walpole, Benjamin Franklin and others submitted to the king a peti-
tion for a grant of land including the larger part (forty counties) of
the territory now included in West Virginia and the eastern part of
Kentucky which they proposed to form into a colony under the name
of Vandalia, the capital of which they proposed to locate at the mouth
of the Great Kanawha (now Point Pleasant). The king favored this
project to organize the sparsely settled Virginia hinterland into a four-
teenth colony with a government more dependent upon the crown than
those of the older thirteen, but in 1775 the execution of the draft of the
royal grant was postponed to await the cessation of hostilities which
finally closed only with the complete loss of English jurisdiction between
the Atlantic and the Mississippi.
CHAPTER VIII
THE REAR GUARD OF THE REVOLUTION
The history of western Virginia in the Revolution was largely a
history of relations with the Indians upon the frontier.
On the eve of the Revolution, in 177;"), Lord Dunmore, among his
last acts as governor of Virginia, ordered the abandonment of Fort
Dunmore at the mouth of the Monongahela and Fort Blair at Point
Pleasant — forts which he had established in 1774, partly to aid certain
land transactions in the West and partly to impress the Indians with
a sense of Virginia's power. The Virginian patriots promptly seized the
fort at Pittsburgh following the news of Dunmore 's order; but no
patriot force was at hand to occupy Fort Blair after the commandant
evacuated it and removed the cattle and stores across the mountains by
way of the Big Sandy, and the fort was burned by the Indians. Fort
Fincastle, which had been constructed at Wheeling in June, 1774, had
no garrison.
The frontiersmen of northwestern Virginia and western Pennsylvania
took prompt measures to counteract British influence with the Indians.
In May, 177."), they met at Pittsburgh in a convention which formed a
committee of safety and sent a petition to the Continental Congress
concerning the fear of an Indian attack. A conference with the Indians,
previously called by Dunmore, was arranged for September of 1775
and delegates to attend were appointed by Virginia and Pennsylvania
and by Congress. James Wood was sent by Virginia to confer with the
Indians and to invite them to attend for the purpose of making a treaty.
Representatives from the Ottawas (from near Detroit), Wyandots,
Shawnees, Mingoes, Delawares and Senecas, appeared. Among them
was Cornstalk who had led the Shawnees at Point Pleasant. The
treaty of peace which was there concluded was regarded as especially
important to western Virginia. Possibly it prevented a general Indian
war on the frontier during the Revolution. At least it secured a pledge
of neutrality which was kept for two years, thus permitting western
Virginians to cross the mountains to join the Revolutionary forces in
the East, and enabling the frontier to establish itself more firmly against
later attacks which might otherwise have thrust it back again to the
eastern base of the Alleghenies. Thus it helped to determine the bound
aries of the treaty of 1783 and the destiny of the trans- Allegheny
region.
Forts and places of shelter were erected in many places as a pre-
cautionary measure against sudden attack.
At the beginning of the Revolution, the following forts were already
in use :
Along tin- Ohio:
Fort Wells, built in 177:: on tin' dividing ridge between the waters of
Cross creek and Harmon's creek, in Cross creek district, Brooke county;
Fort Henry, built in 177-1 on what is now Market street. Wheeling;
Fort Shepherd, built in 1775, at the forks of Wheeling creek in Triadel-
pliia district, Ohio county;
foil VanMcter, built in 1774 on the north side of Short rich, Iho miles
from the Ohio river iii the present Richland district, Ohio county;
Fort Tomlinson, built in lli7H on the site of the present city of Mooinls
ville;
Fort Flair, built in 1771 on the site ot the present <itv of Point Pleasant
Ynl. I 6
SI
82 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Along the Monongahela :
Fort Martin, built in 1773 on the west side of the Monongahela river on
Crooked run in Case district, Monongalia county ;
Port Statler, built about 1770 on Dunkard creek in Clay district, Monon-
galia county;
Fort Pierpont, built in 1769 one mile from present village of Easton
and four miles from present city of Morgantown, in Union district, Monon-
galia county;
Fort Morgan, built in 1772 on the site of the present city of Morgan-
town;
Fort Cobun, built in 1770 near Dorsey's Knob on Cobun creek in Morgan
district, Monongalia county;
Fort Stewart, built in 1773 on Stewart's run, two miles from the present
village of Georgetown in Grant district;
Fort Prickett, built in 1774 at the mouth of Prickett's creek on the east
side of the Monongahela river five miles below the present city of Fairmont;
Fort Powers, built in 1771 on Simpson 's creek in Simpson district, Har-
rison county, on the present site of Bridgeport;
Fort Jackson, built in 1774 on Ten Mile creek in Sardis district, Har-
rison county.
In the eastern valley of the Monongahela, the following forts were built along
the Cheat:
Fort Morris, built in 1774 on Hog run in Grant district, Preston county;
Fort Butler, built in 1774 at the mouth of Roaring creek, on the east
side of the Cheat in Portland district, Preston county;
Fort Westfall, built in 1774 about one quarter of a mile south of the
present town of Beverly, Randolph county ;
Fort Currence (also called Fort Cassino), built in 1774 half a mile
east of the present site of the village of Crickard in Huttonsville district,
Randolph county.
Along the Greenbrier branch of the Kanawha-New Valley :
Fort Donnally, built in 1771 near the present site of Frankfort, ten
miles north of Lewisburg in Falling Spring district, Greenbrier county;
Fort Keekley (also known as Fort Day and sometimes as Fort Price),
built in 1772 on the Little Levels in Academy district, Pocahontas county.
Along the Great Kanawha:
Fort Woods, built in 1773 on Rich creek, four miles east of Peterstown
in Red Sulphur Springs district, Monroe county;
Fort Culbertson (sometimes called Fort Byrd, Fort Field or Culbertson 's
Bottom Fort), built in 1774 in Crump's Bottom on New River in Pipestem
district, Summers county;
Fort Morris, built in 1774 on the south bank of the Kanawha, opposite
the mouth of Campbell 's creek, Loudon district, Kanawha county.
The following additional forts were erected and in use during the
period of the Revolution :
Along the Ohio:
Fort Chapman, built near the site of New Cumberland in Hancock
county;
Fort Holliday, built in 1776 on the present site of Holliday's Cove,
Butler district, Hancock county;
Fort Edgington built near the mouth of Harmon's creek nearly oppo-
site Steubenville, in Cross creek district, Brooke county;
Fort Rice, built on Buffalo creek near the present site of Bethany
college in Buffalo district, Brooke county;
Fort Beech Bottom, built on the east bank of the Ohio, twelve miles
above "Wheeling, in Buffalo district, Brooke county;
Fort Liberty, built on the site of the present town of West Liberty,
Ohio county;
Fort Bowling, built above Wheeling in the panhandle;
Fort Link, built in 1780 in Middle Wheeling district, near the present
town of Triadelphia, Ohio county;
Fort Wetzel, built on Wheeling creek in Sandhill district, Marshall
county ;
Fort Clark, built on Pleasant Hill in Union district, Marshall county;
Fort Beeler, built in 1779 by Colonel Joseph Beeler on the site of the
present town of Cameron;
Fort Martin, built near the mouth of Fishing Creek in Franklin district,
Marshall county;
Fort Baker fknown as Baker's Station or Fort Cresap), built in 1782
at the head of Cresap 's Bottom in Meade district, Marshall county ;
Fort Randolph, built early in 1776 on the old site of Fort Blair which
the Indians had burned after its abandonment by the British garrison.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 83
Along the Monongahela:
Port Baldwin (the most western fort of white men in the county),
built on the site of Blacksville in Clay district, Monongalia county;
Fort Dinwiddie (also called Rogers' Port), built on the site of the
present village of Stewartstown, Union district, Monongalia county;
Port Harrison, built on the west side of the Monongahela river at the
source of Crooked run, Case district, Monongalia county;
Port Burris, built on the "Platts" on the east side of the Mononga-
hela river in Morgan district, Monongalia county;
Port Kerns, built on the west side of the Monongahela river opposite
the mouth of Decker's creek in Morgan district;
Port Pawpaw, built in Pawpaw creek in Pawpaw district, Marion county;
Port Edwards, built five miles south of Boothsville in Booth creek district,
Taylor county ;
Fort Harbert, built on Tenmile creek in Harrison county;
Port Coon, built on the West Fork river in Harrison county;
Port Richards, built on the west bank of the West Pork river in Union
district, Harrison county;
Port Nutter, built on the east bank of Elk creek, on the present site of
the city of Clarksburg;
Fort West, built on Hacker's creek in Hacker's district, Lewis county
(within the present corporate limits of Jane Lew) ;
Port Buckhannon, built near the present town of Buckhannon;
Fort Bush, built a little above the mouth of Turkey run in Upshur
county.
Along the Cheat:
Fort Minear, built in 1776 on the east side of Cheat on the site of the
present town of St. George in Tucker county;
Port Wilson, built two miles south of Elkins on the east side of the
Tygart's Valley river in Randolph county;
Fort Friend, built at Maxwell's Ferry on Leading creek in Randolph
county;
Fort Hadden, built at the mouth of Elkwater creek in Huttonsville
district, Randolph county;
Fort Warwick, built in Huttonsville district, Randolph county.
Along the Greenbrier branch:
Fort Arbuckle, built by Captain Mathew Arbuckle at the mouth of Mill
creek, four miles from the mouth of Muddy creek in Blue Sulphur district,
Greenbrier county;
Fort Savannah, built on the Big Levels on the site of the present town
of Lewisburg in Greenbrier county;
Fort Stuart, built four miles southwest of Lewisburg, Greenbrier county.
Along the Kanawha:
Fort Cook, built about three miles from the mouth of Indian creek in
Red Sulphur district, Monroe county:
Fort Kelly (also known as Kelly's Station), built on the Kanawha,
twenty miles above Charleston at the mouth of Kelly's Creek, in Cabin creek
district, Kanawha county.
In 1776 various preparations for defense were made by the assign-
ment of militia.
As early as May, 1776, a company of troops was sent from Pitts-
burgh to Point Pleasant to garrison Fort Randolph which had been
built in place of the earlier Port Blair. About the same time Captain
John Lewis and Samuel Vance had their companies of Augusta militia
in service at Port "Warwick. Sergeant Aaron Scaggs had command of
some Montgomery county militia in service on Bluestone river, guard-
ing Mare's and McGuire's stations. Captain John Henderson had a
company of Botetourt volunteers guarding tne irontiers. They began
in May at Cook's Port and ranged the country up New river through
the present Virginia county of Giles. Companies were kept at this fort
(which was located in Monroe county, at Indian creek, near Red Sulphur
Springs) from 1776 to 1780. (In 1777 Captain Archibald Wood was
in charge of these troops, and in the same year Captain Joseph Cloyd,
of Montgomery, had troops in that section. In 1780 Captain Gray had
command. Among the men engaged in this service were William Hutchin-
son, Phillip Cavender, Nicholas Wood, John Bradshaw, and Francis
Charlton. Its spies were often at Port Wood, on Rich creek, and pa-
trolled the county for thirty miles or more, until they met the spies
84 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
from Fort Burnsides. They went at times to the head of Bluestone
river to guard the settlers there while gathering their erops.)
Another precautionary measure of 1776 was the sending of Captain
John McCoy's company to the West Fork of the Monongahela river.
Men from this company were stationed at Fort West, Lowther's Fort,
and at Nutter's Fort.
By the beginning of 1777, the signs of fresh trouble with the In-
dians appeared in acts of hostility which became more frequent there-
after. Along the exposed frontier from Kentucky to the head of the
Ohio, the alarm soon became general. The venerable Cornstalk, find-
ing that he could not much longer restrain the young warriors of the
Shawnees from joining in the conflict, went to Fort Randolph at Point
Pleasant to warn the garrison of the danger. When the commandant
decided to retain him as a hostage to influence the peace of the Shawnee
warriors, he was apparently content to remain at the fort with his
sister and some other Indians. When the military expedition arrived
in the fall from the Greenbrier and other eastern points with plans for
an invasion of the Indian country, he willingly furnished information
in regard to routes and rivers. Unfortunately following the action of
lurking Indians in killing a soldier who had crossed the river to hunt,
he (and also his son) was murdered by enraged soldiers at the fort
(who after the semblance of a trial were acquitted). The fierce Shaw-
nees, no longer held in check by their former chief, and prompted to
revenge his murder which had occurred while he was on a friendly
mission, promptly joined in the war against the Americans. They
became the foremost in raids, the most tireless in pursuit, and the least
merciful in the treatment of unfortunate prisoners who fell into their
hands.
Among the new preparations for defense in western Virginia in
1777 was the despatch of a company from Rockingham county to Ty-
gart's valley, the despatch of an additional force to Warwick's fort,
the despatch of a force to garrison a fort on Hackett 's creek, the assign-
ment of a Greenbrier company to Elk river, later transferred to Point
Pleasant and the assignment of a Hampshire county company to Fort
Pitt from whence it was sent by General Hand to the fort at Wheeling.
The most important event of the year (1777) was the preparation
for sending an army into the Indian country — especially against De-
troit. Plans were made for the expedition to start from Point Pleasant,
from Staunton and other points, especially from Augusta and Rock-
bridge counties. Several companies of men were marched to Point
Pleasant. To provide for the wants of the troops a lot of cattle were
driven to the Point, a company from the fort meeting the cattle at
the mouth of Elk river. There were about 700 of these volunteers. It
was while these volunteers were at the fort that Cornstalk, his son,
Ellinipsco and two Indians called Red Hawk and Petalla were brutally
murdered by these men. It was while at the Point that the news of
Burgoyne's surrender was announced to the troops. General Hand
was late in arriving, and decided to abandon the expedition. He had,
before announcing that decision, irritated the men greatly by com-
plaining that they were feasting too high, and by issuing orders to
shorten the pay and cut down the daily allowance of food. When the
attempt was made to put this order into effect, nearly every man in
the fort shouldered his gun, put on his knapsack and started for home.
Colonel McDowell persuaded General Hand to rescind the order, and the
men returned.
In western Virginia there was very little trouble from Tories. After
the suppression of Dr. John Connolly's plot of 1775, there were two
cases of threatened or apprehended trouble from the Tories in western
Virginia during the Revolution. One was in the Monongahela valley,
where there was very little Tory sentiment. In August, 1777, Colonel
Thomas Gaddis of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, revealed evi-
EISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 85
deuce of a conspiracy (perhaps largely rumor) connected with an ap-
prehended attack upon Pittsburgh by a large expedition from Detroit.
Gaddis at once warned Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Brown at Red-
stone Old Port on the Monongahela that the Tories had associated for
the purpose of cutting off the inhabitants; that Brown must therefore
keep a strong guard over his powder magazine, which supplied all the
Virginia counties west of the mountains, and also warn the friends of
the American cause to be "upon their watch." Colonel Brown acted
with promptness posting a guard of fifteen men over the magazine,
which Colonel Gaddis with about 100 men went in pursuit of the loyal-
ists. But the officer who did most in uncovering and destroying this
conspiracy was Colonel Zackwell Morgan of Monongalia county, Vir-
ginia. With 500 men he hastened to "Miner's Fort" in his vicinity,
whence he wrote (August 29) to Brigadier General Edward Hand at
Pittsburgh that he had been forced to raise all the men possible, unen-
listed as well as enlisted to put a stop to what he called "This unnat-
ural unheard of frantic scene of mischief * * * in the very heart
of our country." Morgan said that he had already taken numbers who
confessed to having sworn allegiance to the King, with the understand-
ing that some of the leading men at Port Pitt were to be "their rulers
and heads." He declared further that such of his prisoners as had
made confession agreed that the English, French and Indians would
descend on Pittsburgh in a few days, when the loyalists were to embody
themselves and Fort Pitt was to be surrendered with but little opposi-
tion. Morgan added that he had been astonished at some of the per-
sons taken into custody, but that he was determined to purge the
country before disbanding his troops. The conspiracy proved to be
short lived under the prompt measures taken by Colonels Morgan and
Gaddis, although some of its leaders remained at Pittsburg until the
following spring. In the neighboring country it required only a skirmish
to disperse the loyalists.
The only life lost as the result of the conspiracy was that of a loyalist
by the name of Higginson or Hickson. Toward the end of October,
when Colonel Zackwell Morgan and four associates were returning
across the Cheat river with this man as their prisoner, Hickson was
drowned. Morgan was charged with having pushed him out of the
boat in which the passage of the stream was made, and the coroner's
inquest found an indictment of murder against the Colonel. In con-
sequence the militia of Monongalia county was thrown into a state.
approaching mutiny, and most of the officers resigned. Fortunately,
the trial, which was held at Williamsburg, resulted in Colonel Morgan's
acquittal.
The rumored expedition from Detroit proved to be only another
Indian raid, which was directed not against Fort Pitt but against Port
Henry at Wheeling.
The other plot or conspiracy for an uprising was east of the Alle-
ghenies in the region now included in Hardy, Grant and Pendleton
counties but part of which was then in Hampshire county. The center
of the plot was near the site of Petersburg in Grant county. A number
who were implicated in the conspiracy lived twenty miles above at
Upper Tract and others on the Moorefield river near the base of the
Shenandoah mountains. Their purpose was first shown by their refus-
ing to pay their taxes or to contribute to Hampshire's quota of men
for the army. When Colonel Van Meter was sent from Oldsfields witli
thirty militiamen to enforce the payment of taxes, fifty Tories armed
themselves and assembling themselves at the house of a German, named
John Brake, declared that they would resist the demands by force.
Van Meter, finding that their strength was greater than he had an-
ticipated, thought best not to attack at that time. After attempting to
convince them by arguments that they were in the wrong, he returned
to Romney, leaving them still in arms and defiant. The Tories, regard-
ing themselves as victorious became more insolent. They organized
86 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
a company, elected John Claypole as their captain and prepared to
march away to join the British along the eastern coast as soon as the
opportunity might present itself. Their self-confidence and defiance
resulted in their ruin. General Daniel Morgan of the Continental army
learned of their organization while he was in Frederick county, about
sixty miles distant. Collecting 400 militia, he advanced against, them
and without attempting to open any parley or argument, as Van Meter
had done, he pressed them closely and completely conquered them, shoot-
ing several and accepting the surrender of Claypole and Brake. Many
of those who had been so defiant made amends by joining the American
army and by fighting until the end of the war.
The period of military operations in western Virginia during the
Revolution extended from September, 1777, to September, 1782. Dur-
ing this period there were three main invasions by hostile forces of
Indians commanded by white men, and other smaller invasions. The
three main invasions were the attacks against Fort Henry at Wheeling
in 1777, the attack against Fort Randolph and the extended invasion
up the Kanawha to the Greenbrier in 1778 and another attack against
Wheeling in 1782. The smaller invasions consisted of numerous trouble-
some raids and pillaging expeditions of Indians against various points
between the Greenbrier and the Pennsylvania line. In 1778 the region
along the Monongahela was invaded three times. In 1779 it was in-
vaded again. In 1780, Greenbrier was invaded and raids were also
extended eastward to the region now included in Randolph county and
to the Cheat river and the base of the Alleghenies within the present
limits of Tucker county. A large step toward reducing the danger of
these invasions was the Virginia expedition of General George Rogers
Clarke in 1779 against the British post at Vincennes.
The attack on Fort Henry (earlier known as Fort Fincastle) at
Wheeling in September, 1777, was a determined one but fortunately
was unsuccessful. The fort, although a strong one with high walls, had
no cannon except a wooden dummy erected to scare the Indians who,
however, were quick in discovering the sham. It was under the com-
mand of Col. David Shepherd. The plan of defense was simply to pre-
vent the enemy from breaking through the gate or from starting a fire.
The attack by over 300 Indians led by a white man, Simon Girty, was
begun by an ambuscade and a pretended retreat which enticed into a
trap two squads of men — a pursuing force of fourteen men — leaving in
the fort, besides women and children, only about a dozen men (not
soldiers) to resist the attack. Following a demand for surrender and
an attempt at argument which was cut short by a shot from the fort,
the assault began with a series of determined but unsuccessful rushes
against the gate and the stockade posts. After the failure of these
rushes in which logs and stones were used as battering rams, attempts
were made to fire the fort until the fire from the port-holes drove the
enemy from the walls. The attack was then renewed at a safer dis-
tance, by riflemen who wasted large quantities of powder in unsuccess-
ful efforts to hit the defenders by shooting through the portholes. After
two days the attacking force amused themselves by burning all the
cabins and barns of the neighborhood and by a barbecue of the cattle
of the neighborhood. While the enemy feasted, the fort was reinforced
by the arrival of Colonel Andrew Swearingen with fourteen men; and
soon thereafter it received an additional forty men, commanded by
Major Samuel McCulloch, who following a sharp encounter with the
Indians escaped capture by the famous leap on horseback down the
precipitous bluff east of Wheeling. The Indians, discouraged by their
failure J to capture the fort, and by their heavy losses, departed — prob-
ably with the determination to return later.
1 The success of the defense of the fort against the Indians was probably in
part due to a supply of powder which had been obtained from New Orleans. In
1776 two men named Gibson and Linn descended the Ohio and Mississippi, from
Pitts to New Orleans, and brought back a cargo of 135 kegs of gunpowder, pro-
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 87
Following the attack upon Fort Henry the Indians laid an ambus-
cade at Grave Creek Narrows, a short distance below Wheeling, and
killed twenty men who had been sent under the leadership of Captain
William Foreman, of Hampshire county, to assist in defending the
settlements along the Ohio.
In 1778 the Indians visited nearly all settlements west of the moun-
tains, even making raids to the base of the Alleghenies. The most im-
portant operation of the year was the Shawnee siege of Fort Randolph
at Point Pleasant to avenge the death of Cornstalk, and the attack on
Donnally's Fort in Greenbrier county. At Fort Randolph 200 Indians
approached the place and set an ambuscade as they had done at Wheel-
ing. When the soldiers at the fort, suspecting the trick, refrained
from leaving the fort to fight, the savages threw off all disguises and
openly came forward in battle line. After one week of unsuccessful
attempt to carry the besieged fort by storm they abandoned the siege
and moved up the Kanawha in the direction of Greenbrier with the
expectation of finding a weaker fort.
The Commandant at Fort Randolph apprehended the danger which
threatened the Greenbrier country 160 miles distant, and called for
volunteers to pass the Indian army in order to warn the settlers. Two
soldiers volunteered to carry the news of danger. They were dressed
like Indians and painted black by Cornstalk's sister who had continued
to remain at the fort after the death of her brother. Succeeding in
passing the Indians on Meadow River they gave the warning on Green-
brier in time to enable the settlers to escape to places of safety. Twenty
men with their families took shelter at Donnally's Fort near the site
of Frankfort and about a hundred families retired to Lewisburg. At
Donnally's Fort, which was the first one attacked, preparations were
made for the expected siege. The Indians arrived at night but delayed
the attack until morning. Failing in their rush upon the door they at-
tempted to enter by raising the floor from beneath and by climbing the
walls to the roof above. The men upstairs sprang from their beds and
poured into the invaders such a severe fire that they beat a hasty re-
treat, leaving seventeen dead in the yard and contenting themselves
thereafter with firing at a safe distance.
Meantime the settlers at the Lewisburg Fort learned from their
scouts that the fight was in progress at Donnally's and quickly sent
sixty-six men to the relief of the besieged fort. Upon the approach
of this relief the Indians fled and never troubled Greenbrier again.
Later in the war, in 1782, the Indians made one raid across the
Alleghenies. Led by an Englishman named Timothy Dorman, they
burned the fort on Buckhannon river, crossed into Randolph county
and, proceeding over the Seneca trail, reached the head of Seneca creek
in Pendleton county but were promptly driven westward by the settlers.
A large factor in reducing the danger on the frontier was the ex-
pedition of George Rogers Clarke, consisting largely of Virginians, which,
in 1779, carried the war into the Indian country. This expedition,
after penetrating as far as the Mississippi river in the Illinois country,
marched eastward to Vincennes in the dead of winter, surprised and
captured the place, liberated 100 white prisoners, seized valuable mili-
tary stores and sent as a prisoner to Richmond the commander of the
fort, Governor Hamilton, who had hoped to conquer western Virginia
and to capture the key to the West at Pittsburgh. This victory, which
gave the United States a basis for claiming the Mississippi as a west-
ern boundary, dampened the ardor of the Indians and made war no
longer an amusement for them.
cured from the Spanish authorities and intended for the use of the Continental
army. Altho they probably used canoes or bateaux instead of flat-boats, it is
stated, that when they reached the falls of the Ohio, in the spring of 1777, they
were obliged to unload their boats and carry their cargo around the falls. The
success of their trip gave an impetus to the flat-boat trade, which rapidly increased
in magnitude, and which, except during temporary suspension arising from Spanish
hostility continued for many years.
88 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
In ITS! another expedition was sent againsl the Indians. II was
organized under the command of General Brodhead, consisting of
about •'!()() men, crossed the Ohio at. Wheeling, attacked the Delaware
Indians in Ohio and destroyed several of their towns. In the latter
part of the Revolution additional attacks were planned against Wheel-
ing. An attack planned in 1781 was abandoned for some reason. A
contemplated attack in the summer of 1782 was thwarted. About 300
Indians accompanied by Simon Girty and commanded by a British of-
ficer named Caldwell moved toward Wheeling but suddenly dispersed
to defend their homes, after hearing a false report that General Clarke
was invading their country.
The last siege of Fort Henry occurred in September, 1782, and has
sometimes been regarded as the last battle of the Revolutionary. The
attack was made by forty irregular British soldiers and 230 Indians
under the command of Captain Bradt, who apparently did not regard
the surrender of Cornwallis as the end of the war. The attack was so
sudden that there was barely time for the people to repair to the fort
after they had received warning from the commandant. The enemy
began by the demand of an immediate surrender, which was refused.
Having learned by experience that rushes against the stockade walls
were not likely to be successful, the enemy remained beyond rifle range
until dark. During this delay the garrison was fortunate in receiving
small reinforcements from the captain and crew of a boat from Pitts-
burgh which was loaded with cannon balls for the garrison at Lewis-
ville.
During the night the savages tried more than a score of times to
set tire to the fort by firing hemp placed against the palisades, but
fortunately the hemp was too damp to burn. They next tried to break
in the gate by assaults with logs but were unsuccessful. They then
decided to burn the cabin of Colonel Zane (located near the fort), from
which they had been annoyed during the attack by shots fired by
Colonel Zane and his family, but again their attempt failed.
The story of Elizabeth Zane's bravery in this connection is well
known. Ebenezer Zane's cabin stood very near to the fort. He con-
sidered it near enough to be successfully defended and he was anxious
to hold it, as it was believed that the enemy would burn all the houses
in their power as they had done in 1777. Two white men and a negro
remained in the cabin with Zane. While the attack was delayed, the
discovery was made that a keg of powder which was needed in the fort
had been left in Zane's cabin. To get it while scores of Indians were
within shooting distance was extremely perilous, but several volunteers
offered themselves for the service. Among them was Elizabeth, daugh-
ter of Ebenezer Zane, and upon her insistence she was sent for the
powder. As she ran from the fort across the open space to the cabin,
the Indians saw her but refrained from firing, simply exclaiming con-
temptuously, "A squaw." But when she emerged from the cabin door
a few minutes later with the powder in a tablecloth that had been tied
around her waist by her father, the purpose of her mission was suspected
and bullets struck all about her as she ran, but she fortunately escaped
harm and safely entered the fort.
Finally the Indians jeered at what they supposed was a wooden
cannon (but what was a real cannon) mounted on one of the bastions
where they could easily see it. Doubting the genuineness of the cannon
they challenged the garrison to fire it. Then, taking possession of an
empty cabin near the fort, they proceeded to make night hideous with
their leaps and yells. Suddenly in the midst of their howls their revelry
was stopped by a cannon ball which broke a joist and precipitated the
entire howling crowd to the floor below. Instigated by the repeated
firing of the cannon thereafter they decided to make a cannon of their
own for reply. Improvising a siege gun from a hollow log, wrapping
it with chains from a neighboring blacksmith's shop, and loading it
with cannon balls taken from the boat at the river's edge, they adroitly
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 89
aimed i1 a1 the gate of the fori and applied fire to the powder. Dis
eouraged by the resull of the explosion which left some of them wounded
by splinters and did no harm to the fort, they retired and unsuccess-
fully turned their attention to Rice's fort in the vicinity.
The following traditional story of the end of the siege is interest-
ing. "Girty, finding that all his efforts to reduce the works proved
abortive, discontinued his fire, again summoned the commandant to
surrender, promising him at the same time that if they complied with
the conditions of the proclamation of the English governor, Hamilton.
of Detroit, and laid down their arms, the lives of all should be spared.
This offer the Virginians peremptorily rejected. While the negotiations
between Zane and Girty were in progress, the restless warriors, some
of whom had seen French artillery in Canada, found a hard, hollow
maple log and resolved to convert it into a siege gun with which to
batter down the gate of the fort. One end was tightly plugged, and
then they went into the smithshop, which stood near the fort, and
secured a number of log chains and traces which they wrapped around
their cannon to add to its strength. Then a touch-hole was made and
they dragged the gun to the high hill in the rear of the fort, where it
was heavily charged with powder and loaded with stones and such
pieces of iron as they had been able to find about the cabins outside
of the fort. Then the great gun was trained upon the gate of the fort
and a large body of the savages gathered around to witness the result
of their first experiment in artillery tactics. The fire was applied — the
cannon was shivered into a thousand fragments and about twenty of
the. anxious Indian warriors went suddenly to their long homes. The
survivors made an instantaneous retreat which neither the threats nor
entreaties of the disappointed Girty were able to arrest."
At the close of the Revolution the negotiations for the extension
of the American western boundaries to the Mississippi were greatly
facilitated by the success of the operations in the West during the war.
The Lord North proposition to hold the Ohio valley as a barrier by
recognizing the independence of the Indians in that region had little
chance of adoption. The Indian chiefs, when informed by the gov-
ernor of Canada (in July, 1783) that the war was over, were reluctant
to stop the fighting, and they remained sour and disappointed. It was
evident that they would not immediately cease to give trouble to the
advancing settlers in the new era of an awakening life in the West.
During the Revolution, the older settlements grew and some new
ones were made. Settlements and population continued to multiply
west of Harper's Ferry along the Potomac and up the South Branch.
Shepherdstown was a busy industrial town through which there was
much travel and traffic and for many years thereafter it continued to
maintain its position as a center of trade. During the war it had many
industries, and few places rendered more useful and valuable service
to the cause. "Clothing was made; shoes, hats, rifles, shotbags, and
all other military accoutrements; wagons, saddles and many other things
were manufactured for the use of the soldiers. The town was like a
hive of industrious bees. The humming of looms ; the whir of numerous
spinning wheels; the marching of militia and state troops; the lumber-
ing off of wagons loaded with provisions; the markets held in the vil-
lage; and the constant stream of pack horses, into and out of the town;
with now and then the arrival of a half-spent express rider with news
from the seat of war, must have made it a lively and noisy little center.
Sometimes a long line of prisoners would pass through the place, strictly
guarded by the Continental soldiers in blue and buff, or in one of the
picturesque uniforms adopted by the state troops."
The new county of Berkeley, including all the territory now em-
braced in Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan, was formed from Frederick
county in 177'_\ The town of Batli (Berkeley Springs) was incorpo-
90 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
rated in 1776 and laid off into lots a year later.2 Martinsburg (named
in honor of Colonel T. B. Martin) was established in October, 1778, by
act of the Assembly (of 1777), which also named seven timstees in
whom the titles to lots were vested. The first sheriff was Adam Stephen,
who was constituted and appointed by a commission from the governor
for Berkeley county on the 18th day of April, 1772.
Tradition relates an animated contest that took place between Sheriff
Adam Stephen and Jacob Hite, Esq., in relation to fixing the seat of
justice for this county and by which the latter lost his life. Hite con-
tended for the location thereof on his own land at what is now called
Leetown, in the county of Jefferson. Stephen successfully advocated
Martinsburg. Hite became so disgusted and dissatisfied that he sold
out his fine estate and removed to the frontier of South Carolina. "His
removal proved fatal; for he had not long settled in that State before
the Indians murdered him and several of his family in the most shock-
ing and barbarous manner. ' '
The first court was held in the dwelling house of Edward Beeson,
situated on the land now owned by Mr. A. J. Thomas, at the north end
of the city. The building was a rude log house and consisted of one
story and a half. The first court house erected was built of stone, and
located where the present fine structure now stands.
In the Middle New river region settlement continued to expand.
The first important settlement on the Bluestone tributary of the New
river was made by Mitchell Clay in 1775 at Clover Bottom (five miles
north of Princeton). A settlement on the site of Alderson was made
in 1775-77 by Rev. John Alderson a Baptist minister from Rockingham
county. Here he organized a Baptist church in 1781. In 1778 Thomas
Ingles and family located in Wright's valley near the site of Bluefield;
but finding himself too dangerously near the Indians' trail from the
head of Tug of Sandy southward across East river mountain to Wolf's
creek and Walker's creek settlements, he soon removed to Burke's Gar-
den. In 1780 the Davidson and Bailey families located at Beaver Pond
Spring, a branch of the Bluestone — where they built a fort, battled
with the Indians and maintained their position on the border until
the close of the Indian wars in 1795. In the same year John Toney
settled at the mouth of East river at Montreal (now Glenlyn). John
and Christian Peters settled on the site of Peterstown in 1783 — a year
later than the settlement of Capt. George Pearis at Pearisburg on land
entered in 1780 by William Ingles. The influx of population was in-
creased during the Revolution by the arrival of immigrant Tories from
North Carolina (including David Hughes who settled on Sugar run
in 1780) and at the close of the Revolution by American and Hessian
soldiers seeking new homes.
By the construction of Fort Randolph at Point Pleasant the New
river and Greenbrier settlements were protected from larger bands of
Ohio Indians although they still suffered from smaller bands who evaded
the frontier defenses. The murder of Cornstalk at Point Pleasant in
1777 incited new Indian hostilities which lasted long after the Revolu-
tion, bringing upon the pioneer settlers the horrors of savage vengeance
and retarding the advance of the frontier lines of settlement. In 1778
Fort Randolph was attacked by a large force of Indians who being
compelled to withdraw started toward the New river settlements which
were saved only by timely warning. In 1783 Indians destroyed the
settlement of Mitchell Clay, but they were pursued along the old trail
2 The springs at old "Bath" are historic, their use as a health resort dating
back to Washington 's time. They were originally owned by Lord Fairfax, and in
1776 the tract of land including the spring was set apart by an act of the Vir-
ginia legislature as a health resort under the control of 14 trustees. Washington,
Lord Fairfax, and other noted men of their time had cottages there. The locality
was then reached by the Bath or Warm Spring road, which after crossing the
Shenandoah Valley from Washington enters the Hancock quadrangle at Hedges-
ville and passes over the hilly country around the north end of Meadow Branch
Mountains.
92 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
lioiii the Bluestoiie across Plat Top mountain and over the divide be-
tween the Guyandotte and Coal river along the top of Cherry Pond
mountain and were overtaken near the mouth oi' Pond fork (in Boone
county). In the tight that followed many fell before the fire of the
pursuers and their backs furnished strips of skin used as souvenir
razor-straps for years later.
The problems which tested the spirit and endurance of the frontiers-
men of this period is illustrated by the story of Mrs. Margaret Hanley
Paulee who starting with her husband and son and others, in Sep-
tember, 1779, from Monroe county to go to Kentucky/1 was captured
by a party of Shawnee Indians about five miles from the mouth of East
river and taken to their town at Chillicothe and finally, after her ransom
in 1782, returned home through the wilderness via Pittsburgh with
eight other ransomed captives.
In Greenbrier county, which was created in 1777, new settlers ar-
rived in 1778 and 1780 and continued to arrive thereafter. In October,
1776, from the District of West Augusta was formed the counties of
Youghiogheny, Monongalia and Ohio. Monongalia included all the ter-
ritory drained by the Monongahela in Virginia and considerable terri-
tory in the southwest part of Pennsylvania. Its first county seat was
on the plantation of Theophilus Phillips (two miles from the site of
Geneva, Pennsylvania), which was located in the most thickly popu-
lated part of the county. During the Revolution the settlers manned
the feeble stockade forts against Indian attacks, at the same time their
ranks furnished men to participate in the campaigns and battles of
the East.
At the close of the Revolution, the settlement of the boundary dis-
pute with Pennsylvania reduced the bounds of Monongalia and neces-
sitated the removal of the county seat. Prom 1774 to 1780 Virginia
courts continued to sit on territory claimed by Virginia in western
Pennsylvania. An agreement on the boundary was finally reached by
negotiations of 1779 which were ratified by Virginia in June, 1780.
The temporary survey of the Mason and Dixon line was completed in
1781, and the permanent survey in 1784 (soon followed by the comple-
tion of the survey of the western boundary of Pennsylvania northward
to Lake Erie in 1785-86). In April, 1782, before the Pennsylvania-
Virginia boundary line was run through Monongalia, and therefore
prior to the regular administration of civil government in the disputed
territory, confusion was threatened ; and between the Youghiogheny and
the Monongahela, and in the larger part of "Washington county, there
was (among the settlers opposed to the transfer to Pennsylvania) a strong
sentiment expressed in conventions favorable to a proposed new state
including the territory west of the Alleghenies from the Kanawha to
Lake Erie — a resurrection of the old Walpole grant of 1772 (the abor-
tive Yaitdalia). It wTas counteracted by an act of Pennsylvania, passed
December, 1782, but was revived in 1794 by some of the leaders of the
Whiskey Insurrection.
In 1782 the county seat of Monongalia was located at Morgantown
by an act of the legislature which made Zackwell Morgan's the place of
holding court and designated Morgan's and Bush's Port (now Buck-
hannon) as voting places. At Morgantown was built a frame court
house which by 1802 was replaced by a brick structure.
The region stretching along the head streams of Cheat and Tygart,
forming the southwestern part of the Monongahela drainage system,
received some of the earliest settlers who passed over the divide from
3 In September, 1779, John Pauley and family and others set out from the
Greenbrier section to go to Kentucky via the hunters trail. They crossed New
river at Horse Ford near the mouth of Rich creek, then down New and up East
river which was the shortest route to Cumberland Gap (there were no settlements
then on East river). This route was via Bluefield, Bluestone-Clinch divide to
the Clinch and down Clinch and via Powell's river and was the route usually
followed by Greenbrier-New section to Kentucky.
EISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 93
the older-settled bordering region of Pocahontas. The seal tried settle-
ments along Tygard's valley, in which three new forts were buill in
1777, were attacked by Indians late in 1777 and again in 177!), 178U,
1781 and 1782 — after which this valley remained free from Indian
invasions, with one exception, in May, 1791. The most disastrous in-
vasion of 1781 began by an attack on a party of men who were return-
ing from a visit to Clarksburg to obtain deeds from the land commis-
sioners, and it closed by an attack which almost broke up the settlement
on Leading creek.
On upper Cheat a new settlement Mas begun on the site of St. George
in 1770' by John Minear, who, after building a stockade, moved his
family and led a colony of others from the South Branch. Here he
promptly built a saw mill which was probably the first one west of the
mountains. Soon thereafter small colonies were established at various
points along Cheat. They usually led their cows and brought a few
utensils and other "plunder" on packhorses. On the revival of the
Indian war in 1777 the Parsons colony, which had been established
above St. George in 1772-74, built a fort and soon thereafter a grist mill
and a saw mill.
During the first four years these settlements prospered and were
considerably increased by the arrival of new immigrants who brought
with them horses, cows and other domestic animals. Although some-
what secluded and less exposed to Indian attacks than other parts of
the frontier, they were not free from anxiety. Finally in March, 1780.
while several St. George settlers had gone to take their produce to market
at Winchester in order to obtain salt, iron, ammunition and tools, they
were attacked by Indians who, after crossing the Ohio near Parkers-
burg, had besieged the fort on Hacker's creek and disturbed the set-
tlers of Buckhannon and Tygart's valley.
In April, 1781, Minear and others went to Clarksburg to obtain
their land patents from the commissioners of Monongalia and while
returning, just before crossing the Valley river below Philippi, were
attacked by Indians who murdered Minear and then turned south and
murdered settlers on Leading creek. A year later one of three small
forces of militia from Hampshire county sent by the governor of Vir-
ginia to protect the border settlements was stationed on Cheat near
St. George. After 1781 these settlements were free from Indian in-
vasions.
After the expedition of Lord Dunmore there was a revival of the
movement of settlers westward from the Monongahela toward the upper
Ohio — a movement which continued at intervals throughout the Revolu-
tion. The chief outpost of defense was Fort Henry which was besieged
by the Indians in 1777. In 1780, near the site of Triadelphia the set-
tlers erected Fort Link which was attacked in 1781. Ohio county was
formed in 1776. Its first courts were held at Black's cabin on Short
creek near the site of West Liberty.
To the settlements farther up the river came new homeseekers in
1774-76, largely from New England. Below Wheeling creek in the
present limits of Marshall county, new settlements were made in 1777.
CHAPTER IX
NEW CALL OP THE FRONTIER: AWAKENING OF THE WEST
i
At the close of the Revolution, Washington, the prophet of the West,
who had been interested in the trans-Allegheny region for more than
three decades, again directed his attention to the region "beyond the
Alleghenies and to the problems of the West. He became a promoter
of expansion of internal improvements, recognizing that the awaken-
ing and encouragement of the West was the hope of the East. In-
stead of resting peacefully in slippers and armchair before a Mount
Vernon fireplace, after retirement from the honors with which he had
been loaded, he promptly decided to make a journey into the western
wilds, partly to look after his neglected farms in western Pennsylvania
and partly to obtain information in regard to the best possible routes
for communication between East and West. The leader of the ragged
armies became a leader in facing the problems of expansion and unifica-
tion. His anxious eyes were looking at the doors of the Allegheny
wall and specially to the waterways which might be utilized in secur-
ing a commercial union of the East with the West. While contemplat-
ing national problems, he had the spirit of the West, which he desired to
open to the flood-tides of pioneers and to weld to the East by the bands
of commerce.
He still had faith in the trans-Allegheny region in which he had
learned his earliest lessons in war — first as commander of the Virginia
expedition of 1754, next in the march with "Bulldog" Braddock in
1755, and finally as leader of the vanguard of Forbes' army to the
capture of Fort Duquesne. To him it was no encumbrance. To study
its problems and to render additional aid in awakening it from the
sleep of ages, he made his last ride over the Alleghenies — a remarkable
ride which involved many inconveniences and hardships, including one
night in the rain amid the Alleghenies 300 miles from home and with
only a cloak for a cover. His diary of this trip and its affiliated cor-
respondence reflect the enterprising heart of the man who first saw
the light of a better day for America, and show he was the greatest
man in America. Leaving his home on September 1, 1784, a day after
Lafayette had completed a two weeks' visit with him, he traveled via
Leesburg and Smickers' Gap to the Shenandoah, thence via Charles-
town, Back creek (near Martinsburg), Bath (Berkeley Springs) and
Old Town to Cumberland, thence over the worn path of Braddock 's
road to Simpson's (near Connellsville) and thence northwest to his
lands on a branch of Chartiers creek (north of Washington, Pennsyl-
vania) .
At Bath he was shown a model of Rumsey's new steamboat con-
structed for sending rapid current and from it he obtained a new idea
of revolutionizing the trade of the West and the awakening of America.
As he crossed the Alleghenies, which he hoped to annihilate more
effectively than Braddock 's road had done, he saw evidence of the great
migration which had just begun.
At Simpsons where still stands the old mill which may be regarded
as a monument to the unknown Washington who dreamed of the new
America, he received an odd Scotch-Irish delegation of rough frontiers-
men who had squatted on his rich land in western Pennsylvania and
against them he became plaintiff in suits. This is an interesting specific
instance of a western contest for squatter 's rights and tomahawk claims.
94
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 95
Here he learned for the first time that the survey of the Mason and
Dixon line westward from the corner of Maryland had left the mouth
of Cheat river in Pennsylvania thus disappointing his plans for an all
Virginia route to the Ohio via Cheat, the "West Fork and Monongahela
and the Little Kanawha.
On September 22, after spending several days in the neighborhood
of "Washington, Pennsylvania, "Washington started on his return trip.
Stopping at Beasontown (Uniontown) to engage an attorney to prosecute
his suit, he learned that the "West Fork of the Monongahela had its
headwaters very near to the waters of the Little Kanawha, and that
Cheat river was navigable to Dunkard's bottom from which a road was
already marked across the mountain to the Potomac with a view to
obtain further information in regard to waterway route he sent his
baggage back by the old route and decided to return part of the way
by an unknown route, southward via Pt. Marion, Pennsylvania, and
across the dividing ridge toward the site of Morgantown.
At the surveyor's office at the house of John Pierpont (about four
miles from Morgantown) he stayed all night, and sent for Zackwell
Morgan from whom he received information in regard to three routes
east of the Potomac. Here also he met Albert Gallatin who possibly
received from him the first inspiration for a system of internal im-
provements.
After leaving Pierponts he crossed Cheat at Ice's Ferry (the old
McCulloch's landing), followed the "New road" eastward over Laurel
Hill to Brucetnn, thence southward and eastward to the North Branch,
crossing the Yough near the site of "Webster Switch on the B. and 0.
railroad where a bridge was later erected on the old pioneer "Moore-
field Road."1 From the North Branch he continued southeastward
to the upper waters of the South Branch (above Moorefield) and thence
through Brook's Gap to Staunton, thence eastward and northeastward
to his home. Immediately upon his return to Mount Vernon he drew
a plan for commercial union of the Monongahela with Virginia by the
Potomac river route. Referring to certain objections of Philadelphia
merchants "Washington said that there were in western Pennsylvania
100,000 inhabitants, many of whom thought of demanding separation
from Pennsylvania in case the most practical water communication with
the sea board should be kept closed on account of selfish interests, and
that they had a right to demand that Pennsylvania should open the
communication which would benefit them most. In presenting the whole
plan to Governor Harrison on October 10, 1784, he also referred to the
unfortunate jealousy of the Potomac region felt by the James river
region.
Largely as a result of "Washington's efforts Virginia and Maryland
in 1785 authorized the formation of a company to open the navigation
of the Potomac and to construct a highway from the uttermost western
waters, and requested Pennsylvania to improve the navigation of any
stream in her territory which was found to be the best avenue between
the Potomac and the Ohio. "Washington was selected as the president
of the Potomac Company which was organized in the same year, and
he selected Mr. Rumsey as superintendent of its construction which was
soon begun. Considering the spirit of emigration and other signs of a
1 Washington followed the "new road to Sandy creek," but instead of fol-
lowing it to its connection with Braddock's Road, east of the winding ridge, he
crossed Sandy creek at James Spurgeons and followed the route of McCulloch's
path southeast across the glades of Sandy and of Yough, upon which Governor
Johnson of Maryland had settled two or three families of Palatines, to Longstons
on the North Branch of the Potomac. At that time a good road from Dunker's
Bottom via Charles Friends was suggested as feasible.
At the same time Maryland was extending a road westward from the mouth of
Savage creek via Friends to connect at the state line with a road which Monongalia
county was extending eastward from Dunker's Bottom. Before 1786 a "state
road" from Winchester via Romney to Morgantown was authorized by act of Vir-
ginia Assembly. Its extension to the Ohio to the mouth of Fishing creek was
authorized in 1786 and to the mouth of Graves creek in 1795.
o
o
a.
w
E
to
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 97
uew awakening, he wrote Richard Henry Lee (on December 14, 1785)
suggesting the wisdom of congressional action to have the western waters
explored and chartered and to mark a smooth road to the West to make
easy the way "before we make any stir about the navigation of the
Mississippi."
Other phases of the awakening of the West which were important
events in the early development of western Virginia, or events in west-
ern Virginia in which western Virginia felt a live interest, and in which
Washington's influence and service were also of great use were:
(1) State cessions of trans-Ohio territory to the national government;
(2) Organization of the northwest territory in 1787;
(3) Efforts at adjustment of the Indian problem in the new territory, finally
resulting in the Wayne's victory of 1794 and the treaty of Greenville in 1795;
(4) Provision in the Jay's treaty of 1794 for withdrawal of the British from
Detroit ard other frontier posts;
(5) Negotiating on the question of the navigation of the lower Mississippi,
resulting in the temporary adjustment of 1795 with Spain — an adjustment which
prepared the way for the later permanent adjustment by the acquisition of
Louisiana;
(6) The establishment of a post office at Morgantown and Wheeling in 1794,
and of mail boats on the Ohio iii 1795;
(7) The opening of Zanes' Trace as a direct mail route from Wheeling via
Zanesville, Lancaster and Chillicothe to the northern bank of the Ohio opposite
Limestone (Maysville) Ky. in 1796; and
(8) The admission of Kentucky and Tennessee as states — (Kentucky in 1792,
and Tennessee in 1796) ;
Western Virginia had a special interest in the Indian question
which was the storm center of western politics for over a decade after
the close of the Revolution. The territory east of the Ohio was still
not entirely free from danger of Indian raids after the treaty of Fort
Mcintosh negotiated in 1785, the expedition of George Rogers Clark
up the Wabash in 1786, the Harmar expedition of 1787-88, and the
treat}' of Fort Harmar in 1789. It could not feel sure of complete
safety until the Indians who swarmed the valley of the Wabash could
be confined to that valley. With a view to greater security for the entire
Ohio frontier, President Washington, in 1791, authorized an expedi-
tion which, starting from the mouth of the Kentucky river, pushed
through woods of the Indiana country and attacked the Weas towns
(near the site of Lafayette, Indiana), and destroyed the growing corn
at Ouiatanon. Soon thereafter, in October, 1791, he authorized an
expedition which advanced northward from Cincinnati under command
of St. Clair, governor of the Northwest Territory — an expedition which
terminated in an inglorious defeat, resulting in new Indian raids and
bold demands for retention of the land north of the Ohio and west of
the Muskingum.
Finally Washington appointed to the command on the Ohio the
famous General Anthony Wayne, who promptly began the active prepara-
tion of a new army at Fort Washington (Cincinnati), in 1793 (after
failure of negotiations) moved northward into the Indian country and
built Fort Greenville, and in the summer of 1794 advanced again,
erected Fort Defiance, and defeated the Indians who attacked him at
Fallen Timbers on the Maumee. The result of this expedition, and of
Wayne's victory, was the Treaty of Greenville of 1795, which, together
with the surrender of the British posts at Detroit and at other points
along the Canadian boundary, gave the hope of permanent security to
the upper Ohio region.
All forts built between 1783 and 1795 (a period in which the com-
munities were frequently troubled by wandering bands of Indians)
were built on the Kanawha or near the mouth of the Little Kanawha.
Those on the Kanawha were :
Fort Tackett, erected after 178?., one-half mile below the mouth of Coal river
in Jefferson district, Kanawha county;
Fort Lee, erected in 1788 on the site of the present city of Charleston;
Vol. 1—7
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 99
Fort Cooper, erected in 1702, eight miles from the mouth of the Kanawha in
what is now Cooper district, Kanawha county.
Near the mouth of the Kanawha, opposite the foot of Six-Mile Island in the
Ohio river, now in Robinson district, Mason county, Fort Robinson was constructed
in 1794.
Those near the mouth of the Little Kanawha were :
Fort Neal (Neal's Station) erected after 17S3, one mile from the mouth of the
Little Kanawha, nearly opposite the city of Parkersburg;
Fort Belleville built in 1785-86 by Captain Joseph Wood and ten men hired
in Pittsburgh as laborers for ;i year, on the site of the present village of Belle
ville, in Harris district, Wood county;
Fort Flinn, built in 1785 at the mouth of Lee creek in Harris district, Wood
county.
The spirit of the new era of nationality and expansion was felt in
the older communities. Although western development was retarded
for a time by the conditions of the critical period preceding the adop-
tion of a new constitution, and for a time thereafter by the fear of
Indian attacks on the western frontier, there was a steady growth in
the older settlements and an increasing movement to form new settle-
ments.
In the region which now constitutes the eastern panhandle, Middle-
town was established in 1787 and Drakesville in 1791. The increase of
settlement in Hampshire county is indicated by the establishment of
new towns: Watsontowh in 1787, and Springfield (at Cross Roads) in
1790. In 1786 the new county of Hardy was formed with the counly
seat at Moorefield which had been established on the land of Conrad
Moore in 1777.
In 1793 the alarm created by prowling bands along the upper
Kanawha and lower New was quieted by the organization of a company
of men under Captain Hugh Caperton of the Greenbrier section to
proceed to the Elk and to scout the country to the Ohio. After 1795
settlers from Greenbrier and the Kanawha began to occupy new lands
in the region which in 1818 was formed into the new county of
Nicholas (formed from Kanawha, Greenbrier and Randolph).
In Fayette near Montgomery a large tract of land was secured by
Henry Montgomery after his service in the Point Pleasant campaign
and was used by him as a stock farm. In the vicinity of Ansted the
earliest settlers were Baptist squatters who arrived about 1790. At
Sewell, Peter Bowyer settled in 1798 and established a ferry.
The Bullett lands including the site of Charleston were purchased
in 1788 by George Olendenin of Greenbrier who brought with him sev-
eral daring pioneers. Fort Clendenin was built in 1788. Attack upon
it by Indians in 1791 was the occasion of the famous historic ride of
".Mad Anne Bailey" up New river to Fort Union to secure needed
supplies.
Of all the celebrated characters of pioneer times, there were none more re-
markable than Anne Bailey, the pioneer heroine of the Great Kanawha valley. Her
maiden name was Hennis and she was born in Liverpool, England, in the year
1742. When she was in her nineteenth year, her parents both having died she
crossed the ocean to find relatives of the name of Bell, then (1761) residing near
Staunton, Virginia. Here soon after (1765) she wedded Richard Trotter, a dis-
tinguished frontiersman and a survivor of Braddock's defeat.
A cabin was reared near where Swope's Depot on the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railway now stands, and there in 1767 a son, William, was born. The year 1774
brought with it Dunmore 's War, and Richard Trotter enlisted in General Lewis'
army and at the battle of Point Pleasant, October 10, 1774, yielded up his life
in an attempt to plant civilization on the banks of the Ohio.
From the moment the widow heard of her husband's death, a strange, wild
fancy seemed to possess her, and she resolved to avenge his death. Leaving her
little' son to the care of a neighbor, Mrs. Moses Mann, she at once entered upon
a career which has no parallel in Virginia annals. Clad in the costume of the
border, she hastened away to the recruiting stations, where she urged enlistments
with all the earnestness which her zeal and heroism inspired. Then she became
a nurse, a messenger, a scout, and for eleven years she fearlessly dashed along
the whole western -border, going wherever her services required, and thus the wilder
ness road from Staunton to Point Pleasant was all familiar to her.
100 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
November 3, 1785, at Lewisburg, in Greenbrier county, she was married a
second time, her husband being John Bailey, a distinguished frontiersman from
the Roanoke river. Fort Lee was erected by the Clendenins on the present site of
the city of Charleston in 1788-89 and to it John Bailey and his heroic bride at
once removed.
In 1791, the fort was besieged by a large body of Indians, and to the terror
of the garrison, it was found that the supply of powder in the magazine was almost
exhausted. A hundred miles of wilderness lay between Fort Lee and Lewisburg,
the only place from which a supply of powder could come. Colonel George Clen-
denin, the commandant at Fort Lee, asked for volunteers to 'go to Lewisburg,
but not a soldier in that garrison would brave the task. Then was heard in a
female voice the words ' ' I will go, ' ' and every inmate of the fort recognized
the voice of Anne Bailey.
The fleetest horse in the stockade was brought out and the daring rider mounted
and disappeared in the forest. Onward she sped. Darkness and day were one to
her. It was a ride for life and there could be no stop. Lewisburg was reached;
there was but a short delay, and she was returning with two horses laden with
powder. The garrison in Fort Lee welcomed her return, and she entered it, as she
had left it, under a shower of balls. The men thus supplied, sallied forth and
forced the savages to raise the siege.
At Clendenin in 1789 the first court of the newly formed county was
held. By act of 1794 Charleston became a town. Below Charleston on
the Kanawha settlements were retarded. On December 12, 1791, Daniel
Boone (then a resident of the Kanawha) writing briefly concerning
conditions in the Valley said: "From the Pint (Point Pleasant) to
Alice (Elk) 60 miles; no inhabitants; from Alke to the Bote Yards
(mouth of Kelley's creek), 20 miles; all inhabited."2 In 1788 at the
mouth of Coal river, Lewis Tackett, who came with the Clendenins,
erected a fort — the only one between Fort Donnally and Point Pleasant.
In the same year his fort was destroyed by a band of Shawnees from
the Scioto. Not until twelve years later Stephen Teays came from
Virginia and established below Coalsmouth a ferry and an inn for
travellers between the East and the Ohio valley.
After 1794 settlements along the Kanawha above Coalsmouth de-
veloped rapidly. From the region at the. mouth Mason county was
formed in 1804. The new county was long retarded in development.
Point Pleasant which was first settled in 1774 on lands surveyed by
Washington four years earlier, did not grow for many years. Residents
had a superstition that the cruel murder of Cornstalk in 1777 had caused
a curse to rest upon the place.
2 While acting as Lieutenant-Colonel of the county, Boone, by letter to Gov.
Henry Lee, dated December 12th, 1791, reported the military establishments of
Kanawha as follows:
"For Kanaway county 68 privits Leonard Cuper Captain, at Pint plesent
17 men John Morris junior Insine at the Bote yards 17 men Two spyes or scutes
Will be necessary at the pint to sarch the Banks of the River at the Crosing places.
More would be Wanting if the could be aloude. Thos Spyes Must be Compoused of
the inhabitenee who Well Know the Woods and waters from the pint to Belleville
On mildes no inhabitenee also from the pint to Elke 60 mildes no inhabitenee from
Elke to the Bote yeards 20 Mildes all inhabited."
Boone was in the Kanawha Valley as early as 1774. When Lord Dunmore
organized his Shawnee campaign in 1774, he put Boone in command of_ three
garrisons — Fort Union (now Lewisburg), Donnally Fort, Stewart's Fort — in the
Greenbrier country, to protect the citizens in the rear of Gen. Lewis' army.
Much of Boone's time while he lived in the Kanawha Valley was spent in
locating and surveying lands. He was familiar with the geography and topography
of the whole country. He had traveled, and hunted, fought and trapped, up and
down all the streams and knew where the good lands lay.
Among other tracts, he located over 200,000 acres in two adjoining surveys be-
ginning where Boone Court House now stands, and running across the waters of
Guyandotte, Twelve Pole and Big Sandy, to the Kentucky line. These surveys
were made in 1795. The surveying party cut their names and the dates on beech
trees at several places on the route.
The following is a copy of an original report of a survey made by Daniel
Boone, at Point Pleasant in 1791 :
"June 14th 1791
"Laide of for WiReam Allin ten acres of Land Situate on the South Este Side
of Crucked Crick in the County of Conhawway and Bounded as followeth Viz
Beginning at a rad oke and Hickory thence North 56 West 23 poles to a Stake
thence South 56 Este 23 poles to a Stake thence South 34 West. 58 poles to the
Beginning Daniel Boone."
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 101
Following the Revolution, settlers in the region now included in
Mercer and McDowell counties had experiences with the Indians which
did not encourage the expansion of their settlements. Their difficulties
are illustrated by the following incidents:
Starting on the fall hunt with his sons on November 12, 1788, Captain Henry
Harmanw who, after a stay near Salem, North Carolina, had settled in New river
valley in 1758 a d later on Kimberling creek, met a party of Indians who fired
on him on the right bank of Tug Fork of Sandy in the present McDowell county
and after a bloody fight was compelled to return. In 1789 other raiding parties
came up Dry Pork of Big Sandy and attacked the settlers. In the fall of that
year a body of them came into the Bluestone and Clinch settlements, crossed East
river mountain to the waters of Clear fork of Wolf creek and after depreda-
tions returned via Flat Top mountain and North Fork of Tug Fork, carrying a
Mrs. Wiley to the Indian town of Chillieothe where she remained until September,
1792, when she returned home via the Kanawha and New rivers. In 1790 another
marauding party entered Bluestone and upper Clinch settlements and stole many
horses. In the spring of 1791, while Andrew Davidson had left his settlement at the
head of East River (nearly one-half mile from the east limits of Bluefields) to visit at
Smithfield (Drapers Meadows) from whence his father had moved about ten years
earlier; Indians captured his wife and children and took them to their town in
Ohio where the children were shot. On the route (near Logan court house) Mrs.
Davidson gave birth to a child which the Indians drowned the following day. She
remained in captivity till after Wayne's victory at Fallen Timbers. In 1792 while
with a party of militia in pursuit of a band of Indians who had stolen horses in
Bluestone and upper Clinch settlements, Samuel Lusk was captured in an attack
on a creek flowing into the Guyandotte and taken to the Ohio town (Chillieothe).
While the Indians were on their fall hunt in the region of the lakes in September
he escaped with Mrs. Wiley in a light canoe down the Scioto and up the southern
bank of the Ohio opposite to Gallipolis where a few French lived with whom they
took refuge. They feared to follow up Big Sandy or the Guyandotte. Lusk de-
cided to take no risks by attempt to return through Virginia mountains. He se-
cured passage on a passing push-boat bound for Pittsburgh. Thence he went to
Philadelphia where he found Major Joseph Cloyd of Back creek with whom he re-
turned home — about one month after his escape from Chillieothe. Mrs. Wiley declined
to go via Philadelphia and a few days after his departure started on her tiresome trip
up the Kanawha, and New to the home of her husband's people at Wiley's Falls in
(now) Giles county. Eichard Bailey a revolutionary soldier who had moved from
(now) Franklin county (then Bedford county) and settled in 1780 at Beaver Pond
Spring a branch of Bluestone, now in Mercer county and built " Davidson-Bailey
Fort" discovered in March that Indians had stolen his boy's calf (March, 1793).
Major Eobert Crockett military commander of Wythe county then at the head of
Clinch, gathered a party (including Lusk) and followed the Indians and overtook
them at their camp on the island at the mouth of Island creek (opposite Logan)
attacked the camp which rapidly dispersed (March 15) leaving their stolen horses
behind them.
Awaiting the cessation of dangers from Indians the beginning of
development along the Big Sandy was delayed for two decades after the
surveys made by George Washington along the Tug. In February, 1789,
however, the advance guard began to arrive from the East and at-
tempted the first settlement at the junction of the Tug and the Sandy
on the Vancouver tract 40 miles from any other settlement. Here on
an original survey made by Washington for John Fry about 1770, 10
men under Charles Vancouver built a fort, raised some vegetables and
deadened about 18 acres, but the appropriation of their horses by the
Indians prevented the completion of their plans to raise a crop. Soon
thereafter a second settlement was attempted near the mouth of Pigeon.
The earliest settlement in the present limits of Mingo county was made
at the mouth of Gilbert on the Guyandotte after 1795 by French
peasants under a man named Swan whose purpose was to start a vine-
yard there, followed by another on the Tug (at the mouth of Pond
creek) by the Leslies, but all the inhabitants of these places were driven
away by Indians. Provision for protection of later settlers along the
waters of Big Sandy was made by the construction of blockhouses in
1790, after which the Indians ceased to give trouble in that region,
although they stole horses in the Scioto valley as late as 1802. The
Leslies who returned in 1791 and located at John creek were the earliest
permanent settlers in the Sandy valley. They were soon followed by
many others including the Marcums on Mill creek (near Cassville).
Into the old District of West Augusta settlers came in large numbers
102 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
after the Revolution. Both in the Monongahela country and along the
upper Ohio stockade forts and block houses were built for protection,
and roads which began to emerge frequently followed the tops of ridges
in order to avoid Indian ambushes in the hollows. In 1785 by an act
of the legislature, Morgantown was established as ;i town on fifty acres
of land belonging to Zackwell Morgan and vested in rive trustees with
power to lay out lots for sale and to locate streets. To stimulate the
growth of the town the act of incorporation required every purchaser
of a lot to erect upon it in four years a house at least eighteen feet
square with a chimney of stone or brick. In 1788 an extension of three
years was allowed on account of Indian hostilities, and in 1792 a further
extension was granted because of difficulty of procuring building ma-
terials. The final Indian attack in this vicinity occurred on the site of
Blacksville in 1791. Along the eastern border in spite of the Indian
attacks on the settlement at Dunkard Bottom in 1778 and 1788 new
clearings prepared the way for the later county of Preston. Near the
Maryland boundary in 1784 Francis and William Deakins selected
numerous choice tracts of land. By 1786 new pioneers located at
Brandonville and in the vicinity of Aurora. In 1787 at Salem a Ger-
man settlement was made. Settlements were increased in 1789 by ar-
rivals from the South Branch and later by immigrants from Ireland
and Pennsylvania. From 1785 the pioneer clearings slowly widened
into fai-ms. In 1784 Monongalia was divided by the legislature, and
Harrison county was erected from that part south of a line drawn from
Ford Fork on the Maryland boundary to the headwaters of Big Sandy,
thence down .the Big Sandy and Tygart's to the West Fork, thence up
West Fork to Bingamon creek and up Bingamon to t he Ohio county
boundary. To the new county was refunded her proportion of the cost
of erecting the public buildings in Monongalia. The county seat was
located at Clarksburg which, although a mere group of log cabins in
1781, was becoming a settled community and in 1785 it had several
stores and was incorporated as a town. In 1788, and at other dates, it
was visited by Bishop Francis Asbury who in his official capacity had
journeyed horseback from North Carolina via Greenbrier county and
Tygart's valley. In 1790 it had primitive roads connecting it with both
East and West.
Midway between Morgantown and Clarksburg the basis for the later
county of Marion wras laid by the arrival of many families who settled
in the vicinity of the site of Fairmont and at other points. At the head
of West Fork the first settlement on the site of Weston was made by
Henry Flesher who in 1784, after an attack by a party of Indians,
discreetly took refuge for a time at the settlement made by Thomas
Hughes and others on Hacker's creek.
Few actual settlements were made in the upper part of the West
Fork valley until after the treaty of Greenville in 1795. Colonel Jack-
son was the first to enter this field. He secured a large boundary of
land where Jacksonville now stands, in Lewis county; also a smaller
tract at the forks of the river. In .1797 he settled four families by the
name of Collins on his larger tract, giving each fifty acres of choice
land. They were to remain until the colony was permanent and open
a "Bridle Path" to the Flesher settlement, at Weston. These settlers
were hardy and gave their names to the township known as "Collins
Settlement." The Collins were afterwards followed by the Bennetts:
William, Joseph, Abram and Jacob, who came over the Seneca Trail
from the Upper Potomac. The Bennetts were fruit growers and propa-
gated trees from seed brought from the Potomac. They left numerous
descendants in the country.
Among the early pioneers who found their way into Northwestern Virginia
after the close of the war of 1776 was Henry MeWhorter. He was born in Orange
County, New York, November 13th. 1760. His father, a linen-weaver by trade,
hailed from Northern Ireland and settled in New York after the close of the French
and Indian war.
HISTORY HI' WEST VIRGINIA U):i
Early in life he married a Miss Fields, and soon afterwards, with her and one
or two children, sought a home in the wilds of Northwestern Virginia, settling on
McKcnsies Run, a branch of Hackers Creek, in Harrison county, in 17s I Here he
erected his cabin and cleared land, but three years later moved to mar Wes1 'a Fort,
where "Jane Lew" now stands, and on the south bank of the murkey Hackers
Creek, within a few hundred yards east of West's Fort, built a house of hewn logs,
where he resided for 37 years. This house — 1 8 Vi feet by 24 feet, of most sub-
stantial construction, of pioneer characteristics, with fireplace 6 feet 10 inches wide
and 3 feet 6 inches high — is the oldest house in the historic Hackers Creek Valley,
if not in Central West Virginia.
After settling here McWhorter experienced many privations from Indian wai
fare, and underwent all the horrors and hardships of pioneer life upon the border.
Being a millwright by trade he erected near his residence, on the banks of tin'
creek, the first mill in what are now Lewis and Upshur Comities. To this mill came
the settlers from a radius of many miles to get their eorn ground, and to this
mill came the settlers from the Euckliannon settlement following the blazed path
leading through the wilderness from one settlement to the other. And it is a tra-
ditional fact that no customer of his ever returned home "hungry and cold." It
is still related of him that at one time the settlements were suffering from a scarcity
of breadstuff, and parties came from distant settlements and offered him over $1.00
per bushel for all the eorn stored in his mill, which offer he. refused, giving as his
reason that if he did so his neighbors would suffer.
He made frequent trips to Fort Pitt (now Pittsburgh) in flat boats, via the
West Fork and Monongahela rivers, exchanging furs, jerked venison, etc., for am-
munition and other home necessities.
On one of these trips he was accompanied by Jesse Hughes, the mo9t noted
Indian scout and fighter iu Western Virginia (of whom local tradition says "he
spared neither age nor sex when on an Indian Killing").
The earlier settlement on the Buckhannon was broken up in 1782
by Indians who also destroyed the fort.
The first settlement in the present limits of Barbour was probably
made in 1780 two miles northwest of Philippi — soon followed by other
scattered settlements, for which there were many grants of land, espe-
cially in 1786-88 and thereafter. As early as 1787, when the Randolph
county court ordered the survey of a road from Beverly to Sandy creek,
Daniel Booth probably lived near the site of Philippi, but the original
owner of the land on which the town stands was William Anglin who
probably settled there as early as 1783. The place was called Anglin 's
Ford in 1789 when the Randolph court ordered the survey of the road
to connect it with Jonas Friend's (the site of Elkins). The place was
later called Booth's Ferry, named for Mr. Booth, who, about 1800,
established or owned the old ferry which was not abandoned until after
the completion of the wooden bridge at Philippi in 1852.
Randolph county was formed from Harrison county in 1787 by act
of October, 1786. At that time it included half of Barbour, half of
Upshur, much of Webster and all of Tucker. At its first county court
held in 1787 a county seat contest between the people of Leading creek
and the people of the vicinity of the later town of Beverly was decided
in favor of Beverly. In 1788 plans were adopted for a court house
which was not completed until ten years later and was not used after
1803. In December, 1790, Beverly was established as a town, by the
Virginia assembly, on lands owned by James Westfall.
In 1787 and 1789 these Cheat settlements were again invaded by the
Indians. Among the most prominent men of the county after Cant.
James Parsons and John Minear was the industrious James Goff who
settled on Cheat near the Preston county line by 1786 and at one time
owned the greater part of the land from the .Minear claim to Rowles-
burg. Others prominent were the Dumires who settled in the eastern
part of the county above the upper tributaries of Horse Shoe run and
the Losh family, one of whom built a grist mill on Horse Shoe run
at an early date.
Perhaps one of the most prominent men in the community was
Samuel Bonnifield, who, after the Revolution, in which lie served,
crossed the Alleghenies from Maryland and settled on Cheat two miles
from St. George, and in 1796 became justice of the peace in Randolph
county — an office which he held continuously for fifty years except dur-
ing his period of four terms as sheriff. He died on Horseshoe Run four
104 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
miles from St. George, in February, 1848, at the advanced age of 96.
His house, built in 1823, was still standing a few years ago and was
used as a stable.
In the region of the upper Ohio the large advance guard of pioneers
of 1785-87 was followed by a cessation of land entries until 1795 when
.entries were redoubled in number by a " new irruption. ' ' West Liberty
was incorporated as a town in 1787. It was the county seat of Ohio
county until Brooke county was formed in 1797. Wheeling, which was
laid out into town lots in 1793, established as a town by legislative act
in 1795, became the county seat in 1797.
To the settlements farther up the river to which new home seekers
had come in 1774-76 (largely from New England), several patents were
located from 1785 to 1787. After 1787 there was a cessation of entries
until 1795, after which the advance guard was augmented rapidly.
Charleston (later Wellsburg) which was laid out in 1790 and estab-
lished by act of legislature in 1791, became the county seat of the new
county of Brooke at its formation in 1797. In the region now included
in Hancock county the earliest settlement was made about 1776 by Mr.
Holliday at Holliday's Cove. In 1783 and thereafter other settlements
were begun by soldiers of the Revolution. In 1783 George Chapman
located 1,000 acres including the site of New Cumberland. After 1790
and especially after 1795 arrivals increased. In 1800 Hugh Pugh lo-
cated 400 acres including the site of Fairview.
Below Wheeling creek settlements, now included within the limits
of Marshall county were made in 1785, 1790 and thereafter. In 1798
Elizabeth (now Moundsville) was laid out on Tomlinson's land fac-
ing the ferry across the Ohio 'which was established in the same year.
In the territory later included in Wetzel county the first clearing was
made by Edward Doolin, who about 1780, patented and entered upon
lands at the mouth of Fishing creek including the site of New Martins-
ville. After his death, resulting from an Indian attack upon his home
in 1784, part of his land was bought by Presley Martin who was soon
followed by Friend Cox. The settlement received few accessions for the
next decade and grew very slowly thereafter.
The region of western Virginia about the mouth of the Little
Kanawha secured few settlers before 1785, but its unbroken solitudes
became more and more tempting in the decade which followed. In
1783 several tomahawk or preemption claims to rich bottom lands on
the Virginia side of the Ohio were made by Robert Thornton, Samuel
and Joseph Tomlinson (and their sister Rebecca) three Briscoe brothers,
and others. The lands on the site of Parkersburg which were claimed by
Robert Thompson on the basis of a tomahawk entry made ten years
earlier, were confirmed to him by the land commissioner. In the same
year they were assigned to Alexander Parker (of Greene county,
Pennsylvania) who in 1784 received a patent from Governor Beverly
Randolph of Virginia. At the death of Parker in 1800 these lands
descended to his daughter whose title was disputed by John Stokely
and others.
One of the first permanent settlers at the mouth of the Little Kana-
wha was Captain James Neal of Greene county, Pennsylvania, who first
arrived in 1783 as deputy surveyor of Samuel Hanway of Monongalia
(to survey the entry of Alexander Parker on the site of Parkersburg).
He brought others with him by flatboat in 1785 and on the south side
of the river erected Neal's station, the first block house in the vicinity
which served as a place of protection for both settlers and travelers.
Two years later he brought his family.3 Later he became a justice of
3 Other early arrivals were the Cooks and Spencers from Connecticut, the
Beesons from Pennsylvania, the Hamamans, Creels, Pribbles and Kincheloes. Some
came from Virginia and Maryland all the way to Redstone on horseback, or over
the state road from Alexandria via Winchester, Eomney, Clarksburg to the Ohio
opposite Marietta which was built under authorization of 1789 and some from
Pennsylvania by flatboat.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 105
the peace with authority to perform the rites of marriage. He and his
son-in-law, Hugh Phelps, were among the most prominent of the early
residents. Although security was increased by the erection of Fort
Harmar on the site of Marietta in 1786 and Farmer's Castle at Belpre
in 1789 the station was threatened in 1790 by Indian bands who con-
tinued to invade the Little Kanawha region.
At the site of Williamston on which the Tomlinson brothers (Samuel
and Joseph) made a tomahawk entry in 1770, the first permanent settle-
ment was made in March, 1787, by Isaac Williams, an experienced
frontiersman,4 following the establishment of Fort Hannar directly
across the Ohio at the mouth of the Muskingum in 1786. It was made on
a wilderness farm of 400 acres of land preempted and partially improved
in 1783 by the Tomlinson brothers for their sister, Mrs. Rebecca Martin,
whom Williams married in 1775 at Grave creek where she had been
housekeeper for her brothers since the death of her first husband in
1771. The new settlement soon became a noted and interesting place
and here Williams remained until his death thirty years later. By 1789
it was connected with Clarksburg and the East by a trail cleared by
Capt. Nicholas Carpenter and sons who drove cattle over it to Marietta5
and were killed on it by the Indians in 1791.
4 Isaac Williams was born at Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1737. At the age of
18 he served in the Braddock campaign as a ranger and spy under the employ of
Virginia. In 1758-67 he hunted on the Missouri river. In 1768 he conducted his
parents from Winchester and settled them on Buffalo creek (now in Brooke county)
near West Liberty." In. 1789 he accompanied the Zanes in explorations around
Wheeling, Zanesville and elsewhere. In 1774 he accompanied Governor Dunmore in
the expedition against the Shawnoes and was present at the treaty negotiations
near Chillicothe. He died September 25, 1820.
5 Marietta located at the mouth of the Muskingum, opposite the Williams
settlement, was settled in 1788. At a meeting of the directors of the Ohio Com-
pany, held November 23, 1787, it was resolved to at once establish a settlement of
the lands of the Company in the Northwest Territory. General Rufus Putnam
was chosen superintendent, and early in December, six boat-builders were sent for-
ward to Simrall 's Ferry — now West Newton — on the Youghiougheny, under the
command of Major Hatfield White. The party reached its destination in January,
and at once proceeded to build a boat for the use of the Company.
In midwinter the pioneers left their New England homes and began the journey
to others to be found in the Western wilderness. They passed over the Alleghenies
and reached the Youghiougheny about the middle of February. The "Mayflower,"
as the boat was called, which was to transport the settlers to their destination, was
forty-five feet long, twelve feet wide and of fifty tons burthen. All things were in
readiness. The voyagers embarked at Simrall 's Ferry and passed down the
Youghiougheny into the Monongahela; thence into the Ohio, and thence down that
river to the mouth of the Muskingum, where they arrived April 7th, 1788, and there
made the first permanent settlement of civilized men within the present limits of
Ohio.
From 1790 to 1794 the settlements near the mouth of the Little Kanawha were
much disturbed by Indians. In the autumn of 1790 Jacob Parchment, from the
Belleville garrison, was killed by a band of nine Indians passing, when he was about
a mile from the stockade. During the autumn of this year (1791), James Kelly,
of Belleville, was killed by Indians, while working in the field, and his oldest son,
Joseph, was carried captive to a Shawnee town in Ohio, where he was adopted,
and remained until after the Wayne Treaty of 1795.
In 1791, Capt. Lowther stationed twelve rangers at Neal's Fort; October 4th,
1791, Nicholas Carpenter, with a drove of cattle, was attacked by the Indians, led
by Tecumseh, at a place on what has since been called ' ' Carpenters Run, ' ' the
exact spot is said to have been on land now owned by Hon. John Prine Sharp.
Mr. Carpenter was a man of prominence, having served as justice, sheriff of his
county and trustee of Randolph Academy of Clarksburg, but was at the time crippled
from a wound previously received.
In the fall of 1792 the son of Captain James Neal and a man named William
Triplett were massacred at the mouth of Burning Springs run where they were hunt
ing buffaloes.
In May, 1792, Moses Hewitt, who had ventured up the ravine from Neal's
Station to hunt his horse was captured about a mile from the station, but
later escaped while his captors were securing honey from a bee tree.
In the spring of 1792, savages appeared near Belleville and captured Stephen
Sherrod who later escaped and returned home safely the following day. In 1793,
Malcom Coleman of Belleville was shot by savages at a hunting camp near Cottage-
ville on Mill Creek. The famous Bird Lockhart while on a deer hunt in the autumn
of 1793 to secure venison for his friends at Williams Station was attacked by two
savages on his return route to the station (Williamstown).
106 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
The interior regions now included in Ritchie county (formed from
Harrison, Lewis and Wood in 1843) were first opened to the notice of
settlers in 1789 by the construction of a state road from Clarksburg
to Marietta which for nearly forty years was an important thoroughfare
to the Ohio. It was still almost an unbroken wilderness for another
decade. The first cabin home in its limits was built as early as 1800
by John Bunnell on the site of Pennsboro. In 1795, Mrs. Maley of
Philadelphia exchanged her dowry for 1,(100 acres near the site of
Harrisonville, but although she promptly started with her husband
on the long journey she turned aside to the upper Shenandoah from
which she moved to Ritchie in 1803.
Part of the bottom lands below the mouth of the Little Kanawha
first located in 1771 by George Washington were included in the survey
of a tract located in 1782 by William Tilton and Company, a mercan-
tile firm of Philadelphia who in 1785 employed Joseph Wood of Pitts-
burgh to act as agent for the colonization and sale of the lands. A large
tract at the site of Belleville was selected as a place to begin settlement.
In the fall of 1785 Wood freighted a boat with cattle and utensils to
begin the new settlement and left Pittsburgh, November 28, with Tilton
and four Scotch families — landing at the site of Belleville on De-
cember 16, 1785. Here they completed the erection of a block-house
early in January, 178(i. Mr. Wood then laid out the new town of Belle-
ville, donating a lot to each actual settler. One hundred acres were
cleared the first year. When Tilton returned to Philadelphia in the
spring of 1786 Wood was left in charge as sole agent of the company
and manager of the settlement. He continued to make improvements
and provide good defenses. New families arrived in 1787 and also a
company of hunters from Lee creek Avhere they had erected "Flinn's
station. ' ' In 1790 Wood married one of the earlier emigrants, the
marriage being performed at Belpre because no one in Belleville had
authority to officiate at. the wedding. A year later he moved to Marietta
where he later filled many important offices. In 1790 Belleville re-
ceived a new stimulus by the addition of Connecticut emigrants led
by George D. Avery who for several years thereafter conducted a
merchandise business there in connection with shipbuilding.
A glimpse of the rush of pioneer immigrants to the Ohio following
the treaty of Greenville, after Wayne's victory of 1795, the experiences
incident thereto and the conditions along the route between Maryland
and Wheeling and southward along the Ohio, is obtained from a letter
written at Belleville (near the earlier Flinn's station) in Wood county
in November, 1796, by Samuel Allen describing a journey from Alex-
andria via Cumberland to the Ohio via "broadaggs (Braddocks) old
road" undertaken by himself and several other New Engianders under
the management of Mi-. Avery who had lots to sell at Belleville. He
In 1793, the Indians stole three horses near Neat 's Station and were pursued
by Capt. Bogard into Ohio and up Raccoon Creek; and in March of that year Gapt.
William Lowther reported many crossing the Ohio and said that on the 3rd of that
month they had stolen six horses near Clarksburg, whereupon he pursued them to
Williams Station and with five men additional, there procured, had gone by water
to about four miles below Belleville, and followed them fifty miles into Ohio, where
lie retook four of the horses, killed one Indian and wounded another; he sent the
skin of one of their heads, as convincing evidence of their presence.
In 1794, Ensign Bartholomew Jenkins was stationed at Neal 's Station. Capt.
Bogard at Newberry, Lieutenant Morgan at Fishing Creek, Lieutenant Evans at
Pish Creek, Ensign Jonathan Coburn at Middle Island and Capt. Morgan, with his
free lance and thirty followers, penetrated beyond the Ohio about two hundred
miles up the Muskingum, destroyed a town, killed one Indian, and brought back
three women and two children. In March of this same year, Joseph Cox was cap-
tured on his way to the mouth of Leading Creek by a party of savages who spared
his life as he played fool and availed himself of the Indians' peculiar consideration
for idiots and lunatics; in the early part of April, possibly by the same part}', Paul
Armstrong's wife ami three younger children were killed at their home ,just below
Pnrkerslmrg, on the Ohio just above Blonnerhassett Island; his sons, Jeremiah,
aged nine years, John, aped eleven years, ami an older daughter, Elizabeth, were
carried captives down and ,'irross the river.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 107
states that the fare from New London to Alexandria was $6.00
for each passenger and that freight for goods for sixty cents per ewt.
At Alexandria wagoners were hired to carry the goods aeross the
mountains to Morgantown on the Monongalia at a cost of "thirty-
two shillings and six pence for each hundred weight of women and
goods."0 On June 30 the company left Alexandria. The men walked
tin' entire •'!')() miles and for three days Mr. Allen carried a very sick
child which without proper medical assistance died (duly 14) on the
mountain in Alleghany county, Maryland, and was tenderly laid to rest
in a grave beside those of several strangers who had died crossing tile
mountains. Leaving Braddoek's road near the Pennsylvania line, the
company reached Morgantown on July 18. They found the river too
low for boats but four days later favored by rains which rapidly raised
the river, part of the company embarked before the arrival of all their
wagons — leaving orders with a local merchant to send their goods. As
soon as the rise in the river would permit, on July '!'■], Mr. Allen and
two others started by land with the cattle and horses via Wheeling creek
and on August 9 arrived at Belleville. Along the entire route from
Morgantown to Wheeling they found the country settled and a pleasant
road, and saw "beautiful plantations," and "large fields of corn and
grane" but over the large part of the route from Wheeling to Belle-
ville except along the banks of the river they passed through a wilder-
ness broken oidy by a blind foot path and in which they found it "very
difficult to get victules to eat." Along the river they found some
inhabitants who had arrived in the spring and had no provisions exeept
what they had brought with them. At Belleville, the new settlers found
the "country as good as represented and settling very fast." They
found life on the Ohio interesting and were not tempted to return to
New England. They had caught the spirit of the West, and had faith
in the future of their own village from which they could see boats
which passed on the river laden with families hunting new homes.
Mr. Allen's letter to his father (see Chapter X) furnishes a live picture
of local conditions.
In 1796 Eric Bollman who journeyed from Cumberland west over
the Alleghanies spent the first night at West Port (Maryland) and on
the afternoon of the second day passed through the Glades onto which
many hundred head of cattle were driven .yearly from South Branch,
etc., for pasturage and after the second night "breakfasted with the
large and attractive family of Tim Friend the noble hunter and dined
at Dunkards Bottom on Cheat, spent the third night with Mr. Zinn
and arrived at Morgantown on the following day." He regarded this
as the nearest point at which to reach the western waters. From the
latter point he travelled via the mouth of George's creek (near Geneva),
through Uniontown, Brownsville and Washington to Pittsburgh.
i» Ten years earlier, in 1784, the people on the Monongahela, in Pennsylvania
paid five cents a pound to have their merchandise carried on pack horse from
Philadelphia, ami in 1789 they paid four cents for carrying from Carlisle to Union-
town. Packing by horses was a business which many followed for a living. Wages
paid the paekhorse driver were fifteen dollars per month, and men were scarce at
that price. In 1789 the first wagon loaded with merchandise reached the Mononga-
hela River, passing over the Braddock road. It was driven by John Hayden, and
hauled two thousand pounds from llagerstown to Brownsville, and was drawn by
four horses. One month was consumed in making the trip, and the freight bill
was sixty dollars. This was cheaper than packing on horses.
Probably wagons were used before 1789 for hauling household goods in the long
emigrant trains across the Alleghenies. Boats upon the Monongahela and Ohio
before that year bore abundant evidence that the wagon roads over the moun-
tains were well patronized by wheeled vehicles, as well as by Hocks and herds. It
is recorded that from November 13 to December 22, 1785, there passed down the
Ohio 39 boats, with an average of ten persons in each. In the last six months of
1787 a count at the mouth of the Muskingum river, on the Ohio side a short dis-
tance above Parkersbtirg, showed that 14(i boats passed, with 3,196 passengers, 165
wagons. 191 cattle. 24.) sheep, and 24 hogs. Prom November, 17S7, to Novem
ber, 1788, there passed down the Ohio 967 boats, 18,370 people, 7,986 horses, 2,372
cows, 1,110 sheep, and 640 wagons.
108
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
In October, 1798, Felix Renick with others starting from the South
Branch of the Potomac to visit Marietta on the third night reached
Clarksburg "which was then near the verge of the western settlements
except along the Ohio." West of Clarksburg he spent the night in the
woods but early next morning unexpectedly found a "new improve-
ment" established by a lone man who had settled in the wilderness to
accommodate the travellers at high prices. After two more nights in
the woods he reached his destination.
Settlements along the Little Kanawha were greatly increased by
the tide of new immigration following the treaty of Greenville of 1795.
As danger decreased many new families arrived; the Cooks and Spen-
cers from Connecticut, and the Beesons from Pennsylvania who settled
Mr. and Mrs. Harman Blennerhassett
on the river near the site of Parkersburg ; the Hannamans, Creels, Prib-
bles and Kicheloes on the Kanawha; the Beauchamps on the site of
Elizabeth and the Hendersons farther above ; the Neals, Phelps, Poleys,
Wolfs and others (including Blennerhassett) below the Kanawha. In
1797, Harman Blennerhassett came via Pittsburgh to Marietta and in
1798 located on the upper half of the island where he could hold his
colored servants as property and at the same time be near intelligent
and educated officers of the American army who had settled at Belpre.
The island first entered by Washington in 1770 and later surveyed in
1784 under a patent issued by Gov. Patrick Henry, had been owned
since 1792 by one Backus. Blennerhassett lived in the old block house
until he completed his mansion in 1800.
By 1798 there were enough settlers to justify steps to secure a new
county by separation from Harrison, and in the following year Wood
was formed with interior boundaries beginning at a point on the Kana-
wha, thirty miles from the Ohio noitheast, and extending thence north-
east to the Ohio county line at a point twenty-one miles from the Ohio.
Much contention arose concerning the location of a county seat which
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 109
the court was authorized by the assembly to select "at or near the
center of the county as situation or convenience would permit." The
principal claimants or contestants, for the court house were the Spencers
at Vienna and Isaac Williams at the Ferry. Justices of the county
court who met in 1799 at Hugh Phelp's residence fixed the location at
Neal's station. Those who met at Isaac Williams in October, 1800,
ordered the erection of public buildings on lands of Williams, but a
month later by a vote of 10 to 6 adjourned to Hugh Phelp's house at
which they unanimously agreed to erect the court house and whipping
post above the mouth of Little Kanawha at its junction with the Ohio
on lauds of John Stokely. The village at that time was called "The
Point" or Stokely ville consisting of a half dozen log cabins. Here
Stokely (whose patent was dated December 8, 1800) laid out a town
which until 1809 was called Newport. On an adjoining part of the
Parker estate which was saved to the Parker heirs (700 acres) the new
town of Parkersburg was laid out.
In 1810 an act was passed establishing Parkersburg adjoining and
including Newport and allowing the seat of justice to be removed to a
proposed brick house. The survey of the town was made by George D.
Avery, a surveyor and lawyer of Belleville. In 1812 or 1813 a contract
was made for a new two-story court house to be built of brick 40x40.
Trouble resulted at once. Vienna and Munroe or Neals on the south
side continued to assert their claims. Some objected to the extravagance
and others to the location. The Vienna people prepared a petition
to the legislature which proceeded to appoint commissioners (from
Ohio and Mason counties) to decide the contest. The decision was in
favor of the public square in Parkersbiirg, and there the court house
was erected in 1815 and also the old whipping post.
Above Wood county in the present territory of Pleasants settlements
were made by 1797. In the territory now included in Tyler, the earliest
centers of settlement were at Sistersville which were laid out in 1814
as the county seat and at Middlebourne which was established as a town
in 1813 and has been the county seat since 1816. Sistersville at which
a ferry was established in 1818 was later known as a good boat landing.
Farther up the Little Kanawha in the region of Wirt county the
first settlement was made in 1796 on the site of Elizabeth by William
Beauchamp who was soon followed by others and in 1803 built a grist
mill. The earlier name of Beauchamp 's Mills was changed to Eliza-
beth in 1817 in honor of David Beauchamp 's wife whose maiden name
was Elizabeth Woodyard.
Eastward and southward in Calhoun (formed from Gilmer in 1856)
in Gilmer (formed from parts of Lewis and Kanawha in 1845) in
Braxton (formed from Lewis, Kanawha and Nicholas in 1836) in
Clay (formed from Braxton and Nicholas in 1858) and in Webster
(formed from Nicholas, Braxton, and Randolph in 1860) development
of settlements was delayed and retarded by location. On a Virginia
map of 1807 no towns are shown between upper Tygart and the mouth
of Elk. In the territory of Roane (formed from parts of Kanawha,
Jackson and Gilmer in 1856) the first settlers, Samuel Tanner and
family, reached Spring creek valley and located in 1812 at the site of
Spencer on lands included in a survey of 6,000 acres patented by Al-
bert Gallatin in 1787 and later owned by J. P. R. Buerau who located
at Gallipolis with other French colonists in 1791. This settlement was
called Tanner's Cross Roads from 1816 to 1839 after which it bore
the name of New California until 1858 when it was incorporated under
the name of Spencer.
Along the Ohio below Wood county, in the territory now included in
Jackson county (formed from Mason, Kanawha and Wood in 1831),
the first actual settlers were William and Benjamin Hannaman who
arrived in 1796. With them came James McDade, who became an
Indian scout along the Ohio between the two Kanawhas. Others set-
tled in 1800. In 1808 John Nesselroad settled at the mouth of Sand
110 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
creek. Among those who came with him was Lawrence Lane who reared
his cabin on the site of Ravenswood — on lands which William Crawford
surveyed for George Washington in 1770 and which were settled by
squatters who were later ejected by the agents of Washington's heirs.
Ravensworth (aecidently changed to Ravenswood by the map engraver)
was laid out in 1836 three years after Ripley became the county seat.
About sixteen miles above Point Pleasant on 6,000 acres of the Wash-
ington lands a settlement designed as a Presbyterian colony was begun
in 1798 by Rev. William Graham who for twenty-one years had been
president of the first academy west of the Blue Ridge. The attempt
failed at the death of its leading spirit who died at Richmond a year
later, resulting in the withdrawal of the discouraged colonists. The
place is still known as Graham's Station.
Along the lower Kanawha in the territory which later (1848) formed
Putnam county settlement was delayed until after 1799 — although
sites for homes had been selected over twenty years before and George
Washington and his surveyors had visited it in 1770. A settlement
at Red House was made in 1806 but none was made at Winfield until
about 1815.
New life appeared farther up the Kanawha, in the vicinity of Charles-
ton. One of the chief leaders in the early development of this region
was Joseph Ruffner who arrived in 1795 and with penetrating eye saw
a great future for the valley. After the burning of his barns in the
Shenandoah country, he set out to find iron-ore lands. At a point on
the Cow Pasture which may not have been more than twenty miles
from Clifton Forge, he stopped at the house of Col. John Dickinson from
whom he quickly arranged to buy a survey on the Kanawha, includ-
ing the salt spring, for 600 pounds sterling which was about $3,000.
The next spring (1795) he rode out to Kanawha on horseback alone.
From Greenbrier he followed for 100 miles the track along which only
four years before Mad Anne Bailey had run the gauntlet of the Indians
in carrying ammunition to the Clendennin Fort. When he reached
Gauley river he found it "booming," but he undertook to cross it and
succeeded. How he did has been told by the devoted antiquarian, John
L. Cole, who got it from the lips of Paddy Huddlestone, Sr., who lived
a few miles below Kanawha Falls, and who witnessed it. Cole, in re-
peating the incident impersonated Huddlestone, who said :
"One day I walked up the river and found Gauley very high; drift
running. I travelled on up stream and when I got about seven miles
from the mouth of Gauley I saw a man on the opposite side of the
river leading his horse down a steep place to the bank of the river.
There was no trail to this point, and I don't know how he got there,
but he looked as if he meant to cross the river, but I didn't think he
would be fool enough to try to ford it, or to swim it with all the load
he had on. I couldn't imagine what he was going to do. But presently
he took a short-handled axe from his saddle and went to work on a dry
chestnut tree that had fallen against the cliff. The trunk he cut into
lengths and split. He then took a rope and tied the pieces to his horse 's
tail and dragged them to a place to suit him. Then he took from his
saddle bags some wrought nails and made a raft, which he put into the
water and loaded his things onto it. He tied the raft to his horse's tail
and pushed him into the river, jumped on the raft and started over.
He guided the horse by speaking to him and got over safely. Then he
knocked the raft to pieces, put the nails back in his saddlebags and came
home with me for the night. This man was Joseph Ruffner. ' '
Ruffner 's visit to Clendennin 's fort was the arrival of a new power
in the Kanawha valley — a power which was to create, to strengthen, to
develop and to abide. He at once saw rich resources of many kinds.
"There were hundreds of acres of the finest saw-mill timber; there
was the land fat with vegetable matter, loose and easily cultivated ;
there was the beautiful Kanawha or Woods river, alive with fish, naviga-
ble for large boats, and communicating with a vast system of navigable
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA HI
streams pouring their water into the Gulf of Mexico; and in spite of
the departure of the elk and buffalo, there were still deer, beaver, otter
and raccoon, and bears enough to bed all the armies of Europe."
With faith in the future of the region he was willing to risk a resi-
dence there and to contribute his money and energy to assist in im-
provements. Before he left the place he owned everything- from Elk
river to the "head of the bottom," about three miles. The bottom
was owned by three of the brothers Clendennin — George, William
and Alexander — from each of whom he received a deed.
In a few days after his purchase Joseph started back to Shenandoah,
and in the autumn of the same year (1795) he removed his family to
Kanawha, excepting his oldest and only married son, David, who re-
mained another year in Shenandoah.
He continued to be land-hungry, even after he had bought the
great bottom, as shown by a deed made to him in 1797 by Win. T.
Taylor, of Kentucky, for 6,660 acres on Sixteen-mile creek, on the Ohio
river below Point Pleasant.
Whilst waiting for the time when his attention could be somewhat
withdrawn from his farm work, he leased to Elisha Brooks, "a droll
genius," the privilege of making salt from the brine that was wasting
at the edge of the river, and before the lease expired the proprietor had
ceased his labors.
He died in March, 1803, aged over 63 years. In his own mind his
western career was just beginning, but his unfinished work was left
in able hands. He left four sons. The fourth son, Samuel, was the
only feeble one, and he became so when in infancy he was nearly burnt
to death in his cradle.
The will is dated February 21, 1803, less than a month before he died.
His home "plantation" and all his personal property he gives to his
wife until her death, after which Daniel was to become the owner.
In the will he divided the bottom (exclusive of the town) into three
parts. The lower division he gave to David, who then lived upon it;
the middle to Daniel after his mother's death; and the upper division
to Tobias. Joseph, Jr., and Abraham received outlying lands. The
front bottom of the Dickinson survey containing the Salt Spring, was
given to David, Joseph, Tobias, Daniel and Abraham (to all the sons
jointly, except poor Samuel, who was to be taken eare of by contribution
from all the rest). To each son was given a lot in Charleston. David
seems to have fallen heir to all the town lots not otherwise disposed of.
South of the Great Kanawha, "the whole country swarmed with
surveyors and speculators" after the news of Wayne's victory and the
treaty of 1795. Even before the certainty of safety from Indians along
the old war paths, the wide wilderness domain between the few scat-
tered settlements invited the enterprise of land speculators of the East
who procured from the Virginia land office at a nominal price, land
warrants for large entries and tracts of lands which were later located
in the unbroken forest under a policy whose methods, resulting in un-
certainty of land titles, long continued to hinder and retard settlements.
Nearly if not quite all the territory south of the Kanawha and the Ohio
to the headwaters of Holston, were entered, surveyed and carried into
grant. Robert Morris surveyed grants for about 8,000,000 acres of land
much of which was patented to him as assignee of Wilson ( Jarey Nicholas
in 1795. The territory comprised within the present counties of Mercer,
Raleigh, Fayette, McDowell, Wyoming, Boone, Logan, Mingo, Wayne.
Cabell, Lincoln, Kanawha and Putnam was almost completely shingled
over with these large grants by the Virginia land office and frequently
they lapped upon each other. Commencing on the East River mountain
on the south side and then again on the north side were grants to Robert
Pollard, one for 50,000 and the other for 75,000 acres, then came the
grant of 80,000 acres to Samuel M. Hopkins, a grant of 50,000 acres In
Robert Young, 40,000 acres to McLaughlin, 170,000 acres to Moore ami
Beckley, 35,000 acres to Robert McCullock, 108,000 acres to Rutter ami
112 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Etting, 90,000 acres to Welch, 150,000 acres to DeWitt Clinton, 50,000
acres to Dr. John Dillon, 480,000 acres to Robert Morris, 500,000 acres
to the same, 150,000 acres to Robert Pollard, 500,000 acres to Wilson
Carey Nicholas, 300,000 acres to the same, 320,000 acres to Robert
Morris, 57,000 acres to Thomas Wilson, 40,000 acres to George Pickett,
and farther down Sandy, Guyandotte and Coal rivers were large grants
to Elijah Wood, Smith and others.
Peace having been restored along the frontier settlements, and no
further danger being apprehended from the Indians, there was also a
great rush to the most desirable parts of the New river valley and west-
ward by people from eastern Virginia and western North Carolina.
The region along Middle New river settled rapidly, and civilization
advanced by the construction of houses, the opening of roads and the
election of civil officers. The people complained of the inconvenience
of travel to the county seat at Lewisburg. Conditions of growth soon
resulted in a demand for the formation of a new county. In a large
degree this region was settled independently of that covered by Green-
brier. Naturally the two localities came to have divergent views in
local matters. A numerously signed petition of 1790, voicing the people
of the sinks of Monroe, asked for a new county because of the natural
barrier of the Greenbrier river. It stated that the court house was forty
miles from any point on New river. For five years the movement for
separation appeared to lose its energy. It was revived, however, and
finally, through the wire-pulling of John Hutchinson, the legislative on
January 14, 1799, passed an act creating the county of Monroe, named
in honor of James Monroe who several times visited the Red Sulphur
Springs. Hutchinson also lobbied through the assembly a bill to estab-
lish the town of Union, and another to relieve the people of Monroe
from the Greenbrier taxes of 1799 assessed before Monroe was organized.
Union was not yet a town. About a mile north of the site chosen for
the new court house, James Byrnside had made a home in 1762. Nearer
the site of the proposed town James Alexander had built a cabin in 1774.
His farm was chosen for the county seat. At a session of August 21,
1799, the ti'ustees ordered that "the size of buildings on each lot must
be one square log house of the same size of 16x18 feet, two stories high."
There was prompt remonstrance against the choice of county seat. A
petition with many signers condemned it "as being far from the center
thus disregarding the act creating Monroe, and also as illegal, on the
ground that the justices of the new county were appointed and com-
missioned without the consent of the court of Greenbrier." The de-
cision, however, was not changed. Houses were soon begun in the
neighborhood. About a year after it was founded the town had a store,
opened by Richard Shanklin. It tried to obtain the location of the dis-
trict court (for the counties of Greenbrier, Botetourt, Montgomery, Kana-
wha and Monroe) but was not successful.
Sweet Springs was the seat of the district court for a period of eleven
years — a period of discord. Finally by an act of the assembly of Febru-
ary, 1807, Lewisburg became the seat. This removal was a result of
an agitation which arose much earlier. A petition of 1800 requested
that the court be moved to Union on the ground that the proprietor's
tavern is given a monopoly "under the most inconvenient charges and
regulations. ' ' Union was represented as in ' ' the heart of a compact and
plentiful settlement rapidly progressing."
In a petition of 1802, the proprietor of Sweet Springs argued that
his court house is of stone, much larger than the one at Union, and with
walls two feet thick; and that his jail had two rooms, whereas the jail
at Union had a single room eighteen feet square. Only two felons have
escaped from his jail. In 1804, there were 419 petitioners asking that
the court remain at Sweet Spring for the reason that its court house
was more commodious than those at Fincastle and Lewisburg.
The Sweet Springs began to attract attention after the arrival of the
Lewises in 1782, although the first building was only a log hut known as
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 113
the "wigwam." Early in the nineteenth century the place became
well known and had as guests many pi-ominent men. It is reputed to be
the place where Jerome Bonaparte wooed and won his American wife,
Elizabeth Patterson, whom his despotic brother refused to recognize.
Peterstown began its official existence in 1803 as the result of a peti-
tion by Christian Peters, in which it is stated that an area of eighteen
and one-half acres had been laid off in lots and streets. The earliest
purchaser of a lot was Isaac Dawson in 1807. The place grew and pros-
pered. An important factor in its growth was the fine waterpower on
Rich creek.
The distribution of wealth was very unequal in Monroe. A few fam-
ilies had gradually come into possession of very large areas of the best
farming and grazing lands. A numerous element of the population was
thus squeezed into a condition of tenantry.
Part of Monroe was combined with parts of Montgomery and Taze-
well in 1806.
Coincident with the increase of immigration a "vast throng of people
from the New river valley quickly penetrated the country between the
New river settlements and the Ohio and settled on the Sandy, Guyan-
dotte and Coal waters, even reaching to the Ohio." Among them were
the McComases, Chapmans, Lucases, Smiths, Cnapeis, Napiers, Hunt-
ers, Adkinses, Acords, Aliens, Fryes, Dingesses, Lusks, Shannons,
Baileys, Jarrells, Egglestons, Fergusons, Marcums, Hatfields, Bromfields,
Haldeons, Lamberts, Pauleys, Lpwsons, Workmans, Prices, Cookes,
Clays, Godbeys, Huffs, McDonalds, Whites, Farleys, Kezees, Perdues,
Ballards, Barrets, Toneys, Conleys, Stollings, Stratons, Buchanans,
Deskins, and many others who largely peopled and left honored descend-
ants throughout the section.
On the territory later (1847) included in Boone the first settlement
was made in 1798 on Big Coal river near the mouth of White Oak creek,
by Isaac Barker. At that time the nearest neighboring settlement was
that of Leonard Morris at Marmet, and the nearest grist mill was at the
mouth of Gauley. In the decade which followed clearings were made and
homes built in the Coal river valley by many hardy pioneers from Mon-
roe, Greenbrier, Cabell and Kanawha counties and from Virginia and
Pennsylvania.
One of the earliest pioneers of the interior region south of the Kana-
wha was Edward McDonald (great-grandfather of Judge Joseph M.
Sanders) who entered and sui-veyed the valuable land on Clear Fork
of Guyandotte (in Wyoming county) which David Hughes, the tory,
had pointed out to him for a blanket and a rifle. In 1802, in company
with his son-in-law, Capt. James Shannon, he removed to Guyan-
dotte and took possession of the land. Captain Shannon, who settled a
few miles above the Big Fork of the Guyandotte found Indian wigwams
still standing in the bottoms. In 1812 James Ellison (born at Warford,
1778), a distinguished frontier Baptist preacher, planted the Guyandotte
Baptist church on the site of Oceana.
In Lincoln the first settlers were four men named McComas who
arrived from beyond the mountains in 1799 and after raising a crop of
corn in the fall returned for their families. Near them other cabins
soon appeared. Farther away on Ranger's branch (tributary of Ten
Mile creek) Isaac Hatfield settled in 1800 and was soon followed by
others. Among the early settlers along Trace fork was John Tackett
who arrived with his family in 1801. On the site of the county seat,
David Stephenson erected a cabin in 1802. Near the mouth of Slash
creek on Mud river (twelve miles southeast of Hamji<rf Luke Adkins
settled in 1807 and near him several others rearedTnTTTTabins. In 1811
Richard Parsons led the way through the wilderness to the mouth of
Cobbs run upon which others soon built neighboring cabins.
On the upper streams and tributaries of the Big Sandy valley a
considerable population from North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland
settled before the settlements were made near the mouth. Near the forks
Vol. 1—8
114 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
of Big Sandy, Samuel Short reared his cabin (near Cassville) about
1796, followed by others in 1798 and subsequent years. Near the mouth,
Stephen Kelley settled in 1789 followed by a neighbor in 1799, and
others in 1800. On the upper waters of Twelve Pole the first settler
arrived in 1799. On the same stream at the mouth of Lick creek, James
Bias settled in 1802 and was followed by others in 1802 and 1803. Near
the site of Trout's Hill, Jesse Spurlock and Samuel Fergerson built
cabin homes in 1802 and were followed by others in 1802 and 1806.
The present territory of Cabell was settled at a comparatively late
date. The earliest settlements in the territory were located on the Savage
grant made in 1775 to John Savage and fifty-nine other soldiers of
the French and Indian war on lands surveyed by William Crawford
about 1771 and extending from above the Guyandotte and up the river
for a short distance down the Ohio to the Big Sandy and up the Big
Sandy on both sides. The earlier grant included 28,627 acres. In a
later lawsuit it was stated that in 1775 some of the grantees partitioned7
the lands among themselves and after taking possession set up a claim
of exclusive ownership to the allotments which they held, but according
to established tradition there were no settlers on the grant before 1796.
Parts of the grant were occupied by squatters after that date. The first
permanent settlement was made in 1796 at Green Bottom by Thomas
Hannon of Botetourt county. Guyandotte was settled soon thereafter
by Thomas Buffington and others on the Savage grant in 1775. It
became the county seat in 1809 and was made a town by legislative act
in 1810 — three years ahead of Barboursville. At Salt Rock on the
Guyandotte, Elisha McComas settled about 1800. Between Guyan-
dotte and Barboursville, at the Shelton place, Edmund McGinnis settled
with his family in 1802. Midway between Barboursville and Guyan-
dotte a settlement was also made by Jacob Hite (grandson of Joist Hite)
who came to the Savage grant in 1808.
The new stimulus to trans-Allegheny road improvement and to other
development, which followed Wayne's victory over the Indians in west-
ern Ohio in 1795 was greatly increased by the admission of Ohio as a
state, and the acquisition of Louisiana in 1803. Visions of a larger life
for the lower Monongahela region followed Gallatin's report of 1806 in
favor of a national road which, over a decade later, was completed from
Cumberland across western Maryland and southwestern Pennsylvania
to Wheeling.
i The surveyor at this partition probably was Thomas Buffington, of Hamp-
shire county, whose father had purchased the interest of John Savage. It is sup-
posed that when the survey was made there were no white people residing any-
where near the land. It appears that not a single person entitled to a share in the
"Savage Grant" ever took possession of it. Either the soldiers themselves, or
their heirs, sold and assigned to others their interest in the grant.
The partition of 1775 was not satisfactory. In 1809, a chancery suit was
begun to set it aside. The land was afterwards sold for the United States direct
tax, and the assignees of the claims purchased of the soldiers, desired to set up
and have their rights adjudicated.
By act of January 5, 1810, twenty acres of land on the upper side of the
Guyandotte part of the Savage grant, Military Survey, held by Thos. Buffington,
was condemned and upon it was established the town of Guyandotte.
CHAPTER X
GLIMPSES FROM TRAVELERS' RECORDS
Glimpses of the early conditions and early wayfaring life along
(he chief routes of travel through western Virginia may be obtained
from diaries, journals or letters iu which early travelers recorded their
observations, experiences and impressions. The records which follow
begin with the journal of Bishop Asbury, the greatest Methodist circuit
rider of the early period of American nationality, who frequently visited
the valleys of the Potomac and the South Branch, of the New and the
Greenbrier, and of the Monongahela and Tygarts, and close with a diary
of Col. George Summers, the land hunter who rode down the Kanawha
and lip the Ohio to Wheeling and West Liberty in 1808.
1. Extracts from Journal of Rev. Francis Asbury. Glimpses of
the early life, especially along the Tygart's valley and the lower Monon-
gahela may be obtained from the Journal of Rev. Francis Asbury,
bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church, who made long trips on horse-
back through western Virginia, and in fact from Georgia to Pennsyl-
vania, eastward to Maryland and Virginia and northward to the Jerseys
and to New England. The following extracts are selected for illustration :
Saturday, June 2, (1781) Preached at Martinsburg; afterward returned to
Brother Bruce 's; he is a lily among the thorns.
Monday, 4. (1781) I preached to a few lifeless people at Stroud's.
Tuesday, 5. (June, 1781) Had a rough ride over hills and dales to Guest 's.
Here brother Pigman met me, and gave an agreeable account of the work on the
south branch of Potomac.
Thursday, 7. I set out for the south branch of Potomac — a country of moun-
tains and natural curiosities. * * * We found some difficulty in crossing Great
Capon River; three men very kindly carried us over in a canoe, and afterward rode
our horses over the stream, without fee or reward; about five o'clock we reached
W. B.'s.
Friday, 8 (June, 1781) Not being able to cross the South Branch, we had to
bear away through the mountains, and to go up one or about two hundred yards
elevation.
Sunday, 10 (June, 1781) I preached at eleven o'clock to about two hundred
people with a degree of freedom. I then rode to R. Williams's. On my way 1 had
a view of a hanging rock that appears like a castle wall, about three hundred feet
high, and looks as if it had been built with square slate stones; at first glance a
traveller would be ready to fear it would fall on him. I had about three hundred
people; but there were so many nicked whisky drinkers, who brought with them
so much of the power of the devil, that I had but little satisfaction in preaching.
Monday, 11 (June 1781) From Williams's I crossed the South Branch and went
to Patterson Creek. I came to a Dutch settlement (in Mineral Co.) : the people
love preaching, but do not understand class-meeting, because they are not enough
conversant with the English tongue; and we cannot all do as J, Hagerty and H.
Wydner, who speak both languages; could we get a Dutch preacher or two to travel
with us, I am persuaded we should have a good work among the Dutch. I love these
people; they are kind in their way.
* * * I am now in a land of valleys and mountains, about ten or fifteen
miles from the foot of the Alleghany — a mountain that, at this part of it, is two
days' journey across; thither some of our preachers are going to seek the out-
casts of the people.
Monday, 18. (June 1781) I was led to wonder at myself when I considered
the fatigue I went through; travelling in the rain; sleeping without beds, etc., and
in the midst of all I am kept in health.
Wednesday, 20. We had hard work crossing the Fork Mountain, being some-
times obliged to walk where it was too steep to ride. I was much blessed in
speaking to about ninety Dutch folks, who appeared to feel the word.
Friday morning. (June 16, 1784). From Sharpsburg I hastened on to Shep-
herdstown, where the Lord set home his wind. Came to sister Bnvdstcme's, one of
the kindest women in Virginia. Here all things wer >in I'm table.
115
116 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Thursday, June 17. I preached at Martinsburg to a hundred people or more.
Sunday, 20 (June 1784) I attempted to preach at Newtown.
Friday, 25. We had hard work in crossing a mountain six miles over, and it
was still worse the next day in crossing the greater mountain. I found it very
warm work, though stripped. We struggled along nevertheless, and met with about
four hundred people at Strayder's.
Sunday, 27 (June 1784) I was assisted to speak felling words to some souls
at Vanmetu's, though in pain and weariness. Thence I hasted to preach at six
o 'clock at Hoffman 's, a third time this day. About ten o 'clock at night I came to
brother Dew 's, very weary, and lodged there.
Wednesday, 30 (June 1784) I had freedome of spirit and utterance, at J. Cres-
sap's, to a large congregation; and although still weak in body, I preached again
at Barratt 'a in the evening.
Thursday, July 1. We began to ascend the Alleghany, directing our course to-
wards Redstone.
Sunday, 4. At Cheat River we had a mixed congregation of sinners, Presby-
terians, Baptists, and it may be, of saints: I had liberty, and gave it to them as
the lord gave it to me — plain enough. Three thick — on the floor — such is our lodg-
ing— but no matter: God is with us.
Tuesday (July, 1785) Rode to the Springs called Bath; now under great im-
provement. I preached in the play-house, and lodged under the same roof with
the actors. Some folks, who would not hear me in their own neighborhood, made
now a part of my audience, both night and morning. Leaving Bath I came to brother
Dew's (on the South branch of the Potomac) very unwell.
Virginia. — Thursday, (June 1, 1786) I reached Shepherdstown with difficulty,
and in pain.
Saturday, 3. (July 1786) We rode twenty-eight miles along very bad roads to
Mclbourn's. Brother Watters preached.
Sunday, 4. The Lutheran minister began a few minutes before I got into
Winchester : I rode leisurely through the town, and preached under some spreading
trees on a hill to many white and black people. * * * I then went once more
to Newtown. I had but little freedom in speaking. I called on Mr. Otterbine:
we had some free conversation on the necessity of forming a church among the
Dutch, holding conferences, the order of its government, etc.
Rode to Col. 's, as welcome as snow in harvest. My soul is kept in
peace; but my poor body is much fatigued, and I am lame withal. I came over a
rough road to Johnson's, and preached to a most insensible people.
Monday, 12 (June, 1786) Rode thirty-one miles; spoke at Dewitt's to about
fifty people; rather hard this, after riding so far: I shall go elsewhere, and do
more good, I hope.
Tuesday, 13. (June 1786) I had an open time at Col. Barratt 's. My lameness
discourages me. Praise the Lord ! there is a little religion on the Maryland side
of the Potomac, and this is some comfort, without which this Alleghany would make
me gloomy indeed. Sick or lame, I must try for Redstone tomorrow.
Thursday, 15 (June 1786) We rode about twenty-two miles, and were kindly
entertained for five shillings and sixpence.
Saturday, 17. We have a heavy ride to Morgantown. I was to have been there
at four o 'clock, but missing my way, I made it six.
Monday, 30 (June 1788) Crossed the high mountains, and came to H 's
in Green Brier.
Tuesday, July 1. I enlarged on Gal. iii, 22. We then rode to M'Pherson's, a
serious family on Sinking Creek, where I preached with some freedom. After cross-
ing some considerable mountains, and preaching occasionally, on Friday we arrived
at the Sweet Springs: here I preached, and the people were very attentive.
Saturday and Sunday, 5, 6. I had large congregations at Rohoboth. I preached
with some satisfaction.
Monday, 7. Our troubles began; it being the day we set out for Clarksburg.
Thirty miles brought us to W 's on the GTeat Levels.
Tuesday, 8. Reached M'Neal's, on the Little Levels, where almost the whole
settlement came together, with whom I found freedom on Matt, xi, 28-30. Our
brother Phoebus had to answer questions propounded to him until evening.
Wednesday, 9. We rode to the Clover Lick, to a very remote and exposed house.
Here we found good lodgings for the place. The former tenant had made a small
estate by keeping cattle, horses, etc., on the range, which is fertile and extensive.
Thursday, 10. We had to cross the Alleghany mountain again, at a bad passage.
Our course lay over mountains and through valleys, and the mud and mire was
such as might scarcely be expected in December. We came to an old, forsaken habi-
tation in Tyger's Valley. Here our horses grazed about, while we boiled our meat.
Midnight brought us up at Jones's, after riding forty, or perhaps fifty, miles. The
old man, our host, was kind enough to wake us up at four o 'clock in the morn-
ing. We journeyed on through devious lonely wilds, where no food might be found,
except what grew in the woods, or was carried with us. We met with two women
who were going to see their friends, and to attend the quarterly meeting at Clarks-
burg. Near midnight we stopped at A 's, who hissed his dogs at us: but
the women were determined to get to quarterly meeting, so we went in. Our supper
was tea. Brothers Phoebus and Cook took to the woods; old gave up his
bed to the women. I lay along the floor on a few deer-skins with the fleas. That
night our poor horses got no corn; and next morning they had to swim across the
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 117
Monongahela. After a twenty miles' ride we came to Clarksburg, and man and
beast so outdone that it took us ten hours to accomplish it. I lodged with Col.
Jackson. Our meeting was held in a long, close room belonging to the Baptists. Our
use of the house it seems gave offense. There attended about seven hundred people,
to whom I preached with freedom; and I believe the Lord's power reached the hearts
of some. After administering the sacrament, I was well satisfied to take my leave.
We rode thirty miles to Father Haymond's (at Fairmont) after three o'clock,
Sunday afternoon, and made it nearly eleven before we came in. About midnight we
went to rest, and rose at five o'clock, next morning. My mind has been severely
tried under the great fatigue endured both by myself and my horse. O, how glad
should I be of a plain, clean plank to lie ou, as preferable to most of the beds;
and where the beds are in a bad state, the iioors are worse. The gnats are al-
most as troublesome here, as the mosquitoes in the lowlands of the seaboard. This
country will require much work to make it tolerable. The people are, many of them,
of the boldest east of adventurers, and with some the decencies of civilized society
are scarcely regarded, two instances of which I myself witnessed. The great land-
holders who are industrious will soon show the effects of the aristocracy of wealth,
by lording it over their poorer neighbours, and by securing to themselves all the
offices of profit or honour. On the one hand savage warfare teaches them to be cruel;
and on the other, the preaching of Antinomiana poisons them with error in doc-
trine: good moralists they are not, and good Christians they cannot be, unless they
are better taught.
Tuesday, 15. I had a lifeless, disorderly people to hear me at Morgantown, to
whom I preached on "I will hear what God the Lord will Speak." It is matter of
grief to behold the excesses, particularly in drinking, which abound here. I preached
at a new chapel near Colonel Martin's, and felt much life, love, and power. Eode
to the widow B 's, and refreshed with a morsel to eat; thence to M. Harden 's,
where, though we had an earth floor, we had good beds and table entertainment.
Friday, 18. Eode forty miles to quarterly meeting at Doddridge's, where we
had a melting season.
Tuesday, 22. Our conference began at Union Town. We felt great peace
whilst together; and our counsels were marked by love and prudence.
Virginia Tuesday, 29. Eeached Barratt's, where we had a little rest and peace.
We had left our horses at Old Town on the other side of the river, but I thought
it best to have them brought over and so it was; for that night there were two stolen.
On Monday we rested; on Tuesday rode down to Capon; and on Wednesday visited
Bath. I took lodgings at brother Williams's, was well fixed, and found the waters
to be of service to me.
Friday, 29. We left Bath, and on the Saturday and Sunday following attended
a quarterly meeting. I felt enlargement on Peter's case, and also in the love-feast.
Wednesday, 3. (September, 1788) Eode from I. Hite's to the Blue-Eidge; the
weather was warm, and so were the hearts of the people.
Thursday, 4. I preached at Leesburg, and was very warm on, ' ' Thou wilt arise
and favour Zion ' ' ; and the people seemed to be somewhat stirred up.
Friday, 9. (July, 1790) We had a tedious, tiresome journey over hills and moun-
tains to Pott's Creek.
Sunday, 11. The morning was rainy. About noon I set out for the Sweet-
Springs, and preached on 1 Cor. i, 23-29.
Thursday, 15. Eode to Eohoboth, where brother W preached, and brother
A and myself spoke after him and the people appeared somewhat affected.
Friday, 16. We had twenty miles to Green-Brier courthouse:- — here some sat
as critics and judges. We had to ride thirty-one miles without food for man or
horse, and to call at three houses before we could get water fit to drink — all this
may serve to try our faith or patience.
Saturday, 17. Some very pointed things were delivered relative to parents and
children, from Gen. xviii, 19. After being in public exercises from ten till two
o'clock, we rode in the afternoon twenty miles to the little levels of Green-Brier.
On my way I premeditated the sending of a preacher to a newly-settled place in the
Kenhaway county.
Sunday, 18. We had a warm sermon at M'Neal's, at which many were highly
offended; but I trust their false peace is broken. There are many bears in this part
of the country; not long since, a child in this neighbourhood was killed by one.
Monday, 19. Eode to DTinnon's, whose wife was killed, and his son taken pris-
oner by the Indians.
Tuesday, 20. I believe I never before travelled such a path as I this day rode
over the mountains to reach Mr. Nelson 's in Tyger-Valley.
Wednesday, 21. I preached at Wilson's. Here many careless people do not
hear a sermon more than once in one or two years.
Saturday, 24. Attended quarterly-meeting at Morgantown — I spoke on super-
stition, idolatry, unconditional election, and reprobation, Antinomianism, Universal-
ism, and Deism.
Sunday, 25. Preached on Matt, xxv, 31, to the end; brother W also gave
us a sermon; and a Presbyterian minister two: so here we had it in abundance.
Monday, 26. Preached at B 's; and the next day at H 's.
Our conference began at Uniontown on Wednesday the twenty -eighth of July:
— it was conducted in peace and love.
Friday, 6. (July 1792) We had a long ride to Morgantown: we came in at
118 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
eleven o'clock, being much fatigued. 1 discoursed on t.lie likeness between Moses
and Christ, in the academical church.
We set out for Coventry Forge, but we missed our way, and came to brother
Meredic 's, in the valley.
Monday, 23 (May 1796) I rode to Rehoboth chapel, in the sinks of Green
Briar, where we held conference with a few preachers. Here I delivered two dis-
courses. Thursday, crossed Green Briar River, and had to pass along a crooked and
dangerous path to Benton's. My mind is in peace.
Friday, 27. I felt my self very heavy, my mind unprepared for the congrega-
tion at Gilboa meeting-house, and could not preach with any satisfaction. After
meeting the society, I came away much clouded. We came off from brother C 's
about four o'clock, aiming at the Little Levels; but darkness came on, and we had
to climb and blunder over the point of a mountain, in descending which my feet
were so squeezed that the blood was ready to gush out of the pores: I could hardly
help weeping out my sorrow: at length we came to brother H 's, where the
kindness of the family was a cordial, anil we went to rest about ten o'clock, and all
was well.
Sunday, 29 (May 1796) I was very warm in body and mind at M'Neale's. In
the afternoon (contrary to my sentiment and practice on the Lord's day) we took
our departure, purposing to reach Morgantown on Wednesday evening, in order to
attend an appointment made for me on Thursday, the second of June. We reached
my old friend Drinnon's, who received us gladly, and entertained us kindly. Next
day (Monday) we opened our campaign through the mountains, following a path
I had thought never to travel again. Frequently we were in danger of being plucked
off our horses by the boughs of the trees under which we had to ride. About seven
o 'clock, after crossing six mountains and many rocky creeks and fords of Elk and
Monongahela [Tygarts Valley] Rivers, we made the Valley of Distress, called by the
natives Tyger's Valley. We had a comfortable lodging at Mr. White's [near Hut-
tonsville] ; and here I must acknowledge the kindness and decency of the family,
and their readiness to duty, sacred and civil. Thence we hastened on at the rate of
forty-two miles a day. We had to ride four miles in the night, and went supperless
to the Punchins [floor], where we slept a little on hard lines.
After encountering many difficulties, known only to God and ourselves, we came
to Morgantown. I doubt whether I shall ever request any person to come and meet
me at the levels of Green Briar, or to accompany me across these mountains again, as
brother D. Hitt has now done. O! how chequered is life!
Maryland. — Wednesday, 15, (June 1796) I came to Oldtown, and preached to a
few people, at brother J. J. Jacobs 's, and the next day rode nearly forty miles
to father F 's.
Wednesday, 22. (July, 1796) I will now take a view of my journey for some
months past. From the best judgment I can form, the distance is as follows: from
Baltimore to Charleston (S. C.) one thousand miles; thence up the State of South
Carolina two hundred miles; from the centre to the west of Georgia two hundred
miles; through North Carolina one hundred miles; through the state of Tennessee
one hundred miles; through the west of Virginia three hundred miles; through
Pennsylvania and the west of Maryland and down to Baltimore four hundred miles.
2. Narrative of Rev. Henry Smith (1794). Rev. Henry Smith,
an early Methodist minister, left an interesting narrative of his ob-
servations along the Monongahela in 1794. The following abstracts pre-
sent a concrete picture of local conditions at that time :
From this place I pushed ahead through Clarksburg, and met my first appoint-
ment at Joseph Bennett's, about fifteen miles above Clarksburg. The people came
to this meeting from four or five miles around, and among them Joseph Chiveront,
quite a respectable local preacher. They were all backwoods people and came to the
meeting in backwoods style, all on foot, a considerable congregation. I looked around
and saw one old man who had shoes on his feet. The preacher wore Indian mocca-
sins. Every man, woman and child besides was barefooted. Two old women had on
what we then called short gowns, and the rest had neither short nor long gowns.
This was a novel sight to me for a Sunday congregation. Brother Chiveront, in
his moccasins, could have preached all around me; but I was a stranger and withal
the circuit preacher, and must preach of course. I did my best, and soon found if
there were no shoes and fine dresses in the congregation, there were attentive hearers
and feeling hearts.
When I left Bennett's I went 25 or 30 miles higher up the Monongahela and
preached at the house of Brother Stortze. Within a short distance of this house the
Indians took a young woman prisoner, and murdered and scalped her. A messenger
came and injudiciously announced that her remains had been found, and threw the
whole congregation into consternation. Here I saw the men coming to meeting with
their rifles on their shoulders, guarding their families, then setting their guns in a
corner of the house till after the meeting, and returning in the same order.
From Stortze 's we went to Edward West's [near Weston] where we had a
society and preached regularly. The house was enclosed by strong and high pieces
of timber set deep in the ground and close together. They had built a new house
outside the enclosure. * * *
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 119
I do not know that I was in danger; but the Indiana having but a little while
before been through the country, and done mischief, and this being a frontier house,
I did not feel myself secure in my exposed position.
From West's we went to John Hacker's on Hacker's Creek. I believe this man
could read, but not write; and yet he was a magistrate and a patriarch in the settle-
ment, and gave name to the creek, having lived here more than twenty years.
On his next preaching tour he wrote:
They were all glad to see me, but I was rather sorry, and somewhat alarmed, to
find the women alone, for there was not a man or even a gun about the place. The
men were all in the woods, some hunting, some digging ginseng and snakeroot, and
did not come home that night; so I had to guard and comfort the poor women and
children. The house was crowded. Toward sunset we all went into the house and
barred the doors as well as we could. The next day the men came home before
preaching. In this place we had a pretty large society, and some very pious people.
They lived, in the true sense of the word, in backwoods style. Their sugar they
made out of the water from the sugar tree. Their tea they got out of the woods, or
from their gardens. For coffee they had a substitute, namely rye or chestnuts.
Money they had but little. They traded at Winchester and other places, with gin-
seng, snakeroot, and skins, for salt, rifles, powder, lead, etc. All their produce was
carried to market on packhorses. Their wearing apparel and bedding were mostly
of their own manufacture. Eeligion certainly did exert a happy influence on the
morals of this uncultivated people, and I was often delighted with their artless sim-
plicity. In their way, they appeared to be as happy anil contented as falls to the
lot of most people. Taking all things into consideration, our congregations were
good; for people made going to meeting a business, and trifles did not stop them.
In the lower part of the circuit the people were more refined in their manners.
I was in Morgantown on Christmas eve, where I saw the first Indians, but they
were prisoners. Captain Morgan had collected a small company of daring spirits
like himself, and had gone on an Indian hunt. He crossed the Ohio and came
across an Indian camp, where there were two Indians, three squaws and two chil-
dren. * * *
The young women were sad and reserved. They all appeared to be uneasy and
somewhat alarmed when strangers came in. After the treaty they were returned or
exchanged. * * *
We preached in the court house at eleven o'clock; for we had no meeting house,
neither was there any place of worship in the town. We had but one-half finished
log meeting house in the whole circuit. We labored hard and suffered not a little,
and did not get the half of $64 for support. We travelled through all weathers
and dangers, over bad roads and slippery hills, and crossed deep waters, having the
Monongahela to cross seven times every round, and few ferries. Our fare was plain
enough. Sometimes we had venison and bear meat in abundance, and always served
up in the best style. It is true my delicate appetite sometimes revolted and boggled,
till I suffered in the flesh. I then concluded to eat such things as were set before
me; for other people ate them and enjoyed health and why not I? After I had
conquered my foolish prejudice, I got along better. Our lodgings were often un-
comfortable. I was invited to have an appointment at a brother's house one night.
After the people were gone, I found there was but one small bed in the house.
When bedtime came, the good woman took her bed and spread it crosswise be-
fore a fine log fire, and I was requested to lie down on one end; and it answered
very well for me, the man and his wife, and two children. This indeed was very
comfortable to what I had sometimes. Most of my clothes by this time became
threadbare, and some worn out, and I had no money to buy new ones. I had to
put up one night with a strange family, and I was obliged to keep on my overcoat
to hide the rents in my clothes.
On this circuit I learned some lessons in the school of adversity which have
been of great service to me during my itineracy. Although I never was in real
danger from the Indians, yet I have often ridden fifteen or twenty miles through
the woods whore no one lived, the people having fled from danger; and I rode alone,
for I never had any guard but the angels. The tales of woe that were told me in
almost every place where there was danger; the places pointed out where murders
had been committed, sleeping in houses where the people who were inured to these
things were afraid to go out of doors after sunset; I say, riding alone under these
circumstances was far from agreeable. I was, however, often in real danger in
crossing rivers, swimming creeks, etc. I found the people remarkably kind and
sociable. Many pleasant hours were spent together by the side of log fires in our
loo- cabins, conversing on various subjects. It is true, some of us smoked the pipe
with them, but we really thought there was no harm in that, for we had no anti-
tobacco societies among us then. I believe James Fleming and myself were the last
who traveled the Clarksburg circuit during the Indian wars.
3. Extract prom Journal op Thomas Wallcutt (1790). The fol-
lowing is a part of the "Journal" of Thomas Wallcutt of Massachusetts
who went to Marietta in 1790 and returned eastward over the new
route via Clarksburg, Cumberland, Hancock, Carlisle, Pennsylvania:
120 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Monday, 8 March, 1790 [Marietta]. We were up before sunrise, and got some hot
breakfast, coffee and toast; and Captain Prince, Mr. Moody, Mr. Skinner, Captain
Mills and brother, Mr. Bent, &c, accompanied us over the river to Sargent's or
Williams's, and took leave of us about nine o'clock, and we proceeded on our journey.
We had gone but a little way when we found the path so blind that we could not
proceed with certainty, and I was obliged to go back and get a young man to come
and show us the way. When we had got back to our companions again, they had
found the road, and we walked twenty miles this day.
Tuesday, 9 March, 1790. The country very rough, the hills high and sharp.
One third of the road must go over and on the ridges, and another third through
the valleys. We walked this day about twenty-three or twenty-four miles, and slept
near the forty-fourth or forty-fifth mile tree.
Wednesday, 10 March, 1790. To-day we crossed several of the large creeks and
waters that fall into the Ohio. This occasioned a loss of much time, waiting for the
horse to come over for each one, which he did as regularly as a man would. The
country much the same, but rather better today, except that a great deal of the road
runs along through the streams, and down the streams such a length with the many
bridges that will be wanted, that it will be a vast expense, besides the risk and
damage of being carried away every year by the floods. We had so much trouble
in crossing these streams that at last we forded on foot. One of the largest in par-
ticular, after we had rode it several times, we waded it four or five times almost
knee-deep, and after that a number of times on logs, or otherwise, without going
in water. Two of the streams, I doubt not, we crossed as often as twenty times
each. We walked this day about fifteen miles.
Thursday, 11 March, 1790. With much fatigue and pain in my left leg, we
walked about fifteen miles to-day. They all walked better than I, and had got to
Carpenter 's and had done their dinner about two o 'clock when I arrived. They
appear to be good farmers and good livers, have a good house, and seem very clever
people. Mr. C. is gone down the country. They have been a frontier here for fifteen
years, and have several times been obliged to move away. I got a dish of coffee and
meat for dinner, and paid ninepence each, for the doctor and me. We set off, and
crossed the west branch of the Monongahela over the Clarksburg. The doctor paid
his own ferriage. We went to Major Eobinson 's, and had tea and meat, &c, for
supper. I paid ninepence each, for the doctor and me. Weather dull and unpleasant,
as yesterday.
Friday, 12 March, 1790. We set off before sunrise and got a little out of our
road into the Morgantown road, but soon got right again. Wb breakfasted at
Webb 's mill, a good house and clever folks. Had coffee, meat, &c. ; paid sixpence
each, for me and the doctor. Lodged at Wickware's, who says he is a Yankee, but
is a very disagreeable man for any country, rough and ugly, and he is very dear.
I paid one shilling apiece for the doctor's and my supper, upon some tea made of
mountain birch, perhaps black birch, stewed pumpkin, and sodden meat. Appetite
supplies all deficiencies.
Saturday, 13 March, 1790. Set off not so early this morning as yesterday.
The doctor paid his ferriage himself. Mr. Moore, a traveller toward his home in
Dunker's Bottom, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, (?) set out with us. He seems
a very mild, good-natured, obliging old gentleman, and lent me his horse to ride
about two miles, while he drove his pair of steers on foot. The doctor and I being
both excessively fatigued, he with a pain in his knee, and mine in my left leg, but
shifting about, were unable to keep up with our company, and fell much behind
them. Met Mr. Carpenter on his return home. He appears to be a very clever man.
When he had come to Field's I found Mr. Dodge had left his horse for us to ride,
and to help us along, which we could not have done without. We got a dish of tea
without milk, some dried smoked meat and hominy for dinner; and from about
three o 'clock to nine at night, got to Ramsay 's. Seven miles of our way were through
a new blazed path where they propose to cut a new road. We got out of this in
good season, at sundown or before dark, into the wagon road, and forded Cheat
River on our horses. Tea, meat, &c., for supper. Old Simpson and Horton, a con-
stable, had a terrible scuffle here this evening.
Lord's Day, 14 March, 1790. Mr. Dtodge is hurrying to go away again. I tell
him I must rest to-day. I have not written anything worth mention in my journal
since I set out, until to-day, and so must do it from memory. I want to shave a
beard seven days old, and change a shirt about a fortnight dirty; and my fatigue
makes rest absolutely necessary. So take my rest this day, whether he has a mind
to go or stay with us. Eat very hearty of hominy or boiled corn with milk for
breakfast, and boiled smoked beef and pork for dinner, with turnips. After dinner
shaved and shirted me, which took till near night, it being a dark house, without a
bit of window, as indeed there is scarce a house on this road that has any.
Monday, 15 March, 1790. Waited and got some tea for breakfast, before we
set out. Settled with Bamsay, and paid him 9d. per meal, for five meals, and half-
pint whiskey 6d. The whole came to eight shillings. Weather very pleasant most
of the day. We walked to Brien's about half past six o'clock, which they call
twenty-four miles. We eat a little fried salt pork and bit of venison at Friends',
and then crossed the great Youghiogheny. About two miles further on, we crossed
the little ditto at Boyles's. * * * We walked about or near an hour after dark,
and were very agreeably surprised to find ourselves at Brien's instead of Stack-
pole's, which is four miles further than we expected. Eat a bit of Indian bread,
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 121
and the woman gave us each about half a pint of milk to drink, which was all our
supper.
Tuesday, 16 March, 1790. We were up this morning, and away about or before
sunrise, and ascended the backbone of the Allegheny, and got breakfast at Wil-
liams's. I cannot keep up with my company. It took me till dark to get to Davis's.
Messers. Dodge and Proctor had gone on before us about three miles to Dawson's.
We got some bread and butter and milk for supper, and drank a quart of cider.
Mr. Davis was originally from Ashford, county of Windham, Connecticut; has been
many years settled in this country; has married twice, and got many children. His
cider in a brown mug seemed more like home than any thing I have met with.
Wednesday, 17 March. We were up this morning before day, and were Bet off
before it was cleverly light. Got to Dawson 's, three miles, where Messers, D. & P.
lodged, and got some tea for breakfast, and set off in good season, the doctor and
I falling behind. * * » we stopped about a mile and a half from the Metho-
dist meeting near the cross roads at Cressops, and four from Cumberland, and got
some fried meat and eggs, milk, butter, &c, for dinner, which was a half pistareen
each. After dinner the doctor and I walked into Cumberland village about three
o 'clock, and put up at Herman Stitcher 's or Stidger 's. We called for two mugs
of cider, and got tea, bread and butter, and a boiled leg of fresh young pork for
supper. The upper part of the county of Washington has lately been made a sep-
arate county, and called Allegheny, as it extends over part of that mountain, and
reaches to the extreme boundary of Maryland. The courts, it is expected, will be
fixed and held at this place, Cumberland, which will probably increase its growth,
as it thrives pretty fast already. * * *
Thursday, 18 March. Paid Mr. Dodge 6s. advance. A very fine day. We
stayed and got breakfast at Stitcher's, and walked from about eight o'clock to
twelve, to Old Town, and dined at Jacob's, and then walked to Dakins's to lodge,
where we got a dish of Indian or some other home coffee, with a fry of chicken and
other meat for supper. This is the first meal I have paid a shilling L. M. for.
* * * We walked twenty-five miles to-day.
Friday, 19 March, 1790. Very fine weather again to-day. We walked twenty-
four miles to McFarren 's in Hancock, and arrived there, sun about half an hour
high. McFarren says this town has been settled about ten or twelve years, and is
called for the man who laid it out or owned it, and not after Governor Hancock.
It is a small but growing place of about twenty or thirty houses, near the bank of
the Potomac, thirty-five miles below Old Town, and five below Fort Cumberland;
twenty-four above Williamsport, and ninety-five above Georgetown. We slept at
McFarren 's, a so-so house. He insisted on our sleeping in beds, and would not per-
mit sleeping on the floors. * * *
Saturday, 20 March. A very fine day again. We have had remarkably fine
weather on this journey hitherto. But two days we had any rain, and then but
little. We stayed and got breakfast at McFarren 's, and set out about eight o'clock,
and walked about twenty-one miles this day to Thompson's, about half a mile from
Buchanan's in the Cover Gap in the North Mountain. * * *
4. Extracts from Letter op Eric Bollman (1796). The follow-
ing letter was written in 1796, twelve years after Washington's journey
of 1784, by Erie Bollman, a traveler through Maryland and via Dun-
kard's Bottom to Morgantown and thence to Pittsburgh via Uniontown,
Brownsville and Washington (Pa.) :
From Cumberland we have journeyed over the Allegheny Mountains in company
with General Irwin, of Baltimore, who owns some 50,000 acres in this vicinity. * * *
We spent the first night at West Port. Up to this point, at the proper seasons,
the Potomac is navigable and could be made so quite a distance further. But even
in the present state the land journey to the Monongahela, which is navigable and
flows into the Ohio, is but a distance of 60 miles.
The road is not in a bad condition and could be made most excellent. This
will, without doubt, be accomplished just as soon as the country is sufficiently in-
habited, since there is no nearer way to reach the Western waters.
The next day we dined with Mr. M. McCartin, still higher up in the mountains.
There are many settlements in this vicinity. We were entertained in a beautiful,
cool, roomy house, surrounded by oat fields and rich meadows, where the sound of
the bells told that cattle were pasturing near by. We dined from delicate china, had
good knives, good forks, spoons, and other utensils. Our hostess, a bright, hand-
some, healthy woman, waited upon us. After dinner, a charming feminine guest
arrived on horseback; a young girl from the neighboring farm, of perhaps 15 years
of age, with such bashful eyes and such rosy cheeks, so lovely and attractive in
manner that even Coopley, our good mathematician, could not restrain his admiration.
This is the "backwoods" of America, which the Philadelphian is pleased to
describe as a rough wilderness — while in many parts of Europe, in Westphalia, in
the whole of Hungary and Poland, nowhere, is there a cottage to be found, which,
taking all things together in consideration of the inhabitant, can be compared with
the one of which I have just written.
Four miles from this we reached the Glades, one of the most remarkable fea-
tures of these mountains and this land.* * * Many hundred head of cattle are
122 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
driven yearly, from the South Branch and other surrounding places, and entrusted
to the care of the people who live here. * * »
Only lately have the Indians ceased roving in this vicinity ; which has done
much to delay its cultivation, but now it is being cleared quite rapidly, and in a
short time will, without doubt, become a fine place for pasturage. We spent the
second night with one named Boyle, an old Hollander. Early the next morning we
could hear the howling of a wolf in the forest.
We breakfasted with Tim Friend, a hunter, who lived six miles further on.
If ever Adam existed he must have looked as this Tim Friend. I never saw such
an illustration of perfect manhood. His conversation satisfied the ex-
pectations which it awakened. With gray head, 60 years old, 40 of which he had
lived in the mountains, and of an observing mind, he could not find it difficult to
agreeably entertain people who wished for information. He is a hunter by pro-
fession. We had choice venison for breakfast, and there were around the house
and near by a great number of deer, bears, panthers, etc. * * * We left our
noble hunter and his large, attractive family unwillingly and followed a roadway
to Duncard's Bottom, on. Cheat river. * * *
We dined at Dnneard's Bottom, crossed the Cheat river in the afternoon, reached
the Monongahela Valley, spent the night in a very comfortable blockhouse with
Mr. Zinn, and arrived the next day at Morgantown, on the Monongahela. We spent
a day and a half here and were pleasantly entertained by Mr. Reeder and William
M. Clary, and received much information, especially concerning sugar, maple trees
and sugar making. From Morgantown we went to the mouth of George creek,
Fayette county, Pennsylvania. As it was afternoon when we reached here we were
overtaken by night and compelled to spend the night in a small blockhouse with
Mr. McFarlain. We found Mr. McFarlain a respectable, intelligent farmer, sur-
rounded as usual, by a large and happy family.
Directly after our arrival the table was set, around which the entire family
assembled. This appears to be the usual custom in the United States with all people
who are in some measure in good circumstances. One of the women, usually the
prettiest, has the honor of presiding at table. There were good table appointments,
fine china, and the simple feast was served with the same ceremony as in the most
fashionable society of Philadelphia. Never, I believe, was there in any place more
equality than in this. Strangers who come at this time of day at once enter the
family circle. This was the case with us. Mr. McFarlain told us much about his
farm and the misfortunes with which he struggled when he first cultivated the place
upon which he now lives. He has lived here 30 years, a circumstance which is here
very unusual, because the adventure loving nature, together with the wish to better
their condition and the opportunity, has led many people to wander from place to
place. * * *
The next morning when we came down we found the old farmer sitting on the
porch reading a paper. Upon the table lay ' ' Morse 's Geography, " " The Beauty
of the Stars," "The Vicar of Wakefield," and other good books. I have entered
into particulars in my description of this family because wo were then only five
miles from the home of Gallatin, where the people are too often represented as
rough, uncultured, good-for-nothings. It is not necessary to mention that all fam-
ilies here are not as this, yet it is something to find a family such as this, living on
this side of the mountains, 300 miles from the sea coast. We called upon Mr.
Gallatin, but did not find him at home. Geneva is a little place, but lately settled, at
the junction of George creek and the Monongahela.
From here we went to Uniontown, the capital of Fayette county, where we
saw excellent land and Bedstone Creek. We dined the following day in Bedstone
or Brownsville: journeyed to Washington, the capital of the county of the same
name, and arrived the following day in Pittsburg.
Boats are going back and forth; even now one is coming, laden with hides from
Illinois. The people on board are wearing clothes made of woolen bed blankets.
They are laughing and singing after the manner of the French, yet as red as In-
dians, and almost the antipodes of their fatherland. * * *
5. Letter op Samuel Allen, an Emigrant from New England
(1796). An old letter written in 1796 by Samuel Allen on the Ohio
river at Belleville, near Parkersburg, to his father in Connecticut, de-
scribing a journey from Alexandria and Cumberland to the Ohio by
way of "broadaggs (Braddock's) old road," gives a picture of certain
of the more pathetic phases of the typical emigrant's experience un-
equaled by any published account. Incidentally, there is included a
mention of the condition of the road and, what is of more interest, a
clear glimpse into the Ohio valley when the great rush of pioneers had
begun after the signing of the Treaty of Greenville, which ended the
Indian war.
Belleville, Va., November the 15th, 1796.
Honored Parents:
Six months is allmost gone since I left N. London (New London, Connecticut)
& not a word have I heard from you or any of the family I have not heard wheather
you are dead or alive, sick or well. When I heard that Mr. Backus had got home I
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 12:'.
was hi hopes of reeieviag a letter by him. but bis brother was here the other day
and sayes that he left his trunk and left the letters that he had in the trunk, so
I am still in hopes of having one yet. There is an opertunity of sending letters
once every week only lodge a letter in the post-offis in N. London & in a short
time it will be at Belleville. The people that came with me has most all had letters
from their friends in New England. Mr. Avory has had two or three letters from
his Brother one in liften dnyes after date all of whitch came by the waye of the
male.
General Putnam of Muskingdom (Marietta on the Muskingum) takes the New
London papers constantly every week
When we arrived to Alexandria (Alexandria, Virginia) Mr. Avory found that
taking land cariag from there to the Monongehaly would be less expence then it
would be to go any farther up the Potomac & less danger so he hired wagoners to
carry the goods across the mountains to Mogantown on the Mongahaly about one
hundred iniies above Pittsburg Mr. Avorys expence in comeing was from N London
to Alexndria six dollars each for the passengers and two shillings & six pence for
inch hundred weight, from Allexandria to Morgantown was thirty two shillings
and six pence for each hundred weight of women & goods the men all walked the
hole of the way. I walked the hole distance it being allmost three hundred miles
and we found the rode to be pritty good untill we came to the Mountaing. crossing
the blue Mountain the Monongehaly & the Lorral Mountains we found the roads to
be verry bad.
You doubtless remember I rote in my last letter that Prentice was taken ill a
day or two before he continued verry much so untill the 10th of July when he began
to gro wors the waggoner was hired by the hundred weight & could not stop unless
I paid him for the time that he stoped & for the Keeping of the horses that I could
not afford to do So we were obliged to keep on We were now on the Allegany
Mountain & a most horrid rode the wagon golted so that I dare not let him ride
So I took him in my arms and carried him all the while except once in a while Mr
Davis would take him in his amies & carry him a spell to rest me. a young man
that Mr Avory hired at Allexandria a joiner whose kindness I shall not forgit he
kep all the while with us & spared no panes to assist us in anything & often he
would offer himself, our child at this time was verry sick & no medecal assistance
could be had on this mountain on the morning of the 13th as we was at breackfast
at the house of one Mr Tumblestone (Tomlinson?) the child was taken in a fit
our company had gone to the next house to take breakfast which was one mile on
our way we were alone in the room & went & asked Mrs Tumblestone to come into
the room she said she did not love to see a person in a fitt but she came into the
room Polly ask her if she new what was good for a child in a fitt she said no &
immediately left the room & shut the door after her & came no more into the room
when that fitt left him there came on another no person in the room but Mr
Tumblestone who took but little notis of the child tho it was in great distress Polly
said she was afraid the child would die in one of them fitts Mr. Tumblestone spoke
in a verry lite manner and sayes with a smile it will save you the trouble of carrying
it any farther if it does die We then bundled up the child and walked to the next
house ware we come up with our company I had just seated myself down when
the child was taken in a fitt again when that had left it it was immediately taken
in another & as that went off we saw another coming on the Man of the house
gave it some drops that stoped the fitt he handed me a vial of the dropps — gave
directions how to use them the child had no more fitts but seemed to be stuped
all day he cried none at all but he kept a whinning & scouling all the while with
his eyes stared wide open his face and his eyes appeared not to come in shape as
before When we took dinner it was six mile to the next house the waggoners said
they could not git through thro that night we did not love to stay out for fear our
child would die in the woods so we set off & left the waggons I took the child in
my arms and we traveled on Mr Davis set off with us & carried the child above
half of the time here we traveled up & down the most edious hills as I ever saw
& by nine oclock in the evening we came to the house the child continued stayed all
the night the next morning at break of day I heard it make a strange noise I
percieved it grew worse I got up and called up the women (who) ware with us
the woman of the house got up & in two hours the child dyed Polly was obliged to
go rite off as soon as his eyes was closed for the waggoners would not stop I stayed
to see the child hurried I then went on two of the men that was with me were
joiners & had their tools witli them they stayed with me & made the coffin Mr.
Simkins (Simpkins) the man of the house sent his Negoes out & dug the grave
whare he had burried several strangers that dyed a crossing the mountain he family
all followed the corps to the grave black & white & appeared much affected.
When we returned to the house I asked Mr. Simkins to give me his name & the
name of the place he asked me the name of the child I told him he took his
pen & ink & rote the following lines Alligany County Marriland July the 14th
179G died John P Allen at the house of John Simkins at atherwayes bear camplain
broadaggs old road half way between fort Cumberland & Uniontown. I thanked
him for the kindness I had received from him he said I was verry welcome & he
was verry sorry for my loss
We then proceeded on our journey & we soon overtook the waggons & that nite
we got to the foot of the mountain We came to this mountain on the 11th of the
month and got over it the 10th at night We left the city of Allexandria on the
124 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Potomac the 30th day of June & arrived at Morgantown on the Monongahely the
18th day of July
Thus my dear pearents you see we are deprived of the child we brought with
us & we no not whather the one we left is dead or alive. I beg you to rite & let
me no Polly cant bear her name mentioned without shedding tears if she is alive
I hope you will spare no panes to give her learning.
When we arrived at Morgantown the river was so lo that boats could not go
down but it began to rain the same day that I got there I was about one mile from
there when it began to rain & from the 22d at night to the 2.3d in the morning it
raised 16 feet the logs came down the river so that it was dangerous for boats to
go & on Sunday the 22d in the evening the boats set off three waggons had not
arrived but the river was loreing so fast that we dare not wate the goods was left
with a Merchant in that town to be sent, when the river rises they have not come
on yet one of my barrels & the brass Cittle is yet behind
Mr Avory said while he was at Morgantown that Cattle were verry high down
the river & them that wanted to by he thought had better by then he purchased
some & I bought two cows and three calvs for myself & three cows for Mrs. Heni-
sted & calves & a yoke of three year old stears. The next morning after the Boats
sailed I set off by land with the cattle & horses with John Turner & Jonathan
Prentice & arrived at Bellvill the 9th of August & found it to be a verry rich &
pleasant country We came to the Ohio at Wheeling crick one hundred miles belo
Pittsburg & about the same from Morgantown We found the country settled the
hole of the way from Morgantown to Wheeling & a verry pleasant road we saw
some verry large & beautiful plantations here I saw richer land than I every saw
before large fields of corn & grane of a stout groath From Wheeling to Belleville
it is a wilderness for the most of the way except the banks of the river this side —
which is one hundred miles we found it verry difficult to get victules to eat. I drove
fifty miles with one meal of victules through the wilderness & only a foot path &
that was so blind that we was pestered to keep it we could drive but a little wayes
in a day whenever night overtook us we would take our blankets & wrap around
us & ly down on the ground We found some inhabitance along the river but they
came on last spring & had no provisions only what they brought with them.
The country is as good as it was represented to be & is seteling verry fast
families are continually moveing from other parts into this beautiful country if
you would give me all your intrest to bo gack there to live again it would be no
temtation if you should sell your intrest there & lay your money out here in a short
time I think you would be worth three or four times so much as you now are. it is
incredible to tell the number of boats that goes down this river with familys a
man that lives at Bedstone Old fort on the Monongehaly says that he saw last spring
seventy Boats go past in one day with familys moveing down the Ohio. There is
now at this place a number of familys that came since we did from Susquehanah
There is now at this place eighty inhabitancy. Corn is going at 2.s pr bushel by
the quantity 2.s 6-d by the single bushel. There has been between two & three
thousand bushels raised in Bellville this season & all the settlements along the river
as raised corn in proportion but the vast number of people that are moveing into
this country & depending upon bying makes it scerce & much higher than it
would be
There is three double the people that passes by here then there is by your house
there is Packets that passes from Pittsburg to Kentucky one from Pittsburg to
Wheeling 90 miles one from that to Muskingdom 90 mDes One from that to Galli-
polees 90 miles the french settlement opisite the big Canawa (Kanawha) & from
that there is another to Kentucky — of which goes & returns every week & — loaded
with passengers & they carry the male Mammy offered me some cloath for a Jacket
& if you would send it by Mr Woodward it would be very exceptible for cloaths is
verry high here Common flanel is 6s per yard & tow cloth is 3s 9d the woolves
are so thick that sheep cannot be kept without a shephard they often catch our
calvs they have got one of mine & one of Mrs Hemstid the latter they caught in
the field near the houses I have often ben awoak out of my sleep by the howling
of the wolves.
This is a fine place for Eunice they ask Is per yard for weaving tow cloth
give my respects to Betsey & Eunice & tell them that I hope one of them will come
with Mr. Woodward when he comes on Horses are very high in this country & if
you have not sold mine I should be (glad) if you would try to send him on by Mr
Woodward. I dont think Mr Avory will be there this year or two & anything you
would wish to send you nead not be affrid to trust to Mr. Woodwards hands for he
is a verry careful & a verry honest man & what he says you may depend upon.
Land is rising very fast Mr Avory is selling his lots at 36 dollars apeace he
has sold three since we came here at that price we was so long a comeing & pro-
visions so verry high that I had not any money left when I got here except what
I paid for the cattle I bought I have worked for Mr Avory since I came here to
the amount of sixteen dollars I paid him 80 dollars before we left N London I am
not in debt to him at preasent or any one else I have sot me up a small house and
have lived in it upwards of a fortnight we can sell all our milk and butter milk at
2d per quart Mr Avory will give me three shillings per day for work all winter &
find (furnish) we with victules or 4s & find myself I need not want for business
I think I am worth more than I was when I came We have ben in verry good
health ever since we left home.
General St. Clair who is now govenor of the western teritoryes & General
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 125
Wilkinson with their Adieongs (Aide-de-camps) attended by a band of soldiers in
uniform lodged at Bellvill a few nights ago on their way from headquarters to
Philadelphia with Amaracan coulours a flying
Please to give my respects to George & James & tell them that if they want
an interest this is the country for them to go to make it Please to except of my
kind love to yourselves & respects to all friends who may enquire do give my love
to Mr. Rogers & family & all my brothers and sisters & our only child Lydia Polly
sends her love to you & all her old friends & neighbors
Your affectionate son
Samuel Allen
6. Extracts from The American Gazetteer (1797). In 1797 The
American Gazetteer was published in Boston by Jedidiah Morse. It was
a volume of about 900 pages with several maps, and dealt with the ge-
ography of "North America and the West Indies." It contains the
following information in regard to towns of western Virginia:
Clarksburg, the chief town of Harrison County, Virginia. It contains about
40 houses, a court house and jail. It stands on east side of Monongahela river, 40
miles S.W. of Morgantown.
Frankfort, the capital of Pendleton County, Virginia, is situated on the west
side of the South Branch of the Potowmack river. It contains a court house, jail
and about 30 houses; 180 miles N.W. of Richmond.
Martinsburg, a post town of Virginia and capital of Berkeley County, situated
about 8 miles south of the Potowmac, in the midst of a fertile and well cultivated
country, and 25 miles from the Mineral Springs at Bath. It contains upwards of
70 houses, a court house, jail, Episcopal church, and contiguous to the town is one
for Presbyterians.
Moorefields, a post town and the capital of Hardy County, Virginia, situated on
the east side of the South Branch of the Potowmac river. It contains a court house
and jail, and between 60 and 70 houses. It is 180 miles from Richmond.
Morgantown, a post town of Virginia, and shre-town of Mongalia County, is
pleasantly situated on the east side of Monongahela river about 7 miles S. by W. of
the mouth of Cheat river, and contains a court house, a stone jail and about 40
houses.
Romney, the chief town of Hampshire County, Virginia, contains about 70
dwelling houses, a brick court house and a stone jail.
The chief town is Lewisburg. At Green Briar court house is a post office, 30
miles W. by S. of Sweet Springs, and 103 west of Staunton.
Shepherdstown or Shepherdsburg, a post town of Virginia, situated in Berkeley
County, on south side of Potowmack river. Its situation is healthful and agreeable
and the neighboring country is fertile and well cultivated. It contains about 2000
inhabitants, mostly of German extraction.
West Liberty, a post town of Virginia, and the capital of Ohio county, is situ-
ated at the head of Short creek, 6 miles from the Ohio. It contains about 120 houses,
a Presbyterian church, a court house and jail.
7. Description of a Trip by Felix Renick (1798). Felix Reniek
has left the following description of his experience on a trip from the
South Branch via Clarksburg to Marietta in 1798, and especially gives
a vivid picture of the earliest sort of taverns on the route :
Some of our neighbors who had served in Dunmore's campaign in 1774, gave
accounts of the great beauty and fertility of the western country, and particularly
the Scioto valley, which inspired me with a desire to explore it as early as I could
make it convenient. I accordingly set out from the south branch of Potomac for
that purpose, I think about the first of October, 1798, in company with two friends,
Joseph Harness and Leonard Stump, both of whom have long since gone hence. We
took with us what provisions we could conveniently carry, and a good rifle to pro-
cure more when necessary and further prepared ourselves to camp wherever night
overtook us. Having a long journey before us, we traveled slow, and reached
Clarksburg the third night, which was then near the verge of the western settle-
ments in Virginia, except along the Ohio river. Among our first inquiries of our
apparently good, honest, illiterate landlord, was whether he could tell us how far
it was to Marietta (Ohio), and what kind of trace we should have? His reply was,
' ' O yes, I can do that very thing exactly, as I have been recently appointed one of
the viewers to lay out and mark a road from here to Marietta, and have just returned
from the performance of that duty. The distance on a straight line which we first
run was seventy-five miles, but on our return we found and marked another line
that was much nearer. ' ' This theory to Mr. Harness and myself, each of us having
spent several years in the study and practice of surveying, was entirely new : we
however let it pass without comment, and our old host, to his great delight, enter-
tained us till late in the evening with a detailed account of the fine sport he and
his associates had in their bear chases, deer chases, &c, while locating the road.
We pursued our journey next morning, taking what our host called the nearest, and
which he also said was much the best route. The marks on both routes being fresh
12C HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
ami plain, the crooked and nearest route, as our host called it, frequently crossing
the other, ire took particular notice of the ground the straight line had to pass over,
and after getting through we were disposed to believe that our worthy host was
not so far wrong as might be supposed. The straight line crossing such high peaks
of mountains, some of which were so much in the sugarloaf form, that it would be
quite as near to go round as over them.
The first night after leaving the settlement at Clarksburgh, we camped in the
woods; the next morning while our horses were grazing, we drew on our wallets and
saddlebags for a snack, that we intended should pass for our breakfast, and set out. .
We had not traveled far before we unexpectedly came to a new improvement. A
man had gone there in the spring, cleared a small field and raised a patch of corn
&c, staying in a camp through the summer to watch it to prevent its being destroyed
by the wild animals. He had, a few days before we came along, called on some of
his near neighbors on the Ohio, not much more perhaps than thirty miles off, who
had kindly came forth and assisted him in putting up a cabin of pretty ample size,
into which he had moved bag and baggage. He had also fixed up a rock and trough,
and exposed a clapboard to view, with some black marks on it made with a coal,
indicating that he was ready and willing to accommodate those who pleased to favor
him with a call. Seeing these things, and although we did not in reality need any
thing in his way, Mr. Harness insisted on our giving him a call, observing that any
man that would settle down in such a wilderness to accommodate travelers ought to
lie encouraged. We accordingly rode up and called for breakfast, horse feed &"■
Then let me say that as our host had just put the ball in motion was destitute of
any helpmate whatever, (except a dog or two,) we had of course to officiate in all
the various departments appertaining to a hotel, from the landlord down to the
shoeblack on the one side, and from the landlady down to the dishwash on the
other. The first department in which he had to officiate was that of the hostler,
next that of the bar keeper, as it was then customary, whether called for or not, to
set out a half pint of something to drink. The next which he fell at with much
alacrity, was that of the cook, by commencing with rolled up sleeves and unwashed
hands and arms, that looked about as black and dirty as the bears' paws which
lay at the cabin door, part of whose flesh was the most considerable item in our
breakfast fare. The first operation was the mixing up some pounded corn meal
dough in a little black dirty trough, to which the cleaner, and perhaps as he ap-
peared to think him, the better half of himself, his dog, had free access before he
was fairly done with it, and that I presume was the only kind of cleaning it ever
got. While the dodgers were baking, the bear meat was frying, and what he called
coffee was also making, which was composed of an article that grew some hundred
or one thousand miles north of where the coffee tree ever did grow. You now have
the bill of fare that we sat down to, and the manner in which it was prepared;
but you must guess how much of it we ate, and how long we were at it. As soon
as we were done we called for our bill, and here follows the items: breakfast fifty
cents each, horses twenty-five each, half pint of whisky fifty cents. Mr. Harness,
who had prevailed on us to stop, often heard of the wilderness hotel, and whenever
mentioned, he always had some term of reproach ready to apply to the host and
the dirty breakfast, though we often afterwards met with fare somewhat similar
in all respects.
We camped two nights in the woods, the next day got to Marietta where the
land office was then kept by general Putnam, and from his office we obtained maps
of the different sections of country we wished to explore.
8. Extracts from Diary op Isaac Van Meter (18011. Isaac Van
Meter, of Hampshire county, Virginia, now Hardy county, West Virginia,
was one of the leading men of western Virginia during and after the
Revolutionary war. He was a member of the Virginia convention which
ratified the United States constitution. In 1801 he made a tour through
the western country. He kept a record of that journey in the diary that
follows, which was discovered and copied in 1897 by Hu Maxwell while
collecting material for a history of Hampshire county.
Thursday, April 16, 1801: Started from home in company with George Har-
ness, L. Branson and John Miller. Lodged at Mr. Harvey 's.
Saturday, April 18: — Crossed Cheat river which is about the size of the South
Branch, or perhaps larger; hills remarkably high on both sides.
Sunday, April 19: — Breakfasted at Daniel Davison's in Clarksburg and waited
until after dinner. Clarksburg has a tolerable appearance on Main street, with an
academy on an elevated piece of ground near the town. We were informed that
nearly fifty children are generally taught there. The court house is on one side
of the street and the jail on the other, near the center. Left Clarksburg and lay at
Mr. Clayton's fifteen miles distant. The face of the country is very rough, but some
small strips of bottom well adopted for meadow.
Monday, April 20: — Down middle Island creek fourteen miles in which distance
we crossed it seventeen times. A rough hilly country and poor.
Tuesday, April 21: — We passed through a very rough, hilly country; following
a dividing ridge ten miles until we came within twelve miles of the mouth of the
Muskingum. Turned to the right and fell on the Ohio (which I had for many years
BISTORT OF WEST VIRGINIA L27
wished to see) at the. mouth of Bull run. Above the mouth is a fine bottom belonging
to Cresap 's heirs. Back of the tract is an extraordinary body of rich upland for two
miles, and completely timbered. We went down the Ohio to Isaac Villers', opposite
the mount of the Muskingum.
Wednesday April 22: — We went down the Ohio twelve miles to the mouth of
the Little Kanawha. Below Williams' improvement lies a very handsome bottom,
and for eight miles small improvements going on. Then came to a very well im-
proved body of land laid off by Br. Spencer into fifty acre lots and a small town
called Vienna.
Tuesday, April 28: — This day we passed an Indian camp where I "as introduced
to John VanMeter, who was taken prisoner when a child and is so accustomed to
the Indian habits that his friends cannot prevail on him to leave them.
Tuesday, May 26: — Fed at Carmichael's Town on Muddy creek and viewed a
mill on Whiteley creek, where the race has been blown through solid rock underground
nine poles, and opens three poles above the pierhead. The land from here to the
Monongahela at Greenburg is fertile. We crossed to Geneva near the glass works
and lodged at Mr. Crawford 's.
Wednesday, May 27: — We crossed Laurel hill, and at the foot of this sub-
took a right hand road and struck for the Crab Orchard, and lodged at Mr. Child 's.
9. Extracts from Thomas Ashe's "Travels in America" (1806).
The following extracts, representing an Englishman's impression of
Wheeling in 1806, appeared in a book entitled "Travels in America,"
written by Thomas Ashe, Esq.
Wheeling, Virginia, April, 180(i
The town of Wheeling is well known as one of the most considerable places of
embarkation to traders and emigrants, on the western waters. It is a port-town,
healthfully and pleasantly situated on a very high bank of the river, and is increas-
ing rapidly. Here quantities of merchandise designed for the Ohio country, and
the Upper Louisiana, are brought in wagons during the dry seasons; as boats can
frequently go from hence, when they cannot from places higher up the river. Be-
sides, as the navigation above Wheeling is more dangerous than all the remainder
of the river, persons should undoubtedly give it the preference to Pittsburg. The
distance by water to Pittsburg is eighty-two miles; by land only forty-five by a
good road. A coach runs from Philadelphia also, to this town, for thirty dollars
each passenger; and the wagons which daily arrive charge little more per cent, than
the Pittsburg price. On the whole, I give this place a decided preference, and
1 rognosticate that it will ultimately injure and rival all the towns above its waters.
The town is formed of about two hundred and fifty houses; ten of which arc
built of brick, eighteen of stone, and the remainder of logs. *
This plain, although one hundred feet above low water, was originally formed
by the river subsiding; and there is a narrower place, or what is here called bottom,
immediately flowing from the hills which also was under water; but by the growth
of its timber, and superior height, its submergement must have been at a much
more remote period than that of the plain on which the town is built. A part of
the latter is now a very small but excellent race gTound.
The original settlers were not calculated to give importance to an infant estab-
lishment. Had they done so, had they attended to worthy commercial pursuits, and
industrious and moral dealings, in place of rapine on Indian property, drunkenness,
horse-racing and cock-fighting, their town would have rivalled Pittsburg long since,
and have now enjoyed a respectable name.
This part of Virginia was, at no very remote period, deemed the frontier, not
only of Virginia, but of America. To this frontier all persons outlawed, or escaping
from Justice, fled, and resided without the apprehension of punishment or the dread
of contempt and reproach. They formed a species of nefarious republic, where
equality of crime constituted a social band, which might to this day have remained
unbroken, but for the effects of the conclusion of the Indian war, which extended
the frontier across the river nearly to the Canadian line, leaving the ancient boun-
dary within the jurisdiction of government and under the immediate grasp of
the law.
Those who fled from the restraints of moral and political obligations, were
exasperated at this unforseen event, and felt hurt that a better sort of people came
among them. The consequence previously assumed by thieves and swindlers, fled
the presence of morals and justice. Such as were determined not to submit to an
improvement of life, and a daily comparison of character, left the country; while
others, who "repented of their ways," remained, and are now blended with the
better order of citizens. Of these materials, the society of this town is now formed.
But I have it from the good authority of a quaker of high respectability that the
old settlers will all be brought out in time, and the place become new and regener-
ated. He founds his hopes on the belief that his friends when backed by others
of their profession, to settle in the town, will gain an ascendancy in the municipel
affairs; abolish cock-fighting, horse-racing, fighting, drinking, gambling, etc., and
above all, enforce the observance of the Sabbath and other solemn days. * *
My acquaintance with the place convinces me that much time and unremitted
assiduity must be employed to make it a tolerable residence for any class of men,
much less a society of quakers. The majority of the present inhabitants have no
means whatever of distinguishing Sunday, but by a greater degree of violence and
128 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
debauchery than the affairs of ordinary days will allow them to manifest. Even
on occasion of business, the smallest occurrence will draw them from it, and expose
it to total negligence.
Yesterday two fellows drinking in a public house, the conversation turned on
the merit of their horses — two wretched animals they had ridden into town that
morning, and which had remained fasting at a post. A wager, the consequence of
every argument on this side of the mountains, was made, and the poor brutes were
galloped off to the race-course. Two-thirds of the population followed; — black-
smiths, shipwrights, all left work; the town appeared a desert. The stores were
shut. I asked a proprietor why the warehouses did not remain open. He told me
all good was done for that day; that the people might remain on the ground till
night, and many stay till the following morning. I was determined to see this
Virginia recreation, which caused such an abandonment of eare and business. On
my arrival on the ground, the original race had been won, and the price of a saddle
was collecting to excite another course, and raise new opponents. This was soon
effected; the course was cleared, and six poor devils were started for the saddle,
and numerous bets laid by the owners and spectators. The number of persons inter-
ested in this affair, and some disputed points which occurred in the adjustment
of it, gave rise to a variety of opinion, umpires were called in; their judgment was
rejected, and a kind of general battle ensued. This affray over, the quarrel took a
smaller circle, confined to two individuals, a Virginian by birth, and a Kentuckian
by adoption. A ring was formed and the mob demanded whether they proposed to
fight fair or to rough and tumble. The latter mode was preferred. * * * Bulk
and bone were in favor of the Kentuckian; science and craft in that of the Vir-
ginian. The former promised himself victory from his power, the latter from his
science. * * * The shock received by the Kentuckian and the want of breath
brought him instantly to the ground. * * * The Kentuckian at length gave
out, on which the people carried off the victor, and he preferring a triumph to a
doctor, who come to cicatrize his face, suffered himself to be chaired round the ground
as the champion of the times, and the first rough and tumbler. * * *
Tli is spectacle ended, and the citizens, refreshed with whiskey and biscuit, sold
on the ground, the races were renewed, and possibly other editions of the monstrous
history I have just recited ; but I had had sufficient of the sports of the day, and
returned to my quaker friend, with whom I had engaged to take my dinner. He
was afflicted, but by no means surprised at the news I brought him, and informed
me farther that such doings were common, frequently two or three times a week;
and that twice a year, or at the spring and fall races, they continued for fourteen
days without interruption, aided by the licentious and profligate of the neighboring
states. * * * It seems the storekeepers and the principal citizens, seeing the
people had no intention of returning to their avocations, had resolved to amuse
themselves, and associated for the purpose of having a ball and supper at the
principal inn. On my arrival, the landlord, with much politeness, told me that
my quality of stranger and a gentleman gave me title to enter the public room.
* * * I entered the ball room, which was filled with persons at cards, drinking,
dancing, etc. The music consisted of two bangies, played by negroes, nearly in a
state of nudity, and a lute, through which a Chickesaw breathed with much occa-
sional exertion and violent gesticulation. The dancing accorded with the harmoney
of these instruments. The clamor of the card tables was so great that it almost
drowned every other, and the music of Ethiopia was with difficulty heard. * * *
There is a very beautiful island directly opposite Wheeling, to which there
is a ferry, and another ferry from the island to the Ohio shore, where commences
a road leading to Chilicothe, and the interior of the State of which that town is the
capital. The road for the most part is mountainous and swampy, notwithstanding
which a mail coach is established on it, from Philadelphia to Lexington in Ken-
tucky, through Pittsburgh, Wheeling and Chilicothe, a distance of upwards of seven
hundred miles, to be performed by contract in fifteen days. Small inns are to be
found every ten, or twelve miles of the route. They are generally log huts of one
apartment, and the entertainment consists of bacon, whiskey, and Indian bread. Let
those who despise this bill of fare remember that seven years since this road was
called the Wilderness, and travellers had to encamp, find their own provisions, and
with great difficulty secure their horses from panthers and wolves.
At Marietta, while describing the more orderly habits of that town,
he again took occasion to refer to the lawlessness of Wheeling :
Marietta is also a port town, issues a weekly paper, and possesses an academy,
court-house, prison, and church. The latter edifice is the only one of the kind be-
tween this and Pittsburg: a distance of one hundred and eighty-one miles. If justice
be impotent on the opposite Virginia shore, and morals and laws be trampled upon
and despised, here they are strengthened by authority; and upheld, respected, and
supported by all ranks. The New-England regulations of church and magistracy
are all introduced and acted on to the full extent — to a point bordering on an arbi-
trary exaction. Every family, having children or not, must pay a certain annual
sum for the support of a public school; every person, whether religious or otherwise,
must pay a fixed sum towards the maintenance of a minister of divine worship
and all persons must pay a rigid respect, and a decided observance to the moral and
religious ordinance of the sabbath. In consequence never was a town more orderly
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 129
or quiet. No mobs, no fighting, no racing, no rough and tumbling, or anything to be
observed but industry, and persevering application to individual views. The Vir-
ginians who at times visit the town, remain for a short period, and return to their
own shores astonished at the municipal phenomena they witnessed, and wondering
how man could think of imposing on himself such restraints.
Mr. Ashe gives the following description of Wellsburg (then called
Charlestown), which he visited before he reached Wheeling:
Charlestown is finely situated on the Virginia side, at the junction of Buffaloe
creek and the Ohio. It is a flourishing place, commanding the trade of the sur-
rounding rich settlement; and have many excellent mills, is much resorted to by
purchasers of flour. The boats can be purchased at the Pittsburg price, and articles
of provision on very rcasonble terms.
The town, which contains about one hundred and fifty houses was originally
well laid out with the best row facing the river, and the intermediate space
answered the purpose of a street explanade and water terrace, giving an air of health
and cheerfulness gratifying to the inhabitants, and highly pleasing to those de-
scending the stream. However, owing to the avarice of the proprietor of the ter-
race, and a disgraceful absence of judgment and taste, he has sold his title to the
water side, and the purchasers are now building on it; turning the back of their
houses immediately close to the edge of the bank, and excluding all manner of view
and communication from the best of the town. This violation of taste, it seems,
is not to go unpunished. The bank is undermining fast, and in a very few years,
these obtruding edifices must fall unless removed. This vice of building to the
high water mark is not peculiar to Charlestown; Philadelphia set the example.
10. Journal (or Diary) of Lewis Summers (1808). Settlements
in the Kanawha valley advanced steadily after 1790 — and especially
after 1800. From 1790 to 1810 a tide of Virginia emigration flowed
westward into Kentucky. Many traversed the route via the Kanawha to
Scary creek and thence through Teay's valley and via the Kentucky
ford across Mud river. Others found homes along the Kanawha. A
glimpse of conditions in the wilderness along this route in 1808 1 may
be obtained from the following extracts from a journal or diary writ-
ten by Lewis Summers on a tour from Alexandria to Gallipolis, Ohio,
and up the valley of the Ohio in that year in search of a desirable loca-
tion for his father, Col. George Summers:
29th Tuesday— June 1808
Got to Callahan's tavern where I staid all night; 10 miles, making 24 miles
this day. Callahan 's is situated at the forks of the road leading to Tennessee by
the way of Fincastle, Knoxville etc., the left [right] to Kentucky by the way
of Kanawa.
Here I struck the road opened by the state from the upper navigation of
James Eiver to the upper navigation of Kanawa.
Wednesday 29— June 1808
Left Callahan's and crossed the Allegany mountains to the Sulphur Springs,
leaving the Sweet Springs 20 miles to the left. The Allegany is by no means as
difficult to pass at this place as the Blue Ridge. The springs are 11 miles from
Callahan 's in Greenbrier County and west of the Allegany. The water is cold,
but very strongly impregnated with sulphur. The wooden trough conveying the
water from the spring is covered with sulphur deposited from the water. The taste
is to me very disagreeable and the scent as strong as the washings from a gun.
Prom these springs I went on 6 miles to Greenbrier river a branch of the Kanawa,
about 200 yards wide where I forded, but not deep. Three miles to Lewis Burgh
where I fed and rested myself. This is a small little village about as big as Centre-
ville; It is the County Town of Greenbrier. Tavern kept by Tyree; pretty good
house. The state road this far pretty good. Stock almost the only trade of this
Country. Salt 15s and 18s pr. bushel. After dining and feeding at Lewis Burgh
rode 8 miles to Piercy's having travelled 32 miles this day. Great contention as
to the route this road shall go. Major Einnox and Greenbrier Court have ordered
the route adopted by the state, to be changed, carrying it 2 miles further, to ac-
commodate the Boyer brothers, and an appeal taken by the opposing party.
1 Possibly a diary of an earlier trip to the Kanawha may be in existence. In
a small pocket diary kept by John D. Sutton, dated at Alexandria, Virginia, in
1796, he speaks of teaching a school in South Carolina, and of coming to Alex-
andria where his father and brother, James, lived. At his father's request, he made
a trip to what is now Braxton county to look at some lands which his father had
bought out of the John Allison survey, lying on Granny's creek and the Elk river.
He relates that he came by Winchester and Lewisburg, thence to Charleston. At
Charleston, he hired a canoe and procured the assistance of a riverman to bring
him up the Elk river to the mouth of Big Birch. He then crossed the country
to the home of a Mr. Carpenter on Laurel creek.
Vol. 1—9
130 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Thursday 30
Left Piercy 's and traveled 34 miles to New River. This is the main branch of
Kanawa, about 50 yards wide at the ferry, and 30 feet deep at low water, but is
not navigable owing to the many rapids and falls. About 10 miles from Lewis
Burgh the route that the upper Kanawa people so long contended for turns off.
It goes by the way of Peter 's Creek is said to be further, passing over worse ground,
and no accommodation to be had, being thirty-five miles of the way without
houses, crossing Sewall and Gauley mountains and Gauly river. The road I came is
exceedingly mountainous. Sewall mountain 6 miles over, very steep and rocky, but
the worst part of the road I have seen are the cliffs at New river. The east cliff a
mile descending, and the west 1% miles ascending. They are too steep and rough
to be passed on horseback. I walked nearly all the way over them. This evening
saw several turkeys and a large bear.
Friday 1 July
Left New river and travelled over a rough road to Jinkin 's mountain which I
suppose is a continuation of Gauly. It is rough stony and steep. Hands are at
work here and at the cliffs repairing the road under the appropriation of last year.
Struck the Kenawa at Hooff's Ferry % mile below the falls. Falls S2 feet. This
ferry is 17 miles from New river. Travelled 8 miles down the river; but little bot-
tom, and this eight miles as well as the country to near L. B. (Lewisburg) is ap-
parently poor. Nothing but cabins and small patches of corn, the people depend-
ing chiefly on hunting. From Morriss' to Jones' 4 miles and 12 from the falls,
the bottoms widen. — farms larger and houses out houses orchards and., comfortable.
Greenbrier iron 9d, and Ohio iron — ; good cotton raised here. Drovers and trav-
ellers take nearly all the surplus gTain. Wolves and bears destroy the sheep and
hogs. On crossing New river. I entered Giles, which is divided from Kanawa by
Jenkin's mountain. Travelled 29 miles this day. Corn generally between 6 and
seven feet high.
Saturday 2nd July —
Discovered my horse to be foundered. Left Jones' crossing the river and
traveling down on the north side to Buffner 's salt works. They are 26 miles below
the falls, — six miles above Charlestown (Kanawa C. H.') and 66 from the Point.
They are just commencing the manufacture of salt, — have but 64 kettles. The
water is obtained from a well, which was sunk near the margin of the river, and
the water received into the well through a hole bored in through a rock of near
20 feet thick at the bottom of the well. The covering for the kettles and furnaces
are quite temporary, as indeed are all parts of the establishment. The water
produces a bushel of salt for every 200 Gal's. The works at Sandy take 240 to
the Bushell.
The farms from the works to K. C. H. increase in size as you descend the
river, the bottoms growing wider and the hills less steep and high. Mr. Bufner
informs me that Dr. Craik 's bottom opposite Pokatalico is the finest land he ever
saw, the back line including no hills but just running at their foot, the bottom
in parts a mile wide, and as level, even and fertile as he ever saw. He thinks
this land worth 4$ through, but I find he wishes to purchase. He says no 1,000
acres co'ld be got together worth 7$50, but thinks some of the lots singly worth
it. Mr. D'onelson the clerk estimates the best of Craik 's bottom at 12$
Washington's heirs begin five miles below Elk; — 2400 acres 5 or — river — prin-
cipally bottom — from Coal up four miles — Washington's heirs — Pokatalico down 12
miles, same — 6700 acres — bottom narrow for 7 miles — widens at Bed house shoals;
below this place excellent bottom.
Got to Kenawa C. H. this ev'g. Trav'd 20 miles — horse lame and unable to
proceed — drenched him with a pint of salt dissolved in a halfpint whiskey.
Sunday 3rd.
Horse still unable to travel — bathed him with a decoction of smart weed,
soft soap and vinegar, and applied the weed to his back.
Monday. 4th July.
Horse still lame and unable to travel; took off a shoe; appears to be gravelled;
cleared the wound and filled it with hot tar and nailed leather over it.
This day was celebrated here by the Gentlemen and ladh'S of the neighbourhood,
about 20 of each. The dancing commenced at 12 o'el'k; dined about 3, and con-
tinued dancing etc., until after 12. The ladies were generally hansome; danced
with great ease if not with elegance. The Gentl'n friendly in the extreme. The
time was spent in the greatest harmony and sociability, no ceremonial rules im-
pending a full enjoym't of the ocasion; each, both male and female vying in
producing the greatest quantity of satisfaction. The Gentl'n and their families of
most note who attended were Mr. Eeynolds and family, Mr. David and Jos. Buffner
and family, Mr. Buster and family, Col. Donalson the Clerk and family, Mr. Sparks
and his family; some fine girls from Teaze's Valley. Note: Promised to write to
D. Buffner the acc't of my journey home.
Tuesday, 5th —
Hard rain this morning; ladies detained in town and dancing cont'd until
12 o'el'k, when rain abated. My horse still very lame, with a bad cough. * * *
Mr. Eeynolds proposed a swap. Buster and McKee determined the swap should
be even. I disagreed, but after trying Eeynolds' horse, made the exchange. Got a
bay horse fifteen hands 4 inches high, well made before, but bad behind. Extremely
well gaited; raised by Chancellor Stewart of Staunton; in high repute in this
neighborhood, and assured not to exceed eight years old this spring. The old grey
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 131
was so stiffened with riding that I feared from his age, cough and lameness, he
would never be well again.
Left Charlestown and got to Blake's in the Military Bottom owned by Fry,
Hogg and Savage etc. This land 's beginning is 4 miles above the mouth of Coal,
and runs down to Pocatoalico. There is a great deal of good bottom, but all
the inhabitants are squatters; it contains 21000 acres, and has about 200 cleared.
Wednesday, 6th — ■
Left Blake's and rode to Carruther's crossing the Kanawa at the mouth of
Poky, which is twenty miles from Elk. Carruthers lives in a two story cabin, part
of the first story daubed, the upper open. Breakfasted here on onions, milk and
butter.
This tract of Doctor Craik 's begins at about two miles above? the mouth of
Poky, and extends down to 25 miles creek binding on the river 16 miles.
The lower bottom on this tract I did not see having crossed the river below
the Red House shoals in a canoe, swimming the horses; I am informed it is rather
inferior to the upper part, having more breaks in it. There is but one tenant on it,
named Honeycut; lie lias about 8 acres opened. Proceeded to Johnston's in
Bronaugh 's bottom, accompanied by Caruthers.
Thursday 7th July —
Examined G-. W. Craik 's land this day in company with Mr. W. Bronaugh and
Mr. Caruthers. This land is part of a large tract owned by Mr. Jno. Bronaugh
1200 acres W. B. 1200 Col. Powell 1200 Mrs. Aldrich 1200 and G. W. C. 1200. It
begins at Little Buffaloe and runs down to 18 mile creek. Mr. Craig's part from
Buffaloe down about 1 14 miles is extremely narrow on the bottom, being about 40
poles at the head line, and gradually opening for the above distance at which it is
about 100 poles wide.
The ague and fever prevalent here in the fall. I am informed by Mr. Reynolds
and others that there is a leading valley from Clarksburgh near the head of Little
Kannaway and down Poky, and into the Kentucky road in Teaze 's valley. This
route I am told is level for this country and has been traveled and is by far the
nearest route from that part of the country to Kentucky etc. Charles Town is en-
tirely built of log houses, except one not yet finished; they are in a string along
the river bank, a street passing between.
Friday, 8th July.
This morning I was induced to postpone my journey until another day. Mr.
Hale and his family having returned from the Point where they had attended a
barbecue and dance on the 4th July, who insisted on my spending a day with them
and enjoying a Deer drive. Mr. Hale is brother to Mrs. Minor, his first wife sister to
John Bronaugh, and his present to William, the Doctor, etc.; she is a fine agreeable
woman. I meet here as good society as I co'ld find in Fairfax, tho' the circle
is small.
Saturday 9th July
Left Johnston 's and proceeded down the river. From 28 Mile creek, on which
Mr. A 's land binds, I saw scarcely any bottom worth having, until I got near the
Point, the river running generally near the hills, and for a considerable part of the
way not affording room for a road which now passes over the hills and on the
ridges. The lands adjoining the Point are level and fine, but this little town
seems to possess neither energy nor exertion.
After feeding my horse I crossed into the Ohio State, and proceeded to Galli-
polis, having heard that Mercer was about leaving this place for London; on my
arrival found he had started to Chilocothe an hour before, to prosecute some thieves
who had lately stolen the horses, and not expected back until Wednesday.
In passing down the Kanawha I missed seeing the celebrated Burning Spring.
It was the custom of the early stage drivers to make a stop here that all travelers
might have an opportunity to view the then great curiosity. It is 2*4 miles above
Rufner 's salt works, and I did not know I had passed it until I got there; my
horse was then too lame to return, and I was disappointed by rains and the
ball from visiting it from Charles Town. Mr. Reynolds, Mr. McKee, Mssr Ruf-
ners, Dr. Bronaugh etc. That the water is collected from the rains and is con-
tained in a sunken spot, through the bottom of which there are several apertures
through which pass continual currents of inflamable gass, which gives the water the
appearance of a boiling spring. I am informed by Mr. McKee that about 20
miles up GTeat Sandy there is a current of this air discharged from the bottom
of the river and which he has frequently set on fire.
Salt from the Scioto works all brought by land to this place for $2 per
barrell, which is the usual manner of getting it here. The works are 33 miles from
this town, being on the road and half way between here and Chilocothe. The licks
are owned by Congress and rented out. Turper and Fletcher's salt-works are 4 miles
from this place. They have but one furnace in operation, containing about 75
kettles, and make between 60 and 70 bushells of salt per week. The water is about
the strength of the Scioto water, taking between 7 and 800 gallons to the bushell.
The salt is of the quality of the inferior Scioto salt-water is owned by the Govern-
ment; any person is permitted to sink a well and erect a furnace, on paying to
Government 6 cents per gallon for the aggregate am't of their kettles per annum.
There are 16 or 17 furnaces now in operation, generally averaging 65 bushells
per week.
Tuesday, 12th July.
Spent this day in writing home, copying plats, etc., and in visiting some French
132 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
families: Mr. Le Clere and Mr. Beauro, from whom I learned that in the fall of
1790 (19th Oct.) about 500 French arrived in this place having previously purchased
of Col. Duer 's agents in France.
Thursday, 14th
In comp'y with Col. Clendenin and Mr. Gray, a Gent, also wishing to pur-
chase lands, devoted the day to the examination of Mercer's bottom.
The Ohio side is pretty well filled with small settlements; bottoms narrow and
not yet sold by the Government. At Gallipolis iron 10$ per Hund. 10° nails 16 cts.,
8° 10 cts, — goods generally 100 per ct higher than in Baltimore. Castings, iron,
stills, millstones, grindstones etc with almost everything useful or ornamental
brought down in boats. Yesterday 4 large covered boats passed here. I went _ on
board one loaded with store goods not open for Cincinnati. Two boats were moving
families; one with millstones etc. Mr. Herriford came out in 22 days, having b't
52 souls and 3 wagon-loads of furniture, etc. in a boat 24 by 12. He has a good
blacksmith, which is a great convenience to the country. He sends to the mills
at the falls of Mud, 16 miles; generally sends a canoe and 20 bushells; a good mill
on Racoon, and Herriford is about commencing one. Good school at Gallipolis;
board of scholars 1$ per week.
Saturday, 16th July
Took leave of Col. C. and other acquaintances at Gallipolis and proceeded to
the Point to breakfast with Col. Lewis, who politely rode several miles up the
river to put Mr. Gray and myself on the road. Gray is well pleased with Mercer's
bottom, and wishes to get a situation at the Point for ship-building, but the whole
property of that place has disputes of a serious nature attending the title.
Got to Grayham's Station to dinner, 18 miles from the Point.
Sunday 17th July
After dinner took leave of Mr. Lewis and his family, and rode to Wood Court
House, where we staid all night. Saw at this place an old man named Neal, who is
from Loudon, who with his son keeps a tavern and store.
Monday, 18 — July
Rode to Dr. Joseph Spencer's; he lives on, and owns the farm called Vienna.
This tract is equal to any I have seen on this river. It contains 1800 acres. Dr.
Spencer offers 1000 acres of this land, which would have about 400 poles front, two
good dwelling houses, kitchen, barns, cabins for tenants, etc. orchards, meadows, etc.,
in high order; price $10 per acre, half down, half 12 months. On this land are
not more hills than are necessary to support the farm in timber. The reason it is
now offered for sale is to enable the present owner to relieve a deed of trust on
it. The Turners and Gills from Fairfax are tenants on this land to Doctor Spencer.
The old Mr. Turner shed tears at parting, and walked with me a mile on the road
to talk over the situation of all his old acquaintances. After viewing Dr. Spencer's
farm and taking breakfast with him proceeded on. His farm is 4 miles from Wood
Court House, and 8 from Marietta. Dined at William's tavern. Crossed over and
took a view of Marietta and proceeded to Henderson's Quarter, 10 miles from
Marietta. This farm contains 2,000 acres, about 200 in corn; expect to make 2000
barrells. They work 30 hands. Stock of hogs, cattle and horses fine.
19th, Tuesday (July)
Rode to Middle Island Creek, 10 miles to breakfast; a rough road and hilly
country. Six miles beyond this, passed Chimney bottom, in which I viewed an an-
cient encampment. The trenches are square and contain ten acres. Got to Mr.
Chs Wells to dinner. He is a very reputable old man, and has often represented
this County (Ohio) in former times. Left Wells' and got to Friend Payton's six
miles. He is a talkative old substantial farmer, his house, etc., was the dirtiest
I had seen in my journey, which surprised me, as he and his family are all quakers.
Wednesday, 20th (July)
Rode to Mr. Dickinson's, 16 miles, to breakfast, crossing Fish Creek; from
thence to Baker's to dinner, 10 miles. A fine shower of rain to-day, which impeded
our journey. Two miles below Baker's passed the remains of an old block-house,
near which a number of graves, affording a romantic appearance, being in the
middle of the woods, and the graves neatly paled in I am told they are the graves
of the malitia who were posted here, and fell fighting the Indians. Within half a
mile of this place lives Michael Cressap. From Baker's rode 6 miles after the rain
to Grave Creek, on the upper side of which is a town laid off on Tomlinson's lands
called Mount Elizabeth. The houses are few and in a decaying state, except Tom-
linson's which is of brick, not yet finished.
Thursday, 21 (July)
Rode 12 miles to Wheeling to breakfast. This town is respectable for its size
and business — a small vessel on the stocks, and a number of all kinds of boats ready
for purchasers wishing to descend the river. Tavernkeeper 's name Knox; a very
good house. At Grave Creek, Purdy's the best house. From Wheeling proceeded on
to West Liberty, 12 miles passing Major McCulloch's, who was not at home, and
the Short Creek meeting-house, which is in an unfurnished state. Detained here two
hours by the rain. This is a pleasant little village, formerly the county town of
Ohio before Brooke was taken off, since which it is rather on the decline. Here
met with Capt. Birch from the city of Washington, on his way through Ohio, Ten-
nisee, etc., looking out a situation to move to. From him I learned of the arrival
of the Osage, and the fracas at Geo' Town on the 4th of July. After the rain rode
to Mr. Robert Laurason's (a brother-in-law). 3 miles.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 133
22nd, Friday (July)
At Mr. L. 's. His situation is comfortable; his dwelling-house of hewed logs, di-
vided into two rooms. He has a thriving young orchard of both apples and peaches.
This neighbourhood is as thickly settled as Fairfax; the inhabitants more on an
equality and I think, more general wealth among them, though perhaps not held
by individuals in as great a quantity. The Commission to arrange the State road
through this County have lately been engaged in examining it. They are con-
sidered as unjustifiably partial to the Wheeling route. The ground is said to be
worse and the distance further than by Charlestown (Wellsburg) at the mouth oi
Short Creek. On the Wheeling route they are said to have spent nearly all their
time meandering hills and exerting themselves to find a plausible pretext for report
ing in its favor and when on either of the other routes, have manifested such
total indifference as to discover their prejudice ag't them; and great interest is
making by McKinley and others with the President to counteract the effect of the
report they make. Most of the Commissioners are s'd to have friends and re-
lations on the Wheeling route.
Saturday, Sunday and Monday —
Weather rainy, and chiefly employed in tending to my horse.
Sunday 31st, July —
Rode Mr. Laurason's mare to Short Creek where Bishop Asbury preached and
consecrated the new meeting-house; he roundly charged the members with too great
a love of their worldly goods, and a want of zeal in not finishing the meeting-house ;
all of them, he observed could buy lands, horses, fine clothes etc. but truly they
were too poor to finish the meeting-house; that the difficulty of a rich man's get-
ting to Heaven he feared would be exemplified with many of them. * *
Wednesday, Aug. 10, rode my horse for the first time, to Liberty; his back
very tender but did not suffer by the ride. I was politely treated by Mr. Ridgeley
and his family, with whom I dined. I accidentally met here with Alex. McCon-
nell, who owed me about $70.00; he assured me he had paid it to the_ Sheriff of
Frederick County, who has execution against him for it, and was to bring me the
receipt to Liberty on Saturday. This he neglected to do, stating that they were
mislaid, and I took his affidavit of the payment, to call on the Sheriff on my return.
In this place there is a wool-carding machine owned and operated by two
men by name of Gamble. They are Scotchmen. The machine is more complete
than I supposed; it cost $500, and is worked by one horse. It cards between 40
and 50 weight pound day and for which the owners receive 10 cts. per pound; he
has as much as he can well do, and is about setting up a machine for spinning hemp
and making of bagging. Goods sell very high through this country, but their price
is not felt, the merchants taking produce, which he sends down the river and con-
verts into remittances. Salt $3.00 per bushel!, coffee 40 cts. The merchants give
2s for good towelling in other goods, and it is the usual way of procuring all
the dresses the girls wear.
While at Liberty I attended the debating society of which Capt. Jno. Morgan
is a member; the Capt. appears to be a very friendly good man, but no Orator.
The question debated was whether or not a man was in justice entitled to vote in
proportion to his property. Atended at Liberty the Presbyterian meeting; this
society is the most respectable of any in the neighborhood. They are nearly all
republicans. McKinley is an Elder of the Church; rather reserved and austere
man in his manners. He was much pressed to oppose Dodridge, and would probably
have kept him out of the senate.
22d. Left Robert's, passing through Taylor (Penn.), where I saw Jno. Mc-
Clellan, who has a small stock of dry goods at this place (11) miles on to Wash-
ington 20 miles, 9 from Taylor Town. This is the County town of Washington
County; a small town with considerable appearance of business. Got to Hawkins'
tavern 1st night, 33 miles; and day got to Brownsville to breakfast, 12 miles. This
place with Bridteport form a pretty little town; it is 33 miles by land and 50 by
water to Pittsburgh, and 19 by land from Geneva.
CHAPTER XI
EXPANSION AND DISPERSION OF SETTLEMENTS
The hardy and rugged pioneer settlers, after conquering the In-
dians, turned to the conquest of primeval wilds which the Indians had
sought to retain unconquered. With no appreciation of the wealth of
the depths of the primeval forests they gradually extended the area of
cleared bottom lands by the steady and laborious work accomplished by
axe and fire. The finest timber was burned or used for fence rails.
Gradually, with the introduction of a few rude saw mills, a small
portion of it found a more appropriate use in the few plank houses
which began to replace the more primitive log cabins.
In the eastern panhandle, by 1800, many homes of thrift and in-
dustry bore evidence of their establishment in an older community.
Shepherdstown, which, during the Revolution, became a busy center
of traffic and travel and of domestic manufacture, and after the Revolu-
tion had large aspirations expressed in the steamboat experiments of
Rumsey 1 and a bid to secure the location of the national capital re-
tained its local importance in the county for many years.2 Its later
decline was attributed to the construction of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railway. In 1860 it lost its best factory and the population was 400
less than in 1850. At Harpers Ferry, by an act of Congress of 1794,
a national arsenal and gun factory was erected in 1799.
1 It appears that James Rumsey was employed in September, 1781, by the
Potomac Company (of which Washington was a member) to improve the navigation
of the Potomac. In the summer of the year 1783, he directed his attention to the
subject of steamboats; and in the autumn of 178-1 succeeded in a private, but very
imperfect, experiment on the Potomac at Shepherdstown in order to test some of
the principles of his invention. In October, 1784, he obtained from the Virginia
Assembly an act guaranteeing to him the exclusive use of his invention in navigat-
ing the waters of that state for ten years. In January, 1785, he obtained a similar
patent from the general assembly of Maryland. Finally, in 1786, at Shepherds-
town he gave a public trial of his boat succeeding in propelling it by steam against
the current at the rate of about four miles per hour.
2 By 1800 Shepherdstown had become quite an active business center. By its
doors passed "commodities such as Hour, cattle, grain, horses, sheep and turkeys"
enroute from the great southwest to the eastern cities and especially to Baltimore.
Almost the whole population of the town were interested in keeping boarders or in
managing wagon yards and warehouses to accommodate the traffic. The ferry was
kept busy with the wagon traffic. Rafts or flatboats propelled by man power carried
much produce from Shepherdstown down the Potomac river to Washington or Alex-
andria. In the early part of the nineteenth century one could purchase there any-
thing from a silver spoon to a church steeple. There were blacksmiths and white-
smiths, hatters, clothiers, harness and wagon makers, fullers, dyers, and weavers.
Almost every other guild and trade was represented in the village, which was now
approaching the period of its greatest prosperity. A constant stream of coaches,
Conestoga wagons, herds of sheep, cattle, horses and hogs, besides horsemen and foot
passengers, passed daily through the town. No wonder there are so many old tavern
stands in the village, for it was on the main route between south and west. Old
residents of Shepherdstown have stated that their fathers remembered the time
when long line of vehicles extended from the river as far out as what is now Elm-
wood cemetery, waiting to be ferried across the Potomac.
A long ordinance made by the Trustees to regulate the market of Shepherds
Town is printed in the issue Berkeley and Jefferson Intelligencer of June 25, 1802:
"Be it enacted and ordained by the President and Trustees of said town" * * *
' ' No person shall sell or cause to be sold victuals or provisions at any other place
but at the market-house therein, will be under the penalty of five dollars for every
such offence, and if any servant or slave shall sell or offer for sale, any victuals or
provisions contrary to the meaning of this act, he or she shall receive ten lashes
on his or her bare back for every such offence" Wednesdays and Saturdays were
market days. The hours for the market shall be established "from 4 o'clock until
8 o'clock, A. M. from the first part of April to the first of October, and from 4
o'clock to 9 o'clock A. M., from the first of October, to the first of April."
134
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 135
Better communications for the South Branch region were not long
delayed. As early as 1790 there were eight ferries in Hampshire county.
In 1801 plans were begun for the construction of a road from Romney
through Berkeley county to Washington, D. C. In 1802 commissioners
were designated to meet at the mouth of New creek to begin the mark-
ing of a new road from the Maryland road near Gwynn 's Tavern through
Hampshire and Berkeley counties to Key's Ferry on the Shenandoah.
From Moorefield and lower points of the fertile valley of the South
Branch, flatboats floated down to tidewater on the Potomac with flour
and with iron from Hampshire, beginning at an early period and con-
tinuing until about 1830. The principal markets for the flour were
Washington and Alexandria.
Among the early iron industries in Hampshire was the Hampshire Furnace Com-
pany, whose plant was built and operated by Edward McCarty, on Middle ridge,
twelve miles south of Romney. The forge for the furnace was near Keyser. An
extensive business was carried on by this company, as shown by the many ponderous
account books of 1816-18 now in possession of the clerk of the courts at Romney.
The Bloomery Furnaces, ruins of which are still to be seen, were built and operated
by a Mr. Priestly, and were being run in 1833. Large quantities of iron were made
and shipped over the Capon river on rafts and flatboats, S. A. Pancoast pur-
chased these furnaces in 1846, and after his death they continued in other hands
until 1873.
In 1800, Robert Sherrard built at Bloomery a large stone mill and also a woolen
mill. William Fox built a merchant mill in Fox's Hollow in 1818, and shipped
flour by boat to Georgetown. Hammock 's Mills, flour and woolen, was another
very early plant. Also the Painter Mill was a pioneer establishment on North river
about a century ago. Colonel Fox established a tannery in 1816 in Fox's Hollow,
which was operated until the civil war. Another tanyard was on Dillon's run,
and Samuel Card had another extensive tannery at Capon Bridge prior to 1820.
New methods came in and the leather trade in this state had to succumb to the
advance of this industry and improved machinery. Distilleries were located at
many points in the county.
Farther up the South Branch, Franklin (earlier Frankford), the
first county seat of Pendleton (formed 1788), incorporated in 1794,
grew slowly but steadily. By 1834 it had two stores, two tanyards,
three saddlers, two blacksmith shops, a furniture shop, three shoe-
makers, one tailor, two lawyers and one physician. It also had a
school and a temperance society.
The first stage line in Hampshire was established between Winchester
and Cumberland in 1830. The pike from Green Spring to Moorefield
was built by a stock company about 1850, the state taking two-fifths
of the stock. Stages from Romney to the Ohio i-eaehed Clarksburg in
one clay and Parkersburg in two.
Martinsburg (the county seat of Morgan, which was formed from
Hampshire and Berkeley in 1820), received new life and fresh impetus
in 1835 from the large camp of the surveying corps which was locating
the route of the Baltimore and Ohio railway, and later (1841) from
the stores of railway contractors and the trade of the Irish and Ger-
mans who graded and bridged the road. In 1842 the track layers passed
through the town, followed by a pioneer steam engine whose first pierc-
ing whistle completely disorganized the local militia. In 1849 the
town became a first class railway station with engine house and ma-
chine shops under construction. In 1854 it became the terminus of a
turnpike from Winchester. In 1856 it was incorporated and had hope
of becoming the terminus of the Cumberland Valley railroad connect-
ing with Chambersburg. In 1859 it had a population of 3,000.
Throughout the region along the Potomac the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal exerted a great influence. In 1838 the rioting laborers on the
canal quit work and marched from Hancock toward Old Town ter-
rorizing the inhabitants of West Virginia who took measures for de-
fense by a request upon the governor for arms which were promptly
furnished. By June 13, 1850, the canal was completed, the head of
navigation at Cumberland. Although navigation on the canal was sus-
pended during the winter, causing much produce to accumulate at
Williamsport, business was brisk at other seasons. Within the week
136
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
before April 22, 1854, sixty- three boats (6,660 tons) left Cumberland
for Alexandria.
Piedmont was laid out by the New Creek company and incorporated
in 1856. Its earliest basis and stimulus was the Baltimore and Ohio
railway which reached the site of the future town in 1851. Its earlier
growth was largely due to Henry G. Davis who, on assuming the duties
of station agent of the railway at that point in 1854 and by his keen
foresight in grasping its industrial and commercial advantages, estab-
lished his brothers in the coal and lumber business and four years later
(1858), on resigning his position with the railroad, became the head of
the firm and organized the Piedmont Savings Bank of which he became
president.
The site of Keyser at New creek was merely developed as a farm
before the war in which it became a strategic position. The town, es-
Tiif, Ancient Home op the Burrs (in Jefferson County)
Located one-half mile west of Shenandoah Junction and about seventy yards
south of the Baltimore and Ohio Bailroad stands the ancient home of the Burrs.
In 1751 Peter Burr, migrating from Fairfield, Connecticut, bought four hundred
acres of land from Lord Fairfax and built this home along the old Warm Spring
Road. The house is a frame structure weather boarded with boards rived out of
oak logs. The great chimney in the center is built of bricks said to have been
imported from England. The house has been almost continuously occupied up
until the present time, and the only repairs that have been necessary has been a
new roof from time to time. At present it is owned by the heirs of the late
J. D. McGarry. The stone building to the right was built about 1800.
tablished after the war, largely through the energy of Henry G. Davis,
received its larger stimulus to growth through its selection as the county
seat of Mineral county which was formed from Hampshire county in
1866.
Middle New River and Greenbrier
In the Middle New river region, beginning with the formation of
Monroe county in 1799 and the establishment of a post office at Union
in 1800, there was a slow but steady development of industry and the
evidence of civilization. Beginning about 1832 an impetus to trade
and travel was given by the incorporation and construction of turn-
pikes such as (1) the Price Mountain and Cumberland Gap, (2) the
"Wayne, Raleigh and Grayson, and (3) the Giles, Fayette and Kanawha.
In 1837, Mercer county was formed in response to a petition of the
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 137
people living along the Flat Top mountain, the Bluestone, and the
upper waters of Brush creek, who complained of the inconvenience of
the long journey to their old county seat. The first court house was
built in 1839. In 1843 there were in the county only two voting places —
Princeton and Pipestem.
Along the lower Greenbrier development was more rapid. This de-
velopment was influenced by location as well as by the character of
the people and the character of the soil. Agricultural advance gave
early prosperity. Lewisburg, at which the oldest church organization
(Presbyterian) on western waters was formed in 1783 and the first
church was erected in 1795, became prominent as an early center of
culture and refinement.
Preparation of greater development farther west was made about
1790 by widening the old trail westward from Fort Union and later
by construction of the "old state road" which left the old trail several
miles west of Lewisburg, crossed through Little Meadows, passed over
Sewell mountain, crossed the New river at Bowyer's ferry and thence,
after passing through "Vandalia" (now Fayetteville) to Montgomery's
ferry (Kanawha Falls), continued to follow the south side of the river.
On the upper Greenbrier, settlement developed more slowly. Hunters-
ville, the first county seat of Pocahontas (formed 1821) was laid out
in 1821 at the terminus of an early road leading from Warm Springs
and on the site of John Bradshaw's pioneer cabin which once served
as headquarters for the pioneer hunters.
A location near George Baxter's present residence, in the vicinity of what is
now Edray, had been selected by a committee and favorably reported as the place
for the permanent location of the County Seat. Inducements by John Bradshaw
were so enticing and favorable, and the people at the head of Greenbrier so anxious
on the subject, that Huntersville prevailed, and the report of the committee on
location was overruled.
For a number of years previous to the organization of the county, in 1821,
Huntersville had been a public place for trade. The merchants and tradesmen from
the east arranged to meet the hunters here and to barter goods for the proceeds of
the chase. Smithville was suggested to be an appropriate name for the county seat,
but the present name Huntersville, however, was strenuously insisted upon by John
Bradshaw and his friends, as a special compliment to the hunters that swarmed
there during the trading season.
It was no uncommon thing for Huntersville merchants to realize three or four
hundred per cent on dry goods, and not much less on groceries, during the period
from 1822 to 1845. After the Huntersville and Warm Springs turnpike was made,
and the Parkersburg road penetrated upper Pocahontas, stores of importance were
opened at Greenbank and Millpoint and in rapid succession at other points. Most of
the business part of Huntersville was destroyed by fire in 1852.
About 1836 there was an awakening in favor of better roads to and from
Pendleton county. The Warm Springs and Huntersville Turnpike was projected,
and completed about 1838, with Henry Harper and Wm. Gibson, a Huntersville
merchant, contractors. It was a grand highway for that period, and awakened the
pride of the community. Every stream was bridged from Huntersville to the Warm
Springs.
The Staunton and Parkersburg Pike was made two or three years later. It was
located by the celebrated Crozet, one of the great Napoleon 's loyal engineers. About
1854 the Huttonsville and Marlinton Turnpike was located by Engineer Haymond.
In the same year he engineered the Lewisburg and Marlinton Turnpike, and the
Greenbrier Bridge at Marlinton. Colonel William Hamilton, of Randolph County,
esntracted for the road work from Huttonsville to Marlin's Bottom. Lemuel
Cheneweth from Beverly, built the bridge in 1854-56. Captain William Cochran
superintended the Lewisburg Road, and all of these enterprises were completed
by 1856.
From the Greenbrier the development of settlements advanced west-
ward both down the Kanawha and into the region which was formed
into the new county of Nicholas in 1818 (from Kanawha, Greenbrier
and Randolph). On upper Elk at a few isolated interior clearings, new
centers established a basis for the organization of Braxton county which
was formed from Lewis, Kanawha and Nicholas in 1836. At Bulltown,
the residence of a small tribe of Indians about 1780, salt was made as
early as 1795. The earliest village by act of 1836 was established as
the town of Suttonsville which in 1837 was changed to Sutton. Before
1836 it had scarcely a dozen inhabitants but was known by its post office
name, Newville.
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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 139
The Monongahela Valley
In the earlier development of the large region of Virginia terri-
tory embraced in the drainage system of the Monongahela, the chief
centers were Morgantown and Clarksburg. In 1776 this extent of ter-
ritory was practically all included in Monongalia county which was
divided in 1784 by the creation of Harrison and later by the formation
of Preston (1818) and of Marion (1842) and which later furnished
part of the territory for the creation of Taylor (1844). Prom the orig-
inal territory of the Harrison of 1784 has been created Randolph (1787),
Lewis (1816), Barbour (1843 from Harrison, Lewis and Randolph),
Taylor (1844 from Harrison, Barbour and Marion), Upshur (1851 from
Randolph, Barbour and Lewis) and Tucker (1856 from Randolph) —
and small portions of its territory contributed to the creation of several
other counties which do not belong to the topographical region drained
by the Monongahela.
The industrial development 3 of Morgantown may be presented as a
fitting introduction to that of the surrounding region.
Starting with perhaps no more than four log houses, a frame court
house and jail, and a store and a grist mill on Decker's creek beyond
the borough boundary, it grew little before 1791. In 1793 it became the
terminus of a post route from Pittsburgh established under the Pitts-
burgh Gazette management, which distributed its papers by private post
riders both before and after the United States mails reached Pittsburgh
in 1788. A post office was established in 1794 and a post route was
designated from Hagerstown via Hancock and Cumberland to Morgan-
town, thence to Uniontown and Brownsville. Later the route was opened
from Morgantown via Mt. Morris and Waynesburg to Wheeling. Ordi-
naries were licensed in 1796. Henry Dering, who came from Lancaster,
Pennsylvania via Hagerstown, opened a hotel before 1800 ; and John
Shisler, who came from Winchester, Virginia, in 1796, began to manu-
facture wagons by 1802. The first newspaper was established in 1803.
Buggy, carriage and furniture manufacturing works were established in
the decade after 1840. Tanbark was used in the local tanneries.
The town improved more rapidly from 1815 to 1830, largely in-
fluenced by growing trade with the region now included in Preston,
Marion, Barbour and Taylor counties from which the people came to
buy salt, iron and groceries. The first steam boat arrived from Pitts-
burgh in 1826. In the decade after 1840 the town felt a decline of trade
resulting especially from the construction of the Northwestern Turn-
pike in 1838, and the formation of Marion county in 1842 — and, after
the opening of the Baltimore and Ohio mail line in 1853, it lost the great
interior wagon trade and could thereafter depend only on the local
county trade until it could secure slack water navigation or railway
connection. Although the streets seemed deserted in comparison with
their busy aspect of the thirties, closer touch was felt with the larger
world by the establishment of a daily mail by 1854. Trade with the
western end of the county was encouraged by the construction of a
suspension bridge in 1854 by a company which had been organized four
years earlier. Before 1853 Pittsburgh was the main point for exchange
of state bank paper, and in the absence of safe mails, payments were
conveyed to eastern cities by private messengers. After 1853 money
was sent by express from Fairmont until 1875 when a nearer express
office was established at Fairchance. The population in 1865 was only
3 The civic development is also interesting. In 1810 the first necessary step
toward self-government was taken by making the trustees elective by the free-
holders, and in 1816 they were given power to levy taxes. By the new charter
of 1838 a government under seven trustees of more extended powers was inaugurated
resulting in an increasing number of ordinances — some of which, necessitating a
serious break with long-established customs, met with tierce opposition. The latter
are illustrated by the ''hog ordinance" which after a varied career as one of tin-
chief municipal problems was finally settled by the referendum in the election
of 1852, by which the hogs lost by 25 votes. An amended charter by legislative
act of March 20, I860, provided for election of a mayor, a sergeant, five councilmen
and a recorder. The borough records are complete from 1838 to 1860.
140 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
648. No one in the county carried either fire insurance or life insurance
before 1860. Telegraph connection was not opened until 1866, when
the Atlantic and Pacific Company built a line from Pittsburgh to Fair-
mont, aided by local men who subscribed for stock in the corporation.
Probably the first road in Monongalia followed Decker's creek from
Morgantown to Rock Forge, thence over the general route of the later
Kingwood pike and across Cheat at Dunkard Bottom to the site of
Westernport, Maryland, and to Winchester. It was probably cleared,
as a pack-horse road between 1772 and 1776, and was later known as
the State road or old Winchester road. Over it the early settlers brought
salt and iron from Winchester (before the local iron works and Cone-
maugh salt), and after the Revolution it became an emigrant road to
the West. Even as early as 1772 Michael Kern kept a boat yard at
the mouth of Decker's creek for the accommodation of westward emi-
grants who followed this road to Morgantown — from which they con-
tinued their journey to Kentucky by the Monongahela and the Ohio.
In 1784 the importance of trade with the Ohio, and of political con-
nections between East and West, induced Washington to urge connec-
tion from the Potomac by a canal via Cheat to the nearest navigable
point on the Monongahela. In 1791 the state road from Winchester
was extended to the mouth of Fishing creek (now New Martinsville)
and soon became a wagon road from the mouth of Savage river (Western-
port) to Morgantown. In 1812 the Monongalia Glades road was opened
to Clarksburg via Smithton.
The first ferry established by law was located across Cheat at An-
drew Ice's in 1785, others were established across the Monongahela in
1791 and 1792, and others across Cheat in 1792 and 1805. After Jan-
uary, 1807, ferries were authorized by the county courts instead of by
the general assembly.
In the earlier decades after the Revolution, population and develop-
ment in Monongalia county increased rapidly in spite of the tide of
immigration to Kentucky and Ohio. The population of 4,000 in 1790
was more than doubled in a decade. In 1794 the people resisted the
attempts to involve them in the Whiskey Insurrection. After the mili-
tary advance into western Pennsylvania, it appears that part of the
Virginia division commanded by Governor Henry Lee returned via
Morgantown, Winchester and Frankfort.
By 1810 the population had increased to 12,783 and the iron works
on Cheat and on Decker's creek furnished a basis for prospective in-
crease of material development restricted only by problems of trans-
portation.
To encourage settlements, to meet the demand for connecting the
interests of East and West, and for securing more direct commercial
intercourse with the Ohio from which such commodities as salt could
be obtained far more conveniently than by the overland route from
Winchester or the water route from Pittsburgh, in 1812, the legislature
authorized the opening of a road from the Monongalia Glades (now in
Preston county) via the mouth of Buffalo to the present site of New
Martinsville which was to connect on the opposite bank of the Ohio with
a road from Zanesville. The road, however, did not meet the expecta-
tions of its projectors, and in January, 1817, new efforts for better com-
munications resulted in the incorporation of the Monongahela Naviga-
tion Company to secure better facilities in river transportation, but all
efforts of the next few years to secure slack water navigation failed.
The census of 1820 showed a decrease of 2,000 in the population —
a decrease only partially explained by the creation of Preston county
with a population of 3,000 in 1818. In 1823, all efforts to secure slack-
water navigation having failed, attention was directed toward the ques-
tion of canal communication between eastern and western waters. Three
years later (on April 29), the first steamboat reached Morgantown, and
by 1830 their continued arrival from Pittsburg, causing a shifting of
the old head-of-navigation dispute between Wheeling and Pittsburgh,
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
141
stimulated public demand for improvement of the Monongahela which
was presented to Congress by Mr. Doddridge.
In 1830 the census showed an increase of 3,000 white population
since 1820. Morgantown became an educational center by the incorpo-
ration of Monongalia Academy in 1829 and the establishment of a
female academy in 1832. Development in the western end of the county
resulted in the establishment of Blacksville as a town; and growth of
settlements further up the river, together with the demand for easier
access to the county seat, resulted in petitions for the creation of Marion
county, which was accomplished in 1842.
In the decade from 1830 to 1840 the question of roads was still
prominent. Earlier efforts were directed toward securing the survey
of a road over the nearest and best route from a point on the Ohio be-
tween the mouth of Pishing creek and Marietta via Morgantown to the
national road at or near the Youghiogheny bridge, and the establish
Old "Watts House, Morgantown (Built About 1800)
ment of a mail route with semi-weekly stages from Uniontown via Mor-
gantown and Clarksburg to Parkersburg. The first enterprise was op-
posed in 1830 by Kingwood which seemed disposed to enlist Winchester,
Romney, Westernport and Pruntytown against the establishment of the
proposed new route.
The efforts of Monongalia to secure better means of communication
were stimulated by neighboring improvements. In 1831 stages began
to carry great western mail from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh in three
days. Pennsylvania by her canal, and Maryland by her railroad, were
struggling for the western trade. It was evident that the completion
of the canal would soon reduce freights and no one yet knew at what
point on the Ohio between Pittsburgh and the Kanawha the Baltimore
and Ohio would terminate, but it seemed certain that either the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad or the Chesapeake and Ohio canal would reach
Cumberland which would thus become a deposit for western products.
Therefore it was urged that Morgantown should push the opening of the
road from the mouth of Pishing creek to Sinithfield in the direction of
Cumberland (via Monongalia county), and urge the opening of the
navigation of the Monongahela, and secure the establishment of a bank.
In 1836 the Brandonville and Fishing Creek Turnpike was begun. Early
in 1833 a line of four-horse stages was started between Morgantown and
Uniontown by Colonel Johnson and a year later a tri-weekly mail in two
142 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
horse stages was established between Uniontown and Clarksburg via
Morgantown. The Morgantown and Clarksburg (and Ice's Ferry)
Turnpike was completed in 1840 via Smithton, and the Brandonville
and Fishing Creek Turnpike to Ice's Ferry and thence to the Penn-
sylvania line.
In 1840 the location and construction of turnpikes and bridges were
the chief subjects of local interest. The establishment of Ellicott's roll-
ing mill at Ice's Ferry on Cheat (1840) furnished a new impetus to
secure better roads and also to obtain slack-water navigation, first on
the Monongahela and later on Cheat (1847). The Dunkard Creek Turn-
pike projected in 1839 was revived in 1847 and located to Blacksville
from whence it was later extended to Burton on the Baltimore and Ohio.
The Morgantown and Bridgeport Turnpike was authorized by act of
1849. The Kingwood, Morgantown and West Union (Aurora) Turnpike,
incorporated in 1848, was completed in 1851 partly on the location of the
Morgantown and Clarksburg Turnpike. The Pennsylvania, Beverly and
Morgantown Turnpike, incorporated in 1837 was revived in 1853 and
constructed via Evansville. From Morgantown to Evansville, it was
usually called the Evansville pike. The Masontown and Independence
Turnpike, incorporated in 1856, was built from a point on the road one
mile west of Ice's Ferry.
Among the various industries of the county besides agriculture, for
a half century after 1800, were the manufacture of iron (one of the
earliest), the preparation of country millstones, the operation of card-
ing and fulling mills, the manufacture of paper (begun 1839), the
manufacture of pottery (which became important by 1830), carriage
making (which became prominent after 1851), the operation of foun-
dries, and the manufacture of furniture. As early as 1839 a rag paper
mill was in operation in Morgantown.
By 1845 Morgantown contained about 150 dwellings, several stores
and mills, two printing offices, two churches and an academy.
The iron works on Cheat near Ice's Ferry were industrially impor-
tant, furnishing employment for over 1,200 persons. The manufactured
products beyond the needs of the neighboring territory centering in the
Morgantown market were sent on flatboats to Pittsburgh. A gradual
decline in the industry, beginning after 1846 and causing the failure of
the Ellicotts in 1848 or in 1849, resulted in its termination in 1868.
The first iron manufactured west of the Alleghanies was turned out in 17S0
at old Alliance Forge, in Pennsylvania, not fifty miles from Morgantown. The
following year the fires of Springfield Furnace were lighted just beyond the county
line. The burnt records of 1796 carried in their ashes all records of the first iron
furnaces in Monongalia county. The Dicker Creek Iron Works, sometimes known
as the "Rock Forge", were standing in 179S, and were probably in operation as
late as 1815. The earliest official record of a furnace in the county was 1798,
mentioned in a deed connected witli the old Jackson Iron Works. At the location
of the latter, Samuel Jackson, of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, about 1800, built
a log dam and a mill and before 1809 also erected an iron furnace and made nails
by hand process. Other early neighboring furnaces were the Henry Clay, and
Pleasant Furnace. The Henry Clay was run by steam power on Quarry run, four
miles from Ice's ferry, and was built by Leonard Lamb in 1834. Here four tons
were produced in twenty-four hours. The Anna Furnace, at Ice 's ferry was built
by the Ellicotts about 1847. It first used charcoal and later coke. The Cheat Iron
Works had a series of furnaces about six miles above the mouth of Cheat. They
were built in 1846, by William Salyards. The Hawthorne Nail Works, owned by
Robert, and Alexander Hawthorne, were erected soon after the arrival of the owners
in 1790. They wero located four miles south of Morgantown, on Aaron's creek.
They were in operation for many years.
A powder mill was built on Quarry run before 1800. It is related
that one Smith drove a nail into the building one day, and that the spark
that came as a result blew up the mill and killed Smith. In a very early
day, the cutting of mill-stones was a large business. About 1840, Joshua
Swindler had a boat load shipped to Cincinnati, and from there they
found their way to many far western mill sites, even going beyond the
Mississippi river.
In 1839 the Live Oak Paper Mills were established by John Rogers,
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 143
on Decker's creek. This plant was a four-story stone structure, costing
$6,000. Pottery was made in large amounts very early. Among the
early successful operators was a man named Poulk. Carriage-making
early engaged the attention of a number of firms. John Shisler com-
menced in 1802 to build a good grade of carriage, and others were added.
John Stealey made stoves prior to 1825 at Rock Forge, but the first stove
foundry proper was erected in 1838 at Morgantown by Joel Nuzum and
the Doughertys.
East of Morgantown, at the union of the Morgantown and Clarks-
burg branches of the state road leading to Winchester in 1800 was a
wooded site well known as a camping place on the route so much used
by early settlers of Kentucky who reached the Ohio at the fort opposite
Marietta. The cluster of houses built there in 1807 was named Kingwood
which was established as a town in 1811. The perceptible progress of
settlement around the town after 1813, and other changes of conditions
resulted in the formation of Preston county in 1818 without objection
of Monongahela. Kingwood, the oldest town, became the county seat.
The panther was retreating before the advance of the settler, although
the wolf and the bear were still numerous beyond the margin of the
settlements. Cattle raising which had begun as a business to meet the
demands of the eastern market, and was encouraged by the completion
of the National road between Cumberland and Wheeling in 1818, brought
money into the community and stimulated new efforts toward new im-
provements— such as the water mills, the introduction of frame and
stone buildings, and the beginning of mercantile business in the small
village store. The frequent passage of immigrant teams on their way to
Ohio indicated further improvement in the roads, and increasing travel
stimulated new enterprises.
By 1845 Kingwood had about thirty dwellings and several stores
and the chief staple of the county was Indian corn. Considerable
sugar and tobacco was also raised. In 1850 one of the first prominent
woolen factories in Preston was established at Bruceton (originally
called Morton's Mills). In 1840 the legislature incorporated the
Preston Railroad. Lumber and Mining Company, organized to operate
in the lumber and mining business on Cheat. In 1850 it incorporated
the Greenville Furnace company which transported its product by
water from Cheat to Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.
For the earliest settlers of the region centering around the mouth
of Tygart's Valley river Morgantown and Clarksburg were marketing
centers, but with the increase of improvements and the erection of mills
along the streams nearer stores were established, and later monthly
communication with the outside world was secured by a regular mail
route.
In 1819, Middletown (now Fairmont) was legally established and
regularly plotted in a laurel thicket on the farm of Boaz Fleming —
the roughest and poorest land in the vicinity. Its earliest development
was partly determined by the need of a midway stopping-place for
travelers between Morgantown and Clarksburg.4 Its later growth was
due to the establishment of various industries in the vicinity — such as
the fulling and carding mills of Barnes and Raymond which began
operations in 1831.
In 1837 Rivesville was laid out upon the land of Elisha Snodgrass.
In 1838, across the river from Middletown, was established Palatine
at which the Marion machine works manufactured McCormick reapers
a decade before the civil war.5 In 1839 a town was plotted adjacent
to the Boothsville postoffice which had been established in 1833 at
Robert Reed's tavern near the forks of Booth's creek. The first news-
4 The first hotel built in Fairmont was owned by Frederick Tee, and was located
near the site of the Watsnn Hotel. It accommodated travelers between Clarks-
burg and Morgpntown after Middletown beeame a regular stopping plaee.
5 The Marion Marhine Works were built on what is now Water Street on the
east side of the river, by E. N. Hazen, who manufactured hardware. James Miller
opened a cooper shop in 1837, the first of its kind to be established in this section.
144 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
paper of the county was established at Fairmont about 1840. Some
of the smaller towns of the county are older than the county, but the
larger number were established after the arrival of the railroad.
The attempt to secure the formation of a separate county in 1842,
twenty-three years after the plan had first been proposed to the legis-
lature, was successful in spite of considerable opposition in the legis-
lature both from the delegates of Monongalia and those of Harrison.
By 1845 Fairmont, the county seat, had seventy dwellings and five
stores ; and Palatine across the river had twenty-five dwellings and two
stores. In the vicinity were located several flouring mills and other
mills.
In 1851 the largest and best hotel at Fairmont was owned by John Kearsloy,
who had remodeled the building known as the Marion House, formerly occupied
by George Erwin. Thomas Poulton kept the Virginia Hotel and stqgecoach office,
at the corner of Adams, or Main, and Jefferson Streets. From this hotel a line
of two-horse coaches left daily for Morgantown at 1 P. M., connecting there with a
daily coach for Uniontown, thence eastward to Cumberland, or westward to Browns-
ville and Wheeling by coaches on the National Road. Returning, the coach left
Morgantown at 6 A. M., arriving in Fairmont at noon.
The building of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad gave the first impetus to the
coal industry in Marion Comity, although at first wood was chiefly used for firing
the engines. In 1852 the O 'Donnel mine was opened for commercial purposes. The
ruins of this mine, which was located on Palatine Knob facing the Monongahela
River, may still be seen. Its first output was shipped to Baltimore over the new
railroad in 1853. Other early mines were those of the Pierponts and the Watsons,
located in what is now Washington Street, Fairmont, the construction of which
followed closely the opening of the O 'Donnel mine. These were the small begin-
nings of the great industry that lias made Marion County fourth in the production
of coal in West Virginia.
Early improvements developed more rapidly around the center at
Clarksburg on the West Fork. In December, 1784, the Harrison county
court ordered a bridle road opened from Clarksburg to Wickwire's
Ford (below Fetterman) on Tygart's river. By 1790 commissioners
were ordered to mark a road from the state road by Neal's station on
the Little Kanawha to the Harrison and Kanawha county line — partly
to meet the needs of travelers from Kentucky who left their canoes
at "Belveal" and crossed by land from Neal's station, near the mouth
of the Little Kanawha, to Clarksburg (often under direction of a
pilot to keep them from losing their way). This connection with the
Ohio, and another at Isaac Williams' opposite Marietta were made by
William Haymond, Sr., and others between 1788 and 1790. In 1790
or 1791 cattle were collected at Clarksburg to drive through to the
new Marietta settlement. In 1791 or 1792 beaver skins, buffalo skins
and bear skins and meat were carried by canoe down the Little Kanawha
and up the Ohio from Neal's station to Marietta.
In 1793 Clarksburg was the seat of an academy and by 1797 it con-
tained about forty dwellings. By 1798 it had a post office. In the early
days it was on a mail route between Gandy's (of Preston county) and
Chillicothe via Salem, Webster, Marietta, Athens and Hewitts. By 1804
it had a wagon shop. At a very early date, too, it had a boat yard for
the manufacture of large flat boats which before the era of railroads were
built at several points along West Fork and floated to Pittsburgh loaded
with old iron, whiskey, grain, flour, lumber and country produce. In
1815 its first newspaper appeared. By 1818 its connections with a larger
surrounding region were improved by the opening of new roads such
as the road to Point Pleasant via the Elk river, and Booth's Ferry and
Ohio turnpike from Philippi via Clarksburg and Middlebourne to Sis-
tersville. Its larger trade was always with the East, but by 1819 is re-
ceived supplies of Bulltown salt and perhaps also supplies of Kanawha
salt which by this time found a market at Salem and other points north-
ward. Although its citizens were of old Virginia descendants, its eastern
trading and commercial relations were always with Baltimore which was
more conveniently accessible than Richmond. By 1820 its most natural
markets were either eastward across the mountains to Atlantic cities
(250 or 350 miles distant) or down the Monongahela to the towns of the
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 145
Ohio and the Mississippi. The transportation of breadstuffs in either
direction was too expensive to yield a profit. Therefore the surplus grain
was fed to the horses, cattle or hogs which could transport themselves
"on the hoof" to the eastern markets. By some labor the products of
the forest — logs, boats, plank and staves — were a fruitful source of
wealth if the uncertainties and irregularities of navigation had not pre-
vented them from reaching the market in time to meet the demand. The
central position of the town making it a suitable place to collect articles
for transportation to Brownsville and thence to Baltimore over the turn-
pike was one of the factors which induced the state to make a survey of
the West Pork and the Monongahela to the Pennsylvania state line in
1820. In 1830 during the dispute between the Baltimore and Ohio
Railway and the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, both of which planned to
reach the Ohio, Philip Doddridge urged Congress to improve the Monon-
gahela to Clarksburg.
By 1820 other early settlements were growing into towns of some im-
portance Among these were Salem, located on an early strategic site
as a station for troops sent to watch the Indian trail leading from the
Ohio up Middle Island creek and Long run to the settlements on the
West Fork, and named by its first colony of forty families who arrived
from Salem, New Jersey, before peace had been established with the
Indians. On the site of Bridgeport which probably received its first
settlers (Joseph Cavisson and others) between 1771 and 1774 the legis-
lature in 1816 established a town which by 1845 contained twenty-five
dwellings and two churches. Shinnston at which the first settlement
was made in 1773 by Levy Shinn and others, sturdy and independent
Quakers from New Jersey, was first legally established as a town by
legislative act of 1818. West Milford, the site of which had been in-
cluded in tracts of land granted a decade or more earlier, gradually
grew as a village clustering around the Clements Mill which was erected
in 1817, and received legal recognition as a town by legislative act of
1821.
Municipal improvement at Clarksburg did not keep pace with eco-
nomic development. Jack Levegood in 1819 after a journey over the moun-
tains wrote from the safe distance of the Youghiogheny Glades in Mary-
land giving some of his impressions of Clarksburg in which he especially
urged the need of a better cemetery, a hearse and better facilities for
protection from fires. "I wondered," said he, "why the citizens of
Clarksburg who are esteemed as a liberal and intelligent people have not
a place to bury their dead secured by a fence from the intrusion of hogs
and cattle. * * * Neither engine, bucket, hose, or even a public
ladder is to be seen in the town." Perhaps his criticism caused the town
ordinance which went into effect three months later prohibiting hogs
from running at large.
According to J. H. DisDebar, a French agent for claimants of the
Swan lands who visited Clarksburg in 1846, the citizens were "a some-
what exclusive, conservative set with all the traditions and social preju-
dices pei'taining to an ancient moss-grown aristocratic town" with
pretensions "by common consent founded upon antiquity of pedigree
and superior culture and manners."
In 1845 the town had a population of 1,100, seven stores, two news-
paper offices, two churches and two academies, and the county had an
estimated mineral wealth which was already regarded as an element of
prosperity.
Connection with the National road by a line of coaches or stages was
established about 1830 enabling merchants to reach Baltimore by horse-
back in six days, although their laden wagons required fifteen days or
more. The town especially felt the influence of the wide Northwestern
turnpike which was completed about 1836 (macademized from Tygart's
Valley river to Parkersburg in 1848), increasing facilities for travel
and news. By 1845 tri-weekly stages connected on the east with Romney
and thence with Green Springs on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and
on the west with Parkersburg.
Vol. I— 10
146 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
With the increase in the number of settlers and the development of
settlements around the head waters of West Fork, the inconveniences
of communication with the county seat at Clarksburg found expression
in the demand for the formation of a new county. This demand was
satisfied in 1816 by an act of the assembly which created Lewis and
provided for the location of a permanent county seat by five commis-
sioners who chose Fleshersville, which in 1818 was incorporated as a
town under the name of Preston, which in 1819 was changed to Fleshers-
ville and then to Weston, which has since borne the honor with no serious
opposition. In the following spring the first survey of the West Fork
and the Monougahela, with a view to the improvement of navigation,
was begun just below the Weston court house.
Gradually the earlier log houses were succeeded by better structures
expressing refinement, social tastes and prosperity. The early settle-
ments of the northern and eastern parts of the county were supplied
with lumber from choice yellow poplars and black walnuts prepared
by water power saw mills located along the neighboring streams. Trees
which were too large to be easily sawed were split into fence rails or
burned in the clearings. Although in 1843 portions of Lewis were
detached to contribute to the formation of Barbour and Ritchie counties.
The population of the county steadily increased — about 2,000 each
decade — until 1850, after which it was decreased by loss of territory
occasioned by the formation of Upshur county in 1851. By 1845
Weston contained about sixty dwellings.
The large development and aspirations of the people of Lewis at
the middle of the century found expression in many ways — the most
prominent of which probably were the Weston and Fairmont turnpike,
the Weston and Gauley Bridge turnpike, and the Weston and West
Union turnpike. A branch of the Exchange Bank of Virginia was estab-
lished in 1853.
On the eve of the civil war, Weston secured the location of the hos-
pital for the insane — the first and only state institution which was located
in the transmontane territory later included in West Virginia.
On the upper Tygart's Valley, around the site of Philippi the early
scattered settlements were connected by "blazed" trails many of which
were distinguished by the kind of tree blazed in order to avoid be-
wilderment or danger of becoming lost at trail crossings. As early as
1788 the trail from Clarksburg to Winchester, the east and west highway
through the territory included in Barbour and Tucker, crossing the
Valley river a mile below Philippi and Cheat at St. George, was men-
tioned in the records as the "state road" — although it was still only
the "Pringle Packroad. " The Beverly trail branched off a mile above
the mouth of Hacker's creek, and passed via Sugar creek and the site of
Belington. With the establishment of Booth's ferry, the' road from
Clarksburg to the Valley river was widened for wagons, and steps were
taken to open the road toward Beverly via Sugar creek. By 1803 there
was a wagon road constructed on the east side of the river which was
later extended to Beverly. The first wagon which appeared in the county
was brought (by pieces) over the mountain to Cheat in 1783 via North
Branch, Lead Mine run and Horse Shoe run before trails had been
widened for wagons.
The early economic life was largely confined to the problem of mere
subsistence. Ginseng, however, M*as exported as early as 1789. A tan
yard was located above Philippi in 1800 and the first mill at Philippi was
erected in 1818.
In 1843 Barbour county was formed from Randolph (and parts of
Harrison and Lewis) and the site for the court house promptly selected
at Philippi (the old Booth's ferry of Randolph) which was then only a
farm. Among the first acts of the court was one fixing the charges for
taverns which was re-enacted every subsequent year for over a decade.
By 1845 the county was regarded as rather thickly settled at the heads
of Simpson and Elk creeks and on the Buckhannon and Tygart's Valley
rivers. Philippi contained only about a dozen houses but a basis for
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 147
<
later development was believed to exist in neighboring deposits of ex-
cellent coal and iron.
Coincident with improved transportation facilities resulting from the
completion of neighboring turnpikes — the earlier Northwestern and the
Staunton and Parkersburg turnpike completed via Buckhannon in 1847
— various signs of improvement appeared. Instances of the introduction
of improved machinery occurring by 1840 became more common a
decade later. Although the horse-power thresher began to appear per-
haps as early as 1846 the first horse-power thresher and separator was
not introduced until 1852. In 1848 in Cove district there was an attempt
to develop the iron resources and in 1849 the product, after a haul of
fifty miles on wagons, was transported to market from Fairmont by
boats on the Monongahela.0 At the same time construction of local pikes
was begun. In 1850 Luther Haymond of Clarksburg completed the sur-
vey for the Beverly and Fairmont pike, making changes of route above
Belington and elsewhere which caused bitter controversies. In Barbour
one of the first steam saw and grist mills was built at Peeltree about
1856 and continued to saw lumber for local use for thirty or forty
years.
After the opening of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad the people from
the northeastern part of Barbour found their most convenient shipping
point at Thornton. From various points on the Tygart's Valley river
considerable timber was floated to Grafton. The bank of Philippi, the
first bank in Barbour, was established in 1855, and closed at the opening
of the war. Its notes were bought by speculators even after the close
of the war.
The first newspaper of the county was founded in 1857 and suspended
publication in June. 1861.
At the outbreak of the war nearly all the county officers of Barbour
sympathized with the secession movement of the South.
Along the Buckhannon river, in the earlier years of settlement, hunt-
ing (both animals and medicinal plants) was a necessary occupation
which ceased as such only when the profits arising from it became less
than the profits from other labor.
The settlers of 1770 who braved the perils of the unbroken forest
found many inconveniences for years thereafter. For thirty years the
region of Upshur county was without a store.
The earlier trails were gradually widened into roads to meet the in-
creasing demands of the settlements — especially after the introduction of
wagons. In 1800 Jacob Lorentz, Abraham Post and Abraham Carper
emigrated from the South Branch, cut an uneven wagon road along the
Indian trail via Beverly and brought the first road wagon to the region.
In the same year goods were transported from Beverly to Buckhannon
in a wagon. The second road wagon was brought to the county in 1810
by the New Englanders on their overland journey.
A mill built 1783 above the mouth of Fink's run near Buckhannon
was the only mill in the Buckhannon valley for many years. A second
mill in that region was built in 1821. Saw mills for domestic use were
established on Spruce run in 1806, at Buckhannon and Sago in 1810
and at French creek (Meadville) in 1813. In 1814 the court of Randolph
ordered a horseback or pack horse road from Beverly to Buckhannon
which was later widened and graded and converted into a section of the
Parkersburg and Staunton turnpike.
Cattle, brought by the earliest settlers of 1770 and by almost all
later settlers, were improved by a better breed brought by settlers from
6 Iron ore is found over an area of 10,000 acres, chiefly on Brushy Fork. It is
in veins and ledges from one foot to fourteen fret thick, p. 318. The furnace
on Brushy Fork was built in 184S and was used six years. The blast was oper-
ated first by water power and afterwards by an engine (believed to have been the
first in Barbour County, about 18S0). It was thirty nine feet high when built, but
is little more than half of that now, much of the stone of which it was built having
been removed for various purposes. The fuel was charcoal, and about 9 000 pounds
of iron were produced a day. This was hauled by mule teams to Fairmont.
148 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
New England about 1810. Sheep were introduced from Hardy county
and from New England at the same time. Sheep husbandry became an
important industry — especially after the close of the hunters period
along the frontier. Obstacles arising from the migratory habits of the
sheep and the depredations of wolves and dogs were largely overcome
with the development of the settlements. In the earlier days there were
many and menacing disputes over ownership of hogs — a product which
found a ready sale at Richmond, Winchester or Cumberland.
Spinning, knitting and weaving were common home industries. Every
family contained its own tailor, usually a woman. At first the tanning
of leather was a home process, and almost every family contained a
cobbler. The conditions encouraged native mechanical genius. Salt,
which in the earlier days was brought over the mountains on pack-
horses and sold at prices which made it too dear for extensive use, was
obtained in the county by evaporation after 1839.
Soon after his arrival, Jacob Lorentz went into the mercantile busi-
ness near where the Lorentz post office now is. For many years this
was the only store in all of that section of the country. The roads
were too steep and uneven to permit the general use of the road wagon,
and the goods sold from behind the counter of Lorentz 's store were car-
ried on packhorses from Richmond or Parkersburg or Cumberland. Only
a few of the most necessary articles were kept. There was no money,
and no money was brought into the region except on the occasion of
the arrival of a drove of hogs or a herd of cattle being driven to the
eastern markets, or upon the arrival of a train of packhorses loaded
with furs and roots.
The articles sold were necessarily high in price. One of the relatives of this
ancient merchant said that calico was sold at 50 cents per yard; nails at 25 cents
per pound; cotton at 25 cents per yard, and other merchandise correspondingly
high.
The second store in the county was opened in 1820 by Ezra Morgan and Amos
Brooks in a small store room on the farm now known as the Andrew Buckhannon
place, near French Creek. It was opened for general trade, selling goods and buying
country produce. In the year 1830, Levi Leonard kept a store at French Creek in
which ginseng, deer hides, furs and linen were exchanged for calico, which was sold
for from twenty-five to seventy-five cents per yard.
In 1832 Nathan and Waldo Goz put up the first store in Buckhannon. John
Wesley Wilson started the first store at Rock Cave in 1851.
Towns emerged slowly. Buckhannon was established in 1816 on
lands then in Harrison county.
Under the loose system of Virginia land warrants which often applied
to no particular spot resulting in many conflicting claims and endless
controversies, many New England settlers, who settled in the territory
from the first of the century, becoming tired of dilatory courts and ad-
verse decisions, emigrated westward (largely to Illinois) about 1830.
Many people who remained were compelled to repurchase their lands
from rival claimants.
Industrial development and other improvements in the county were
especially stimulated after 1848 by the construction of the Staunton
and Parkersburg turnpike and the Clarksburg and Buckhannon turn-
pike, and especially in 1852 by the completion of the railroad to Grafton
opening a market for logs rafted down the river.
The first attempt to establish Upshur county made in 1848, met con-
siderable opposition especially at Weston which disliked the proposal
to add to the new county a part of the territory of Lewis. The law
creating the new county from parts of Randolph, Barbour and Lewis
was finally enacted in 1851. The town of Buckhannon was incorporated
in 1852 and the first court house was completed in 1854.
By the census of 1860, Upshur had a population of 7,299 which was
about 700 less than that of Lewis and almost 50 per cent greater than
that of the neighboring mother county Randolph.
Early development in Randolph county was much retarded by lack
of communication. The earliest roads were mere "bridle paths" be-
tween the several settlements. In 1787 the first court of the newly formed
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 149
county provided for marking a way for a wagon road from Leading
creek to Horse Shoe Bottom on Cheat (now in Tucker), but not until
1826 were wagons able to cross the mountains from the direction of
the South Branch. By 1800 a score of roads had been surveyed in
Randolph county. By 1801 the court ordered a survey from the mouth
of Black Fork of Cheat to the head of North Branch — which, although
it resulted in no road, was later followed by the West Virginia Central
and Pittsburgh railroad from Fairfax to Parsons. In 1814 a pack horse
road was ordered from Beverly to Buckhannon. In 1822 aid was voted
to open a road from Beverly via Clarksburg to Sistersville. In 1824
the legislature authorized a "state road" from Staunton to the mouth
of the Little Kanawha which was built via Beverly over the same gen-
eral route followed by the Staunton and Parkersburg turnpike twenty
years later. In 1826 Randolph co-operated with Monongalia in con-
structing a bridge across Sandy creek which was their boundary until
the creation of Marion county in 1842, after which it became successively
the boundary between Randolph and Marion, then between Marion and
Barbour (1843) and finally between Barbour and Taylor (1844). In
1832 steps were taken to raise money by lottery to build a road from
Beverly to Morgantown.
Development, with few exceptions, was slow. The first saw mill at
Mingo (upper end of the county) was built near Valley Head in 1822
and the wagon which hauled the irons for the mill was the first that
crossed the mountains to Mingo. The first grist mill in the upper fifteen
miles of the river was built about 1820 or 1822.
Outside the valleys of Tygart's river and Leading creek the ter-
ritory of Randolph was occupied but slowly — and a century later
much of the forest land remained undisturbed. Even after half a cen-
tury few houses were built of sawed lumber. A saw mill introduced
near Valley Head in 1822 was probably the only one in the county in
1835 and perhaps for several years later. Even in 1840 there were
few settlements except along the Cheat and in the narrow bottoms of
the larger creeks toward the northern end of the county. In 1853 there
were large tracts entirely uninhabited and almost inaccessible.
Changes in markets and transportation are illustrated in the case of
David Blackman who, being engaged in the mercantile business at
Beverly from 1824 until the civil war, hauled his goods first from Bal-
timore, then from Winchester, then from Cumberland and later from
Fetterman.7 The chief source of wealth in the county in the ante-bel-
lum period was live stock — a product which exported itself to the
eastern market.
The population of Beverly in 1845 — three years before it was incor-
porated as the "Borough of Beverly" — was about 200. The population
of the originally larger county which reached its highest point in 1840
(6,208) suffered a reduction from 5,243 in 1850 to 4,990 in 1860— due
to the loss of territory to form Tucker county in 1856.
"No event in the history of Randolph county will leave more permanent traces
than the settlement on Roaring Creek by the Irish in 1840-50. This is true from a
business, educational, political and religious point of view. These settlers, strong of
body and intellectually alert, inured to toil and hardship, soon converted the wilder-
ness into a prosperous community of comfortable homes, churches, and schools amid
which sprang up the village of Kingsville, with the conveniences of a store, post-
office and blacksmith shop. These settlers were not only eminently successful them-
selves in their undertakings, but bequeathed sons and daughters, who took front
rank in the business and professional life of the county."
The first to locate in what is known as the Irish settlement was Patrick
i David Blackman of Connecticut emigrated to Randolph county in 1822. In
1824 fallowing his marriage he located in Beverly and engaged in the mercantile
business until 1861. He first hauled goods from Baltimore, later from Winchester,
later from Cumberland and finally from Fetterman. His store was the principal one
in the county; at first he had as a partner John Sherman who in 1827 moved to
Ohio where he raised and educated his cousin's son, John, who later became United
States senator. In 1829 his former partner wrote him "I have just bought 125
barrels of whiskey at 25c a gallon. If it were in Beverly it would not last long."
150 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Flanigan. He was a contractor and was engaged in the building of the Staunton
and Parkersburg pike.
John 0 'Connell was the next to locate in that vicinity, in about 1850. In the
Civil War he was a strong southern sympathizer and in attempting to communicate
with the Confederate army at Philippi, in the first year of the war, was shot and
killed near Laurel, from ambush.
Patrick O'Connor, who had been engaged in the construction on the Staunton
and Parkersburg Pike, bought land of Patrick Flanigan and with his family added
to the nucleus of a settlement in its earliest days. He lived to the ripe old age
of 108 years.
About seventy families located in that section. Among them were Michael
0 'Connor, Peter King, Patrick Riley, Patsy King, Miles King, Edward King, Owen
Riley, Andrew Durkin, John Madden, Owen Gillooly, Andrew Durkin, Patrick
Gillooly, Patrick 0 'Connor, Richard Ford, John Ford, Patrick Rafferty, Morris
Hanifan, John Nallen, Sr., Thomas Burke, Alexander Burke, John Conley, Mathew
Davis, John Cain, Patriek Moyles, John A. King, Thomas O 'Connor and John
Staunton.
Morris Hanifan, born in County Cavan, Ireland, 1820, came to America in
1S40. He worked on the C. & 0. Canal in its construction to Cumberland, then on
the Winchester and Strawsburg Pike to New Market, Va., then on the Staunton and
Parkersburg Pike to Huttonsville. He settled on Roaring Creek in 1847. He died
in 1868.
Daniel Tahaney, who came in 1846, was born in the County Sligo, Ireland, in
1815. He came to America in 1835. He married Bridget McCan in New York
City in 1837. For a time he worked on the construction of the Staunton and
Parkersburg Pike. He died 1872.
The first priest to celebrate mass in the Kingsville parish was Father Stack,
of Staunton, Va., at Patrick Flanigan 's house in 1865. In 1863 Father O'Connor
with the aid of his people commenced the erection of a log church, the first Catholic
church in Randolph. In 1872 Father Dacey came as resident priest, but died soon
thereafter. In 1873 Father Fitzpatrick came to take charge of the Mission. Soon
the growing congregation became too large for the little church and under the
leadership of Father Fitzpatrick, they built a commodious church and rectory in
the growing village of Kingsville. Father Fitzpatrick also commenced the erection
of a church at Coalton, but it was completed by his successor, Father Sauer.
Father Fitzpatrick was in Kingsville twenty-eight years. He was for many
years one of the leading figures of the county and had many friends throughout
Randolph and adjoining counties among the Protestants as well as the adherents of
his own religious faith. He died in Wheeling.
John Madden, son of William and Mary (Brennanl Madden, was born in the
Parish of Kiltormer, County Galway, Ireland, in 1815. In 1834 he sailed for
America, landed in New York City, and after a short stay in the State of New
York he went to Baltimore, Md., and was employed on the construction of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Canal from that point to Cumberland. In 1839 he was married to
Cecelia Dwire. He then went to work on the State road from Winchester to Staunton,
Va., and later was employed on the Staunton and Parkersburg pike to Huttons-
ville, W. Va. He then located in Tygarts Valley near Huttonsville, where he worked
as a tenant on the farms of Moses and John Hutton, and also on the Nagler
farm.
John Stanton was born in Ireland, County Galway, Parish of Kiltormer, in
1826. He came to Grafton, W. Va., and worked along the B. & O. railroad from
that point to Kingwood, W. Va. In 1857 he migrated to Randolph County, W. Va.,
and settled in Roaring Creek district.
Luke White, born in the Parish of Kiltevin, County Roscommon, Ireland, came
to America in 1854, landing in New York City. He came to West Virginia and mar-
ried Margaret Burke, a widow. He worked on the B. & O. for a time and later
settled in Roaring Creek district, and in 1858 purchased a farm of 100 acres where
he made his home for the rest of his life.
The opportunities of a new country with cheap lands, together with the op-
pression of English landlordism at home were, perhaps, among the principal reasons
for Irish immigration to America. The average price paid by Irish settlers for
Roaring Creek lands was about $1.25 per acre. These lands at the present time
command fabulous prices, in many instances, as a result of the discovery of very
rich veins of coal in that vicinity.
At the close of the Indian troubles the few people of the northern
end of Randolph in scattered settlements along upper Cheat in the
vicinity of Leading creek turned to the hard work of clearing small
spaces on which they cultivated small crops of corn from which to make
corn bread. During a part of the autumn they hunted deer and bear
—and in the earliest years sometimes found buffaloes, which, however,
were never as plentiful as in the region of Buckhannon, Clarksburg
and farther west along the Ohio.
At an early date a sash mill was operated in the county by N. M.
Parsons and George M. Parsons. Among other later ones was that
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 151
built on Cheat as early as 1830 by Arnold Boimifield who operated it
continually for thirty-five years. The first commercial demand for
lumber outside the county was created by the construction of a bridge
over Cheat at the crossing of the Northwestern pike, five or six miles
above Rowlesburg. Much of the lumber used in the bridge was sawed
by Boimifield, hauled to the river and built into rude rafts which were
driven by the current to their destination.
Beginning about 1852 and continuing long after the civil war, the
main Cheat river for about twenty or twenty-five miles above the rail-
road was somewhat developed by an enterprising company which sought
ship-timber for the English market and had mill-works located at
Rowlesburg. After 1860 portable and stationary steam saw mills rapidly
increased, replacing the old water-power mills by which seven-eighths
of the timber both for home and foreign use had beeu manufactured.
As late as 1840 there were very few settlers except along the river
and in the narrow bottoms of the larger creeks. The region called
"Canada" and the land of Canaan — a high basin surrounded by moun-
tains, the Backbone on the west and the Allegheny on the east — was
an uninhabited wilderness. From the head of Black Fork to Fair-
fax stone was an unbroken forest of trees which stood so thick that
their branches interlocked for miles completely shutting out the sun-
light from the soil below. Bears and panthers traveled through tun-
nels which they had broken through the thickets in all directions. Al-
though the wilderness of the mountains was largely unbroken, oc-
casionally among the hills appeared the cabin of a settler who was
opening a farm. In 1836 settlement was begun about the headwaters
of Clover run. The first cabin was without door, floor or chimney but
it attracted other settlers who obtained lands and by 1810 the neigh-
borhood consisted of five families (including about thirty children) who
had begun the earnest work of breaking up the thick forests and its
dens of panthers and bears, and had also built a round-poled, floorless
school house in which their children might be able to obtain some rudi-
ments of an education. Canaan valley and the surrounding plateau
country remained practically undisturbed until the forest fire of 1865
which was soon followed by other "burnings" started by hunters.
The people of the northern end of Randolph, long dissatisfied with
the inconveniences of the journey to the county seat at Beverly over
bad roads between settlements separated by large tracts of woods, re-
peatedly agitated the subject of a new county even before the revival
of the activity resulting from the new industrial opportunities opened
to them by the construction of the railroad through the neighboring-
woods on the north at the middle of the century. The decisive step
was finally taken in the winter of 1854 by a meeting at the residence
of Enoch Minear in the old stone house at St. George — which was then
called Westernford. Through the influence of strong petitions and
strong lobbying, supplemented by the enthusiastic assistance of Judge
John Brannon of Lewis county in the legislature, early in 1856, the
new county of Tucker was created with the seat of justice at St.
George — which remained the county seat until long after the war. The
size of the county was later increased by the addition of a strip of ter-
ritory taken from Barbour. The total population in 1860 was only
1,428.
When Tucker was created, a few of its citizens foresaw a future of
greater industrial prosperity. Abe Bonnifield, viewing the principal
ridge of Backbone mountain along the side of which the sugar maples
belonging to W. R. Parsons were falling beneath the axes of his slaves,
saw the promise of rich grazing plantations. Considering the unoc-
cupied regions of the land of Canaan which had recently come into the
market, he expected to see a new tide of emigration. Knowing that
coal had been discovered about 1835 on the sugar lands, and about
1855 on the other side of the mountain, he had confidence that the rail-
road projected hi 1856 up the North Branch from Piedmont on the
152 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Baltimore and Ohio would soon be built, and that its terminus would
be in the coal lands of Tucker. The realization of his dreams, which
came in surplus measure thirty years later, was doubtless postponed
in part by the war of secession in which he was a participant iu the
Confederate service.
Along the Ohio
At Wheeling, which early became an important outfitting point for
flat boat traffic and which was laid out in town lots by Colonel Zane
in 1793 (when it had only twelve families), the first post office was
established in 1794. By 1795 mail boats carried mail between Wheeling
and Cincinnati (by four relays) in six days downstream and twelve
days upstream. After the Indian treaty of 1795, additional facilities
were secured by establishing land routes.
A factor of influence in the early development of Wheeling was the opening
of Zane's Trace in 1796 from Wheeling through southeastern Ohio via Zanes-
ville, Lancaster, Chillicothe to Aberdeen opposite Limestone (Maysville, Kentucky),
where it connected with the old "Smith's wagon road" which closely followed the
old buffalo trail from Limestone to Lexington, Kentucky. This new route author-
ized by Congress as a result of the large increase of emigration and travel to the
West after the treaty of Greenville, was opened by Ebenezer Zane the patriot-
pioneer of Wheeling who for his service was granted three tracts of land: one on
the Muskingum; one on the Hockhocking and one on the Scioto at points crossed by
the new road. By this path, at first only made fit for horsemen, the Washington
administration promptly established a regular mail route between Wheeling and
Lexington, Kentucky, and travel and traffic steadily increased.
Wheeling was incorporated as a town in 1795 and became the county
seat of Ohio county in 1797. In 1801 8 its connection with Pennsyl-
vania and Morgantown was improved by repairs on the roads. In 1802
it was reached by two routes from Pittsburgh — the more direct but
rougher route passing through West Liberty. At this date, according
to P. A. Michaux who visited it on his western travels, it had seventy
houses built of wood.
"This little town," wrote Michaux, "is bounded by a high hill,
nearly 200 fathoms high, the base of which not more than two fathoms
from the river. In this space the houses are built, forming but one
street, in the middle of which is the main road which follows the wind-
ings of the river for a distance of more than 200 miles. Prom fifteen
to twenty shops, well stocked, supply the inhabitants twenty miles
around with provisions. This little town also shares the export trade
that is carried on at Pittsburgh with the Western country. Numbers of
merchants at Philadelphia prefer sending their goods here although the
journey is a day longer; but the trifling inconvenience is well com-
pensated by the advantage gained in avoiding the long winding which
the Ohio makes on leaving Pittsburgh where the numerous shallows and
the slow movement oi the stream, in summer time, retard the navi-
gation."
A year later Harris, who visited the place, wrote the following :
"Most of the houses are handsome, several being built of brick and
some faced with stone.9 Next to Pittsburg, it is the most considerable
place of embarkation to traders and emigrants, anywhere on the west-
ern waters. Boat-building is carried on here to great extent.
s Mrs. Harris, of Morristown, Belmont county, Ohio, a daughter of John Mc-
Oulloch, in narrating some early recollections of Wheeling, said that at the age
of ten she was taken by her father to a show in Wheeling in 1801, and that they
stopped at Ebenezer Zane's, who was related to them. Mrs. Harris thinks it was
the first show that was exhibited in Wheeling, and it only consisted of an elephant
and a camel.
9 The rude log structures and more modern scantling shanties of "ye pioneer"
days, were first superseded by a substantial brick structure in 1803-4, when one
Jacob Goodling erected for himself a house where the St. James' Hotel formerly
stood, on Water street. According to tradition, the second brick house was erected
by William McConell, about 1805-6, on the corner of Main and Eighth street.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 153
"Opposite the town is a most beautiful island containing about 400
acres, interspersed with buildings, highly cultivated fields, some fine
orchards and copses of woods ; it appears to a great advantage from the
town. Just below the town stands an old fort at the junction of Big
Wheeling Creek and the Ohio."
Thomas Ashe, an English traveler, who made a short stop at Wheel-
ing in 1806, reported that the town had 250 houses (including ten of
brick and eighteen of stone), predicted that it would "ultimately rival
all the towns above its waters, ' ' but he was shocked at the sporting pro-
pensities and lawlessness of the inhabitants and stated that ' ' much time
and unremitted assiduity must be employed to make it a tolerable resi-
dence for any class of men." 10
In 1807, Cummings, another traveler, wrote the following descrip-
tion of the place :
"The town appeared very lively, the inhabitants being about their
doors in the street. It contained 120 houses of all descriptions from
middling downward, on a street about one-half mile long. The ave-
nues of the landing are very steep and inconvenient. The court house
is of stone with a small belfry which has nothing in beauty to boast
of.11 The gaol joins it in the rear.
"It is probable that Mr. Zane, the original proprietor, now regrets
that he did not place the town on the flats below, at the conflux of the
Wheeling and the Ohio, where Sprigg's inn and the ship yards now
are, instead of cultivating it as a farm until lately, when a resolve of
Congress to open a new public state road from the metropolis through
the western country, which will come to the Ohio near the mouth of
Wheeling creek, induced him to lay it out in town lots, but I fear he is
too late to see it become a considerable town to the prejudice of the old,
notwithstanding its advantageous situation.
"The present town does not seem to thrive if one may judge by the
state of new buildings, two only being built. Stores appear thinly
stocked with goods; retail prices high.
"When new road is finished, it will doubtless be of great use to
Wheeling.
"Wheeling island in front of the town, one mile long, one-half mile
wide, is very fertile and all cultivated as a farm by Mr. Zane. The post
and stage road to Chillicothe, Ohio, goes across it, which occasions two
!<> Ashe 's assertion in regard to the border lawlessness at Wheeling is par-
tially substantiated by an event whieh occurred in September of the following
year, and was reported in the Wheeling Repository as follows:
"On the evening of Thursday, the 24th of September, a man who was strongly
suspected to be grossly inattentive to this place, tarred and feathered, mounted on a
rail, and carried up and down the street for about two hours. 'The gentleman' as
his carriers and followers very complaisantly styled him, was occasionally saluted
with keen reproaches, which together with cries of ' Here goes the man that beats
his wife,' etc., rendered the procession a very noisy one. The crowd of spectators
was great, and the proceeding, outrageous as it was, met with very general appro-
bation. ' '
11 The first court house erected in Wheeling was a small stone structure with a
diminutive cupola on the top, much resembling a full sized chimney. It was located
on Main street, at its juncture with Tenth street. A Kentuckian once riding
through the town looked upon it amazed, exclaiming — ' ' Well, the people of Wheeling
must be mighty fond of bacon — I never saw such a large smoke house before in
my life. ' '
In 1808, an effort was made to remove the seat of justice of Ohio county from
Wheeling to Grave creek (now Moundsville). Mr. Tomlinson of the latter place
visited Richmond with a petition liberally signed by citizens of the lower part
of the county, and by diligently working personally with the members of the house
of delegates succeeded in getting his project passed by a majority of fifteen, not-
withstanding the opposition of the two members (Mr. Irwin and Mr. Morgan) from
Ohio county. In Wheeling the measure was called Mr. Tomlinson 's "wheel-barrow
project." It was ably opposed in the senate by Philip Doddridge who represented
the district and was defeated. It appears that Mr. Doddridge was late in reach-
ing Richmond, and Mr. Tomlinson afterwards remarked that if the senator had
stayed away six days longer the bill would have obtained the majority of the
senate.
154 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
ferries, an inconvenience which will be remedied by tiie new road cross-
ing by one ferry below the island."
The Navigator, published at Pittsburg, contains the following de-
scription of Wheeling in its edition of 1810 :
"The town fronts the Ohio on a high gravelly bank, opposite the
middle of the island, and having immediately back of the town, Wheel-
ing Creek hill, which is steep and lofty, and so narrow at the top that
at some places there is scarcely room for a wagon to pass along, and
nearly a precipice to the bottom of the creek. This singular formed
backbone, as it were, between the Ohio and Wheeling creek, slopes off
gradually into a fine bottom just below the town and above the mouth
of the creek, but is considerably lower than the ground on which Wheel-
ing stands, and in some seasons has been known to be inundated by
the floods. There are on this bottom an excellent public inn, a ware-
house, a boat yard, and a rope walk, and some other buildings. Imme-
diately above the mouth of the creek there used to stand a fort, serving
as a pioneer post during the wars with the Indians.
"In the consequence of the hill just mentioned, and which crowds the
town to the bank of the river, Wheeling has but one street, which is
thickly built on for a quarter of a mile in length. The town has about 115
dwellings, eleven stores, two potteries of stone ware, a market house, and
it had in 1808-09 a printing office, a book store and a library ; the two first
quit the town for want of public patronage, the last is still upheld by the
citizens. The mail stage from Philadelphia, Baltimore, etc., arrives here
twice a week, by way of Pittsburgh, Washington and Wellsburg; thence
westward the mail is dispatched once a week on horses. The town has a
court house and jail. The hills about Wheeling contain a good mineral
coal, which is used as fuel. The thoroughfare through Wheeling, of
emigrants and travelers into the state of Ohio and down the river, is
very great during the fall and spring seasons."
The printing office to which the Navigator refers was evidently the
office of the Repository, Wheeling's first newspaper, which appeared in
1807.
At that date the town probably supported only two physicians. Its
first resident physician arrived in 1803, V2 probably from Chester county,
Pennsylvania. He was alone in the practice until 1806, when he took
into his office Dr. H. Potter, who had studied medicine under his in-
struction, and who in 1808 opened an office for himself. Dr. Forsythe
continued to practice at Wheeling until after the close of the war of
1812, when he emigrated to the "English Turn," below New Orleans
and embarked in the manufacture of rum from molasses. Another of
his students in medicine, Dr. Thomas Toner, practiced four or five
years, but abandoned practice and became associated with his brother-
in-law in editing and publishing the Northwestern Virginia Gazette.
Wheeling's first medical society was not organized until 1835, and its
first hospital was not established until 1850.
From 1818 Wheeling became the principal town of the panhandle.
With the approaching completion of the National road to the Ohio,
business men from other places arrived and began to promote new enter-
prises which received Jittle attention from the older inhabitants whose
money was invested in lands. The first manufacture of window glass
began by 1820.
The Northwestern Bank of Wheeling was organized under an act of
February, 1817, and was probably ready for business in 1818. It con-
12 During the period from the fall of 1769, the time of the first occupancy of
the site of Wheeling by the Zane brothers, until they laid it out in 1793, there is
no record, or tradition, that any physician practiced there. ' ' The early settlers
being in a wild, uncultivated country, far removed from any other, upon a frontier
exposed to daily attacks from their savage neighbors, surrounded by dangers and
privations, created a community of interest and benevolence, exhibited by mutual
nursing and attendance in sickness or injury."
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 155
tinued until the civil war when it was succeeded by the National Bank
of Wheeling.13
Wheeling 's first iron mill was erected in 1834, by Peter Shoenberger
and David Agnew. It was located on a portion of the site later occupied
by the Top Mill, and was designed for the general manufacture of bar,
sheet iron and nails. For several years the mill was operated success-
fully. Mr. Agnew, succeeding to the business of the earlier firm, pros-
pered and in a short time became one of the wealthiest men in the
town.
The success of the iron mill suddenly awakened the people of Wheel-
ing from a Rip Van Winkle slumber, and resulted in the beginning of
wild schemes of aggrandizement. Its total failure in 1810 was a result
of one of the crises incident to that day of variable tariff policy and
uncertain currency, which was the bane of our manufacturing inter-
ests. After the failure, the mill was operated by Greisemer and Tal-
lant, both of whom had held positions with Mr. Agnew and who con-
tinued the business during the adverse times between 1840 and 1845
without financial profit. When the general business interests of the
country began to revive, E. W. Stevens, having just withdrawn from a
Pittsburgh iron firm, came to Wheeling with a cash capital of $75,000,
enlarged the nail department of the mill, and brought to \\Theeling the
two Norton brothers (E. M. and George W.) who were practical nailers.
From this date began Wheeling's reputation for nails — a reputation
which has known no retrograde. Mr. Stevens was on the high road
to immense wealth, and had he profited by the experience of his pred-
ecessor would undoubtedly have attained it. In an evil hour, however,
he listened to the wonderful talk of an eastern speculator, concerning
the fabulous riches to be found in the mineral veins of New Jersey, and
he lost heavily by investing largely in one of those copper mines. Under
the financial crisis of 1857, the firm "went to the wall." During the
war the iron works were rented to Norton, Acheson and Company, for
manufacturing gun boat plates.
Long after the visit of Ashe, who notes the sporting proclivities of
the place, Wheeling was interested in horse racing. The first improved
track was opened prior to 1827 — probably 1825 — at Beech Bottom, some
twelve miles up the river from W7heeling. The second track was opened
about 1834, on the farm at present owned by Mr. Samuel Spriggs, and
was owned by Henry Eccles and John Wires. On it occurred one of
the greatest races ever placed on record in the earlier days of racing.
The third track was opened on the farm of General Moses Chapman,
north of Bogg's run, the exclusive right and care of that track being
retained by John Harvey. Up to this time, gambling had become so
intolerable at the meetings that the state had to adopt the strongest
measures to suppress it, and in 1836 there was a great raid made on
the race course by the state officers, one of whom was seriously wounded
in the general shooting which resulted from the raid. One gambler
ran into the river, five or six were apprehended and their entire set of
gambling tables and unique paraphernalia was confiscated. Although
this track was closed after the raid, another sprang into existence about
1838-9, on property owned by Major Good, on the pike. The usual
rowdyism appeared, but following a brutal assault on Captain H. Mason,
all races were suspended.
"The development of Wheeling, as a municipality, began in Jan-
uary, 1806, when it was incorporated as a village. In 1810 it had 914
inhabitants. By the building of the Cumberland road to the Ohio river
in 1818, and its subsequent extension through the state of Ohio about
this time, it received additional prominence as an avenue and distribut-
13 The Merchants and Mechanics Bank was founded in 1834 and was succeeded
by the Merchants and Mechanics National Bank in 1865. The Commercial Bank
of Wheeling was established by 1853. The Peoples Bank of Wheeling was founded
in 186U. rlhe Bank of Wheeling was originally started by C. D. Hubbard and D. <J.
List about 1853.
156 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
ing point for passengers and freight east and west, until the national
turnpike was superseded by railroads. The population increased rapidly.
In 1836 it was incorporated as a city and the present city water works
were built. In 1847 telegraphic communication was obtained by a tap
wire from the main line of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis Tele-
graph Co. under construction along the opposite bank of the river.14
In the same year the project of building a bridge over the Ohio river
at Wheeling, which had been previously advocated unsuccessfully by
several western states as a national measure before Congress, was re-
vived by the people of Wheeling as a private enterprise, and under a
charter from the state of Virginia a suspension bridge with a clear
span of 1,010 feet was in 1849 built over the main channel, and con-
nected with the Ohio shore by a pier bridge previously built — the two
structures being subsequently protected by an act of Congress declaring
them postroads. The suspension span was blown down in 1853, and
was rebuilt during the same year.
The corner stone of Wheeling's prosperity to 1860 was the Ohio. In
1830 the city was made a port 15 of delivery, and boatbuilding which had
been carried on to some extent previously became one of its important
industries. Its position as the largest town in western Virginia was
also influenced by the vast number of emigrants, who, passing through it
en route to the middle and farther west, increased its trade and gave
it an atmosphere of business. Its population increased steadily from
914 in 1810 to 1,567 in 1820, 5,221 in 1830 and 7,885 in 1840. Its con-
nection with the East was facilitated by the completion of the Baltimore
and Ohio to Cumberland enabling it to secure goods from Baltimore in
seven days. From 1849 to 1879, ninety-nine steamboats, varying from
651 to 14 tons burden were launched from Wheeling boatyards. The
quality, abundance, and location of the coal strata adjacent to Wheeling
induced the establishment of other manufactures, notably of glass and
iron, at an early date, and wagons, furniture and other similar products
were turned out in considerable quantities for western and southern
markets. With the establishment of such manufacturers came a further
proportionate increase of the population of the city, besides a very con-
siderable increase in its suburban towns and villages. The growth was
assisted largely by the opening of the Baltimore and Ohio railway to
Wheeling in 1853, and the completion of its branch connection with the
West, Northwest and South; and the completion of the Cleveland and
Pittsburgh railroad and other branches of the Pennsylvania system, and
of minor roads, opening up communication with adjacent territory. In
1848 the gas works, now owned by the city, were begun by a private
corporation. In 1851-52 the building known as Washington Hall, which
was subsequently burnt and replaced by the present structure, was
erected, and in 1859 the custom-house, post-office, and the United States
court building were built.
Development in Brooke county was also rapid. At an early day
Wellsburg was the rival of Wheeling for travel between East and West.
Until 1818 she was one of the most noted shipping points on the upper
Ohio — even exceeding Wheeling in exports. Her first bank began opera-
tions in 1813, but was closed in 1815. Though she lost by the decision
which made Wheeling the terminus of the National road, she renewed
her rivalry with desperate zeal in 1825 when the question of repairs on
the road revived her hope of securing a more northern route. To divert
travel from the route via Wheeling she projected the Wellsburg and
Washington turnpike which was soon abandoned in despair and allowed
to languish for many years. In 1832 she obtained the establishment
of a branch of the Northwestern Bank of Virginia. In 1834 she was
1* This company was merged with the Western Union in 1853-54. The Western
Telegraph Co. opened an office in Wheeling in 1848-49 and the "United States" in
1864. Both were ultimately absorbed by the Western Union.
iB The port of Wheeling was established by law March 2, 1831. Due to heavy
importation era of 1854, Custom House was erected at Wheeling Aug. 4, 1854.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 157
disappointed in her expectation to become a prominent point on a railway
between Washington, Pennsylvania and the Ohio canal at Stillwater.
The Bethany turnpike, connecting with a turnpike to Washington was
engineered and graded in 1850 and macadamized gi'adually thereafter.
The early settlers depended largely upon the New Orleans market,
but trading by packhorse over the mountains continued until the open-
ing of the Mississippi was assured.
The distilling and milling business was begun in 1807 and flourished
for many years. Distilleries almost succumbed by 1836 and ceased to
operate by 1845. The flouring business also declined with the deteriora-
tion of the land and the opening of new areas elsewhere. Glass works
were erected in 1813 and cotton manufacture became prominent in 1829.
Boat building also thrived for a while.
Bethany college was founded in 1841. The town of Bethany was laid
out in 1847 by Alexander Campbell who in 1827 had secured the estab-
lishment of a post-office at his residence there, by agreeing to carry the
mail free twice a week between his house and West Liberty.
In the territory included in Hancock county one of the earliest in-
dustries was the manufacture of iron at a furnace which was erected
on King's creek between 1790 and 1800 and continued in operation for
several years.
The formation of Hancock county in 1848 was the sequence of an
earlier plan to move the county seat of Brooke from Wellsburg to the
more central point at Holliday's Cove. Fearful of losing the court house
the people near Wellsburg voted with the people farther north for a
division of the older county.
New Cumberland was laid out in 1839 and enlarged in 1848 and 1850.
It obtained a post office in 1844. At the formation of Hancock it was
selected as the county seat by popular election, but the county court
which sat at New Manchester (now Pairview) refused to remove the
records until after a second election (1850). On a third vote to settle
the question, New Cumberland lost by one vote (1852), resulting in the
return of the records to New Manchester and the settlement of the
county seat question for a quarter of a century.
Along the Ohio below Wheeling, development was less rapid. On
the site of Mr. Tomlinson's earlier town which had decayed after its
failure in the competition with Wheeling for the county seat, Mounds-
ville was laid off in 1831 and established as a town by act of 1832. New
Martinsville at which a hotel was erected in 1807 was established as a
town in 1838 and became the county seat of the new county of Wetzel
at its creation in 1848. Its earliest church building was erected by the
Methodists in 1854 under the pastorate of J. J. Dolliver. Sistersville,
through its advantages as a convenient boat landing, assumed some im-
portance as a promising town by the middle of the century. The
Sistersville and Salem turnpike, begun in 1840, was completed in 1848.
At the mouth of Middle Island creek St. Marys was founded in 1849
by Alexander H. Creel who came from eastern Virginia in 1834. Near
its site the earliest settlement was probably made before 1797. Several
settlements were made along the Middle Island creek early in the nine-
teenth century. Mr. Creel in 1834 purchased land on the site of the
future St. Marys, but in 1837 he located at the mouth of Green's run
(a mile below) and established a village which he named Vancluse and
from which he obtained interior communication by a road called the
Ellenboro Pike, which intersected the Northwestern turnpike at the site
of the present post office of Pike. By its terminal facilities, Vancluse
became a central point for the distribution of goods on both sides of the
river, and for a while seriously affected the monopoly of trade pre-
viously enjoyed by Parkersburg — even causing several Parkersburg
merchants to establish "wholesale houses" there. Finding the site too
contracted for a town, Mr. Creel in 1847 returned to the site of St.
Mary's and in 1849 made a lot survey of the proposed town at the same
time giving one acre to the future county of Pleasants on which to erect
a court house. To secure connections with the interior a road was con-
158 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
structed to join the Vancluse pike at the top of the hill. The population
increased rapidly and business became active — stimulated especially by
a wagon trade with interior points including Clarksburg from which
goods were shipped by flat boat or steamer to pioneer settlements farther
west. This trade declined after the construction of the railway to
Parkersburg which offered special inducements for the abandonment of
the Middle Island route.
At the mouth of the Little Kanawha industrial and social develop-
ment was retarded for a generation. The first licensed tavern or ordi-
nary was kept by Hugh Phelps on the south side in 1789. For some time
settlers at the mouth and along the river above received their mail at
Marietta. After the formation of Wood county (in 1799) the first
county court was held at the house of Colonel Phelps who was one of
the first justices of the county, and was later (by 1806) captain of the
militia. William Lowther was the first sheriff and John Stokeley was
clerk. In 1800 the fourteen justices constituting the county court
settled upon the "Point" on lands owned by John Stokeley as the
location of the court house. Soon thereafter a two story building of
hewn logs was constructed. The upper story, entered from the outside,
was the court room, and the lower was the jail. (The building was still
standing a century later.) A whipping post and stocks were also pro-
vided, in accord with the laws of Virginia. Among the prominent
citizens in 1800 was Harman Blennerhassett whose costly mansion on
the neighboring island was completed in that year. At that time the
site of Parkersburg was known as Newport or Stokeyville, but usually
called "The Point." It then contained about a half dozen log cabins,
a tavern ("The Rest"), and possibly a small store. It was merely a
small pioneer village, whose chief commercial life was based on trade in
peltries from animals usually killed to provide meat for the settlers. Its
early supplies came in flat boats from Pittsburgh or from Redstone, to
which they were brought over the mountains from the East. Its early
mails were by boat from Wheeling.
By act of the legislature of 1810, Parkersburg was established, ad-
joining and including the town of Newport, and provision was made
for removal of the seat of justice to a brick court house which was
erected there in the Public Square about 1812 or 1813. While the new
court house was under construction, a substantial hotel, the historic
"Bell Tavern" was built on the northwest corner of the square. It be-
came a popular stopping place and a center of many gayeties. It was
later known as the United States Hotel and finally as the Commercial.
By 1818 the steam boat began to create a new era for towns on the
Ohio. At Parkersburg new stores began to appear and dealers in
leathers and shoes. Before that date the first school had been opened.
In 1820 Parkersburg obtained a charter allowing freeholders to vote
for trustees, recorder, and other officers and authorizing the town gov-
ernment to collect taxes for expenses and improvements. In 1822-24
the town suffered from an epidemic of fever which attacked both old
and young and resulted in many deaths.
The population of Parkersburg was scarcely 200 (some say about
400) by 1832. In 1833 the first newspaper was established. As late as
1830 to 1835 there were few carriages in the region. Although the
first religious organization (Methodists) held meetings near Nea^
station in 1799. the first church building in Parkersburg was not built
until 1835, following the great revival of 1832. In 1845 its members
(Methodists) became divided on the question of slavery, resulting in suits
for the church property in which the anti-slavery members won. The first
Baptist church building was completed in 1838 and the Presbyterian in
1839. The Southern Methodists erected a building in 1858. '
The larger development of the town dates from the completion of
the Northwestern turnpike (in 1837) and the Staunton turnpike (in
1843) both bringing business and traffic which increased the vabie of
steam boat connection. In 1839 the Northwestern Bank of Virginia was
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 159
established. By 1844 the population was about 1400. In 1847-48 a toll
bridge was built across the Little Kanawha for the convenience of the
people south of the river. Later, the St. Marys pike was built.
The new stimulus received from the completion of railway con-
nection with the East in 1857 was re-inforced by the oil development
after 1859. The first National bank was established in 1862 with J. N.
Camden as president and W. N. Chancellor as cashier.
In the interior, east of Parkersburg, Harrisville was located and laid
out in 1822 in a sparsely settled region. It became a post office in 1830
and the county seat of the new county of Ritchie in 1843. Pennsboro,
the oldest postoffice in Ritchie came into existence about 1820. Smith-
field was established as a town in 1842.
The way to the region now known as Ritchie county was opened near the close
of the eighteenth century by the construction of a state road from Clarksburg to
Marietta, which became a leading thoroughfare to the Ohio. Along this road the
pioneers erected cabins used as "inns" or "taverns" for the convenience of trav-
ellers. The first cabin within the limits of Ritchie was built by John Bunnell about
1800 on the site of Pennsboro at which a postoffice was erected by 1820.
In 1803 another cabin was built by Lawrence Maley, a Scotch Irish Presbyterian,
one mile east of the site of Harrisville. Around this the "Maley settlement" was
formed. On the date of Maley 's death in 1808, the Harrises and many other set-
tlers were arriving in the vicinity and thereafter many others arrived. In the near
neighborhood on the bank of Hughes river the first mill was built about 1812. The
nearest store for many years was at Marietta, to which the settlers went once each
year to exchange their furs, venison, ham (and perhaps snakeroot and ginseng) for
salt and iron.
Harrisville was laid off in lots in 1822 but only on one lot was a building
erected before 1S37. In this first house a store was opened, perhaps as early as
1825 and a post office was established in 1830. On the same lot was erected (about
1843) the old "Lincoln House" which served as a public hostelry until 1888 when
it was destroyed by five. In 1840 an additional store and two residences were built,
thus increasing the size of the village to four houses. The first hotel was erected in
1842. Another, the "Watson House," was built in 1843. The White Hall Hotel
was built by Robert Porter on his arrival from New York about 1846, and in it
was opened another store. In the meantime a tannery had been established in 1S27.
The Sugar Grove flouring mill had been erected near by in 1842 and other residences
had been built. The pioneer church building, the Methodist Episcopal, erected on
a neighboring farm in 1843 was relocated in 1855, and on the same lot was built
a parsonage. A Methodist Protestant church was built in 1858. The court house
constructed in 1844, one year after the formation of the county, served until 1874.
About 1830 a post office was established at Smithville under the name of
' ' Hughes River. ' ' The first mail carrier, a boy of twelve years of age, arrived
from Weston one day of each week, spending the night at Smithville.
The pioneer bridges in the county were constructed in the forties at Smith-
ville and at the forks of Hughes river by a constructing company of the Staunton
and Parkersburg turnpike. The Smithville bridge was swept away by a flood in
1852, but was soon replaced by another old structure.
In Calhoun county, which was formed from territory taken from Gilmer in 1855,
the earliest settlement was made on the West Fork of the Little Kanawha in 1810
and several families had established homes by 1815. In Sherman district, however,
no settlement was made until 1830 when John Haverty and John B. Goff located on
the Little Kanawha. At Arnoldsburg, on the north side of Henry 's Fork, where
Philip Starcher built his cabin in 1810, and which was named for Charles Arnold
who taught school there in 1832, a post office was established in 1832 and a store
was opened by Peregrine Hays in 1833.
The location of the county seat at GTantsville on the north bank of the Little
Kanawha was the final settlement of a long contest.
In no other part of the state has there been so much difficulty regarding the
permanent location of the seat of justice. The act creating the county provided for
its location at Pine Bottom, at the mouth of Yellow Creek, or at the Big Bend on
the Little Kanawha river, a vote of the people to decide between the two places.
Further it required that first court to be held at the home of Joseph W. Burson.
This last requirement appears to have been about the only one which was regarded,
for when the first court adjourned it was to meet not at Pine Bottom or Big Bend,
but at the residence of Peregrine Hays, on the West Fork. According, the second
court convened at that place September 9, 1856, and here it was held until 1857.
But in August of that year, two courts were in session at the same time, one at
Arnoldsburg, and another at the home of Collins Betz, on the Little Kanawha.
For the purpose of effecting a reconciliation between the warring factions, it was
decided to hold court at the mouth of Yellow Creek, now Biookville. A contract
for a court house was let for that place for $675. But legal proceedings were now
instituted, and on June 15, 1858, the court again convened at Arnoldsburg, and here
it continued to be held until 1869. It now seemed that the matter was settled.
The erection of a substantial brick building was begun at Arnoldsburg. But
160 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
after the basement story had been completed, all of cut stone, at a cost of $1,500,
the question was once more agitated and another move made, this time to Grants-
ville (on the bank of the Little Kanawha) — where Eli Riddle had made the first
improvement before 1839. Here a frame court house was erected, but burned to
the ground before it was occupied. Another arose upon its ruins and was occupied
until 1880, when a brick building was erected at a cost of $8,400.
Below Parkersburg at Belleville, which Mr. Avery had established on
his tract fronting five miles on the river, the expectations of the founder
were never realized. In 1806 Mr. Avery had lost heavily from a fire
(started by incendiaries) which destroyed his grain-filled barn, and his
grist and saw mill. In 1807, after failing in the ship-building business
in which he had largely invested, he was confined (for debt) in the Wood
county jail. At the same time development on the Ohio below Belle-
ville was prevented by the high price demanded for the land by the heirs
of Washington whose will had admonished the executors not to dispose
of it too cheaply and had suggested a price of $10.00 per acre.
In the northern part of Mason county within the large bend of the
Ohio, Mason City was laid out opposite Pomeroy in 1852 by coal oper-
ators who found a market for their product principally at Cincinnati and
Baton Rouge and who were later succeeded by a company which long
after the war used all its own coal for the manufacture of salt which was
sold to the Ohio Salt company of Pomeroy. The town was incorporated
in 1856, coincident with the opening of its first salt well and salt furnace
by the Mason City Salt company, which later also opened new coal mines
which were operated until 1882. At the same time its industrial activity
was increased by the establishment of its first saw mill resulting soon
thereafter in the opening of the boat yard.
Although even early in 1774, the mouth of the Great Kanawha was
a resting place for surveyors and their attendants and a rendezvous for
explorers and restless pioneers, the real pioneers of Mason county were
the occupants of Port Randolph and the settlers who, after the danger
from the Indians had subsided, established log-cabin homes in the un-
broken wilderness along the two rivers. At Point Pleasant although
Boone lived there in 1786 and ferries were established over both rivers
by Thomas Lewis in 1791 and a few other cabins began to appear around
the old fort by 1794, and an inn opened in 1797, growth of community
life was long retarded by the size and price of the tracts held by
absentee landlords and the difficulty of establishing titles to lands while,
at the same time on the Ohio side of the river lands could be bought at
a reasonable price and in small tracts suitable for farms for real settlers.
Tn 1806 Thomas Ashe in his description said that the town contained
about forty houses frame and log with an aspect indicating no prospective
increase. "The few disconsolate inhabitants who go up and down, or
lie under the trees," said he, "have a dejected appearance and exhibit
the ravage of disease in every feature and the tremor of ague in every
step. Their motive for settling the town must have been to catch what
they can from persons descending the river and from people emigrating
from the southwestern part of Virginia, with a view to settling lower
down the river, and who must make Point Pleasant a place of deposit
and embarkation. Were it not for the unhealthiness of the town, it would
not be unreasonable to presume that this circumstance would render it
in time a place of considerable note."
In 1807 Cumings saw only "Twenty-one indifferent houses includ-
ing a court house of square logs." In 1820 The Navigator described it
as a village of "fifteen or twenty families, a log court house, log jail and
(as usual in the Virginia towns) a pillory and a whipping post." Henry
Clay who later was on a steamer which stopped at the town compared
it to a " beautiful woman clothed in rags. ' '
The first practising physician in this region was Dr. Jesse Bennett
(one of the jurors in the trial of Burr) whose practice extended from
Point Pleasant to Marietta and from Lewisburg to Chillicothe. Among
the earliest industrial establishments were distilleries and tanneries. A
new court house and jail were completed in 1826. The town was incor-
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 161
porated in 1833 and again in 1840 and soon thereafter, coincident with
the extermination of wolves in the neighboring region, its business was
increased by the opening of a ship yard. The first bank, a branch of
the Merchants and Mechanics bank of Wheeling, was opened in 1854.
The Charleston and Point Pleasant Turnpike Company, organized in
1837, constructed a road which after the destruction of its principal
bridges by the unusual flood of 1847 became impassable for wheeled
vehicles and useless except for neighborhood travel.
Below the mouth of the Great Kanawha, in Cabell county, develop-
ment was early influenced by the opening of the state road through
Teay's valley and later by the construction of the Kanawha turnpike
which connected with Ohio steamer lines at Guyandotte. Guyandotte
after a steady growth was incorporated and extended in 1849 and its
prospects were brightened by the incorporation of the Guyandotte Navi-
gation company which built locks and dams to secure navigation for the
transportation of timber at all seasons of the year. The Cabell and
Logan Coal Company was incorporated in 1852, the Bank of Guyandotte
in 1854, and the Guyandotte River Railroad in 1858.
Along the Great Kanawha
Up the Kanawha from Mason, in the territory which was included
in Putnam at its formation in 1848 the oldest town was Buffalo, laid
out in 1834 (incorporated in 1837) and named from the earliest post
office which was removed to it from the mouth of Big Buffalo creek four
miles above. At Winfield, on the site of a ferry which had been estab-
lished in 1818, the first hotel was opened in 1850 and the first church
built in 1856.
Farther up the Kanawha above the head of Teay's valley earlier
development was favored both by location on an earlier route of travel
and by various local influences — especially the salt industry which be-
came prominent after 1808. At Coalsmouth, however, there was little
industrial development for a generation. In 1816 Colonel Philip Thomp-
son of Culpeper, Virginia, arrived at Coalsmouth with his family and
purchased a part of the George Washington survey on the Kanawha at
that point. Here he built his home and was later followed by others
from eastern Virginia. In 1834, three years after the place had become
a "stage stand," he laid off part of his farm into town lots and named
the place Philippi which after his death in 1837 continued to be known
as Coalsmouth, the name of the postoffice. In 1856 Samuel Benedict of
Pennsylvania laid out adjoining lots and called the town Kanawha City
— a name by which it was known until the construction of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio railway furnished the impetus for an additional lot sale.
A general store and merchant mill, established about 1820 a mile below
the mouth of Coal, was later moved to Coalsmouth and proved a profit-
able enterprise. After the improvements were made up Coal at Peyto-
nia, the work of the mill greatly increased. Another early industry was
the manufacture of lumber for whip saw and the construction of flatboats
for the transportation of salt from the Kanawha salines to lower river
markets. About 1858 the first saw mill was built at the mouth of Coal.
Charleston had a steady growth, although slow in the earlier years.
Its first awakening was marked by the authorization of the first ferry
across the Kanawha and the Elk in 1794 and the establishment of the
first post office in 1801. 16 Its houses were still chiefly of logs in 1803,
and its population was probably less than 150.17 Its first tub-mill was
built below the mouth of Elk in 1805.
i« Charleston was on the mail route extending from Lewisburg to Scioto Salt
Works in 1804 and from Lewisburg to Chillicothe for several years after 1808.
About 1811 a mail route was established between Kanawha Court House and Galli-
polis and in 1814 there was a route from Boyers to Catlettsburg.
17 A glimpse of Charleston in 1803 may be obtained from the following
reminiscent record, written by Samuel Williams fifty years later:
"The houses were mostly constructed of hewn logs with a few frame buildings,
Vol. I— 11
162 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
After 1803, the region had an increased attraction for good families
of tidewater Virginia, or of the Shenandoah valley, who desired to better
their conditions, and saw the larger opportunities for the west resulting
from the acquisition of Louisiana and the consequent removal of the
earlier restrictions on navigation and trade at the mouth of the Missis-
sippi. By 1808 the social life at Charleston had an attraction which
influenced prominent land hunters from the east to extend their visits
to the place and to return to establish homes. This attraction is illus-
trated by the migration of the Summers family.
Among the prominent families on the Kanawha in the early part of
the nineteenth century was that of Col. Geo. Summers, who before he
settled in the valley lived near Alexandria, Virginia, in Fairfax county.
Planning for a home in the far west, desiring information in regard to
lands in 1808, he sent his son Lewis 18 on a long trip by horseback down
the Kanawha and up the Ohio. He was evidently well pleased with the
report which his son brought and especially the report of his visit to
Charleston and the Kanawha lands. Two years later, in 1810 he took
the same journey on horseback, accompanied by his oldest daughter
Jane, and following the route previously marked out by his son Lewis.
He went down to the mouth of the river and as far down the Ohio river
as the town of Guyandotte, and, returning from thence, continued the
journey up the Ohio to a point beyond Wheeling (probably to Wells-
burg). From the upper Ohio, he and his daughter returned to their
home near Alexandria. Think of one of the young ladies of the present
day taking this long and wearisome journey on horseback! Yet this
faithful daughter often spoke of it as one of the most delightful ex-
periences of her life. Her admiration of the wild and beautiful scenery
through which they passed with the companionship of a father whom she
loved with more than ordinary devotion, made it always a most pleasing
recollection to her. This tour of inspection resulted in the purchase of
the Walnut Grove estate, a tract of land on the Kanawha river nearly
three miles in length and it is somewhat phenomenal that most of it was
still owned by Col. Summers' grandchildren, a hundred years from the
time it came into his family. In the spring of 1813 he came to take
and, in the background, some all round log cabins. The principal, or front street,
some sixty feet in width, was laid out on the beautiful bluff bank of Kanawha river,
which has an elevation of thirty or forty feet above low water. On the sloping
bank between this street and the river, there were no houses or structures of any
kind, and it was considered the common property of the town. On this street, for
half a mile in length, stood about two-thirds of the houses composing the village.
On another street running parallel to this, at a distance of some 400 feet from it,
and only opened in part, there were a few houses. The remainder lay on cross streets,
flanking the public square. The houses were constructed in plain backwood style
and to the best of my recollection the painting brush had not passed upon them.
The streets remained in the primitive state of nature, excepting that the timber
had been cut off by the proprietor who had originally cultivated the ground as a
corn field. But the sloping bank of the river in front of the village was covered
with large sycamore trees and pawpaw bushes. Immediately in rear of the village
lay an unbroken and dense forest of large and lofty beech, sugar, ash and poplar
lumber, with thickets of pawpaw."
is Lewis Summers, the eldest son of Col. George Summers, and Ann Smith Rad-
cliffe, his wife, was a native of Fairfax County, Virginia. His earlier years were
spent on his father's farm and his education, a liberal one for that time, was
acquired in Alexandria at a private school kept ' ' for the sons of gentlemen. ' '
Although successfully pursuing his profession in the city of Alexandria his
thoughts turned to the western country, as offering a wider field of usefulness and
activity, and actuated by his father's wishes, as well, to find a home for his family
in the same region, he left his home June 22, 1808, on horseback, to seek a location
west of the Alleghenies. * * * On his journey he kept a minute journal from
which much information was obtained by his father as to routes, distances, prices
of land, titles, etc. Inspecting Charleston and the Kanawha Valley to the mouth
of the river he spent a few days at Gallipolis. Thence he travelled northward to
Wellsburg, where he visited his sister, Mrs. Robert Lowriton, and Aug. 22d, started
homeward across the northern part of the state. In due time he reached home and
made his report having travelled almost continually on horseback for over two
months. (See Chapter X.)
In the fall of the same year he made his final removal to the west and settled
in Gallipolis. Although his residence there only extended over a few years, his
vigorous and well informed mind at once impressed itself upon the community.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 163
possession of the new home and to prepare it for the reception of wife
and children. Knowing that he must depend upon himself for every-
thing, he brought with him a number of his negro men and two or three
white men of experience. The trees were felled, crops planted, a com-
fortable house erected and stores of every kind provided. This included
the purchase of a flock of sheep and the growing of flax and cotton, the
product of which was to be made into clothing. Even the burial place
was selected and a quantity of Walnut lumber prepared, and placed
to season, so as to be in readiness when death should visit the little
colony. In the autumn of the same year he went back to Virginia to
bring his family and knowing that in early spring the master's eye must
be over farm operations, he determined upon a winter journey and early
in December, with those dear to him, made the slow and tedious passage
through the almost trailless forests of the Blue Ridge, the valley of
Virginia, surmounting the Alleghenies and through the canyons of the
New River. The cavalcade consisted of Col. Summers and three of his
daughters on horseback, a strongly built "carry-all" in which were
bestowed Mrs. Summers and the younger children, a two-wheeled vehicle
called a Gig, in which his daughter, Mrs. Ann Matilda Millan, was taking
her bridal journey with her newly made husband Mr. Lyle Millan, fol-
lowed by covered wagons filled with negro women and children, furniture,
etc. In one of these, fitted for the purpose, the ladies sometimes slept
when "camping out." These with Mr. Thomas Summers, Col. Summers'
brother, and a few negro men composed the party, and in January,
1814, after great perils and hardships, they arrived at "haven where
they would be." * * * Col. Summers lived to see the new home
fairly established and his family somewhat accustomed to its new sur-
roundings, and January 10, 1818, was gathered to his Fathers in the
confidence of "a certain, religious and holy hope." He was the first to
be laid in the cemetery of his own selection.
In 1815 Lewis Summers returned to Virginia (from Gallipolis, Ohio) and too!;
up his residence in Charleston. He commenced the practice of law but combined
it with other pursuits. The large business firm of "Bureau Seales and Co.," after-
wards "Summers, Seales and Co.," which was the leading establishment of the
valley from 1816 to 1822, was of his inception and he was one of the largest part-
ners. He also started one of the largest salt furnaces, then the leading industry
of the valley, and it was in successful operation until. 1833. This furnace he called
by the name of his old parish in Fairfax, the Truro.
Soon after the death of his father in 1818 he prevailed upon his mother to
join him in Charleston where his two younger brothers, Albert Smith and George
William would have somewhat better educational advantages.
In 1821, the boys having exhausted the schools of Charleston and being away at
college, Mrs. Summers returned to the farm and thither her son Lewis accompanied
her. It was ever afterwards his home and under his watchful and energetic care
the ' ' Grove ' ' became the fair and beautiful estate which it was at the time of
his death.
In connection with this he built the largest lumber and flouring mill then in
the valley, which was considered a wonderful undertaking for those days. The ma-
chinery was of the best obtainable and all the latest improvements were adopted.
In connections with it was a dry goods store, a large warehouse and a packing
house for meats. It was soon surrounded by small, but comfortable, houses for
the occupancy of the employees and was quite a little village. The timber sawed in
the mill, the fuel it consumed and that used in all the houses about it, was taken
from his own forests, coal being then unknown outside of the salt works.
Being of literary tastes he early began the accumulation of a library, both of
law and miscellany, and long before his death it was said to be the best in the state
west of the Alleghenies.
In February, 1819, he was chosen by the Legislature of Virginia to be one of
the Judges of the general Court and the Judge of the Kanawha Judicial Circuit,
then but recently created. He was also ex-officio a member of the Board of Public
Works, and these offices he held until the time of his death nearly twenty-five years
afterwards.
By 1820, Charleston had a promising future as a business center for
a large area. The first clock and watch maker came in 1808, the first
regular merchants began business in 1813. The first resident physician
arrived in 1811, but the first drug store waited until 1825. There were
several tailors by 1822. Saw mills were erected on Two Mile creek of
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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 165
Elk between 1815 and 1820. Its first steam flour mill was erected by
Daniel Ruffner in 1832. The first local newspapers were the Spectator
established in 1818 or 1819, the Kanawha Patriot in 1819, the "Western
Courier" in 1820 and the Western Register in 1829. The erratic lawyer
who founded the Spectator soon became principal of Mercer Academy
which was founded in 1818, and sustained a "Law Department" by
1823. A library was opened by 1823. A Sunday school, although
strongly opposed, was opened in 1823. A whipping post, set up by 1817,
was used for the last time in 1842.
A new era of growth was stimulated by the opening of steam naviga-
tion in 1820 — resulting in steamboat connection with Cincinnati about
1823 — and especially by the opening of the Kanawha turnpike and the
increasing traffic which followed. The first bank, a branch of the Bank
of Virginia, was established in 1832. The first church buildings were
those of the Presbyterians erected in 1828 and the Methodists erected
in 1833, and of the Episcopalians erected in 1834. The Kanawha tele-
graph company (organized 1849) constructed a telegraph from Kanawha
Salines via Charleston and Point Pleasant to Gallipolis in 1852. A wire
suspension bridge over the Elk was erected in 1852.
In the earlier growth of Charleston, after 1808, the development of
the neighboring salt works at Kanawha Salines was the most stimulating
factor or influence.
Owing to the value of the licks, Joseph Ruffner in 1795 had bought of John
Dickinson 502 acres extending up the Kanawha river from the mouth of the Elk.
But preferring to farm on the rich bottoms where Charleston now stands he rented
the licks to Mr. Elisha Brooks.
Elisha BrookB put salt making on a commercial basis. In 1797 he made a small
furnace, set up a double row of kettles and turned off a hundred and fifty pounds
of salt a day. He got his brine from the springs and used wood for fuel. Owing
to the presence of iron and there being no clarifying process the salt was red in
color. Notwithstanding, it had an excellent flavor and consumers would ask for
' ' that strong, red salt from the Kanawha Licks ' ' This salt was sold at the fur-
nace for eight and ten cents per pound.
David and Joseph Ruffner, the sons of Joseph Ruffner, familiarly styled "The
Ruffner Brothers," were pioneers in well-boring and in the use of coal for fuel.
After much patient labor with the crudest of tools, they succeeded in boring, tubing
and rigging a well several hundred feet deep. This is said to be the first deep well
west of the Alleghenies and very probably the first in America. Now they were able
to secure an abundance of strong brine. Wood was becoming scarce: the slopes had
been stripped. Coal was plentiful, however, so these ingenious brothers experimented
with coal and found it much superior to wood. The price of salt was reduced to
four cents.
The whole story of their many months of preparation for the great experiment
in searching for a larger and richer supply of brine — their difficulties and marvellous
labor, their development of inventive genius, and their unfailing faith, unconquerable
energy — is full of mterest. Finally, in January, 1808, at the depth of forty feet they
struck a third and better stream of salt water and a month later succeeded in
obtaining a satisfactory tube by which to exclude upper and weaker veins of water.
On the 11th day of February, 1808, David and Joseph Ruffner made their first
lifting of salt; and immediately reduced the price from $5.00 a bushel to $2.00.
On this achievement of the brothers Ruffner, Dr. Hale pertinently remarks : ' ' Thus
was bored and tubed, rigged and worked, the first rock bored salt well west of the
Alleghenies, if not in the United States."
In 1813 Joseph Ruffner, Jr., sold his interest in the salt property, including
the land, to Capt. James Wilson, but the next year David traded land near Charles-
ton to Capt. Wilson, and thus became the sole owner of all that had belonged to him
and his brother Joseph jointly, and originally to all five brothers, the strip cut off
to Tobias only excepted.
The successful operations of the Ruffners were soon imitated by their neighbors
on the river both above and below. The rapid growth of salt manufacture is shown
in a letter written by David Ruffner in 1815, and published in Niles Register. In
this he states that there were then, only seven years after the first lifting of salt,
no less than fifty -two furnaces in operation, and many others in course of erection;
all within six and a half miles along the river beginning two and one-half miles
below the first well and extending four miles above.
These furnaces severally contained 40 to 60 kettles of 36 gallons each, and
altogether produced from 2,500 to 3,000 bushels of salt per day; which would
amount to about 1,000,000 bushels in a year. From 70 to 100 gallons of water were
required for one bushel of salt. Furnaces continued to multiply and grow in size,
wells deepened, and processes improved, until the annual production reached 3,000,000
bushels of superior salt.
166 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
The next scheme which David initiated was the formation of a joint stock
company in 1831 which laid off a town on the upper end of his Alderson tract;
where might be accumulated stores, mechanic shops, residences, churches, etc., all
of which would be needed for the convenience and comfort of the salt manufacturers
and business men generally.
This place still lives under the name of Maiden. At first considerable diffi-
culty was found in settling upon a name for the town, and in fact it was called
sometimes Saltboro, sometimes Terra Salis, and more generally Kanawha Salines,
which last name prevailed and became the official designation. The common people,
however, for what reason I know not, rejected all these names and called the town
Maiden, which ultimately was settled upon as its permanent title. During the flush
times of salt making this town grew rapidly and a large amount of business was
done here. It was the headquarters of the salt companies, and large commercial
and mechanical operations were carried on for some years; but, with the decline of
the salt making interests, the town also declined until it became a mere skeleton of
its former self.
The character of the population which infested the saltworks during
the earlier period of its history is thus described by Dr. Henry Ruffner
in a manuscript written in 1860: "Adventurers flocked in from all parts
of the country eager to share in the spoils. Most of the newcomers
were men of bad morals. Some were young men of good character.
Many boatmen of the old school frequented these salt-making shores,
before steamboats in a great measure had superseded the old sorts of
river craft. The old people of Kanawha remember, no doubt, what
horrible profanity, what rioting and drunkenness, what quarreling and
fighting, what low gambling and cheating prevailed through this com-
munity in those days."
Dr. Ruffner adds that the locality now included in Maiden was in
those days "the wickedest and most hopeless part of Kanawha." Of
course, when he made those remarks he had no reference to the popula-
tion then existing (1860), which was a great improvement on that of
the period he was alluding to.
In 1835 Mr. Patrick put into use the steam furnace. This gave an
impetus to the industry. Deep boring was common in an effort to find
stronger brine. M. William Tompkins struck a flow of gas. He utilized
this in boiling his furnace. In 1843 Dickinson and Shrewsberry were
boring for stronger brine when they tapped a great reservoir of gas.
The gas blew out the tubing and escaped with such force that the
roaring could be heard for miles. This gas well became an object of
interest and the stage driver would stop to let his passengers view the
spectacle.
The transportation of salt was difficult. In early times it was carried
overland by packhorses. From this we get the word "pack" which is
frequently used instead of "carry." It was sent down the river in
tubs on rafts. Frequently a load would be lost. They say Mr. Donnally,
on hearing of a load of his having sunk, would ask if any men went
down with the salt. On being told that they did not he would say that
' ' It was not a fair sink. ' ' The flat boats carried quantities of it to the
western markets.
For over 60 years Kanawha Valley on both sides of the river pre-
sented a busy and most interesting scene, and directly and incidentally
gave employment to a great number of men, and kept the river lively
with its great transportation boats. The height of production was
reached in 1850 when it exceeded 3,000,000 bushels per annum.
Much the largest single producer in the valley, possibly the largest in
the world at that time, was Dr. J. P. Hale, whose great Snow Hill
furnace reached the aggregate of 420,000 bushels in one year. But, alas !
the irresistible force of circumstances gradually extinguished the fur-
nace fires, until but one was left to wave its black plume of coal smoke.
This belonged to John Quincey Dickinson, the grandson of one of the
largest and most noted of the early salt makers.
In 1853-57 the salt industry on the Kanawha was impoverished to
satisfy the demands of the salt men of Meigs county, Ohio, and Mason
county, Virginia, who formed the Ohio River Salt Company which was
not dissolved until 1872. As the manufacture of salt became a "vanish-
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 167
ing industry," the mining of cannel coal arose into prominence largely
through the investment of foreign capital which was attracted by the
reports of the exploration of Kanawha coal deposits by Professor W. B.
Rogers of the University of Virginia in 1839 and to 1841. Several coal
companies organized between 1849 and 1856 to operate on the Kanawha,
Elk and Coal rivers were the avant couriers of business expansion and
increasing prosperity. In 1857 the Kanawha Cannel Coal Mining and
Manufacturing Company erected at Charleston buildings for use in the
manufacture of cannel coal oil. In 1858 the Corwin Coal Company
erected buildings at Mill creek, seven miles up Elk. All the various
companies advertised for all classes of laborers in 1859 and were in a
prosperous condition in 1860.
Along the upper Kanawha and lower New, Fayette county was
created in 1831, from Kanawha, Greenbrier, Nicholas and Logan. The
county seat which at first was located at New Haven (in Mountain Cove
district) was removed in 1837 to the site of Fayetteville (then called
Vandalia) where court was held in the house (or tavern) of Abraham
Vandall until public buildings could be completed. The vote by which
Vandalia won against New Haven in the election contest was obtained
by strategy. According to Colonel G. W. Imboden on the authority of
his father-in-law (Colonel William Tyree) enough votes (of qualified
free holders) to carry the election were secured by Hiram Hall, the first
county clerk, by a liberal distribution of one-acre tracts of land with no
specified boundaries. Shortly before the war the history of Montgomery
began with the arrival of boats from Cincinnati and other points on
the Ohio to unload goods at Montgomery landing which was then the
distributing point for merchants in Wyoming, Mercer, Raleigh, Mc-
Dowell, Nicholas and Fayette counties. From it they also shipped
tobacco, hides, wool and other products. Oak Hill, near which Peter
Bowyer operated a water-power mill as early as 1820, received its name
later from the earliest post office established at Hill Top on the mail
route from Fayetteville to Raleigh Court House (now Beckley). On
the site of Glen Jean a water-power mill was operated as early as 1850
and a post office was established soon after 1854.
South of the Great Kanawha
In the interior south of the Kanawha development was usually long
retarded. On the Madison map of Virginia of 1807, corrected to 1818,
no towns are indicated in any part of the interior region and only one
public road is represented — a road from the Kanawha via Loup's creek
and upper Piney to Pack's Ford at the mouth of the Bluestone and
beyond through Monroe.
In the original county of Logan formed in 1824 from Giles, Kanawha,
Cabell and Tazewell the county seat was located at Lawnsville or Logan
Court House which was laid off in 1827. It received its earliest mails
by horse over a postroad from Charleston. About 1850 it obtained
better communication with Charleston by a state road through Boone
which for many years was traveled by long trains of wagons from the
interior.
Boone was formed in 1847 from Kanawha, Cabell and Logan. The
county seat was at first located at the mouth of Spruce Fork which was
unsatisfactory to the people. By an election authorized by legislative
act of 1848 to settle the question, the location was changed to a point
near the mouth of Turkey creek. The earliest road in the territory
included in the county was a pack horse road via Marmet to Maiden
and Charleston at which the early settlers found a market for ginseng,
venison, and bear hams. The first post offices in the county were estab-
lished at Ballardsville and Madison. The largest industrial stimulus
after the opening of the state road from Logan to Charleston was the
work of the Peytonia Cannel Coal Company which in 1854 placed locks
and dams in the Coal river and erected an extensive mining plant at
Peytonia.
168 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Raleigh county was formed from Fayette in 1850. Beekleyville
(now Beckley) incorporated in 1850 coincident with its selection as the
county seat received its early growth largely through the activities of
General Alfred Beckley who in 1836 married Miss Amelia Neville Craig
of Pittsburgh, resigned his commission as first lieutenant in the army and
removed to Payette county to improve a body of unsettled lands (now
in Raleigh) for his widowed mother and himself. Largely through
Beckley 's influence, the Giles, Fayette and Kanawha turnpike, author-
ized by acts of 1837 and 1839 was constructed from Giles Court House,
via Red Sulphur, Indian creek, the Bluestone to its mouth, Flat Top
mountain, Beaver creek, Beckley 's, Loup creek and Fayette Court House
to the Kanawha.
Wyoming county was formed in 1850 from Logan and McDowell in
1858 from Tazewell by a legislative act which declared that the county
seat should be called Peerysville and appointed a committee to locate it.
Both counties long remained largely isolated by lack of roads. In 1805
although it had become the abode of many of the "old Families," the
region along the Big Sandy and the Guyandotte was one of the wildest
of western Virginia — a famous hunting ground for bears which fat-
tened on the chestnuts and acorns and furnished many valuable glossy
hides to decorate the soldiers of the two contending armies in Europe.
The pioneers along the Big Sandy and neighboring country often
belonged to the best families of the older East, and some of them brought
slaves with them as well as the household goods which they carried on
the backs of horses. They found the earliest markets for their prod-
ucts down the Ohio for up-river conveyance; for their larger purchases
they used flat boats above the Sandy. They received their earliest
mails from Catlettsburg, Kentucky. To make their earliest exchanges
they went to the mouth of the river and continued to Burlington, Ohio,
(three miles below), or to Limestone. In 1815 or 1816 Joseph Ewing
began store keeping one-fourth mile above the mouth of Sandy in Vir-
ginia. Frederick Moore established a store farther up the river which
from 1815 to 1834 secured the larger part of the Sandy trade. Coming
west from Philadelphia with goods he reached the forks of Sandy six
years before Louisa became a town. He purchased tracts of land on
both sides of the river. In 1818 he sent for his wife and children and
established himself below the "forks" on the Virginia side.
Among the earlier industries in the Sandy valley was salt manufac-
ture. As early as 1795 salt was made on lands belonging to Henry
Clay on Middle Island creek in Floyd county, Kentucky, ten miles
from Prestonsburg (founded 1799). Near the mouth of Blain on the
Virginia side of Sandy considerable salt was made as early as 1813.
Warfield on Tug received its earliest stimulus from salt works established
before the war by Governor John B. Floyd and brothers of Tazewell
county.
The new county of Wayne was formed from the southwestern part
of Cabell in 1842 and the county seat was located at Trout's Hill (at
Wayne). Ceredo was founded on the Ohio in 1857 by Eli Thayer who
had dreams of founding a great manufacturing city there coincident
with his activities to aid the emigrants of anti-slavery men to Kansas.
Fairview was incorporated in 1860.
CHAPTER XII
HISTORIC HIGHWAYS
Four prominent roads which crossed the territory of West Virginia
at different points exerted a great influence on the development of the
region through which they passed.
1. The National (Cumberland) Road. The earliest and most
famous highway across the mountains was the Cumberland or National
road whose Ohio terminus was largely determined by the preference
for Wheeling as a place of embarkation in dry seasons because of ob-
stacles in the river between Wheeling and Steubenville. The road
was projected largely through the influence of Gallatin and completed
through the influence of Clay.
In 1803, at the admission of Ohio as a state, provision was made to
connect it with seaboard by a road to be constructed by the United
States from a fund arising from proceeds of sale of United States lands
located within the boundaries of the new state. In 1805, commissioners
appointed to examine routes, finally selected one extending from Cum-
berland to Washington by the shortest portage from Atlantic naviga-
tion to Ohio river waters. After considerable delay, caused in part
by insufficient funds from the land sales, Congress began to build the
road in 1811, and in response to the popular demand for its completion,
first authorized advance treasury loans based upon expectations of future
sales of land and finally made additional appropriations openly with no
pretense of a loan.
The road was well-built. In the middle of a cleared space of sixty
feet in width, there was a leveled strip thirty feet wide in the middle
of which was the strip of roadbed twenty feet wide and covered with
small crushed stone eighteen inches deep in the center and sloping to
a depth of twelve inches at the sides.
In 1815, before its completion to the Ohio, it was used for the Great
Western Mail upon which prepayment of postage was required for the
special service. The road was opened to Wheeling in 1818, although a
section between Uniontown and Brownsville was not yet completed.
Its immediate influence was felt not only along its route across the
northern panhandle but also across the entire northern part of the
state which was in neighboring proximity to the route of the road
through western Maryland and southwestern Pennsylvania and to some
extent in other parts of the state — especially along the Ohio which was
regarded as its western complement. Besides its immediate influence
upon points directly accessible to it, it exerted on the West and on the
nation a general influence which was felt by the entire transmontane
region.
The West, which (by the proof of a century) could not be held by
waterways, was finally secured to the Union by the construction of this
road and the vast stream of colonists which poured over it into the
Ohio valley. "Along the route the ringing of woodsmen's axes, the
clinking of surveyors' chains, the rattle of tavern signs and the rumble
of stage coaches prepared the way for the 'star of empire.' The squalid
cabins in which hunters had lived beside the more primitive thorough-
fare were pressed into service as Taverns, ' ' and at convenient distances
apart many new inns sprang up to supply the demand of increasing
travel and traffic. "Indian fords, where the water had oft run red in
border frays, were spanned with solid bridges. Ancient towns which
169
170 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
had been comparatively unknown to the world, but which were of suf-
ficient commercial magnetism to attract the great road to them, became
on the morrow, cities of consequence in the world. As the century
ran into its second and third decades, the Cumberland road received an
increasing heterogeneous population. Wagons of all descriptions, from
the small to the great 'mountain ships,' which creaked down the moun-
tain sides and groaned off in the setting sun, formed a marvelous frieze
upon it. Fast expresses, too realistically, perhaps, called 'Shakeguts,'
tore along through valley and hill with important messages of state.
Here, the broad highway was blocked with herds of cattle trudging
eastward to the markets, or westward to the meadow lands beyond the
mountains. Gay coaches of four to six horses, whose worthy drivers
were known by name even to statesmen, who were often their passengers,
rolled on to the hospitable taverns where the company reveled. All
night, along the roadway, gypsy fires flickered in the darkness, where
wandering minstrels and jugglers crept to show their art, while in the
background crowded traders, hucksters, peddlers, soldiery, showmen,
and beggers — all picturesque pilgrims on the nation's great highway."
For many years the mails and passengers from the East were carried
over the road by stages largely owned and managed by James Reeside,1
popularly designated as the "Land Admiral," who was perhaps the
largest mail contractor in the United States. Personally he possessed a
commanding physique, being six feet four and a half inches in height,
without any surplus flesh, measuring fifty-three inches about the chest,
and weighing 220 pounds. He was a man of great enterprise, remark-
able executive ability, strict integrity, plain and direct in speech, and
free and open handed in his generosity. He was an esteemed friend
of General Jackson, as well as the associate and friend of Clay, Critten-
den, Benton, McLean and other distinguished men of the period.
The first through stage line between Baltimore and the Ohio river
was organized in relays. These relays lodged the first night at Hagers-
town, the second at Cumberland, the third at Uniontown, and the fourth
at Wheeling. The stages were of the old fashioned kind, somewhat
similar to the modern ambulance, open in front and having a rack behind
to hold one or two trunks. Persons rarely traveled in those days with
a trunk. The passengers all faced the team on a level with the driver.
Saddle-bags, then the usual baggage of travelers, were slung around the
standards which supported the roof. It was the custom at night, when
they reached the lodging place, to give their saddle-bags into the custody
of the landlord, whose wife put them under her bed, and delivered them
to the travelers in the morning. Travelers often carried large sums in
this way.
It was not until the year 1827 that any coaches running day and
night crossed the Allegheny mountains. At about this time Mr. Ree-
side became the contractor for carrying the mails between Baltimore
and Wheeling, via Hagerstown and the National road, and from Phila-
delphia via Harrisburg, Chambersburg and Bedford to Pittsburgh, upon
which routes previous to this, no mails had been carried at night. The
system of running day and night was introduced by him between Phila-
delphia and Baltimore and the west, reducing the time from four days
to fifty-two hours, and thereby earned the sobriquet of "Land Admiral,"
bestowed upon him by a Philadelphia editor, who, in giving him that
title said "that he could leave Philadelphia with a hot Johnnie cake in
his pocket and reach Pittsburgh before it would grow cold."
The mail coach always carried a horn, the mellifluous tones of
which were always sounded in advance on its arriving at its stopping
place, as well as in setting out from its starting point. This was the
i The first line of stages run by Eeeside was from Hagerstown, Md., to Mc-
Connellstown, Penn., in 1814, and in a few years afterward became one of the largest
mail contractors in the United States. Soon after 1814, when there was no turn-
pike between Hagerstown and Wheeling, he became interested in establishing a line
of stages across the Alleghenies.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 171
signal for the gathering of the villagers at the different relays to obtain
such news as the passengers might be able or willing to communicate
to the expectant crowd. A change of horses occurred every ten miles,
allowing a brief time to passengers for refreshments.
In 1835 there were two competing lines between Frederick, Mary-
land, and Wheeling, viz. : the Good Intent Stage company and the Stoke
& Stockton or National road line. The coaches and stock of the former,
east of Cumberland, were owned by Messrs. Alpheus Beall and Thomas
Shriver, of Cumberland; John A. Wirt and J. A. Hutchinson, of New
Jersey ; and William H. Steele, formerly of New Jersey, and afterward
a resident of Wheeling; James Reeside owned the stock between Cum-
berland and Wheeling.
While the two were running opposition, three daily lines were started
from Wheeling, and frequently they were supplemented by a large
number of chartered and extra coaches.
In 1836, after the federal government arranged for local up-keep, the
National road by the states through which it passed, a controversy arose
with Virginia in regard to the tolls at the toll-gate east of Wheeling.
Virginia placed a toll of twenty-eight cents on each mail coach. When
the contractor refused to pay, mail from the east, when stopped, was
returned to Triadelphia and remained there until the Wheeling post-
master supplied the necessary cash. There was much correspondence,
but the records fail to disclose how the matter was adjusted.
In 1836 Colonel Reeside inaugurated lines of stages (with five-horse
teams), which reduced the time of transit from Baltimore to Wheeling
from eight to three days — or about forty-eight hours of actual travel
on the road. Between these lines and those of Stockton there was strong
opposition, resulting in frequent spirited races. Considerable obstruc-
tion to the stage-coaches resulted from the numerous droves of cattle,
sheep and hogs, and from the old-fashioned Conestoga wagon in which
most of the freight for the West was conveyed from Baltimore and
Frederick to Wheeling. Three or four coaches were required to trans-
port the continuing increasing mails. A special wagon, designed by
Postmaster-General Amos Kendall to carry the mails independent of
passenger travel, was laid aside after a short trial.
After the lapse of some years, Reeside dissolved with his partners
in the Good Intent line and started a line of his own from Wheeling to
Frederick. At this time then there were three competing lines, and
the result was that the competition cut down fares from $8 and $10 to
the nominal fare of 50 cents. This, however, could not long continue,
and after losing a large amount of money the other two lines bought
Reeside out, and thenceforward the two survivors, although continuing
as separate organizations, divided waybills and kept up rates. Two more
attempts were made to start opposition lines over the same route, the
Henderson company of Pittsburgh, which put on a daily line, and two
sons of Reeside, who started a fancy line called the "Junebug." The
Henderson line, however, was soon bought off and the "Junebug" line
broke up. The two original companies held the field until the comple-
tion of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad to Wheeling in 1852, depriving
them of their occupation.
The spirit governing the proprietors of the stage company in regard
to failures of the mail is illustrated by the following incident : In the
year 1842 the mail was due at Uniontown, Pennsylvania, at 5 :30 P. M.,
and at Wheeling at 8 A. M. Owing to a snow storm in the mountains
east of Uniontown, the mail was behind time. Mr. Stockton of the
N. R. S. Co. remained at the office until near midnight, determined to
save the mail if possible At 12 o 'clock he left for bed, giving me orders
to save the mail if it reached Uniontown by 2 o 'clock A. M. When the
mail arrived, twenty minutes before 2 o'clock, the clerk had it trans-
ferred to the inside of a small six-passenger coach, and at ten minutes
to 2 o'clock started it for Wheeling with no one on the coach but the
driver and Mr. Buntering, the road agent. It reached the postoffice
172 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
in Wheeling just as the clock struck 8 A. M., making the trip from Union-
town to Wheeling (sixty-eight miles) in six hours and ten minutes, in-
cluding changes of horses on the route. The expense of that fast trip
could not have been less than $1,000 from injury to stock. Three horses
were killed and at least a dozen more were placed "hors de combat."
When President Zachary Taylor and his party were on their way
to Washington city, they were caught at Moundsville by the ice and
their boat was frozen in. A driver of the Good Intent Stage company
was called upon to help forward the presidential party, and drove for
eighteen hours with only such delays as were necessary to change his
teams.
The road was famous for the number and excellence of its inns or
taverns, the best being the Frostburg house, Bass Rush's, the National
house and McClelland 's (at Uniontown). On the mountain division
they averaged probably one for every mile of road. All were provided
The Old Tykee Stone Tavern Near Cliftop
with commodious wagon yards. The sign boards with their golden let-
ters winking in the sun attracted the passer-by from the hot road-bed,
and gave promise of good cheer, while the big horse-trough full of clear
fresh water, and the ground below it sprinkled with droppings of fra-
grant peppermint, lent a charm to the surroundings that was at once
irresistible. The uniform price charged for warm meals was twenty-
five cents. A drink of whiskey was free with the meal. At mid-day a
cold meal was furnished for twelve and one-half cents (then called a
"levy"). It also included a drink.
Men who drove teams on the old pike were invariably called wagoners
— not teamsters, as is the modern word. They carried their beds (rolled
up) in the forepart of the conestoga wagon, and spread them out before
the big bar-room fire when they retired for the night. Some of the bar-
room grates would hold as much as seven bushels of coal. Teams were
rarely ever stabled, but almost invariably stood upon the wagon yard,
no matter how inclement the weather might be. There were two classes
of wagoners, the "regular" and the "sharpshooter" or "militia." The
former were engaged in the business from year's end to year's end, and
did nothing else and carried no food for themselves nor for their horses.
The latter were composed for the most part of farmers, or common team-
sters, who put their teams on the road when freights were high, and
took them off when they declined. The "regular" drove his team on
an average about fifteen miles a day, while the "sharpshooters" would
make twenty, or twenty-five miles. There was naturally much jealousy
between the classes.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 173
The "regulars," many of whom had hauled goods from Baltimore
westward before the completion of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad to
Cumberland, were very hostile to encroachments of railroads, and re-
garded them as the invention of the evil one. They had an old song
among them that ran something after this fashion :
Comall ye jolly wagoners,
Turn out man for man,
Who's opposed to the railroad
Or any such a plan.
When we go down to Baltimore,
And ask for a load,
They'll very soon tell you,
It's gone by railroad.
The business of the National Road was largely increased by the
completion of the B. & 0. railroad to Cumberland in 1842, facilitating
eastern connection. In the next eight years as many as twenty-five
stages left Wheeling at one time for Cumberland and from twelve to
fifteen coaches were frequently seen in procession crossing the bridge
at Brownsville. Sometimes as many as thirty stages stopped at one
hotel in a single day. There was a daily line in each direction. There
was also a large increase of traffic by wagons — forty often entering
Wheeling in one day.
The business of the road was also influenced by slack water improve-
ment completed to Brownsville on the Monongahela in 1844 by the
Monongahela Navigation Company which was organized under a Penn-
sylvania act of 1836. The navigation of both the Monongahela and the
Yough was first planned by the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1782. At
that time a great emigration took the country by keel-boats and flat-
bnats. Surveys were made by acts of 1814 and 1815, the first Mononga-
hela Company was authorized in 1817 and the state assumed control of
the movement in 1822. Although the completion of the movements to
Brownsville increased the business of the road between Brownsville and
Cumberland, it decreased business between Brownsville and Wheeling
and was regarded as a severe blow to that part of the road. A large
number of the stage passengers westward took the steamer from Bi*owns-
ville down the river. Many upriver passengers continued on the steamer
to Pittsburgh and to Brownsville instead of using the road eastward
from Wheeling to Brownsville.
The business of the road suffered a sudden and rapid decline follow-
ing the opening of the B. & 0. to Wheeling at the close of 1852 and the
opening of the Pennsylvania railroad to Pittsburgh in 1854. This was
caused first by the diversion of passengers and later by withdrawal of
mails and stages from the route. The last prosperous years were 1850
and 1851. Thereafter the rumble of the broadwheeled freight wagons
was gradually silenced. The last mail from the East to Wheeling by
coach was carried by the son of the man who started the first line of
coaches across the Alleghenies with the daily mail. The wheels of the
coaches stopped. The horses were sold, and the drivers scattered.
* * * Alas, the old-fashioned stage-coach with its experience and
associations as well as the old Conestoga wagon, with its white cover
and its belled horses and their driver have become relics of the past,
pushed aside by the progressive spirit of the age. The toot of the horn
is no longer heard in our midst, and the graceful flourish of the long
whip is seen no longer as the lumbering coach rattles along at break-
neck speed as it draws up at the place of its destination. But now in-
stead is heard the weird shriek of the rushing train, as with swift wings
it flies along the ringing rail. The gayly decorated coach, drawn by a
spanking team of four matched horses, driven by a knight of the whip,
swelling with pride, and handling the "ribbons" with the skill of a
master, is but a fast fleeting memory.
174 HISTOKY OP "WEST VIRGINIA
"We mourn, bereft of the post-horn deft,
Blown by that famous driver,
For we only hear when the cars draw near,
A screech down by the river."
2. James River and Kanawha Turnpike.1 South of Pennsylvania,
after the Potomac-Wills creek route and the route through Cumberland
Gap by the Wilderness road, the James River-Kanawha route was next
in importance as an avenue of migration and travel across the great
mountain barrier formed by the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains.
An early writer who traveled over the route to the Ohio pronounced it
"one of the principal chains destined by nature to bind together the
eastern and western portions of this great republic." To connect and
improve these waters and provide better facilities for travel- and traffic
between East and West along this route was one of the earliest intra-
state public enterprises presented for the consideration of the govern-
ment of Virginia after the close of the Revolution. The subject was a
favorite one with Washington, who in 1784 first brought it to the atten-
tion of the legislature which promptly passed an act incorporating the
James River company, and in 1785 authorized the construction of the
"state road" (for wagons) which was completed to the navigable waters
of the Kanawha by 1790 and opened to the Ohio by 1800.
In 1781 an effort of the Greenbrier people to obtain from the legis-
lature power to extend a wagon road westward from Warm Springs to
the court house at Lewisburg (The "Savanna") as a convenience for
the importation of salt and the exportation of hemp, though it met
with some opposition, finally secured for the county court authority to
levy money by which the road was opened in 1782. (At the same time
a similar road was opened from Warm Springs to Sweet Springs.) In
October, 1785, a new act authorized the opening of bids for opening
within two years a wagon road at least 30 feet wide from Lewisburg
to the lower falls of the Kanawha. This road, probably with a width
considerably less than the specifications, was constructed in 1786. It
completed what was known in the statutes as early as 1790 as the "Old
State Road," the first communication by wagon from the East to the
navigable waters of the Kanawha. In 1791 the terminal point of over-
land travel westward to Kentucky and other points on the Ohio was
on the Great Kanawha twenty miles above the mouth of Elk at Kelly's
creek. Here the travelers secured bateaux or small flat-boats built to
carry them by water for the remainder of their journey. In 1796, and
again in 1803, appropriations were made for the repair of this road
from Lewisburg to the Kanawha. In 1787 a new act authorized the
construction of a wagon road from Kanawha Falls to Lexington, Ken-
tucky. This road probably opened as early as 1800, was completed
to tlie Ohio under authority of the county courts of Kanawha which as
early as 1802 provided for surveys from which some kind of a road was
constructed by 1804. In 1791, Thomas Lewis established a ferry at
Point Pleasant across both the Kanawha and the Ohio. A ferry was
established at Charleston in 1794, and another one in 1809. Stephen
Teays, who settled at Coalsmouth in 1800, established a ferry and kept
an inn for the travel between that point and the Ohio at Gallipolis and
Point Pleasant. A post office was established at Kanawha C. H., in
1801. There was a fortnightly mail brought from Lewisburg on horse-
back. Mails were carried from Lewisburg to Scioto Salt works as early
as 1804, and from Lewisburg to Chillicothe by 1807. By 1808 many
drovers from Ohio and Kentucky passed over the Kanawha route to
find a market for hogs and other live stock. Lewis Summers recorded
that the drovers and travelers used nearly all the surplus grain along
the route and that many sheep and hogs were destroyed by wolves and
bears.
i In the collection of data for the study of this turnpike, the author acknowledges
valuable assistance rendered by F. B. Lambert of Barboursville, W. Va.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 175
By act of February 1, 1809, tolls were authorized. Greenbrier county
was authorized to erect on the state road two toll gates one of which
to be near the ferry on New river ; and Kanawha county was authorized
to erect another on the road within her limits. Net proceeds of all tolls
were applied to the maintenance of the road. An attempt was made to
fix tolls on an equitable basis according to damage done to the road.
The following rates were established:
Wagon, team and driver 25 cents
Four-wheeled riding carriage 20 cents
Cart or two-wheeled riding carriage 12% cents
Man and horse 6% cents
Cattle per head % cent
Sheep or hogs, per score 3 cents
In 1814 the chief route of those going westward from southern and
middle counties of Virginia was via Lewisburg and across New river
at Bowyer's ferry, through "Vandalia" (now Payetteville), thence over
Cotton Hill to the Great Falls of the Kanawha, thence continuing along
the south side of the Kanawha. The road from the salt works east was
in a "terrible condition." Cabell county which was formed in 1809
promptly supplied the pioneer demand for roads. By 1814, roads were
opened to the falls of Guyandotte, to Big Sandy, to the Little Guyan-
dotte, up Seven Mile, up Twelve Pole, up Four Pole and to other points
of the county. In January, 1817, the legislature authorized the con-
struction of a road from Montgomery's Ferry (now Montgomery) via
Gauley river near its mouth to intersect the state road between Flesh-
man's Plantation and the top of Sewells mountain. At a very early
date (by 1818 perhaps by 1807), long before the appearance of any
towns in the interior south of the Kanawha, there was a public road
from the Kanawha via Loup's creek and Upper Piney to Pack's Ford
at the mouth of the Bluestone.
Among the prime factors which urged upon the legislature the needs
of road improvement was the salt industry in the Kanawha valley which
was restricted in its operations and suffered considerable loss through
lack of proper facilities for transportation. In December, 1814, the
construction of a more permanent road was urged and attention directed
to the advantages in suitable road materials along the route. In 1815-16,
with a view to the improvement of the communication between the
James and the Kanawha, the Virginia assembly asked the aid of the
federal government.
By act of February 17, 1820, the legislature secured a modification
of the charter of the James River Company that would authorize it also
' ' to make a convenient road by the most practicable route from the James
to the Great Falls of the Kanawha, and to improve the latter from the
falls to the Ohio. For superintending these works the general assembly
appointed by joint ballot nine commissioners, a majority of whom should
decide all questions. By act of February 28, 1821, the number of com-
missioners was reduced to five and the company was empowered to
graduate the tolls on salt from one to two cents according to circum-
stances.
In 1821 the route of the new Kanawha road was located westward
through Greenbrier and beyond. The right side of both the New and
the Kanawha was chosen because that route required fewer bridges and
furnished better grade at less cost. A year later, the bridges between
Lewisburg and Gauley were about completed. The covered bridges over
the Greenbrier and the Gauley cost $18,000 each. In 1822 the company
finding it difficult to procure "labor of proper kind" were forced to
consider whether it could purchase slaves to complete the work.
By 1824 the road was completed between Lewisburg and the falls
with an extension partly constructed from the falls to Montgomery's
Ferry, and was much used by wagons transporting salt to Greenbrier,
which thereby promised to become the main source of supply for Monroe
176 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
and Pocahontas and for part of Nicholas. Salt which cost twenty cents
per bushel at the works was conveyed to Lewisburg for twenty-five cents.
By 1824 the large quantities of salt hauled east drove out foreign
salt which previously had been shipped from the seaboard, or reduced
the price more than half. In order to extend the benefits of the trade
the general assembly was asked to extend the road to the lower end of
the salt works.
Three years later the road was completed only to a point about
twenty-six miles above Charleston, and thence westward to the Big
Sandy travel was only by horseback and light carriages. Much of the
completed road had been badly damaged by heavy wagons and by hogs.
Early collection of tolls was attended with considerable difficulty.
In 1825 the toll was five cents for each person, excepting those exempted
by living within four miles of a gate and not traveling over four miles.
Complaint was made that those who enjoyed free tolls assisted others
to evade the law. The owner of the mill and blacksmith shop at Green-
brier Bridge obtained exemption from bridge tolls for his family,
servants and customers. Tolls were much diminished by the action of
the county court of Greenbrier in keeping open parts of the old Stone
Road (the state road of 1786), which ran from Lewisburg to the falls
parallel to the Kanawha turnpike and frequently crossed it. Some gates
were so situated that roads could be made around them to avoid pay-
ment of tolls. A private road opened in order to turn Metzger's Toll
Gate (fifty miles west of Lewisburg) enabled the people to enjoy fifty
miles of turnpike free from tolls. An act of February 28, 1829, ex-
empted from tolls persons going to mill or returning from mill. The
destruction of Gauley bridge by fire on July 11, 1826, by persons in-
terested in the ferry at that point necessitated the employment of a
ferryman who was paid one-third of the collections at that point. A
new bridge, uncovered to reduce the danger from fire — a structure which
stood until 1849 — was completed in 1828. To keep the road in repair
from Lewisburg west cost $1,000 per year. The toll gatherers were
paid 9 per cent of the collections.
At this period the people of the Kanawha route were temporarily
excited over the prospects of railway communications with the east,
but their hopes were soon reduced by the refusal of the Virginia As-
sembly to grant the request of the B. & 0. for permission to construct
its lines along the Shenandoah and over the divide to the headwaters
of the Kanawha. At Richmond and in eastern Virginia the turnpike
was regarded as an enterprise more desirable for the Kanawha because
it was less liable to contribute to the commercial importance of Baltimore.
In 1828 the Board of Public Works in recommending the completion
of the road to the Ohio to connect the East and the West and to stop
the flow of population to the West, urged that it would be a better
and shorter road to the West than any other road, not excepting the
Cumberland road. An additional advantage was found in cheapness
of provisions and labor.
The more direct Teay's valley route to the Ohio was chosen in
preference to the longer route down the Kanawha to Point Pleasant
which some desired. There was already a road on the south side of the
Kanawha from the Falls to the Mud river. There were various reasons
assigned for the location of the new road on the south side of the
Kanawha from a point just above the mouth of the Gauley, but Charles-
ton was selected as the place of crossing. The extension to the Big
Sandy was probably influenced by the expectation encouraged by the
assurance of Clay in 1826 that Kentucky would thereby be induced to
make a good road from the Big Sandy to Lexington.
Work on the western section advancing eastward from the Big Sandy
was begun in 1828 and an act for extension of the road to Big Sandy
was passed early in 1829. A year later Crozet, the principal engineer,
reported that the contractors had done practically nothing for repairs
on tha western section. In the most dangerous places the road was too
narrow. In some places two carriages could hardly pass. Earth slips
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 177
made some parts of the road dangerous. Contractors for construction
of the road west of Charleston in 1830 suffered from effects of the
excessive rains and subsequent drouth, and from the advance of price
of labor and provisions resulting largely from the extensive public works
undertaken by Ohio. The toll bridge near the mouth of Coal river was
not competed until near the close of 1832.
The first stage line was established between Charleston and Lewis-
burg by Caldwell and Surbough and was in operation by January,
1827, making one trip each week. The fare was $7.00 and preference
was given to "those who first registered their names for seats." As
soon as the road was extended to Big Sandy, the same weekly stage was
run from Catlett's, Kentucky, to Lewisburg, where it connected with a
stage line to Sutton. Although at first the stages ran via Pea Ridge
(Teays Valley) directly to the mouth of the Big Sandy, Guyandotte
promptly extended a road to Barboursville in order to profit by the
travel, and thereby became the point of connection with a steamer
owned by the stage crmnany which made regular trips to Cincinnati
twice each week. By 1835, with a population of only 300, Guyandotte
was the most important point of steamboat embarkation and debarkation
in western Virginia excepting Wheeling. Three miles be'ow, however,
she had a possible competitor for future supremacy: Brownsville (earlier
incorporated as South Landing) which had been surveyed into lots by
Crozet in 1832 and which still awaited the disposition of the proprietors
of the land to put their lots on the market.
Since there was no competition of stage lines as on the National (Cumberland)
road, stage fares changed little in the course of several decades. The schedule time
for the entire trip was from Thursday at 1 p. m. to Saturday evening. The fare
from Big Sandy was 75 cents to Guyandotte, $4.50 to Charleston and $11.00 to
Lewisburg. Each passenger was allowed 20 pounds of baggage free and for excess
(carried at the option of the driver) was charged $4.00 per 100 pounds for each
100 miles. Passengers from the steamers at Big Sandy or Guyandotte, or from the
connecting sta.ee at Lewisburg, were given preference after those who registered for
seats. In April, 1829, the stage line from Guyandotte to Lewisburg was purchased
by Porter and Beldon; and by the close of 1830 stages were running tri-weekly, and
the company advertised to make the trips by daylight and to rest on Sunday —
although, when the roads were in a bad condition and the stages were delayed, the
passengers got little sleep. The earlier stage "stands" (relays where horses and
drivers were changed) eastward from Charleston were Malone's Landing (opposite
old Brownstown), Bowserman's (Hughs creek), Kanawha Falls, Mountain Cove (now
Ansted), Lewis (Lookout), Eichard Tyree's (at foot of Sewell mountain), Sewell
creek (now Rainell), Meadow Bluff and Lewisburg.
The extension of the road to the "perfect wilderness" at the Ken-
tucky line, by "foreign engineers," was criticised as an egregious blun-
der because it tended toward the "destruction of a flourishing Virginia
town" (Guyandotte) and because its terminus was closed for a large
part of the year by obstacles which Kentucky probably would not help
to remove. This argument was used especially by those who advocated
a branch road from Charleston down the Kanawha to Point Pleasant
as a means to connect with Ohio roads.
Early in 1831, in accordance with the regulations of the post office
department relating to mail stages, and to avoid delays of the mail,
the stage drivers were prohibited from doing errands excepting the
carrying of medicine. The mail contracts enabled the company to run
daily stages. In establishing this line the speed was increased so that
75 to 80 miles were covered in a day — "nearly if not altogether accom-
plished in the daylight." For a while Point Pleasant and Gallipolis
mail was carried from Coalsmouth on horseback but later it was dis-
patched from Charleston by water. In July, 1831, the increase of travel
eastward compelled the contractors to put on extra stages. The steamers
connecting with the stage lines at Guyandotte and at Charleston were
doing a good business. In 1832 the stage line carried mail daily, al-
though under contract to do so only six days each week. Late in the
year, however, the postmaster general established a daily mail from
Richmond to Guyandotte. At the close of 1833 this was reduced to a
tri-weekly mail. By 1837 the mail — carried in the regular passenger
Vol. 1—12
178 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
stages — was transmitted from Richmond to Guyandotte in four and one-
half days.
In 1831 there was considerable opposition to the increased tolls on
the portion of the turnpike which had been completed above Gauley
Bridge. Objection was made to the law requiring not only the stages
but also the individual passengers to pay a heavy toll. At the Gauley
river and Greenbrier river bridges 6!/4 cents was collected from each
passenger. Those who at first refused to pay finally yielded to the
strong arm of the law. The "Daily Stage" line, which had been "es-
tablished at great expenditure," and in the face of great obstacles,
applied to the legislature for an abatement of the "excessive tolls to
which the stages would be subjected" but without success. In 1832
the House of Delegates by a vote of 72 to 44 passed a bill authorizing
the James River Company to regulate from time to time the tolls on
stage coaches using the Kanawha turnpike. By act of March 6, 1833,
the toll previously charged passengers on the stage coach or riding car-
riage crossing Gauley bridge and Greenbrier bridge was abolished.
Notwithstanding the tolls, the stage line attracted much travel which
previously had gone by a more circuitous route. The scenery along the
route was an attraction to many travelers.
In 1832 Hall and Trotter of Kentucky established a tri-weekly line of stages
from the mouth of the Big Sandy to Guyandotte where it connected with the Kana-
wha stage line of Porter, Belden & Co. At the Big Sandy this line connected with
a stage line for Lexington, Kentucky. In order to improve westward connections
Kentucky in 1837 began two turnpikes at Big Sandy — one leading toward Owens-
ville, thence to connect with the Maysville and Lexington turnpike, and the other
down the Ohio. At Lewisburg connection was made with Caldwell's line which ex-
tended eastward through White Sulphur, Salt Sulphur and Sweet Springs and Fin-
castle and at Teaks' on the Blue Ridge intersected with the line leading east to
Lynchburg and Richmond or south to Salem where it connected with the great valley
line to Huntsville and Nashville. White Sulphur Springs, a resort which has been
crowded with visitors during the warm season of each years since its first opening in
1818, was reached from Washington in three days travel — by steamboat to Fred-
ericksburg, then by stage via Charlottesville, Staunton and Warm Springs. Calla-
han's celebrated tavern thirteen miles east of White Sulphur was a center of the
travel from all directions — Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina — and an inter-
junction of several mail routes.
In the Gazetteer of Virginia published in 1835 appears a vivid description of
the route from Covington westward over the mountains. "The great state road
* * * passing the gigantic Alleghenies at a grade which is almost level, pursues
its winding yet steady course over ranges of mountains, and through wild and
hitherto unbroken depths of wilderness and shade. Now and then it courses along
the margin of some rocky and stupendous precipice often several hundred if not a
thousand feet in depth,- — and as the mail coach drawn by four spirited steeds whirls
you along the perilous cliff, you feel an involuntary shuddering at the slender barrier
which separates you from eternity. The blue mist which hovers along the yawning
chasm beneath, and is visible through the variegated foliage which obscures without
concealing the view, impresses the mind with undefinable images of danger — and
indeed * * * I have been credibly informed that in more than one instance
the lives of travelers have been exposed to imminent peril. At one of those narrow
defiles » * * the stage with eight passengers and driver rolled down a steep
declivity of fifty feet and — although the luckless vehicle turned two or three somer-
sets and was actually shattered into fragments neither horse nor passenger suffered
material injury. ' '
Among the local influences attributed to the turnpike were the de-
crease of game, the increase of evidence of civilization resulting partly
from the immigration of families of refined people from eastern Vir-
ginia, and the economic and industrial development resulting from mar-
ket facilities and the increase of passing travel and traffic.
The route soon became a busy thoroughfare of travel and traffic —
an avenue of activity and increasing wealth. In the stage the average
citizen might ride with the greatest statesmen and converse with them
enroute or at the taverns. Among the passengers of most prominence
were Henry Clay who was a great favorite along the route and Presi-
dent Jackson, who in 1832 spent Sunday at Charleston enroute to
Washington. Many of the wealthier people who disdained to ride in
the stage with the common herd traveled in their own private con-
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 179
veyances. Many who were too poor to pay the stage fares traveled by
horseback or walked.
Westward over the route passed many families emigrating to Ohio
and Kentucky. Hundreds of wagons and other conveyances filled with
emigrant families — men, women and children of all ages and condi-
tions— who had left the worn-out lands of Virginia to seek new homes
in the states bordering on the Ohio, passed along the road for weeks
each year. To some of the more conservative Virginians mourning
over the increasing drain of the population, this spectacle of fugitive
emigrants "bending their toilsome march to the war West" awakened
a melancholy train of reflections in regard to what was characterized
as "the last struggle of despairing poverty to escape from the hard-
ships of its lot." The road furnished increased facility for driving
hogs to the eastern market, and consequently increased the demand for
corn along the route. It was estimated that in the fall of 1826, about
60,000 hogs passed up the valley of the Kanawha, destined largely
to Eastern Virginia. This traffic continued until the Civil war, al-
though part of it was diverted by steamboat to Pittsburgh and Wheel-
ing in the decade before the war. It stimulated the growth of corn
among the farmers, some of whom took advantage of their less en-
terprising neighbors by meeting the drovers several miles toward the
West in order to make advance bargains. It is said that the soil of
Teay's valley was worn out by continued cultivation of corn to supply
the demand of hog traffic. Sometimes the drovers greatly interfered
with other travel for days at a time. After driving the stock through
to the Valley, or to Richmond or other eastern cities, they frequently
made the return trip on foot.
Freight was usually carried in Conestoga wagons, often painted in gay colors,
usually drawn by four or six horses and carrying an average of 1000 pounds per
horse. Even after 1852 these wagons were so common that sometimes as many as
thirty could be counted in a few hours passing in close proximity and twelve or
fifteen could be counted almost any day within the period of travel. Those going
east usually included salt in their list of goods. Those coming west were loaded
with fruit, and general merchandise — including much plug tobacco to satisfy the
refined taste of the western pioneers who were not content with the raw product
which they grew at home. Whiskey was also a common article carried on almost
every wagon. Many of the wagoners, who endured the hardships of the long
journey, "left their religion on the Blue Ridge when they went east with their
produce," but, although often rough, they were a jolly crowd who at night enjoyed
themselves with fiddling and with bull dances around their camp fires, or with singing
negro melodies of which they possessed a fine repertoire. They bought their pro-
visions from the farmers or at the taverns, but they cooked their own meals and
drank their own whiskey.
In contrast with the freight wagoners, the stage drivers (young but expert)
were aristocrats — stopping at the best taverns and conversing freely with their
passengers. The horses behind which they wielded the whip were the finest that
could be obtained from the blue grass region of Kentucky or the Valley of Virginia
and were dressed in the finest harness ornamented in brass. Each stage driver
drove at a rapid rate, and swiftly turned the shortest curves of the mountains with-
out fear of danger. Unless hailed by prospectivs passengers he seldom stopped
until he reached a relay station — the approach to which he announced by blasts from
the tin horn which he always carried at his side. For his expert service he received
about $1.00 per day, the highest wage paid on the road at that time.
To accommodate the increasing travel, better houses of entertain-
ment were established at regular intervals along the road. These were
successors of the mountain taverns which had appeared very early
for the accommodation of the many pioneers who journeyed between
East and West before the turnpike was begun. The county court rec-
ords of the first and second decades of the nineteenth century show
a surprising number of taverns which obtained license and "entered
into bond and security" as required by law, paying for their license
about $18.00 per year. Under the law by which county courts fixed
the rates of charge, ordinaries were licensed on the Kanawha below the
mouth of Paint soon after 1799, at Coalsmouth soon after 1800, at
Lewisburg and at Dennis Callahan's (the center of travel farther east)
by 1808, at Salines by 1810, at Barboursville by 1814, at Guyandotte by
180 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
1815 and at Culloden by 1818. After the construction of the turn-
pike, the inn-keepers assumed more of a professional character and
many of the inns became more pretentious. Among the earlier im-
proved hostelries opened at Charleston by 1826 was the "Jackson
Hall" kept by George Goshorn, the Charleston Hotel conducted by Mr.
Spotswood and the popular brick hotel of Major Daniel Ruffner located
at a picturesque place a mile and a half above the town. The Ruffner
place became a noted stage stand, and was also famous by its prox-
imity to a camp-meeting ground at which many people gathered each
year. In 1831, by an unusual activity in the construction of build-
ings Charleston secured better facilities for the accommodation of the
increasing number of stage passengers who preferred to connect with
the stage line at that point. In 1834 the Kanawha House, a brick
structure of four stories and thirty rooms, was built near the boat
landing. In 1831 a new two-story hotel was erected on Coal river.
By 1832, at a point opposite the Kanawha Falls appeared a spacious
hotel "kept by a good natured chunk of a man who cast a shadow of
nearly the same altitude when lying down as when standing up." The
Hurricane Valley tavern was opened by 1833. A new hotel was built
at the Salines by 1830 and another by 1834 to accommodate the local
travel to that, point, from which a hack ran to Charleston morning and
evening. Fourteen miles east of the Falls was the large farm and
stage station of Philip Metzker. Ten miles below Charleston, and a
mile or two above St. Albans, was "Liberty Hall," owned by Robert
W. Poindexter, and previously occupied by Mrs. E. B. Thornton. One
mile below Charleston was "Willow Grove," kept by Mrs. Watson. By
1831 there was a ferry and tavern on the Ohio just above the mouth
of the Big Sandy at the termination of the turnpike. By 1832 three
taverns were scattered along the route between Barboursville and Hur-
ricane bridge. By 1835 there was a hotel at Hansford post office op-
posite the mouth of Paint creek. At the same time there were three
hotels at Lewisburg, the great court town, and several around White
Sulphur Springs within a distance of six or seven miles. Later, taverns
were opened at the foot of Gauley mountain and on top of the moun-
tain four miles east of Hawk's Nest. In 1835 there was an increasing
travel resulting from the wide and increasing popularity of the springs
east of Lewisburg. By 1836 the buildings at White Sulphur could
accommodate 400, and in 1838 it was estimated that 6,000 persons
visited the resort during the entire season.
The Kanawha turnpike was an incentive to the opening of several
later lines. By 1827 there was a post-road from Gauley Bridge to
Nicholas county but the mail contractor complained to the justices
of Kanawha county that its width was less than the twelve feet re-
quired by law. In 1838, the Charleston and Point Pleasant turnpike
was built. About 1848 the Giles, Fayette and Kanawha turnpike
(begun in 1838) was completed, starting at Pearisburg and passing
through Peterstown, Red Sulphur Springs and the present site of Beck-
ley, Mt. Hope, Oak Hill and Fayetteville and joining the Kanawha turn-
pike at Kanawha Falls. About 1850 a "state road" was constructed
from Logan through Boone to Charleston, and over it passed much
traffic which declined after the completion of the Norfolk and Western
in 1891. About 1850 a turnpike (begun in 1848) was constructed from
Gauley Bridge via Summersville, Sutton, Flatwoods and Bulltown to
Weston at which it connected with another road leading to the North-
western turnpike at West Union.2
In 1848 the Charleston, Ripley and Ravenswood Turnpike Company
was incorporated and in 1857 planned a better road northward to the
Ohio which was completed by 1861. It was extended to Parkersburg
and connected with Ravenswood by a lateral road from Sandyville.
2 From Arnold 's station (near Weston) the Glenville, Ripley and Ohio turnpike
(dirt road) was constructed by Virginia about 1854-55 via Spencer and Buffalo
post office.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 181
The history of the Kanawha turnpike after 1835 has few new fea-
tures. In December, 1835, the stockholders of the James river and
Kanawha Company consolidated the eastern and western agencies into
one agency extending- over the whole of the western improvements.
Ezra Walker of Kanawha was made agent of the western improve-
ments at a salary of $1,500. He had full charge of the Kanawha river
and road, collecting the tolls from the collectors and depositing them
in the Bank of Virginia at Charleston.
About May 15, 1837, the road was much damaged by floods which
washed out eleven of the forty bridges which it crossed. The road
was also much cut on the mountain slopes by the wheels of the heavy
stages which had no patent locks. In 1840 the company constructed
five bridges of which one was on the Burning Spring branch. The
construction of a new bridge over Gauley and other improvements on
the road were suspended by cholera in the Kanawha in 1848. The
arched bridge over Coal river was completed in 1849. A new bridge
over Gauley was completed in 1850 and continued in use until its
destruction in 1861. Several bridges finished between 1850 and 1854
absorbed much of the revenue from tolls.
Although at the middle of the century the utility of the road was
somewhat increased by the reduction of tolls on live stock passing
over it, the need of the road was soon greatly decreased by new
factors in western transportation. Even as early as 1835, the de-
mands of the people for a railroad or canal connection threatened
the increasing business of the road and caused the president (Cabell)
of the company to file objections and urge that the railway from Cov-
ington to the Kanawha Falls should be deferred until the completion
of the water improvements of the line. In 1853, although the turn-
pike was in good condition, travel on it was manifestly diminished. At
the same time the business on the Kanawha river was increasing. At
Charleston could be seen steamers towing flatboats loaded with iron
rails imported from Wales for the mines above the town. By 1854,
synchronous with the increase of travel on the river and the connection
of railroads with the Upper Ohio, the travel on the road was greatly
diminished and the income of the company from the turnpike de-
pended entirely on the prosperous business of the salt manufacturers
at the Kanawha Salines. Early in 1855 travelers from Guyandotte, to
secure most speedy conveyance to Richmond, went via Cincinnati and
Columbus, Ohio. Tri-weekly four-horse stages owned by W. P. Parish
and Company still made trips to points eastward as far as Lynchburg
but the roads were in a "horrid condition." Such conditions furnished
reasons for urging appropriations for the completion of the Covington
and Ohio railway westward through rich regions whose inhabitants
were deprived of all facilities for travel except mud turnpikes. By
1860 the eastern terminus of the stage lines was at Jackson river depot,
now Clifton Forge, which was then the western terminus of the Vir-
ginian Central railway (now the C. & O.). The decline of the turnpike
was completed by the ravages of war resulting in the destruction of the
Gauley and Greenbrier bridges and leaving the road in a very inferior
condition. The busy life along the route never returned. White Sul-
phur Springs was reopened in 1867, but even here there was a notice-
able absence of much of the society which had once given life and
gayety and grace to the resort. A few years later a new era of life
along the route was introduced by the completion of the railway from
Covington to Huntington.
3. The Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike. Across the terri-
tory of West Virginia north of the region drained by the Kanawha, the
Staunton and Parkersburg turnpike upon which the state spent con-
siderable money was a factor of iio small importance in local develop-
ment. The story of its inception and its construction may be indicated
briefly. By an act of 1823, the Board of Public Works was directed to
inquire into the expediency of directing the public engineer to survey
182 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
and mark a road by the nearest and best route from Staunton to the
mouth of the Little Kanawha. Following the prompt preliminary re-
port of the board, in March, 1824, the Assembly made small appropria-
tions from the revenues of Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Lewis and
Wood to be used in opening the road, provided each of these counties
would appropriate an amount equal to the sum provided by the state.
An act of February, 1826, authorized an increased state aid ($3,200)
and directed the commissioners of each county to meet at the mouth of
Riffles ' Run in order to locate the remainder of the road via Beverly and
Weston. At the same time, Wood county was allowed additional time to
raise the amount which it was required to contribute by the act of 1824.
In 1828, the principal engineer was directed to inspect the road from
Weston to Parkersburg, and was given power to change the route or
location. In 1830, commissioners were appointed by act of the Assembly
with power to raise by a lottery $50,000 to complete the road, and the
county courts of Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Lewis and Wood
were each required to appoint a superintendent to complete the work in
their respective jurisdictions. To each of these counties the lottery
money was to be distributed according to a stated proportion. In 1832
there was an additional appropriation, of which a given proportion was
to be provided for each county which would raise an equal amount.
Some of the counties by act of 1836 were given additional time to meet
the requirements. In 1837, Wood county, which had failed to raise
the amount required was again given additional time.
A step toward greater activity was taken by the act of 1838, which
authorized the Board of Public Works to borrow $150,000 with which
to construct a turnpike from Staunton through Dry Branch Gap, with
a width of not less than 15 feet in addition to side ditches. In the
same year, the principal engineer made a report pointing out five dif-
ferent routes for the northwestern part of the road — one of which
utilized twenty-three miles of the Northwestern turnpike from] the
Three Forks of Goose creek, and another of which proposed to unite
it with the Northwestern turnpike which could be utilized for the fifty
miles west of Middle Island creek.
The woi'k of construction began at both ends. On the west end one
of the chief difficulties was the backwater which increased the need
for additional bridges, and also induced the engineer to select a route
which did not immediately follow the Little Kanawha. Here, Wood
county declined to give aid in preserving the road. At the east end
work was delayed by labor conditions. There, the reduction of the
price of labor was secured much later than in the west. The begin-
ning of operations was delayed, especially by the continued demand
for labor on the Valley turnpike and on the James river. Finally,
with an anticipated reduction of wages to $10.00 per month at each end
of the road, operations on the east were begun, but in the middle of
December (1838) they were stopped for the winter.
As the work of construction advanced, the Board of Public Works,
in 1841, were given all the powers and privileges concerning the tolls,
etc., that had been conferred on the president and directors of the
Northwestern turnpike by act of 1840. The shorter and better route
through part of Randolph was changed by an act of 1842 which made
Beverly a point on the road, on condition that the citizens of Ran-
dolph would pay $4,200 on construction and that owners of land would
relinquish all claims for damages. An act of 1845 authorized a loan
of $30,000 to complete the road between Weston and Beverly, another
of 1846 appropriated $5,000 for a bridge over the Valley river at Bev-
erly, and another of 1847 appropriated $15,000 for bridges across the
Valley river at Huttonsville, across the West Fork at Weston, across
the south fork of Hughes river, and across Stone Coal creek and other
creeks. An act of 1848 appropriated an additional $10,000 for bridges
and an act of 1849 authorized a loan of $60,000 for macadamizing parts
of the road. An additional appropriation was made in 1852 to repair
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 183
and reconstruct bridges and embankments which had recently been
injured and destroyed on the road; and $100,000 was appropriated in
1853 for use in macadamizing, planking and bridging. According to the
report of the superintendent, John Brannon of Weston, the road at this
date was in very bad condition resulting from winter and spring freshets,
and the tolls were not adequate for repairs. The bridges on the north
and south forks of the Hughes river required stronger masonry and
higher location. An act of 1860 again provided for the repair of dam-
age done by recent floods. An act of April 1, 1861, authorized the ap-
pointment of two superintendents with separate jurisdiction divided by
Cheat mountain. By an ordinance of the Virginia convention of June
14, 1861, the governor was authorized to build bridges and make other
repairs on the road in Randolph for use for military purposes.
At the close of the war much of the road was in a very bad condi-
tion; but, along the larger part of the route, it has continued to be
used for local travel. Tolls were collected in Randolph by order of the
county court until about 1898.
The road had considerable influence in the development of different
regions through which it was located. It was a factor in causing the
formation of several new counties. The citizens of the western part of
Lewis county whose trade was down the Little Kanawha, together with
the citizens of the northern part of Kanawha county, were successful
in securing the formation of the new county of Gilmer (in 1845), with
the county seat at Glenville (where Hartford had been established in
1842). A few years later (in 1855), citizens of the western part of
the newly created county of. Gilmer, not satisfied with the selection of
Glenville as the county seat, were successful in securing the formation
of the new county of Calhoun.
The construction of the new road together with other influences
(competition in trade between Buckhannon and Weston and differences
in politics), resulted in the formation of Upshur county in 1850 by
separation from Lewis county in spite of the opposition of Weston and
vicinity.
The construction of the turnpike was a large influence in the stimu-
lation of other improved roads, acting a9 lateral feeders. It also stimu-
lated immigration, industry and business prosperity. This is well illus-
trated in the neighborhood of Weston. The Sand Pork region south of
Weston (Court House district) was still a dense wilderness in 1840,
although patents for the land had been granted long before, and although
settlements had been made in all other parts of Lewis county. Its de-
velopment was hastened by laws of 1831 and 1835, which marked a
changed policy of Virginia in regard to delinquent lands and by a
resulting encouragement to laud speculators. Its development was
primarily due to a partnership formed in 1841 between Minter Bailey
(proprietor of the Bailey Hotel at Weston) and two far sighted busi-
ness men (G. D. Camden and R. P. Camden), who saw that the lands
might attract settlers and continue to increase in value after the com-
pletion of the Staunton and Parkersburg turnpike. They were especially
successful in their plans for inducing the Irish and German laborers
on the road to settle upon their lands after the completion of the road.
In this they were favored by economic conditions which caused the ces-
sation of constructive projects elsewhere and left many laborers with-
out employment. By dividing large tracts into small farms within the
means of the laborers and by arranging easy terms of payment, including
the acceptance of their farm products at the Bailey House, they soon
attracted a considerable colony of settlers beginning with 1845. In
1845, when there was only "one Irishman and five children" at Weston,
Bishop Whelan established a Catholic mission there and celebrated mass
in an upstairs room at the Bailey House in the presence of a group of
Irish working men and their families, some of whom had walke'd from
Sand Fork to attend the service. In 1848 Father A. P. Crogan was
appointed as permanent pastor and began the erection of a small brick
184 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
church, the fourth church of the denomination in the territory of West
Virginia. The schools, opened in the basement of the church and taught
by priests who had good classical education, were attended by boys
who later became prominent in the county. The new settlers were
thrifty and by united efforts of husbands and wives soon accumulated
enough money to complete payment on their lands, which they never
abandoned. By 1848 the Sand Fork colony secured through Bishop
F. V. Whelan thirty acres of land upon which a Catholic church was
later erected. Its success encouraged the formation of another pros-
perous colony known as the "Murray settlement," developed by specu-
lators who were competitors of Bailey and the Camdens. Later many
Irish laborers on construction work of the B. & 0. railroad between
Cumberland and Wheeling — immigrants who had been driven from Ire-
land by the potato famine of 1846 — were attracted from the railroad
(through the efforts of G. D. Camden and others) to work on the inac-
adamization of the Staunton and Parkersburg turnpike. Settlement on
Sand Fork was also probably encouraged by Bishop Whelan who had
established mission relations with the railway construction camps. Addi-
tional settlers arrived after the completion of railroad construction to
Wheeling which resulted in temporary employment for many of the
laborers. About the same time many Germans arrived. The example
of the new settlers had a good influence on the other farmers of the
community, although for several years there was little inclination to
association. They soon made application for American citizenship, for
which (by their travel in the United States) they were perhaps as well
fitted as many older residents of the county, and during the civil war
they were staunch Union men, in accord with their oath of allegiance.
4. The Old Northwestern Turnpike. The old Northwestern turn-
pike, extending from Winchester, Virginia, on a general westward course
to Parkersburg on the Ohio, is a historic highway which deserves more
mention than it has ever received as a factor related to the American
westward movement and to the problem of communication between East
and West. It was the inevitable result of the call of the West and the
need of a Virginia state road.
Perhaps its first suggestion was recorded by Washington, who in
1758 had been the champion of the Braddock road (not then supposed
to lie in Pennsylvania) and who in 1784 sought a route located wholly
in Virginia. Returning from a visit to his western lands, after fol-
lowing McCulloch's path (then the most important route across the
ragged ridges between the valleys), he crossed the North Branch on
the future route of the greater Virginia highway — which was first
partially realized in the "state road" authorized from Winchester via
Romney to Morgautown before 1786, and extended westward in 1786
by a branch road from near Cheat to Clarksburg, from which the first
road was marked to the mouth of the Little Kanawha between 1788
and 1790.
The later turnpike was planned and constructed by Virginia partly
as a result of the rival activities of New York, Pennsylvania and Mary-
land to secure the advantages in transportation facilities for the trade
of the WTest ; and was especially regarded as a rival of the national road
which was opened from Cumberland to Wheeling in 1818, and with
which parts of Virginia obtained better connection in 1830 by a stage
line established from Winchester to Cumberland. It was built across
tlie Appalachian divide with the hope of securing commercial superior-
ity, and was the main thoroughfare between East and West through
northern Virginia.
The act of incorporation of 1827, authorizing subscriptions at Win-
chester, Romney, Moorefield, Beverly, Kingwood, Pruntytown, Clarks-
burg and Parkersburg, made the mistake of arbitrarily locating the
route through important towns without proper consideration of the
physical features of the country. After finding a way through Hamp-
shire via Mill Creek Gap in Mill Creek Mountain, and pushing on into
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 185
Preston the engineers encountered insurmountable obstacles to the King-
wood route, causing the stock to languish.
The enterprise was saved by the remarkable act of 1831 which or-
ganized a road company, with the governor as president and one of
the board of directors, with power to borrow money ($125, 000) on
the credit of the state to construct a turnpike road of a minimum width
of twelve feet, "from Winchester to some point on the Ohio river to be
situated by the principal engineer," and with the right to erect bridges
or to regulate ferries already in existence and to establish toll gates
on each twenty mile section completed.
The chief engineer was Col. Claudius Crozet, a French officer of
artillery under Napoleon Bonaparte in the Russian campaign, and
later professor of engineering in the United States military academy
from 1816 to 1823. He was assisted by Charles B. Shaw.
The route chosen was through Hampshire, Mineral, Grant, Garrett,
Preston, Taylor, Harrison, Doddridge, Ritchie and Wood — all in West
Virginia except Garrett which is in Maryland. In Hampshire coun-
ty it was established via Capon Bridge, Hanging Rock, Pleasant Dale
and Augusta to Romney west of which it crossed the South Branch.
Through Mineral it passed via Burlington, thence westward across
Patterson's creek, and through Ridgeville on the divide to New creek
which it crossed at Rees' tannery. Then turning toward the south-
west, it crossed the North branch of the Potomac southwest of the
present town of Germania and entered the southwest corner of Maryland
through which it passed for eight and three-fourths miles, crossing
the Alleghenies and emerging into Preston east of the German settle-
ment (later known as Aurora). It passed across the picturesque Cheat
valley considerably south of Rowlesburg, and via Fellowsville, Evans-
ville, Thornton, Grafton, Pruntytown and Bridgeport to Clarksburg,
thence over the summit via the head of Ten Mile creek to Salem, thence
across Middle Island creek at West Union and via Tollgate, Pennsboro,
Ellensboro (earlier Shumley) the head of Goose creek, and Murphy town,
to Parkersburg. Much of the route passed through a vast wilderness
interspersed here and there by a few old settlements and towns.
No longer dependent on the larger towns for its success, the road
was completed through the wilds of Preston, considerably south of
Kingwood, iu 1832, and was opened westward to Clarksburg and Parkers-
burg by 1838. Its construction cost $400,000. It crossed the moun-
tains by easy grades and the larger streams (in some sections all the
streams) by good bridges. It was macadamized from Tygart's Valley
river to Parkersburg in 1818. About 18o2, it was further improved by
construction of new bridges across several streams, at important cross-
ings. In 1840, facilities for travel and news were increased on the
western end of the road by the establishment of a daily line of stages,
and a regular mail service, which made connection with the Ohio steam-
ers at Parkersburg. By 1845, there was a line of fast tri-weekly stages
from Romney to the Ohio at Parkersburg. It connected at Romney
with stages from Winchester, Moorefield and from Green Spring at
which connections were made with Baltimore by trains of the B. & O.
railway. The fare from Green Spring to Parkersburg (210 miles) was
$10.00.
The road, establishing commercial and other relations, soon became a
busy thoroughfare of travel and traffic which stimulated the creation of
many inns and towns along the route — such as Aurora, Fellowsville,
Evansville (1833), and West Union (1846). In many ways it influenced
the material prosperity and social life of the people of the region
through which it passed. Following the act of 1831, whLh provided for
more satisfactory adjustment of land tit.es, it was an important in-
centive to immigration and settlement and development — especially along
the region of southern Preston and in Ritchie. Its construction also
stimulated the construction of intersecting roads, such as the Brandon-
ville pike, starting from Somerfield, Pennsylvania, passing via King-
186 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
wood, and connecting with the Northwestern at a point which became
Fellowsville by 1848. It also doubtless influenced the legislature in 1837
to provide for a survey of Cheat from the turnpike crossing to the
Pennsylvania line. On some parts of its course it furnished the incen-
tive for the establishment of inns to meet the needs of those who desired
to escape the heat of the seaboard by a summer sojourn amid the wild
beauty of the mountains, whose streams were filled with trout and
whose forest furnished a home for deer and other game.
Among the immediate political influences of the Northwestern turn-
pike, together with that of the Staunton, was the creation of Ritchie
county in 1843 for the convenience of the nearly 3,000 people who lived
in Hughes River valley remote from their previous courthouses at
Weston and Clarksburg, and the later creation of Doddridge county,
(in 1845) especially for the convenience of many dissatisfied citizens
of the eastern part of the new county of Ritchie who had preferred
Clarksburg as their political (and business) center.
Beyond the headwaters of the Potomac, it passed over the Backbone,
opening the way to a remote and inaccessible region bordering on the
land of Canaan, which was made famous a few years later by "The
Clerk of Oxenfords" (David Hunter Strothers) in "The Blackwater
Chronicle" and later by the same writer under the nom de phwne "Porte
Crayon" in "A Visit to the Virginia Canaan."
It might have been a road of greater importance if Virginia soon
after its completion had not been induced to divert her interest from
turnpikes to canals — influenced by the completion of a Pennsylvania
system of transportation connecting with the Ohio at Pittsburgh. West
of the Alleghenies, it was extensively damaged by the numerous heavy
cattle driven over it iu the winter and early spring. It was also much
injured by high waters, especially in 1852 and 1853.
Although it never became of national importance as did its more
renowned national rival at the north, it was for awhile the busy scene
of much business of a national character and gave fair promise of serv-
ing well the purpose for which Virginia had planned it until its larger
usefulness was transferred to its horseless rival which, persistently
overcoming obstacle and opposition, reached Cumberland by 1845, Graf-
ton in 1852 and Parkersburg in 1857.
Supported by a sentiment that long scorned the possibility of com-
petition and that later opposed any improved system of transportation
which, by absorbing the slower traffic, might close the taverns and
ruin the local market for grain and provisions, it was finally paralleled
by a railroad which diverted its travel and traffic, created rival towns,
and brought pioneer prospectors and promoters who prepared the way
for the later era of larger industrial development.
Although its utility was diminished by proximity to the railroad, it
was still kept in moderate repair in the decade after the close of the war,
and it has continued a constant local benefit to the territory thx-ough
which it passes.
CHAPTER XIII
THE FIRST RAILROAD
The beginning of the era of larger industrial development in West
Virginia was due to the enterprising spirit of a few of the shrewder
business men of Baltimore who feared the doom of their city 's prosperity
was foreshadowed in the diversion of trade and emigration from the
National turnpike to the route of the Erie canal around the northern
flank of the Alleghenies, and after realizing that the expense of the
completion of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal rendered it inexpedient
as a measure calculated to counteract New York 's advantage or to retain
Baltimore's inherited commercial prestige, decided on the feasibility
of a railroad from Baltimore to the West, and faithfully and persistently
pushed their plans to completion.
The Baltimore and Ohio railway was incorporated by act of the Mary-
land legislature on April 2, 1827. Desiring to reach the Ohio by the
most southern route possible the directors of the corporation asked Vir-
ginia for permission to construct its lines along the Shenandoah to the
headwaters of the Kanawha and thence by that stream to the Ohio.
Although the inhabitants of the valley and of the Kanawha heartily
indorsed the scheme, the assembly refused the request and restricted
the western terminus to such point as the company might select north
of the mouth of the Little Kanawha.1 In 1828 Pennsylvania authorized
the company to construct part of the proposed line across the state, on
condition that it would locate a branch terminal at Pittsburgh, and
one of the earlier surveys followed the general course of the National
road, crossing the Monongahela at Brownsville.
The company was organized with a capital of $3,000,000 of which
$500,000 was subscribed by Maryland, $500,000 by Baltimore. The
remainder was promptly secured by subscriptions at Baltimore, Fred-
erick and Hagerstown.
1 The people along the Kanawha made strenuous efforts to secure the road.
On July 20, 1827, at the inception of the project, they sent a memorial to the presi-
dent and directors of the railroad company, urging that the route from Baltimore
via Staunton to the Ohio at Point Pleasant or to Kanawha Falls presented more
advantages than the route by Cheat and the Monongahela or any more direct Vir-
ginia route along which many stationary engines would be required. Among other
advantages mentioned for this route was the convenience of connection with the
lower part of the Ohio and Erie canal between Cleveland and Portsmouth via the
Scioto, which was planned for completion in 1831, and which might be reached
directly by an extension of the railroad from Point Pleasant to the mouth of the
Salt creek on the Scioto.
In 1831, the people of the Kanawha urged that the Baltimore and Ohio should
be allowed to construct its lines through the Valley of Virginia, and thence via the
Kanawha to the Ohio. Kanawha delegates endeavored to amend the act incorporating
the Staunton and Potomac railroad company so that it might be able to extend its
proposed lines westward from Staunton via the Kanawha to the Ohio. The con-
servatives of the East, however, feared that the Baltimore and Ohio was back of
the Staunton and Potomac. The amendment was defeated 58 to 53. At the same
time the Lynchburg and New River Railroad company was incorporated to divert
the trade of the West to the James river. It contemplated a lateral line to the
Tennessee boundary. Both these enterprises were killed by the defeat of an appro-
priation bill of $2,000,000 to aid the companies and other internal Improvements.
In 1829 an attempt was made in the eastern part of the state to secure a repeal of
the act of incorporation in order to keep the road out of the state entirely. At the
same time Virginia began to oppose the scheme of connecting the Potomac and the
Ohio by a canal, probably because the Chesapeake and Ohio canal had become
largely a national enterprise.
187
188 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
The surveys in search of the best way to the Ohio resulted iu the
examination of numerous routes across the mountains in Maryland and
Western Virginia. Expirations and reconnaissances were made across
mountains and long gorges.
Apparently the engineers feared that the deep gorge through which
Cheat river flows could be crossed only with much difficulty therefore
they endeavored to find a way to the Ohio without curiously they ex-
amined almost every passing creek on the head of Cheat to its mouth
before they finally discovered the route by way of Rowlesburg where
the road was finally constructed. Although the surveyors were in-
structed not to enter Pennsylvania they partly violated their
instructions in examining some of the mountains and streams north of
Cumberland along the old Nemacolin trail.
From the mouth of Savage river (at Bloomington Mineral County)
they ascended the mountain through Maryland and from the head
waters of the Youghiogheny river followed for sixty miles the route
selected by Washington forty years earlier via of the "lower narrows"
on Cheat below Dunkard bottom. They industriously labored for three
days on the sixteen miles above Ice's Ferry, "clamoring with excessive
fatigue over the rocks at the risk of falling from them, and frequently
fording the river to take advantage of the best ground on either side."
After reaching the mouth of Cheat they descended Dunkard creek
and without serious obstacle completed the survey from that point to the
Ohio.
Following the preliminary survey additional surveys were made resulting in ex-
plorations of different routes southward to White Sulphur Springs. From Dunkard
Bottom a route was surveyed up Green 's river over the divide and down Decker 's
creek to Morgantown — a route followed seventy-five years later by the Morgantown
and Kingwood Railroad. From Morgantown the survey of this route was continued
up the Monongahela to Buffalo creek thence by that creek to the divide thence to
the Ohio. From the top of Chestnut ridge west to Kingwood a branch survey was
made to Three Fork creek and along this creek to the site of GTafton.
Among the surveys farther south was one which branched from the main route
near Oakland, Maryland, followed Wolf creek in Preston county, crossed Cheat
river five miles above Rowlesburg, ascended Flag run and continuing via Evansville
across Tygarts Valley river above Grafton and then continued westward to Clarks-
burg and beyond. Still another was surveyed westward, along the general route of
an old Indian trail, near Aurora down Mill run to Cheat at St. George, thence across
the river up Clover run, across Laurel hill to Sugar creek (in Barbour County) and
to Clarksburg, and thence westward to Parkersburg by practically the same route
as that followed in constructing the road twenty-five years later.
Another survey starting from the head of the Youghiogheny river at the top
of the Alleghenies (near Altamont, Maryland) led westward down Horseshoe run,
along an old Indian trail to Cheat river, thence down the river three miles to St.
George and thence westward by the preceding survey. A branch of this survey was
made up Cheat river from the mouth of Horseshoe run, up Shaver 's fork of Cheat
to mouth of Pleasant run (in Randolph county), thence up Pleasant run, across
Laurel hill and down Leading creek to Tygart's Valley (partly along the line later
selected for the Western Maryland railroad to Elkins). A preliminary examination
was made for a route via the Black Fork of Cheat with plans to cross the river at
the site of Parsons. The routes via Cheat and also the route west of Clarksburg
were regarded as too difficult. The most promising routes seemed to lead around
the many streams forming the source of Cheat. One survey was made up of the
south branch of the Potomac to the mouth of the North fork in Grant county but
no practical route could be found over the Allegheny water shed. At the mouth
of Seneca creek (about eighty miles from the mouth of the south branch) the old
Seneca Indian trail was followed to the top of the mountain but the passage over
the mountain was found impracticable. The survey of the route was continued to
the source of the South Branch drainage system (113 miles from the Potomac) and
to the summit of the main ridge of the Alleghenies near the later crossing of the
Staunton and Parkersburg turnpike, but the search of the mountain wilderness
indicated that the way around the heads of Cheat was too rough and difficult and
the survey at that point was abandoned. A reconnaissance was made across the
headwaters of the Greenbrier and to the source of Elk, thence down Elk through
Pocahontas into Randolph county with a view to a route crossing from the Elk to
the source of the Little Kanawha, thence down the latter to Parkersburg but the
route down Elk was found too rough and the survey was abandoned. A route down
the Greenbrier to White Sulphur Springs, thence over the Allegheny near the later
route of the C. & 0. Railroad was examined but evidently was considered too far
south.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 189
On April 5, 1828, the engineers reported on their survey 2 and on
July 4 amidst imposing ceremonies the corner stone of the road was laid
by Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the only surviving signer of the
Declaration of Independence. Soon discovering by actual work that the
cost of construction had been underestimated, the company increased
the capital stock to $5,000,000 and made an effort to secure from Con-
gress an appropriation which failed through the opposition of the canal
lobby.
The first brigade of cars, each operated by one horse, began tri-
daily trips between Baltimore and Ellicott City on May 24, 1830, at
a rate varying from seven to thirteen miles an hour. Soon thereafter
experiments were made with a lighter "sailing" car rigged with a
mast and square sails to catch the force of the wind. Later a horse
motor car of the tread mill pattern was tried. Finally in August, 1830,
Peter Cooper made the trial trip of the first American locomotive — a
working model improved for the occasion and constructed in a carriage
maker's shop. Although on the return trip the crude locomotive lost
in the historic race with the gray horse, it solved the problem of steam
power for the railroad.
The completion of the track to Point of Rocks on the Potomac on
April 1, 1832, was followed by a steadily increasing traffic and travel
from the river above which assured the future success of the road and
indicated that it had outgrown the earlier conception of a mere im-
proved form of toll road. At this point the enterprise was halted by a
decision of the Court of Appeals in favor of the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal, which contested the right to occupy the narrow valley of the
Potomac and generously invited the railroad company to abandon its
work and devote its resources to the completion of the canal. By inter-
ference of the legislature which compelled a compromise, the rai'road
company subscribed for 2,500 shares of the canal stock and submitted
to obnoxious regulations to prevent fright of the tow-path horses —
including a demand to haul its trains by horses through the passes along-
side the canal.
After securing the repeal of these petty regulations, the directors
of the road after May, 1833, pushed their tracks forward" to Wager's
bridge opposite Harpers Ferry at which connection was made with the
short Winchester and Potomac road on December 1, 1834, producing
an immediate stimulus to the business of the road, coincident with the
introduction of better cars and additional engines and the invention
of various devices such as switches and turntables.
At this point westward extension was abandoned for several years
during which the democratic legislature of Virginia from 1835-1838
continued to deny the requests of the company for authority to con-
struct its lines through the whig country of central Virginia. In 1837,
after reports of reconnaissances of the engineers from Harpers Ferry
to Wheeling and from Cumberland to Pittsburgh had been made, the
directors recommended the extension of the line to Cumberland at a
cost of $4,600,000. Although Maryland and Baltimore each agreed to
subscribe $3,000,000 and Maryland paid her subscription in bonds, no
money was available either to meet the additional cost of new con-
struction or to rebuild the crude and inadequate experimental road
- The engineers made reeonnoissanees or surveys on several routes terminating
on the Ohio at, various points from Pittsburgh on the north to Parkersburg on the
south. One of the early routes surveyed passed down Muddy creek in Preston and
down Decker's creek via Morgantown and across the southwest corner of Pennsyl-
vania. The change of route may have been partly due to the opposition shown both
in Monongalia county and in Greene county (Pennsylvania) by people who feared
the innovation would seriously affect the price of horses and horse feed, and the
lives of wives and children and of cows and hogs. "Compel them to stop at Cum-
berland," they said in their meetings, "and then all the goods will be wagoned
through our country, all the hogs will he fed with our corn and all the horses with
our oats. We don't want our wives and our children frightened to death. * « *
We don't want our hogs and cows run over and killed."
190 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
already constructed to meet the necessities of growing traffic, and it
was necessary to overcome objections to the extension of the railway
parallel to the canal.
Finally, in 1838, construction through Virginia territory was made
possible by an extension of the time limit of the earliest charter for
five years by the Virginia legislature on the condition that the route
should pass through Virginia from Harpers Ferry westward to a point
near Cumberland and that Wheeling would eventually be one of the
termini. At the same time Virginia added a new subscription of $1,058,-
420 to the subscription of $302,100 made to the stock of the company
in 1836.
In the face of overwhelming difficulties the directors, adopting the
expedient of paying bills by certificates redeemable in Baltimore city
six per cent stock at par, began actual construction again in 1840 and
completed the road to Cumberland on November 5, 1842. The extension
increased the yearly earnings from $391,070 in 1842 to $575,205 in
1843 and $658,619 in 1844. At the same time there was a reduction in
passenger rates due to the completion of Pennsylvania lines of road,3
and a much smaller traffic from the wagon traffic over the National
road than had been anticipated, thereby causing a disappointment which
continued tintil the completion of the road to Wheeling. The effect of
the road on the region through which it passed may be illustrated by
Harpers Ferry which changed from a sleepy village to a sprightly
town, and by Cumberland which increased in population from 1,162 in
1830 to 6,105 in 1850 and became the most important place between
Baltimore and Wheeling.
Failing in an attempt of 1844 to secure money from Europe to
extend the road to the Ohio upon whose navigation the company largely
relied for expectations of traffic, the directors in 1846 sold bonds at
ten per cent discount to finance the reconstruction of the Baltimore-
Harpers Ferry section (eighty-one miles) on which the antiquated plate-
rail was replaced by the new edge-rail.
The postponement of further extension from 1842 to 1848 was due
to lack of money and credit and to the difficulty of securing additional
legislation necessary to extend the time limit (1843) provided in the
Maryland act of 1836 and the Virginia act of 1838. Although Mary-
land extended the time to 1863 by act of 1842 (which also ordered the
sale of the state's interest in all internal improvements), Virginia de-
layed for several years. In 1845, however, the Virginia legislature was
asked to consider a bill authorizing the extension of the line through
Virginia to the Ohio but with no mention of a definite location for
the terminus which was sought by almost every town along the river.
The railroad company, seeking the shortest route of connection with
Cincinnati, preferred a river terminus at Parkersburg which probably
had the best claims to advantages of geographical location — especially
in connection with the projected plans of the Marietta and Cincinnati
and the Cincinnati, Hillsboro and Parkersburg railways which were seek-
ing an eastern route. Nevertheless, Parkersburg lost on the first skirmish.
Mr. Edgington moved to amend the bill by specifying Wheeling as
the terminus. Although the bill with the amendment became a law, the
stockholders of the road rejected it, considering it impractical and its
conditions (as to rates, taxation, routes, etc.) onerous. Meantime, the
legislature of Pennsylvania, possibly influenced by the plans of the
Pennsylvania Railroad which was begun a year later, failed to pass a law
authorizing the construction of the road by a route through western
Pennsylvania.
During the summer and fall of 1845 the struggle between Parkers-
burg and Wheeling was renewed on the home grounds. A convention
a At one time the directors of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad company being
interested in the proposed Pittsburgh and Connellsville railway were inclined to
abandon the Wheeling route in favor of the route to Pittsburgh, and authorized
a loan of $3,000,000 to build a connecting line to Connellsville.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 191
of those counties favorable to the terminus of the road at Wheeling
was held at Fairmont. Resolutions were adopted in favor of the law of
the preceding legislature. On November 23, 1845, at an internal im-
provement convention held at Clarksburg resolutions were adopted in
favor of a liberal charter for the railway. Discussion in the newspapers
both in eastern and western Virginia was very full and often very
amusing. Lengthy arguments were made concerning the question
whether the shortest distance from Baltimore to Cincinnati could be
found through Parkersburg or through Wheeling. A dispute arose as
to which place was the head of navigation. It was a matter of great
importance whether up-river boats could reach the river terminal of
the road all the year to deliver their cargoes.
The real objections of Tidewater Virginia to the enterprise, irre-
spective of the question of western terminus, were voiced by the Rich-
mond Enquirer, which, after asserting that the road would result in no
economic benefit to western Virginia equivalent to the extra tolls which
it would charge on commodities produced along the route, exposed the
reason for its solicitude by solemnly warning the people that a railroad
through that region would divert trade from Richmond to a rival city
in a neighboring state. Another objection from a neighboring region
was expressed by the Lynchburg Virginian which urged that a railroad
in northwest Virginia would injure the projected James River and
Kanawha system of improvements which the state proposed to con-
nect by a canal across the Alleghenies. From this standpoint the com-
pletion of the railway to Parkersburg was much more dangerous than
the completion of the proposed line to Wheeling, which passed through
a peripheral region whose trade the tidewater section could no longer
hope to control. To those who desired to push the Baltimore and Ohio
as far out of the state as possible, the Wheeling terminus seemed the
least objectionable.
In spite of a flood of petitions requesting the authorization of a rail-
way from the East via Clarksburg to Parkersburg, the Virginia leg-
islature in December, 1845, failed to enact the Potomac and Ohio Rail-
way bill and at the same time granted the Baltimore and Ohio three
years to begin its line to Wheeling and fifteen years to finish it.
The fight for a railway to Parkersburg was renewed with increased
vigor. At Weston, in the summer, a general convention was attended
by 1,400 delegates selected from various counties of the Parkersburg
district. It especially expressed strong feeling against the unjust dis-
crimination of the Southeast against the prosperity of the Northwest
whose representation under the existing constitution was too low.
To counteract the effects of any railroad which Parkersburg was
almost certain to secure by determined efforts, and to save the traffic
of this section to eastern Virginia markets, Tidewater interests planned
a road from Lynchburg via the Valley of Virginia and down New river
to steamboat navigation on the Kanawha and later proposed to complete
it to Guyandotte on the Ohio. Similar interests also projected an all-
Virginia road from Alexandria via Moorefield and Weston to Parkers-
burg.
Finally, in March, 1847, possibly influenced in part by the Pennsyl-
vania grant of the Connellsville railroad charter, the Virginia legislature
became more friendly to the railway and granted an act authorizing the
extension of the road through Virginia on restrictive terms acceptable
to the company. This act providing for the beginning of construction
within three years and completion within twelve and designated a route
via Three Forks and the mouth of Tygart's Valley,4 and thence to the
Ohio by either Grave or Fishing creek and along the Ohio to Wheeling.
It also required all parts of the road between the Monongahela and the
western terminus at Wheeling to be opened simultaneously for the trans-
* This route was practically determined by the foresight of Thomas Haymond,
representative from Marion county.
192 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
portation of freights and passengers. It also annulled the stock sub-
scriptions made by Virginia in 1837 and 1838 and made provisions as
to connections, erection of depots, taxation and other regulations. At
the same time Wheeling was given authority to subscribe $1,000,000.
In 1848 the large cost of the construction of the remaining two hun-
dred miles of extension to Wheeling through the roughest region yet
traversed by an internal improvement in America was partly made
possible by funds and prestige secured from the sale of $1,000,000 of
unsalable state bonds to Baring Brothers with whom they had previously
been deposited as security for railway supplies. In 1848, also, the man-
agement of the road adopted the policy of applying net revenue as
capital and of issuing stock dividends instead of money. It issued
bonds for rails bought in London. The peculiarly difficult conditions
were met by the ingenuity of Chief Engineer B. H. Latrobe and his
assistants, and by the motive power supplied by the resourceful mind
of Ross Winans the indefatigable inventor and locomotive builder. In
the summer and fall of 1848, Engineer Latrobe induced by the difficulties
of a suitable route over the mountains and across the valleys of the
Ruins of Colonnade Bridge (B. & O. R. R.)
Cheat river and Tygart's Valley river regions, secured the services of
two other expert engineers. After careful surveys, he reported the selec-
tion of a route on which construction was practicable. The estimated
cost of the road was $6,278,000.
Although some of the directors proposed to complete the road only
to Fairmont, President Swann urged active measures to push it through
to Wheeling as originally planned. The construction of the four years
which followed (1849-52), through the mountains, over ravines and
rivers, through tunnels drilled in the rocky mountain side, up steep
ascents and around perilous curves, was achieved without adequate funds
to execute the matured plans and in the face of other obstacles. Between
Cumberland and Wheeling eleven tunnels were bored and 113 bridges
were constructed. The bridge across the Monongahela, 650 feet in length,
was then the largest iron bridge in America.
While the forty-niners were rushing to California, the railway was
advancing to Wheeling.
In spite of engineering obstacles between Cumberland and Wheel-
ing the road was carried rapidly forward. The Wheeling end was
built as a separate section. The first engine on that part of the road was
brought to Wheeling via Pittsburgh.
In 1850 controversy and dissension arose in connection with the de-
cision of the directors of the road to follow the Fish creek route to the
ravine of the Ohio. At one time an attempt to stop the progress of
the road in the state was made by the citizens of Wheeling who con-
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 193
tended for the Grave creek route to the Ohio. By law of March 31,
18.50, the dispute was submitted to a board of engineers which made a
decision adverse to the company. Bitter controversy was averted by
the stockholders of the road who submitted to the desires of the people
of Wheeling. At the same time Wheeling agreed to pay the road $50,000
for release from an agreement of 18-47 to furnish right of way through
the city streets and a depot on two acres of ground north of Wheeling
creek.
In spite of the previous scarcity of labor, the operations in 1850
were conducted by 3,500 laborers and 700 horses. Employment was
given to the native inhabitants who sought work along the route, and
the increased demand for food benefitted the people for miles around.
New towns began to rise around the route — especially near the location
of tunnels and bridges. The completion of the section from Cumber-
land to Piedmont was celebrated in 1851 with a formidable excursion
from Baltimore. At the same time Engineer Eatrobe promised that
trains would run into Wheeling by January 1, 1853.
Then followed a series of triumphs over the difficulties in the moun-
tains. The road was pushed from Piedmont westward across Preston
county, parallel to the extensively traveled route whose immense throng
was soon to be diverted to newer routes of more rapid travel. After
passing over deep gorges on high trestle work, and over turbulent
streams by heavy masonry work, at Tunnelton it passed through the
longest railroad tunnel which had yet been constructed in the world and
continued westward toward Fairmont creating new towns (Rowlesburg,
Newburg, etc.) in a region which was still sparsely settled and bringing
the pioneer prospectors who prepared the way for the later era of great
industrial development based on coal and timber. In order to hasten
the work westward beyond the site of the Kingwood tunnel which was
not yet opened, one of the most remarkable achievements, performed in
older to get the road into Wheeling on schedule time, was conveyance
of materials over the top of the mountain on a temporary track which
had a grade of 530 feet per mile. To this point cargoes of supplies,
which for part of the year reached Morgantown from Pittsburgh by
steamboats, were transported by wagons from the head of the Mononga-
hela navigation. By the same route, or across the country from the
National road, also came bands of Irish laborers inquiring their way
to the "big toonel."
Just above the site of Tunnelton, on Tunnel Hill on the pike in the
direction of Fellowsville, a hamlet known as Greigsville, sprang into
existence, grew to a busy town resembling the frontier terminal sta-
tions of the later transcontinental Union-Pacific, and melted away with
the cessation of the construction of railroad and tunnel. It was the
scene of the termination of the "Irish War" of the combined factions
of Connaughters and Corkers (about 500) against the Fardowners who,
after being driven eastward from the scene of the construction camp
at Fairmont and partially dispersed at Newburg, were finally relieved
from further disturbance at Tunnel Hill by the prompt action of acting
sheriff, Col. J. A. F. Martin, who, with a force of 130 men, dispersed
the invading force and arrested several leaders. Many of the Irish
laborers, although in some instances they engaged in disturbing fac-
tional fights during the construction of the road, became permanent
residents and contributed a useful element to the citizenship of the
state.
The new village of Tunnelton, the neighboring successor to the con-
struction town of Greigsville, was located on the Baltimore and Ohio
ten miles south of Kingwood at the head of Pringle's run at a spot
on which the primeval forests were first broken in the summer of 184!)
by the Baltimore and Ohio surveyors, who announced to the neighbor-
ing farmer-pioneers the invasion of steam transportation to the Ohio.
It was built on land acquired by Hon. James C. McGrew who, per-
ceiving the advantageous position, erected the first house and the first
Vol. 1—13
194 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
store which furnished the nucleus for the future town. It was largely
supported at first by timber and lumber industry, to which was added
a large tannery in 1858. Later Mr. McGrew, after opening mines and
constructing tramways and other structures, began to mine and ship
coal to supply the increasing demand in eastern cities ; but he was
forced to abandon his enterprise by a discrimination in freight rates
in favor of other mines farther west in which railroad officials were
interested. The first postoffice immediately followed the opening of
the railroad.
New industrial life began at many points and stimulated new en-
terprises. The stave industry was begun at Independence in 1853.
The first circular saw mill which entered the county began operations
two miles south of Tunnelton in 1854. Another began work at New-
burg in 1865 and a third at Austen in 1867 and three years later they
were at work in other sections of the county. By 1852 Cranberry Sum-
mit and Rowlesburg had also become centers of considerable lumber
and timber business, and coal mines were extensively operated at New-
burg and Austen. Coal mines were opened at Newburg in 1855 and
at Austen eleven years later. The Orrel Coal Company which operated
the Newburg mines after 1856 also acquired timber lands. The revival
of interest in the iron industry is shown by the construction of the
Virginia Furnace on Muddy creek in 1853 by Harrison Hagans who
shipped his product by rail to Cranberry Summit, and by the later
enterprise of George Hardman near Independence (Irondale) in 1859
and at Gladesville in 1869. The demand for better highways was also
increased. The West Union and Morgantown turnpike was opened in
1854. Brandonville was connected with the railroad in 1857-58 by a
turnpike terminating at Cranberry Summit.
The rapid development of the region along the new railroad resulted
in an unsuccessful attempt to remove the county seat from Kingwood
to the east side of Cheat at the suspension bridge. Kingwood increased
its hold on the county seat in 1857 by erecting a fire brick court house
to replace the small stone structure. This hold was strengthened a year
later by the establishment of Kingwood 's first newspaper although in
1869, when the court house was burned by an incendiary, the question
of removal to Cranberry Summit (later Portland and now Terra Alta)
was agitated.
With the gradual development of the eastern part of the county
there was a revival of the old boundary dispute with Maryland which
persisted until it was finally settled by the decision of the United States
Supreme Court in 1910 and the survey which followed.
In November, 1852, as the Baltimore and Ohio was pushing westward
through southern Preston and via Fairmont to the Ohio at Wheeling,
enterprising citizens of Preston and Monongalia counties desiring to
develop the great mineral wealth of the region secured from the legis-
lature the incorporation of a company to build a branch railroad by
1857, from the mouth of Cheat via Morgantown, to intersect the Balti-
more and Ohio at Independence.5 Although the enterprise failed through
lack of general interest and financial means, its inception was prophetic
of the great industrial development of the region half a century later.
West of the southern part of Preston was a region, retarded in de-
velopment, organized as Taylor county in 1844 — following the new
5 Monongalia county, regretting the earlier opposition which had been a factor
in diverting the route of the road to Fairmont, made new efforts to escape from her
comparative isolation. Enterprising citizens also urged another road — ' ' The Monon-
gahela and Ravenswood Railroad ' ' — which the legislature incorporated in 1854 to
connect Morgantown with the Ohio, but which never got beyond the paper stage of
projection. This road was really conceived as a link connecting the Pennsylvania
lines with the Ohio at a terminal point which, situated below Parkersburg, was
believed to possess advantages over either Wheeling or Parkersburg as a satisfactory
head of navigation, and which therefore would give an advantage in securing control
of the trade of the Ohio valley. At the same time efforts were renewed to secure
better facilities for river transportation on the Monongahela.
HISTORY OF WP]ST VIRGINIA 195
stimulus to greater development resulting from the opening of the
Northwestern turnpike. Its first village of any importance was Wil-
liamsport, or Pruntytown, situated near the ferry across Tygart's river,
whose growth was influenced first by Rector College, which reported
110 students in 1840, and later by its selection as the county seat. In
1845 it had grown to a town of thirty dwellings, three stores and two
churches. Wonderful changes in the industrial and social life of the
country followed the construction of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
Shipments of cattle and other sources of wealth were made with larger
profits. Timber resources were utilized, agricultural interests were
improved, coal mines and other mineral deposits were opened, manufac-
turing and commercial interests flourished and thriving business cen-
ters were created. Fetterman, bright with prospects of rapid growth,
became a way station only through enthusiastic over-confidence of its
citizens which induced them to elevate the price of land beyond that
which the railroad promoters proposed to pay.
Grafton, founded in the woods at Three Forks — its first house con-
structed by Mr. McGraw, one of the many "railroad Irish," whose de-
scendants have become prominent and useful in the affairs of the state —
grasped the opportunity which Fetterman failed to seize, obtained the
location of railroad shops and buildings, became the division stop for
the change of engines and crews, and later flourished as the terminus
of the Parkersburg branch known as the Northwestern Virginia rail-
road. Largely the creation of the Baltimore and Ohio, the new town
also later received a new stimulus to growth by securing the location
of the court house which in 1878 was finally removed to Pruntytown.
Its railroad facilities attracted capital to the town, gave it excellent
manufacturing plants and made it quite a mercantile center. Before
the extension of branches of the Baltimore and Ohio it wTas the market
for all the timber from Buckhannon and Valley rivers — which was floated
down and caught in the boom above the town, but later the timber
was sawed nearer its source and the lumber shipped by railroad.
West of Grafton construction was continued down Tygart's valley
to its mouth, thence following the opposite side of the Monongahela
to Fairmont to which the road was opened on January 22, 1852. Here
a decided increase in the population of the county had begun in 1849
through the immigration which followed closely on the heels of the sur-
veying engineers of the Baltimore and Ohio. Some of the immigrants
were Irish, fresh from the bogs of Connaught and the lakes of Kil-
larney, who carried with them all their local feuds and prejudices
which induced them to transfer their sectional fighting from the old sod
to the land of greater freedom and opportunity. In a locally famous
riot, in which the Connaughters, who were employed at Benton's Ferry,
attacked the Fardowners at Ice's mill and pursued them to Fairmont
in an exciting chase punctuated by occasional gun-shots and hideous
yells, the law abiding citizens of Fairmont proved themselves equal to
the occasion by arresting all accessible assailants, eighty-eight of whom
they placed in jail where they had an opportunity to study their first
lessons in Americanization.
The approaching railroad encouraged other activities which fur-
nished other incentives to industry and progress. These included the
construction of three turnpikes, each begun in 1849 — one to Weston,
another to Beverly and another to Fishing creek. In February, 1850,
the people were excited with delight by the first arrival of a steamboat —
the Globe — resulting in the subsequent arrival of others which began
to make regular trips in high water during 1852, and also producing
local efforts to secure permanent navigation through organization of
the Monongahela Navigation Companj' 6 and attempts to interest cap-
is A company was chartered by Virginia in 1847 to slack the Monongahela from
the state line to Fairmont. In 1851 it became active in its efforts to obtain sub-
scriptions but failed. Its charter was extended by Virginia in 1853 and the Board
of Public Works was authorized to subscribe to its stock as soon as the Pennsylvania
196 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
italists — efforts which failed largely through lack of sufficient encour-
agement from the people of the county. A suspension bridge across
the river to Palatine was completed in April, 1852. In 1853 a state
stock bank was organized.
Rafting on the Monongahela to Pittsburgh and lower points, which
began as early as 1840, continued until about 1890. A few years after
the completion of the Baltimore and Ohio in 1852, much lumber cut by
portable mills was shipped to Fairmont, Farmington and Mannington.
Westward from Fairmont the railway followed Buffalo creek and
at the junction of Pyles creek furnished the stimulus for the creation
of another town from a cluster of houses which as early as 1845 had
been known as Koontown, in honor of Samuel Koon, who built a tavern
and a store there. In 1852 the place was renamed Mannington, for
James Mannings, a civil engineer of the new railroad, and -in 1856 it
was incorporated by the assembly. From 1853 it had a tannery and
a good trade in timber products and farm products.
Northwestward from Mannington, the route 7 continued up Pyles
Fork, thence across the divide between Glovers Gap and Burton to
the upper waters of Fish creek (via Hundred and Littleton and Board
Tree Tunnel) and finally across another divide to another stream which
it followed from near Cameron to Moundsville. On the site upon which
David McConaughey settled in 1846, Cameron began to grow and, by an
increasing trade from Wetzel, Greene and Marshall counties, soon be-
came one of the best business points between Grafton and Wheeling.
At Roseby's Rock, the last rail was laid and the last spike driven
on December 24, 1852. The first train from the East rolled into Wheel-
ing on January 1, 1853, and the road was opened to the public on Jan-
uary 10.
Extensive preparations were made for a grand celebration at Wheel-
ing on January 10-12. Over 400 persons, including the legislators and
executives of both Virginia and Maryland, left Baltimore on two trains
on January 10 and arrived at Wheeling about midnight on January 11,
after a ride behind snorting locomotives and an exciting ride on the
frail and temporary switch back railroad over the steep summit above
awe-inspiring gorges at Board Tree Tunnel which was not yet com-
pleted. The triumphal march, banquet and oratory which the citizens
of Wheeling had planned for their guests was postponed until the
following day. At six o'clock on the following evening nearly one thou-
sand persons sat at the banquet in Washington Hall.
In the control of river traffic, by diverting it from Pittsburg to
connect with the railway at Wheeling, the company, in 1852, chartered
a line of boats to run regularly between Wheeling, Cincinnati and Louis-
ville. Soon after the opening of the road the following advertisement
appeared in the newspaper:
"The tunnels across the mountains are now completed. Connection
company completed slack-water navigation to the state line. Morgantown in March,
1853, became especially active in soliciting aid and appointed a committee to
institute suit .against the Pennsylvania company to comnel it to complete its work
or forfeit its charter, but the suit was never brought. The charter of the Virginia
company was revived in 1858, extending until 1868. the time for completing the work
of slacking the river to Fairmont, and again in 1860, authorizing the extension of
the work to Clarksburg. At. that time the Pennsylvania Navigation Company had
completed dams (1S44) making the lower Monongahela navigable from Pittsburgh
to Brownsville and by 1S56 to New Geneva, but assurances of aid from the Pennsyl-
vania company came to naught, and civil war postponed the subject until the in-
corporation of the Marion and Monongahela Navigation Company in 180H, and the
amendment of its charter in February, 1867, so as to allow it to collect tolls on
lumber and their freight as soon as one lock and dam should be completed. The
project was fruitless as its predecessors and nothing was accomplished until Congress
began a policy of appropriations in 1872.
'< When the Baltimore and Ohio was completed to Grafton, the company con-
templated a route westward from a point near Mannington via Fishing creek to the
Ohio and Mr. Hunter who was attorney for the railroad presented a request for a
right of way through Tyler county (which then included Wetzel) but the plan was
defeated by the vote of John W. Horner of Middlebourne who was influenced by
arguments that the trains would scare the game out of the country.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 197
with a fine Line of steamers from Cincinnati at Wheeling. Leave Wheel
ing daily at 9 a. m. and arrive at Cumberland ('J01 miles) at 7 p. m.,
and allowing two hours there, arrive at Baltimore (380 miles) at 5 a. m.
Passengers allowed ample time and opportunity at all points to get their
meals. Tickets from Wheeling to Baltimore, $8.50."
For a while after the completion of the railway along Lake
Erie, from which a good connection was established with Cincinnati,
there was a reversal of the current of travel by which the routes to
the East via Wheeling and Pittsburg were practically abandoned, but
these temporary conditions were changed by later events resulting in a
return of steady traffic.
Rejoicing over new advantages by which she might he able to main-
tain her claim in a contest against Pittsburg for the hegemony, of the
Ohio, Wheeling soon confronted a new cause for grievance in a pro-
posed connection contemplated by the Baltimore and Ohio with the
Ohio Central railway four miles below the city at what is now Benwood
Junction — a project which induced the people of the city to tear up the
tracks of the railway and stimulated the city to secure an injunction
against the railway company, which, after a long fight, was finally dis-
solved by the Court of Appeals of Virginia in August, 1855. Having sub-
scribed to the Baltimore and Ohio to get its western terminus, Wheeling
objected to any change of plans, or to the repeal of any charter restric-
tions, which would leave her on a mere branch of the road. She was
also anxious to prevent diversion through travel from Wheeling to the
Parkersburg branch, known as the Northwestern; With the hope of se-
curing better communications, she gave hearty support to the Hempfield
railway enterprise which was organized by Pennsylvania interests in
1850, incorporated by the Virginia legislature in 1851, begun at Wheel-
ing in 1855 and completed to Washington, Pennsylvania, by 1857. At
the same time she strenuously opposed the Pittsburg and Steubenville
railway,8 which was chartered by the Pennsylvania interests in 1849
(as a link in a proposed extension to Columbus), begun at Pittsburg
in 1852, and thereafter long delayed, first by failure to get permission
of Virginia to cross the narrow strip of panhandle, and later by the
objection of the restored government of Virginia to the construction
of the Steubenville bridge. In May, 1868, a through line from Pitts-
burg to Columbus, under one management, was finally secured by the
consolidation of the Panhandle Ry. Co. of Pennsylvania, the Holliday's
Cove Rv. Co. of West Virginia, and the Steubenville and Indiana Ry.
Co. of Ohio.
Grafton-Parkersburg Branch
Undaunted by previous failures, Parkersburg, with the support of a
large tributary region, continued the fight for a railway. Meantime, al-
ways doubtful of the wisdom of establishing the terminus of the road at
Wheeling, and still regarding it as an unsatisfactory terminus, the di-
rectors of the company felt the necessity of a river terminus at a lower
point in order to get an advantage in securing the traffic of the West. To
this end the Northwestern Virginia railroad was projected (and char-
tered) in 1851 from the main line at Three Forks (Grafton) to the Ohio
at Parkersburg.9 Although regarded as a domestic corporation, which
s This opposition, sustained by the Virginia legislature, caused considerable ill
feeling in Brooke and Hancock counties. As late as 1856 the Washington (Pa.)
Examiner still referred to the contemplated secession of the upper counties of the
panhandle from Virginia and annexation to Pennsylvania which would thus secure
the logical western boundary on the Ohio.
9 The Northwestern Virginia was hardly under construction before a movement
was started in Philadelphia to save the trade of the Ohio valley to that city. The
Hillsborough and Cincinnati road, with which the Baltimore and Ohio expected to
connect at Parkersburg, became involved in financial difficulties and was absorbed by
the Marietta and Cincinnati, which preferred Philadelphia to Baltimore as an outlet
for its traffic. By 1854, when the Pennsylvania railway was completed to Pitts
198 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
should receive more friendly support than a foreign corporation, it was
really constructed under the direction of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
way through B. H. Latrobe, who was chosen chief engineer of the new
line.
Although over 3,000 shares of the stock of the new company were
held in Parkersburg and along the road to its intersection with the
Baltimore and Ohio, one can see back of the project the interests of
Baltimore and especially of the Baltimore and Ohio company pushing
it to the fullest extent and furnishing the support that made the con-
struction of the line possible. To relieve the embarrassing financial
difficulties encountered near its completion, the directors of the North-
western obtained from the Baltimore and Ohio a loan of $210,000 of
its bonds and gave a mortgage on the uncompleted road to secure pay-
ment. The road, after its completion (on May 1, 1857), passed to the
management of the Baltimore and Ohio. Although it had twenty-three
tunnels it was one of the best constructed railroads in the country at
the time. Along its entire route, especially at Grafton, Clarksburg and
Parkersburg it opened the way for a new era of larger opportunity
and development. Even at points which did not feel its immediate
touch it stimulated efforts to secure better communication lu as a basis
for new enterprise and industry.
The opening of the road, on June 1, 1857, was simultaneous with the
opening of the Marietta and Cincinnati railroad (chartered 1847) and
of the Ohio and Mississippi (chartered 1848 and constructed as a six-
foot gauge) from Cincinnati to St. Louis. These openings, completing
a through route from New York to St. Louis, were enthusiastically ob-
served by the "great railway celebration" of 1857, beginning with a
triumphal progress from Baltimore to St. Louis, punctuated by many
stops and delays and enlivened by the long winded speeches of aspiring-
orators bursting with burning rhetoric which nothing but the shrill
shrieks of the starting whistles of the locomotive could control. After
a program of feasting and fireworks at St. Louis and on the return trip,
the celebration closed with a military banquet at Baltimore.
The people of Parkersburg, who had made such a long, hard fight
to secure a road and therefore felt that they were entitled to recog-
nition, were much disappointed that their town had not been selected
as a place for the part of the celebration which was held in Cincinnati.
Their dissatisfaction became increasingly serious by the report that the
Baltimore and Ohio, which had leased the Northwestern at its com-
pletion, was diverting Northwestern traffic to the Wheeling route in
order to force a failure of the new road so that its stock could be pur-
chased for a trifle. Their complaints gradually died away coincident
with the stimulating oil development at Burning Springs and the new
excitement which precipitated the civil war.
The completion of the Baltimore and Ohio railway, the horseless
rival of the great Northwestern turnpike, which had scorned the possi-
bility of competition, greatly facilitated travel between the Ohio Val-
ley u and the Atlantic coast. Although there were no conveniences,
burgh, a road to connect with it was already projected from Greenburg to Wheeling.
In 1854 the legislature of Virginia chartered the Morgantown and Kavenswood rail-
way which was proposed as a link to connect with another road reaching the main
line of the Pennsylvania west of Philadelphia. It was thought that this road, striking
the Ohio south of Parkersburg, would have a great advantage in getting the trade
of the Ohio valley. Most of the money for the proposed enterprise was promised
by Philadelphia capitalists. Meetings were held along the proposed route to arrange
for stock subscriptions. Like so many enterprises of its kind, however, it remained
on the list of roads constructed only on paper.
io A projected railway from Williamson to intersect with the Baltimore and
Ohio at Ellenboro, thirty-seven miles east of Parkersburg, was chartered by Virginia
but construction failed from lack of capital.
n The Baltimore and Ohio company no longer looked to the Ohio river for all
its traffic. Pour years before the Northwestern Virginia was completed a meeting
of the engineers of this company and those of the Hillsborough and Cincinnati was
held in Parkersburg to discuss plans for a bridge across the Ohio. After considering
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 199
such as the sleeping car, the buffet and the chair car, the people were
happy with the new mode of travel, which made a trip East a sort of
holiday long to be remembered by those who made it for the first time.
Although for many years at least the road was not a financial suc-
cess, if measured by its dividends to stockholders, it was an incalculable
success, if measured by the salutary effect on the country through which
it passed and upon the city of Baltimore, which gave it birth. It car-
ried from western Virginia and Maryland great quantities of raw ma-
terial which were converted into manufactured articles which were
shipped back for use in reducing the forests and spreading civilization
along the route of the great highway. It benefited even the lower reaches
of the Ohio by the improvement of transportation facilities by which
Baltimore became a good market for Cincinnati and Louisville. Nor
were its benefits economic alone. The parts of country which it touched
bound together into a closer social and political union than had before
been realized. It was a large factor in determining the political destiny
of West Virginia, the military strategy of the civil war, and the con-
tinued integrity of the American Union.
four sites — Parkersburg, Blenneihassett 's Island, Little Hoc-khocking, and Walker's
brick house — the companies decided that the enterprise was too large to undertake
at that time. When the road to Parkersburg was finished in 1857 connection with
the Ohio road was made by boat to Marietta. Wheeling objected to the construction
of a bridge at Parkersburg on the ground that it would obstruct navigation.
CHAPTER XIV
WHEELING-PITTSBURGH RIVALRY
The Baltimore and Ohio railway, which at its inception was largely
influenced by rivalry between eastern cities in its period of construc-
tion west of Cumberland and at its completion to the Ohio, had an im-
portant relation to an increasing rivalry between Virginia and Penn-
sylvania and especially between Wheeling and Pittsburg, each of
which claimed headship on the Ohio.
The Wheeling Bridge case, in the Supreme Court ill 1849-52 and
1854-56, is as interesting through its relations to the industrial history
of the period as it is from the standpoint of constitutional questions
involved. Its study introduces us to the earlier rivalries of coast cities
to secure the trade of the West, the systems of internal improvements
planned to reach the Ohio, the development of trade and navigation and
the extension of improvements and regulations by Congress on the
Ohio, and the rivalries of Pittsburg and Wheeling to obtain the hegemony
by lines of trade and travel converging and concentrating at their
gates.
Pennsylvania was early interested in plans of internal improvements
to connect Philadelphia with Pittsburg and the free navigation of the
Ohio. Occupying a central position, resting eastward on the Atlantic,
north on the Lakes, and flanking on the Ohio which connected her with
the Gidf and the vast regions of West and South, she had advantages
over other states for both foreign and domestic commerce. These ad-
vantages she cultivated from the earliest period. In 18*26, influenced
by the improved conditions of steam navigation on the western waters,
by the effects of the Cumberland road in diverting to Wheeling much
of the westward travel which had formerly passed down the Monon-
gahela to the Ohio at Pittsburg, and by the success of the Erie canal
which also diverted travel and trade from Pittsburg, she began a sys-
tem of canals to connect the Atlantic and the Lakes with the Ohio,
which had begun to bring to her western gates the commerce from the
Gulf and the Mississippi — and at great expense and sacrifice she forced
her way westward, from the end of the horse railway at Columbia,
up the Juniata to Hollidaysburg. Then, in 1835, by an inclined plane
portage railway, for thirty-eight miles across the Appalachians, at the
base of which other enterprises halted, she connected with the western
canal from Johnstown to Pittsburg. Over this route she transported
both passengers and goods — carrying to eastern markets the rice, cotton
and sugar of the South, the bacon and flour of the West, and the furs
and minerals of the Northwest. In 1844 her connections with the Ohio
were improved by a packet line established between Pittsburg and Cin-
cinnati. By 1850, these improvements, together with her interest in
a slack water navigation from Pittsburg to Brownsville and up the
Youghiogheny to West Newton, and the importance of the ship-building
industry at Pittsburg, made her watchful of the problems of naviga-
tion on the Ohio. At the solicitation of her legislature, and to meet the
needs of growing commerce, Congress, beginning its policy of improve-
ment of Ohio navigation in 1824, had appropriated large sums by 1850
to remove obstructions in the river.
In the meantime Wheeling, whose growing importance had received its
first stimulus from the completion of the Cumberland road to the Ohio in
1818, threatened to rival Pittsburg in prosperity, wealth and greatness,
200
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 201
.iii.l in become the head of navigation on the Ohio, as well as the western
terminal of the firs! railway to reach the western waters from the East,
and a center of other converging lines from both East and West. After
persevering efforts of nearly a quarter century she scored her greatest
victory by securing the route of the Baltimore and Ohio Railway, whose
charter of 1827 had prohibited the termination of the road at any point
on the Ohio below the Little Kanawha and whose engineers on recon-
naissance and surveys in 1828 had considered several routes terminat-
ing on the Ohio between Parkersburg and Pittsburg. Goincidently,
after the unsuccessful efforts of over half a century, she secured the first
bridge across the Ohio — a structure which she regarded as a logical
link and incidental part of the national road, and a fulfilment of the
provisions of the act of 1802, by which Ohio had been admitted as a
state, but which Pittsburg regarded as an injury to navigation — ob-
structing it much more effectively than Congress had been able to
improve it by her recent expenditures of public money.
The story of the efforts to obtain the bridge is a long one, reflecting
the industrial progress and energy of the West and the evolution of
national policies, and punctuated with the spice and pepper of rival
memorials and resolutions. In 1816, during the construction of the
national road from Cumberland to the Ohio, the legislatures of Vir-
ginia and Ohio incorporated the Wheeling and Belmont Bridge Com-
pany and authorized it to erect a bridge which, however, was to be
treated as a public nuisance liable to abatement if not constructed so
as to avoid injury to navigation. Unable to raise funds necessary for
the work, the company, in 1830, asked for a national subscription to
the bridge, and its request received a favorable committee report in
the House. Two years later citizens of Pennsylvania submitted to the
House a memorial against the erection of the bridge.
Under the old charter of 1816, the company in 1836 built a wooden
bridge from the west end of Zane's Island to the Ohio shore, leaving the
stream east of the island free to navigation. At the same time petitions
to Congress, hacked by resolutions of the Ohio legislature, urged the
construction of the bridge over both branches of the stream in order to
facilitate trade and travel and to prevent inconvenience and delay in
transporting the mails by the ferry, which was frequently obstructed
by ice and driftwood, and especially so in the great floods of 1832.
A congi-essional committee on roads and canals made a favorable report
recommending the completion of the Cumberland road by the erection
of the bridge, but the objection was made that the bridge might prove
an obstruction to the high chimneys of the steamboats whose con-
venience Congress did not think should yield to the benefits of the
bridge. In 1838, government engineers, after a survey made under the
direction of the war department, presented to Congress a plan for a
suspension bridge with a movable floor which they claimed would offer
no obstruction to the highest steamboat smoke-stacks on the highest
floods, but the plan was rejected. In 1810, the postmaster-general
recommended the construction of the bridge in order to provide for
safe and prompt carriage of the mails which had been detained by ice
from seventeen to thirty-two days each year; but his recommendation
was buried in the archives.
Early in 1844, Pennsylvania, awakened by the fear of plans to make
Wheeling the head of navigation, became more active in her opposition
to what seemed an imminent danger to her interests and the interests
of Pittsburg. By action of her legislature she opposed the request of
WTheeling and the Ohio legislature for national appropriations to con-
struct the bridge, and soon took new steps to secure the construction of
a railroad from Harrisburg to Pittsburg. Nevertheless, the House
committee on roads and canals, deciding that the bridge could be con-
structed without obstructing navigation, reported a bill making an ap-
pi-opriation and submitting a plan of Mr. Ellet for a simple span across
the river at an elevation of ninety feet above low water; but those who
202 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
spoke for Pennsylvania urged the specific objection that ninety feet
would not admit the passage of steamboats with tall chimneys, and de-
feated the bill. In vain did Mr. Steenrod, the member from Wheeling,
propose hinged smoke stacks for the few tall chimneyed boats, and press
every possible argument in favor of the bridge. Opposition increased
after 1845 with the increase in the size of the Pittsburg steamboat smoke-
stacks— an improvement by which speed power was increased through
increased consumption of fuel.
Baffled in her project to secure the sanction and aid of Congress
for a bridge which Pennsylvania regarded as a plan to divert commerce
from Pittsburg by making "Wheeling the head of navigation, Wheeling
next resorted to the legislature of Virginia in which the remonstrating
voice of Pennsylvania could not be heard. On March 19, 1847, the
Bridge Company obtained from the legislature a charter reviving the
earlier one of 1816 and authorizing the erection of a wire suspension
bridge — but also providing that the structure might be treated as a
common nuisance, subject to abatement, in case it should obstruct the
navigation of the Ohio "in the usual manner" by steamboats and other
crafts which were accustomed to navigate it. Under this charter the
company took early steps to erect the bridge. At the same time, and
coincident with the beginning of construction on the Harrisburg and
Pittsburg railway at Harrisburg, under its charter granted by the Penn-
sylvania legislature on April 13, 1846, Wheeling managed to secure
a promise of the western terminal of the Baltimore and Ohio railway —
which, after a long halt at Cumberland, received a new charter from the
Virginia legislature and prepared to push construction to the Ohio ahead
of the Pennsylvania line.
The possible strategic and economic effects of the Baltimore and Ohio
terminal at Wheeling increased the activity of Pittsburg against the
bridge, which the engineer of the Pennsylvania and Ohio railway openly
declared was designed as a connecting link between the Baltimore
and Ohio and the state of Ohio — by which Wheeling was also endeavor-
ing to make herself the terminal of the Ohio railways which Pittsburg
sought to secure.
A determined struggle followed. Before its cables were thrown across
the river, the Bridge company received legal notice of the institution
of a suit and an application for an injunction. The bill of Pennsyl-
vania, filed before the United States supreme court in July, 1849, charged
that the Bridge company, under color of an act of the Virginia legis-
lature, but in direct violation of its terms, was preparing to construct
a bridge at Wheeling which would obstruct navigation on the Ohio and
thereby cut off and divert trade and business from the public works
of Pennsylvania, and thus diminish tolls and revenues and render its
improvements useless. In spite of the order of Judge Orier (August 1,
1849), the Bridge company continued its work, and in August, 1849,
Pennsylvania filed a supplemental bill praying for abatement of the
iron cables which were being stretched across the river. The Bridge
company continued to work and completed the bridge. The state treas-
urer of Pennsylvania reported that it threatened to interfere with the
business and enterprise of Pittsburg whose commercial prosperity was
so essential to the productiveness of the main line of the Pennsylvania
canal. In December, 1849, Pennsylvania filed another supplemental
bill praying abatement of the bridge as a nuisance, representing that
the structure obstructed the passage of steamboats and threatened to
injure and destroy the shipbuilding business at Pittsburg. With no
appeal to force (such as had recently occurred on the Ohio-Michigan
frontier), or blustering enactments of state sovereignty, or threats of
secession, she sought a remedy by injunction against a local corpora-
tion. In January, 1850, the Pennsylvania legislature unanimously
passed a resolution approving the prosecution instituted by the attorney-
general. At the same time the Bridge company secured from the Vir-
ginia legislature (on January 11, 1850), an amendatory act declaring
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 203
that the height of the bridge (90 feet at eastern abutment, 93y2 feet
at the highest point, and 62 feet at the western abutment, above the
low water level of the Ohio), was in conformity with the intent and
meaning of the charter.
In the presentation of the case before the Supreme coiu-t, the at-
torney-general of Pennsylvania and Edwin M. Stanton were attorneys
for Pennsylvania, and Alex. H. H. Stuart and Reverdy Johnson for
the Bridge company.
The counsel for Pennsylvania urged that the bridge had been erected
especially to the injury of Pittsburg (the rival of Wheeling in commerce
and manufactures), whose six largest boats (those most affected by the
bridge), carried between Pittsburg and Cincinnati three-fourths of the
trade and travel transported by the Pennsylvania canal. "To the
public works of Pennsylvania the injury occasioned by this obstruction
is deep and lasting," said Stanton. "The products of the South and
West, and of the Pacific coast, are brought in steamboats along the
Ohio to the western end of her canals at Pittsburg, thence to be trans-
ported through them to Philadelphia, for an eastern and foreign mar-
ket. Foreign merchandise and eastern manufactures, received at Phila-
delphia, are transported by the same channel to Pittsburg, thence to
be carried south and west, to their destination, in steamboats along the
Ohio. If these vessels and their commerce are liable to be stopped
within a short distance of the canals, and subjected to expense, delay
and danger, to reach them, and the same consequence to ensue on their
voyage, departing, the value of these works must be destroyed."
The Bridge company, through its counsel, admitting that Pennsyl-
vania had expended large amounts in public improvements, terminating
at Pittsburg and Beaver, over which there was a large passenger and
freight traffic, alleged the exclusive sovereignty of Virginia over the
Ohio, submitted the act of the Virginia legislature authorizing the erec-
tion of the bridge, denied the corporate capacity of Pennsylvania to
institute the suit, and justified the bridge as a connecting link of a
great public highway as important as the Ohio, and as a necessity recog-
nized by reports of committees in Congress, it cited the example set by
Pennsylvania in bridging the Allegheny, in authorizing a bridge across
the Ohio below Pittsburg at thirteen feet less elevation than the Wheel-
ing bridge, and in permitting the bridging and damming of the Monon-
gahela by enterprising citizens of Pittsburg under charters from the
state. It declared that the bridge was not an appreciable inconvenience
to the average class of boats and would not diminish the Pittsburg trade,
and suggested that the chimneys of steamboats should be shortened or
put on hinges for convenience in lowering. It also contended that the
bridge was necessary for transporting into the interior the passengers
and much of the freight which would be diverted from the streams by
the greater speed and safety of railroads which would soon concentrate
at Wheeling.
The court, accepting jurisdiction, appointed Hon. R. H. Walworth,
a jurist of New York, as special commissioner to take testimony and
report. The report indicated that the bridge obstruction would divert
part of the total traffic (nearly 50,000,000 annually) from lines of
transportation centering at Pittsburg to the northern route through
New York or to a more southern route. Of the nine regular packets
which passed Wheeling in 1847, five would have been unable to pass
under the bridge (for periods differing in length), without lowering or
cutting off their chimneys. The passage of three of the Pittsburg-Cin-
cinnati packets had been actually stopped or obstructed. One, on No-
vember 10, 1849, was detained for hours by the necessity of cutting off
the chimneys. Another, the Hibernia, on November 11, 1849, was de-
tained thirty-two hours and was obliged to hire another boat to carry
to Pittsburg the passengers, except those who preferred to cross the
mountains via Cumberland. Later, she was twice compelled to abandon
204 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
a trip — once hiring another boat, and once landing her passengers who
proceeded east to Cumberland. Two accidents had also occurred.
Tlic report indicated a preponderance of evidence against the safety
of lowering the chimneys, which, at any rate, was regarded as a very
slow and expensive process. Although the commissioner recognized that
it would be a great injury to commerce and to the community to destroy
fair competition between river and railroad transit by an unnecessary
obstruction to either, and recognized the propriety of carrying rail-
roads across the large rivers if it could be done without impairing
navigation, he concluded that the Wheeling bridge was an obstruction
to free navigation of the Ohio. Of the 230 boats on the river below
Wheeling, the seveu boats of the Pittsburg-Cincinnati packet line were
most obstructed by the bridge. They conveyed about one-half the
goods (in value) and three-fourths of the passengers between the two
cities. Since 1844, they had transported nearly 1,000,000 passengers.
The Wheeling Bridge Company complained that Mr. Walworth had
given the company no chance to present its testimony.
The decision of the court was given at the adjourned term in May,
1852. The majority of the court (six members), held that the erection,
of the bridge, so far as it interfered with the free and unobstructed
navigation of the Ohio, was inconsistent with and in violation of acts
of Congress, and could not be protected by the legislature of Virginia
because the Virginia statute was in conflict with the laws of Congress.
Justice McLean, who delivered the opinion of the court, held that
since the Ohio was a navigable stream, subject to the commercial power
of Congress, Virginia had no jurisdiction over the interstate commerce
upon it, and that the act of the Virginia legislature authorizing the,
structure of the bridge so as to obstruct navigation could afford no
justification to the Bridge company. However numerous the railroads
and however large their traffic, he expected the waterways to remain
the great arteries of commerce and favored their protection as such
instead of their obstruction and abandonment. He decided that the
lowest parts of the bridge should be elevated not less than 111 feet from
the low water mark and maintained on a level headway for 300 feet over
the channel. The decree stated that unless the navigation was relieved
from obstruction by February 1, 1853, by this or some other plan, the
bridge must be abated.
Chief Justice Taney dissented on the ground that since Virginia
had exercised sovereignty over the Ohio, and Congress had acquiesed in
it, the court could not declare the bridge an unlawful obstruction and
the law of Virginia unconstitutional and void. He preferred to leave
the regulation of bridges and steamboat chimneys to the legislative de-
partment. Justice Daniels, also dissenting, declared that Pennsylvania
could not be a party to the suit on the ground stated in the bill (diminu-
tion of profits in canals and other public improvements many miles
remote from the Wheeling bridge) and that the court could take no
jurisdiction in such eases of imperfect rights, or of merely moral or inci-
dental rights as distinguished from legal or equitable. "And." said
he, "if the mere rivalry of works of internal improvement in other
states, by holding out the temptation of greater dispatch, greater safety,
or any other inducement to preference for those works over the Pennsyl-
vania canals, be a wrong and a ground for jurisdiction here, the argument
and the rule sought to be deduced therefrom should operate equally.
The state of Virginia, who is constructing a railroad from the seaboard
to the Ohio river at Point Pleasant, much further down that river than
either Pittsburg or Wheeling, and at the cost of the longest tunnel in
the world, piercing the base of the Blue Ridge mountains, should have
the right by original suit in this court against the canal companies of
Pennsylvania or against that state herself, to recover compensation for
diverting any portion of the commerce which might seek the ocean by
this shortest transit to the mouths of her canals on the Ohio, or to the
city of Pittsburg; and on the like principle, the state of Pennsylvania
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 205
has a just cause of action against the Baltimore and Ohio railroad for
intercepting at Wheeling the commerce which might otherwise he con-
strained to seek the city of Pittsburg."
Justice Daniels, intoxicated with tin; recent effects of the develop-
ment of railroads, directed considerable attention to the reigning fal-
lacy which Pennsylvania urged upon the court — that commerce could
be prosecuted with advantage to the western country only by the chan-
nels of rivers and through the agency of steamboats whose privileges
were regarded as paramount. He urged that the historical progress of
means of transportation exposed the folly and injustice of all attempts
to restrict commerce to particular localities or to particular interests.
Against the narrow policy of confining commerce to watercourses, whose
capacity was limited by the contributions of the clouds, he urged the
superiority of the railroads for speed, safety, freedom from dependence
on wind or depth of water, and unifying power in interfluvial regions.
Plans were proposed by the defendant's counsel to remove the ob-
structions to navigation at less expense than the elevation or abatement
of the bridge, and the court (March 3, 185:2), referred the plans to
J. McAlpine, who made a report on May 8, 1852. The majority of the
court looking only to desired results and not to methods then agreed
that the former decree would permit the Bridge company to remove the
obstruction by a 200- foot draw in the bridge over the western branch
of the river. Justice McLean then delivered the opinion of the court
in which he stated that the right of navigating the Ohio or any other
river does not necessarily conflict with the right of bridging it; but he
declared that these rights could only be maintained when they were
exercised so as not to be incompatible with each other. If the bridge
had been constructed according to the language of the charter, he said,
the suit could not have been instituted.
Defeated before the courts. Wheeling took prompt steps to save the
bridge by action of Congress. In her efforts she received the co-opera-
tion of 121 members of the Ohio legislature who (in April, 1852) pe-
titioned Congress to protect the bridge by maintaining it as a mail route
and also by resolutions of the Virginia and Indiana legislatures. She
even had the sympathy of thirty-six members, representing the minority
of the Pennsylvania legislature, who presented a petition in favor of
protecting the bridge. On July 8, the committee on roads made a favor-
able report asking Congress to declare both bridges to be post-roads and
military roads and to regulate the height and construction of chimneys
of steamboats navigating the Ohio. On August 12, an adverse report
was made on a resolution of the Pennsylvania legislature. In the
debates which followed (from August 13 to August 18), the advocates
of the bill included : those who felt that the entire proceeding against
(he bridge originated in Pittsburg's jealousy of Wheeling; those who
felt that the recent decision of the supreme court was a strike against
state sovereignty; and those who (favoring the encouragement of bel-
ter facilities for travel), asserted that within two years one could travel
from New York to Cincinnati via Wheeling bridge as quickly as one
could now pass from Cincinnati to Wheeling in either of the seven tall
chimneyed Pittsburg packet boats, and with no danger of stoppage of
transportation alternately by low water and frozen water. | John Ran-
dolph once said that the Ohio was diy during one-half the year and
frozen over during the other half.]
Some of those who opposed the bill regarded the proposed legislation
in favor of the bridge as giving a preference to boats bound to Wheel-
ing over those bound to Pittsburg and as a strike at the prosperity of
Pittsburg. Others in opposition directed attention to the fact that
bridges adapted to railroad purposes could be erected near Wheeling
without obstruction to navigation, and that the Ohio Central railway
and the Baltimore and Ohio, which had recently intended to connect at
Wheeling, had found a more convenient point four miles south at Boggs
206 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Ferry where a bridge could be constructed at sufficient height to avoid
the objection taken by the supreme court to the bridge at Wheeling.
The bill passed the Senate on August 28 by a vote of 33 to 10, and
the House, on August 30, by a vote of 92 to 42. On August 31, before
the time designated for the execution of the decree of May, 1852, it
became an act of Congress legalizing in their existing conditions the
bridges, both of the west and the east branch, abutting on Zane's Is-
land. It declared them to be post roads for the passage of United States
mail, at the same time requiring vessels navigating the river to regulate
their pipes and chimneys so as not to interfere with the elevation and
construction of the bridges.
The Bridge Company relied upon this act as superseding the effect
and operation of the decree of May, 1852 ; but Pennsylvania insisted
that the act was unconstitutional. The captain of one of the Pittsburg
Packets showed his displeasure by unnecessarily going through the form
of lowering his chimneys and passing under the bridge with all the
forms of detention and oppression.
Meantime the rival railroads had been pushing westward to con-
nect the rival cities of the Ohio with rival cities of the East. The original
line of the Pennsylvania, whose construction began at Harrisburg in
July, 1847, was opened to the junction with the Allegheny Portage rail-
way at Hollidaysburg at the base of the mountains on September 16,
1850. The Baltimore and Ohio, notwithstanding delays incident to the
difficulties experienced in securing laborers, was opened for business
from Cumberland to the foot of the mountains at Piedmont on July 5,
1851. The western division of the Pennsylvania line from the western
end of the Portage railroad at Johnstown to Pittsburg was opened on
September 22, 1852 ; and a through train service via the inclined planes
of the Portage railway was established on December 10 following.
By the beginning of 1853, Wheeling seemed to have won new ad-
vantages over Pittsburg through the strategy of prospective railway
lines and new steamer lines which induced the belief that Pennsylvania,
with her foot on the Ohio was but at the threshold of the promised
land. The B. & O. won the race to the Ohio by a single continuous track
over which through train service was established from Baltimore to
Wheeling in January, 1853.
On January 12, at a great "opening celebration," of the mar-
riage of East to West, the city of Wheeling provided an elaborate ban-
quet for nearly 1,000 guests who listened to many regular and irregular
toasts of rejoicing, and to whom was dedicated a poem closing with these
lines :
"Poor Pittsburg is flung — for her steamboats no more
Can whistle, in scorn, as they pass Wheeling 's shore
No chimneys to lower — no action to bring —
For a flat-boat, she'll find, will soon be the thing;
She may war on all bridges — save one, for herself,
But her trade on the river is laid on the shelf."
To connect with the new railroad at Wheeling the Wheeling and
Kanawha packet line was established by the Virginia legislature, and
the Union line of steamboats was established between Wheeling and
Louisville. At the same time, steps had been taken to construct several
other prospective railways which would naturally converge at Wheeling.
These included the Hempfield to connect with Philadelphia, a line from
Columbus, a line from Marietta, and also a line from Cleveland, which
wTas expected to become an important point in ease the proposed treaty
of reciprocity with Canada should become a law. While the James
river and Kanawha canal and the Covington and Ohio railway still
hesitated to find a way westward across the mountains farther south,
and before the construction of the Northwestern Virginia railroad from
Grafton to Parkersburg, Wheeling especially expected to divert the trade
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 207
of southern Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee and to center it at Wheeling.
Wheeling was also favored by cheaper steamer rates to the west and by
the danger of navigation between Wheeling and Pittsburg at certain
periods of the year. Early in 1854, New York merchants shipped west-
ern freight via Baltimore and Wheeling. Oysters too, because of the
bad condition of the Pennsylvania line of travel were shipped via Wheel-
ing to Cleveland and Chicago.
Pittsburgh, however, undaunted by the chagrin of defeat, and with
undiminished confidence in her ability to maintain her hegemony of
the upper Ohio and the West, pi-epared to marshal and drill her forces
for final victory by efforts to regain ground lost and to forestall the
plans of her rival by new strategic movements. She declared that
Wheeling was outside the travel line. She stationed an agent at Graves'
creek below Wheeling to induce eastward-bound boat passengers to con-
tinue their journey to Pittsburgh and thence eastward via the Pennsyl-
vania line of travel in order to avoid the tunnels and zigzags, and the
various kinds of delay on the B. & 0. — to which the Wheeling Intelli-
gencer replied by uncomplimentary references to the slowness of travel
over the inclined planes and flat rails of the Pennsylvania Central rail-
way. Through her mayor and her newspapers she warned travelers
against the danger of accidents on the B. & 0. — to which Wheeling re-
plied that the frightful accidents on the Pennsylvania line hurled more
people into eternity each month than had ever been injured on the
B. & O. She also endeavored to prejudice travelers against the Union
line of steamers, complaining of its fares and food, and also of the
reckless racing encouraged by its captains who had bantered the boats
of other lines for exhibitions of speed. She was also accused of using
her influence to secure the location of the route of the Pittsburgh branch
of the Cleveland road on the west shore of the Ohio from Wellsville
to Wheeling, causing Brooke and Hancock counties to threaten secession
from Virginia.
As a strategic movement against the proposed Hempfield road by
which Wheeling hoped to get not only direct connection with Phila-
delphia but also a connection with the Marietta road, Pittsburg resus-
citated a movement in favor of the Steubenville and Pittsburg railway
and revived the project of the Connellsville route to Baltimore. She
also strained every nerve to open connections with the New York and
Erie line via the Allegheny valley.
The proposed Steubenville and Pittsburgh railway, especially, was
strongly opposed by Wheeling by whom it was regarded as a project to
cripple her by diverting her trade. Largely through her influence, Pitts-
burg's attempt to secure a charter from the Virginia legislature for the
road for which she proposed a bonus on every passenger, was defeated in
the lower house by a vote of 70 to 37 and later failed to secure the ap-
proval of the house committee. When the promoters of the road tried the
new plan of getting a route by securing the land in fee, with the idea of
rushing the road through in order to get the next Congress to declare
it a post road, the Wheeling Intelligencer declared that Congress would
not dare thus to usurp the sovereignty of Virginia. An injunction
against the road was proposed, and- in order to prevent the construc-
tion of the railway bridge at Steubenville a plan to construct a road
from the state line through Holliday's Cove and Wellsburg was con-
sidered.
From the consideration of plans to prevent the construction of the
Steubenville bridge above her, Wheeling turned to grapple with a more
immediate danger of ruin which threatened her by a proposed connec-
tion of the B. and 0. and the Central Ohio railway at Benwood, four
miles below her. This she claimed was in violation of the law of 1847,
granting a charter to the B. and 0. ; and, to prevent it, she secured an
injunction from Judge George W. Thompson of the circuit court — caus-
ing the State Journal of Columbus to place her in the list with Erie,
Pennsylvania (which had recently attempted to interrupt travel between
208 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
east and west) and to assert that the Benwood track ease was similar
to the Wheeling Bridge ease. An attempt was made to secure combina-
tion and cooperation of the railroads to erect a union bridge in Wheeling
to replace the old structure.
Meantime, transportation facilities improved on the Pennsylvania
line after the mountains were conquered by a grade for locomotives.
The mountain division of the road and with it the whole line, was opened
on February 15, 1854, and by its cheaper i-ates soon overcame the ad-
vantages which New Orleans had held in attracting the commerce of
the West. Pennsylvania promptly passed a bill (1854) authorizing
the sale of her unproductive public works, and abandoned her portage
railway across the mountains. Three years later (1857), she sold to
the Pennsylvania railway the main line of the system of public works
undertaken in 1826, including the Philadelphia and Columbia railway.
Coincident with the determination of Pennsylvania to dispose of her
unproductive public works, the old Wheeling bridge over the main
branch of the stream was blown down by a gale of wind (in May, 1851)
and was promptly removed to avoid obstruction. Some regarded the
disaster as a just judgment for trespass upon the rights of others by
Wheeling in order to make herself the head of navigation. The Pitts-
burg Journal edited by the ex-mayor of the city, gloated over Wheel-
ing's misfortune. The Pittsburg and Cincinnati packet "Pennsylvania"
in derision lowered her chimneys at the place recently spanned by the
bridge. Her second offense, a few days later, exasperated the indignant
crowd on shore and induced the boys to resort to mob spirit and to
throw stones resulting in a hasty departure of the vessel; but further
trouble was avoided by an apology from the captain and the wise advice
of older heads.
Another and a final Wheeling Bridge case before the supreme court
(arising in 1851 and decided in April, 1856) resulted from the decision
of the company to rebuild the bridge. When the company pi-omptly
began the preparations for rebuilding. Pennsylvania, stating that she
desired to secure a suspension of expensive work until the force and effect
of the act of Congress could be judicially determined, asked the United
States Supreme Court for an injunction against the reconstruction of
the bridge unless in conformity with the requirements of the previous
decree in the ease. Without any appearance or formal opposition of
the company, the injunction was granted (June 25, 1854) during vaca-
tion of the court, by Justice Grier whom the Wheeling Intelligencer
called "the Pittsburg judge of the supreme court." The Intelligencer
regarded the question as a grave one, involving the sovereign authority
of Virginia and a direct law of Congress, and illustrating the aggressions
of the supreme court which it feared were becoming daily more alarm-
ing. Charles Ellet, the engineer on whom the injunction was served
promptly announced that he expected to have the bridge open for traffic
in two weeks, and the Bridge Company asked Congress to investigate
charges against Judge Grier to the effect that he had invited bribery.
The new suspension bridge was opened as a temporary structure on
duly 26 at an expense of only .f 8,000.
The injunction having been disregarded, Pennsylvania asked for
attachment and sequestration of the property of the company for con-
tempt resulting from disobedience of the injunction of Justice Grier.
At the same time, the company asked the court to dissolve the injunc-
tion. Pennsylvania insisted that the act of Congress was unconstitu-
tional and void because it annulled the judgment of the court already
rendered, and because it was inconsistent with the clause in Article I,
Section 9, of the Constitution against preference to the ports of one
state over those of another.
Justice Nelson in delivering the decision of the court on the latter
point said: "It is urged that the interruption of the navigation of
the steamboats engaged in commerce and conveyance of passengers
upon the Ohio river at Wheeling from the erection of the bridge, and
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 209
the delay and expense arising therefrom, virtually operate to give a
preference to this port over that of Pittsburg ; that the vessels to and from
Pittsburg navigating the Ohio and Mississippi rivers are not only
subjected to this delay and expense in the course of the voyage, but
that the obstruction will necessarily have the effect to stop the trade
and business at Wheeling, or divert the same in some other direction
or channel of commerce. Conceding all this to be true, a majority of
the court are of the opinion that the act of Congress is not inconsistent
with the clause in the constitution referred to — in other words, that
it is not giving a preference to the ports of one state over those of
another, within the true meaning of that provision. There are many
acts of Congress passed in the exercise of this power to regulate com-
merce, providing for a special advantage to the port or ports of one state
(and which advantage may incidentally operate to the prejudice of the
ports in a neighboring state) which have never been supposed to con-
flict with this limitation upon its power. The improvement of rivers
and harbors, the erection of lighthouses, and other facilities of com-
merce, may be referred to as examples."
The court decided that the decree for alteration or abatement of
the bridge could not be carried into execution, since the act of Congress
regulating the navigation of the river was consistent with the existence
and continuance of the bridge — but that the decrees directing the costs
to be paid by the Bridge Company must be executed. The majority
of the court (six members), on the grounds that the act of Congress
afforded full authority to reconstruct the bridge, directed that the
motion for attachments against the president of the Bridge Company and
others for disobedience and contempt should be denied and the injunc-
tion dissolved ; but Nelson agreed with Wayne, Grier and Curtis in the
opinion that an attachment should issue, since there was no power in
Congress to interefere with the judgment of the court under the pre-
tense of power to legalize the structure or by making it a post road.
Justice McLean dissented, feeling that the principle involved was
of the deepest interest to the growing commerce of the West which
might be obstructed by bridges across the rivers. He opposed the idea
that making the bridge a post road (under the purpose of the act of
July 7, 1838) could exempt it from the consequences of being a nuisance.
He regarded the act of Congress as unconstitutional and void ; and,
although he admitted the act might excuse previous contempt, he de-
clared that it could afford no excuse for further refusal to perform
the decree.
A sequel to the preceding case arose in the same term of court
(December, 1855) on motion of the counsel for the Bridge Company
for leave to file a bill of review of the court's order, of the December
term of 1851, in regard to the costs. The court had already determined
that the decree rendered for costs against the Bridge Company was
unaffected by the act of Congress of August 1, 1852 ; but the court,
declining to open the question for examination, declared "there must
be an end of all litigation."
The later history bearing upon the subject here treated, the regula-
tion of the construction of bridges across the Ohio under acts of Congress,
the opposition of both Wheeling and Pittsburg to the construction of
bridges such as the railroad bridges at Parkersburg and between Ben-
wood and Bellaire (which were completed in 1871), the decline of old
local jealousies and prejudices, the rise of new problems of transporta-
tion resulting from the extension of railways, cannot be considered
within the scope and limits of this chapter.
Vol. 1—14
CHAPTER XV
OHIO RIVER INFLUENCES (TO 1861)
(Written by Dr. Charles H. Ambler)
It was some thirty years ago that I came up behind a -tramp on a
public highway in the hills of West Virginia. I was only a boy then
on an errand to a blacksmith's shop for the repair of a part belonging
to my father's mowing machine. He had requested haste, and the
setting sun of a midsummer's evening kept his wish constantly before
me. But the tramp moved leisurely and kept the middle of the road.
The thought of passing him struck terror into my youthful bones, but
there was no other alternative. Accordingly I pressed forward hoping
that some favorable turn of fortune would save me from the frightful
possibilities of the situation. Soon we were side by side, and a gentle
voice had arrested my haste and quieted my fears. As we walked on
together I learned that the supposed tramp was a profressor in a German
university and that he was then on a tour of America, having already
"tramped" most of Europe and Asia. His confiding manner soon won
my complete confidence; the importance of my errand was temporarily
forgotten ; and I found myself absorbed in a new and strange companion-
ship.
Suddenly all was changed. A peculiar silence had come over my
companion, and his strange manner recalled my former fears and sus
picions. He stood still and motionless gazing into space over a land-
scape that was then only commonplace to me. After a few awful minutes
and to my immediate relief there came, however, these gentle and as-
suring words: "This is the most beautiful river I have ever seen! It
is more beautiful even than the Rhine!" Upon turning a sharp bend in
the hills we had suddenly reached a high elevation overlooking the
Ohio river which wound its way thence in matchless beauty through
the distant hills to the southwest and gradually disappeared in the
golden rays of the setting sun.
Already the Ohio, or "the river" as it was affectionately called by
those who lived near it and loved it, meant much to me. My earliest
recollection, formed at the age of three, was that of crossing it in an
open ferry with my parents when they moved from Ohio to West Vir-
ginia, a part of that tide of settlers who sought homes in the latter state
in the period following the Civil war. Meanwhile the Ohio had come to
be familiar as a great thoroughfare of commerce. By means of it my
paternal ancestors had made numerous trips from Wheeling to New
Orleans in the early part of the century. Stories of their experiences
yet lingered as family traditions. The mere mention of the lower
Mississippi suggested my grandfather who had seen New Orleans eleven
times and made as many return trips overland through the mountains
of Tennessee and Kentucky. Then there was a great uncle who had lost
his life in an encounter with a wild beast on that same perilous moun-
tain route. But, fortunately my impressions were not all repelling.
Through the river I had come to appreciate New Orleans as the source
of Orleans molasses and sugar which were then to the boys and girls of
the upper Ohio what chocolates and candies are to them today.
But henceforth the Ohio had a new meaning for me. It became a
thing of beauty and inspiration. I learned to love its boats and river-
men, to revel in the beauty and grandeur of the hills that skirt its banks ;
210
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 211
and to reflect with wonder and admiration upon the majesty of the stream
itself as it wound its way to the sea. Stories of its rivermen were
my first romances; the whistle of its boats came to possess a sweetness
excelled only by that of the conch used to call us to dinner at my
country home ; and the panorama of life that daily passed before me
whetted my ambitions and temporarily shaped my plans for the future.
Like many another boy living- ou or near it I cherished the ambition
of becoming a steamboat captain or a steamboat pilot, one of the happiest
days of my youth being that on which an indulgent and kind old pilot
permitted me to stand at the wheel and, under his directions, guide a
local packet between my home town and a neighboring town. For years
I looked upon him as a real benefactor and upon myself as having
mastered many of the essentials in the training of a steamboat pilot.
In the same or similar ways the Ohio river has had a part all its
own in shaping the lives and interests of those reared on or near it. The
heart of one of the smaller potential nations out of which the greater
nation has grown and the only river of importance in North America
flowing from east to west, it seems to have been set apart by nature as a
course of empire. It is significant that its mountains should shelter
natural resources the use of which has changed the character of the
lands through which it flows and of the nation of which these lands are
a part. In all his travels Henry Clay had never seen "a section for which
God had done so much and man so little."
As first seen by the white man the Ohio was "a long shining aisle
through a fair green world." Except for short spaces here and there,
the site of Indian corn fields, the river was then lined on either side
by one continuous forest, the trees of which dipped their branches into
its waters and, at the narrowest places, almost spanned its course.
The number and beauty of its islands were marvelous, the beauty of
Blennerhassett being unsurpassed. Its waters and forests teemed with
life. There was the agile pike, the fat groveling catfish, and the silver
scaled perch ; bison and deer quenched their thirst ; and the Indian war-
rior in his birch bark canoe pursued his enemy and wooed his dusky mate.
Then, too, birds of many varieties, some permanent residents, others
coming only in the spring and autumn, found homes or temporary rest-
ing places on its banks, among them the turkey buzzard and the bald
eagle which soar now as then in safe retreat above its lofty hills.
But despite its natural beauties and the French interpretation of
the meaning of the word Ohio, the river itself did not always appeal to
those who first saw it as an object of beauty and admiration. To some
it was indeed quite the opposite. The problem of its mastery inspired
awe and challenged the genius of the most resourceful. Its whirling
eddies; its treacherous shoals; its lurking logs and limbs; the havoc of
its floods and ice gorges ; and its overhanging vines and trees had defied
the Indian for ages. The absence of important native villages upon
its banks was significant, as was also the advice of friendly red men
that the white man build no forts or villages on or near its waters.
Both the beauties and the horrors of nature have had their part, how-
ever, in determining the character of the people who built homes in
the Ohio valley.
Even before the American Revolution the Ohio river had become a
course of empire determining the confines and character of the society
then establishing itself in what is now West Virginia. Two years fol-
lowing the Treaty of 1763, that famous Indian trader, Captain George
Croghan having paved the way, Captain Thomas Sterling with one
hundred and twenty Scotch Highlanders descended the Ohio from Fort
Pitt to the Illinois country, there to raise the flag of the British Empire
in the heart of the continent. At once the Ohio became the most popular
route between the East and the West, and home seekers began to carve
out their tomahawk claims to lands on its upper waters and to rear their
log huts by its banks. As early as 1770 George Washington observed
that settlers from the East, chiefly Virginia, had preempted the best
-'112 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
lands on its southern bank to the mouth of the Little Kanawha. He
then predicted that another year would suffice to carry their land grab-
bing activities to the mouth of the Great Kanawha.
These pioneers and their immediate successors thus won a great ad-
vantage in the work of empire building. Their initiative and fortitude
made them 11 hief beneficiaries of the cosmopolitan influences and the
economic opportunities of the greatest of American highways. The re-
sults have never ceased to manifest themselves in the solution of ques-
tions diplomatic and political and in urging our territorial expansion.
The Revolution checked only temporarily the advance of the fron-
tiersmen through Virginia towards the Ohio. Before it had ended a sec-
ond tide of home seekers, larger than the first, had returned to the work
■ if establishing tomahawk claims and killing Indians. By the Treaty of
Fort Stanwix, 1764, the Iroquois relinquished their claims to the lands
south of the Ohio. Six years later, at Lochaber, the southern Indians
did likewise. But the tribes north of the Ohio, the Shawneese, Dela-
wares, and Mingoes, lingered reluctant to leave the graves of their
fathers and their choicest hunting grounds. Finally they were induced
to retire to the northern, or "Indian side of the Ohio," whence, for
years, they conducted pillaging and murdering expeditions into the
land of the whites, the Ohio becoming an ineffective barrier between
civilization and barbarism.
Thus it was that western Virginia became a "dark and bloody land,"
second oidy to Kentucky. Such sources as Withers, "Chronicles of
Border Warfare" and Doddridge, "Notes on the Settlement and Indian
Wars" record the incidents of a border warfare that is without parallel
in our national annals for persistency, treachery, and daring exploits.
But the traditions of every normal boy and girl reared in the Ohio
valley have been greatly enriched thereby. The names of Daniel Boone,
Lewis Wetzel, Adam Poe, Samuel MeCullough, Simon Girty, Elizabeth
Zane, Samuel Bardy, and Anne Bailey are commonplace with most boys
and girls there, the deeds of their heroes being dramatized in their plays.
The Indian dangers finally removed through the victoiy of Anthony
Wayne at Fallen Timbers, 1794, the frontiersmen on the Ohio addressed
themselves to the task of felling the forest and cultivating choice lands.
The experiences of the blockhouse had already taught lessons of co-
operation. Accordingly logrollings, houseraisings, and husking bees
became the order of the day and with most gratifying results. By 1806
Thomas Ashe, an English traveler and writer, noted that the forests
along the Ohio were rapidly giving place to com fields and wheat fields,
that fruits and vegetables of many varieties were contributing to the
sustenance and the revenues of the inhabitants, and that from a thou-
sand hills the voice of domestic animals broke the monotony of wood-
land and wave. But the most important fact was the establishment of
a new society strangely dynamic, individualistic yet cooperative, the
very antithesis of the slaveholding society to the eastward, within the
bounds of Virginia.
Larger fields and larger families soon added to the ever increasing
surplus of farm and other products. Thus markets became necessary
to the continued growth of the new society. Because of the mountain
barriers separating it from the East these could be had only in the
French and Spanish settlements on the Mississippi or in the towns and
cities simultaneously springing up on the lower Ohio. Keelboats, flat-
boats, barges, and even rafts were then used to carry thousands of
home seekers to the lower Ohio and even beyond. The natural thing
•was to adapt their craft to the needs of trade. This was done, and in a
few yeai's the upper Ohio valley was exporting annually goods worth
thousands of dollars.
The interests thus served and the broadened outlook thus secured
together with the growing convictions regarding the future greatness
of the United States, quickened interest in diplomacy and the possi-
bilities of territorial expansion. Meanwhile the Spanish continued to
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 213
be must selfish in the exercise of their control of the mouth of the
Mississippi, and the British long continued to hold posts in American
territory north of the Ohio. As a result good patriots of western Vir-
ginia came to hate both Spaniards and Britishers. About the time of
the Louisiana Purchase they would have attacked the former, and they
coveted Canada. They rested only after we had acquired Louisiana
and after the interior had waged a successful war for "free trade and
sailors rights." Insistence and event threats from the upper Ohio had
much to do with banishing the conscientious scruples of Jefferson and
others regarding the constitutionality of the Louisiana Purchase. Thus
exigencies of trade and hopes for the future, as they developed on the
Ohio, were potent factors in converting a society naturally individual-
istic to the ways of nationalism.
In this connection the subsequent votes of western Virginia on the
proposed nationalistic legislation of Clay's American System is signifi-
cant. Proposed federal appropriations to works of internal improve-
ment had its undivided support, and proposed tariffs received strong
backing especially from the counties on the Ohio and the great Kanawha.
After the steamboat began to carry salt inland from the West Indies by
way of New Orleans, the inland salt producers were insistent in their
demands for protection. What is now northern West Virginia cast the
only vote from Virginia and one of the few from the whole South for
the Tariff of 1824, and a part of Virginia suggestive of the present
state of West Virginia in location, size, and shape voted solidly for the
Tariff of Abominations, the farther South being almost equally unanimous
in its opposition. The friendly attitude of western Virginia to the na-
tional bank is also significant.
Meanwhile the Ohio continued a course of empire many settlers find-
ing homes on its banks. In fact one of its chief assets has always been
its children who were then said to be as plentiful as the squirrels of the
forest and as healthy as hard fare and exercise could make them. Inter-
spersed among those of Virginia origin were many persons from New
England and the Middle States. Thus the Ohio valley early became a
melting pot for the nation. But it was to be more than that. Later
Irish, Germans, and others came in large numbers direct from Europe.
As early as 1820 Judge Hall, an English traveler, predicted that it would
become the melting pot of Europe. For here he witnessed the novel
spectacle of the coming together of the nations of the Old World, each
bringing its own language, politics, and religion and all sitting quietly
down together to erect states, make institutions, and enact laws without
bloodshed and discord. It seemed that some mysterious force was at-
tracting them to a common center and welding them into one great and
powerful organism. The offspring has gone forth to practically every
part of the far West and has always stood for the highest ideals of
Americanism.
But main intercourse continued to be with the towns of the lower
Ohio and the lower Mississippi. From the latter came sugar, molasses,
tea, coffee, aud rice which were exchanged for the numerous farm ami
other products of the interior. In the forties and the fifties Cincinnati
and New Orleans were much better known to the average citizen of the
Ohio valley than are Pittsburg and New York today. Many farmers
and most merchants had made one or more trips to the lower Mississippi.
Wives had frequently gone along to see the sights, help care for cargoes,
and cook for the "hands" on the flatboats. Their departure was always
a neighborhood affair, friends and relatives gathering from far and
near to wish a departing company godspeed on their venture and good
luck in a market noted for its vicissitudes.
The uncertainties of these trading trips were indeed almost re-
pelling. The only practicable time for such ventures was the spring.
It was then that farmers and merchants could best determine the char-
aeter and quantity of surpluses and rely upon a "boating stage" of
water. These conditions combined to glut the lower markets, force
214 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
low prices, and necessitate frequent and great losses. Besides no boat-
man had any assurance of reaching his destination and returning home.
Danger lurked in every bar and shoal and in the numerous snags and
other obstructions with which the Ohio and the Mississippi were studded.
Moreover, gangs of murderers and river pirates infested strategic points
along stream between Louisville and New Orleans. Then, too, the re-
turn trip which in the early days was usually overland through the
mountains of Tennessee and Kentucky, was hazardous.
This typical school of Americanism developed a product peculiarly
its own and peculiarly American. These were the days of the self-
styled "half-horse" and "half -alligator" men, some of whom actually
bore the marks of the draft horse in the large callouses which appeared
on their arms and shoulders from too frequent contact with the "setting-
pole" and the "sockett" of the keelboat. Hatless, stripped' to the waist,
and tanned by the combined effects of water and sun, they resembled
Indians more than white men. Accustomed as they were to every sort
of exposure and privation they despised ease and luxury. Armed in
frontier style they were always ready for a fray. In fact fighting was
a favorite pastime. Together with their prototypes on land they con-
stituted a rough and ready element, resourceful beyond precedent, crude
beyond description, and independent beyond comparison — the most
typical American part of America.
The hero of this frontier society was the notorious "Mike" Fink,
"the last of the keelboatmen. " He was born in Allegheny county
about 1781. As a mere lad he played a prominent part in the Indian
wars of his time winning the enviable distinction of being the best shot
in the Ohio valley. Like most of the young men of his time and place
he answered the call of the river, but unlike most of them he soon be-
came notorious for lawlessness and rowdyism. On the upper Ohio he
was "Bang All," the superb marksman, but on the lower Ohio and
the Mississippi, where his pilfering, drinking, and fighting had attracted
chief attention, he was "The Snag" or the "Snapping Turtle." He
seems to have been a veritable Rob Roy without a peer for deviltry and
meanness, unless it was in ' ' Colonel Plug, ' ' the bad man of the lowlands
below Louisville. Good people stood in awe of him; officers avoided
him; and the lawless idolized him. For all, the numerous accounts of
his exploits made interesting reading. He was accustomed to speak of
himself as a "Salt River roarer" who loved the "wimin" and was "full
of fight."
Unfortunately for the society of the Ohio valley outlaws of the
type of Fink were all too plentiful and were not confined to the river.
Conditions on the land were almost as bad as on the water, tough times
making tough men. Every town and village boasted its bully. Drink-
ing, gambling, and horse-racing were favorite pastimes; the sacrifice of
human life, of human energy, and the accumulated culture of the ages
was appalling ; and vice and disease meanwhile made huge inroads. It
was a day of tremendous effort and of supreme sacrifice. The marks
of the struggle are visible even today. To those familiar with conditions
it would be needless to specify. Mike Fink .was only a somewhat ex-
aggerated prototype of the worst of a society in transition along the
main course of empire to the westward.
By 1820 Wheeling was an important and characteristic river town.
Its location at the junction of the Cumberland Road, or the National
Pike, with the Ohio river had early brought it into prominence. As an
embarkation point to the West it was, for years, a formidable rival of
Pittsburg. Writing in 1806 Thomas Ashe said: "The town of Wheel-
ing is well known as one of the most considerable places of embarkation
on the western waters. It is a port town, healthfully and pleasantly
situated on a very high bank of the river, and is increasing rapidly.
Here quantities of merchandise designed for the Ohio country and the
upper Louisiana, are brought in wagons during the dry season ; as boats
can frequently go from hence, when they can not from places higher up
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 215
the river. Besides, as the navigation above Wheeling is more dangerous
than all the remainder of the river, persons should undoubtedly give
it the preference to Pittsburg."
Like other river towns of these and later days, Wheeling's bless-
ings were not without alloy. Cock fighting, horse racing, gambling,
drinking, and other forms of frontier amusement held sway.
The coming of the steamboat was the event of greatest importance
in the history of the Ohio valley in the early part of the last century.
By 1830 its practicability was assured, and the "Beautiful River" had
taken on new importance as a course of empire. Every phase of life
was quickened by the steamboat. At once the "boatmen:" flatboatmen,
keelboatmen, and raftsmen, ceased to make the return trip from the
lower Mississippi by long and dangerous overland routes. Henceforth
they were "passengers." It mattered not that they usually rode on
"deck" and sometimes paid transportation charges by serving as "deck-
hands." The best among them soon became firemen, engineers, and
pilots, and gave up the occupation of boatmen entirely. Some former
rivermen even became steamboat captains, owning their own craft. In
fact both capital and labor became more dependent upon the river
than ever before. In western Virginia and southern Ohio many fam-
ilies sent every son of a large family to answer its call. In some instances
single families supplied as many as seven steamboat pilots.
But the beneficent effects of the Ohio were not confined to the river
itself nor to those who ' ' followed ' ' it for a living. Homes were erected
from the salvage of lumber rafts, and the lands on which they stood was
paid for from the proceeds of the sales of cordwood which, in the early
days, was the only fuel used by steamboats. The use of rafts and flat-
boats converted small streams into lateral lines for the transportation
of farm products, timber, and labor. In fact the call of the river for
labor came as a real boon to the small fanner and the squatter offering,
in some instances, their only means of meeting taxes and store bills.
Fortunately the labor demands of the small farm and the river sup-
plemented each other admirably. As a rule the call of the latter came
after crops had been harvested, the winter fuel provided, the children
started to school, and the zest for squirrel and rabbit hunting had spent
itself. It mattered not that wages were only $20 per month with meals
and lodging, the former served on deck and in a tin pan and the latter
on the soft side of a board placed near a warm boiler. The average small
farmer of western Virginia and southern Ohio, where negroes were
scarce and little used as deckhands, could not afford to be idle during
a whole winter. His wife and family could usually be depended upon
to keep the farm going even if their care was sometimes at a sacrifice
of the education and the morals of the children. Many a father spent
the whole winter "on the river" unable and sometimes unwilling to
reach home even at Christmas and generally under conditions that made
it impossible for him to return anything to his family except a few dol-
lars. When drink and gambling entered, as they sometimes did, he
failed to bring even money and was in time thrown back upon his family,
a human derelict.
The coming of the steamboat multipled the educational advantages
of the river. Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, and scores
of others of almost equal prominence went by the Ohio to and from the
national capital. Even at wayside landings their arrivals were heralded
in advance and were usually occasions for addresses through which the
people learned of the proceedings of Congress and of the political plans
for the future. But interests were not wholly political. Music and
literature received due attention. In the forties and fifties of the last
century thousands living on and near the Ohio river had seen and heard
Ole Bull, Jenny Lind, and Charles Dickens. Besides "Dan" Rice and
his elephants were as popular then as Barnum and Bailey became at
a later period. Then, too, the Ohio carried its practical lessons in po-
litical economy. Its boys of the fifties knew the advantages of gold
216 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
and uniform currency as mediums of exchange. Experience taught them
to decline state bank notes as payment for cordwood. As men, these
same boys voted for tbe gold standard in 189(i, although many of them
refused to leave the democratic party.
One of the most important results of the coming of the steamboat
showed itself in increased land and other values. Records of river
counties for the period immediately following 1810 disclose marked
tendencies in the former direction. Savings and possible savings in
transportation costs were simply capitalized, the results being added to
values. It was thus that the Ohio valley became a real land of op-
portunity and that the tide of immigrant home seekers thereto was
greatly augmented.
Family records and traditions of those who found homes on the
Ohio in the early part of the last century are filled with references
to the influence of the steamboat on land values. The story of "the coming
of the Jenkins family may be taken as typical. It established itself
at Round Bottom, a beautiful spot on the Ohio a short distance above
what is now Huntington, West Virginia. The lands on which it set-
tled formerly belonged to the Cabells of eastern Virginia, the county in
which they are located later receiving its name from Governor Cabell.
Before the coming of the steamboat these lands were for sale and at
a low price even for that day. Mr. Jenkins, a merchant of Lynchburg,
Virginia, and others had visited them with a view to purchasing, but
all had returned refusing to buy and expressing disappointment in the
difficulties incident to the navigation of the Ohio, especially the up-
stream navigation which was then maintained by the keelboat. Luckily
Mr. Jenkins happened to be in New York City at the time Fulton was
making successful experiments with the Clermont. Jenkins grasped
the possibilities of steam navigation for inland rivers and returned by
way of Richmond to close a deal for the purchase of the Cabell lands on ,
the Ohio. Accompanied by his family and negroes he soon set out for
the West. The manorial estate which he later carved out of the woods
on the Ohio and the splendid establishment which he maintained there
found counterparts in numerous other estates similarly conceived.
Despite the beneficent effects of the Ohio and its early advantages
as a thoroughfare of commerce the region along its upper course and
south of Pittsburg was finally overtaken by an arrested development.
After 1830 the Cumberland Road, as an artery of trade and travel,
gradually gave way in importance to a system of canals to the north
connecting New York City with the Great Lakes and Philadelphia with
Pittsburg. The former of these routes was also supplemented by canals
connecting northern and southwestern Ohio. Moreover, overland routes
led directly from Wheeling into central Ohio and beyond. It is true
that palatial steamers plied daily between Pittsburg and Cincinnati,
but they made only hurried stops at midway landings even Wheeling.
When the railroad finally reached Pittsburg it passed thence westward
through central Ohio to Cincinnati. Thus the natural resources of west-
ern Virginia and southern Ohio remained undeveloped ; river towns lan-
guished; and comparative poverty grew apace, the small farm holding
its own except on the Ohio and where lands fell into the hands of non-
resident owners and squatter occupants. The more prosperous lands
of "Yankeedom" to the farther north were regarded meanwhile with
envy for having stolen the birthright of the Ohio valley which had less
and less in common with the abolitionist Western Reserve.
Under these conditions the completion of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad through western Virginia to Wheeling on the Ohio, in 1852,
was, after the coming of the steamboat, the event of greatest import-
ance in history of the upper Ohio valley in the first half of the last
century. A large part of that section was thus given a fair opportunity
to catch up with the march of civilization. The response was immediate,
emanating of course from the river. A line of palatial steamers began
to ply daily between Wheeling and Louisville. The names of the
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 217
steamers themselves bear testimony to their dependence upon the rail-
road. Among others there was the Thomas Swan, named i'or the presi-
dent of the new railroad, and the Alvin Adams, named i'or the president
of the Adams Express Company. From Louisville the lower South
was reached direct by a railroad, the Louisville and Nashville of today.
Thus the plans of John C. Calhoun and others for uniting the South
by a transportation system embracing the Ohio river had been attained.
Henceforth it was possible to defy the North, especially the agents of
underground railways on the Ohio.
Under these changed conditions Wheeling became an important out-
post of the slaveholding South. This fact entered into the intense and
even bitter rivalry that now grew up between her and Pittsburg. This
rivalry attained its bitterest phases in a contest involving the right of
the former to construct a suspension bridge across the Ohio river. De-
spite the fact that Pittsburg had direct communication with Cincinnati
by rail through central Ohio and that her large daily packets thence had
almost ceased to operate, thus isolating the river towns to the
South, she opposed the construction of the proposed suspension bridge
at Wheeling. She insisted that it would be an obstruction preventing
the free passage of her steamers, the stacks of which were more than
sixty feet in height, and finding no sanction in maritime usages. Also,
that the sole authority in the matter was the national government.
Wheeling answered that she stood at the real head of navigation ; that
the stacks of descending steamers were needlessly high, and that Vir-
ginia was a sovereign state owning the bed of the Ohio river and thus
possessed of authority to do as she pleased with her own. Wheeling
finally constructed the proposed bridge but not until her rights and
powers in the matter had been aired in Congress and the Federal Su-
preme Court. Meanwhile the contest made its contributions to state and
local pride and to the impending struggle between nationalism and
particularism. Both in Congress and the Supreme Court, eastern Vir-
ginia and the lower South were loyal to the interests of western Virginia.
The service was not soon forgotten.
Thus sectional rivalries, the timely construction of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad, and the fact that western Virginia was comparatively
speaking an area of arrested development dependent mainly upon agri-
culture and the Ohio river, operated to preserve the unity and strength
of the slaveholding South. It mattered not that the Wheeling and
Louisville daily packets ceased to operate after the Panic of 1857. Those
were hard times for rivermen everywhere, except possibly on the upper
Mississippi and the Missouri. In her struggle for better conditions
experience had taught western Virginia to depend little upon Pittsburg
and northern Ohio and to confide more and more in the South. Ac-
cordingly her vote in the presidential election of 1860 was almost unani-
mous for Bi-eckenridge and Lane, and she later sent more than ten thou-
sand of her best men to aid the Confederacy. Economic interests thus
operated to preserve a balance between nationalism and particularism.
But for the old grievances on account of the former, the tariff, internal
improvements, and even schools, together with the impossibilities of
negro slavery in a land ill suited to agriculture, the account might have
been more favorable to the South.
However, the dependence of the upper Ohio valley upon the South,
by means of the Ohio river, had only to be broken to be appreciated.
Evidences of this fact were numerous and manifested themselves con-
stantly during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods. The reception
accorded the Kenton in 1867 is appropos. She was the first large packet
to reach the upper Ohio direct from New Orleans after the Civil War.
Meanwhile the inhabitants of that section had denied themselves sugar,
molasses, and other articles of common consumption formerly received
fi'om the South by way of the river or they had imported them by rail
from the North at high prices and not always for patriotic reasons. The
arrival of the Kenton seemed to herald a return to "normalcy." Her
218 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
coming was advertised and eagerly awaited throughout the whole course
of the upper Ohio. Crowds of men, women, and children greeted her at
every landing. The inhabitants of Wheeling were especially enthusiastic.
While her men and women crowded the wharf to greet old friends and
to rejoice over the return of the good old days, her youths, paddles in
hand, jostled each other in a wild scramble for the sugar that dripped
from the cracks of the swollen hogsheads. As the Kenton passed on to
that hated city of Pittsburg, the inhabitants of Wheeling continued to
rejoice in the material proofs that the Union had been saved and in the
assurance that old friends would be friends again.
CHAPTER XVI
EARLY COMMUNITY LIFE, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
The early settlers of the region now embraced in West Virginia were
of several nationalities, but chiefly English, German and Scotch-Irish.
Many of the Scotch-Irish and Germans came into West Virginia by way
of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and some of the English from that
direction also; but most of the early English settlers moved westward
from eastern Virginia. In the decade before 1800 and at subsequent
periods, considerable New England blood was diffused through West
Virginia. The larger migrations of the later period, however, passed
on to Ohio, Kentucky, and farther west, whose lands, laws, and general
opportunities were preferred to those of western Virginia.
Many of the old pioneers expected to stop only temporarily in the
region. They thought that a family could not be supported very long-
on the product of the soil alone when the hunters had killed the wild
game. They intended to load their pack horses and trek again in a
few years, and leave what is now West Virginia an exhausted wilderness.
One hunter who killed 2,000 deer in Harrison county doubtless imagined
that he had almost exhausted the resources of the region. There were
many among the pioneers who took a more hopeful view and who ex-
pected to stay in the country, and to leave their children and their
children's children in it; but the lightness of heart with which many
a man left his cabin and the few stumpy acres where his corn crops
grew, and moved on, is silent testimony to the fact that he saw no future
for the country. The low price of wild land which continued until very
recent years was proof that nobody was looking ahead. In many instances
a thousand acres could be bought for less than what the mineral right
in one acre is worth now. The men who foresaw and who were willing
to wait as well as to labor, were the men who made fortunes among the
West Virginia hills.
Development was doubtless retarded by the liberal Virginia land
policy under which much of the land fell into the hands of absentee
speculators who purchased it at two cents per acre. The wholesale pur-
chase of the large tracts by these speculators forced homeseekers to
purchase from them at largely increased prices or to settle as squatters,
or to migrate to cheaper lands beyond the Ohio.
The early settler's trip across the Alleghenies, although it may have
been interesting, was not easy. In striking contrast to a journey such
as would be made across the Alleghenies in a modern Pullman was that
made by Nathaniel Cochran and his wife in the eighteenth century.
After Cochran had returned from his long captivity among the Indians
he journeyed to Hagerstown, Maryland, where in 1789, he married
Elizabeth Ford, bringing her and their scanty supply of household
goods across the mountains in that same year. Cochran himself walked
the entire distance, leading a cow that bore a burden of utensils, in-
cluding a pot and a skillet ; but his wife rode a horse, carrying her spin-
ning wheel in her lap, and having a feather tick hung on her saddle and
a bundle of bed clothes fastened at the back.
The earliest settlers were severely tested by many hardships and by
hard work, and represented the survival of the fittest. They had experi-
ences which required strength of body and mind, and large powers of
initiative in adjusting themselves to their environment.
219
220 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Many phases of their life are illustrated in the experiences of Mrs. Ann Bailey,
a noted pioneer woman of the New river and Kanawha valley. She was a native
of Liverpool, England, was probably born about 1742 and had visited London in
her childhood. She emigrated to Arirginia in 1761, sailed up the James river, ami
undertook the passage through the wilderness overland to Augusta county. In the
region of Staunton she married Richard Trotter in 1765. In Dunmore 's war her
husband was killed in the battle of Point Pleasant. For eleven years she remained
a widow, resolved to avenge her husband's death; and during the Revolutionary
war she clad herself in the costume of the border (with buckskin trousers and man's
coat and hat) and became prominent in her service in urging enlistments and was
widely known for her heroic deeds. After the Revolution she redoubled her energies
on foot and on horseback, she bore messages and dispatches from the eastern settle-
ments to the remotest frontiers along the Kanawha — from Staunton and Lewisburg
to Point Pleasant on the Ohio. She traveled the lonely defiles of the Alleghenies,
crossed the Sewcll mountains, the Gauley and the Elk rivers and other streams. She
traversed this region and the valley of the Kanawha, which became the scene of
many an adventure by her. In 1785 she was married in GTeenbrier County to a
brave scout named John Bailey who soon afterward became the commandant at
Fort Clendonin (Charleston) and took his bride with him to his new post. The
heroine of the Shenandoah became the heroine of the Kanawha. From Charleston
she often carried messages to Point Pleasant, to Lewisburg or to Staunton. On one
occasion as she journeyed from Charleston to Lewisburg, she slept in a hollow tree
to save herself from freezing. At the mouth of Thirteen Mile creek she some-
times slept in a cave long known as Ann Bailey's cave. Her famous ride from
Charleston to Lewisburg in 1791 to secure a necessary supply of powder for the
fort which was besieged by Indians has been preserved in song. It was a trip
through an almost trackless wilderness beset with wild beasts. When men in the
fort refused to undertake the perilous passage she mounted the fleetest horse, passed
through the forest via Kanawha falls, Hawk's Nest and Sewell mountains, arrived
safely at Lewisburg, secured a supply of powder, and refusing a return guard, reached
Charleston in time to relieve the besieged fort. Few women at 49 could endure
such hardships. After the treaty of 1795 which ended Indian depredations on the
Kanawha, she spent the remainder of her days chiefly in the region of Point Pleasant
and Gallipolis. She was known by the Shawnee women as the "White Squaw of
the Kanawha. ' ' She was also known as a driver of hogs and cattle from the
Shenandoah, and there is a tradition that she first introduced tame geese in the
Kanawha Valley, driving them 150 miles. She made her last visit to Charleston in
the summer of 1817, walking 75 miles when she was 75 years of age. Her son,
William Trotter, the first Virginian who was married in Gallipolis, was a practical
business man, and at one time (1814) bought 240 acres of land three miles from
the mouth of the Kanawha river, but after residing upon it for three years he sold
it and moved to Gallipolis, where his mother became a familiar figure. Ann died
on November 22, 1825, and was buried in the "Trotter Graveyard" in an unmarked
and nameless grave, but her spirit was long remembered on the Kanawha.
In every valley community were many such early frontiersmen who
exhibited a power of endurance which seemed remarkable to later gen-
erations. Schooled in the struggle against frontier difficulties they were
able to rear large families and to live long lives.
Robert Lilly, who lies buried at the mouth of Bluestone in an old
cemetery, begun by the burial of a child of emigrants passing through
the country, was the founder of the great generations of Lillys in the
counties of Summers, Raleigh, and Mercer, and lived to the age of 114
years. His wife, who was a Moody, lived 111 years. William McKinley
'later ("Squire" McKinley of Weston) and Uriah McKinley, both of
whom located on Freeman's creek near the site of Preemansburg by
1810, reared large families whose descendants constituted a large per-
centage of the population of that community a century later. These
cases simply illustrate the prolific tendency of the older families in
every settlement.
Concerning a resident on the present site of Sistersville, a Pitts-
burgher, wrote as follows: "Mr. Charles Wells, Sen., resident on the
Ohio, fifty miles below Wheeling, related to me while at his home in
October, 1812, the following circumstances: 'That he has had two
wives (the last of which still lives and is a hale, smart young-looking
woman), and twenty-two children, sixteen of whom are living, healthy,
and many of them married and have already pretty large families; that
a tenant of his, a Mr. Scott, a Marylander, is also the father of twenty-
two, the last being still an infant and its mother a lively and gay Irish
woman, being Scott's second wife; that a Mr. Gordon, an American-
German, formerly a neighbor of Mr. Wells, now residing on Little
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 221
Muskingum, state of Ohio, lias by two wives twenty-eight children.'
Thus these three worthy families have had born to them seventy-two
children, a number unexampled, perhaps, in any other part of the
world."
The early life of the frontier settlements was very simple. The set-
tlers who walked across the mountains, transporting all (heir goods on
pack horses could bring only the simplest tools — only those which were
indispensable or most important, including the axe, the mattock, the
hoe, the frow, the auger, a few pots and pans, a skillet, a pair of wool
cards and a spinning wheel. With them they also brought a bag of
corn meal, some salt, some gun powder and lead, and some garden sceils,
and a small supply of seed corn.
After locating Ins claim the settler built a rude log cabin — usually
on a site near a spring of water. Until the danger of Indian attack
had passed he bui 1 the chimney on the inside of the log's and made the
cabin door very strong. In the earliest period iron nails were seldom
used. The windows, with greased paper instead of glass, were protected
by heavy shutters.
Even before his cabin was completed the settler began to clear a small
tract of land upon which he raised some vegetables and a crop of corn
to supplement and balance the supply of wild meat which he easily
obtained by use of his gun in the woods. Usually his only plow was
constructed by himself from a forked sapling to which he attached crude
handles by wooden pins and to which he may have attached a small
piece of iron for a point. The horse, provided with home-made harness,
was often hitched to the plow by grape vine tugs.
The early dress of the pioneers was simple and unadorned. The
men, for convenience under conditions of life in the woods, adopted the
most characteristic portions of the Indian di'ess. They discarded breeches
for leggings which were extended far up the thigh and fastened to the
belt by strings. The women wore linsey dresses with short skirts and
numerous petticoats.
House furniture was also simple. Blocks of wood were in common
use for chairs. The floor or a platform in the corner served for a bed.
Slabs inserted in cracks in the wall were used for tables. Lighting, be-
yond that furnished by the fuel in the "fire place" was by "grease dip"
or by tallow candle. The kitchen furniture of the early pioneers, consisted
of only a few pots and pans and spoons, a skillet or two, and an oven.
The earlier dishes were pewter or wooden but these were gradually
replaced by china or ironstone and finally disappeared forever. Pewter
was retained be.yond its proper period by prejudice and custom in its
favor because the knife and fork slipped more easily upon the hard
smooth surface of china plates.
Every family had its washer-woman who operated without modern
laundry appliances. Soap was made by boiling "soap grease" with lye
extracted from ashes in the "ash hopper." One of the settlers in de-
scribing frontier life said :
"The houses were of logs; no nails to put on the roof with; we made our fur-
niture in the woods we raised our flax and wool and made our own hunting shirts
and short frocks; our shoos were moccasins; we had a big and a little kettle, an
oven, a frying pan and a ]>ot; we had no talde ware that would break and but
little of that; sharp sticks were used for forks and the butcher knife answered for
all. We raised corn and hogs for these were the surest and most rapid producers
of bread and meat. There wore no mills, no stoics, no doctors. Thrown upon our
own resources, we learned to do without many things and to make others, and to
carefully take care of such as we had to have and which was difficult to procure,
some of which were powder and load and medicines."
One of the first settlers of the. trans-Allegheny country was Adam
O'Brien, if his roving disposition and movements would entitle him to
the name of settler. He had a cabin on Elk river at the mouth of Holly
river. For a long time he owned two tracts of land, held by patents,
in Randolph county. He lived on the Little Kanawha for awhile, ami
222 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
he also lived (in 1836) on the Big Sandy of Elk in Kanawha county,
and at the latter place he died in 1836. He seems to have been engaged
in making settlements on good lands for others. When asked how
he came to seek the wilderness and encounter the perils and sufferings
of frontier life, he answered that he "liked it and did not mind it a bit"
and in further explanation said, "that he was a poor man and had got
behind hand and when that's the case, there is no staying in the settle-
ments for those varments, the sheriffs and constables, who were worse
than Indians, because you could kill Indians, and you dare not kill the
sheriffs. ' '
He said ' ' that they lived quite happy before the Eevolution, for then there was
no law, no courts and no sheriffs and they all agreed pretty well, but after awhile
the people began to come and make settlements and then there was need for law;
and then came the lawyers and next the preachers and from that time they never
had any peace any more, that the lawyers persuaded them to sue when they were
not paid, and the preachers converted one half and they began to quarrel with the
other half because they would not take care of their own souls, and from that time,
they never had any peace for body or soul, and that the sheriffs were worse than
the wild cats and painters and would take the last coverlit from your wife's straw
liid or turn you out in a storm, and I tell you, mister, I would rather take my
chances and live among savages than live among justices and lawyers and sheriffs,
who with all their civility, have no natural feeling in them."
Doubtless there were many homes which represented considerable
improvement in conditions of living. Peddlers soon learned the way to
the frontier settlements, and enterprising merchants soon followed. Ac-
cording to an inventory of the Joseph Rinnan estate placed on record
in Randolph county clerk's office, June 21, 1793, with Edward Hart
as administrator, the personal property was valued at $517 and included
the following :
"9 horses, wheat and rye, two curtains, 2 pairs pillows and cases, 1 towel, 1
fine shirt, 1 lawn apron, 1 black apron, 1 cambriek apron, fine trumpery, 1 silk-
gause apron, 2 handkerchiefs, children 's clothing, 1 coat, 1 jacket, 5 long gowns,
1 pair of shoes and silver buckles, 3 pettycoats, 2 check aprons, 4 short gowns, 2
beds and bed-clothing, 1 pair of pockets, 4 platters, 6 basins, 2 plates, 2 kegs, 1 pail,
1 pot tramble, 1 iron kettle, 2 scythes, 1 set of hangings, 1 gun, 1 pan, 2 bridles,
36 hogs, 16 cattle, 3 sheep, 1 grubbing hoe, two pairs plow irons and devices, 2 pots,
1 jug, 1 candlestick, 2 flat irons, 1 pair of shears, 9 spoons, steelyards, 1 brush, 2
collars, 1 ax."
In 1844 in most parts of western Virginia bread was still baked in
Dutch ovens buried in embers in the large fireplace. Turkeys were
cooked suspended by the legs above the open fire. There were few stoves.
Furniture in most homes was still extremely simple. Pianos in the
home were rare. The first piano in Weston arrived over the Staunton
and Parkersburg turnpike from Parkersburg in the summer of 1844
and was purchased by Mrs. Mary Wilson for her daughters who had
studied music in a school at Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, and who in
1844 joined their mother in establishing at their home in Weston a
school for young ladies and small boys. Most of the houses were still
built of logs.
Religious interests were not overlooked. Itinerant preachers —
usually Baptist, Methodist or Presbyterian — followed the narrow trails
to the infant settlements and braved the perils of the wilderness to
carry the message of brotherly love to the frontiers. In some instances
the establishment of church congregations preceded the organization of
orderly government. Rev. Henry Smith, who preached on the Clarks-
burg circuit in 1784, said of his congregation : ' ' The people came to
the meeting in backwoods style, all on foot. I saw an old man who had
shoes on his feet. The preacher wore moccasins. All others, men,
women and children, were barefooted. The old women had on what
we called then short gowns, and the rest had neither short nor long
gowns. I soon found if there were no shoes and fine dresses in the con-
gregation there were attentive hearers and feeling hearts."
The old itinerant preachers and the untiring missionaries who in the
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 223
pioneer times threaded the mountain paths, swam rivers, slept in the
woods, fasted from necessity, preached in cabins or among the trees,
baptized children, married the .young, and buried the dead, budded far
greater than their critics expected. Their works lived after them. The
churches which they planted in adversity grew — perhaps not in righteous-
ness— but in power and influence.
From primitive beginnings, a larger life slowly and gradually evolved
by the processes of change and growth. The earlier farmers while
farming in primitive fashion were stimulated by necessity to do many
things now done by artisans. They were jacks-of-all-trades. Many, in
addition to tilling their few acres, tanned leather for the winter shoes,
learned to make and repair shoes, and even manufactured the shoe
thread which they used for sewing. Men raised their own sheep, from
which they sheared the wool. Their wives prepared the flaxen wool for
the loom, and frequently wove the cloth. Many farmers did simple
blacksmithing and rude carpentering. Although culture was limited,
versatility in ordinary affairs was common.
Horse rakes with teeth of stout hickory began to appear soon after
the War of 1812. Perhaps the grape vine was used for transporting
hayshoeks from the earliest times. The grain cradle appeared as early
as 1818 and was not supplanted until long after the Civil war, although
the reaper began to take its place in favored localities in the later
forties or the early fifties. The old fashioned flail was the tool used for
threshing wheat in many communities long after the appearance of the
threshing machine elsewhere. Apparently brooms from broomcorn did
not begin to replace the old spilt broom until after 1822. Every home
had its spinning wheel, either small or large, and sometimes both. Every
neighborhood had several looms, which were probably more common
then than pianos and organs are now. The churn with perpendicular
dash was in nearly universal use before 1860. It was made "Big at
the bottom and little at the top" so that when it was set by the fire the
hoops would not drop.
Although apple trees were introduced in the eastern Panhandle
quite early, and were probably introduced in the Monongahela valley
before the Revolution, the fruit was usually poor. Cider mills appeared
much later.
In 1838, James Hall, in his Notes on Western States, wrote as fol-
lows concerning changes in trans-Appalachian Virginia: "In western
Pennsylvania and Virginia, the toils of the pioneers have in a great
measure ceased, the log hut has disappeared, and commodious farm
houses of framed wrood, or stone, have been reared. Agriculture has
assumed a permanent character, and is prosecuted with steadiness and
method."
While responsive to the new environment, the old settlers still clung
to many old ideas which they had brought from the East. Old habits
are hard to break in places isolated from large commercial centers. At
Point Pleasant the old account books of fur traders show that the Eng-
lish money system was still used in 1803. In Pendleton county and
other interior counties the English system of pounds and shillings was
used almost exclusively until 1800. It then began to yield, though very
slowly. An appraisement at a sale would be reckoned by one method,
and the result of the sale by another. By 1830 the word pound had
fallen into disuse, but smaller sums were still reckoned in terms of
shillings and pence. There were as .yet no nickels, dimes, and quarters
of Federal coinage, but there were Spanish coins in general circulation.
It was not until the upheaval of 1861 that the last vestiges of the old
system were driven out of use.
The problems of sheltering cabin and rude agricultural clearings
were soon followed by larger problems of better communication through
the almost fathomless depths of almost trackless regions and of im-
provements in transportation. At first, following mere trails along
the streams or across the bends of the streams or the divides, they opened
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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 225
wider avenues of travel as thickening settlements and multiplying popu-
lation dictated the formation of new counties and the incorporations
of new towns. From 1800 to 1830 the number of counties increased from
thirteen to twenty-three.
In everything the frontier settlers were bound together by a com-
munity interest — fasting, feasting, fighting, praying and cursing with
one common mind. Although always influenced by traditions and cus-
toms and laws of Anglo-Saxon civilization, they often became in their
isolated communities a law unto themselves. Banded together by neigh-
borly ties and co-operation, and isolated from the touch of orderly law
and the refinements of culture, they forged a set of customs which
were transmitted like law forming the basis of an unwritten law.
By visits to the mill and by occasional attendance at the county court,
or at militia musters, the people kept in touch with some of the larger
life beyond their narrow horizon. The chief community interest of the
early period found expression in warding off Indian attacks, and in
co-operative neighborhood work such as house raisings and log roll-
ings. Later there were other diversions, such as com huskings, which
were occasions of neighborhood gayety, especially for the young. The
occasional visit of a traveler from the older communities furnished an
opportunity for hospitality which was gladly accepted. The greatest
social occasions were the weddings, which always attracted general in-
terest. The following description of early weddings in Berkeley county
was probably largely applicable to many transmontane communities:
For a long time after the first settlement of this locality, the inhabitants in
general married very young. There was no distinction of rank and very little of
fortune. On these accounts the first impressions of love resulted in marriage, and
a family establishment cost nothing more than a little labor. The practice of
celebrating the marriage at the house of the bride began at an early period, and
it should seem with great propriety. She was also given the choice to make the
selection as to who should perform the ceremony. In those days a wedding engaged
the attention of a whole neighborhood, and both old and young engaged in the
frolic with eager anticipation. This is not to be wondered at, when it is told that
a wedding was almost the only gathering which was not accompanied with the labor
of reaping, log rolling, building a cabin, or planning some scout or campaign.
On the morning of the wedding day, the groom and his attendants assembled
at the house of his father, for the purpose of reaching the mansion of his bride by
noon, which was the usual time for celebrating the nuptials, and which for certain
must take place before dinner. * * * The gentlemen dressed in shoepaeks,
moccasins, leather breeches, leggins, and linsey hunting shirts, all homemade. The
ladies dressed in linsey petticoats and linsey or linen bed gowns, coarse shoes, stock-
ings, handkerchiefs, and buckskin gloves, if any; if there were any buckles, rings,
buttons or ruffles, they were relics of old times, family pieces from parents or grand-
parents. The horses were caparisoned with old saddles, bridles or halters, and pack-
saddles, with a bag or blanket thrown over them — a rope or string as often consti-
tuted the girth as a piece of leather.
Another ceremony commonly took place before the party reached their destina-
tion. When the party were within about a mile of the bride 's house, two young men
would single out to run for the bottle. The worse the path, the more logs, bush
and deep hollows, the better, as these obstacles afforded an opportunity for the
greater display of intrepidity and horsemanship. * * * The bottle was always
filled for the occasion and there was no need of judges. The first that reached the
door was handed the prize, and returned in triumph announcing his victory over his
rival by a shrill whoop. The bottle was given the groom and his attendants at the
head of the troop, and then to each pair in succession, to the rear of the line. After
giving each a dram, he placed the bottle in his bosom and took his station in the
company. The ceremony preceded the dinner, which was a substantial backwoods
feast of beef, pork, fowls and sometimes venison and bear meat, with plenty of
cabbage, potatoes and other vegetables.
After dinner dancing commenced with four handed reels or square sets and
jigs, and generally lasted until the next morning. About 9 or 10 o'clock a deputa-
tion of the young ladies stole off the bride and put her to bed. This would be
unnoticed by the hilarious crowd, and as soon as discovered a deputation of young
men in like manner would steal off the groom and place him snugly by the side of
his bride. The dance still continued, and when seats happened to be scarce, which
was often the case, every young man, when not engaged in the dance, was obliged
to offer his lap as a seat for one of the girls, which was sure to be accepted. The
younger guests usually danced until the following morning, keeping time to the
music of the frontier fiddler and from time to time renewing their spirits from the
bottle called "Black Betty."
Vol. 1—15
226 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
As late as 1822, after the passage of the act of 1819, to regulate
marriages and to prevent forcible and stolen marriages, there were
complaints that the inhabitants in some localities labored under great
inconvenience from lack of persons duly authorized to officiate in per-
forming the rites of matrimony. To remedy this condition in Cabell,
Kanawha and Monongalia, the Assembly authorized the county courts
to appoint persons who could legally officiate after they took the oath
of allegiance
In the earlier periods of settlement it was customary every autumn
for each little neighborhood of a few families to send a caravan of pack
horses heavily laden with peltries, ginseng and bears' grease, to the
older settlements east of the mountains to barter for salt, iron, utensils
and implements. The difficult journey by bridle paths required several
days. Two men often managed a caravan of ten to fifteen- horses, each
carrying about 200 pounds burden. At night they encamped and sank
to sleep on wooden pack-saddle pillows, often amidst the sound of howl-
ing wolves aud screaming panthers. For many parts of northwestern
Virginia the place of exchange first by pack horse and later by pack
horse and wagons was in succession, Baltimore, Frederick, Hagerstown,
Oldtown and Fort Cumberland. For others the place of exchange was
Winchester. One route to Winchester led via Clarksburg, Belington
and Elkins. The trip by this route required from five to seven days in
going and a longer time in returning. A camp in the Laurel Moun-
tains near the site of Elkins became a regular stopping place on the
journey. The trip was a dangerous one, full of adventures and hardships,
and the men usually formed parties to go on the expedition, each man
having two horses. The early trails were only wide enough for a horse
to walk without danger of scraping off the packs against trees. There
were no hotels on the way at which the pioneer could stop and procure
food for himself and forage for his horses. The traveler was some-
times at the mercy of storms or wild beasts. John Hacker was caught
one night in a terrific snowstorm high in the Alleghenies. He tried to
make a fire from the flint and tinder he carried, but could not on ac-
count of the increasing numbness of his hands and arms. He probably
would have perished but for the fact that he lashed his two horses to-
gether so that he could lie between their backs.
Ginseng was at first practically the only article of trade the settlers
had to take to Winchester. * * * In order to keep from being
molested by the thieves who infested the woods on the way to and from
Virginia, the settlers posed as "sang diggers" long after they had other
articles to barter. When these first traders appeared in Winchester the
people there could hardly believe that the strangers were from the
other side of the mountains. The first member of the Ice family who
settled in Marion county has left an interesting account of his first
eastern trip — a trip which he made with his father. During the trip
they lost count of the days and at Winchester could only tell the curious
people who crowded around them that they had "started in the
morning. ' '
The difficulties of transportation across the mountains were so great
that the western settlers usually purchased only the barest necessities
of life, even if their stock of furs had been sufficient to purchase luxuries.
When John Reger married Elizabeth West at West's fort in 1788, the
bride attracted much attention by a store gown of calico which the
groom had brought from Winchester on foot.
The absohvte necessity of the eastern trade to secure salt and iron
made imperative the construction of the first roads over the mountains.
Some traders bought their salt at Pittsburgh, and after the settlement
at Wheeling was well established the settlers eastward as far as Glover's
Gap brought their supplies from that place. After the discovery of the
Bulltown salt springs on the Little Kanawha, the manufacture of salt
at that place for several years largely supplied the needs of that locality
and eastward as far as Buckhannon. Farther south the manufacture
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 227
of salt especially began to emancipate the West from the East. In
1797 the first salt furnace on the Great Kanawha was set up. In 1807
the method of manufacture improved by the Kuft'ner brothers increased
the quantity of the product and soon made the "Kanawha Salines"
widely known. The industry furnished an occupation for many people,
some of whom built keel boats and distributed the manufactured prod-
ucts along the Ohio and its tributaries. In 1814, 600,000 bushels were
produced. The importance of the industry was increased by the appli-
cation of steam to water navigation. When salt began to be made in
quantities greater than the neighborhood demanded, it was shipped to
the new settlements down the river by canoes. The first shipment on
a more pretentious scale was in 1808, when a lograft was formed by
fastening the log's together by hickory poles, when a lot of salt was
packed in empty bacon hogsheads and barrels and placed on it and
floated down to the new settlements.
In 1838, James Hall in his "Notes on Western States" wrote: At a distance
of about 00 miles from the mouth (of the Kanawha), by the meanders of the river,
commences the richest salt region in the U. S. It extends about 10 miles along the
river; and within that distance there are 80 or 90 separate establishments for the
manufacture of salt, thickly scattered along the shore on either side of the stream.
A large portion of the salt used in the West, has been furnished from these fur-
naces, which have proved extremely lucrative to the proprietors. Altho they have
been in operation for many years, the supply of brine remains undiminished, and
the neighboring hills furnish an inexhaustible supply of bituminous coal, lying in
thick, horizontal strata, in sight of the furnaces, and in positions elevated a few-
feet above them.
The salt industry led to the first discovery of natural gas in western
Virginia. The first flow of gas was obtained from a well drilled for
brine, by Capt. James Wilson, within the limits of Charleston, in 1815.
Later it was found in great quantities in the salt wells of the Great
Kanawha valley. In 1841, William Tompkins, in boring a salt well a
short distance above the "Burning Spring" struck a large flow of gas,
which he at once turned to account by using it as a fuel for "boiling
his furnace" and thereby greatly reduced the cost of salt.
In 1843, Dickinson and Shrewsbury, enterprising salt makers, while
boring a well for brine a few rods distant from the Tompkins well,
tapped, at a depth of 1,000 feet, nature's great gas reservoir in this
region. "So great was the pressure of this gas and the force with
which it was vented through this bore-hole that the auger, consisting
of a heavy iron sinker weighing some 500 pounds, and several hundred
feet more of auger poles, weighing in all perhaps 1,000 pounds, was shot
up out of the well like an arrow out of a cross-bow. * * * For many
years the natural flow of gas lifted the salt water 1,000 feet from the
bottom of the well, forced it a mile or more through the pipes to a salt
furnace, raised it into a reservoir, boiled it in a furnace, and lighted
the premises all around at night."
Thenceforth gas was the principal fuel used in the Kanawha Salines.
The salt makers on the Kanawha river invented drilling tools for
boring oil wells and they contributed to the later great development of
the oil fields in West Virginia and adjoining states. The invention first
spread from the Kanawha valley to Ohio, and later to distant regions
in all parts of the world where oil wells have been bored.
In the interior region in the earlier period, before there was much
grass for cattle, hog raising was the chief live stock industry. The hogs
were fattened on mast and corn and driven on foot to Richmond for
slaughter there. This industry was later stimulated by the construe
tion of the Staunton and Parkersburg pike. Later, after larger cleared
acres had been "set to grass," the cattle industry became important.
The cattle, before the construction of the Baltimore and Ohio railway,
were usually driven to Baltimore or to Philadelphia, and sometimes to
New York.
After the construction of Hie Northwestern and the Staunton and
Parkersburg turnpike considerable wagon trade of the interior region.
228 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
as far as Buckkannon, was established with Parkersburg, from which
salt, iron, steel and dry goods were obtained. Joseph S. Reger states
that the round trip from Buekhannon required about two weeks.
The treaty with Spain in 1795 and the later opening of steam navi-
gation, stimulated the activity of commerce on the Ohio and encouraged
many to plant on a larger scale and participate in a larger and more
convenient commerce. Small farms on the Monongahela and upper
Ohio early became the source of supply to the New Orleans markets for
flour, potatoes, apples and pork.
Cattle raising also became an important industry along the Ohio
from whence they were driven to the Glades for a brief period of pasture
• and then to the Baltimore and Philadelphia markets.
Wool growing also became important in a few sections. Sheep rais-
ing grew to a profitable industry in the counties on the upper Ohio and
on the Monongahela. Wheeling became a town of woolen mills. Later
the war of 1812 emphasized the need of internal improvements. The
commercial restrictions of the period were a factor in causing trade
and immigration across the Alleghenies by an overland route. In 1815,
wheat and cotton were carried in wagons from Wheeling to the East,
and after the opening of the Cumberland road to Wheeling in 1818
there was a larger traffic across the mountains from the neighboring
region.
Finally, through the fertility of the soil and frugal industry, and
the eastern demand for surplus products, the problems of the primitive
life of frugal economy and mere subsistence were merged into the new
problems of improved industry and better houses and new conditions
and standards of life. The surplus product of energy and labor, through
the law of supply and demand, found a sale in the older communities
of the East — furnishing them a money commodity of exchange, the
means to increase their wants and to improve their homes and farms,
and the stimulus to facilitate communication between East and West.
With these improvements came the accumulation of wealth and the
increase of refinement and culture.
New influences appeared with the arrival of a new class of settlers
such as those who formed the German settlement in Preston near Mt.
Carmel and the New Englanders who made their largest settlement at
French creek in Upshur county and in Lewis. Several colonies of Ger-
mans also found homes along the Little Kanawha in the upper pan-
handle and in Doddridge and Randolph counties.
The early wooden farm implements gradually gave way to iron
implements which later were gradually improved or supplanted. The
old hominy block with wooden pestle was succeeded by the handmill
of stone, which later gave way to the water-propelled tub-mill which
first utilized the water power along the rapid streams around the sources
of the South Branch, the Cheat, the Monongahela, the Elk, the Gauley,
the New and the Tug. The early sickle and flail gradually gave way
to the reaping cradle and thresher by a natural process of evolution.
About 1840 the first rude "chaff-piler" threshing machine made its
appearance. In 1850 the Downs' "Separator" thresher was introduced,
followed soon thereafter by its rival, Ralston 's "patent threshing and
cleaning machine." Delanoe's "patent independent" horse rakes, and
Ketcham's mowers, first introduced in the vicinity of Wheeling in 1854
by R. H. Hubbard (the first dealer in agricultural implements in the
western part of the state) were not generally used until about 1865.
The cultivation of sorghum cane, introduced into the territory of west-
ern Virginia in 1857, rapidly spread to almost every county.
The first county fair in the territory of West Virginia was held
at Mecklenburg (now Shepherdstown) by authority granted by the
Virginia house of burgesses in 1766. The first encouragement or con-
centrated action for the improvement of agriculture in western Vir-
ginia, attempted in 1841 by the creation of a board of agriculture by
an act which was repealed the following year, was accomplished through
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
229
the Marshall County Agricultural Association, which was incorporated
in 1850, and similar associations organized in Monongalia, Jefferson and
Cabell counties. The Northwestern Virginia Agriculture Society, which
purchased and equipped the Wheeling fairgrounds, was incorporated
in 1858.
Between 1830 and 1850 western Virginia increased rapidly in popu-
lation and in wealth. This was due in part to the construction of turn-
pikes which attracted emigrants and aroused the interest of speculators
in the cheap lands and the rich natural resources. So intense was the
land craze at times that associations were formed to prevent land buyers
from overbidding each other and to treat those who offended to rail-
rides and tar and feathers. At the same time many factories were
established by capitalists from New England and the Middle States who
brought emigrants with them.
The material advance of the settlements before the era of railroads
may oe measured by the evolution of mills, by the increase in the num-
ber and size of stores and by the evolution and development of roads
Old Mill at Grassy Creek, Over Lower Guyandot Sandstone, One
Mile North op Leivasy, Nicholas County
and ferries and methods of transportation — as well as by the changes
in farm implements and machines and the general development of agi-i-
culture. Before 1807 there was a greater demand for the construction
of mill dams, ferries, and smelting furnaces than for internal communi-
cation with the East.
Quite early, the grist mill was introduced and became the social cen-
ter of the neighborhood, or rather the news center to which men or
their boys brought their grist on horseback.
The earliest mills, the "tub mills," which were built in the oldest
trans-Allegheny settlements about 1779 or 1780, began to be superseded
between 1795 and 1800 by the better water grist mill (ecpiipped with
country stones), which in time retreated before the steam mills. Before
1807 the construction of dams across the Monongahela was first regulated
by the Virginia legislature by an act of December 5, 1793, and later
by act of February 3, 1806. Many such dams were found along the
streams of the settled regions by 1820. When the first official examina-
tion and partial survey of the Monongahela river was made in 1820,
under the direction of the Virginia Board of Public Works, beginning
a mile below the Lewis county court house and continuing to the Penn-
sylvania line, there were between these points (nearly 107 miles) ten
dams — usually mill dams.
Forest industries were begun with the earliest settlements. The first
230 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
saw mills in the present territory of West Virginia appeared (probably
by 1755) on the Potomac and its tributaries. Probably there were a
dozen crude water saw mills in that region (including the South Branch
country) by 1775, and possibly five times that number by 1800. There
were about fifty such mills in Berkeley county alone in 1810.
The first saw mill west of the mountains is said to have been built near the
town of St. George, in Tucker county by John Minear in the year 1 7 7 (5 . This was
a sash saw mill anil stood on Mill run, a small tributary of ('hint river. Another
was built by the MeNeals some years after their settlement in southern Pocahontas
eounty in 17(55, and another by Valentine Cackley at Millpoint, in the same county,
in 1778. The Gazetter of Virginia and the District of Columbia, written by Joseph
Martin, contains one of the first available lists of saw mills in what is now West
Virginia. According to this list there were forty or more water mills running in
1835. Probably the most extensive water saw mill operations in- the state were
conducted on Middle Island creek and its tributaries in Pleasants, Tyler, and Dodd-
ridge counties. In Tyler county alone not fewer than twenty-four sash mills were
running in this vicinity between the years 1840 and 1880. Some of the mills were
in operation day and night in winter, and all sawed choice white and yellow pines
for southern markets.
As late as 1863, when West Virginia had its birth as a state, seven-eighths of
the lumber consumed here and exported was manufactured by water power on the
primitive types of saw mills.
The next step in the evolution of sawing devices was the introduction of steam-
propelled rotary saw mills that were capable of being hauled from place to place.
This type of mill, which is still in use in the state, — numbering over fifteen hundred
in present operation — is too familiar to require description. Little is known of the
first years of the steam saw mill industry. It would bo impossible at this time to
obtain full data as to their number and location. Local historians, with one or two
exceptions, have remained silent regarding it, and all that can now be learned of the
early stages of steam saw milling must be laboriously secured from a few imperfect
records and from the older citizens of the state who were lumbermen many years
ago. According to Martin 's list there were fifteen steam saw mills in operation in
the counties that now constitute West Virginia, in 1835. The increase in number
of portable mills was not rapid during the first thirty or forty years after their
introduction. With the coming of the railroads, however, mills of this kind began to
multiply rapidly. New towns that grew up along these roads required a large
amount, of rough lumber for the hastily-built houses, and it was usually possible
to locate mills near by. In 1870 J. H. Diss Bebar wrote: "Along both branches
of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, from twenty to thirty first-class mills are cutting
on an average 3,000 feet of lumber a day." And so it was along practically all
other railroads as they were built from time to time. A few came at first and these
were soon followed by many others, as mentioned in the quotation above. Just as
the old water mills followed closely the first settlements, supplying lumber for floors
and ceiling in the log houses and for the construction of the first frame dwellings,
so the portable mills followed the later settlements as they were begun along the
lines of the railroads.
During the years when the more primitive types of saw mills were running and
continuing in some cases to the present time, were other forest industries of con-
siderable importance. The list of these industries includes the making and floating
of flat-boats, the rafting of logs and other timber products, the manufacture of
cooperage stock, the hoop pole industry, shingle-making, cross-tie industries, tanning,
and others of less importance.
Eafting has been conducted on all the principal rivers of the state except those
that are too rough to admit of it. On the Ohio river rafts of lops could be seen
as early as 1830; and not far from the same time flat-boats were being made on the
Kanawha, the Coal and the Elk rivers. Most of the flat-boats were loaded with
staves and taken to the salt works near Charleston where they were sold. For the
past seventy-five years log rafts and single logs have been taken in large numbers
from the forests that border the Ouyandotte, the Big Sandy, the Little Kanawha,
and other rivers. The hoop pole industry was enormous during the years of the
early life of the state.
The forest and timber industries — beginning in a small way with the earliest
settlements of the state, and increasing to their present large proportions — have
meant more in the way of benefits to the citizens of West Virginia than any other
industry except that of farming. All classes of people have been, and still con-
tinue to be, the beneficiaries of these forest industries. The forest industries not
only brought capital into the region, but also furnished employment for thousands
of citizens and also was the means of establishing social centers and developing
wholesome social customs. Hundreds of small villages and flourishing larger towns
of today stand where lumber camps formerly stood, built long ago in dense woodeil
regions. In these camps a rough but large-hearted, robust, and justice-loving com-
pany of young lumbermen — some from the rural homes of the state and others from
outside our borders — constituted the first temporary and shifting population of
these centers, — a few lingering behind as the first permanent residents.
In the pioneer era of West Virginia, following the earliest period of
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
231
settlement, there were a number oi' iron furnaces which supplied iron
for local needs. In Monongalia and Preston counties were several iron
furnaces at an early date — possibly by 1790 or earlier. One on Decker's
creek above Morgantown was working in 1798. Another, the old Cheat
river furnace, seven miles from Morgantown, near Ice's Ferry, was
standing in that year. More than a dozen furnaces were in operation
in the vicinity in the half century before the Civil war. Some of them
were operated ten or fifteen years after the war. The manufacture of
iron on Cheat, near lee's Feriy, became an important industry by
1849. Early in the nineteenth century, possibly by 1810, iron from
Hampshire county was transported in boats down the Capon river, and
thence down the Potomac to Georgetown. In Hardy county, near
Wardensville and Moorefield were other furnaces, some of which oper-
ated until after the Civil war. Near Greenland Gap in Grant county
was another, the Fanny furnace, which was well known in its day for
Cacapon Furnace Stack Near Wardensville, Hardy County
(Courtesy of West Virginia Geological Survey)
the fine quality of cook stoves manufactured. A furnace on Brushy-
fork, Barbour county, which was built in 1848, made 9,000 pounds of
iron a day. It was worked for six years. In the smelting, charcoal was
used as fuel, although the furnace stood on a vein of coal. The iron
was hauled by mule teams fifty miles to the Monongahela river near
Fairmont for shipment by boat to the down-river market. The blast
was operated first by water power and afterwards by an engine (be-
lieved to have been the first, in Barbour county), about 1S50. It was
thirty-nine feet high when built. The last furnace which was operated
in West Virginia was the old Capon furnace, six miles south of Wardens-
ville, Hardy county, which was built, in 1822 and was finally closed
in 1880. It was worth about $15,000 in 1832, exclusive of real estate.
In the later period of its operation the cost of hauling the iron across
the mountains to the railroad was ten dollars a ton, which, added to the
expense of production, made the cost of the iron at the railroad $25 a
ton. During the prosperous years of the furnace, prices for the prod-
uct ranged from $40 to $60 a ton. In 1855 the plant produced 220
tons of iron. The doom of the old style furnaces resulted in part from
the opening of the St. Mary canal in 1855, furnishing cheap transpor-
tation for vast quantities of cheap iron ore on Lake Superior which
232 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
began to move eastward. The final decline followed Bessemer 's process
of making steel which drove much of the old wrought iron from the
field. Competition became too severe for the costly methods necessary
in mining and in reducing low grade ores. One by one the old stacks
were abandoned and the furnaces speedily went to ruins. A number
of dilapidated chimneys remain, mute witnesses of former industry,
and of small fortunes made or lost.
Nails were made at Morgantown by machinery soon after 1800. At
Wheeling the manufacture of nails was commenced in 1834 — and through
this industry Wheeling became known as the ' ' nail city. ' '
The development of transportation, confronted with many obstacles,
was determined largely by the pressing needs of the growing communities.
After the Braddock and Forbes roads, the first road affecting the
Monongahela region was cleared from the South Branch to Fort Pitt
along the general route of the Braddock road by commissioners ap-
pointed by the general assembly in 1766.
It was not until 1782 that Lewisburg secured a wagon road across
the Allegheny to Warm Springs. Over this road loads of 2,500 pounds
were hauled in 1785.
The first road connecting directly with the Virginia-Monongahela
region was the "state road" from Winchester via Romney to Mor-
gantown, authorized by the legislature previous to 1786, when a branch
wagon road was authorized to be opened from a point on this road near
Cheat to Clarksburg. Over this route there was probably no wagon
traffic for many years. A wagon was driven from Alexandria over
the road to Morgantown as early as 1796. In 1786 the legislature also
authorized the opening of roads from Morgantown to the mouth of
Fishing creek, and from the state road in Harrison county to the mouth
of the Little Kanawha. Among the other earlier authorized roads which
at first were little more than trails, were one from Morgantown to the
mouth of Graves creek in 1795, one from Clarksburg to Point Pleasant
in 1806, one from the Monongahela Glades to the mouth of Buffalo and
to the Ohio in 1812, one from Beverly via Clarksburg and Middlebourne
to Sistersville in 1817, and a turnpike from Staunton (via Jackson
river, Huttonsville and Beverly) to Booth's Ferry on Tygart's valley
in 1818. The first post roads were opened to Morgantown and Wheel-
ing, at which the first post offices were established in 1794. Morgantown
and Clarksburg advertisements and news, which before 1797, found
their only avenue of newspaper publication in the Pittsburg Gazette,
appeared in the Fayette Gazette from 1797 to 1804, at which date a
paper was established at Morgantown.
About 1783 (the exact date is not certain), a wagon was taken from
Hampshire county to the Horse Shoe, in Tucker county, by Thomas
Parsons, when there was no pretense of a wagon road for the fifty
miles crossing the Alleghenies. The wagon was empty and drawn by
four horses. Probably that was the first wagon to cross the Alleghenies
in western Virginia and anyhow the first north of Greenbrier county.
Very soon after 1783, Jacob Warwick took a wagon to Pocahontas county.
Probably home-made wagons were in use in Randolph county and in
Monongalia county as early as 1783, but none had yet been seen at
Clarksburg.
As early as 1788 the old Indian trail leading from Clarksburg to
Winchester, passing through Barbour, crossing Tucker at the head of
Clover Run and crossing Cheat river at St. George, was spoken of in
the records as the "State Road." If one mile of it at that time had
ever known a wheel, certainly it was not in Barbour or Tucker, and
probably not in Harrison. Still it was called a road, and was some-
times distinguished as the "Pringle Packroad," because it was prob-
ably marked out (or, at least, followed) by the Pringles and other early
settlers on the Buckhannon river. * * * It was the highway from
the East to the West, through Barbour and Tucker. Very little of it
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 233
ever became a wagon road. As early as 1803 wagons could pass from
Philippi to Clarksburg over a road on the west side of the river.
The first wagon road on the east side of the river, in Barbour county,
was made by William P. Wilson in 1800. It was seven miles long and
led from the site of Philippi to Bill's creek, where Mr. Wilson then
lived. He built for seventy-five cents a rod, and it went up the points
of hills and followed the tops of ridges, over the tops of knobs, rather
than to grade around them, to save digging. In 1806, Virginia gave
aid to repair a post road in Randolph county. Ferries, which began to
appear by 1776, were established in 1785, at other points and by 1803
were operated over the Ohio and Little Kanawha at Parkersburg (over
the mouth of Fishing creek and the Guyandotte, and over the Great
Kanawha at the mouth of Coal and at other places). Toll bridges,
which began to appear by 1807, were considerably increased in number
from 1816 to 1819. The completion of the National Road from Cum-
berland to the Ohio at Wheeling in 1818, stimulated progress in its
vicinity for branch roads to intersect it, and further south for com-
peting roads between Virginia towns and the Ohio. Wagons were long
scarce in many parts of western Virginia. Until about 1840 there were
only two light wagons in Pendleton county. When Zebulon Dyer drove
from his home to Franklin in his carryall, people came to look at the
strange sight with wonder.
Considerable factors in the prosperity of the time, and in the forma-
tion of new community tastes and customs, were the new turnpikes be-
tween East and West and the stage line established thereon. They
brought not only business and traffic but also brought to the homes a
standard of better living as evidenced by the first improved furniture,
pianos and other instruments of music.
In 1830 the assembly was flooded by petitions from the West, urging
the incorporation of internal improvement companies and appropriations
for turnpikes or for permission to raise money by lotteries. In the
decade after 1830, the question of roads, which had already become
prominent, assumed a position of dominating importance. The con-
struction of the Northwestern turnpike and the Staunton and Parkers-
burg turnpike, stimulated the construction of intersecting roads — and in
various ways exerted on the social and economic development, in almost
every part of the Monongahela region, an influence which continued until
the greater changes wrought by the advent of the railroad. About
1852, many bridges were built across streams at important crossings.
The need of river improvement was felt early. In 1785, a portion
of the Potomac was cleared of rocks at Harper's Ferry.
River transportation to Pittsburg or to nearer points began at a very
early period. In 1793, the Virginia legislature passed the first act for
clearing and extending the navigation of the Monongahela and West
Fork rivers for the convenient passage of canoes and flat boats. In
January, 1800, it declared the Monongahela a public highway. Soon
thereafter both through private individual initiative, and possibly in
part through the report of Secretary Gallatin on internal navigation,
the question of river improvements to secure better navigation was
seriously considered early in the century. The subject received new
significance from the development of steam navigation on the Ohio,
following the trial trip of 1811-12. In January, 1817, the Monongahela
Navigation Company was incorporated by the legislature to make the
West Fork and Monongahela rivers navigable for flatboats, rafts and
lumber, and witli authority to cut a canal to divert the waters of the
Buckkannon to the waters of the West Fork in order to secure an addi-
tional supply of water. A survey from Weston to the Pennsylvania
line was made in 1820. The company, under the energetic lead of
John G. Jackson, began its work on West Fork even before the survey
was made, but soon abandoned the enterprise after the destruction of
some of its dams by a river freshet, and finally forfeited its rights and
franchises. Steamboats from Pittsburg began to make regular trips to
234 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Morgantown about 1820, bul the ascent to Fairmont, lirst made in 1850,
was more difficult, although in 1854 and thereafter, regular trips were
made at periods of high water. Improvement of the river above the
Pennsylvania line, strongly urged in the ante bellum decade, was post-
poned until the beginning of Congressional appropriations for the work
in 1872.
Propositions to improve, the two Kanawhas by slack water naviga-
tion were urged in 1820, resulting in the first legislation for improve-
ment on the Great Kanawha. Before that date the Kanawha valley
received considerable up stream traffic in family supplies purchased
from the new towns of Cincinnati and Limestone (now Maysville) and
transported in ribbed-keel bottomed boats called batteaux. In 1819,
the first steamboat on the Kanawha, the "Robert Thompson," ascended
to Red House. By its inability to ascend above that point Virginia
was induced to direct the James River and Kanawha Company to im-
prove the navigation of the river so that three feet of water could be se-
cured all the year to the Kanawha Falls to which the company was also
directed to construct, a turnpike across the mountains. In 1820, the
"Albert Donnally, " built for salt manufacturers on the Kanawha, as-
cended to Charleston and the traffic by river thereafter steadily in-
creased. In 182"), a system of sluices and wing dams was begun, but
they were not sufficient.
In 1838, the "James River and Kanawha Company" ordered a thor-
ough survey of the river with a view to securing three and one-half feet
of navigable water at all seasons. This survey was made by Air. Edward
H. Gill, engineer, under Col. Charles Ellett, Jr., chief engineer of the
company; but no further steps were taken at the time. About 1855-6
there were commenced large shipments of cannel coal from Cannel-
ton and from Elk river; Splint coal from Field's creek from about
Paint creek and Armstrong's creek; also large shipments of cannel coal
oil, manufactured at Cannelton, on Field's creek, Paint creek and Elk
river. The large shipment of coal after 1855 resulted in urgent de-
mands for better navigation facilities. In 1860 steps were taken to
extend the old s'uice and wing dam systems, but they were suspended
by the war. Packets between Charleston and Gallipolis, which at first
ran weekly and later triweekly, in 1845, began a daily service which
continued until the Civil war. After tin; separation of the state in
1863, West Virginia took charge of the Kanawha river, and created a
Kanawha board to cany on this improvement, collect tolls, etc., as the
James River and Kanawha Company had been doing. About 1820,
Dr. David Creel, who then represented Wood county in the Virginia
legislature, made an unsuccessful effort to induce the state to improve
the Little Kanawha by slack water navigation. In 1839, a survey of
the Little Kanawha was made from its mouth to Bulltown salt works
above Elizabethtown, but the work of river improvement was delayed
until work was begun in 1870, under action of Congress. On the
(Juyandotte, the dams for slack water navigation were built before
the war, but during the war became useless by neglect.
Life along the Ohio was greatly influenced by local traffic and travel
on the river. Many communities in western Virginia also felt the
influence of the trade between the Ohio and New Orleans which was
begun in the period of the Revolution. The craft most extensively em-
ployed was the flatboat. Commercial relations between northwestern
Virginia and the lower Mississippi steadily increased in importance
following pioneer trading expeditions such as that of Jacob Yoder, who,
in 1782, left Redstone on the Monongahela with a load of flour, sold it
at New Orleans, invested the proceeds in furs, sold the furs in Havana,
bought sugar and sold the sugar in Philadelphia.
Similar in character to the flatboat was the ark, employed for pas-
senger travel, and the principal reliance of the emigrant.
Sailing vessels built in the Ohio valley during the last decade of
the eighteenth century and grew in importance. They were exclusively
HISTOEY OP WEST VIRGINIA 235
down stream crafts, and the exporl carriers for these sections. These
ships were sometimes built of a 400-ton capacity. They could, how-
ever, never attain any permanent place in the commerce of this section
because they were one-way carriers only, because the narrowness of the
rivers restricted their freedom of movement, and because the irregu-
larity of water supply and the dangers of navigation made boats of
dec]) draft impraci icable.
The difficulties of navigation at this time can hardly be overesti-
mated.
The commerce floated on the lower Mississippi and the Ohio in these
first decades of the nineteenth century was of various origins. Besides
that which came from the settlements along the river banks, much traf-
fic came down the tributary streams to be collected and transported on
the main river streams. Manufactured articles from t he Atlantic seaboard
destined for Xew Orleans and upriver points came to Pittsburg across
the mountains, or to New Orleans by coasting vessel and then upstream
by barge. The principal upstream traffic of the barges consisted in
sugar and molasses, although groceries and other articles needed in the
Northwest territory were transported by this means. Down stream
trade was largely in flour and whiskey, but a more miscellaneous traffic
was also common.
In 1794 a regular keel-boat passenger travel was established between
Pittsburg and Cincinnati. By 1810, about twenty-five or thirty barges
were carrying barrels of coffee and hogsheads of New Orleans sugar on
the Ohio. The trip down stream from Pittsburg to New Orleans re-
quired a month. In 1810, about 150 of the 300 or 400 keel boats, which
were then plying on the Ohio, made three voyages between Pittsburg
and Louisville each season. Their peculiar advantage was in their nar-
row build, which permitted them to ascend the tributaries of the main
rivers for long distances and to provide the necessary means of com-
munication for the settlers of the interior. They distributed necessaries,
such as salt and flour, and did the carrying trade of the portages. As
their operators acquired knowledge of the danger points in the streams
their prestige grew and their patronage developed. This form of craft
was adapted for passenger travel by providing it with a covered deck.
It is not surprising that the number of flat and keel boats and
barges steadily increased during this period of steamboat beginnings.
The country was settling rapidly, traffic was growing, and flatboats could
carry heavier loads than the first, steamboats, their operators were ex-
perienced pilots, who had acquired custom and good will, and though
slow moving, they ranged farther in these early days than their steam-
propelled competitors.
The appearance of the first steamboat in 1811 under the manage-
ment of Nicholas Roosevelt, who was accompanied by his wife on his
first trip (regarded by many as a perilous one), was the sign of a new
era. Not until 1817, however, did steamboat navigation pass from the
experimental stage into regular useful service. By 1818 fifteen steamers
had been built at various points on the river and after 1824 the num-
ber of steamers rapidly increased.
As late as 1816 the practicability of navigating the Ohio with steam-
boats was esteemed doubtful; none but the most sanguine angered favor-
ably. James Hall, writing in 1838, recalled observing in 1816, in com-
pany with a number of gentlemen, the long struggles of a stern wheel
boat to ascend Horse-tail ripple (five miles below Pittsburg). He stales
it was the unanimous opinion that "such a contrivance" might conquer
the difficulties of the Mississippi as high as Natchez, but that the Ohio
must wait for some "more happy century of invention."
Mr. Hall states that Fulton while building his first boat at Pittsburgh traveled
across the mountain in a stage in company with several young gentlemen from
Kentucky. His mind was teeming with those projects, the successful accomplishment
of which has since rendered his name so illustrious — and his conversation turned
chiefly upon steam, steamboats and facilities for transportation. At length, in the
236 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
course of some conversation on the almost impassable nature of the mountains, over
which they were dragged with great toil, upon roads scarcely practicable for wheels,
Fulton remarked, ' ' the day will come, gentlemen — I may not live to see it, but some
of you who are younger probably will — when carriages will be drawn over these
mountains by steam engine at a rate more rapid than that of a stage on the smoothest
turnpike. ' ' The apparent absurdity of this prediction, together with the gravity
with which it was uttered, excited the most obstreperous mirth in this laughter
loving company, who roared, shouted, and clapped their hands, in the excess of their
merry excitement.
Steamboats carried almost no freight until 1819, and for many years
thereafter they met the competition of the more primitive craft.
The flatboats not only persisted but they increased in number and
capacity. They finally reached a size of 150 feet by 24, carrying 300
tons of produce. Their traffic grew and flourished until the Civil war
practically put on end to it. * * *
Because the traffic was predominantly downstream and because the
light traffic upstream could be taken care of by the steamboats, the keel
boat found its usefulness at an end and rapidly disappeared. The
flatboats on the other hand admirably supplemented the steamboats by
carrying downstream the products which the steamboats were not able
to handle, by navigating streams where the risks of snags and bars
were too great for the more valuable vessels, and where the settlements
were sparse and the business light, and by converting themselves into
lumber at New Orleans and thus removing themselves from the field of
competition for the meager upstream traffic. As late as 1840 nearly
one-fifth of the freight handled on the lower Mississippi went by flat-
boats, keel or barge, principally by flatboat. Steam towing of flatboats
was tried as early as 1829,' but was not successful, owing apparently
to the lack of proper organization and to the prejudices of the flatboat
owners. There was a steady decline in flatboat business to 1860.
There were no typical freight rates during the era of steamboat ing.
Rates varied widely with the supply and demand of boats, the stage of
water, and the quantities of freight offered, and it is difficult to give
any idea of them at all. In seasons when a good stage of water pre-
vailed, between 1850 and 1860, freight was carried from Pittsburg to
St. Louis and Nashville at forty-three mills per ton weight, and from
Pittsburg to New Orleans at thirty-six mills per ton weight.
Downstream rates for both passenger and freight traffic were usually
lower than those levied on upstream business, because, the time con-
sumed being less, the cost of operation was less in fuel and power ex-
tended, and in case of passenger business, the expense of boarding the
passengers was reduced. Steamboat captains charged in all cases what
the traffic would bear. It was frequently much more advantageous to
a prospective passenger to pay the exhorbitant fare demanded than to
stay in port and take his chances with the next boat, and a shipper had
to get his products to market at any cost.
The days of prosperous steamboating were the days of unregulated
monopoly, and the variations in water depth and the uncertainties of
travel often so crowded the limited traffic season that in the direction
of traffic movement passengers and shippers were wholly at the mercy
of steamboat captains. Small wonder that boats were often paid for
out of the earnings of a couple of years. Yet they were continuously
liable to destruction from bars, snags, collisions, explosions and burning.
And even if they survived these terrors, so flimsily were they built and
so recklessly were they run that most of them were unfit for service
after five years.
Many of the accidents were due to conditions of navigation over
which the navigators had no control, but many more were due to reck-
less steamboating. So long as there was no rail competition, speed was
an object. A speed record was a profitable means of advertising, and
the desire to attain it led to racing and resulted frequently to collisions
and explosions.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 237
111 1838, James Hall gave the following interesting views concerning steamboat
travel on the Ohio:
"It may not be useless or uninteresting to give an idea of the mortality of
steamboats in a given time. It is not pretended that any decided inference can be
drawn from this statement, or that the facts go to establish any fixed rule. But
under the present situation of steamboat discipline and regulation a tolerably fair
conclusion can be drawn from it. Taking the period for two years, from the fall
of 1831 to that of 1833, we have a list of boats gone out of service, of 66: of these
15 were abandoned, as unfit for service; 7 were lost by ice; 15 were burned; 24
snagged ; and 5 destroyed by being struck by other boats. Deducting the 15 boats
abandoned as unseaworthy, we have 51 lost by accidents peculiar to the trade. This
is over 12% per annum.
' ' A curious fact was ascertained by a committee of gentlemen, who were ap-
pointed a few years ago, by a number of steamboat owners, to investigate the whole
subject. They satisfied themselves that altho the benefits conferred on our country,
by steam navigation, were incalculable, the stock invested in boats, was, as a general
rule, a losing investment.
"A few instances in which large profits were realized, induced a great number
of individuals to embark in this business, and the tonnage has been always greater
than the trade demanded. The accidents, which are almost wholly the result of bad
management, were set down as among the unavoidable changes of navigation, and
instead of adopting measures to prevent them, they were deliberately subtracted from
the supposed profits, as matters of course. As the boat was not expected to last
more than four or five years, at best and would probably be burnt, blown up or
sunk, within that period, it was considered good economy to reduce the expenditures,
and to make money by any means, during the brief existence of the vessel. Boats
were hastily and slightly built, furnished with cheap engines, and placed under the
care of wholly incompetent persons; the most inexcusable devices were resorted to,
to get freight and passengers, and the most criminal indifference to the safety of
the boat and those on board, observable during the trip.
' ' The writer was once hurried from Louisville to Shippingsport 2 miles below,
without his breakfast and in the rain, to get on board a boat which was advertised
to start at 8 o'clock on that morning. During the whole day passengers continued
to come on board, puffing and blowing, in the most eager haste to secure a passage,
each having been assured by the captain or agent that the boat would start in less
than an hour. The next day presented the same scene; the rain continued to fall,
we were 2 miles from the city, lying against a miry bank which prevented any one
from leaving the boat. By and by the captain came — but then we must wait a few
minutes for the clerk, and when the clerk came the captain found that he must go
up to town. In the meanwhile passengers continued to accumulate, each decoyed
alike by the assurance that the boat was about to depart. Thus we were detained
until the third day, when the cabin and deck being crowded with a collection nearly
as miscellaneous as the crew of Noah's ark, the captain thought proper to proceed
on his voyage. It was afterwards understood that when the captain began to collect
passengers, a part of his engine was on shore, undergoing repairs which could not
be completed in less than two days, yet during the whole of these two days were
the fires kept up, and gentlemen and ladies inveigled on board, in the manner
related. We mention this to show the kind of deceptions which have been practised.
' ' The agent or officer who will deliberately kidnap men, by the assurance that he
will start to-day, when he knows that he will not start until to-morrow, and the owner
who will permit such conduct, will not shrink at any act by which he may think his
interests likely to be promoted — and having insured the boat, will risk the lives of
the passengers, by running at improper seasons, and other hazards, by which time
may be saved, and the expenses of the trip diminished.
"The danger of injury to boats from snags, has now been greatly dimished in
the Mississippi, and has almost entirely ceased in the Ohio, in consequence of the
measure adopted for the removal of these obstacles.
"The burning of boats must be the result of carelessness; and the dreadful con-
sequences arising from collision, are produced by negligence and design. There is
scarcely a conceivable case in which boats may not avoid running against each other
in the night; and their are many instances in which the officers of steamboats have
been induced by a ferocious spirit of rivalry or some other unworthy motive, to run
against weaker boats in such a manner as to sink them instantly."
The Civil war destroyed the greater part of the river trade and ar-
rested the commerce of Cincinnati which until 1860 was chiefly dependent
upon the Ohio and its connections.
The earliest towns in western Virginia usually grew around the court
house, around some early fort, or near a mill or a tanyard, or as a result
of the location of a "store" of goods or a tavern. Some towns, like
Union in Mercer county, started by location of the county seat and
grew largely because of the establishment of stores. Mrs. Royall, speak-
ing of Union in Mercer county, at the end of its first quarter-century,
said the place was "remarkable for nothing but a very elegant brick
court house and the residences of the renowned Andrew Beirne and
238 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
his famous rival, Caperton, both of whom amassed great wealth as
merchants and speculators." She said these two merchants were fleec-
ing the people and reducing them to insolvency and vassalage. Beirne
was called the "greasy peddler." He began with ginseng, taking it
from people's doors, thus saving them the trouble of taking it to Staun-
ton. He covered several counties in peddling goods brought from Phila-
delphia.
Springfield (in Hampshire county), whose chief early industry was
a tanyard owned by an Irishman, was a town of fortv log houses by
1820.
Wheeling was largely stimulated from the vast migration into Ohio—1
a migration which in 1805 was represented at Wheeling by 800 families
in three months and in 1807 was referred to by the Wheeling Repository
as "one continued drama — a moving frolic." Wheeling became the
head of navigation for a large number of emigrants who drove their
wagons and stock overland.
Cameron, which was begun by an Irish merchant who settled there
in 1846, grew because of its favorable location as a business point for
trade of a considerable part of Wetzel county and of Greene county,
Pennsylvania.
Some of the early regulations for mere villages seem curious to
a later generation. By an act, dated Christmas day, 1800, the trustees
of Franklin (Pendleton county), which became a town by act of 1788,
were authorized to make and establish legal regulations for protecting
property from fire, for keeping hogs from running at large, to prohibit
the galloping and racing of horses in streets and alleys, and for pre-
serving good order generally. The population was then only about
100. In 1820 an ordinance attempted to prevent the people of Union
from allowing sheep and hogs to run at large. In 1827 a petition for
the repeal of this law was submitted on the ground that such a law
was not suitable for such a small town.
By 1830 there were many little towns in which merchants kept a
stock of merchandise. Here were the homes of lawyers, physicians and
ministers, and in each class were men of brilliant intellects. In the
river valleys and on the rich uplands dwelt by far the larger part of
the population ; farmers who, in addition to producing corn, wheat,
buckwheat, potatoes and fruits for their own use, generally had a surplus
to sell to others; they also raised good horses, cattle, sheep and hogs.
Still another class dwelt in the "hill country" where they built their
cabin homes and cleared a few acres of land on which they produced
grains and vegetables sufficient for their own needs from year to year;
they had but few domestic animals, and for other food they depended
largely on wild game and fish. Periodically they visited the towns, there
lo barter venison, skins, furs, maple sugar and ginseng, for clothing,
coffee, medicines, ammunition and other necessities, and then returned
to their homes to follow the same routine to the end of their lives.
Stores at first kept only a few goods which had been carried over
the mountain on a pack horse. At a later period they were supplied
with larger stock brought by wagon from eastern markets or (first by
wagon and later by boat) from Pittsburg. With the stores developed
villages and towns some of which showed considerable economic and
social development by 1830 and thereafter.
In 1797, of the 510 post offices in the United States, eight were
within the present territory of West Virginia, as follows: Greenbrier
Court House, Martinsburg, Moorefield, Romney, Shepherdstown, Wheel-
ing, West Liberty and Morgantown. Four were east and four west
of the Alleghenies. According to the first Post Office Directory obtain-
able, that of 1841 included in the report of the postmaster-general for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1841, there were 206 post offices within
the limits of the present state of West Virginia, embraced in twenty-
eight counties, as follows:
Berkeley, 7; Braxton, 4; Brooke, 4; Greenbrier, 10; Hampshire, 16;
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 239
Hardy, 0; Harrison, 14; Jefferson, 7; Kanawha, 13; Logan, 4; Marshall,
6; Mason, 5; Nicholas, 3; Ohio, 3; Pendleton, 7; Pocahontas, 5; Preston,
5; Randolph, 6; Tyler, 7; Wood, 13.
Hampshire headed the list with sixteen offices while Mercer had but
one, Princeton, the county seat. Jefferson paid her postmasters $1,584.90,
and afforded $3,818.49 revenue to the department. Ohio county came
next paying postmasters $2,162.49, leaving but $2,589.30 "nett proceeds."
The salary of the postmaster at Wheeling was $2,000.
The following is a list of 126 "towns" incorporated within the present
limits of West Virginia by acts of the Virginia legislature in the century
before 1861, with names arranged in the order of the dates of the acts
of incorporation, and with geographic section indicated in each ease:
Year Town County Region of State
1 702 Romney Hampshire Potomac and S. Branch
1762 Shepherdstown Jefferson Potomac and S. Branch
1770 Berkeley Springs Morgan Potomac and S. Branch
1777 Moorefield Hardy Potomac and S. Branch
1778 Martinsburg Berkeley Potomac and S. Branch
1 782 Lewisburg Greenbrier Kanawha Valley
1785 Clarksburg Harrison Monongahela Valley
1785 Morgautown Monongalia Monongahela Valley
1780 Charlestown Jefferson Potomac and .S. Branch
1787 Frankfort Mineral Potomac and S. Branch
1787 Middletown Berkeley Potomac and S. Branch
1787 West Liberty Ohio Ohio Valley
1787 Watson Hampshire Potomac and S. Branch
1790 Beverly Randolph Monongahela Valley
1790 Springfield Hampshire Potomac and 8. Branch
1791 Wellsburg Brooke Ohio Valley
1791 Darkesville Berkeley Potomac and S. Branch
1794 Charleston Kanawha Kanawha Valley
1794 Point Pleasant Mason Kanawha Valley
1794 Franklin Pendleton Potomac and S. Branch
1795 Vienna Wood Ohio Valley
1795 Wheeling Ohio Ohio Valley
1796 Pleasantville Monongalia Monongahela Valley
1798 Smithfield Berkeley Potomac and S. Branch
1800 Union Monroe Kanawha Valley
1800 Newport Wood Ohio Valley
1800 Franklin Pendleton Potcmac and S. Branch
1801 Pruntytown Taylor Monongahela Valley
1803 Elizabethtown. . . , Marshall Ohio Valley
1803 Peterstown Monroe Kanawha Valley
1807 Mount Pleasant Monongalia Monongahela Valley
1810 Guyandotte Cabell Ohio Valley
1813 Manchester Hancock Ohio Valley
L813 Middlcbourne Tyler Ohio Valley
1813 Barboursville Cabell Ohio Valley
1814 Grandville Monongalia Monongahela Valley
1814 Miles End Harrison Monongahela Valley
1S10 West Union Ohio Ohio Valley
1816 Bridgeport Harrison Monongahela Valley
1810 Buckhannon Upshur Monongahela Valley
1810 Morgantown Monongalia Monongahela Vallev
1817 Westfield Lewis Monongahela Valley
1819 Stebbensville Lewis Monongahela Valley
1819 Preston Lewis Monongahela Valley
1820 Middlcville Nicholas Kanawha Valley
1820 Simimerville Nicholas Kanawha Valley
1820 Middletown Monongalia Monongahela Valley
1821 Milford Harrison Monongahela Valley
1X21 Williamsville Wood Ohio Valley
1822 1 larrisville Ritchie Ohio Valley
1822 Elizabeth Wirt Ohio Valley
1822 Huntcrsville Pocahontas Kanawha Valley
1822 Shepherdsville Ohio '. . Ohio Valley
1823 Frankfort Greenbrier Kanawha Valley
1825 Bolivar Jefferson Potomac and S. Branch
1826 Lewisport Harrison Monongahela Valley
1826 Sutton ville Braxton Kanawha Valley
1826 Fairfield Harrison Monongahela Valley
1827 Mixville Ohio Ohio Valley
1827 Virginius Jefferson Potomac and S. Branch
1827 Brandonville Preston Monongahela Valley
240 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Year Town County Region of State
1828 Mount Carmel Preston Monongahela Valley
1828 Middle Wheeling Ohio Ohio Valley
1828 South Wheeling Ohio Ohio Valley
1829 Triadelphia Ohio Ohio Valley
1829 Lawnsville Logan Guyandotte and Big Sandy Valley
1830 New Haven Nicholas Kanawha Valley
1830 Blacksburg Monongalia Monongahela Valley
1832 Moundsville Marshall Ohio Valley
1832 Starksville Harrison Monongahela Valley
1832 Valleyton Randolph Monongahela Valley
1832 Brownsville Cabell Guyandotte and Big Sandy Valley
1832 Wardensville Hardy Potomac and S. Branch
1832 Ripley Jackson Ohio Valley
1834 Evansville Preston Monongahela Valley
1834 Smootsville Logan Guyandotte and Big Sandy Vallev
1834 Santerville Tyler Ohio Valley
1836 Hedgesville Berkeley Potomac and S. Branch
1836 Meadowville Greenbrier Kanawha Valley
1837 Greensburg Ohio Ohio Valley
1837 Harmansville Cabell Guyandotte and Big Sandy Valley
1S37 Marshall Marshall Ohio Valley
1837 Newport Monongalia Monongahela Valley
1837 Beckley Raleigh Guyandotte and Big Sandy Valley
1837 Princeton Mercer Kanawha Valley
1838 Damascus Marshall Ohio Valley
1838 Martinsville. Wetzel Ohio Valley
1838 Lumberport Harrison Monongahela Valley
1839 Sistersville Tyler Ohio Valley
1839 Democratic-Republic Lewis Monongahela Valley
1839 Buffalo Putnam Kanawha Valley
1840 Boothsville . v Marion Monongahela Valley
1842 Hartford Lewis Monongahela Valley
1842 Smithville Ritchie Ohio Valley
1842 Brownsville. Preston Monongahela Valley
1843 Fairmount. Marion Monongahela Valley
1844 Philippi Barbour Monongahela Valley
1851 Claysvillev- Wood Ohio Valley
1851 St. Mary's Pleasants Ohio Valley
1852 Ravenswood Jackson Ohio Valley
1852 West Columbia Mason Ohio Valley
1852 Shinnston Harrison Monongahela Valley
1852 Harpers Ferry Jefferson Potomac and S. Branch
1852 Cassville.- Wayne Guyandotte and Big Sandy Valley
1853 Oceana Wyoming Guyandotte and Big Sandy Valley
1853 Aracome Logan Guyandotte and Big Sandy Valley
1853 Benwood Marshall Ohio Valley
1S53 Hamlin Lincoln Guyandotte and Big Sandy Valley
T5SS" Kingwood Preston Monongahela Valley
1853 Bruceton Preston Monongahela Valley
1853 Bethany Brooke Ohio Valley
1853 Fellowsville/ Preston Monongahela Valley
1854 Fetterman Taylor Monongahela Valley
1856 Piedmont Mineral Potomac and S. Branch
1856 Mason City Mason Ohio Valley
1856 Mannington Marion Monongahela Valley
1856 Glenville Gilmer Ohio Valley
1856 Grafton Taylor Monongahela Valley
1858 Brandonville * Preston Monongahela Valley
1858 Rowlesburg Preston Monongahela Valley
1858 Spencer Roane Ohio Valley
In the region of the Greenbrier and in Monroe county were several
old health resorts which became famous by 1830 or 1840 as social centers
and were visited by many persons of national prominence. Red Sulphur
Springs in Monroe county was first opened as a resort in 1832, and be-
came more important in 1837 when the ownership passed to an incor-
porated company with William Burk as manager.
More widely known were the White Sulphur Springs whose old tradi-
tions and social life have recently been so well portrayed by Hon. Wil-
liam Alexander MacCorkle, a true son of the Virginias, and formerly
governor of West Virginia. These famous springs located east of Lewis-
burg on the old Indian trail (probably once a buffalo trail) early be-
came well-known for the medicinal value of their waters. From 1779
to 1784 many tents were erected there by neighboring settlers who sought
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 241
to cure rheumatism aud other diseases of the frontier. In 1785-86 many-
log cabins appeared. The first hotel there was built in 1808 by James
Caldwell, a Baltimore sea-merchant who had moved to the neighborhood
in 1795 and had married a daughter of Michael Bowyer, an earlier
owner of the Springs. The real development of the Springs began in
1816 when Caldwell became sole proprietor and were continued through-
out his period of ownership which was terminated only by death (in
1851). The most prominent expansion of buildings occurred after 1830
—and especially in 1837-1849. In 1854 the White Sulphur Springs
Company began the large brick building known as the main building
which was completed in 1858 and was reputed to have the largest dining
room in the United States at that time. In the basement of this build-
ing was located the old bar-room where was created the mint julep and
the Virginia toddy which made the place famous. Here also, according
to the narrative of Governor MacCorkle of West Virginia, was uttered
the famous remark of the governor of North Carolina to the governor
of South Carolina, "It is a long time between drinks."
David Hunter Strother, author and artist, who was bom at Martins-
burg, Virginia, in 1816 and had spent five years as a student in Europe,
contributed to Harper's Magazine in the fifties under the nom de plume
"Porte Crayon" a series of illustrated articles on isolated community
life in western Virginia. His sketches, although somewhat exaggerated,
revealed a people primitive in their habits and aspirations. The fol-
lowing extracts describe conditions in the neighborhood around Adam-
son's store, located at the mouth of Seneca, Pendleton county, and for
years the emporium for a district which long retained pioneer customs:
"The junction of the North Fork Turnpike and the Pack Horse Road, across
the Alleghanies from Beverly, has grown up a little settlement at this place, con-
sisting of a half dozen families, with the conveniences of a store, postoffice, black-
smith shop, a schoolhouse and I believe a meeting house and apple-jack distillery.
There was no tavern or regular place of entertainment, but to atone for this de-
ficiency, any of the householders were ready to take in travelers as a special favor.
"The place retains many of the characteristics of those frontier trading posts,
which we read of in the days when the United States had frontiers and they skinned
the aboriginees as well as bears.
"All sorts of queer people congregated here, bringing in peltries, ginseng,
venison, yarn stockings, maple sugar, homemade cloth, oats, corn, potatoes, butter
and eggs to exchange for gay colored dry goods, crockery, tin and hardware, gun-
powder, tobacco, snuff, infinitesimal packages of coffee, and corpulent jugs of whis-
key. Some came on foot, others in sleds, most on horseback, and very few in wheeled
vehicles, the country in general not being addicted to this mode of transportation.
Adamson 's fancy salesman is the model of a mountain beau, in his own conceit
at least."
Porte Crayon, in this chapter, narrates incidents and experiences of customs
long since obsolete. Goose-picking or any form of labor which would be a tedious
task for one person in that day, was interchanged and a frolic and a dance was
the result.
"At Soldier White's we found a regular two-storied log house, containing half
a dozen rooms, which serves as a place of entertainment to drovers who come from
below to summer their cattle on the Pork, and to the occasional traveler who ven-
tures to cross the wilderness by pack horse road from Seneca to Beverly, the county
seat of Bandolph. Here is also a tub mill, driven by a pretty stream of water,
which had been caught and utilized before being swallowed by the dry river.
This combination of circumstances makes Soldier White's rather a notable place
in the Dry Pork community.
"The cabin was so small and the flaring pine knots revealed such a multitude
of good humored faces, that we began to entertain some doubts whether we should
not have done better to have remained and enlivened the bachelor's lonely hall and
helped him cook his solitary supper. Still everybody, young and old, seemed glad to see
us, and there was no hint of crowding or inconvenience. The family consisted of
husband and wife, four sons, two grown to manhood, and a daughter between
ten and eleven years old, a grandson, and a hired boy. The other domestics were
three hounds and a cat with kittens.
"The cabin was eighteen by fifteen feet in the clear, divided into two rooms.
Although limited in space, all the sanitary arrangements in regard to ventila-
tion had been especially attended to. The cabin built of logs, turkey-pen fashion,
were only partially chinked with moss and still more imperfectly tapestried with
male and female garments, bunches of dried herbs with deer and fox skins
stretched on the outside. This open space did away with the necessity and expense
of glass and had several other advantages, as we afterward ascertained. We
Vol. 1—16
242 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
could study the planets at ease, and tell the character of the weather without the
inconvenience and awkwardness of getting up to look out of the windows. Jess
also informed us that of nights when he wasn 't sleepy, he could chaw tobacco
and spit through the cracks without spilling the old man's floor, which was a
pleasing indication of filial consideration. We experienced the fact that a family
of nine persons with four guests could be comfortably fed, entertained, and lodged in
such apartments, but during our sojourn of several days, we never understood how
it was done. ' '
Much of the wider social life centered around the county court
house. Court days were the occasions of much amusement and excite-
ment.
The county court was composed of all the justices of the peace in
the county, who were appointed by the governor. No new justices
were appointed without the recommendation of the justices already
sitting, and the body thus became self-perpetuating and all-powerful.
The important office of sheriff was filled by appointment by the gov-
ernor, but the justices recommended three free holders for the office from
among whom the appointment was made. It was the custom of the
county court to recommend three of their own number, and the office
was handed around among them according to seniority. With the
system of fees then in force, one or two years incumbency in the sherif-
falty was sufficient to lay the foundations for the fortune of the holder.
All the other officers of the county were either recommended by the
court for appointment by the governor, or were appointed outright.
The only officers elected under this democratic ( ? ) system of local gov-
ernment were overseers of the poor and the delegates to the legislature.
The county court, or justice's court, also possessed real judicial func-
tions. It settled small disputes, punished breaches of the peace and
established law and order. It had jurisdiction in many matters which
now belong to higher courts. At Parkersburg there was no higher court
established until 1819. In many other communities there was no op-
portunity to come in direct contact with the higher court which sat so
far away.
The county courts were a source of much dissatisfaction. In many
counties these bodies had become close corporations. The members were
appointed by the governor, but only on recommendation of the sheriff,
who was himself generally in close personal touch with the court. Per-
sons receiving the appointment as sheriff, were, as a rule, members of
the county court, and generally returned to it when their term of office
as sheriff had expired.
New families and those long excluded from a participation in public
affairs were hostile to this institution and anxious to bring it and the
whole official system to an elective basis.
The reformers complained of the abuses which had developed in
many of the older localities in the sheriff's office. This office was usually
appropriated by members of the county court who accepted it to com-
pensate their gratuitous services as judges. It was passed on from one
member of the court to another, and was in each case usually fanned
out to a deputy. In some cases the privileges of the office were sold at
public auction. The opportunity for peculation and extortion which
the office afforded was so great that deputies frequently paid as much
for its privileges as the legal fees from it amounted to. In some coun-
ties the sheriff's office remained for years in the hands of professional
"paper shavers."
As might be expected the administrative functions of the county gov-
ernment were altogether in the hands of the court. It laid out roads,
established mills, built bridges, granted licenses, levied and collected
taxes, recorded deeds, wills and mortgages, erected public buildings,
exercised a general guardianship over orphans and fixed prices at taverns
and for ferries, besides other matters too numerous to mention. Its
authority over ferries was obtained by action of the general assembly
in 1807.
The authority to license establishments presupposes the right to
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 243
regulate; and the right to regulate at that time included the right to
fix prices.
In 1788 the tavern rate in Randolph county was fixed by the county court in
shillings and pence, which translated into modern currency were as follows:
Madeira wine, per half pint 25 cents
Other wines, per half pint -0 5-6 cents
West India rum, per half pint 16 2-3 cents
Other rums, per half pint 12 1-2 cents
Peach brandy, per half pint 11 1-9 cents
Good whiskey, per half pint 11 1-9 cents
Dinner 16 2-3 cents
Breakfast . , 12 1-2 cents
Supper 12 1-2 cents
Lodging, in clean sheets each night 8 1-3 cents
Corn and oats, per gallon 11 1-9 cents
Horse at Hay, every 12 hours 11 1-9 cents
Pasture, every 24 hours 8 1-3 cents
In 1829 the court again fixed the rates, making an increase in several of the
items, but decreasing the price of lodging to 6 1-4 cents. On December 8, 1801,
the county court Berkeley county regulated ordinaries as follows:
Dinner $ .40
Breakfast 28
Supper 30
Lodging 10
One quart of Madeira wine 1.25
One quart of Sherry 1.00
One quart of Lisbon or Port 75
One quart of Punch 50
One quart of toddy L'.">
One quart of London Porter 50 1 -2
One gill spirits 12 12
One gill of French brandy 12 1-2
One gill of peach brandy 1.00
One gill of apple brandy 06 1-4
One gill of whiskey 06 1-4
One gill of bounce 06 1-4
Stableage and hay per night 25
Corn and oats per gallon 12 1-2
Pasturage, per night 07
One quart, beer or cider 08
At Parkersburg in 1800, the court fixed the rate for meals and drink as follows:
Breakfast or supper 21 cents
Dinner 25 cents
Lodging 8 cents
Corn or oats, per gallon 11 cents
Whiskey, half pint 8 cents
Later these rates were changed, but prices were always fixed for
man and horse and also, for various drinks, such as whiskey, peach or
apple brandies, and such liquors as were freely used. As the market for
corn was far away, much of it was made into whiskey, which was more
easily transported and was almost considered a necessity at house rais-
ings, log rolling, shooting matches, and such gatherings. The number
of early ordinaries or taverns in the trans-Allegheny region, and espe-
cially the early date of their appearance is surprising.
On the south bank of the Little Kanawha near the mouth a tavern,
known as "The Rest," was licensed in 1789 and, with some improve-
ment, the same building was still in existence as a tavern and storehouse
until 1850. Here underneath the swinging sign "Entertainment for
man and beast" resorted many of the pioneers to tell stories of bear
and Indians, to discuss questions of the day, or to receive the news
from passing travelers or from uncertain mails.
The tavern business was pretty much the same all over the state.
The leading item in all tavern business of that time in western Vir-
ginia was whiskey. Taverns were simply saloons with arrangements to
lodge and board customers. A public house without its bar or liquor
closet probably did not exist in the whole region. Drunkenness, or at
least drinking, was so common that it excited no comment except from
travelers from other regions. Such occasionally passed through the
country, on business or pleasure, and a number of diaries written by
244 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
them have been preserved. The perusal of these records must impress
upon the reader the debauchery and drunkenness that existed a century
or more ago about public gathering places in western Virginia.
Many of the improved hotels were centers of community life. Here
the young people gathered from the neighboring country for balls and
other gay festivities. As late as 1830, even in sections favored by good
wagon roads there were very few carriages. Even the most prosperous
rode on horseback or perhaps occasionally in a jersey wagon without
springs.
A glance backward at some of the laws of Old Virginia which were
applicable in western Virginia before 1863, furnishes convincing evi-
dence of the progress of civilization since these laws were enacted. Even
after the Revolution the people of Virginia tolerated barbarous laws
which had already been enacted, and proceeded to enact others which
would now be regarded as very severe and unreasonable. In 1792
several of such laws were placed on the statute books. For swearing,
cursing and drunkenness the fine was placed at 83 cents for each of-
fense or ten lashes on the bare back were prescribed for those who failed
to pay a fine. For working on Sunday the fine was $1.67. For stealing
a cask of tobacco lying by the public highway, the punishment was
death. The death penalty was also prescribed for forgery, for changing
an inspector's stamp on flour or hemp, for stealing land warrants or
for knowingly having counterfeit money in possession. For "any per-
son, not a slave," who stole a hog, shoat or pig the penalty for the first
offense was 35 lashes on the bare back or a fine of $30 (in addition to
$8 for the owner of the animal stolen), for the second offense the penalty
was two hours in a pillory on a public court day at the court house,
and both ears nailed to the pillory for two hours (and no exception was
made for women), for the third offense the penalty was death, a very
effectual cure for coveting other people's hogs. The slave who stole
hogs was punished more severely for the first and second offenses. Horse
stealing was also punishable by death. Negroes, although they might
have medicine in their possession with their master's consent, were pun-
ishable with death, without benefit of clergy, for preparing, exhibiting or
administering medicine to cure the sick.
The ferocity of some of these laws was softened by provision for a
possible way of escape from some of the extreme penalties. In some
instances a milder punishment could be substituted for the death penalty
especially after the establishment of the penitentiary, but in others,
such as passing counterfeit money, there was no alternative. In many
instances "benefit of clergy" was extended until 1848, when it was
abolished. The Virginia law of 1789, however, declared that "benefit
of clergy" could not be claimed in cases of first degree murder, burglary,
arson, the burning of the court house or the clerk's office, felonious
stealing from a church or meeting house, or for robbing a house in the
presence of its occupants. It also stipulated that those who received
"benefit of clergy" should have their hand burned before other punish-
ment was administered.
Possibly in many instances the law was not strictly enforced, but
many instances of the execution of the strict letter of the law are on
record. In 1803 a man at Clarksburg was sentenced to be hanged for
stealing. At the same place in 1807 a negro woman was tortured by
fire for grand larceny and then tied to a post and whipped. In 1808
at the same place another negro woman, accused of grand larceny, was
granted "benefit, of clergy" after which she was burned and whipped.
Idle gossip and tattling was discouraged by law of 1792. Persons
giving expression to false rumors and reports were fined $40 or less
and required to give a bond for future good behavior, unless they could
produce the author of the false report.
Until about the middle of the nineteenth century, Virginia im-
prisoned men for debt. In western Virginia there were at nearly all
the old county seats "prison bounds" restricting the distance allowed
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 245
to debtors who were allowed to take walks outside of the prison at
certain hours during the day.
Under a law of 179G the prosecution of suits by men of small means
to secure justice before the courts was facilitated by provision for free
attorney, free subpoenas and writs, and release from costs of suits lost.
The court records in the latter part of the eighteenth century indi-
cate that frontier justice was rather primitive. In 1788 in Harrison
county a female prisoner convicted of felonious taking was given ten
lashes on her bare back. In the same year a man was convicted of having
stolen an ax, a hat and a pair of stockings. The court ordered "that
the sheriff immediately tie the prisoner to the public whipping post
and give him thirty lashes well laid on and deliver him to David Hughes,
Constable" who shall deliver him to the next constable and so ou until
he was conveyed out of the county. In 1791 John Jackson was given
a verdict by a jury in a slander case, but the damages were fixed by
the jury at only seven shillings. Jackson demanded a new trial on the
ground that the sheriff had conveyed apple brandy to the jury in a tea-
pot while they were engaged in considering the case, and that the jury
drank it. The motion was granted and all twelve of the jurymen were
fined twelve shillings each.
In 1795 a prisoner in Harrison county entered the plea of guilty to a
charge of felonious assault. While the members of the court were dis-
cussing whether the prisoner should be tried by the district court, the
prisoner escaped. The sheriff, John Prunty, was ordered by the court
to raise the "hue and cry" and command assistance to take him. In
the same year Prunty was fined for seven oaths sworn in the presence
and hearing of the court 83 cents each oath, also fifteen oaths in the
hearing and presence of William Robinson, a justice of the peace, at
83 cents each oath. In the same year Prunty objected to the action
of the court in calling a witness without subpoena, thus cheating the
sheriff out of his fee. In the old record book is to be found a full account
of the proceedings that followed :
' ' Ordered that the said John Prunty be confined in the stocks for the space of
five minutes " * * * for his ' ' Damming the Court and the attorney who was
there supporting the client's claim and the whole bunch. The Court and the at-
torney was D d fools and a set of d — — d scoundrels. ' ' After being released
he again showed disrespect and was confined for the remainder of the day. The
court bound him over to keep the peace. After spending some time in jail bond for
his good behavior was obtained. Attempts of the court to oust him later were
unsuccessful.
In 1811 Samuel Bingham was indicted in Randolph county "For
profanely swearing one oath to wit by God within two months last past. ' '
Tramps and vagrants were discouraged from practicing their profes-
sion. As early as July, 1788, the court of Randolph county issued a
writ for Grant Lambert to show cause why he did not find lawful employ-
ment "and demean himself as required by the laws of this Common-
wealth." Eight years the court of the same county ordered all the
constables in the county within fifteen days to pass John Gilberts down
the line ' ' until he shall be removed beyond the county the way he came. ' '
A complaint of Frederick county in 1794 indicates that the court of
Hampshire was shifting its vagrants upon other counties.
Although Virginia early passed laws and made regulations requir-
ing freed negroes to leave the state within a short time after their
manumission, and forbidding them to return, the county courts had
power to grant permission to a freed negro to remain in the county
where he had lived as a slave if his case was especially meritorious. In
1827 the county court of Pocahontas county entered the following order :
"Ben, a man of color, who is entitled to his freedom under the last will and
testament of Jacob Warwick, deceased, bearing date on the seventh day of March,
1818, of record in the clerk's office of this county, this day motioned the court
(the commonwealth's attorney being present) for permission to remain in this
county: whereupon, it is the opinion of the court that the said Ben be permitted
246 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
to remain and reside for his general good conduct, and also ior acts of extraor-
dinary merit, it appearing to their satisfaction that the said Ben hath given reason-
able notice of this motion."
Many interesting indictments are recorded in the old records. The
largest number was for drunkenness, next many were against road over-
seers for neglect of duty — especially for failure to remove trees which
had blown across the road. Although the overseers were seldom fined
by the county courts, they often had heavy fines to pay when they were
prosecuted before the circuit courts. Contempt of court was also a
common offense. Ten indictments were found in 1827 against horse
racers in a western Virginia county and a fine was imposed in each case.
The early sheriff who was paid by fees fixed by law, probably had
many difficult problems which required unusual tact, courage and firm-
ness. He was doubtless called often to arrest men whose violence
of temper resulted in exhibitions of muscular strength. Early in the
nineteenth century following a physical contest between Dr. W. H.
Ruffner and Col. Andrew Donnally originating in the double claim of
ownership of an interest in the Dickinson Survey, a contest which was
afterwards decided by the court, the sheriff of Kanawha county who
was sent to arrest Dr. Ruffner was driven ignominiously from the prem-
ises, and returned to the court iu Charleston to report this defiance of
authority. Armed with authority from the court to bring the obstinate
belligerent "dead or alive," he went with a posse to renew the attempt
to arrest, and after disabling the belligerent, carried him to a boat and
delivered him at the court house in a helpless condition.
In some parts of the interior there were prominent examples of
lawlessness which threatened the peace of neighboring communities.
Colonel Dewees gives quite a little history of two or three families
that figured conspicuously in the wild regions of the West Pork of the
Little Kanawha. Daniel McCune then lived on what is now known
as McCune 's run which empties in the West Pork just below Arnolds-
burg, Calhoun county. He was a son of the old original Peter McCune,
an Irishman, who served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and
who married a daughter of Adam O'Brien, famous as a noted character
on the frontier border even before the Revolution and a blazer of paths
for the region of Calhoun, Braxton and Gilmer counties. McCune
with Joseph Parsons, Alexander Turner and Jackson Cottrell was a
member of a clan called the Hellfire band that was organized by early
settlers on the West Fork waters, a clan whose members roved from
place to place, living in camps, seeking to hold the wilderness country
of the West Fork for a paradise for hunters, discouraging improvements
of every kind, such as clearing of land, making settlements, opening up
roads, organizing churches and civilization in general. About the year
1843 they were convicted of the murder of Jonathan Nicholas. They
were all sentenced to the penitentiary at Richmond, Virginia, for eight-
een years each and all died in prison except Jackson Cottrell who on
account of his youth (being only seventeen years old) was pardoned
after serving five years, and Alexander Turner who died near the White
Sulphur Springs in Greenbrier county en route to the penitentiary.
The following advertisements which appeared in the Martiitsburg
Gazett-e and Public Advertizer in 1833 illustrate old conditions of labor
which long ago ceased to exist:
"Six Cents Reward."
"Ran away from the subscriber on the 16th of April last an indented apprentice
boy bound by the Overseer of the Poor for Morgan county, Named John Basore,
sometimes called John Blamer, about 14 pears of age, tolerably stout made, has
dark hair, squints his eyes very much when spoken to — had on when he ran away a
brown linsey roundabout, old dark colored cassinet pantaloons, good shoes and
socks, and old wool hat. The above reward will be paid for returning said ap-
prentice, or from harboring him as I am determined to Prosecute every person so
found offending to the full extent of the law. William Piper.
Morgan county, August 15, 1833."
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 247
' ' Negro Woman tor Sale. ' '
"One that is well acquainted with everykind of housework, sober and honest;
sold for no fault, and will not be sold to a trader.
Enquire of the Printer. (Edmund Hunter). July 11, 1833."
Slavery was not a popular institution in most communities of the
trans-Allegheny region of Old Virginia. Many of the early settlers
had sold their lands farther east in order to retreat from the encroach-
ments of the institution.
No large slave owners lived west of the Alleghenies in western Vir-
ginia. The slaves came into the region with their masters one or two
at a time, and were fairly evenly dispersed over the region, and slowly
increasing in numbers from the first settlement up to 1850, and then
declining until 1860. The decrease from 1850 to 1860 exceeded ten
per cent. The reason for that sharp decline is not apparent, unless due
to selling in large numbers to dealers who carried them south to work
in the cottonfields. A comparison of the increase in the white and slave
populations in territory now embraced in West Virginia from 1790 to
1860 is shown in per cent, as follows:
Prom 1790 to 1800 white increase 40, slave 54
Prom 1800 to 1810 white increase 35, slave 51
Prom 1810 to 1820 white increase 39, slave 40
Prom 1820 to 1830 white increase 32, slave 17
Prom 1830 to 1840 white increase 25, slave 5
Prom 1840 to 1850 white increase 35, slave 11
Prom 1850 to 1S60 white increase 19, slave decrease 10
Conditions in the west were usually unfavorable to the perpetuations
of the institution. Here, slavery was less profitable than in the eastern
region of large plantations. It was also opposed by the influence of
Scotch-Irish and German elements of the population. In the region
near the Ohio river and near Pennsylvania, it probably declined because
of the fear of possible loss of migratory property held so near to free
territory.
Apparently there was less opposition to slavery in a small portion of
the Kanawha valley and in a part of Harrison county. In the state
constitutional convention of 1850-51, however, George W. Summers of
Kanawha made the greatest and most creditable speech of his life, show-
ing that slavery was not only the foe to progress in the West, but the
cause of multiplied ills from which all Virginia was suffering.
Granville Davisson Hall, speaking from personal knowledge, says:
"This domestic slave trade was active in western Virginia, though far
less important there than in the East. When the writer of these pages
was a boy there was, about three miles east of Clarksburg, near the
home of a distinguished ex-governor of Virginia, then living, a negro
ranch, where young negroes, from mere children upward, were cor-
ralled, ranged, and fed for the southern market, almost as if they had
been sheep or swine. In summer the younger ones ran about naked,
clothing for them being deemed a needless expense. There are people
yet living in Harrison who will remember this establishment, though the
proprietor, like the Lagrees and all of his kind, has long ago gone. This
human stockyard, was the consummate flower of the patriarchal institu-
tion which northwestern Virginia was fighting to get away from; which
some of her able politicians found it so heartbreaking to give up when
the crisis was on us in 1861. The author's mother distinctly remembers,
when she was a child of nine or ten [in about 1826 or 1827], seeing
a great drove of negroes pass her home on the state road about where
Cherry Camp station now is on the Northwestern Virginia line of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, on their way to the Ohio river, it is pre-
sumed for transport down the river by flatboat. There were women and
children as well as men, and a few teams probably carrying provisions.
The men were chained together."
In 1856, when the republican party put its first ticket into the field,
248 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
there was a general purpose in the border states to stamp out all sym-
pathy with it. In Wood county, William E. Stevenson, afterwards
governor of West Virginia, was indicted for giving circulation to Hinton
Rowen Helpers' book, "The Impending Crisis," a valuable work of
statistical and political information, written by a citizen of North Caro-
lina with a political foresight amounting almost to prophecy. But the
prosecutors lacked courage to bring the case to trial. In Harrison,
William P. Hall and Ira Hart were indicted (though never brought to
trial) under instructions of Judge Gideon Draper Camden, of the
Clarksburg Circuit, assisted by Benjamin Wilson, prosecuting attorney,
for giving circulation to the New York Tribune. Horace Greeley was
included in the indictment for publishing the paper which, under the
tyrannical statute of Virginia was held by this honorable court to be
' ' incendiary. ' '
The following indictment against Greeley which appeared on the
circuit court record of Harrison county in 1857 is interesting whether
or not it really represents the feeling of the people in that part of west-
ern Virginia.
The Grand Jurors for said County on their oaths present that heretofore, to-
wit on the fifth day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six,
Horace Greeley did write, print and publish and cause to be written, printed and
published in the City of New York and State of New York a book and writing,
to- wit a newspaper and public journal and styled and entitled "New York Tribune."
The object and purpose of which said New York Tribune was to advise and incite
negroes in this state to rebel and make insurrection and to inculcate resistance to
the right of property of masters in their slaves in the State of Virginia.
And the Jurors aforesaid do further present that said Horace Greeley after-
wards, to-wit on the day of July in the year 1856, did knowingly, wilfully and
feloniously transmit to and circulate in and cause and procure to be transmitted
to and circulated in the said County of Harrison the said book and writing, to-wit
the said ' ' New York Tribune ' ' with the intent to aid the purposes thereof, against
the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth.
And the Jurors aforesaid upon their oaths aforesaid do further present that
said Horace Greeley on the day of July in the year 1856 did knowingly, wilfully and
feloniously circulate and cause and procure to be circulated in said County of
Harrison a writing to-wit a newspaper and public journal, which said writing, news-
paper and public journal was on the fifth day of July in the year one thousand
eight hundred and fifty-six written, printed and published in the City of New
York and State of New York and was styled and entitled "New York Tribune"
with intent in him, the said Greeley, then and there to advise and incite negroes
in the State of Virginia aforesaid to rebel and make insurrection and to inculcate
resistance to the right of property of masters in their slaves. Against the peace
and dignity of the Commonwealth.
Upon the information of Amaziah Hill and Seymour Johnson, witness sworn
in open court and sent to the Grand Jury to testify at the request of the Grand
Jury who had the said New York Tribune in the above presentment referred to
before them and examined the same. A. L. Garrett, Foreman.
The reversals and changes wrought by the whirligig of time are
illustrated by the later appearance of Mr. Greeley at Clarksburg to
lecture by invitation of the Harrison County Agricultural Society in
1870.
In matters relating to public health the county court did not inter-
fere. Such matters were left unregulated by law and were usually
neglected by the communities. The cure of diseases was largely left to
"herb aunties" or to "country doctors" who were allowed to practice
without any legal test of qualifications for protection of the public.
Although medicine was seldom needed by many of the earliest fron-
tiersmen, the pioneer physician was usually regarded as a desirable
member of the community in which he sought to practice. Although
usually without adequate training, he learned much by country practice.
He had a pretty hard life. He rode horseback day and night, in all
kinds of weather, over bad roads and across dangerous places, along the
valleys and over the mountains, and received only a nominal compensa-
tion compared with charges to-day. His dangers and hardships were
augmented by the sparsely settled condition of the country. Often he
responded to a night call which required a trip of thirty or forty miles
with only a bridle path.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 249
Because of the distance from the physician, the early settler often
had resource to home remedies recommended by old "aunties" or "folk-
lore remedies." To "draw out the fire" apple butter or a poultice
of corn meal or scraped potatoes was applied to burns and scalds. The
juice of roasted onions had the reputation of being a specific for croup.
The Virginia snake root, Serpentaria, was the standard remedy to pro-
duce perspiration and abort a fever. Other remedies were boneset, hore-
hound, chamomile, wild cherry and prickly ash.
In Randolph county Robert Maxwell was probably the first man who
made any pretense to the practice of medicine. The early records of
the county show that he did not bear the title "Doctor," yet in 1789
he was appointed coroner and in the same year he was surgeon for the
county militia. He was also a preacher and performed many marriage
ceremonies in the pioneer period. He resided about one mile below
the site of Elkins on Leading creek, and died in 1818. Randolph's first
professional physician was Dr. Benjamin Dolbeare. He was a man of
education and superior ability in his profession. He came to Randolph
from Connecticut and located at Beverly about 1810. He was a brother-
in-law to Lorenzo Dow, the eccentric preacher who made many pil-
grimages as a missionary through the wilds of America. After prac-
ticing a few years at Beverly, perhaps from about 1810 to 1815, he
removed to Clarksburg. Dr. Squire Bosworth, a student and successor
to Dr. Dolebeare, was born in Hampshire county, Massachusetts, in 1794.
He was a fellow student of William Cullen Bryant at Williams College.
After his graduation at Williams College he went to Virginia as a vol-
unteer soldier in the War of 1812. On reaching Parkersburg on his
way to Norfolk, Virginia, at the close of the war, he decided to remain
in Parkersburg as a deputy county clerk under a Mr. Neal for two years.
Later he went to Randolph to assume the same duties for Mr. Machibald
Earle, then clerk of the circuit court of Randolph county. Soon there-
after, he married Hannah, daughter of Peter Buckey of Beverly and
with his bride returned to Parkersburg and opened an academy. A few
years later he again became a resident of Beverly and began the study
of medicine under Dr. Dolbeare. At a later period he attended lectures
in Richmond, Virginia. For many years he was the only physician
in Randolph, and frequently made night trips to Tucker, Barbour, or
Webster. There is an authentic tradition that he and Dr. Dolbeare suc-
cessfully performed the operation of tracheotomy. He carried tracts
of a religious nature for distribution in the communities in which he
was called ; and in remote districts he called the settlers together to hold
prayer meeting. He was clerk of the circuit court two terms and rep-
resented Randolph and Tucker in the Virginia legislature of 1855 and
1856.
Dr. C. A. Wingerter of Wheeling in an article on the development
of the medical practice says :
The half-century that marks the life of the young state of West Virginia
witnessed the passing away of this old-time physician.
Simple was his preparation for his work. First of all, before he could think
of taking up the study of medicine, he had to be touched by the divine fire of love
for his fellow men. Cupidity uttered no call to him. The doctors whom he saw and
knew were never anything but poor in this world 's goods. Not one of all their
number left a competency for his family, and more than one died in dependence and
poverty, if not in absolute want.
As was the custom of the time our young altruist and aspirant for the pro-
fession became a student under one of the practitioners of his acquaintance in the
neighborhood. His time of apprenticeship would extend through a period of years
varying from three to seven, dependent on circumstances that were variant in each
individual case. During this period the young student would have the advice and
direction and example of his preceptor. He would have access to the doctor's scanty
library; but the beginner's knowledge of medicine was acquired not so much from
reading and study as from association with the doctor. He rode with his pre-
ceptor on his rounds, held the basin when the patient was bled, and helped to adjust
plasters, bandages and splints. In the office he ground the powders, mixed the
pills, made the tinctures and infusions, washed the bottles, served as office-boy,
and in addition performed the most menial duties. In this method of teaching the
250 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
personal element was so pronounced that everything, in fact, depended upon the
preceptor, save what natural talent and industry might accomplish.
The self-reliance, the readiness, the expertness and the knowledge of human
nature thus acquired, went far to compensate for the lack of more modern methods
of preparing for the actual work of medical practice. Anatomy could be studied
only by observation of the living body and by the aids of the doctor's books and
plates. Dissection was out of the question, unless the student was one of those
fortunate few who could supplement their years of apprenticeship by one or two
terms, of four months each, at some medical college in a neighboring state.
Once entered into practice, armed with all the advantages for the acquirement
of knowledge that the time afforded, the doctor of this period was yet poorly
equipped, if he were to be judged by our modern standards. Modern physiology,
the splendid structure built upon the scientific foundations laid in the first half
of the nineteenth century by Johannes Mueller and Claude Bernard, was then un-
known. Humoral pathology, based on the discarded theory that all diseases are
due to the disordered conditions of the humors and fluids of the body, was the
only guide to the doctor in the formation of a judgment concerning the malady
that afflicted his patient. Rudolph Virchow, the father of the modern cellular
pathology that has shed such a brilliant light upon the processes of disease in the
human organism, was then teaching and writing. He published the results of his
lirst important studies in 1850, but the ready acceptance of his views had to await
the new era that was not yet fully dawned. Medical chemistry, as we know it today,
unlocking the secrets of the body fluids in health and diseases, had not yet been
developed.
The microscope had been known to mankind for centuries, but its modern use
in clinical medicine was as yet unforecasted. Pasteur had already, in the late
fifties, made his first illuminating discoveries in bacterial chemistry, but not till the
seventies was the knowledge of virulent microbic diseases attained.
Laennee gave the stethoscope to the world in 1819, but for a generation it
was looked upon as a medical toy. The treatises upon the practice of medicine
used in the colleges to which our prospective practitioner would have gone, gave no
inkling of the importance to mankind of this instrument of diagnosis.
Other instruments of precision that aid in the making of accurate diagnoses,
instruments that are in constant use by the physician of today, were unappreciated
by the old-time doctor in our state. The ophthalmoscope had been given to the
world by Helmholtz in 1851, and the laryngoscope by Czermak in 1858, and the
common forms of the various specula were being devised; but they were not in the
instrumentarium of the general practitioner. The first sphygmograph was not im
ported to America until 1870. In that same year the usefulness of the hypodermic
syringe and of the fever thermometer was urged upon the doctors of the state.
They were informed that a good syringe could be obtained for four dollars, and
a pocket-sized fever thermometer at a cost of three dollars and a half.
The materia medica of the period was consistent with the old humoral
pathology then in vogue. One of the leaders of the profession in our state, who
belonged to the new era but was conversant with the old tells us that his prede-
cessors "believed that the patient was nothing if not bilious; and believed that
there was practically but one organ in the body, the liver, and that this was to be
unlocked at stated intervals, and entered and swept and garnished with mercury;
and believed, moreover, that in at least half of the known diseases, salivation and
salvation were synonymous terms." Another medical writer, referring to early
therapeutics in our state, confirms this, saying: "Calomel was the sheet anchor.
In the way of medicine, all other remedies were considered subordinate to this,
and its use was usually pushed to salivation." And still another writing in 1879,
makes this statement : ' ' Not many years ago Calomel was considered the indis-
pensable drug in practice. Our predecessors, without calomel, were artillerymen
without ammunition — Sampsons shorn of their locks. The tongues that were
swollen, the teeth that were loosened, the gums that were made tender, will present
a horrible array of testimony when doctors get their deserts. ' ' Happily there
were other remedies in the doctor 's saddle-bags.
Fevers of various kinds called for treatment. Along the Ohio river, where the
population was densest, intermittent fever was common. It was rare in the tier
of counties immediately back of the river, and was almost unknown in the central
area. It was treated with the bark of dog-wood, cherry and poplar digested in
whiskey, or with a decoction of boneset. Eemittent or bilious fever was the summer
and fall disease, and on its incursion the patient was generally vomited freely with
lobelia, after which he was purged with infusion of white walnut bark, and sweated
with copious draughts of warm elder-blossom tea. The value of powdered cinchona
bark for malarial disease was known, but the amount required to restore the patient
was so great, and the supply so small, that the remedy was all but useless. Quinine,
the alkaloid of the bark, was unknown until 1820, and, though obtainable, was still
very costly in the late sixties. One of the most dreaded diseases was dysentery. It
was treated by the internal use of "oak-ooze," May-apple root and walnut bark,
slippery -elm bark tea, and bitter elm bark, regarded as a specific; hot fomentations
were applied to the abdomen.
"Lung-fever" was a blanket-term to cover many obscure inflammations of the
chest. Without the stethoscope it was difficult to diagnosticate in a clear and
definite manner the ailments now known to us as pneumonia, bronchitis, pleuro-
pneumonia, pleurjtis, empyema, hydro-thorax, and incipient phthisis. Heart troubles
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 251
such as pericarditis, endocarditis, and hydro pericardium, with their attendant dis-
turbance of respiration, made the problem more complex. The diagnosis of "in-
flammation of the chest" once having been made, however, the patient was steamed
with the vapor of whiskey or hot water, and in addition drinks made from herbs
were given him and herb-poultices were applied externally. Virginia snake-root was
considered a remedy for coughs of all kinds. Rheumatism, which was common then
as now, was treated with cohosh, blood root and the bark of leather-wood, and some
times the patient was given an "Indian sweat." Cupping was the usual external
remedy for rheumatic pain as well as for neuralgia, and was freely prescribed.
Blood-letting, or "depletion," fell into disuse on the eve of the new era. In its
day, however, the lancet was called into use for the most diverse ills. If a person
was severely injured he was bled at once; when a damsel fainted a vein was opened.
Indiscriminate blood-letting; excessive purgation; mereurializatlon; starvation;
leeching and blistering; all these are mile posts of the past. Such was the armory
of the olden practitioner. The mere recital adds graphic touches to the picture of
his daily life and practice.
Disease and death, the attendant scourges of humanity, did not relax their hold
in favor of the mountains and valleys of western Virginia. About twice in a decade
the old doctor was called upon to fight epidemics of measles and of scarlet fever.
For neither of these did he have an adequate remedy, and in his experience, as in
ours, the scarlet fever proved often fatal. There was no inhabited locality of the
State that was entirely free from typhoid fever. It is recorded that the Asiatic
Cholera was existent in this region in the fifties, and it is known to have recurred
in 1864. In 1857, a noteworthy endemic of diphtheria made its appearance. Many
of the more experienced practitioners were of the opinion that they had treated
sporadic cases of this form of sore throat many years before under the name of
"putrid sore-throat." Be this as it may, there can be no doubt that in 1857 the
disease was well-marked and frequent, and often affected whole families with singular
fatality. The modern boon of the diphtheria antitoxin was not among tin1 weapons
of the doctor of the late fifties, and, because of that fact, he was obliged to stand
with heart devoid of hope at many a bedside.
For lack of statistics, it is impossible to tell the exact number of "doctors''
practicing in the counties of the present state at the time of its formation. A
careful student estimated that West Virginia contained in 1877 "612 physicians and
surgeons." In this enumeration it was calculated that there were from 376 to 400
regular physicians the remaining 236 being eclectics, homeopathists, Thompsonians,
herb doctors, or cancer doctors. It is surely fair to presume that fifteen years
earlier, the number of physicians in the vast extent of the state was considerably
less. It would doubtless be more than a generous estimate that would place at 200
the number of regular practitioners in 1862. Concerning the character of their at-
tainments a friendly contemporary writes: "In West Virginia the profession is, at
many points, adorned by one or more active, intelligent members, who, by their in-
dustry and devotion to science, have made for themselves a name outside of their
fields or labor and there are others, too, of modest talent, scattered here and there,
who but require the contact of association which a proper organization would so
surely affect, to develop latent powers and capabilities of great credit to them-
selves, individually, and beneficial, in the highest degree, to their patients and the
commonwealth of medicine."
When the doctor 's saddle-bag, ' ' with its horn balances and its china mortar, ' '
was the only drug store within half a hundred miles, other sources of therapeutic
aid than his often had to be drawn upon in times of emergency. Then was the
hour of the bustling house-wife, or of the crooning dame in the chimney corner.
The treasures of domestic medical lore, not unmixed with much alloy of super-
stition, were then brought forth and sagely estimated. Or the old-fashioned
family almanac was taken down from its nail by the window. Following this, the
embryo botanists of the household were despatched to ransack the native flora of
the neighboring hills and dales for suitable materia medica. If perchance it were
the season when mother earth was barren, then recourse was had to the household
cupboard, or to the shelves of the village store, where were to be found simple
drugs, stowed away among the heaps of shoes, Rohan hats, balls of twine, packages
of seeds and flitches of bacon.
In the intervals between these urgent periods of stress and storm when sickness
had entered the lowly doorway of the country home a primitive prophylaxis, of the
domestic brand, served to keep alive, in the minds of the good folk, the thought of
"the ills to which flesh is heir." More medicine was then taken every year by
the well than is now taken by the sick. Remedies now in the medicine-box of every
farmer were then utterly unknown, but in their stead medicines now quite gone out
of fashion, or at most but rarely used, were taken in generous quantities. "Each
spring the blood had to be purified, the bowels must be purged, the kidneys must be
stimulated, the bile must be removed, and large doses of senna and manna, and
loathsome concoctions of rhubarb and molasses were taken daily. ' '
The men and women to whom ministered the doctor of half a century ago
were taken by and large, a single-minded, simple-hearted folk, and the mutual re-
lations of the profession and the people were cordial and sincere and, on the
whole, satisfactory to both. While the reward and remuneration to the doctor were
of little account in the pecuniary sense, while
"Little gold had he gathered, little gear had lie won,
His wealth but the mem 'rv of noble deeds done,"
252
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
there was added recompense, notwithstanding, in the love and reverence which his
patients accorded to him, and in the naive awe with which they regarded his calling,
shedding a glamor about it that was not all undeserved. Warm tears of gratitude
for life preserved and health restored made some amend for sleepless nights spent
in anxious watchings over the sick. The modest and loyal doctor was not without
his heart-burnings, however. Human nature is ever the same, and here into these
mountains and glens, as elsewhere and in every age, the impudent and presuming
charlatan found his way, and, by his pleasing address and seductive suggestion, often
weaned away from truth. and science the devotion of the unsophisticated.
Between the lines of the foregoing sketch of the old-time doctor and his pa-
tients, the reader will discern the ready evidences of the spirit of another. Each one
pursued in dreary professional isolation the daily routine of his practice, storing
up such clinical facts as may have fallen under his observation, relying on his own
strength and wisdom and courage as he silently wrestled with the tremendous prob-
lems of life and death. This isolation of the doctor is to be noted as one of the
salient marks of the profession at that time. The physicians of western Virginia
were as well equipped in character and attainments and ideals as were those of like
numbers in any part of the country in the early sixties. The individual: units of the
guild were worthy factors of social service, but there was absolutely no cohesion In
the mass. Without proper understanding of one another, most often without
acquaintance even, scattered far apart, the only bond of union that held them was
the catholic love of their fellowmen and the common inspiration of their noble
calling.
The growth of population by decades to 1860 is indicated by coun-
ties in the following table :
1790
1800
1810
1820
1830
1840
1850
I860
County
Hampshire. .
Berkeley. . . .
Monongalia .
Ohio. ......
Greenbrier -
Harrison. . .
Hardy
Randolph . . .
Pendleton . . ,
Kanawha. . .
Brooke
Wood
Monroe ....
Jefferson
Mason
Cabell
Tyler
Lewis
Nicholas
Preston
Morgan
Pocahontas .
Logan
Jackson
Fayette
Marshall
Braxton
Meroer
Marion
Wayne
Barbour . . . .
Ritchie
Taylor
Doddridge . .
Gilmer
Wetzel
Boone
Putnam. . . .
Wirt
Hancock . . . .
Raleigh
Wyoming. . .
Pleasants . . .
Upshur
Calhoun
Clay
Roane
Tucker
McDowell. .
Webster . . . .
Mineral
Grant
Lincoln
Summers. . .
Mingo
Date
Formed
7,346
19,713
4,768
5,212
6,015
2,080
7,336
951
2,454
8,348
22,006
8,540
4,740
4,345
4,848
6,627
1,826
3,962
3,239
4,706
1,217
4,188
9,784
11,479
12,793
8,175
5,914
9,958
5,525
2,854
4,239
3,866
5,843
3,036
5,444
11,851
1,991
2,717
10,889
11,211
11,060
9,182
7,041
10,932
5,700
3,357
4,846
6,399
6,631
5,860
6,580
13,087
4,868
4,789
2,314
4,247
1,853
3,422
2,500
11,279
10,518
14,056
15,584
9,006
14,722
6,798
5,000
6,271
9,326
7,041
6,429
7,798
12,927
6,534
5,884
4,104
6,241
3,346
5,144
2,694
2,542
3,680
12,245
19,972
17,368
13,357
8,695
17,669
7,622
6,208
6,940
13,567
7,948
7,923
8,422
14,082
6,777
8,163
6,954
8,151
2,255
6,866
4,253
2,922
4,309
4,890
3,924
6,937
2,575
2,233
14,036
11,771
12,357
18,006
10,022
11,728
9,543
5,243
5,797
15,353
5,054
9,450
10,204
15,357
7,539
6,299
5,498
10,031
3,963
11,708
3,557
3,598
3,620
6,544
3,955
10,138
4,212
4,222
10,552
4,760
9,005
3,902
5,357
2,750
3,475
4,282
3,237
5,335
3,353
4,050
1,765
1,645
13,913
12,525
13,048
22,422
12,211
13,790
9,864
4,990
6,164
16,151
5,494
11,046
10,757
14,535
9,173
8,020
6,517
7,999
4,627
13,312
3,732
3,958
4,938
8,306
5,997
12,937
4,992
6,819
12,722
6,747
8,968
6,847
8,463
5,203
3,759
6,703
4,840
6,301
3,751
4,445
3,367
2,861
2,945
7,292
2,502
1,787
5,381
1,428
1,535
1,555
1754
1772
1776
1776
1777
1784
1786
1787
1788
1789
1797
1799
1799
1801
1804
1809
1814
1816
1818
1818
1820
1821
1824
1831
1831
1835
1836
1837
1842
1842
1843
1843
1844
1845
1845
1846
1847
1848
1848
1848
1850
1850
1851
1851
1855
1856
1856
1856
1858
1860
1866
1866
1867
1871
1895
55,873
78,592 105,469 136.768 176,924 227,227 302,273 376
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
253
The composition and condition of the population in 1850 is partially
indicated by the following statistics from the census of that year:
Counties
White
Male Female
Colored
Free Slave
Numbe. of
Dwellings
(excluding
slaves)
Number of
Families
(excluding
slaves)
Barbour 4.3S0
Berkeley 4,974
Boone 1,603
Braxton 2,111
Brooke 2,490
Cabell 2,974
Doddridge 1,396
Fayette 1,923
Gilmer 1,776
Greenbrier 4,315
Hampshire 6,251
Hancock 2,124
Hardy 4,085
Harrison 5,674
Jackson 3,405
Jefferson 5,453
Kanawha 6,278
Lewis 4,852
I.ogan 1,866
Marion 5,200
Marshall 5,087
Mason 3,562
Mercer 2,051
Monongalia 5,987
Monroe 4,584
Morgan 1,753
Nicholas 1,974
Ohio 8,981
Pendleton 2,771
Pocahontas 1,675
Preston 6,943
Putnam 2,408
Raleigh 899
Randolph 2,561
Ritchie 1,983
Taylor 2,697
Tyler 2,778
Wayne 2,450
Wetzel 2,183
Wirt 1,695
Wood 4,664
Wyoming 811
4,290
222
133
1,467
1,467
4,592
249
1,956
1,668
1,703
1,451
183
495
495
2,012
89
679
679
2,433
100
31
839
839
2,928
8
389
976
976
1,322
1
31
525
525
1,857
19
156
593
693
1,627
72
571
571
4,234
156
1,317
1,419
1,419
5,858
224
1,433
2,035
2,035
1,916
7
3
590
590
3,842
356
1,260
1,327
1,340
5,539
27
488
1,866
1,866
3,075
11
53
1,034
1,040
5,023
540
4,341
1,960
2,000
5,723
212
3,140
2,110
2,160
4,768
43
368
1,533
1,533
1,667
87
572
572
5,239
19
94
1,786
1,791
9,963
39
49
1,668
1,678
3,279
51
647
1,151
1,173
1,967
27
177
655
655
6,105
119
176
2,124
2,124
4,477
81
1,061
1,576
1,576
1,678
3
123
606
606
1,915
1
73
602
602
8,631
230
164
3,097
3,178
2,672
30
322
891
891
1,628
28
267
553
657
4,619
59
87
1,664
1,664
2,285
10
632
788
819
S30
13
23
296
296
2,442
9
201
844
844
1,903
16
649
649
2,433
69
168
818
823
2,678
4
38
949
948
2,114
7
189
749
790
2.07S
6
17
716
716
1,624
2
32
528
528
4,344
69
373
1,554
1,554
772
1
61
248
248
The census of 1850 contains the following statistics of towns in the
territory later included in West Virginia :
Towns
Counties
White
Male Female
Colored
Free Slave
Total
Bolivar Jefferson . ,
Charlestown .Jefferson .
Charleston Kanawha.
Clinton Ohio
Fairmont Marion. . .
Fulton .Ohio
Harpers Ferry Jefferson . .
Martinsburg Berkeley . .
New Martinsville Wetzel. . .
Parkersburg Wood. . . .
Kitchieton Ohio
Shepherdstown . . Jefferson. .
Smithfield Jefferson. ,
Triadelphia Ohio
Wheeling Ohio
West Liberty Ohio
479
469
60
46
1,054
515
490
166
386
1,507
403
341
54
252
1,050
159
154
313
324
328
4
27
683
129
137
266
806
745
87
109
1,747
995
891
44
260
2.190
119
104
5
228
575
577
29
37
1,218
586
481
4
1,071
619
633
60
249
1,561
173
176
2
95
446
121
1,199
2
242
,660
5,519
212
44
11,435
105
109
5
219
25 1
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
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CHAPTER XVII
RELIGION AND CHURCH
(By Greek Sayre)
When the Virginia legislature in 1785 passed the act which extended
religious liberty to all inhabitants of the state, the mountains and val-
leys of western Virginia were already dotted with cabins of many pio-
neers. These frontiersmen had not been pilgrims seeking religious
freedom for themselves, nor zealous missionaries carrying the teachings
of Christianity to the Indians. They were hardy men, of many different
religious denominations who had taken their families away from the
comforts of the civilized communities of the North and East and pushed
into the primeval forest infested by hostile Indians, in order to establish
homes. In their mutual struggle to drive out the savages, and conquer
the wilds, and found homes, they forgot any religious disputes and
maybe sometimes even the religion which they may have had in their
former homes. Therefore, when religious freedom was established by
law, members of many denominations of Protestants were living side
by side in the western mountains, although few churches had been
erected there.
Until the passage of the act of religious freedom, worship by any
denomination except the Church of England, was not permitted in Vir-
ginia unless by special permission. Before the Revolution any religious
denomination, except the Episcopalian, that wished to establish a place
of worship within Virginia, were required to apply for a license from
the governor who, if he granted the petition, designated a place of meet-
ing for the congregation. The petitioners were required to declare
their loyalty to the king and to promise dutiful submission to the colonial
government. While many different denominations established them-
selves under this law in eastern Virginia, none were established accord-
ing to law in what is now West Virginia. The necessity of having Indian
fighters to defend the western frontier against incursions of the savages,
prevented the colonial officials from making too close inquiry into the
religious beliefs of the backwoodsmen of the western mountains. With
the exception of the few churches established by the state church, the
close of the Revolution found few church societies in the mountains of
western Virginia, fewer church buildings and a great number of in-
habitants who were in dire need of religious instruction.
The Episcopal Church
When the first settlement in Virginia was made, the Episcopal
Church became the established church. It was maintained by the sup-
port of the colonial government. Parishes were established, vestry-
men were appointed, churches were built and kept up, and ministers,
who were ordained and appointed by the Bishop of London, were paid
by the government. The church pushed westward slowly. It was 1738
before any sort of church organization was undertaken for any part of
what is now West Virginia. In that year the territory which included
all of Shenandoah, with a part of Page, Warren, Clarke, Frederick,
Berkeley, and Hampshire counties was formed into the County and
Parish of Frederick; and the remainder of western Virginia was in-
cluded in West Augusta county and parish. On account of the small
Vol. 1—17
257
258 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
number of inhabitants, the County and Parish of Frederick were not
organized until 1744. Under the Parish of Augusta no church was
ever organized in West Virginia.
The vestry of Frederick seems to have been very active in starting
to build new churches. In 1752 this board was dissolved for misspending
£1,500 collected for the completion of churches. Of the five churches
of this parish, probably completed and ready for use between 1740
and 1750, two were in territory later included in West Virginia. One
of these, called Morgan's Chapel, was at Bunker's Hill, and the other,
called Mechlenberg Chapel, was at Shepherdstown.
The church building at Bunker's Hill, the first in West Virginia,
was built about 1740 by Morgan Morgan, Sr., who had associated with
him Dr. John Briscoe and Mr. Hite. The responsibility of keeping this
church alive seems to have devolved largely upon the Morgans. The
rector of the parish could only visit the different churches at intervals.
Thus the task of sustaining the church fell entirely upon laymen. Mor-
gan Morgan, Sr. was ever active in fulfilling his duties as a church-
man. He educated his children to perform their church obligations.
Morgan Morgan, Jr. when he was sixteen years old, began to act as
lay reader in the church erected by his father. As he grew older lie
extended his church activity from Morgan's Chapel so as to include
Jefferson, Berkeley, Frederick, and Hampshire counties, and the border-
ing counties of Maryland. His influence for good was so great that
when he was an old man, his neighbors petitioned for his ordination
as their pastor, notwithstanding his deficiency in learning. On account
of his age and infirmities he did not apply for ordination. He died
in 1797, and for nearly twenty years thereafter Morgan's Chapel was
without regular church services.
The Rev. Mr. Gordon was the first minister of Frederick parish.
Nothing much is known of his work. The Rev. Mr. Meldrum served as
his successor for several years; but in 1765 he beat the vestry in a
lawsuit which resulted in his removal. The Rev. Mr. Sabastian came
in 1766 and stayed two years. His successor, the Rev. Mr. Thruston
served for nine years. He preached at seven different places, Shepherds-
town being one of them. He resigned in 1777 to become a colonel in
the Continental army. The parish was without a rector until 1785
when the Rev. Alexander Balmaine, who had been chaplain in the Amer-
ican army in the Revolution, was elected minister.
In 1769 Norbourne parish and Berkeley county were taken from
Frederick county and parish. A year earlier, the second church at
Shepherdstown was completed by Mr. Van Swearingen. The next church
erected in Norbourne parish was a stone church which was built at
Charlestown in 1769. For this parish the Rev. Daniel Sturges was
licensed in 1771. He seems to have done good work. In 1786 he was
succeeded by the faithful Mr. Veasy who in 1795 was followed by the
Rev. Bernard Page of the evangelical school, who had very high min-
isterial standards for that day. Page's successor was Mr. Heath whom
John Wesley had sent to America to establish a girls' school in Mary-
land. The first church at Martinsburg was built about 1814, chiefly
at the expense of Mr. Philip Pendleton, whose brother, William, acted
as lay reader there when ministers were scarce. In 1801 Berkeley county
was divided into Berkeley and Jefferson counties, and Norbourne parish
was divided into the parishes of Martinsburg, Bunker's Hill, and
Smithfield.
In 1753, Hampshire county and parish was cut off from Frederick.
Nearly twenty years later three ministers were ordained in England for
the ministry in Hampshire ; but only one, the Rev. Mr. Manning, reached
the parish. The church was never very successful in this county. No
one sought to preach there until the Rev. Norman Nash, a man of
little learning but great zeal, applied for ordination and his application
was refused by Bishop Moore on the ground that, knowing neither Latin
nor Greek, he could not fulfill the scholastic requirements. Mr. Nash
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 259
urged his case, stating that he was an old man called by the Holy Ghost
to preach, that by the time he had learned the languages he would prob-
ably be dead, and that he would have to tell God why he had not obeyed
His call. He finally induced the bishop to ordain him for Hampshire.
He fit the place and succeeded in building two log churches in his parish.
His ministry was followed by that of his nephew, Mr. Sylvester Nash,
who built a brick church at Romney.
In 1814 there was a great revival among the churches in Berkeley and
Jefferson counties. On Christmas eve of that year Mr. Benjamin Allen,
a candidate for orders, walked sixty miles to the home of Bishop Meade
to ask employment as lay reader in the valley. On Christmas day
he accompanied the bishop to church and was introduced by him to
Mr. Beverley Whiting and his sister, Miss Betsey, who had driven fifteen
miles, from their home in Jefferson county, to church. He went home
with the Whitings and in two weeks had travelled all over Jefferson
and Berkeley counties and established twelve places of worship. Prom
that time until 1821 when he was called to St. Paul's Church in Phila-
delphia, he labored night and day for the churches in those counties
and the adjoining county of Maryland. Bishop Meade says of him :
"He perhaps rode as great a distance, preached as often, studied his
Bible as much, and prepared as many things for the press, as any man
of his day. No one had a better opportunity than myself of knowing
this, for I had often to go the rounds with him, doing more duty from
necessity than I ever did before or have done since. * * * por
nine years thus he labored, contracting his sphere, though not his dili-
gence, by introducing one or two ministers into some of the numerous
places he had taken in charge." He was a valuable pioneer in estab-
lishing churches in the eastern panhandle.
Before the movement of sending missionaries into western Vir-
ginia was begun by the Church, four Episcopal churches had been
founded in the northern panhandle by Dr. Joseph Doddridge, who began
his ministerial career as a Methodist preacher in Hampshire county, Vir-
ginia. The death of his father necessitated his presence at his home
in Pennsylvania. When the estate was settled he had means with which
to complete his education. He accordingly entered Jefferson Academy
at Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. While he was in college, the Methodists
abolished the use of the prayer-book. When he left college he did not
resume his duties as a Methodist minister. In 1792 he was admitted
to the order of the deacons of the Episcopal church at Philadelphia,
by the Right Rev. Bishop White of Pennsylvania. In the same year
he moved into western Pennsylvania and then into western Virginia
where he established three Episcopal churches within the next year.
He returned to Philadelphia in 1800 and was ordained priest by Bishop
White. He preferred to remain under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of
Pennsylvania, rather than to seek orders from the Bishop of Virginia,
partly for convenience and partly because of the poor condition of the
church in Virginia.
In 1792-93 the Rev. Mr. Doddridge established three parishes— St.
John's and St. Paul's in Brooke county, and West Liberty in Ohio
county. St. John's was probably established in 1792. The building,
erected in 1793, was a small log structure about three miles east of
Steubenville. St. Paul's church, also erected in 1793, was about five
miles east of Wellsburg. A congregation was collected at West Liberty
in 1792 but no church was built. Church services were held in the
courthouse. When the county seat was moved to Wheeling, many of
the church people also moved to that place thus greatly weakening the
church. In 1800 Dr. Doddridge, who was then living at Wellsburg, also
held services at Brooke Academy. His missionary work extended through-
out the northern panhandle and as far west in Ohio as Chillicothe. His
career as a missionary extended over a period of thirty years. When
he was forced to give up his work on account of ill health, the Episcopal
260 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
church of Virginia was again on its feet and the missionary movement
in behalf of western Virginia had begun.
After the death of Dr. Doddridge in 1826, the Rev. Mr. Armstrong
worked faithfully to sustain the congregations already established. Later
missionaries were sent to these charges. The Rev. Mr. Skull was the
first one. He was followed in succession by Messrs. Harrison, Goodwin,
Hyland, Tompkins, and Christian. The congregation at St. John's
always seems to have been strong. The original log church was replaced
by a frame building which in turn gave way to a brick structure that
was consecrated in 1850. A brick church was erected at Wellsburg al-
most entirely at the expense of John and Danford Brown. The con-
gregation there was always small.
Although the Rev. Doddridge had preached in Wheeling, no organiza-
tion of the Episcopal church was made there until 1819, when, at the
instance of Bishop Chase, the "St. Mathew's Church of Wheeling"
was formed and the Rev. John Armstrong was chosen minister. In
1821 Mr. Noah Zane gave the Episcopalians a lot on which they erected
a church the same year. The congregation grew so rapidly that a new
church, which was consecrated in 1837, was necessary. By 1849 the
growth of St. Mathew's had reached such proportions that a new parish
was formed and a church was erected in the southern part of the city.
The new parish was called St. John's. The first rector was the Rev.
James D. McCabe who began his work in 1850. The pews in St. John's
were free and the salary of the minister was paid by voluntary sub-
scription from the members. Incidental expenses were met by the col-
lections at the Sunday morning services. In 1855 the congregation
built a commodious and convenient rectory.
The work of Rev. Mr. Allen in Jefferson and Berkeley counties not
only marked a revival of the Episcopal church in that region, but
also marked the beginning of a movement on the part of the diocese of
Virginia to send missionaries into the western part of the state. Soon
after Allen's arrival, the movement was begun by an association of
ministers composed of the Revs. Messrs. Allen, Bryan, B. B. Smith,
and Enoch Lowe and Bishop Meade. The Rev. William F. Lee was the
first missionary sent. He began his work some time in 1819. He first
visited Clarksburg, and later went to Morgantown. He and his suc-
cessors visited these places repeatedly until churches were established
at each. No organization of a church was effected in Morgantown
until 1860. In 1834 the Rev. Mr. Ward took up his residence in Clarks-
burg. He aroused much interest in the church and organized a flourish-
ing Sunday School. He was succeeded in 1840 by the Rev. McMechin
who had been a Methodist minister. At his own expense Mr. McMechin
provided a house in which he conducted a school for girls during the
week and preached on Sunday. He was an able speaker. His preach-
ing of the gospel of salvation attracted large numbers. Many conver-
sions seemed imminent, and the accession of a large class to the Episcopal
Church seemed assured when he began a series of doctrinal sermons.
What attitude he took is not known, but his congregation began to
dwindle, and the ministers of other denominations began an opposi-
tion through tracts and bulletins. By the time the series of sermons
was completed a mere handful of the congregation remained. When
Bishop Meade came to Clarksburg to confirm what promised to be a
large class, only one person was brave enough to appear for confirma-
tion, and he was too ill to attend the church service. Mi-. McMechin
resigned and later returned to the Methodist church. The Rev. Thomas
Smith of Parkersburg came to the rescue of the little congregation. He
regularly organized the friends of the church, had a vestry elected, and
filled the pulpit as often as bad roads and long distance permitted
until a regular minister was elected. The Rev. Mr. Kinsolving, who
was the next resident minister at Clarksburg, preached both there and
at Weston, regularly, and at Morgantown, occasionally. The Rev. Mr.
Tompkins succeeding Mr. Kinsolving at Weston and preached probably
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 261
once a month at Clarksburg. It was while Mr. Tompkins was at Weston
that the first Episcopal church was built at that place. In 1852 the
Rev. Robert Castleman arrived at Clarksburg where he was soon joined
by the Rev. James Page. These two ministers supplied Clarksburg,
Weston, Fairmont, Morgantown, and Buckhannon for a year; then
Mr. Castleman limited his services to Clarksburg and Fairmont; and
Mr. Page, to Weston and Buckhannon. Under the ministry of Mr.
Castleman, a church was built at Clarksburg, and a building for a
church was bought and repaired at Fairmont.
After their visits to Clarksburg and Morgantown, the missionaries,
Mr. Lee and Mr. Page, turned to the Kanawha valley and ascended
the Ohio by the way of Pt. Pleasant to Parkersburg. Mr. Page settled on
the Kanawha and preached to the Episcopalians that he found at Charles-
ton, at the mouth of Coal river, and at Point Pleasant. He supplied
these places for a number of years. After he left, there was no regular
minister until the arrival of Rev. Frederick U. Goodwin whose suc-
cessors were Craik, Whittle, Ward, Brown, and Smith, successively.
Churches were built at Charleston, at the saltworks, and at the mouth
of Coal river. Regular preaching places were established at other points,
although no church organizations were effected.
While Mr. Goodwin was at Charleston, he succeeded, with the aid
of contributions from Mrs. Eliza Bruce, in building Bruce Chapel
on Mercer's Bottom about twelve miles below Point Pleasant on the
Ohio river. Although he worked faithfully to build a church at Point
Pleasant he was unsuccessful.
The Episcopal church at Ravenswood in Jackson county was built
at the expense of Mr. Henry Fitzhugh who settled there on land that
he had inherited from the estate of George Washington. One of the
sons of Mr. Fitzhugh acted as lay reader when there was no minister.
The Rev. Wheeler preached at Ravenswood from 1842 to 1844. Min-
isters from the churches on the Kanawha, from Parkersburg, from
Moundsville, and from Wheeling frequently filled the pulpit at Ravens-
wood, and also held services in the courthouse at Ripley, the county
seat of Jackson.
Parkersburg was visited by Mr. Lee and Mr. Page, and later by
Mr. McMechin who unsuccessfully tried to establish a church there
before he located at Clarksburg. In 1843 a church was regularly or-
ganized and the Rev. Thomas Smith was elected rector. He began at
once to raise funds for the building of a church which, after some
delay, was erected on a lot presented to the vestry by J. F. Snodgrass.
The building was largely due to contributions of Gen. J. J. Jackson.
The Rev. Perkins succeeded the Rev. Smith, who died in 1847. Dur-
ing his ministry two neighboring churches were built — one at Cow
Creek, about fifteen miles above Parkersburg, and the other at Belleville,
ten or twelve miles below it. The church at Belleville was built largely
at the expense of Mr. Wells on whose land it stood.
Episcopal families residing at Moundsville were early visited by Dr.
Armstrong. With the coming of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the
growth of the population necessitated the building of a church ; the
Rev. Mr. Hyland was the first rector.
The church at New Martinsville was built through the efforts of
the Rev. James McCabe and Mr. Hyland.
Thus, by 1860 the Episcopal church was established in the eastern
panhandle, in the Monongahela, the Great Kanawha, and the Ohio
valleys.
The Baptist Church,
Members' of the Baptist denomination early found homes in the
mountains of western Virginia, although the colonial government re-
garded that sect as among the most obnoxious of the dissenters from
the Established Church. Many Baptist ministers refused to regard
262 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
the Toleration Act, which was in force in Virginia. When they at-
tempted to preach in the East they were set upon by ruffians, who
pelted them with such missiles as stones, live snakes, or hornets' nests;
or, who beat them, or threw them into the water. If they did not heed
these warnings to move on, they were arrested and confined in damp
jails through the bars of which they continued to preach. One Baptist
historian says that many of these preachers brought much of their
suffering upon themselves, that they were frequently noisy and spec-
tacular, and attracted attention by the strangeness of their actions.
The Baptists that migrated into the mountains of western Vir-
ginia found peace. In that region there were no ministers of the Estab-
lished Church to complain of their aggressiveness; and the colonial gov-
ernment ignored their refusal to conform, because every new settler,
regardless of his religion, was a useful defender for the western fron-
tier of Virginia.
About 1742 fourteen Baptist families migrated from New Jersey
and settled in the vicinity of Gerardstown in Berkeley county. They
stayed there until about 1755 when the threatening dangers of the
French and Indian war drove them to take refuge east of the Blue
Ridge mountains. After the war was over they returned, and in 1770
organized a Baptist church at Mill Creek. Probably the first Baptist
minister, in what is now West Virginia, was the Rev. Shubal Stearnes,
who came into this region as a missionary to the Indians. He started
from New England, in 1754, with a few of his followers. At Opequon
in Berkeley county he halted. Here he found a Baptist church already
established and under the care of S. Hinton. At this place he met
Daniel Marshall, a Baptist missionary, who had just returned from a
visit to the Indians. They, together, moved to Cacapon, Hampshire
county, where, about 1755 they established the first Baptist church
in the County. They moved soon after to North Carolina. In 1787,
under the pastorate of B. Stone, a Baptist church was organized on
North river in Hampshire county. In 1790, Stone organized his sec-
ond church in Hampshire county on Crooked run. Dr. Munroe, who
combined the practice of medicine with that of preaching, early organized
a Baptist church on Patterson's creek in Mineral county.
On November 5, 1775, John Corbly instituted "the Porks of Cheat
Baptist Church" in Monongalia county. The Baptist society bought
a lot in Morgantown in 1785-86, but there is no evidence of a church
organization at that date.
In 1775, John Alderson, a Baptist missionary from Rockingham
county, made his first visit to the Greenbrier valley. Impressed with
the need for constant missionary effort in behalf of the settlers there,
he determined to make that region his home and established his per-
manent residence there in October, 1777. For protection in such a
wild region he was often accompanied by an armed escort on his rounds
of preaching. He was disliked by frontiersmen who sometimes threat-
ened to keep him out of the stockades and blockhouses. In 1781 he
organized the old Greenbrier Baptist church. There were twelve mem-
bers beside himself. This congregation built a church in 1784, on a lot
given by William Morris in North Alderson. This church at first re-
garded itself as a branch of the Linnville Association, but in 1782, it
allied itself with the Ketokton Association. In 1801 it joined the
Greenbrier Association which was formed in that year. Its members
seem to have been very regular in attendance, although some of them
had to travel thirty miles to church meetings. In 1785 it unanimously
voted that frolicking was not right. The next year its congregation
expressed itself on the slavery question by saying: "Our church
having but few slaves, we hope our brethren will not think it hard if
we lie neuter in this matter." Previous to 1820 its minister was called
the laboring brother. He was not paid a large salary. Even as late
as 1859 he received only $125 a year, paid in produce. Naturally con-
tributions in money were not very large. Sarah Alderson 's contribu-
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 263
tion of a quarter to the church fund in 1805 was regarded as au act
of great liberality. About 1814 there seems to have been an ebb in
religious fervor and in 1830 there was a membership of only twenty-
nine. From 1840 to I860 worldliness seems to have attracted the
members. There was scarcely a meeting at which some member was
not under discipline for dancing, gambling, swearing, or immorality.
The Indian Creek Primitive Baptist Church was the first branch of
the parent church in Monroe county. It was organized in 1792. Its
original building was a plain log structure with no chimney and with
an earthen floor. When the weather was very cold a bark fire was
built in the middle of the room. If Indians were threatening, sentries
were stationed outside to keep watch. Even with all these discomforts
threatening them, the members came lo.ng distances to attend the
monthly meetings. The original building gave place to a second log
church which had a gallery and a puncheon floor.
The Red Sulphur Baptist church was organized in May, 1815. The
first church house of this congregation had, in the middle of the room,
a stone chimney with a double fireplace.
The exact date of the organization of the Baptist church at Clarks-
burg is not known. It is evident, though, that there was some sort of
a Baptist building there in 1788 when Bishop Asbury recorded in his
journal that he preached in it. Other evidence of the existence of such
a church is a deed, from Daniel Davisson, the original owner of Clarks-
burg, dated June 21, 1790, by which he conveyed a lot to the congre-
gation of the Regular Baptists, members of Hopewell church. The
church did not flourish. In 1818 the Rev. Ira Chase, who had been
sent out by the Baptist Missionary Society of Massachusetts, wrote
from Clarksburg to Dr. Sharp of Boston that a Baptist church had
once been constituted here, "but at this time there are neither preach-
ing, religious meetings, nor churches of any denomination, and few,
very few professors of religion, and some of these are not very correct
in their morals." He further said in this same letter that on his first
Sunday there he preached to a very small audience in the court house,
but that a subscription paper was circulated by which funds were
raised to pay his expenses while he preached a series of serrnons. The
people regarded his plain speaking kindly, and though he denounced
their sins the congregation grew until on the last night, he preached
to a house crowded with large and attentive audience. For a long
time the church meetings were held in barns, private houses, the court
house, or shady groves. The Broad Run Baptist Association, which
included the counties of Harrison, Lewis, Gilmer, Calhoun, Webster,
Roane, Clay, Braxton and a part of Kanawha, was organized about
1835.
The organization of the first Baptist church in the northern pan-
handle followed closely that of the first Episcopal Church in that region.
October 5, 1794, on Short creek, Virginia, the Short Creek Regular
Baptist Church was organized. This church, at its regular meeting at
Wheeling on June 4, 1803, voted to establish a church called the Regu-
lar Baptist Church of Cross Creek. It built a good frame house near
Saunder's Mill. Its first minister was the Rev. John Prichard. About
1844 it became divided as a result of the preaching of the Rev. Mr.
Griffith, who advocated the missionary cause and had other advanced
ideas. Mr. Griffith's followers withdrew, formed a new organization
and built a mile farther up the creek another church called "Ebenezer."
The old church was so weakened by the secession of the members of the
new church that its regular meetings ceased. In Wellsburg, a Regular
Baptist church was organized about 1816. John Brown collected the
funds for a church building which was later occupied by the Disciples,
under Alexander Campbell, a son-in-law of Brown.
About 1795 the Little Bethel Church of the Primitive Baptist de-
nomination was organized at Meadowville, Barbour county, by Elder
264 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Simeon Harris who came to Glady creek from Hardy county. In 1817
Phineas Wells organized a church in the vicinity of Philippi.
The complete records of the development of the Baptist church in
each county of the state are not available; but the statistics from the
census reports, which are appended to this chapter, show its number
of church buildings in 1850 and its growth from 1850 to 1860.
The Presbyterian Church
Among the early settlers of western Virginia were many Presby-
terians. In 1738 the Synod of Philadelphia asked of Governor Gooch
permission for Presbyterians to settle in there. Governor Gooch readily
granted the request, stipulating that the settlers must conform to the
Toleration Act in force in Virginia. There is no evidence that any
meeting places were appointed for Presbyterians, but it is probable that
members of that denomination were already living in the valley when
the governor gave his consent for their settlement farther west. Wil-
liam Hoge established the Opeckon church in the lower part of the
Shenandoah valley in 1735. Other Presbyterian churches in that region
soon came into existence through the effox-ts of missionaries and preach-
ers from the Synod of Philadelphia who frequently visited the Presby-
terian families in the valley of Virginia. In 1782 Hardy county had a
Presbyterian minister who had preached near Moorefield for five years.
In 1782 he accepted a call from Shepherdstown. In 1792 Mt. Bethel
at "Three Churches" on Branch mountain, and the Presbyterian church
at Romney were organized in Hampshire county. In 1794, when the
Winchester Presbytery was formed, the Reverend John Lyle was min-
ister for the congregations of Frankfort, Romney, and Springfield. Pre-
vious to 1833 all Presbyterian churches in Hampshire county were in the
Mt. Bethel organization. In 1833, Mr. Foote was authorized to estab-
lish separate organizations at Romney, Mount Bethel, North River, and
Patterson's Creek.
About 1786 the first religious service of the Presbyterian church was
held in Tygart's valley. The Rev. Edward Crawford of Shenandoah
valley visited Tygart's valley and preached two sermons. For four or
five years the practice of securing Presbyterian ministers from the
Shenandoah valley to preach two sermons a year in Tygart's valley was
continued. For the next two decades there is no record of the progress
of Presbyterianism in this region. In 1820, however, the Rev. Aretas
Loomis migrated to Tygart 's valley to make his home and soon organized
the first congregation in Randolph county. The first church was built
at Huttonsville.
By 1788 a small band of Presbyterians had gathered at Morgan-
town, and to them the Reverend Joseph Patterson preached. Their
church was probably organized by the Reverend Robert Finley, while
he was on his way from eastern Virginia to Kentucky. By 1806 the
members of the congregation had nearly all died. In 1819 there was a
revival of its activity expressed by its cooperation with the Episco-
palians in beginning the erection of a church building on the lot now
occupied by the Presbyterian church. After completion of the walls
and the roof the men became discouraged, but the women then under-
took to complete the enterprise by weaving wool and flax cloth to raise
the sum of money ($1,000) required. On March 22, 1822, the building
was completed.
Soon after the Revolution, Presbyterian congregations were organized
in the northern panhandle. October 16, 1782, the Reverend John Mc-
Millan (who had moved to Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1775),
was appointed by the Redstone Presbytery to supply at the Ohio county
courthouse (at Short Creek) on the third Sunday of the following No-
vember. He is said to have been the first Presbyterian minister who
settled west of the Allegheny mountains. He was one of the original
members of the Presbytery of Redstone and was its first moderator. He
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
265
was very diligent in the performance of his pastoral duties. In 1783
the Reverend Joseph Smith was sent to fill an appointment at Ohio
county courthouse which was then called Short Creek — a name which it
continued to bear until it changed to West Liberty, fifteen or twenty
years later.
In 1790 two Presbyterian congregations were organized in Ohio
county: one at West Liberty on April 21 and another at Elm Grove
on April 22. The West Liberty congregation was under the charge of
the Reverend James Hughes who also had charge of Lower Buffalo. The
Elm Grove was under the care of the Reverend John Brice or Birch,
who lived at Ridges or West Alexander, Pennsylvania. These two young
men had been students together under the Reverend John McMillan.
They were useful men and each retained his charge for a long time.
On account of danger from the Indians, their preaching stations were
located near to forts. No churches were erected for several years. The
preaching was done in the woods. The preacher occupied a wooden
structure called a tent while his congregation sat under the trees on rude
Tuscarora Presbyterian Church, Built in 1730
wooden benches. Here they would congregate and listen to sermons all
day, for days at a time. In October, 1802, "a great revival" occurred
and "a wonderful manifestation of God's presence in which great mental
misery and bodily weakness was experienced by many by reason of
conviction of sin."
In 1812 the first regular preaching in Wheeling by any minister was
begun by the Reverend James Hervey who, that year, took charge of
the Elm Grove church. It is said that when Hervey began preaching
in Wheeling, there were but three members of the Presbyterian church
in that town. He continued to preach there half the time for several
years. Sometimes he preached in the courthouse. In 1823, after a
complete organization of a church was effected, the Reverend William
Wylie who was preaching at West Liberty was engaged to assist Hervey
by filling the pulpit for the other half of the time. In 1833 the Rev-
erend Henry Weed of Albany, New York, was called to be pastor of
the First Presbyterian Church of Wheeling. He served in this capacity
for thirty-seven years. The first church building was built in 1831-32
on a lot deeded to the congregation in 1816 by Noah Zane. In 1854
the original building was rebuilt. In 1847 the congregation of the first
church was strong enough to form two. The next year the Second
Presbyterian Church was organized. The Reverend Cyrus Dickinson
was elected minister. In 1849 the Third Presbyterian Church came into
266 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
existence, followed soon by the Fourth Presbyterian church, both of
which were presided over by the Reverend A. Paul.
About 1827, the Reverend William Wallace, who was then pastor
of the Associate Reformed church at West Middletown and West Lib-
erty, did the first work towards organizing a congregation of that de-
nomination in Wheeling. In 1833 the first church building was com-
pleted. In 1858 this church became the United Presbyterian Church
of Wheeling.
In 1790 the first Presbyterian church in Hancock county was erected
at Three Springs about one and a half miles from Holliday's Cove.
In 1805 a great revival called "the falling down" took place. In 1846
a split in the congregation occurred. Part of its members went to
Paris, Pennsylvania, and the remainder to Holliday's Cove, where it
held its meetings in the Academy building. After several years the
society began the erection of the Holliday's Cove Presbyterian Church
which was completed in 1860.
About 1799 a Presbyterian congregation was organized, three miles
north of Cross creek in Brooke county, on the road leading from Steu-
benville, Ohio, to Washington, Pennsylvania. The first church of this
congregation was a small temporary building closed on three sides and
open in front. The preacher stood inside this little building and preached
to his audience seated on benches in the forest in front of him. Even
after a better building was constructed this temporary building was
used when congregations were large and the weather was fine. The later
church edifice was a log building, whose dimensions were 30 feet by 36
feet. When this church was raised, the customary supply of whiskey
was exhausted before the building was completed. A boy, however,
was sent to the nearest "still-house" for a new supply and the work
went merrily on.
In 1783 the organization of Presbyterian churches began in the
Greenbrier valley. In that year the Reverend John McCue organized
the Lewisburg church and became its first pastor. About the same
time a church building was erected at Palling Spring and another near
Lewisburg, and the Rev. Mr. McCue organized the Good Hope church
in Monroe county. The first church was a little log building, twenty-
five feet square. It had a clap-board roof and a hewn slab floor, but it
had no fire-place. When the weather was cold, huge fires were built
outside. In 180-4 the Reverend McCue organized the church of Spring
Creek in the upper part of Greenbrier county and the church of Union
in Monroe county. In 1835, Carmel church was organized from a de-
tachment of the Union church.
In 1793 the Oak Grove church in the Little Levels of Pocahontas
county was organized by the Reverend William Wilson. In 1804 Lib-
erty church in upper Pocahontas was organized by the Reverend Wilson
and the Reverend Benjamin Ervin. Mr. Wilson was at the time pastor
of the old stone church near Fort Defiance and Mr. Ervin was pastor
at Mossy Creek, Augusta county, Virginia.
In 1816 the Reverend John McElhenny organized Muddy Creek
church in west Greenbrier county. In 1817, he organized Anthony's
Creek church in east Greenbrier.
The First Church of Charleston, which was organized about 1818
by the Reverend Ruffner, was the mother church of the Great Kanawha
valley. The Reverend James M. Brown was a very active worker for
the Presbyterian church in that region.
About 1815, the Point Pleasant church was organized through the
efforts of the Reverend S. Gould, pastor of the Presbyterian church at
Gallipolis, Ohio, who continued to preach at the Point until 1825. The
church had no regular service from 1825 to 1834. In 1834 the Rev-
erend Francis Dutton, arrived as a missionary, and became the minister.
The Parkersburg church, which was organized in February, 1833,
traces its origin to the labors of the Reverend James McAboy, a Bap-
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 267
tist Scotch-Irish preacher who settled at Parkersburg about 1821 for
the purpose of establishing a school.
In 1839 the Reverend McElhenny organized the pioneer church of
Nicholas county at Suminersville.
The Reverend Thomas Hunt, who had been pastor of the Second
Presbyterian church of Pittsburg, delivered the first sermon on the
Calvinistic doctrine in Upshur county. He preached at the home of
Aaron Gould where a few families met every Sunday for worship. Asa
Brooks, the first resident minister, was sent in the fall of 1816 by the
Central Missionary Association of Hampshire county, Massachusetts,
to preach for the settlers who had migrated from New England. He
established missions at French Creek, Buckhannon, and Beverly where
he preached every third Sunday. He had appointments at points be-
tween these places during the week. His salary was about $400 a year.
In 1817 he visited New England and married Polly Sumner. He re-
turned to Upshur county in 1818, became a member of the Redstone
Presbytery in 1819, and accepted a call from the French Creek and
Buckhannon congregations. The French Creek Church was organized
September 10, 1819. The first church house was built in 1823 or 1824.
The women of the congregation furnished enough linen to buy the glass
and nails for the church. In 1829 Mr. Brooks undertook the building
of a Presbyterian church in Clarksburg, but he died before it was
completed.
The charts at the end of this article show that the Presbyterian
churches were widely distributed by 1850, and that they had mate-
rially increased in number in the next decade.
The Lutheran Church
Among the first settlers in western Virginia were many Lutherans.
Their first congregations, like those of the other early churches, were in
Jefferson and Berkeley counties. As early as 1736, Ezra Keller, a
Lutheran missionary, visited members of his denomination in western
Virginia. The St. John's Lutheran Church in Berkeley was among
the first church organizations of the state. It was formed in 1775 by
German emigrants from Maryland and Pennsylvania. The first regu-
lar minister was the Reverend Christian Street who took charge of the
Lutheran congregation at Winchester in 1785. He presided over the
circuit of Berkeley, Jefferson, and Frederick counties, and acted as
bishop in that region until 1790. He was succeeded by the Reverend
J. D. Young who served until 1800. Two years later he returned and
had charge of the work until his death in 1804.
In 1786 a Lutheran church was built in Hampshire county at a
point on the Capon river four miles from Capon Springs. In Pendle-
ton county the earliest known church organization was the Probst
church, two miles above Brandywine, and founded in 1769. The Rev.
Schumacher, who became minister of this church in 1841, served
many years. His circuit was forty-five miles long and reached into
Hardy and Highland counties. He was sought for temporal as well as
spiritual advice. Many of his congregations grew very large.
Michael Kern, who settled across Decker's Creek from Morgantown,
was a member of the Lutheran church and near his home built a church
building for all denominations. Between 1788 and 1799, the Reverend
John Stough of Mt. Carmel, Preston county, preached in this church
for two years. After 1805 there is no further mention of it.
The Reverend Stough was the founder of the German colony at
Mount Carmel and also the founder of the Salem Evangelical Lutheran
church there. He was probably the first resident minister in Preston.
The congregation, which was formed about 1787, built its first church
about 1792. This was the first church building in the county. The
preaching was in German for years and the records were kept in that
126S HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
language until about 1828, after which both German and English were
used for a while, but soon only English was used.
The Methodist Church
The Methodist church did not begin a separate life from that of the
Church of England until 1784. Prior to this time, it was a society within
the mother church. In 1771, John Wesley, the leader of this society
in England, sent Francis Asbury to America as a worker for its in-
terests. After the Revolution, when the necessity of a separate church
organization became apparent, he appointed Dr. Thomas Coke and
the Reverend Asbury, as superintendents of the Methodists in America
and recommended that a separate church should be organized. He sent
Dr. Coke across the ocean to carry this message to the Revei-end Asbury.
The latter refused to accept his appointment from Mr. Wesley until
it had been ratified by the Methodist ministers, whom he hastily sum-
moned to meet in a conference in Baltimore.
The Methodist conference met on December 24, 1784, at Lovely
Lane Chapel, organized the Methodist Episcopal church of America
and confirmed Mr. Wesley's orders. Upon Bishop Asbury, who was
ordained at this conference on December 27, fell the burden of apostolic
leadership — a burden that he carried until his death, thirty-one years
later. America was his diocese. He knew every settlement from Maine
to Georgia, and from the Atlantic to the remote wilds of Ohio and
Tennessee. About 1781, he made his first journey into what is now
West Virginia. In that year he visited Hampshire, Hardy, and prob-
ably Monongalia counties. In 1788, he entered the trans-Allegheny
region along the Middle New river, and rode horseback through
Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Randolph, Barbour, and Harrison counties, and
at Clarksburg preached to about 700 people and administered the sacra-
ment. He then rode down the Monongahela river, stayed all night at
Fairmont, and preached at Morgantown. He made several subsequent
visits to western Virginia, usually following this same route.
Methodism first obtained a hold in the eastern panhandle, as did
other early churches. The first Methodist preaching in what is now
West Virginia was probably done by John Haggerty and Richard Owen
in 1773 at the home of Major Lewis Stephens in Jefferson county. The
Stephens family, John Hite and his sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Hughes, and
John Taylor and his wife, formed the first Methodist society there. In
1778, Berkeley circuit, composed of Berkeley and Jefferson counties,
was formed and placed in charge of the Reverend Edward Bailey, the
first regularly appointed Methodist minister in the area included in
West Virginia. In 1782 the first Methodist meeting in Martinsburg
was held in the market-house. The first regular meetinghouse was
located on John sti-eet. The congregation was assembled by the blow-
ing of a tin horn — because the members of the church were bitterly
opposed to the ringing of a church bell.
In 1789, J. J. Jacobs, who lived near Green Spring in Hampshire
county, was licensed to preach. In 1792 Bishop Asbury held a session
of the Baltimore conference at the Reverend Jacob's place. The Rev-
erend Bozeman, a Methodist minister, preached at the home of John
Reger near Volga in Upshur county in 1781. In 1800 Shadrack Tap-
pan, a minister of the Baltimore conference, preached in the settlement
at the home of Abram Carper. Not until a decade later was a class
formed. In 1810, a society was organized by Abram Carper and his
wife, Anthony Rohrbough and John Statler, Henry Reger, George Bush,
John Hall and wife, Catherine Hall, John Reger, and Nancy Bennett.
Methodism next entered the Greenbrier valley, which first belonged
to the Allegheny circuit of Rockingham district (organized in 1783),
and later to the Greenbrier circuit (organized in 1787). In 1784, several
Methodist families living in "Sinks of Greenbrier," formed a society
and held their meetings in a schoolhouse. The next year they called
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 269
for a minister and received the Reverend William Phoebus, who was
sent to them. To supply the need of a regular meeting house, Rehobeth
Church, said to be the first Methodist meeting house west of the Alle-
gheny mountains, was built. According to tradition, it was completed
in June, 1786, and dedicated by Bishop Asbury. The building, which
was constructed of medium size logs, was still standing over a century
and a quarter later. The yearly allowance of the minister was $64,
in addition to such traveling expenses as ferriage, horse-shoeing, and
provisions for the expenses of preacher and his horse on long trips.
The allowance was later increased to $84 and in 1816 to $100. In
May, 1792, Bishop Asbury preached at Rehobeth daily for three days
in connection with a conference which was held for that vicinity. The
following year the annual conference was held in Rehobeth Church.
In 1784, Redstone circuit, which embraced the whole of the Monon-
galiela valley, was formed. In the same year, John Cooper and Sam-
uel Breeze, the first preachers for this circuit, organized two congre-
gations— one at Morgantown and another at Martin's Fort near Mor-
gantown. In 1785 the Reverends Peter Morarity, John Fidler and
Wilson Lee were ministers in the circuit. In 1786, congregations were
formed at Fairmont, on Hacker's creek in Lewis county, and on the
West Fork of the Monongahela. The date of the organization of a
Methodist congregation at Clarksburg is not known, but by 1827 a
church building was in use there.
In 1785 the Reverend Wilson Lee, minister of the Redstone circuit,
reached Wheeling, preached a sermon, appointed a leader, and organized
a Methodist society there. In 1787, the Wheeling church was embraced
in the Ohio circuit of the Baltimore conference. The mother church at
Wheeling became the Fourth Methodist Church. In 1811 the name of
the Ohio circuit was changed to the East Wheeling Circuit. In 1818
Noah Zane gave the congregation a lot on which to erect a Methodist
church building, which was completed the next year. This was the
first church house in Wheeling, which was at that time a town of twelve
or thirteen hundred people. In 1831 and 1832 this church had a large
accession of members, a result of a great revival under the leadership
of the Reverend John Newton Moffit. A new church building was neces-
sary. Therefore the old one was pulled down and on its place was
erected another that could seat a congregation of nearly 2,000 people,
and that was for a long time the rallying place for the Methodists of
all that vicinity. The members of the mother church living south of
the creek became strong enough in 1848 to form a separate organization,
and erected a church on Chapline street on a lot given them by Henry
Echols and Thomas Hornbrook. The North Street church, for the
members living in North Wheeling, was erected about the same time.
Wesley Chapel became a separate organization about 1850. About
1839, the Wesley Methodist Church of South Wheeling was organized.
In the same year the German Methodist Church, said to have been the
first German Methodist Church in the world, was organized as a branch
of the original Methodist church. The Thompson Methodist Church
was the result of the organization of the first Sunday School on Zane's
Island in 1853. Before 1853, the residents of the Island attended wor-
ship in Wheeling. In that year, however, Daniel Zane deeded to a
board of trustees, a lot to be used for church purposes. Upon this lot
a small building for a union Sunday School was erected by subscrip-
tion. In this little house, which was called the "Island Chapel,"
church services were occasionally held. In 1857, a Methodist Sunday
School was organized by the Reverend Thomas McCleary.
The organization of a Methodist church in Brooke county was ef-
fected some time previous to 1816. In that year a Methodist Church
was built on a lot on the southwest corner of Charles and Walnut
streets in Wellsburg. In 1853 it was torn down and another was erected
on the same ground. In 1814, when Cornelius H. Gist moved into that
county and located near the Pennsylvania line, he found neither church
270 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
nor schoolhouse. To meet the need of such buildings, he erected, at his
own expense, a hewed log house to be used as a schoolhouse and a church.
To it itinerant Methodist preachers soon began to find their way and, as a
result, the nucleus of the Franklin Methodist Church was formed. About
1830, Sammy Lee, a local preacher, moved into Brooke county, settled
on the Washington and Wellsburg pike, and opened his cabin for
preaching services. In 1832 or 1833, the church interests started by
Oist and Lee united, secured a schoolhouse on the pike as a meeting
place, and organized the Franklin Methodist Episcopal church. A
great revival made the erection of a new building necessary in 1833.
A plain brick church was built near the pike on a lot donated by Dr.
E. P. Smith.
Asbury Chapel was probably the first home of a Methodist organiza-
tion in Hancock county. The congregation was organized .about 1818.
Its meetings were held in private houses or Lowe's schoolhouse until
the chapel was built in 1850.
The first Methodist church in or near Moundsville was formed about
1820. The first meeting-house of this congregation was a log church
which stood in the old graveyard north of Moundsville. This building
was twenty-five feet square and had three windows. Little is known
of the society until 1831 when the Reverend Cook commenced preach-
ing for it. This congregation later erected a brick church 50 by 60
feet in dimensions.
The Kanawha circuit was formed about 1790, and preachers were
assigned, but no reports were received from the circuit for a long time.
On January 1, 1804, the first Methodist sermon was preached in Charles-
ton by the Reverend William Steele. The organization of a Methodist
church there was effected about 1815 by the Reverend H. B. Bascom.
The Little Kanawha circuit, which extended from the mouth of the
Little Kanawha to the mouth of the Guyandotte river, was presided
over by the Reverend William Steele, who made a tour of his whole
circuit every four weeks. In 1804 Reverend Steele was succeeded by
the Reverend Asa Shinn, who was later one of the founders of the
Methodist Protestant church.
The first Methodist minister in Braxton county was the Reverend
Jameson, who preached regularly at the home of Colonel John Hay-
mond in 1808. The exact date of the formation of the first society is
not known. Henry Cunningham built the first church with the excep-
tion of the "raising," in which his neighbors joined. The first Metho-
dist organization in Ritchie county was effected about 1810 by the Rev-
erend Thomas Cunningham, the first minister in Hughes' river valley.
About 1812, the Reverend Lindsay became the presiding elder in
the Big Sandy valley. For four or five years he went up and down
the valley preaching the gospel with an irresistible eloquence. It was
said of him that he made a more lasting impression than any who had
preceded him or than any who succeeded him for years.
Camp-meetings were popular with nearly all of the churches of
West Virginia in their pioneer days. These meetings are said to have
originated with the excommunication of a Baptist preacher on the James
river. This preacher was a very able and eloquent minister but his
growing faith in the Armenian doctrine became obnoxious to his brethren
who excommunicated him and tried to silence him. He refused to be
silenced, and when they refused to let him preach in their church, he
preached in the forest where great numbers of people gathered to hear
him. These meetings grew in popularity and later, nearly every com-
munity in West Virginia had its regular camp-ground. These camps in
groves usually had a shed under which the preaching was done, and a
number of rude log cabins to shelter visitors who came for miles, bring-
ing with them provisions enough to last them for days. Sometimes the
shed seated as many as 2,000 people, and sometimes it sheltered only the
preacher, whose audience sat on benches in front of him. Sometimes,
there were neither shed nor cabins, but only benches under the trees.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 271
The camp-ground at Clarksburg and several camp-grounds of the north-
ern panhandle were widely known.
Lorenzo Dow, a powerful but eccentric, itinerant Methodist preacher,
visited some of these camp-grounds during the first decades of the
nineteenth century. On September 20, 1804, he spoke at Wellsburg and
offended some of his audience. "The next morning, beginning before
sunrise," he spoke "to hundreds" and got to Wheeling in time to speak
to a large crowd before ten o'clock. Both he and his wife tell of a visit
they made to White Sulphur Springs in June or July, 1813.
Mrs. Dow says: "It is a pleasant place where the man lives who has rented
the Springs and has built a number of cabins, perhaps fifty or sixty. We
went there, but the person that had hired the Springs would not take us in! He
pretended they were so full that they could, not. But they took more after we
went than they had before. But we got in at the house about a mile from the
Springs. * * * I stayed there near three weeks. Lorenzo was there part of
the time, and part of the time he was traveling through neighborhoods and preach-
ing to the people. He held several meetings at the Springs, by the request of
those that were attending there. There were persons from various parts, some for
pleasure and others for the restoration of health. They were people that moved
in higher circles, and were very gay ; but they were quite attentive when he spoke
to them of heavenly things, except one, who was a most abandoned character. He
thought to frighten him by threatening his life and abusing him in a scandalous
manner. But the enemy was defeated in this, for the gentleman that kept the
springs and others, soon stopped his mouth, so that he had peace after that. There
were none just about this place that knew much about religion, but they appeared
anxious to hear the glorious sound of the gospel. I began to get my strength in
some measure, so that I could walk considerable well.''
Dow, himself, wrote as follows of this trip: "Hiring a hack we came to White
Sulphur Springs in Greenbrier, where I got access to many neighborhoods where I
had not been before, being a stranger in those parts. Our expenses were nearly
one hundred dollars, but I did not begrudge it, considering the benefits we received
from the waters. When on the way she could hardly bear her weight ten yards,
but now was able to ride sixteen miles on horseback to Sweet Springs, where I spoke
to a large and attentive audience, though the devil reigned in those parts."
Dow made repeated preaching tours from Maine to Florida and
westward to the Mississippi during his active ministry which extended
over a period of thirty years. Much of his preaching was done in camp-
meetings where he often spoke to 5,000 people in one day.
In connection with his later tours, Dow visited western Virginia
several times. In October, 1815, he visited Wellsburg and Wheeling
again. In the early thirties he made several journeys to Beverley to
see his brother-in-law, Dr. Dolbeare. While there, he preached in
Beverley and held meetings throughout that region. He probably visited
Clarksburg when he was preaching in Randolph county.
In 1828 there was a division in the Methodist Church. About 1824
a "Union Society" was formed in the interest of a change in the policy
of the church. This society presented a petition to the General Con-
ference of 1828, praying for lay representation and other important
changes in church government. The petition was rejected and much
agitation and unpleasant feeling followed, resulting in the expulsion
of the most important agitators. This expulsion of the leaders resulted
in the secession of their adherents.
The seceders promptly called a convention at Baltimore to prepare
articles of association. Two years later, in 1828, another convention,
composed of an equal number of ministers and laymen, met at Balti-
more and adopted a constitution and a Book of Discipline for the new
organization under the title of the Methodist Protestant Church. The
first organized church of this new denomination in western Virginia
was probably the Old Harmony Church on Hacker's creek in Lewis
county. It was installed in 1829 by the Reverend John Mitchell and
the Reverend David Smith. The second organization of this denomina-
tion in that region was effected at Hacker's Creek under the leadership
of Rev. John Smith.
In 1830 a Methodist Protestant Church was organized at Morgan-
town by the Reverend Cornelius Springer and the Reverend W. N. Mar-
272 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
shall. The members of the church at the time of its organization were :
Joseph Shackleford and his wife, Nancy; Asby Pool and his wife; Wil-
liam Lazell and his wife; and Mrs. Sarah Miller. In 1841 a brick
church was built and a year later the membership numbered sixty. In
1849, Jesse Bell was superintendent of the Sunday School. George M.
Reay was his successor. In 1830 a society was formed at the forks of
Cheat by Reverends Springer and Marshall. In the early period this
denomination societies were also formed at Platwoods, Palatine, Prunty-
town, Rockford, Harrisville, Morristown, and on Teter creek in Bar-
bour county.
In this period Methodist Protestant societies were also formed in
Hancock county. Nessly Chapel seems to have been the oldest one. Its
early members were John DeSellem and wife, Jesse Cisson and wife,
Jacob Nessly and wife, Nathan Thayer and wife, Elizabeth Brenneman
and Barbara Brown. The class-leader was Jesse Cisson. The church,
a stone building, is said to have been dedicated in 1826 by the Rev.
George Brown. The society at Pairview was also formed very early.
Henry Melvin and Jesse Cisson were among its early members. These
two men were instrumental in the erection of a brick church which was
probably built in 1828. The early ministers of the Fairview Church were
the Reverends George Brown, John Clark and John Cowl. In 1835 the
Reverend Brown installed the society at Union Chapel, near Freeman's
Landing. Thomas Freeman and his wife, Robert White and his wife,
and John Sutton and his wife were the first members. They held their
meetings in an old brick schoolhouse until 1857 when they built a church
house.
Churches of this denomination gradually found their way into many
other communities of the state.
The second division in Methodism resulted from slavery. In accord
with a plan of separation adopted by the General Conference of 1844,
the delegates from the southern conferences met in Louisville, May 1,
1845, and effected the organization of the "Methodist Episcopal Church,
South." The Louisville convention declared that separation was nec-
essary for the continuation of Methodism in the South.
The southern churches in West Virginia were under the care of
the Kentucky conference and at first constituted the districts of Parkers-
burg, Greenbrier, and Guyandotte. In 1850 the Western Virginia Con-
ference of the church was formed. In the next decade, the Southern
Methodist Church grew very rapidly.
The Catholic Church
There were Catholics among the early settlers of West Virginia, no
doubt, but church organization was scarcely begun until about 1850.
As early as 1810, mass was said in private houses in Berkeley county.
About 1818 the Rev. Father Maguire of Pittsburg began to make
stated visits to the few Catholic families in and about Wheeling and
Mr. Noah Zane donated a lot for a Catholic church that was built in
1821 or in 1822. The Rev. James Hoerner, a Frenchman of much ability
and great talent, was the first resident pastor. He was appointed by
the Archbishop of Baltimore and took charge of the parish on June 9,
1833. Under his leadership the church was very prosperous. After ten
years at Wheeling, the Rev. Jas. Hoerner returned to France. His
successor was the Rev. Eugene Comerford, who was appointed by the
Bishop of Richmond whose diocese was the whole of the state of Vir-
ginia. In 1846 Dr. Whelan, who was then Bishop of Richmond, went to
Wheeling to reside for awhile and performed the pastoral duties, un-
aided for a time. By 1850 he was assisted by several clergymen. In
1847 the cornerstone of a cathedral was laid there. Bishop Whelan
was regarded as a visionary because he insisted on such a large church
in such a small town. In less than ten years, however, the growing
congregation filled the cathedral to overflowing, and a separate church
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 273
was built for the Germans. A Catholic church building was begun at
Triadelphia in 1825 but was not completed. Its growth was affected
by the departure of laborers who had worked on the National Road.
On January 13, 1822, a Catholic priest held a service in Morgantown.
Some of the early settlers of Monroe county were Irish Catholics but
no church organization was effected until after the arrival of workmen
to build the summer resort at Sweet Springs. A brick church was
erected at that place in 1853.
A Catholic priest who worked in the Kanawha valley began in 1842
to make his headquarters at Summersville, in Nicholas county, where
a church was built in 1852.
The first services of the Catholic church in Clarksburg were held
about 1853. For some time the congregation met in a building that
stood on the lot which is now the site of the Waldo Hotel. Father Bran-
non was among the first priests.
With the rapid development of public works, which began about 1850,
the Catholic church steadily grew.
The Christian Church
The Christian Church was one of the youngest of the pioneer denomi-
nations of West Virginia. The organization of the original Christian
church was the result of the failure of a movement (in Washington
county, Pennsylvania), led by Thomas Campbell (father of Alexander
Campbell), to effect a union of all churches. When this movement ap-
peared hopeless, Campbell resolved to organize a new church upon the
plan which had been formulated for the proposed united church. In
order to carry out this plan more efficiently, his immediate followers at
a meeting held on the headwaters of Buffalo, on August 17, 1809, formed
an association under the name of the "Christian Association of Wash-
ington." For the purpose of effecting a better working organization
and also to supply the need for a schoolhouse in the neighborhood, they
erected a log building on the Sinclair farm about three miles from
Mount Pleasant on the road leading from Washington to Mount Pleas-
ant. In this building Thomas Campbell met his followers. It was here,
on September 7, 1809, that his celebrated "Declaration and Address"
explaining the object of the movement in which he and his associates
were engaged, was adopted and ordered to be published.
At Brush run, eight miles southwest of Washington, in May, 1810,
Alexander Campbell preached his first sermon which caused his im-
mediate call to the ministry. At once he became the leader of the new
society. At the same place, about a year later, the first congregation
of the new church was formed. It appointed Thomas Campbell to serve
as elder, and licensed Alexander Campbell to preach. Its original mem-
bers were Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, Mrs. Jane Campbell,
Dorothy Campbell, James Foster and his wife, John Dawson and his
wife, Thomas Hodgens, Sr., and his wife and son, William Gilchrist
and his wife, daughter and mother-in-law; George Sharp Sr. and his
wife, George Sharp Jr. and his wife, Thomas Sharp, George Archer and
his wife, Abraham Altars, Margaret Fullerton, James Bryant, and John
Donaldson.
From this beginning the "Christian Church," or "Disciples," grew.
In 1827 the old Brush Run church was transferred to Bethany where
Alexander Campbell then lived. The old ehurch had become so weak-
ened by removals and deaths, that for the convenience of the remaining
members, who lived in Mr. Campbell's neighborhood, meetings were
often held in a vacant storeroom belonging to him. Finally meetings
at the old church ceased altogether. In 1832 the congregation erected
a stone church where Bethany now stands.
About 1830 the church at Holliday's Cove was organized.
The first Christian church in Ohio county was installed at Long
run about 1829. For a long time its members met at private houses
Vol. 1—18
274
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
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276 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
for worship. By 1830 those who lived near Short creek began to meet
at the Cherry Hill schoolhouse. Later, they changed their meeting-
place to a schoolhouse on Robert's run in the edge of Brooke county.
Here they met until 1833 when they and the Disciples on Long run
united and erected a small brick church. This place of worship was
often visited by evangelists who protracted their meetings for weeks
at a time, and it was served by student preachers from Bethany College
after the foundation of that institution in 1841.
Among the early organizations of the Christian church east of the
Alleghenies was one at Timber Ridge in Hampshire county, organized
in 1818. Another one appeared in Hampshire by 1853.
By consulting the statistical tables presented herewith, it can be
seen that in 1850 the Methodist church in territory of western Virginia
had the greatest number of church organizations and the greatest church
distribution of all denominations. With the exception of Pendleton,
Wetzel and Raleigh counties, there were one or more Methodist churches
in every county of western Virginia at that date, the total number being
292. In 1860, only one of the three counties, Raleigh, Pendleton and
Wetzel, which had no Methodist church in 1850, still had none. Both
Pendleton and Wetzel had six by 1860. The whole number of Methodist
churches in western Virginia in 1860 was 491.
The Baptists too, were widely distributed. In 1850 they had churches
in all but eight of the counties which were later included in West Vir-
ginia. Although organizations in some of the counties apparently
dwindled or died in the next decade, there were in 1860 a total of 163
which were distributed in all but eleven counties.
The Presbyterian denomination made rapid gains in the decade from
1850 to 1860. Its sixty-four churchs in 1850 increased to eighty-eight
in 1860 ; and the number of counties in which it had churches increased
from twenty-two to twenty-seven.
In 1850 the Catholics had eight churches distributed over seven
counties in western Virginia. By 1860 these increased to eighteen
churches distributed over fourteen counties.
The Episcopals had a total gain of only one organization between
1850 and 1860.
By 1860 the Christian church had eighteen organizations, distributed
in ten counties.
In the century from 1760 to 1860 the number of church organizations
in territory later included in West Virginia increased from two or three
to 806. The people of the new state owed no greater debt to the past
than the debt of gratitude to the early missionary ministers who braved
the dangers and hardships of the western mountains to establish the
love of God and brotherly kindness in the hearts of the ancestral pio-
neers,— the founders of homes and communities in the wilderness.
CHAPTER XVIII
THE TRADITION OP EDUCATION
(Written by Malissa Crowl)
The history of education in West Virginia, is one of long and slow
growth. Beginning with the earliest settlements, education in that part
of Virginia, now known as West Virginia, was a serious problem. The
crude, dangerous life of frontier settlements was not conducive to any-
great development of intellectual pursuits. The development of skill in
hunting and shooting took precedence over training for proficiency in
reading and writing. The life of the early western Virginia settlers
was a struggle for existence. A school-master in those times, was not
nearly so desirable an asset to a community as was a good hunter and
Indian fighter. The times were rough and perilous, and required men
of action. Children were needed to help in the necessary work entailed
in maintaining the home ; clearing the forests, building houses and crude
furniture, tilling the rough clearings, harvesting the crops, hunting, pro-
tecting the home from savages and wild beasts, and all the work neces-
sary for preparing food, however simple it might be, and taking care
of the rude home. People had neither the time nor the means for pro-
viding instruction along intellectual lines.
These crude, uncultured, and troublous conditions of life, however,
did not smother or kill altogether the ambitions of the people for a
bigger and broader intellectual life for their children. Desire had to
give way to the stern demands of necessity. Many of the earliest set-
tlers were people of refinement and education. Quite naturally they
did not want their children to grow up in total ignorance. Consequently,
in some homes, parents gave instruction to their children. Schools were
impossible to establish because of the wide distance between the homes
and the settlements, and also because of the limitations imposed by the
stern necessities of living. In many cases, instruction in the funda-
mentals of education in the home was not adequate, due to a lack of
time, effort, and facilities. If the home could not supply instruction,
there were no schools available in which this deficiency could be made up.
As a result, many pioneer children grew to adulthood without compre-
hending any of the principles of reading, writing, and arithmetic. How-
ever, although illiteracy came to be a common thing in many of the
pioneer settlements, the desire for knowledge and education remained,
and did not diminish through the years of struggle and privation. The
story of the evolution of western Virginia from these rude conditions
to a prosperous, growing state is one of great interest, and also involves
many phases of development along political, industrial, social and educa-
tional lines. It will be the purpose of this sketch to trace as thoroughly
and as accurately as possible, the growth and development of education
in what is now West Virginia, to the time of its reception into the Union
(1863).
To a large degree, the history of education in West Virginia, in the
earlier stages of colonization especially is the same as that of its mother
state, Virginia. This colony, from the start (1607) seems to have been
fortunate in having leaders and promoters who were learned men, and
who were interested in the question of education. Among the earliest at-
tempts to found institutions of learning were the University of Henrico,
established about 1619, and the East India School (1621) situated re-
277
278 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
spectively near Richmond, and Charles City. But destruction soon put
an end to these ambitious and prosperous beginnings : on March 22,
1622, Indians under their chief, O-peeh-an-ca-no, fell upon the two settle-
ments, and practically destroyed them. This calamity stayed the pro-
gress of education in Virginia for many years, — higher education espe-
cially being retarded.
When Virginia became a Crown Colony, in 1624, the interest in
schools formerly taken by the Loudon Company, was transferred to the
English Church. Parish, or Parochial schools were established in the
colony, which had already been divided into parishes. The church,
rather than the colony, became concerned in the education of the people.
Free education was provided for the children of many parishes and by
means of gifts and endowments, a few schools, such as the Pearley
Free School (1675) were established, and did good work for" many years.
In 1660, provisions for the establishment of a college were made by
the Virginia House of Burgesses, but owing to delays, it was not until
1693 that a college, known as William and Mary College (the oldest
institution of learning south of the Potomac) was opened for the admis-
sion of students.
The work of education carried on by the English Church was discon-
tinued, however, at the close of the American Revolution. The titles to
the possession of the property of the Parish schools passed over to the
state. The proceeds of the disposition of the property were used by
some counties to establish free schools ; in other counties, they were used
to provide buildings and teachers for the education of poor children.
These free schools for poor children came to be known as "charity
schools," and became widely known in Virginia. Besides these,
"private," or "select" schools, were established at the close of the
Revolution. They were maintained by groups of the wealthier families,
whose children were the only pupils.
Such were the conditions providing for public education in the east-
ern, older part of Virginia. In the western part, due to differences
in the time, manner, and character of settlement, conditions were not
exactly similar. From small beginnings of settlements made in what
is now the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, about 1727, gradual
extension was made, until, at the time of the Revolution, county organ-
ization was extended to the Ohio river. The older county of Frederick
was divided, and in 1754, Hampshire county was made. Frederick, in
1772, was divided into three parts, and Berkeley was formed, from
which, in 1801, Jefferson county was set off, and Morgan county formed
in 1820. West of Hampshire, in 1776, the district of West Augusta
had been formed, and from it the counties of Monongalia, Ohio and
Youghiogheny were made (the latter being extinguished by the west-
ward extension of Mason and Dixon's line). In 1777, Greenbrier county
was formed, and Kanawha was taken from western Greenbrier in 1789.
During the progress of the formation of these counties, but little
definite knowledge can be obtained of the educational opportunities af-
forded. It would seem that in such days of stress and strife of battle
against savage and famine, that there would be little time left for educa-
tion, culture, or refinement. But, strange as it may seem, there were
a few log school houses here and there in the deep recesses of the wilder-
ness, long before the Revolution. There is mention made in the journal
of George Washington, of a school house, when he was surveying lands
for Lord Fairfax, on the upper Potomac and South Branch in 1747.
There is another instance known of a school being iu existence in 1753,
in Hampshire county, when a man named Shock taught in a cabin at
Romney, continuing his school for several terms. Of there being any
Parish Schools in western Virginia, there is no mention, although the
present counties of Hampshire, Hardy, Berkeley, Morgan and Jefferson
were included in old Frederick Parish.
After the Revolution when Virginia had adopted a constitution (the
first framed for an American state), there was still very little change
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 279
in the history of education. The constitution (1776) did not contain
any mention of schools, or matters pertaining to education. The charity
schools, which were numerous east of the Blue Ridge, were scarcely
to be found in the West, and were supported either by the town, or by
interested and generous individuals, and were attended by only the
poorest and most indigent children of the community. The private
schools were prosperous, and many were established, which were
similar to the private schools such as are found to-day. But neither
the charity, nor the private schools, were the type of sciiool that became
popular in western Virginia. The typical West Virginia school grew
out of the pioneer conditions ; the hardy frontiersmen, meeting, selecting
the site for a school house, and then luring the teacher, who taught all,
and as many children as could be sent by the parents, for a term of
indefinite length.
The first school law that in any way affected the establishment of
these '"Old Field Schools," was the "Aidermanic School Law" of 1796,
passed by the General Assembly of Virginia, although without constitu-
tional authority. This act was an outgrowtn of a plan for a free school
system proposed by Thomas Jefferson in 1<79. His plan was large and
comprehensive ; at the head of the system was the university to stand.
To this highest institution of learning, grammar schools were to provide
instruction for pupils to be sent ; in turn, pupils for the grammar schools
were to be chosen from the primary schools, which were open to all white
children of the state. Of this whole system of schools, Jefferson was most
anxious to establish the primary schools. In 1820, he wrote "Were it
necessary to give up either the primaries or the university, I would
rather abandon the last, because it is safer to have a whole people re-
spectably enlightened, than a few in a high state of learning, and the
many in ignorance. This last is the most dangerous state in which a
nation can be." As it turned out, the plan for the primary schools
was the only one not abandoned by the legislature at that time. His
whole plan was many years ahead of the times; owing to the character
of the inhabitants and widely scattered settlements peculiar to eastern
Virginia and other southern colonies, it was impossible to carry out his
plan at the time it was proposed.
The act to establish public schools, as passed by the assembly on
December 22, 1796, was of considerable importance. The plan proposed
by this act was, to place the management of the schools of each county
in the hands of three county officers, who were called ' ' aldermen. ' ' These
men could divide the county into districts, determine the money neces-
sary to build school houses, pay teachers' salaries, and to make a levy
upon the property of the inhabitants of the county for this purpose.
Thus far the act provided for an efficient school system, but a pro-
viso was added which, in most cases, caused the act never to be put into
operation, — "That the court of each county * * * shall first de-
termine the year in which the first election of aldermen shall be made,
and until they so determine, no such election shall be made." Mr. Jef-
ferson said, concerning the failure of his law: "The justices, being
generally of the more wealthy class, were unwilling to incur the burden,
so that it was not suffered to commence in a single county." Although
not enforced, this "Aidermanic School Law" was not repealed.
It was not until 1810, that the question of free education was again
up for discussion, when the Literary Fund was created. This was a
fund which was to be used for the establishment and maintenance of the
schools of the state. Before 1776, all escheats, penalities and forfeitures
in the colony, had gone to the king. From that time until 1809, they
had gone into the General State Fund. In 1809, an act was passed
providing "That all escheats, confiscations, forfeitures, and all personal
property accruing to the commonwealth as derelict and having no right-
ful owner, which have accrued since February 2, 1810, and which shall
hereafter accrue to the commonwealth, be, and the same hereby are
appropriated to the encouragement of learning ; and that all militia fines
280 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
thereof * * * be also and the same are hereby appropriated to the
encouragement of learning." The act further said that this fund "be
appropriated to the sole benefit of a school, or schools to be," to be
kept within each county of Virginia, subject to regulations and orders
of the General Assembly, and was not to be applied to any other object
than ' ' the education of the poor. ' '
The Literary Fund was created and operated in accordance with this
Act of the Assembly of 1809. From time to time various additions to
the income of this fund were made, so that it grew to quite considerable
proportions. Its primary purpose was to provide means for the educa-
tion of the poor white children of the state. To this end, machinery
was soon set in motion. Each county was given a certain amount an-
nually, in proprotion to the number of children to be educated within
that county. Boards of "School Commissioners" (not less than five, nor
more than fifteen "discreet persons") were to meet annually in No-
vember, to determine many things: what number of poor children they
would educate in their county ; what sum should be paid for their educa-
tion ; to authorize each of themselves to select as many children as they
might deem expedient, and to draw orders upon their treasurer (elected
by the commissioners themselves) for money to pay the necessary ex-
penses of tuition and school materials. The children selected were sent
to the nearest school, to be taught reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Such were the provisions made by the Virginia assembly for the
establishment of schools for the poor children of Virginia, during the
earlier part of the nineteenth century. By this time there were twenty-
four (1833) of the present comities of West Virginia organized; Berke-
ley, Brooke, Cabell, Fayette, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hardy, Harrison,
Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lewis, Logan, Mason, Monongalia, Monroe,
Nicholas, Ohio, Pendleton, Preston, Pocahontas, Randolph, Tyler, and
Wood. In many of these counties, schools had been organized under the
"Aldermanie School Law," which provided free instruction for each
child, for three years, after which tuition had to be paid to continue
in school. From the Literary Fund, $45,000 was appropriated annually
to the support of these primary schools, which were the basis for a more
comprehensive free-school system. Contrary to the conditions found in
Virginia east of the Blue Ridge, there were very few "private," or
"select" schools to be found in the West. Although part of the people
chose to consider the primary schools similar to the charity schools of
an earlier date, and to have their children grow up in illiteracy and
ignorance rather than send them to the free schools, a goodly proportion
of the people in the West favored the primary schools, and were anxious
for their improvement. As foreign immigration became increasingly
great, and large numbers of New Englanders settled there, the question
of common schools became a subject of great concern. The people west
of the mountains came to insist that the greater part of the Literary
Fund should go to the primary schools, rather than to the numerous
colleges, academies, and the state university, and were jealous of all ap-
propriations made to them. Comparatively few of the young men
attended the state university or military schools, even when offered ap-
pointments and the state bore part of their expenses, choosing rather, to
attend schools in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The enactments of 1817, changing the Aldermanie School Law of
1796, repealing the three years free tuition, remained in force thirty
years. The advocates of free schools continued their efforts to secure
better means for education. They were especially numerous and active
in the West, and if they had had more influence in the political manage-
ment of the state, would have been better able to accomplish their aim.
The men of eastern Virginia were in control in state politics, and were
strongly opposed to all efforts made to secure free education, not only
for the children of western Virginia, but of their own region as well.
The two forces continued in opposition for many years, the champions
of free education being increasingly supported by the people of the
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
281
West. In 1829 an act was passed providing for the combination of public
and private means for establishing and maintaining free schools. The
county school commissioners were empowered to district their respective
counties, and to pay two-fifths of the amount necessary to build a school
house in each district, and $100 towards the support of the school,
whenever the people, by voluntary contributions should raise the re-
maining three-fifths of the necessary amount. This plan was tried in
a few counties, but was not used extensively, and was met with little
encouragement.
No further legislation looking to the establishment of public schools
was secured until 1845. The question was not dead, however, but was
waiting a favorable opportunity to assert itself. The year 1833 is often
used to furnish statistics to show the condition of education in western
Virginia during this period. A table showing school statistics by coun-
ties is given below, to set forth more clearly the actual conditions ex-
isting :
TABLE SHOWING SCHOOL STATISTICS BY COUNTIES IN WEST VIRGINIA
SEPTEMBER 30, 1833
COUNTIES
Berkeley. .. .
Brooke
Cabell
Fayette... . .
Greenbrier. .
Hampshire. .
Hardy
Harrison. . . .
Jackson
Jefferson. . . .
Kanawha. . .
Lewis
Logan
Mason
Monongalia .
Monroe
Nicholas.. . .
Ohio
Pendleton . . .
Preston
Pocahontas .
Randolph . . .
Tyler
Wood
■s i?
£ a
? o
15
9
7
8-°
S
6 2
o °
2
34
29
17
o □
5 3
6 o
530
410
200
349
268
117
03 O
*o O
.— &
° 3
!r— °
JS°-S
6 »
- - =
S"£2
24,518
19,383
6,399
m u
o* O
u3
- — ~
goo
<
70
72
55
3Ji
4
6 f>
0) »
^ -' -
<
S2.45
1.98
2.40
.i c c
C'£ -
g-3 5!
Qj U. C
CO
■^CO ^ >>
3-* a; 5
C — o o
ram „
'm ^"2 °
$ 854.14
530.13
287.76
10
11
15
15
20
48
21
86
500
800
250
900
239
545
100
754
21,106
22,048
7,646
36,200
50
40
76
48
4
4
4
2H
2.25
1.67
3.32
1.29
537.90
912.14
332.23
976.13
14
14
9
31
24
34
350
450
500
217
298
235
17,105
19,217
11,654
78
64
50
3.25
2.73
1.30
705.26
814.72
304.99
11
7
10
15
7
5
9
11
9
19
80
25
18
40
36
23
17
22
20
34
175
,000
450
150
500
400
220
120
350
450
400
127
637
192
99
282
356
190
100
197
216
288
6,697
32,341
10,454
5,214
23,032
14,298
9,374
6,018
7,94
10,958
11,627
53
51
54
52
81
40
49
60
40
51
40
3M
2'2
3
2 1-12
3%
3
3
3H
2
3
2.23
1.31
2.05
1.82
1.84
1.45
1.61
2.11
1.37
1.20
1.27
283.41
889.15
395.40
179.80
520.06
515.43
306.14
211.29
2X0.64
259.46
366.32
Totals.
678
9,135
5,816
220,656
$10,454.42
* Reports not made in time to be included in Auditor's Report for the year.
Such is an example of the conditions existing which called into being
the great educational convention held in Clarksburg, in 1841. The
friends of public education in the West, in this convention, cumulated
their activities and efforts, in a design to take such action as would in-
duce the General Assembly to enact laws providing for the establishment
of a free school system. The convention assembled in the Presbyterian
church on Wednesday, September 8, 1841, and continued in session three
days. Notwithstanding the fact that there were no railroads in this
section of western Virginia, and that traveling accommodations were
extremely poor, representatives from nineteen counties — sixteen of
which are now West Virginia counties, were present. At the opening
session, there were 115 delegates registered, and many others came later
during the convention. The distinguished George Hay Lee of Harrison
county, was chosen president. Newspaper reporters, and ministers of
the town were invited to be present at the sessions, which were held
during both day and evening.
282 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
After the work of organization, the real business of the convention
began. "Never did a more earnest body of men assemble in West Vir-
ginia than this, nor has the work of any one yielded more abundant
fruit," says Mr. Thomas C. Miller in his History of Education in
West Virginia (1907 edition). Papers were read, addresses made, and
plans submitted, all for the same general purpose — to induce the as-
sembly to take action providing for the establishment of a free school
system. The proceedings were published in pamphlet form under the
title, "A Memorial to the General Assembly of the State, Requesting
That Body to Establish a More Liberal and Efficient Primary or Com-
mon School System," and is a record of one of the most remarkable
and influential conventions ever held within the state.
This was among the tirst of a remarkable series of educational con-
ventions held in various parts of the state, terminating in an assembly
held in Richmond, December, 1845. The purpose of this convention was
to discuss plans for bringing before the next General Assembly a bill
for the establishment of a public school system.
The zeal and earnestness of the educators, who had been untiring in
their efforts to arouse interest in their cause all over the state, at last
showed some results in the School Law of 1846, enacted on March 5 of
that year. It was trusted that this act, prepared by the prominent
members of the Richmond Convention (1845) would bring about the
condition similar to the one Governor James McDowell had in mind when
he said, during that convention: "We trust that we shall soon be
delivered from this dominion of darkness, that we shall never be con-
tented until every child can read and write, and every darkened under-
standing be illumined with the benign influence of education. ' ' The new
act, however, was very little better than the preceding school laws.
It provided that the school commissioners then in office, should divide
the county into precincts, each containing as many districts as was
thought desirable, each district, however, containing a sufficient number
of children to make up a school. Annually each precinct was to elect
a commissioner, who met with the ' other commissioners to form the
county board of school commissioners. In each district, three trustees
were to be appointed, who were to be responsible for choosing the site
of the school buildings, seeing to the upkeep of the building, grounds,
school apparatus, etc. Teachers were to be approved and hired by the
board. The schools were to be visited regularly by the commissioners
and trustees. The latter were to make reports of the condition of their
schools annually, to the Board of Commissioners.
Funds for the maintenance of these schools were supplied from the
Literary Fund, and also by the inhabitants of each county by a uniform
rate of taxation collected as were other taxes.
There was a fatal provision, however, in this act which proved to
be a serious defect in carrying out its purpose. Before the question
could even be submitted for adoption in the counties, it required a peti-
tion signed by one-third of the voters of the county. For adoption,
it required a two-thirds majority of the voters. The friends of the free
school system saw this defect, and tried to remedy it by securing the
passage of a special act, whereby the system of free schools became
optional for sixteen counties of the state, of which three — Brooke, Jeffer-
son and Kanawha, — were in western Virginia. Elections were to be
held in April, 1846, or 1847, which required a two-thirds majority to
adopt it. The three counties of western Virginia voted on the question
in 1847, and Brooke rejected it, while both the others adopted it.
Between 1847 and 1860, many of the western counties voted on either
the general free school law, or the special act, with the result that at
the latter date there were only three western Virginia counties which
had free schools.
The schools which were an outgrowth of the school laws of Virginia,
both the "Aldermanic School Law" of 1796, and the law of 1846, came
to be known as "Old Field Schools." This name was an outgrowth of
the situation of the schools. The commissioners, in selecting a site for
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 283
the school house, chose some old field which had been cleared for several
years, and which had been abandoned for newer ground. There were
many advantages in choosing a site in such a place, for very often the
people of the community could not afford the time and expense of clear-
ing off a new site, and to use a newly cleared space of ground would
have been economic extravagance. However, these old fields were very
often not the most ideal spots for school houses, being either too barren,
rocky, or swampy for any other use. An attempt was usually made to
locate the school building as near the center of the district as possible,
so it would be accessible to a large number of families.
The buildings themselves were as rough and crude as can be imagined.
Round logs were used for the framework, cemented together with daubs
of clay and sticks. At one end an open fireplace was found where on
winter clays whole logs were burned which heated and lighted the greater
part of the room, but also smoked so badly that had it not been for the
large amount of fresh air let in through the chinks in the walls, the
pupils and teacher might have been in danger of suffocation. The in-
side of the room, usually about 16x18 feet, was left bare. The floor was
sometimes made of broad puncheons, placed so as to be as smooth as
possible ; or very often there was no floor laid at all, the ground, smoothed
off, answering for that purpose. The door was made of slabs hung on
wooden hinges. Light was admitted from one side of the room where
a log had been left out in the construction. Greased paper, or some-
times, a pane of glass, was inserted here, and answered the purpose of a
window. Below this arrangement, was a broad, flat slab, placed on
wooden pins, and sloping downward, which served the pupils as a
writing desk. For seats, or desks, logs were split in half, and placed on
pins or supports inserted in the round part of the log. These benches
were placed in rows. The boys usually sat on one side of the room and
the girls on the other. This seating arrangement held good when church
services were held in the schoolhouse, also, the men and women, upon
entering the building, would separate, as the sheep from the goats. No
attempt was made to fit the height of the benches to the size of the pupils,
and six-year olds, and twenty-year olds, were on the same level as far
as seating went. A space was left in the front of the room for the
master to call up his classes, and the dunce stool likewise occupied a
prominent place in front. The schoolmaster usually had a rude table or
desk, behind which was found a large bundle of stout hickory withes,
which were always kept within arm's reach.
The teachers of these schools were men of uncertain and varying
knowledge and temperament. In some cases, these early teachers were
men of good education, having attended the William and Mary College,
or one of the New England Colleges, and some had even attended Oxford,
Cambridge, or Glasgow universities. On the other hand, many people
"kept school" who had barely been through the common school books.
Often, if a person "kept order" he was called a good teacher. But due
to the great scarcity of teachers people could not be too critical.
The curriculum was not large. Children were taught to read, write,
and cipher. The usual texts were the "English Reader," and Webster's
"Elementary Speller." As schools progressed, new courses were intro-
duced into the curriculum ; geography and history came to be taught to
advanced pupils. There was no system of grading; all pupils used the
same texts. The usual division made was between the "little tots" or
"beginners" and the older pupils. After "books were taken up," the
master called up the classes, one after another, before his desk, where
the children had to stand during recitation. The "head and foot"
method was applied to nearly all classes. Some teachers allowed the
pupils to study out loud, and if one pupil 's lips were not moving during
the study period, he would be reminded to get busy by a switch from the
master's hand. The alphabet was taught by a sing-song method, "b-a,
ba, b-e, be, b-i," etc., until the letters were memorized by the children.
Each teacher had his own devices for keeping order, and for inducing
study. There was no supervision by an expert, and the only thing re-
284 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
sembling any school inspection was the monthly or annual visits which
the trustees and commissioners made, when they exhorted the pupils to
be diligent, and to study hard. Sometimes, if they had any smattering
of knowledge themselves, they would undertake to examine the school,
to take stock of the progress made.
As to the boys and girls attending these "Old Field Schools" they
were very like the boys and girls attending schools to-day. They at-
tended because their parents did not want them to grow up in total
ignorance, and because they themselves had ambitions, perhaps, to rise
above the simple, primitive life among the hills. They liked the as-
sociations with each other ; the games and fun engaged in during recess
and noon periods. The long walk to and from school was hard, and
often dangerous; roads were bad, and often there were no homes or
cleared places between the school house and their homes. " Boys often
came barefooted to school after the snows came, for if there were several
children in the family, the father could not get shoes made early enough
to supply the whole family. In many cases, the -only education, which
these children ever received, was gotten from these old field schools.
Some of them went away to higher institutions of learning, either in
Virginia or in some other state. A great part of these children remained
in the hills of western Virginia, doing their share in bringing about the
state's development and in doing away with the frontier life. Thomas
C. Miller in his History of Education in West Virginia (p. 36) cites
the names of many students of the early schools in the western part of
Virginia, who in later years became famous. Many went to regions
farther west, there to begin a new frontier life : some went to other states,
and became leaders there. Many made names for themselves which will
last long, and are included among the lists of governors, ministers, sol-
diers, and senators of the land. Thus it will be seen that the old field
schools, bare and crude as they were, and taught by indifferent masters,
under the poorest of circumstances, were yet not barren of results, but
rather, turned out products of which any state might be proud.
As might be supposed, schools in western Virginia were first found in
the eastern panhandle, along the Potomac and South Branch. In Hamp-
shire county, the tracks of the Indians were scarcely effaced from the
valleys and hills before the pioneer pedagogue appeared upon the scene.
It is not known who was the first teacher there, and even the names of
the later teachers have been lost. The characteristics of these early
pedagogues, however, have been retained. He was not necessarily a
man educated and cultured, but rather, had, for his first qualification,
a strong right arm, and skill in the use of the rod, and in making quill
pens. He held school in any building available, in either a rude hut,
or in the home of some settler. Soon, however, the backwoods school-
house made its appearance. It followed the general plan of the frontier
school buildings, and was as small, smoky, and uncomfortable as can be
imagined. The early textbooks used were the United States Speller,
the New Testament, the English Reader, and an Arithmetic. The pupils
were subscription pupils. The teacher took a paper around to each
family, and if enough "signers" were secured, the school would begin.
Sometimes he took his pay in "produce," and the meager amount he
received was made to go farther by "boarding round." During his stay
with each patron, he frequently contributed to the comfort of the family
by chopping wood and doing chores. In the schoolroom, he was only
able to give a very elementary type of instruction in the "three r's" —
"readin', 'ritin' and 'rithmetic," and in spelling. In mathematics the
study extended as far as vulgar fractions, before which came proportion,
in the old textbooks. Proportion, in these books, meant the "single
rule of three," and its mastery was considered an intellectual feat.
There were no black-boards, no globes, charts, or any of the school-room
devices and apparatus of later days. Yet these schools of the early
Hampshire county settlements furnished inspiration for many which
in later years made them giants among their fellows.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 285
With the funds from the Literary Fund, many more children were
enabled to receive instruction, and the schools, to a small extent, were
improved. At any rate, they furnished the beginnings for a later public
school system which came in 1863. Hampshire county took no action on
the school law of 1846, and continued to operate its schools under the
Aldermanic Law of 1796, and the provisions of the law providing the
Literary Fund.
In Pendleton county, the first school house was erected on the land
of Robert Davis in 1769. Progress in education was made but slowly.
A great share of the pioneers had no schooling, and could sign their
names only with a mark. Books were found in only occasional homes,
and very few there. There were about as many books written in the
German tongue, as there were in English. The most frequently found
books were the Bible, a "Key of Paradise," "Explanation of the Shorter
Catechism," "The Fourfold State," "Baxter on the Covenant," "Closet
Devotions," history books, and sometimes a few leaflets or pamphlets.
Writing materials were also scarce. Ink was made from a powder, or
from pokeberries or maple bark with the addition of alum and vinegar.
The schools were operated under the general school laws of Virginia,
and made about the same progress and existed under about the same
circumstances as the schools in other sections of the state.
In Hardy county, which was formed in 1786 (and from which Grant
county was taken in 1866) had, in its early history, subscription schools.
No records or accounts of these schools have been left, but judging from
the traces of the old-time school houses which remain, they were very
similar to the typical frontier schools of western Virginia.
Such were the schools of the oldest section of western Virginia. Go-
ing farther west, to the Monongahela river region, schools were also to
be found at a very early time. Monongalia county probably had the
earliest schools in this section. The schoolmaster was here before the
year 1780, and schools were taught for eleven years before the Indians
departed from the county. The names of these early teachers have not
come down to us, and the description of their schools only has been
preserved. School was held in various places, — beneath the trees, or
in the cabin of some settler who lived near the fort. Later, as more
settlers came, the frontier school house made its appearance, with its rude
structure and rough comfort. The first schools became subscription
schools. If enough families would subscribe to send their children, the
master would undertake to hold school, which was, at best, but a meager
attempt to impart learning. There seemed to have been somewhat of a
literary spirit present among the people of this region, for learning was
fostered and encouraged as much as possible. But little state aid was
given, however, and the provisions for school expenditures had to be
made by the people themselves. Monongalia did not accept the school
law of 1846, and it was not until the formation of the state, that a
free school system was inaugurated.
Probably the next schools to be found in this region were in Upshur
county. It was just thirty years after the Pringle brothers began their
pioneer life in the hollow of the sycamore tree near the mouth of Turkey
run, in 1796, that a Mr. Haddox, in a primitive log cabin near the mouth
of Radcliff's run, taught the first school in the bounds of the present
county of Upshur. This school was supported by private subscription.
The interest manifested by the community at this early time may be
shown by the liberality of the contributions which, when all collected and
paid over to the first "jolly pedagogue" in the present bounds of Up-
shur, amounted to the liberal salary of $60 and board per month. The
teacher "boarded round" among his patrons, and thus considerably de-
creased his expenses. The attendance of this first school was regular,
large, and wide. Tradition tells us that "there were no inexcusable
absences ; that the pupils were present at the hour of opening, and during
the day the program proceeded with the regularity of the clock."
Pupils came from miles around; among some of them enrolled were:
286 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Thomas Carney, Zachariah Westfall, David Casto, the Outright children,
and also children from the Cooper, Tingle, Pink, and Hyer families.
The second school was established about 1800 on the site of the
present court house at Buckhannon, and a Mr. Samuel Hall was em-
ployed to instruct the children of the neighborhood in reading, writing
and arithmetic. On French creek, Mrs. Mary Beadley taught the first
school in 1871.
These three schools formed a substantial beginning in education.
However, not much progress was made, because the children were needed
at home, to clear the forest, to tend and collect the crops, and to assist
in providing for the absolute needs of the family. The great stream of
immigration beginning in 1801, and getting very large in the years
1814-1817, brought scores of enthusiastic Puritans from New England,
who contributed much to the agitation for greater school advantages in
this county. They aided much in the efforts of the western Virginians
to bring about more legislation for better schools, and were instrumental
in getting the Act of 1846 passed.
So great was the interest in common school work that many new
schools were started, and the Poor Fund allotted to this county paid
but a small part of current expenses. One teacher from this period
tells us that he had thirty-five pupils and got only $36 from the Poor
Fund. Whenever the Poor Fund was not sufficient to compensate the
teacher for his services, he could choose either to teach for the Poor
Fund only, or had to solicit from the patrons a varied subscription,
which was paid in corn, oats, live stock, or currency, as provided by
the agreement between teacher and patron at the time of the solicitation.
Although instrumental in bringing about the school legislation of 1846,
Upshur county did not adopt its provisions, and so did not have anything
approaching a free school system until after 1863.
In Marion county schools were started fairly early. As population
increased, rude school houses were erected. School was held for three
months during the year, beginning in November, and closing toward
the last of January. Tuition rates were for each child, from 25 cents
to $2 a term; the teacher also got his board and lodging free by "board-
ing round. "
The common branches of instruction were taught, being neither very
extensive nor very advanced. The children, however, learned to read,
spell, and cipher well, despite the crude methods of teaching. The
"United States Spelling Book," was the only text used besides the New
Testament, and it contained the lessons in reading, geography, grammar
and history, as well as the spelling. The lessons increased in difficulty
as they progressed in the book, and a pupil's progress was noted by
his advance in the book.
The sessions of school lasted from 8:00 o'clock in the morning until
12 :00 o'clock at noon, when a recess of one hour was allowed. Lunches
were eaten by pupils who lived too far away to go home or were kept
there by the bad roads and weather. Games and play of all kinds were
indulged in until 1:00 o'clock, when "books" were called again, and
school continued in session until 4:00 o'clock.
Punishments were often severe. The master had a smooth round
stick, which he would throw with all his force at the mischievous pupil
who whispered during "books," and who, whether he received the blow
or not, had to pick up the stick and carry it back to the master, amid
the jeers of his companions. The dunce cap too, was used as a means of
punishment, and it was used on boys and girls alike, for the master did
not believe in sparing the rod and spoiling the child. However, the pun-
ishment was not always on the side of the pupils. At the end of each
term the master was supposed to "treat." If he did not show signs of
carrying out this custom when the last day came, the pupils took him,
in no gentle manner, to some nearby pond or stream where they ducked
him, head first, until he promised, with great humility, to accede to
their demands.
When Marion county was formed or soon thereafter, there were
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 287
sixty-three schools in the county, with 600 poor children entitled to the
benefits of the Literary Fund. Four hundred of these were enrolled in
schools, the rate of tuition being 51/2 cents per day — the total sum used
in this county being $117.47.
In 1848 there were twenty-two more schools in the county than
there had been four years before, with an attendance of 107 additional
pupils. The first school in Marion county region was on East run,
where, in 1779, Mr. Abe Martin taught. The second was in a log cabin
on Tetrick's run. The first school in Lincoln district was built on Big
Bingamon creek. In Union district, Richard Hall enrolled sixty-five
pupils in 1816. Reason White taught the first school in Paw Paw, and
in 1818 Henry Boggess taught in a log house near Basnettville. For
many years the people of Middletown (now Fairmont) attended school
at Hawkinbcrry Hollow, until a school was opened at Fairmont, in which
Miss Harriett Henderson taught the girls. Another early school was
the old Morehead school, on what is now Cleveland Avenue. A sub-
scription school was held by James White in the old Marietta Hotel
building sometime after 1840. Sometime after this, the second story
of the new Presbyterian church was rented, and used for a school room.
Much interest throughout the county was taken in schools and the cause
of public education. However, no action was taken on the school law
of 1846, and the county continued under the previous school laws.
The neighborhood of Clarksburg, Harrison county, was peopled by
an excellent class of pioneers of English descent, and at a very early
period took high rank as an educational center, and its influence was
widely felt. The first settlers early turned their attention toward the
education of their children, and gave encouragement to the establish-
ment of "Old Field Schools."
Luther Haymond, who was born in 1809, describes one of these
schools as follows: "The school houses were generally old abandoned
log cabins, the furniture consisted of slabs with holes bored in each end
and pins driven in them for legs. For those learning to write a space
was hewed out about six inches wide between two logs and sticks set
up perpendicularly in this space, and on them was pasted paper, mostly
foolscap, that had been used as copy books. This paper being greased,
afforded enough light for the boys and girls of that primitive age.
Holes were bored in the legs under this open space, wooden pins driven
in, and a board a little sloping laid on them, this constituted the writing
desk. The master made all the pens out of goose quills. He would
write a line at the head of a page of paper in his best style, and the
scholars would rule the paper with a piece of lead, and copy bis sample.
I remember one copy was "Six times six is thirty-six." The books
used were Primers, Webster's Spelling Book, and the Testament. I
recollect an elder brother at one school used "Gulliver's Travels" as a
reading book. It was the custom for the teacher or master, as he was
called, to go around in a neighborhood and procure subscriptions for as
many scholars as the head of the family could furnish and pay for. The
tuition was, I think, about two, or two and a half dollars per scholar,
which was sometimes paid in linsey, linen or grain. The branches
taught were reading, writing and arithmetic. I never heard of grammar.
I remember at one school that I attended that a middle aged woman
was a scholar with four or five of her children, some nearly grown. Her
object was to learn to read so that she could read the Bible, and it was
said that she learned faster than her children.
The zeal for public education of the people of Harrison county early
began to manifest itself. Clarksburg was chosen for the seat of the
Randolph Academy, chartered in 1787. The Northwestern Virginia
Academy was also located there in 1843. The building for this school
was afterwards used (until 1894) for the public school building. In
1841 the largest and most important educational meeting held in western
Virginia was convened in Clarksburg. Besides being chosen because of
its central location, it was chosen also because it was an educational
center. The results of this convention were far reaching, and it was
288 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
due to many prominent Harrison county men, educated or rather taught
in the "Old Field Schools" of that county, that it was a success and a
power for the good of the cause of free education.
In Taylor county, prior to the adoption of the public free school
system, the schools were subscription schools and were largely patronized.
They were held in the old log school houses, out of which came some of
our educational leaders of to-day. The pioneer teachers of the county
were not as well versed in literature as those of to-day, yet they served
their purpose for that time, and some of the leaders and teachers of
the county remember them with gratitude, for it was from them that
they received the foundation for their education.
Going from this region of the state, farther west, to the Ohio, early
schools will also be found. This section of western Virginia was for
many years a frontier region where Indian fighting continued long.
However, as in other regions of the state, the settlers were anxious about
their children's educational development. Teachers came into the com-
munity sometime after the settlements were started, and took up their
work.
In Wetzel county the teachers were usually from Ohio or Pennsyl-
vania. They held subscription schools for terms averaging about twelve
weeks. The teacher boarded with his patrons, and received in wages
from $8 to $12 per month. If he were able to read, write, cipher, and
wield the "birch," he was good "stock in trade," and needed no other
qualifications.
In Tyler county, the teachers also come from Ohio and Pennsylvania.
They set up school in rude log huts, and were absolute masters in this
domain. It is said that these masters were well qualified to "keep"
school but unqualified to ' ' teach ' ' school.
The first school opened in Moundsville in 1799, and was taught by
Wm. Ransom, a native of Ireland. From his death, which occurred
in 1804, until 1812, there were no schools. A man by the name of
Greene then opened a school but it is not known how long he con-
tinued it. Hiram Coffin started teaching in 1826, and taught for two
years. William Morgan taught in 1828-29, and was succeeded by
John McCullock, Mr. and Mrs. Harris, of Hagerstown, Maryland ; Fred-
erick Stevens, of Virginia; Thornton James, Elisha Moss, Joseph Mc-
Clain, Messrs. Carson and Murray, and McKenna and Chattuck. In
1867, the free schools opened, as provided by the constitution of the new
state.
Ohio county was among the first of the state to establish a free
school system. In 1848, the people of this county voted on the question
of free schools, as provided by the School Law of 1846, and a majority
voted to accept the system. Previous to this time, the schools had
progressed under the Aldermanic School Law, and received its annual
quota from the Literary Fund. The first school in the county, and
indeed in the whole Panhandle, of which there is any knowledge, was
located in the vicinity of West Liberty, and was taught by the grand-
father of the late Thomas Ewing. This distinguished man, who was
politician, statesman, and teacher, spent his spare time in mending and
cobbling the shoes of his neighbors, thereby eking out a scanty living
earned by teaching school. This was a common habit among the
teachers then, who moved about from place to place, seeking such em-
ployment as might tend to contribute to their support. In the usual
type of primitive school building, the master would hold school, wield-
ing the rod assiduously, and showing his scanty knowledge. To him
the boys and girls would come for miles around, carrying their dog-
eared Dilworths" and their much worn and blotted copy books, made
from coarse brown paper.
But at a later day, schools began to improve. Teachers were more
competent, and progress was made in the curriculum. Better accom-
modations, and more comfortable schoolhouses were gradually provided.
Schools and academies began to multiply, and the attention of the peo-
ple began to be more directed to their value and importance. But the
school law of 1846 was not approved without difficulty. Many people
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 289
advanced the argument that it was unfair as well as unjust that they
should be taxed for the education of others who were too poor to confer
this boon on their offspring, and that it was an invidious distinction
which discriminated in favor of a large class at the expense of a few.
This spirit of selfish opposition did not prevail, yet it lingered in the
communities for a long period after the successful establishment of
schools, and, while it ceased to be demonstrative, yet its latent and
baneful influence was felt upon all opportune occasions.
Until the founding of the present free school system, the schools of
Ritchie county were run by private subscription. The first school in
the county was taught by John Ayres, who came from Rockbridge
county, Virginia, in 1810, in a house that had been used as a dwelling
at the mouth of Cedar Run. The first schoolhouse was erected four
years later, on the land now owned by William Kennedy, about two
miles below Smithvifle. The second teacher was Samuel Rittenhouse.
who came from Harrison county; the third was Adam Deem, Jr., who
came from Pennsylvania, and the fourth was Baicus Ayres, the son of
the first teacher, John Ayres.
In Pleasants county, schools were found at an early clay. The sub-
scription school flourished, and the teacher traveled from settlement,
to settlement, in search of employment. Much has been said and writ-
ten in derision of the schools of this period, and much of the criticism
is just, yet "notwithstanding the master's abiding forth in the efficacy
of the rod of birch, he did, in his own way and his own time, a great
work for the state that was to be and is deserving of much better treat-
ment than is usually accorded him by the later-day critic." Among
the pioneer teachers and educators were Gideon Terry, Martin Win-
ninger, and Aaron Delong. Pleasants county, in common with most.
of the Ohio river counties, had for many years to fill her schools with
teachers from Ohio. As the material wealth and population of the
county increased more attention was given to educational matters and
better teachers and buildings were provided.
Farther south along the Ohio, early schools were also to be found.
This region was harassed by border warfare, and was in a dangerous
and unsettled condition until the question of race supremacy between
the whites and the Indians was settled at the memorable battle of
Fallen Timbers, August 2, 1795, in favor of the whites. Social and
educational life in this region may be said to date from this event.
There is no record to show when the first school began its existence
in what is now Cabell county. The early schools, however, were un-
comfortable and inconvenient. As they were located so far apart, at-
tendance was very light and irregular. The schools were presided over
by teachers from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky. They were men
possessing only the rudiments of an education, but did a great work
in preparing the people for. the reception of the free school system
which was to come during the unsettled period of the Civil war. Among
those most actively engaged in the pioneer educational work of the
county were Robert Cobun, John Cobun, E. E. Morrison, Robert Bar-
bour and Charles Simpson.
In the southern counties, the schools were very few and far between.
In Wayne county, prior to 1862, there were but very few schools. These
were subscription schools, for which teachers were provided by the
wealthier settlers. Sometimes the children of the poorer classes were
allowed to come to these schools, but no special provision was made for
them. In 1862, there was some small allowance made for the support
of free schools by Virginia, which, however, was not of much conse-
quence, as the next year provision was made by the new state for the
formation of a free school system.
Wyoming county, organized in 1859, from Logan county, did not
possess many schools before 1863. Before the breaking out of the Civil
war, here and there were located a few "schools for indigent children."
There were no schools established under the Virginia law of 1846.
In the Kanawha river section of the state, settlements were made
comparatively early. Among the early settlers, teachers were scarce,
Vol. 1—19
290 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
yet once in a great while a professional pedagogue would come along
who was always engaged to "teach the young idea how to shoot."
School would open shortly after daylight and continue until sundown,
giving in the meantime, a recess of one hour for dinner. Dilworths'
and Webster's spelling books were, as a rule, the only text books used,
though once in a while a student could be found far enough advanced
to take up Pike's Arithmetic, Dwight's Geography, and the New Testa-
ment, as a reader. Schools never continued longer than two months
during a year, and quite often an entire year would pass without a
school having been taught in any of the neighborhoods.
Kanawha county was a strong free school county. There were some
good schools at Charleston as early as 1818. About the year 1829,
Colonel David Ruffner donated a lot in Charleston for a church and an
academy, and contributed to the erection of suitable buildings. This
county, along with several others, was named in the special act of 1846
to secure a free school system. Notwithstanding the strong support
given to the question of free schools, there was much opposition to
them on the part of the large property owners. This opposition was
gradually worn away, and much was done toward establishing a free
school system in this county before the formation of West Virginia
in 1863.
It is peculiarly true, that wherever the Scotch-Irish settled, there
was great interest and enthusiasm taken in education. The Ulstermen
believed that everyone should read and write. Schoolmasters and
schoolhouses came with them, and we even find that one of the victims
of the massacre at Boughman's fort in 1755 was a teacher. He may
have been a German, for the German settlers of the valley of Virginia
set as much store on schooling as the Ulstermen themselves. In the
few petitions and documents that have come down to us from the early
days of Greenbrier, we often find an easy and accurate use of language,
good spelling and an observance of proper punctuation.
But with no encouragement from the state, and with the privations of
the frontier to engage their main attention, the people of this region
could not at first do much to educate their children. For a while the
school interest languished, and illiteracy became more common.
With the aid given from the Poor Fund, better schooling was pro-
vided for the poor children after 1810. In 1822-3 the amount apportioned
for Monroe county from this fund was $429.25. This was paid out to
teachers at the rate of four cents a day for each indigent pupil attending
school.
By a law of 1853 the entire capitation tax was applied to the primary
and free schools. Yet until after the war of 1861 only a very few coun-
ties in Virginia had any system of free schools. The "old field school"
was the medium through which the mass of the people of the state re-
ceived a common educational training.
From a citizen who attended one of these schools in 1851, a few of
the following points were taken. The school building was similar to
those of other regions. The room was swept by the girls and the boys
got the wood. The discipline was good, thanks to a very free use of
the hickory switch. At the entrance was a paddle with "out" on one
side and "in" on the other, by which means the master kept tab of his
pupils when they left the room. The instruction was largely individual.
The pupils had to work and there were few drones. The books in use
were the New Testament, Pike's Arithmetic, English Reader, the Ele-
mentary Speller, Murray's Geography, and Murray's Grammar. Spell-
ing was for headmarks. The sexes played apart. The games were "cat
and ball, " " handy, " " shoot-the-buck, ' ' and ' ' seesaw. ' ' A time-honored
custom was to put the teacher out if it could be done in order to make
him give a holiday.
Braxton county, being in the interior of the state, and very sparsely
settled, it was not until about the year 1823 that schools were taught,
and then it was only in the most thickly settled neighborhoods that
enough children could be brought together at one place to make a school
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 291
that would justify the patrons to employ a teacher. What was true in
reference to the scarcity of pupils was true also in reference to school
houses. Neighborhoods built their own houses, and furnished them.
Whenever a teacher could be procured, the patrons would subscribe
to a contract, and school would begin. Frequent contests with the
teacher — if he were a new one — would be engaged in by the boys, to
test his mettle, and to procure holidays.
Sometimes the patrons of the school would meet on Saturdays to
bring in wood, but more often this was done by the boys. Teams would
organize, and the girls would watch them haul in the logs, which were
dragged by means of chains, hickory withes, and cross bars. The boys
played bail also, and the girls likewise had their little games of ball.
Usually twice a month, the school would have a spelling race on Fri-
day afternoon, and occasionally one would be held at night. Fre-
quently two schools would meet and spell against each other. Some-
times a scholar would keep the floor until the whole school would be
turned down, or the book gone through, without missing a word.
Joseph Hause is said to have taught the first school in Braxton
county, in a log cabin on O'Brien's fork of Saltlick, in 1823. William
Berry taught a school near this locality about the same time. The
names of many of the teachers of this county have been handed down,
from the early schools, and among their number many names of women
can be found.
It was the custom for the pupils, especially the older ones, to visit
at each others homes over night. Visiting at school was a great social
function. When the teacher went home with his pupils it was a great
occasion, and eagerly looked forward to, as he was looked upon as a
kind of royal guest.
Such were the conditions surrounding the school life of the early
settlers, and up until the formation of western Virginia into a separate
state. To some extent the conditions in all sections of the state were
similar, yet each had characteristics which were very much unlike. Every
one had little mannerisms and customs peculiar to itself. Each com-
munity took a certain pride in itself, and in many places, there was
a great deal of school rivalry, especially when it come to "spelling bees"
and "ciphering matches." The latter were a development of the later
years, when blackboards were more common. Flat slate rocks were often
used for this purpose, and many a little boy's slate was made of a
piece of slate cut from the bed of a stream.
By 1863, there were free school systems in only three of the coun-
ties, Kanawha, Jefferson and Ohio, which had adopted the Virginia
school law of 1846. Several other counties, Brooke, Cabell, Wayne and
Hancock, voted on the question of adoption, but failed to get a favor-
able two-thirds majority.
Besides the establishment of the "old field" schools, and of a few
free schools, the people of western Virginia were interested in higher
education. Western Virginia has been called the "land of academies,"
a rather complete list of which appears in an adjoining table arranged
chronologically under the different geographical regions of the state and
with dates of incorporation :
Date of Incorporation Name of Academy Place County
1. In the Eastern Panhandle
1. 1797. . Shepherdstown Academy Jefferson
2. Dec. 25, 1797. .Charlestown Academy Jefferson
3. Jan. 28, 1822 . . Martinsburg Academy Berkeley
4. 1824 . . Romney Classical Institute Hampshire
5. March 25, 1829 . . Romney Academy Hampshire
6. Feb. 16, 1832. .Seymour Academy Moorefield Hardy
7. Feb. 16, 1832. .Bolivar Academy Jefferson
8. March 15, 1836. .Charlestown Female Academy Jefferson
9. Dec. 12, 1S46. .Potomac Seminary Romney Hampshire
10. March 31, 1851.. South Branch Academical In-
stitute Moorefield Hardy
11. Jan. 10, 1853. .Morgan Academy Berkeley Springs Morgan
12. March 18, 1856 . . Harper's Ferry Female Insti-
tute Jefferson
292 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Date of Incorporation Name of Academy Place County
2. In the Monongahela Valley (Including Cheat Valley)
1. Dec. 11, 1787. .Randolph Academy Clarksburg Harrison
2. 1801 . . Mount Carmel School West Union Preston
3. Nov. 29, 1814. .Monongalia Academy Morgantown Monongalia
4. March 23, 1831. .Morgantown Female Semi-
nary Morgantown Monongalia
5. March 2S, 1838. .Western Va. Educ. Society. . .Pruntytown Taylor
6. Jan. 30, 1839 . . Morgantown Female Acad-
emy Morgantown Monongalia
7. Jan. 2, 1841 . . Preston Academy Kingwood Preston
8. Feb. 14, 1842. .Rector College Pruntytown Taylor
9. March 26, 1842 . . Northwest Academy Clarksburg Harrison
10. 1843 . . Brandonville Academy Preston
11. Jan. 18, 1844. .Weston Academy Lewis
12. Feb. 1, 1847. .Male and Female Academy. . .Buckhannon Upshur
13. March 20, 1847. .Lewis County Seminary Weston Lewis
14. March 16, 1850. Jane Lew Academy Lewis
15. Feb. 17, 1852 . . Fairmont Academy Marion
16. March 12, 1856 . . Fairmont Male and Female
Seminary Marion
17. Jan. 4, 1858. .Woodburn Female Seminary. .Morgantown Monongalia
3. Along the Ohio River
1. Jan. 10, 1797. .Brooke Academy Wellsburg Brooke
2. Oct. 10, 1814. . Lancasterian Academy Wheeling Ohio
3. Jan. 30, 1827. .Tvler Academy Middlebourne Tyler
4. Feb. 21, 1827. .Wheeling Academy Ohio
5. March 20, 1837. .West Liberty Academy Ohio
6. Jan. 18, 1837. .Buckhead and Wells Acad-
emy Sistersville Tyler
7. April 5, 1838 . . Parkersburg Academy Ass'n Wood
8. April 6, 1839. .Cove Academy Holiday's Cove Hancock
9. Oct. 1840. .Bethany College Brooke
10. Feb. 8, 1842. .Asbury Academv Parkersburg Wood
11. March 19, 1847. .Marshall Academy Moundsville Marshall
12. Jan. 24, 1848. .Wheeling Female Seminary. . .Wheeling Ohio
13. March 14, 1850. .Academy of the Visitation. . . .Wheeling Ohio
14. March 17, 1851. .Wellsburg Female Academy Brooke
15. March 21, 1851 . .Meade Collegiate Institute Parkersburg Wood
16. April 12, 1852. .Wheeling Female Seminary Ohio
17. April 16, 1852. .West Union Academy Doddridge
18. March 18, 1861 . .Parkersburg Classical and
Scientific Institute Wood
19. March 13, 1838. .Marshall Academy Guyandotte Cabell
20. Feb. 21, 1853 . . Logan Institute Logan Court House
21. Feb. 28, 1856. .Polytechnic College Aracoma Logan
4. In the Kanawha Valley (including Greenbrier Valley)
1. 1812 . . Lewisburg Academy Greenbrier
2. Nov. 29, 1818. .Mercer Academy. Charleston Kanawha
3. Jan. 27, 1820. .Union Academy Monroe
4. April 15, 1832 . . Red Sulphur Seminary Monroe
5. Feb. 14, 1842 . . Little Levels Academy Hillsboro Pocahontas
6. March 26, 1842. .Greenbank Academy Pocahontas
7. March 16, 1849. .Buffalo Academy Putnam
8. Jan. 7, 1856 . . Ash ton Academy Mercer's Bottom Mason
9. Feb. 26, 1856 . . Pt. Pleasant Academy Mason
10. April 7, 1858 . . Lewisburg Female Institute Greenbrier
11. Feb. 27, 1860. .Levelton Male and Female
College Hillsboro Pocahontas
12. March 28, 1860. .Union College Union Monroe
All of these academies and seminaries named, did valuable work in
shaping the educational work in the state. All of them did not have
long existences, and some are not nearly so important as others.
The first academy in the eastern panhandle, and indeed in the present
state of West Virginia, was the Shepherdstown Academy. It is not
known accurately at what date this institution was incorporated, but
it is believed to be about 1785. At first it was a Presbyterian school.
It gave instruction in the classics, and prepared boys for higher educa-
tional institutions. It did nearly a hundred years of educational work,
and was an important factor in the educational life of that section of
the state.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 293
Charlestown Academy was long a center of learning in Jefferson
county, and prepared young men to enter William and Mary College,
and other institutions of a high order. In the Martinsburg Gazette, of
January 10, 1812, Obed White, and David Hunter, trustees, advertised
the Martinsburg Academy as a school of very high order. The Seymour
Academy, incorporated in 1832, was long the pride of Moorefield and
the upper South Branch valley.
The Potomac Seminary — now the Potomac Academy — still continues
its good work begun at Romney fifty-seven years ago. In 1819, the
Romney Literary Society was organized. It is the oldest in the state
and there are very few older in the United States. There were never
more than fifty-two members enrolled, and the average attendance at
meetings was about seventeen. Philosophical questions were the subjects
of debates, and the society always decided one way or the other on
the debated subject. In 1819, two books were bought — "Plutarch's
Lives of Illustrious Men," and "Vattel's Laws of Nations." This
was the humble beginning of a splendid library accumulated during the
next forty years, but almost destroyed during the Civil war.
On January 6, 1832, the assembly voted to appropriate $20,000 (to
be raised by lottery) for the Romney Literary Society to be expended
in educational purposes. Large sums of this were paid for books, a
building was erected, and much financial support given to Potomac
Academy. In 1844 the society was authorized to contribute the balance
of this money to the Romney Academy. In September, 1849, the society
prepared a code and a system of by-laws for the government of the
classical institute. Both the institute and the literary society flourished
until the beginning of the Civil war. The disastrous four years, 1861-65,
brought ruin to many a southern enterprise, and the institutions in
Romney were among those destroyed.
In the Monongahela river region, the Randolph Academy at Clarks-
burg, Harrison county, was the first institution of higher education
founded. It was chartered by an Act of the General Assembly passed
December 31, 1787, and provided for a meeting to be held at Morgan-
town to "fix upon some healthy and convenient place within one of the
counties of Ohio, Monogalia, Harrison and Randolph for the purpose
of erecting therein the necessary buildings for the said academy. ' ' After
some delay, the committee met, and selected Clarksburg as the seat
of the new institution, the first of its kind west of the Allegheny moun-
tains. It had among its first board of twenty-eight trustees, Edmund
Randolph, Benjamin Harrison, George Mason, and Patrick Henry.
In the fall of 1795, the academy finally opened its doors for pupils,
under the supervision of the Rev. George Towers, a Presbyterian min-
ister, a native of England and a graduate of Oxford University, who
is described in the advertisement of the trustees as a "Gentleman of
undoubted character and abilities, who has engaged to teach the Latin
and Greek languages, the English grammatically, arithmetic and geo-
graphy." As part of its revenues it received one-eighth of the sur-
veyors' fees of the counties of Harrison, Monongalia, Ohio and Randolph,
which sums had formerly been paid to the support of the college of
William and Mary. Its work extended over a period of more than fifty
years, and among its teachers in 1830-40 was Francis H. Pierpoint,
afterwards governor of West Virginia under the reorganized govern-
ment. Its first principal taught for twenty years within its walls.
The Mount Carmel School, in Preston county, after doing forty-
eight years work, lost its building by fire, and was then removed to
another community.
The Monongalia Academy was for many years the most flourishing
institution of learning on the banks of the Monongahela. For years it
educated boys and young men in the higher branches of learning, and
was a great source of pride to the people of that locality, who indeed
were people of some culture and refinement, and had retained their
literary taste. In 1867, its property, together with that of Woodburn
294 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Seminary, valued at $51,000, was donated to the state by the people
of Morgantown, in consideration of the location of the university at
that place.
Morgantown also took an interest in the education of girls, for in
1831, the Morgantown Female Seminary was established, which con-
tinued to be prosperous for many years.
The Western Virginia Educational Society, incorporated March 28,
1839, at Pruntytown, Taylor county, was afterwards changed to Rector
College, an educational institution of the Baptist denomination.
Preston Academy began its work in the early forties under the ad-
ministration of Dr. Alexander Martin, who afterwards became the
first president of West Virginia University and it was long a power for
good.
Clarksburg, in 1843, again became the seat of an important institu-
tion of learning, when the Northwestern Virginia Academy was built.
It was located not far from the Randolph buildings, and after 1863 was
used as the public school building. A board of trustees, authorized by
the assembly, had the building constructed, the expenses being raised
by a general subscription of money and donations of lumber and other
building materials. It was then turned over to the Methodist Episcopal
Church Conference to conduct the school. The first principal was the
distinguished Gordon Battelle and the first session opened for pupils
October 1, 1843. Mr. Battelle, a man of recognized ability, continued
in charge for about twelve years, when he was succeeded by Dr.
Alexander Martin. The last to hold the position was R. A. Arthur,
before the Civil war. The enterprise was quite successful in giving
advantages of a higher education than had ever before been offered
to the youth of Clarksburg and surrounding communities. During the
Civil war it was occupied by government use; afterwards it was used
for private schools and finally turned over to the public school system.
The Fairmont Academy, and the Fairmont Male and Female Sem-
inary did thorough work, and paved the way for the location of the
Branch of the State Normal School at that place. The Male and Female
Academy at Buckhannon did much to create the splendid educational
sentiment which for a half century has prevailed in that locality. The
Lewis County Academy was so successful that after ten years its name
was changed, and it was by act of the assembly erected into Weston
College.
In the upper panhandle, the first academy was at Wellsburg, and
was known as the Brooke Academy. It began its work in 1778 — twenty-
two years before the date of its incorporation — and was the earliest
institution of learning on the Ohio river south of Pittsburgh. In 1843
it had a president, four members in its faculty, and a hundred students.
After a successful career of more than half a century, it was merged
in 1852 into Meade Collegiate Institute.
In the will of Noah Linsly, "The founder of the Lancasterian
Academy, the Friend of Youth, and the Benefactor of Mankind," pro-
vision was made for the establishment and maintenance of a school in
Wheeling on what was known as the "Lancasterian" system to be free
to such poor white children as the trustees might think worthy. A
charter for the institution was obtained in 1814, which was the first
ever granted in a slave state for the free education of the poor.
The "Lancasterian" method of teaching is somewhat similar to
the "object method" of the present day. The subjects taught in this
school, by this method, were the fundamental subjects only, but the re-
sults were very excellent, and interesting. The principal peculiarity
of the system consisted in making teachers of the more advanced pupils
under the name of "monitors," and providing them with classes: Some-
at the door or window supervising the whole group, and keep order by
means of his long rod, or small pebbles which he threw at unruly or
lazy pupils.
The Wheeling Female Institute was chartered in 1848, and was "a
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 295
highly interesting and important institution, at once the pride of our
city, and gratifying privilege of our state, incorporated with col-
legiate powers and privileges by the legislature."
Bethany College was founded in 1841 by Alexander Campbell, a
distinguished scholar and a devoted Christian. Under the name of
Buffalo Academy, it did eighteen years of work before being erected into
a college. By an act of the Assembly in 1849, it was provided that
scholarships might be created in this institution. The college, because
of the popularity of its founder, and the public confidence in his wisdom
as an educator, was filled at its very opening to its utmost capacity.
It was supported partly by endowments, and partly by tuition fees.
It "virtually belongs to the Christian church, yet in its conduct the
peculiar views of this body are neither insisted upon nor taught."
In 1843 Henry Howe, the historian, founded a flourishing academy
at Holiday's Cove, in Brooke county. The Meade Collegiate Institute
was removed from Parkersburg to Wellsburg, where it became the suc-
cessor of Brooke Academy and did good work. The West Union Acad-
emy, in Doddridge county, only continued for eight years, and the
property was then sold by its board of trustees.
In the southern part of western Virginia, the academies were not
established as early as in other parts of the state. The earliest one was
Lewisburg Academy, incorporated in 1812. Its founder was the Rev.
Dr. McElhenny, who came to Lewisburg as a minister in 1808, and for
sixty-three years was active as pastor of the old stone church. He opened
a classical school upon his arrival, and this later developed into the
Lewisburg Academy. For forty-eight years after its incorporation,
Doctor McElhenny was intimately connected with its work. Many of
the great men of the state owe their success to the old Lewisburg Acad-
emy.
In 1858 the Lewisburg Female Institute was incorporated and for
fifty years it has been engaged in the training of young ladies and has
become quite a famous school.
Mercer Academy, incorporated in 1818, at Charleston, did more than
all things else to mold the educational sentiment of the great Kanawha
valley a century ago, and forty-six years of successful work is to be
placed to its credit.
For many years the Red Sulphur Seminary, in Monroe county, did
splendid educational work. The curriculum embraced the ancient lan-
guages and mathematics. William Buck, principal, and James McCauley,
assistant, continued in the service of this institution for many years,
and contributed much to its success.
Hillsboro, in Pocahontas county, was the seat of two old academies.
The Little Levels Academy was incorporated in 1842 and in 1860, the
Levelton Male and Female College began its existence, which was a
very short-lived one. The former continued in operation for eighteen
years, when its property was transferred to the Board of Education
under the Free School System. It was of great importance in the edu-
cational development among the mountains and valleys of Pocahontas
county.
Thus we see the principal academies of the period before the Civil
war. There were many others which had brief lives. Many were started
from very early times. They all furnished preparation for college
entrance, and hundreds of young men have gone forth from them to
higher institutions of learning. Those leaving the academies of the
eastern panhandle and Greenbrier section, went either to the University
of Virginia, at Charlottesville, or to Washington College at Lexington.
From the northern part of the state, some went to Uniontown College,
or Washington College, Pennsylvania. From the great Kanawha val-
ley, and the counties lying along the Ohio river others went to the
Ohio University at Athens.
Comparatively few of the young men who entered higher institu-
tions went to Virginia schools. There was a strong antagonism against
296
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
the schools of higher learning in Virginia, felt by the people of western
Virginia. All appropriations made to the university, or to the military
schools, were bitterly begrudged by the western Virginians. The rep-
resentatives of the counties lying west of the mountains used their influ-
ence to prohibit these appropriations, but were not always successful.
The strong sentiment felt by the westerners for public schools resented
any aid given to any other kinds of schools. Jefferson 's belief that the
education of the masses in the common branches was better than the
high development of a few, was shared by many.
The attitude of Governor Berkeley when he said that common educa-
tion was a curse and hoped it would never come to his state for hundreds
of years was not tolerated by the hardy settlers who pushed westward
over the mountains. The sentiments of the Scotch-Irish, and the New
Englanders who came in great numbers during the period -of immigra-
tion, soon overbalanced that of the colonial Virginians.
Thus, although no state aid of any considerable amount was given,
and, hindered as they were by the limited amount of money from per-
sonal subscriptions, schools did nourish in western Virginia. The spirit
of antagonism felt against the charity schools, and the provisions of the
Literary Fund, created a sentiment against free education in many lo-
calities. This, however, was gradually overcome, as the advantages of
universal free education were expounded by the advocators of public
schools.
Although the question of free schools was not the main cause of the
separation of western Virginia from the mother state, it was a contribut-
ing factor in the formation of the new state in 1863. In separating from
Virginia, and in the formation of a new state, West Virginians found
the opportunity for which they had long sought, and one of the first
acts of the new commonwealth was the establishment of a free school
system, in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of 1863.
SCHOOL STATISTICS, COMPILED FROM THE CENSUS OF 1850
Colleges
Pt'BIIC ScHOOI-8
Academies
COUNTIES
u
03
SI
6
1
* E
ft)
~ —
£ «
3 0)
Zf-
b
ft)
.£1 in
|1
Za.
ft)
E
3
Z
ft) fe
3 g
ZH
3
,0 to
01
•3s
i->3
XI
B
3
z
a) 0
ZS-
11
S. 3
Zcl,
to
•3s
II
56
22
7
2
11
16
5
18
60
50
5
38
71
45
27
65
47
10
34
25
31
22
34
26
22
17
33
16
10
42
4
16
18
56
L'l>
7
2
11
16
6
18
60
50
13
38
71
45
27
65
47
10
34
25
31
20
34
26
22
17
46
16
10
42
4
16
18
546
550
171
60
374
115
96
159
900
1,500
360
622
330
1,350
1,000
1,500
1,602
175
720
700
1 , 1 r.i 1
400
907
498
645
189
3,529
225
200
840
115
380
376
$ 570
827
586
2,020
160
569
954
729
5,500
1.000
550
820
250
7,628
3,933
500
640
790
1.1S0
527
800
2,139
3,452
411
230
24,247
4
4
102
$7,363
i
5
130
87,500
1
1
2
1
73
20
970
Cabell ...
1
2
1
3
1
1
8
1
3
2
30
145
25
57
60
600
3,230
400
38
900
7
6
10
6
165
162
3,823
1
3
60
1,080
2
1
6
3
109
75
3,334
8S8
Ohio
7
20
400
5,265
Pendleton
675
1,090
750
196
1
2
1
O
3
1
40
70
1,600
Ritchie
Tavlor
i
2
100
500
Tyler
5
11
2
30
17
5
11
2
30
17
145
203
78
600
293
381
472
20
1,074
82
Wetzel
Wirt
Wood
2
5
130
10
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
297
ILLITERACY— 1850
NUMBER OF ADULTS WHO COULD NEITHER READ NOR WRITE
White
Colored
Native
Foreign
County
Male
Female
Total
Male
Female
Total
Aggre-
gate
Hampshire
Berkeley
Monongalia
Ohio
546
177
343
102
278
78
355
185
379
6S0
89
111
316
178
410
245
210
325
26
386
175
34
275
323
138
390
121
211
366
199
102
51
103
152
227
219
350
33
55
49
111
645
203
861
43
581
228
655
416
752
912
127
140
564
266
584
398
368
75S
26
460
261
66
402
534
231
641
195
367
809
294
205
56
196
175
406
332
488
32
128
53
166
1,191
380
1,204
145
s.vi
306
1,010
601
1,131
1,592
216
251
880
444
994
643
578
1,083
52
846
436
100
677
857
369
1,031
316
578
1,175
493
307
107
299
327
633
551
838
65
183
102
277
50
45
7
55
9
33
22
22
' 3
' 5
3
1
o
o
' 4
40
31
4
58
6
25
14
22
2
' 8
i
2
"3
1
"i
"4
1
90
76
11
ii3
J5
58
36
44
"5
i.s
' "i
3
"5
3
5
"4
1
1,281
456
l.L'OS
86
846
306
1,123
591
1,120
1,647
2(19
293
878
415
994
647
570
1,072
52
700
405
100
677
845
370
1,007
315
576
1,177
496
304
112
299
327
633
54S
840
65
15S
102
277
"7
59
13
' iii
26
3
43
2
2
29
' i
8
11
159
31
ie
24
1
2
3
"3
' 3
2
1
25
1,281
456
1,215
145
Greenbrier
859
306
Hardy
1,123
601
Pendleton
1,146
1,650
252
Wood
295
880
444
994
Cabell
Tyler
648
578
1,083
52
859
436
100
677
861
372
1,031
316
578
1,180
496
307
Tavlor
112
299
327
Wetzel
633
551
842
Wirt
66
183
102
277
LIBRARIES (OTHER THAN
County No.
Brooke 2
Cabell.. 1
Hampshire 1
Marshall 1
Marshall 1
Monongalia 1
Taylor 1
Wayne 2
Wetzel 1
rATE) 1850
Vols.
Kind
3,000
College
300
Public
1,000
Public
600
Sunday School
110
Church
150
School
2,500
College
75
Public
100
Sunday School
CHAPTER XIX
EISE OF LOCAL NEWSPAPERS
The rise and progress of newspapers is an index and measure of the
advance of civilization and has a close relation to the character of the
people in the region of publication or the region of subscription and
distribution.
In Old Virginia the appearance of newspapers was retarded by a
spirit of aristocratic conservative gubernatorial prejudice illustrated
by the pious opposition of Governor Berkeley to free schools and print-
ing and based upon Berkeley's expression that "learning has brought
disobedience and heresy and sects into the world, and printing has
divulged them and libels against the government." In spite of Berk-
eley's hope that Virginia would have no printing (and no free schools)
for a hundred years — a hope which he expressed about thirty years after
the importation of the first printing press into Massachusetts, the printers
devil reached the Old Dominion long before the expiration of the cen-
tury of respite for which the Governor so piously prayed. He found
himself restricted, however. In 1681, when an adventurous spirit, John
Buckner, imported a printing press into Virginia, he was ordered to
appear before the Governor and council and required to enter into bond
"not to print anything hereafter until His Majesty's pleasure shall be
known." In 1683 the Governor obtained a royal prohibition order
"not to allow any person to use a printing press in the colony on any
occasion whatsoever." The devil, aided by the power of example in
other colonies, and first using Maryland as a safe base of negotiations,
was finally successful. "William Parks, who published the Maryland
Gazette (established 1727) at Annapolis, Maryland, was first appointed
"printer to the Colony of Virginia" at a salary of 200 pounds a year
and soon thereafter was allowed to open at "Williamsburg a printing
office and to print Virginia's first newspaper, The Virginia Gazette,
established in 1736 only a half century before the appearance of the first
newspaper beyond the Blue Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley. The
Virginia Gazette was evidently considerably "subject to the powers
that be." After the death of Mr. Parks in 1750, it suspended publica-
tion for a few months, but was revived in 1751 by William Hunter and
apparently survived until the Revolution. Its subserviency to the
British crown in editorial policy made it unpopular with many of the
colonists, and in 1766 resulted in the establishment of a competitor, a
new Gazette which became the medium of publication for articles un-
favorable to the colonial government. After 1776 the number of news-
papers increased.
As one might naturally expect, the first newspaper in territory now
a part of West Virginia appeared in the eastern panhandle. It was
established in 1789 or 1790. The first newspaper in the trans-Allegheny
region appeared in the Monongahela valley in 1803. The first on the
Ohio appeared in 1807 and the first on the Kanawha appeared by 1820.
Of the total twenty-three newspapers 1 published in Virginia in
l The following list of Virginia newspapers for 1810 is given by Thomas:
(Name of Paper) (Place of Publication) (Politics)
Virginia Patriot Richmond Federalist
Enquirer Richmond Republican
Virginia Argus Richmond Federalist
Norfolk Gazette Norfolk Federalist
Norfolk Herald Norfolk Neutral
298
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 299
1810 (according to Thomas' History of Printing) the only two published
in territory now included in West Virginia were the Monongalia Gazi tte
(published at Morgantown) and the Farmers' Repository' (published
at Charlestown). Several of the earlier papers soon succumbed to the
vicissitudes which have ever beset the business.
The first newspaper published within the territory of West Virginia
was started either at Shepherdstown or at Martinsburg about 1790. Ac-
cording to tradition, verified in part at least by references appearing
in old letters and in files of The Virginia Sentinel (printed at Win-
chester, Virginia) for 1792 and 1793, the Potomac Guardian was started
at Shepherdstown in the latter part of 1790 (about three years after
the establishment of the Winchester Sentinel News, which apparently
was the first local newspaper in the Shenandoah valley), by Nathaniel
Willis and according to later evidence was still published in September
1798 (No. 406) apparently by Mr. Willis and probably at Shepherds-
town.
The first newspaper at Martinsburg was The Potomac Guardian and
Berkeley Advertiser, the motto of which was "Where Liberty dwells,
there is my country." Apparently it was started in 1789 or 1790 and
majr have appeared first at Shepherdstown under the shorter title The
Potomac Guardian edited for a time by Nathaniel Willis (grandfather
of the well-known writer N. P. Willis). Anyhow by April 3, 1792 (Vol.
II, No. 75) it was published at Martinsburg, its size was 9x15 inches, and
its editor and publisher was Dr. Robert Henry, a physician practicing
in Berkeley county after his arrival there in 1792. According to the
testimony of Moses Hunter and Philip Pendleton, two highly esteemed
citizens of Martinsburg, Dr. Henry was a man of excellent character.
The little sheet, a copy of which is preserved in the Capitol at Rich-
mond, Virginia, is illustrative of the newspaper of its time.2
The next newspaper published in the eastern panhandle was the
Martinsburg Gazette established in May, 1799, by Nathaniel Willis, who
had moved from Shepherdstown and soon thereafter emigrated to
Ohio and for a time published a paper at Chillicothe. Its earliest issues
were crowded with an astonishing amount of interesting news — an evi-
dence of the industry and enterprising spirit of the publishers. Dur-
ing the war of 1812 it published with surprising quickness the events
occurring on the northwestern frontier. Mrs. Mabel Henshaw Gardiner,
who has for several years been interested in the study of old newspapers
of the eastern panhandle, states that the Gazette was sold in December,
1813, to John Alburtis who had started the publication of The Berkeley
and Jefferson County Intelligencer' and Northern Neck Advertiser at
Martinsburg in the year 1800 and possibly earlier, as the issue of July 9,
1802, was No. 15 of Vol. 4. Aler in his history of Martinsburg and
(Name of Paper) (Place of Publication) (Politics)
Petersburg Intelligencer Petersburg Republican
Republican Petersburg Republican
Virginia Herald Fredericksburg Federalist
Republican Constitution Winchester Republican
Sentinel Winchester Federalist
Winchester Gazette Winchester Federalist
Democratic Lamp Winchester Republican
Lynchburg Star Lynchburg Republican
Lynchburg Press Lynchburg Republican
Staunton Eagle Staunton Republican
Republican Farmer Staunton Republican
Washingtonian Leesburg Federalist
Republican Press Leesburg Republican
Republican Luminary Wythe C. H Republican
Holstein Intelligencer Abingdon Republican
Virginia Telegraph Lexington Federalist
Monongalia Gazette Morgantown Republican
Farmer 's Repository Charlestown Republican
The mos-t important of these papers was the Richmond Enquirer established
in 1804 by Ritchie and Warsley and edited for over forty years by Thomas
Ritchie who has sometimes been regarded as the father of Virginia journalism.
2 See "Calendar of Virginia State Papers," Vol. V. p. 483.
300 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Berkeley county states that Alburtis became editor and proprietor of
the Gazette in January, 1811, and continued its publication until Octo-
ber 25, 1822, when he was succeeded by Washington Evans.
On April 1, 1808, the Farmers' Repository, the first agricultural paper
west of the Blue Ridge printed by William Richard Brown, was begun
at Charlestown. It published considerable Shepherdstown news. Later,
February 28, 1827, it was merged into the Virginia Free Press, founded
in 1821 and published by J. S. and H. N. Gallaher (published at
Harper's Ferry by February, 1837).
In 1816, about seventeen years after the disappearance of Shep-
herdstown's first newspaper, the American Eagle began its flight there,
first under the editorship of a Mr. Snyder and later under direction
of Robinson and Harper. In 1820 it was succeeded by the Virginia
Monitor, printed by Edward Bell. The Journal, which' appeared at
Shepherdstown in 1823, was probably published by John Alburtis for
a short time. In 1824 the Shepherdstoivn Gazette was started by Al-
burtis, who had moved from Martinsburg.
In the same year (February 14), a weekly miscellaneous (literary)
paper, The Ladies' Garland was started at Harpers Ferry under the
editorial direction of John S. Gallaher.
The Potomac Pioneer, published at Shepherdstown in 1830 by W.
and G. R. Weber, was later succeeded by the Informer and Weekly.
The Virginia Republican was established at Martinsburg apparently
early in 1841 (its issue of February 17, 1847, being No. 8 of Vol. 6)
and in August 18, 1855, became the property of Israel Robinson who
proposed to continue it as a Democratic paper.
The Spirit of Jeff e> son was established at Charlestown in 1844 by
James W. Beller. Following the destruction of its old office by fire
in 1853, and the construction of a new office, it passed to the control of
Lucas and Donavain, and later its control passed to a Mr. Douglas and
Benjamin F. Beall — the latter owning it until 1869.
The Shepherdstown Register, owned and edited by Hardy and Mc-
Auly, first appeared on December 4, 1849. In January, 1850, it was
published by McAuty and Entler, and in November, 1853, it was pur-
chased by John H. Zittle from J. T. H. Bringman. It quite suddenly
and unceremoniously suspended publication on June 15, 1861, but re-
sumed publication four years later (on July 15, 1865), following the
close of the Civil war.
The Berkeley Union founded in 1861, and a later paper, The New
Era (established in 1866), were consolidated into the Martinsburg
Independent in 1872.
Although Hampshire county had no newspaper as early as one
might expect, it never suffered from a series of experiments in starting
newspapers which soon perished. The first paper in the county was
probably the Hampshire and Hardy Intelligencer, established in 1830
(possibly in 1828) by William Harper. It had no competitor nearer
than Cumberland. In a short time its name was changed to The South
Branch Intelligencer, a name which was continued for two generations.
It was an advocate of the Whig party until the Civil war but sup-
ported the Democratic party after the war. By 1850 The Intelligencer
was much improved in size, appearance and make-up. It advertised
two schools of academic grades, indicating that educational advance-
ment was keeping pace with material progress. By 1852 additional
improvement was evident making the paper much more like a modern
local paper. After the death of Mr. Harper in 1887 the paper was
managed by his widow until 1890 when she sold it to a stock company.
It did not cease publication until January, 1897, when it was bought
by John J. Cornwell who consolidated it with the Hampshire Review.
The Virginia Argus, a Democratic paper, was established at Romney
in Jul}', 1850, and published intermittently until the Civil war. Its
founder, A. S. Trowbridge, who at one time had been a teacher at
New Orleans did not meet with as much success as he had expected.
From him the paper was purchased in 1857 by Samuel R. Smith and
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 301
John G. Combs, who after managing it for abont four years sold it
to William Parsons. A few months later Mr. Parsons sold it to Colonel
Alexander Monroe and Job N. Cookus, who continued as editors and
proprietors until the first year of the Civil war, when they decided to
leave the noise of the printing press for experience on the field of
battle. During the war the plant of the Argils was destroyed by Fed-
eral soldiers. The paper was never revived.
The first paper published in Monongalia county (1803) was also
the first published in the State west of the Allegheny Mountains. The
following is a list of the papers known to have been published in the
county before the Civil War:
Name of Pa] er Date of First Issue
Monongalia Gazette and Morgantown Advertiser (probably) Jan., 1803
Monongalia Gazette 1810
The Morgantown Spectator October, 1815
The Monongalia Herald December 24, 1820
The Northwestern Journal 1 822
Monongalia Chronicle 1825
The Monongalia Farmer 1828
The Republican March, 1829
The Monongalian January, 1831
Democratic Republican February, 1835
The Democratic Watchtower 1842
The Virginia Shield 1843
The Northwestern Journal 1843
The Mountaineer 1 845
Western Virginia Standard February, 1846
The Monongalian 1849
The Monongalia Mirror August, 1849
The Jeff ersonian 1849
The Mountain Messenger 1852
The Democratic Eepublican August, 1852
The Album 1854
American Union June, 1855
The Morgantown Telegraph 1855
Virginia Weekly Star August, 1856
West Virginia Herald 1862
The Morgantown Monitor 1863
The Morgantown Weekly Post March, 1864
A copy of the Monongalia Gazette and Morgantown Advertiser for
June 23, 1804 (No. 25), indicates that the publisher was Campbell and
Britton. The issue of January 17, 1806 (No. 158), has the heading "the
Monongalia Gazette" (published by J. Campbell). The editor, Joseph
Campbell, was born in Ireland, learned the printer's trade in Phila-
delphia, and after publishing the Gazette served as sheriff and coroner
of the count}' and finally removed to Marion county where he died in
1850 at the age of seventy. His co-partner for a time was Forbis
Britton. According to the Morgantown Post of November 19, 1870, The
Gazette was published in August, 1810, by John Osborn Laidley. The
Monongalia Spectator which was started in October, 1815, was pub-
lished by William McGranahan & Co. In April, 1819, the publishers
were William McGranahan, Nicholas B. Madera and Ralph Berkshire.
Apparently the paper was discontinued in 1819. "Regularly, once a
week, on the day the paper was struck off, McGranahan called on
'Uncle Nick' (Nicholas B. Madera) for money to buy whiskey to thin
the printing ink. For a long time it was cheerfully furnished, until
one day 'Uncle Nick' concluded to visit the office, and see how things
were getting on, when his righteous soul was greatly vexed within him,
to find his working partner lying under the printing press dead drunk."
The first issue of the Monongalia Herald, edited and printed by
James M. Barbour and Wm. Barbour, appeared on December 24, 1820.
It announced that wheat, rye, oats, corn, flax, linen, lindsey, wool,
tow, bacon, sugar, tallow, beeswax and rags were received on subscrip-
tions. It was published as late as July, 1821, but no copies of a later
date are known. It contained very little home news, except what could
be found in quaint advertisements.
302 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
The only information in regard to the old Northwestern Journal
is the later description of a copy dated May 11, 1822, when it was
published by N. B. Madera and James Barbour.
The Monongalia Chronicle was started in 1825 by Henry & Car-
penter, who accepted flax, beeswax, wool, feathers, tallow and corn in
payment for subscriptions. From January 19, 1828, it was continued
by Carpenter and William Thompson until February 16, 1828, when
Carpenter left the firm. The latest issue known is that of September
25, 1828.
The Monongalia Farmer was started about 1828 by Francis Madera
and Enos D. Morgan, son of Captain Zackwell Morgan. On March 28,
1829, Morgan started The Republican which in the following October
was changed to The Republican and Preston and Monongalia Adver-
tiser, published by Morgan and Dunnington and continuing as late as
July 10, 1830. In February, 1835, Morgan started the Democratic
Republican with the press of The Farmer which he bought in 1834. It
appears that Morgan changed politics in 1840 and thereafter conducted
the Democratic Republican as a Whig paper until its publication ceased
in 1842. In the fall of 1843 Morgan bought the press of the Silk Cul-
turist at Brandonville (in Preston county) and started The North-
western Journal, the publication of which was continued until 1845.
Meantime The Democratic Watchtower had been projected about 1842
by Joseph H. Powell and a man named Treadwell, who by getting on
a drunken spree about the time the first number was ready to go to
press caused the death of the paper before its birth. About 1843, a
Democratic paper, The Virginia Shield, was edited by Powell. Another
Democratic paper, The Mountaineer, was published in 1845 by Andrew
McDonald and Boaz B. Tibbs on a rented press of The Northwestern
Journal, but probably continued for only about a year. The Western
Virginia Standard, a Whig paper which first appeared on February 14,
1846, under the editorship of George S. Ray, was also printed on the
press of The Northwestern Journal, and continued to be published
until about 1849. Apparently a paper named The Monongalian was
published in 1849 by George S. Ray, but evidently its life was short.
The Jeffersonian was started by John Beck in 1849, but probably its
life was limited to one issue. The Monongalia Mirror, published and
edited by Rev. Simeon Siegfried was an independent in politics. It first
appeared on August 11, 1849, and was printed on the press of The
Northwestern Journal. Apparently its publication ceased on June 23,
1855. Its editor was a minister in the Baptist Church, had followed
printing thirty-three years before he came to Morgantown from Penn-
sylvania, and was a great advocate of temperance. About 1852, he
also started in the interest of his denomination a religious paper, The
Mountain Messenger, or Baptist Recorder, which was continued for a
year or two. The Democratic Republican, a Democratic paper published
and edited by George M. Howard and B. F. Beall, first appeared in
August, 1852, and it probably continued until 1855. It was printed
on the first iron press ever used in the county.
The American Union, an American (Know Nothing) advocate, pub-
lished and edited by Simeon Siegfried, Jr., first appeared on June 30,
1855. The Album', devoted to the interest of the Odd Fellows, was
issued in 1854 by Mr. Siegfried, but was published only for a short time.
The Morgantown Telegraph, a Democratic paper published in 1855
by John W. Woody and John M. Coil, was continued for jonly a few
months. The Virginia Campaign Star, edited and owned by Marshall
M. Dent, first appeared on March 9, 1856, as an organ of the Democratic
party. In the following November, after the election, the word "Cam-
paign" was dropped from its title, and later the word "Weekly" was
added. In 1860 the Star supported the Douglas wing of the Democratic
party, and after January 4, 1862, its publication ceased.
The West Virginia Herald was projected in 1862 by Joseph H.
Powell and W. T. Mathers, but only a few numbers were issued. In
February, 1863, The Morgantoxon Monitor was started by two young
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 303
men (too young to vote), George C. Sturgiss and William P. Willey,
with the idea of making it a conservative paper, and especially with
plans to stop the war, but its publication ceased at the end of the first
.year, probably for want of financial aid, but also because its conserva-
tive policy had no hope of popular favor after Lincoln's emancipation
proclamation. Judge Berkshire referred to the Monitor as "a gun boat
that shot blank cartridges." Incomplete files of the paper are pre-
served in the Department of Archives at Charleston.
The Morgantown Weekly Post, the first Republican paper in the
county, was not established until March 12, 1864. It was established
by Henry M. Morgan, a son of Enos D. Morgan, and after a suspension
of about two months in 1865 it was started again on May 20, 1865, by
Mr. Morgan and Nelson N. Hoffman under the additional title Monon-
galia and Preston County Gazette which was dropped June 2, 1866,
leaving the original title, The Morgantown Weekly Post.
In Preston county local journalism had an unusual beginning. On
a hill one mile south of Brandonville, on the Mount Pleasant Farm in
a two-story log house built in 1804, a periodical monthly magazine
named Mount Pleasant Silk Culturist and Farmers' Manual, devoted
to the growth and manufacture of silk and beet sugar, was started in
June, 1839, by the firm of Alter and Miller. It stimulated temporary
interest in the mulberry tree and silk worms, but ceased at the end
of one year, possibly in part because of the high rates of postage of
which it complained. Its successor was a local newspaper, the Mount
Pleasant Democrat or Preston County Democrat, which first appeared
in 1840 under the management of Alter and Miller, and notwithstand-
ing its title was an advocate of the Whig party. It died early.
The next publication in the county was the Fellowsville Democrat
which was started on May 10, 1848, by Sylvanus Hermans, the energetic
founder of Fellowsville. It was also Whig in politics. Its life was also
short (two or three years). Its death was probably due to the decline
of the town, which resulted from diversion of its business to the newly-
created villages on the route of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. For
about a year it had a rival, the Preston County Herald (an advocate
of the Democratic party) which was started in 1849 by Lewis and Thorpe
and under the editorship of E. S. M. Hill. It probably existed for little
more than a year. After a vacant interval of about eight years, an-
other Democratic paper appeared in the county. It was started at King-
wood on June 11, 1858, by D. B. Overholt, and it died about two years
later. From 1860 to 1866 when the Preston County Journal was started,
the county had no newspaper.
Probably the first newspaper published in Clarksburg was the By-
stander, which apparently was established in 1810 (No. 45 of Vol. 1 was
issued on June 8, 1811). A. and F. Britton were the publishers. Many
other newspapers were published at Clarksburg before 1860, but per-
haps the larger number were short lived, and many contained little or
no local news. In spite of the large number of failures of newspaper
enterprises new editors arose and pushed forward in a new pioneer
epoch to succeed in efforts to enlighten the people. In most instances
there were no files of the early Clarksburg newspapers and even the
names have passed into oblivion. From the records of the Chancery
Court which occasionally gives the name of newspapers in connection
with the publications of legal notices, one may conclude that the fol-
lowing papers were published at the dates stated:
The Western Virginian, in 1816;
The Republican Compiler, in 1817;
The Independent Virginian, in 1819;
The Clarksburg Gazette, in 1822;
The Rattlesnake, in 1S22;
The Clarksburg Intelligencer, in 1823;
The Independent Virginian, in 1824;
The Clarksburg Enquirer, in 1829;
The Western Enquirer, in 1832;
The Countryman, in 1835;
304 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
The Clarksburg Democrat, in 1840;
The Clarksburg Whig, in 1840;
The Scion of Democracy, in 1844 ;
The Harrison Republican, in 1845;
The Age of Progress, in 1855;
The Clarksburg Register, in 1856.
The Western Enquirer, begun in 1832, was published by Arthur G.
Sparhawk & Co. The Countryman, begun in 1835, was published by
Philip F. Critchfield. The Clarksburg Democrat was published in 1840
by Dr. Benjamin Dolbeare, who had succeeded Philip F. Critchfield.
In 1844 it was purchased by Bassel and Harper, who changed the name
to the Scion of Democracy, which was continued until 1848. The Clarks-
burg Whig, started in 1840 by the Whig party, was published by Wil-
liam McGranaghan. Later the Harrison Republican was published by
Robert Sommerville (in 1843-48). It was a good weekly paper, although
not much attention was given to local affairs. It excelled in mechanical
execution, neatness of appearance, literary selections, editorials and ar-
rangement of advertisements. Some time before 1840 a paper called
The Castigator was published in Clarksburg, but unfortunately no
issue has been saved to satisfy the curiosity of those who live in an
age of yellow journalism.
Apparently Clarksburg newspapers were placed on a more stable
footing in the fifties. The Age of Progress was published by Philip F.
Critchfield. The Cooper's Clarksburg Register, which flourished until
the beginning of the Civil war was started by W. P. Cooper, who in
1861 abandoned the pen for the sword under the stars and bars.
Charles E. Ringler, who was editor of the Western Virginia Guard in
1861, left editorial duties to march under the stars and stripes. Robert
S. Northcott, who started the Telegraph early in the war, abandoned
it later to enter the army, but resumed his publication after the war
under the changed name Telegram.
It appears that the first newspaper published in Marion county was
The Marion County Pioneer, owned and edited by Lindsay Boggess,
which was first issued in 1840. According to the Wheeling Argus of
April 20, 1848, a Democratic meeting at the City Hall adopted a resolu-
tion commending Dr. Kidwell for trying to establish a Democratic
paper in the mountain counties of West Virginia. The Pioneer was
followed by The Baptist Recorder, edited and owned by Dr. W. D.
Eyster, and the Democratic Banner, established by Daniel S. Morris
in 1850. About 1851 the Banner was purchased by A. J. O'Bannen
and its name was changed, first to The True Virginian and Trans-
Allegheny Advertiser, and finally to The True Virginian. In its num-
ber of October 4, 1851, the True Virginian gave illustrations of its be-
lief in the exercise to write a free speech. It complained that the mails
which were due at eight o'clock P. M. did not usually arrive until ten
or eleven P. M., and announced a meeting of the citizens to consider
criminal irregularity in mail matters. At the same time it published
as a delinquent a man named "John Hoffman, who lived near Ice's
Ferry, Monongalia county, Virginia," stating that he "has left without
paying, as far as we know, his subscription to this paper." Evidently
the editor intended to pursue the delinquent. He said, "We under-
stand he has gone to Baltimore. Will the papers there please copy
this."
The first newspaper in Lewis county was the Weston Sentinel, a
Democratic organ established in 1847 by Benjamin Owen, at one time a
foreman in the office of the New York Tribune under Horace Greeley.
It was suspended in 1853 as a result of a fire which destroyed the office,
but it was revived later under the editorial direction of W. D. Tapp,
who sold it to F. D. Alfred in 1856, when its name was changed to
The Weston Herald. The Herald which was an apologist for s^very
and states' rights, ceased its existence when the Union troops reached
Weston.
In Taylor county, the first paper published was The Vanguard.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 305
founded and edited by Daniel Morris at Pruntytown, the county sent,
in 1846, two years after the creation of the county. It was Whig in
politics. As the county was new and the population few and scattering,
the venture had a checkered career. It managed to exist with varying
success and discouragement until the year 1854 when it suspended pub-
lication. It was ably edited and wielded considerable influence even
outside the county, but it failed to secure sufficient patronage for its
proper support.
The Grafton Sentinel, established in 1855 under the editorial direc-
tion of Simeon Seigfreid, was at first Whig in polities; but upon the
formation of the Republican party in 1856 it became a strong champion
of the new party and in 1860 warmly supported Abraham Lincoln for
President. When the ordinance of secession was presented to the Vir-
ginia convention, the Sentinel suspended publication, probably because
of the general uncertainty of business at that exciting period.
The Western Virginian was established at Grafton under the editor-
ship of George R. Latham in the spring of 1860, just preceding the
presidential nominating conventions of that year. In this campaign
it supported Bell and Everett, but after the nomination of Lincoln it
became a sterling champion of Republican principles. Its career was
short but brilliant. It suspended publication in May, 1861, when its
editor resigned to accept the captaincy of Company B of West Vir-
ginia Volunteer Infantry. Its editor was successively promoted to
Colonel of the Second West Virginian Regiment of Infantry, and was
afterwards honored with the rank of Brevet Brigadier-General.
The Taylor County Echo was established in Grafton at the outbreak
of hostilities in the Civil war and continued publication for two years
after the cessation of the war. It was founded and edited by a Mr.
Chaney. Politically it was Republican, but it was more pronounced
in its support of the Union than in its allegiance to any political creed.
The Barbour Jcffersonian was founded by Thompson Surghnor, a
soldier who had served in the Mexican war. * * * fne. paper was all
printed in Philippi, there being no "patent side." The motto at the
head of the paper was: "The Union — according to the Constitution,"
indicating plainly where the paper would be found on the questions
which were the vital issues leading up to the Civil war, and which were
settled for all time by that war. The paper was published nearly four
years, and until about June, 1861. It was a Secession organ, strong in
its support of Virginia's opposition and hostility to the United States.
It was one of the most potent factors in stirring up the peop'e of
Barbour against the government at Washington. In violence of utter-
ance it was probably surpassed by no paper even in Richmond. When
the Federal troops, June 3, 1861, drove the Confederates out of Philippi,
the editor went with them, joined the army and was subsequently kiHed
at Beverly. His body was brought to Philippi by Christopher C. Ho-
vatter, where it was buried. The Federal soldiers wrecked the news-
paper office and threw the type into a well.
A short time after the Jeffersonian suspended publication, another
paper, The Old Flag, was started and was continued for sometime. But
no copy of it can be found, nor are many facts concerning it to be ascer-
tained. It did not last long, and was probably published by Federal
soldiers; or at least, it was published under their auspices and
protection.
In Randolph county there was no newspaper published until May,
1874, when the Randolph Enterprise appeared at Beverly under the
editorship of Geo. P. Sargent, and on paper hauled from the nearest
railway station at Webster, Taylor county.
The first paper published at Wheeling was the "Repository, a small
quarto sheet, which was issued as early as 1807. Following closely after
it were the times. Gazette, Telegraph and Virginian. Before 1850 these
were followed by a number of other aspiring but short-lived publica-
tions which illustrated the vicissitudes of the country newspaper ven-
Vol. 1—2 0
306 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
tures. Among the latter were: the Advertiser, the Argus and Young
America.
The publishers experienced troubles of singular uniformity, the
most conspicuous of which were the delinquency of subscribers, political
bickerings and commercial disappointments.
The Virginia Stoats Zeitung was first issued about 1848 and sub-
sequently became the Arbeit er Freuncl which after another change in
management became the Deutsche Zeitung von West Virginia,.
The Wheeling Intelligencer began its existence in the summer of 1852
during the presidential campaign. "When it was started there were
two other papers published at Wheeling: the Times and Gazette (also
a Whig paper) edited by James E. Wharton, and the Evening Argus
( a Democratic paper) edited and published by John T. Russell. It may
be regarded as representing in part the Times and Gazette jd£ the olden
times, but after 1860, it also represented Democrats who voted for
Douglas, Whigs who voted for Bell and Everett, as well as those who
voted for Lincoln.
The Union, which was published at Wheeling before the Civil war,
was succeeded by the Press soon after the war began, and the latter
was succeeded on July 9, 1863, by the Register which was established as
the bold and fearless organ of the Democratic party and may be
regarded as the political representative of the old Wheeling Argus.
The Register started with the printing press and other property of
the former Press, the short-lived successor of the Union. It was tem-
porarily suppressed a year later by order of Major General David
.Hunter who was offended by some of its strictures on Federal opera-
tions, but its publication was renewed after the release of the proprietors
from an imprisonment of two months.
On the Ohio above Wheeling, the Charleston Gazette, published by
Samuel Workman, appeared as early as December 31, 1814. Its suc-
cessor, the Wellsburg Gazette, new series, began in November, 1822. Ap-
parently the old series began 312 numbers earlier, or in November, 1816.
In 1824 the True Republican was published by Solomon Sola but its
period of existence and its character are not known. The Brooke Repub-
lican was started May 25, 1833, with Daniel Polsley as editor and S. R.
Jones printer and proprietor, and its career closed with the issue of
September 24, 1835, leaving the local field to the Gazette. On October
1, 1835, the Western Transcript first appeared with D. Polsley as editor,
and with an arrangement to complete the unexpired subscriptions of
the Republican. In December, 1845, its editorial control passed from
Mr. Polsley to Wills DeHass. Its publication ceased late in the
forties. In 1840 a campaign paper called the Jeffersonian Democrat was
published by Dr. Hazlett. The Wellsburg Herald, published by Joseph
A. Metcalf in December, 1846, was purchased by John G. Jacob and
James A. Smith two years later and for many years thereafter it was
published by Mr. Jacob who became Nestor of the press in that part
of the state. The Item, published by J. W. Plattenburg, appeared in
July, 1855, as another new adventure devoted to news and humor. At
Bethany, Alexander Campbell published The Millennial Harbinger for
34 years beginning in 1830.
The first newspaper venture in Moundsville was the West Virginian
established about 1831 by Dennis Parriott. In a short time it was suc-
ceeded by the Sentinel established by David McLain. The Marshall
Beacon was established before 1840, and several years after 1850 was
succeeded by the Herald which later became the Reporter.
In Wetzel county no newspaper was published until 1870 when
Daniel Long began at New Martinsville The Wetzel Independent which
in 1872 changed its name to the Labor Vindicator.
The first newspaper at Parkersburg was the Parhersburg Republican,
a Whig organ, established in 1833 and published by John Brough who
was later elected governor of Ohio. In 1838 it was purchased by a
company of which General J. J. Jackson was the leader and its name
was soon changed to the Gazette and Courier, edited by S. C. Shaw in
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 307
1840 and later owned and edited by McCreery and Sterrett. Several
years before the war the Parkersburg News, a Democratic paper, was
established. It was published by Charles Rhodes.
The first local paper in Ritchie county was the Ritchie Democrat,
the first number of which appeared at Ilarrisville in the spring of
1856. It was edited and published by Enoch G. Day who arrived from
Bath county, Virginia, bringing his press and materials with him. A
few months before the beginning of the Civil war it was purchased by
"Deck" Neal who abandoned it at the opening of the war and enlisted
in the Confederate cause. Thereafter, until 1862, it was changed to a
religious paper, The Advocate. In 1862 it was succeeded by Ritchie
Press, edited by Daniel P. Shriver, a Home Guard. In 1867 the name
Press was changed to West Virginia Star by John T. Harris.
In the Kanawha-New valley the first local newspaper appeared at
Charleston, although one might have expected to find the earliest
attempt further east at Lewisburg in Greenbrier county or at Union
in Monroe county. The first newspaper printed at Charleston was the
Spectator, established in 1818 or 1819 by an erratic lawyer, Herbert
P. Gaines, who soon became the principal of Mercer Academy (which
was founded in 1818 and sustained a "Law Department" by 1823).
Another paper, the Kanawha Patriot — small, but neatly executed —
started in 1819 and, published by Herbert P. Gaines, was kept alive
only a little over a year.
From 1820 to 1822, Mason Campbell, Esq., who later became a resi-
dent of Washington, D. C, published at Charleston a newspaper called
the Western Courier which for want of proper patronage soon ceased.
In the issue of November 19, 1822, the editor announced that he was too
busy to publish the paper for the next week. In July, 1826, the same edi-
tor started another paper, the Western Virginian and Kanawha County
Gazette (shortened to Western Virginian on October 31, 1826) which
he continued to publish weekly for about foiir years. In 1829 he sold
it to Alexander T. and James M. Laidley, who began a new paper,
the Western Register, which they published one year.
Soon after the cessation of the Register (by December, 1830) Mason
Campbell and Ezra Walker started the Kanawha, Banner which was
succeeded in 1834 by a small Whig paper, the Kanawha Patriot. Copies
of the latter, bearing date at late as November, 1840, are still in existence.
In 1840 the first Democratic newspaper published on the Kanawha
was established by two gentlemen named Pate and Hiekey. It found
but few supporters in the Whig county of Kanawha and, at the expira-
tion of two years, its publication ceased.
In 1842 Enos W. Newton, a gentleman of culture and refinement
located in Kanawha, and began the publication of the Kanawha Repub-
lican, as an organ of the Whig party. He continued the publication of
the Republican until his death, in 1865, when it was purchased by Mer-
rill and Quigley, who published it up to 1871 when it was sold as old
material.
The second Democratic paper published in Charleston was the
Western Virginian, begun by R. A. Thompson and T. M. Gardner in
1851 and continued two or three years, until, like its predecessor, it
perished for want of proper support. Its successor was the Kanawha
Valley Star, printed first at Buffalo, Putnam county (1855 and to
September, 1856), under the title Star of the Kanawha Valley and
later at Charleston (September, 1856 to 1861). The Star was pub-
lished by John Rundell and edited by several legal gentlemen, mem-
bers of the Kanawha bar but ceased about the beginning of the Civil
war. In 1856 it professed attachment to the Union, but "only to a
Union which secures state sovereignty and state ecpiality."
The first newspaper published in Greenbrier county was the Pal-
ladium and Pacific Monitor, started in 1820 soon after the appearance
of the first newspaper at Charleston. It was established by Joseph
Cunningham Waggoner, who, at an earlier date, had been a printer in
Botetourt county, and for a time before 1820 had published a paper
308 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
at Pincastle, although he was only eighteen years of age when he mi-
grated to Lewishurg. The editor was Dr. Joe F. Caldwell, a lifetime
friend of Mr. Waggoner.
Apparently Mr. Waggoner was connected with the paper until its
cessation in 1830 (or 1831). In November, 1825, at the Old Stone Church
at Lewisburg, Mr. Waggoner was married to Sarah Campbell Brecken-
ridge Venable, a girl of "sweet" sixteen, the ceremony being performed
by the well known Presbyterian minister, Rev. John McElhaney. Ap-
parently for many years he was prominent in politics. He was a warm
admirer of both Jackson and Polk, both of whom were guests at Wag-
goner's Hill and for each of whom he named two of his sons, Andrew
and James. He was strongly opposed to negro slavery and was always
a Union man although he loved the South. He advocated the separation
of western Virginia and the formation of a new state.3 His wife was
strongly Southern in her sympathies, and "believed in the old South
from A to Z. " She strongly felt that negroes must know their place
at all times and she never permitted one to enter her front door. Ac-
cording to tradition she was so Southern in her sympathies that her bill
for damages by the Union soldiers in connection with a battle fought at
Lewisburg during the Civil war was refused by Congress.
The printing establishment on Waggoner's Hill was burned one
Sunday morning while Mr. Waggoner was at church. Here the news
was announced in a loud voice by a man who had hurried to inform him.
It is said, he never entered that church afterwards.
At the close of the war, Caldwell became well known as an ardent
Republican who advocated test oaths and proscription laws against
those who had given aid to the Confederate cause. In 1867 he was one
of the Greenbrier members of the House of Delegates.
The immediate successor of the Palladium was The Alleghanian,
which first appeared in 1831. Later papers were the Western En-
quirer (1837- ), Thr Western Whig (1842- ), The Lewisburg Observer
(1844-47), The Lewisburg Chronicle (1848-60), The Western Era (1850-
61), which in its last years changed its name to The Lewisburg Era, and
finally The Greenbrier Independent (1859-61). The Chronicle was
published by Stewart J. Warren in 1855. The Independent was estab-
lished by a lawyer, Joseph Granville, and on August 16, 1859 (Vol. 1,
No. 27) its editor and proprietor was J. D. Alderson. The Chronicle,
the Era, and the Independent, were suspended by circumstances con-
nected with the beginning of the Civil war. The Independent was re-
vived after the war.
In Pocahontas county no newspaper was published until 1882 when
Buckey Canfield started the Times at Huntersville.
In Monroe county the first local newspaper was The Union Democrat
which first appeared in 1850 under the editorship of S. P. Windle, but,
finding small patronage, was discontinued after two years. The Whig
Banner was begun in this period by A. A. Banks as a rival enterprise.
Both papers were printed from the same press in the west end of the
old Bell Tavern. Although party spirit ran so high that a Whig might
expect to be read out of his party for lodging at a Democratic tavern.
The rival editors managed to live together. In one thing at least they
had a common interest. Both were addicted to the use of the same
kind of beverage, and each when intoxicated would write a heated
editorial for the rival paper and then proceed to tear it to shreds in
his own paper. The Farmer's Friend and Fireside Companion was
established in April, 1852, by Chas. M. Johnston. In 1853 it was pur-
chased by William Hinton who renamed it the Mountain Orator. In
1854 it was sold to a joint stock company which changed the name to
the Union Democrat, which was first edited by Stewart I. Warren and
3 At the close of the war Mr. Waggoner retired to his farm on River Hill,
refusing to appear in any public affairs. Here he suffered with rheumatism. Late
in life he joined the Presbyterian ediurch which may be regarded as a very proper
thing for an Irishman of Scottish descent from the Cunninghams. He died in
January, 1879, and his wife died in June, 1897.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 309
later by others until 1861 when it was suspended (at the outbreak of
the war). The office materials of the Union Democrat were later used
in the publication of the Monroe Register which was begun in 1867 by
Thomas McCreery, a deaf mute. In 1855, Warren published The Lewis-
buig Chronicle.
The Knapsack was published at Gauley Bridge in Fayette county
early in the war (October, 1861).
At the mouth of the Kanawha, several newspapers were published
before the Civil war. The West Virginian, established in 1845, was
published by William Peoples and Charles W. Hoy for about a year,
after which its press and materials were loaded on a natboat and removed
to Gallipolis, Ohio, during the absence of Mr. Hoy at Cincinnati to
purchase new materials. A copy of the Virginia Sentinel, published
at Point Pleasant on August 26, 1818, is among the old papers in the
files of the department of archives at Charleston. The Independent Re-
publican, established in 1854, was published by James Hutchinson and
Lewis Wetzel who in 1859 sold it to T. Stribbling & Company. In 1860,
T. Stribbling & Company published The Western Review (Democratic
in politics) which was suspended in 1861 when the war temporarily
stopped the mail. The Weekly Bulletin published at West Columbia
in 1852, was sold in 1853 to James Sanders and Mr. Merrill who changed
the name to The Western Messenger. The latter was sold in 1854 to
the United Brethren Publishing Company who published The Virginia
Telescope until 1856, when it was purchased by D. S. Van Matre. Ap-
parently Van Matre changed the name to The Virginia Messenger in
connection with which he published Slasher's Monthly. About 1857 he
discontinued The Messenger, but continued to publish Slasher's Monthly
until 1860 when it was sold to Mr. Merrill and moved from the county.
In 1863 W. H. Tomplinson began the publication of The West Virginia
Herald (independent in politics) which was transferred to Moses Harris
in 1864 and within a short time became the property of Samuel D.
Gordon who changed the name to The New Era — a Democratic paper
later acquired by H. R. Howard who published the Mason Comity Jour-
nal. The New Era was later published by John A. Gibbons for the
Mason County Publishing Company (and became Republican in
politics) and the office was finally moved to Mason City and to Clifton.
In 1862 George W. Tippett founded The Weekly Register, and published
it for three years, after which he sold it to W. D. Mansfield, who pub-
lished it for one year and sold it to E. M. Fitzgerald.
Development on the Ohio below the mouth of the Kanawha, at the
terminus of the James River and Kanawha Turnpike, resulted in the
establishment of at least one newspaper, The Guyandotte Herald and
Cabell and Wayne Advertiser, which was probably started in 1853
(since copies of December, 1854, were part of Vol. II) and which was
still published as late as April, 1855.
The following extracts from some of the early papers illustrate the
views and restrictions of some of the earlier country editors :
In The Kanawha Spectator of 1820 and 1821 the editor kept the fol-
lowing standing announcement :
"The subscriber respectfully informs the public that his duties as an editor
of a newspaper will not prevent him from practicing law in the. county and superior
courts of Kenhawa; but he cannot attend any other courts. He intends keeping on
hand at his printing office, blank deeds and other instruments of writing; and will
at all times fill them up for those who may apply."
The leading editorial of one issue of August 21, 1821, discusses the
thesis that "the trial by jury is the great Palladium of Liberty."
Something must have gone wrong with one of the editor's jury cases,
for he says as to this general observation that
"Where we apply it to such juries as the sheriffs sometimes pick up about the
tipling houses of our towns and courthouse yards, it will be mene, mene, tekel
upharsin. I very much fear that a spice of ambition or ill will against one of the
parties, and an undue partiality in favor of the other, gains such ascendency over
the minds of some of our juries in Virginia and all other places in which the sheriffs
310 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
are equally careless in selecting them, that strict and impartial justice and the
voice of the law have no influence on their determinations."
This lawyer-editor also has a criticism for the law's delay, complain-
ing that "if all the members composing this court had done their duty
as well as those residing in Charleston and its vicinity, they would prob-
ably have gone through the docket, but little was done besides trying
the commonwealth's cases."
In the papers of western Virginia of a decade later and especially
in those of the Kanawha valley, there were numerous warnings tending
to show the imminence of a division of the state, and many were the
speculations indulged in by the early press as to the form the ultimate
and inevitable division would take. The Kanawha Banner of December
17, 1830, says editorially:
' ' The Virginia legislature will convene on Monday. To the proceedings of this
body we look with intense interest. Matters of great moment will come before
this body, and the discussions will be as interesting as those of the late convention.
The preservation of the state, we believe, will depend upon this legislature. Dis-
regard the claims of the trans-Allegheny counties to what they deem a proper share
of the fund of the internal improvement, and a division of the state must follow —
not immediately perhaps, but the signal will be given for the rising of the clans,
and they will rise. It is not worth the while now to speculate upon the mode or
manner in which the government will be opposed. Sufficient unto the day is the
evil thereof. But a crisis is approaching. The northwestern counties demand to
be separated from the state with a view of attaching themselves to Maryland or
Pennsylvania, the southwestern counties go for a division of the state into two
commonwealths. Should the latter be effected, what will be our conditions in the
valley! Infinitely worse than the present. The mere dependency of a government
whose interest and whose trade would all go westward, we would be taxed without
receiving any equivalent; and instead of being chastised with whips we would be
scourged with scorpions. Of the two projects spoken of, that which would be least
injurious to the valley and the state at large, would be, to part with the north-
western counties. Let them go. Let us get clear of this disaffected population.
Then prosecute the improvements called for in the southwest, and that portion
of our state, deprived of its northern allies, would give up their desire for a
separation. To cement the union still firmer, open the road from Winchester to
Parkersburg, and we shall have a commonwealth, one and invisible, so long as
our republic endures. ' '
Another decade later the editor of the Kanawha Jcffersmiian, C. F.
Cake, in a leading editorial indicated some of the troublesome inter-
mittent difficulties of publishing a country newspaper on the Kanawha
in that day. He said:
"In consequence of the river running down, our paper running out, and no
boats running up, we are compelled to issue rather a small sheet this week, but we
assure our readers it is of the same family, only a young 'un. Our paper was ordered
some weeks ago, but unfortunately the supply at the Point was out, and the river
so low that none could be had from Wheeling. There has since been a rise in the
Ohio, and next week we hope to spread before our readers our usual sized sheet."
Mr. Cake had recently acquired control of the Jeffersonian from
John J. Hickey, Esq., and the Richmond Compiler makes mention of
the editorial change with the friendly wish that the efforts of Mr.
Cake, like bread cast upon the waters, will return after many days.
Much of the advertising matter of the early newspapers is quite
as diverting reading as many of the news stories or even the efforts
of the editorial writers to guide and mold public opinion, and much
of the matter in the advertising columns is of first rate historical
interest. Too much space was occupied by the literature of the patent
medicine man who was abroad in the land seeking to cure all ailments
and incidentally to collect some money as a recompense for his busi-
ness of salvation. Some of the most interesting advertisements are
those indicating industrial and social conditions so different from those
of today. The following advertisement from the Kanawha Spectator
of 1820 is interesting as showing the state of trade, the market for
certain products being apparently dependent on opportunities for
barter :
The subscriber will give a liberal price in salt or good trade for any quantity
of flax seed, which may be brought to him at Charleston Kenhawa.
Robert Titus.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 311
Another ad on the front page next to reading matter appeals to
the "owner" of a property right which has gone quite out of fashion.
It reads as follows:
A negro girl who is acquainted with house work may be hired upon good terms
to a man in this town with a small family, if immediate application be made. She
will be taken by the month or year and payment made to suit the owner. Enquire
at this office.
The coal mining business of West Virginia at this period, as may
be inferred from another "ad," was subsidiary almost entirely to the
demands of the great salt industry. Under the headline "Collier
Wanting" it is stated that
From 10 to 20 steady and industrious men, who understand digging coal, may
obtain high wages in Kenhawa for that business, if immediate application is made
to Dr. Putney, or any other manufacturers of salt who use coal at their furnaces.
The following reference to an "elopement" of the day also appears
in the advertising columns of the Spectator:
$10 Reward
Ran away from the boat of Mr. Emzy Wilson while at or near Johnson's shoals,
Kenhawa county, a negro woman named Judy, about 22 years old * * * her
dress when she eloped, a dark calico, her other clothes not recollected. It is sup-
posed that she is skulking about in the mountains on Kenhawa river.
The following advertisements appear in the Martinsburg Gazette
of 1833 (edited by Edmund P. Hunter) :
"Sex Cents Reward."
Ran away from the subscriber on the 16th of April last an indented apprentice
boy bound by the Overseer of the Poor for Morgan county, Named John Basore,
sometimes called John Blamer, about 14 years of age, tolerably stout made, has
dark hair, squints his eyes very much when spoken to — had on when he ran away
a brown lindsey roundabout, old dark colored cassinet pantaloons, good shoes and
socks, an old wool hat. The above reward will be paid for returning said apprentice
to me. All persons are strictly forbid from employing said apprentice, or from
harboring him, as I am determined to Prosecute every person so found offending to
William Piper.
Morgan County, August 15, 1833.
Negro Woman For Sale.
One that is well acquainted with every kind of housework, sober and honest;
sold for no fault, and will not be sold to a trader. Enquire of the Printer. (Edmund
Hunter). July 11, 1833.
The Martinsburg Fire Company.
Will meet at the Court House on Saturday the 5th of October next, at the
usual hour. This being a muster directed by law, delinquents will be reported to
the Court Martial. By order of Captain Lauck.
Edmund Hunter. Sept. 19, 1833.
The following from the same paper is a notice of hiring out slaves:
Negroes For Hire
Will be hired at public hiring at D&rkesville, on Friday the 25th of December,
a number of valuable slaves consisting of Men, Women, Boys, and Girls, Persons
who hired any of the above negroes for the present year will please return them,
with their proper clothing and be prepared to take up their bonds on the day
of Hiring. Amelia Eichelberger. Dec. 3, 1835. — td
The Berkeley and Jefferson Intelligencer and Northern Advertiser
(edited by John Alburtis) iu Vol. 4, No. 15, of July 9, 1802, has this
advertisement :
"Bath Boarding House."
The subscriber at the sign of General Washington, respectfully acknowledges
the many past favours conferred upon him by the Ladies and Gentlemen who have
hitherto frequented his house during the Bathing season, and informs them and tin-
public, that every preparation has been made to render the accommodation of all
who may favor him with their custom the ensuing season in every respect agreeable,
and assures them that a proper attention on his part shall not be wanting, to merit
a continuation of their custom.
I am, with due respect the public's humble servant.
June 18, 1802. John Hunter.
312 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
In the issue of September 3, it contains the following::
' ' There will be an exhibition of the Students at Charles Town Academy on
Wednesday the 15 instant, which will commence about ten o 'clock, A. M. The
public examination takes place on Monday 13th, to which it is hoped, the gentle-
men Trustees will punctually attend."
In the issue of September 10, 1S02, is a notice of the sale of tracts
of land belonging to General George Washington and located as follows:
A tract in Loudoun County on Difficult Run, containing 3U0 acres. "One tract
containing 2,481 Acres, lying in the counties of Loudoun and Fauquier called
Ashley's Bent: One tract lying part in each of the above counties containing 885
Acres, Chatten's Kun passes through this tract: A tract on the South Fork of
Builikin, consisting of 1600 Acres. One also, Head of Evan 's Mill, containing 453
Acres, and one on Wormley 's line containing 183 Acres, these several are in Jeffer-
son (Late Berkeley County)." "One tract in Hampshire county containing 240
Acres — this tract though small is extremely valuable. It lies on Potomac River
about 12 miles above the town of Bath (or Warm Springs) and in the shape of
a horseshoe, the river running almost around it. ' ' Other tracts in other parts of
Virginia, also some in Pennsylvania on Braddock's road, "Great Meadows," other
tracts on the Mohawk river in New York State; in the North West Territory, Ken-
tucky. Lots in the city of Washington, Bath or Warm Springs.
Iii the earlier papers the treatment of local news was singularly
faulty and incomplete. The advertisements contain more local news and
local history than can be found in the columns of "reading matter,"
which were largely filled with stale foreign news clipped from other
publications and must have been very disappointing to readers who were
interested in gossip and scandals or in the details of local crimes.
Country editors finally learned, only after long experience, that with
their limited space and facilities, they could not compete with the city
weeklies in the publication of the general news and that their energies
should be confined principally to the development of the held whose
boundaries are commensurate with the geographical interests of their
readers.
'the early newspapers had none of the organized facilities for the
collection and distribution of news enjoyed by modern journalism. The
nearest approach to a press service came with the legislation in Congress
authorizing free exchange of papers through the post office among all
editors and publishers. This poiicy was adopted in 1792, and Congress
took action from time to time to expedite and facilitate these exchanges,
establishing an "express service" between eastern cities and the prin-
cipal places in the west by act of Congress July 2, 1836. Clippings
from the exchanges supplied the material now furnished by the modern
press bureau or news service.
The character and makeup of the old newspapers were at startling
variance from present modern publications. In appearance and con-
tents they were all much alike, set solidly, in small type with single
line heads and with no display advertisements. The contents were
heavy, without the breezy, entertaining lightness of the newspaper of
today. In the earlier years of western Virginia journalism, the edito-
rial utterances were ponderous and sometimes extremely florid. The
editorial page was the all important feature, for that was the day of
personal journalism.
In the early thirties, and up to the beginning of the Great American
conflict in 1861, the journals more nearly approached the magazine with
fiction, literary essays and book reviews. Foreign news still took prece-
dence over local affairs of moment. The editor in those days was a
pastmaster in invective and epithet, and his freedom in personal criti-
cism often provoked physical combats. The leanness of news features in
the papers of that day and generation is easily accounted for. Labor of
the particular kind required in a newspaper office was exceedingly
scarce, the sources of news were remote, and the appliances for getting
out a paper were very crude. Frequently the newspaper of that day
was a one-man paper, the publisher being the editor, reporter, type-
setter, pressman and distributor.
In 1850 there were three dailies and twenty-one weeklies published
in the State. Of these, the three dailies and two of the weeklies were
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 313
published in Ohio county ; of the others, two were published in Brooke,
one in Greenbrier, one in Hardy, two in Hampshire, three in Jeffer-
son, one in Kanawha, one in Lewis, one in Marshall, one in Monroe,
three in Monongalia, one in Marion, one in Preston, and one in Wood,
In the decade after 1850 the number of weeklies increased from
twenty-one to thirty-six, and the number of dailies remained the same,
'these publications were confined to fourteen counties in 1850 and to
nineteen counties in 1860.
The total number of publications in West Virginia in 1860 was
forty-three. Of these seventeen were Democratic, five Republican, six
were Whig, two were Independent, one was American, one was neutral,
one was religious, one was literary, one was literary and agricultural
and five with no known party affiliations or social purpose. Of these
forty-three publications there were 3 dailies, 2 tri-weeklies, 36 weeklies
and 3 monthlies. Of the dailies the circulation was 2,000, of the tri-
weeklies 600, of the weeklies 27,464, and of the monthlies 9,100 — a total
of 39,164. It is thus seen that for the year the total copies were: Of
the dailies 730,000, of the tri-weeklies 93,600, of the weeklies 1,428,128,
of the monthlies 109,200, making a grand total of 2,360,828 copies printed
in the State in 1860.
. The following table shows the newspaper business of West Virginia
as it was in 1860, with name of paper, character, kind, circulation, and
county in which published.
Circu-
Counties Name Character Kind lation
Barbour Barbour Jeffersonian Democrat Weekly 500
Berkeley Republican Democrat Weekly 900
Berkeley Gazette Independent .... Weekly 800
Brooke Wellsburg Weekly Herald Republican Weekly 800
Brooke Millennium Harbinger Religious Monthly. . . .8,500
Brooke Stylus Literary Monthly .... 600
Greenbrier Era Whig Weekly 750
Greenbrier Chronicle Democrat Weekly 600
Greenbrier Independent Whig Weekly 460
Hampshire Virginia Argus Weekly 800
Hampshire South Branch Intelligencer Weekly 960
Hampshire Piedmont Independent Weekly 600
Hardy Hardy Whig Whig Weekly 600
Harrison Cooper's Clarksburg Register Democrat Weekly 750
Jackson Virginia Chronicle Independent. . . .Weekly 520
Jefferson Free Press Whig Weekly 1,104
Jefferson Spirit of Jefferson Democrat Weekly 900
Jefferson Independent Democrat Democrat Weekly 600
Jefferson Shepherdstown Register Neutral Weekly 400
Kanawha Kanawha Republican Whig Weekly 1,200
Kanawha Kanawha Valley Star Democrat Weekly 1,000
Lewis Weston Herald , Democrat Weekly 600
Marion Methodist Protestant Sentinel. . . .Religious Weekly 750
Marion Fairmont Free Virginian Democrat Weekly 730
Mason Republican American Weekly 750
Monongalia. . . .Virginia Weekly Star Democrat Weekly 1,000
Morgan Constitution Democrat Weekly 500
Ohio Union Democrat Daily 900
Ohio Union Democrat Tri- Weekly. . 200
Ohio Union Democrat Weekly 1 ,200
Ohio Intelligencer Republican Daily 800
Ohio Intelligencer Republican Tri-Weekly. . 400
Ohio Intelligencer Republican Daily 1,600
Ohio Virginia Staats Zeitung Republican Weekly 300
Ritchie Democrat Democrat Weekly 450
Taylor The Family Visitor Weekly 600
Taylor Grafton Guardian Weekly 600
Tyler Virginia Plain Dealer Democrat Weekly 400
Wayne Ceredo Crescent Agr. and Lit Weekly 600
Wood Parkersburg News Democrat Weekly 800
Wood Parkersburg Gazette Whig Weekly 650
Wood Southern Methodist Itinerant Religious Weekly 1,200
Wood Western Virginia Baptist Religious Weekly .... 800
A chief factor in preserving western Virginia to the Union, and the
main instrument in pei'fecting the independent statehood of West Vir-
314 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
ginia, was the Wheeling Intelligencer, established in 1852. Under the
editorship of the late A. W. Campbell in the years preceeding the final
breaking away of the Southern states from the Union, it fearlessly gave
voice to adherence to the integrity and indissolubility of the Nation.
It was also the only paper south of Mason and Dixon's line that was
outspoken against the institution of slavery. It was the great inspira-
tion and the rallying force of the Union sentiment in the western counties
of Virginia that armed the people and sent them forth to drive back
the invading forces of the Confederacy. It is worthy of note that its
virile editor, a man who stood among his colleagues in those trying and
bitter times as first among equals, was liberal enough and patriotic
enough to suppress his former antagonisms and to throw his warmest
support to the passage of the Flick amendment by the legislature of
West Virginia which restored the civil and political rights of those
West Virginians who had taken up arms against the Federal govern-
ment. The Intelligencer is the only daily of that period which has
continued publication to this day. Only four other newspapers pub-
lished in 1860 survived with it a half century later — the Wellsburg
Herald, Virginia Free Press, Spirit -of Jefferson and Shepherdstown
Register.
Only nine of the newspapers in existence in West Virginia in 1863
when the State was formed were still published at the close of the
century. These nine were : Wheeling Intelligencer, Wheeling Register,
Clarksburg Telegram, Charlestmvn Free Press, Charkstown Spirit of
Jefferson, Shepherdstown Register, Barbour County Jeffersonia.n, Wells-
burg Herald and Point Pleasant Register.
CHAPTER XX
SECTIONALISM AND CONSTITUTIONAL PROBLEMS
The history of Virginia to 1860 was characterized by sectional an-
tagonism between conservatism and radicalism — an antagonism which
became more pronounced as the diversified population extended west-
ward, and finally became a contest between the cismontane and trans-
montane people until the opening of the Civil war furnished a con-
venient opportunity for western separation to form a new state.
Its sectional differences were prominent even in colonial times. Its
conflicting tendencies were more prominent than those of the other orig-
inal thirteen states. This partly due to the fact that the same laws
were imposed upon the conservative English of the Tidewater, the more
democratic Scotch-Irish and Germans of the Piedmont, and the rugged
frontiersmen of the Cumberland plateau. The farmers of the Piedmont
early objected to legislation partial to the plantation system. The fron-
tier revolted against the indifference of conservatism. Immigrants from
northern Europe found themselves out of sympathy with their slave-
holding neighbors.
The arrival of German and Scotch-Irish pioneers on the Shenandoah-
Potomac frontier before the extension of old Virginia institutions to the
Blue Ridge, thereby interrupting the westward advance of Virginia's
peculiar institutions and creating communities which were somewhat
hostile to the social ideas of tidewater Virginia, constitutes an important
event in the history of the Old Dominion. These new communities of
foreign stock were quite unlike those east of the Blue Ridge. Instead
of devoting themselves to the production of staples, they became self
sufficing. Their small villages, which soon arose, contained wagon mak-
ers, shoemakers, saddlers, gun smiths, harness makers and tanners, all
of whom had an interest in commercial activity and co-operated in ef-
forts to secure good markets.
Virginia sectionalism was largely a series of controversies between
the gentlemen of the eastern counties who owned negroes, and the farm-
ers of the hill and mountain region who owned no negroes, but who
usually outnumbered their eastern rivals. The gentlemen who owned
slaves desired always to control the state government — governor, legisla-
ture, courts — and they felt that a loss of this supreme position in the
community would mean the overthrow of slavery, which was probably
a correct view of the situation. So strong was this sentiment that in
1850, when the up-country democracy gained control of the governor-
ship and the legislature, Littleton W. Tazewell, an able and beloved
leader of the East, declared publicly that the time had come for his
section of the state to secede and form a government in which property
(negro slaves) would be protected. And there were many, very many,
who agreed to this proposition. On the other hand, the farmers of
the hill country, always felt that their interests were sacrificed to those
of their slave-holding neighbors, and that a dissolution of the state gov-
ernment would- be better for them, and many times did they threaten
to take steps to this end. Thus the legislature of Virginia was the scene
of almost perpetual conflict — a conflict in every way similar to that
which was constantly maintained between North and South on the floors
of Congress.
Slavery would have been abolished by Virginia before 1860 if the
rule of equal representation and universal suffrage, so common to the
315
316 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
West, had been allowed. If Virginia had abolished slavery there would
have been no Civil war and no Reconstruction, so fatal to the interests
of both South and North.
After 1850 the combination of Henry A. Wise, of the extreme Eastern
section of the state, with the Western democracy continued to postpone
the one issue until 1860, when it was too late perhaps to deal fairly
with the most difficult problem ever dealt with by any people.
The different phases of sectionalism include the early reform move-
ment against the Established Church and against the landed aristocracy,
the early conflict of frontier squatters against large land companies,
the rise of early commercial interests and problems of internal improve-
ment, the influence of early national problems and policies upon Vir-
ginia politics and industrial development, the demand of the W est after
1816 for internal communication with the East; industrial decline of
the East and economic development in the West in the decade before
1830, and divergence of the two sections on national protective system
and internal improvement policy, conflict between conservative East
and progressive West on questions of suffrage, representation and abuses
in government ; sectional aspects of state scliemes for internal improve-
ment, the question of negro slavery ; sectional differences on the subject
of banks, railroads and canals and schools ; and the long impending dan-
ger of dismemberment and plans of conciliation to avert it.
The development of the West, whose emancipation from the East
began with the manufacture of salt, was marked by truly nationalistic
tendencies which together with internal changes in both East and West
finally made permanent political union between the two sections im-
possible. The West took no interest in the forerunners of the Southern
Confederacy — the Southern commercial conventions to which the East
sent delegates and took a prominent part. When the question of seces-
sion from the Union arose for solution, the inhabitants of the West
never doubted the ultimate sovereignty of the Union and refused to
ally itself with Virginia in a contest precipitated by the secession move-
ment, but did not hesitate to secede from the old commonwealth which
had been ruled by an Eastern oligarchy from 1776 to 1850 and had so
long continued to maintain an economic system which was diametrically
opposed to the spirit and interests of the West.
Sectionalism was illustrated by various contests concerning educa-
tional policy. Most of the settlers on the west side of the Alleghenies
were of the same class as those who settled in the Shenadoah valley,
and they held similar ideas on the subject of education. They felt
the full effect of the Eastern slaveholders' hostility to popular education.
As the years passed and as they observed the progress of popular educa-
tion in the neighboring states of Ohio and Pennsylvania, and the lack
of progress in Virginia, they registered their discontent and complaint.
Some joined the thousands of immigrants who passed by and settled
farther west, not wishing to identify themselves with a state which looked
upon the education of the masses as undesirable and which doled out
the pittance set apart for educational purposes as though it were a
paupers' fund.
The West struggled in vain for a satisfactory free school system.
Its vote secured the "Aldermanic" act of 1796 and the "Literary
Fund" act of 1810 which provided small appropriations for schools, but
its later efforts to secure a more efficient system were fruitless. The
feeling between East and West on this question became so intense that
the West opposed the requests of the state university and Eastern col-
leges and military schools for funds. In the forties the young men < f
the West refused to attend the university and state military schools;
even when the state offered to bear part of the expenses. In 1839 the
number of students of western Virginia enrolled in institutions of eastern
Virginia was only half the number enrolled in colleges of Ohio and
Pennsylvania.
Increasing western interest in favor of free schools was reflected in
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 317
a remarkable series of educational conventions in the early forties. The
first, and most important, of these conventions met at Clarksburg on
September 8-9, 1841, and was attended by 130 delegates from the north-
west Virginia and from the valley of Virginia. Among the typical
communications read before the meeting was the following from Judge
E. S. Duncan, who denounced that policy which denied the West fed-
eral aid for internal improvements and education, when the East had
no intention of granting state aid :
"A splendid university has been endowed accessible only to the sons of the
wealthy planters of the eastern part of the state and to the southern Btates. I
have heard of only two students attending it from the northwest. The resources of
the Literary Fund are flittered away in the endowment of an institution whose
tendencies are essentially aristocratic and beneficial only to the very rich, and
for the support of the primary schools intended for the very poor, * the
men of small farms are left to their own means for the education of their chil-
dren. They cannot send them to the University, and they are prohibited, if they
would from joining in the scramble for the annual donation to the poor (which is
scattered in the) ostentatious manner of a nabob, who throws small change among
the paupers and cries, 'catch who can.' "
The memorial and resolutions of this convention, and the action of
subsequent conventions finally forced the legislation of 1845-46 to enact
a law authorizing any county by local vote to establish public free
schools but without regular state aid. In the constitutional convention
of 1850-51, the committee on education, controlled by western delegates,
reported in favor of a constitutional clause requiring the legislature
to provide for popular education but the report was disapproved by
eastern delegates who apparently feared the influence of Yankee school
teachers in the trans-Allegheny region of the state. When the opportu-
nity for division of the state arrived, the West Virginians included
among the reasons for separation the opposition of the East to common
free schools needed by the West whose "taxes had been taken to main-
tain a university for aristocrats."
Among other important illustrations of the development of section-
alism which finally resulted in the division of the Old Dominion was
the contest within the Methodist Church, and within other denomina-
tions, concerning negro slavery, resulting in separate Southern church
organizations by 1850, and mutual recriminations in the decade there-
after.
The destiny of western Virginia to form a separate state was largely
determined by the flow of its rivers in an opposite direction to the flow
of the tidewater rivers, and was foreshadowed in the different political
ideas of the West — causing it to give a proportionately larger vote than
the East for the ratification of the national constitution in 1788, to op-
pose the Virginia resolutions of 1798, to antagonize the election of
Jefferson in 1801, to favor the American system as a national policy
and to advocate the establishment of free schools and the further demo-
cratization of social and political institutions.
The chief sectional conflicts center around proposed constitutional
changes which were demanded by the West in order to remedy inequal-
ities and abuses in the government.
The first constitution of Virginia was adopted on June 29, 1776,
when there were within the limits of the present state of West Virginia
only Hampshire and Berkeley counties and the district of West Augusta.
The constitution established an annual general assembly of two houses.
the members of which were elected by the limited number of people
who had the right of suffrage. The house of delegates, the members
of which were elected each year, replaced the old house of burgesses
and with slight exception1 retained the old system of representation:
two representatives from each county, and two from the district of
West Augusta (and one from both Williamsburg and Norfolk). The
general assembly was authorized to grant to each new county which it
1 Jamestown and the College of William and Mary were no longer granted rep-
resentation.
318 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
might create two delegates, and to use its discretion in allowing rep
resentation to new towns; but there was a provision for dropping the
representation of any town whose population decreased until for seven
consecutive years its voting population was less than one-half of a
county.
The senate was composed of twenty-four members chosen for a
term of four years from twenty-four districts, and was made a rotating
body by a provision for the election of six members each year. The
apportionment was purely arbitrary and without provision for future
reform.
The elective franchise remained as exercised since the law of 17362
and was confined to freeholders who had been in possession of their free-
hold at least one whole year before the issue of the writ for the election
at which they wished to vote.
With the election of the members of the general assembly the voice
of the voting population ceased. The governor, treasurer, the eight
privy conncilmen, the secretary, the attorney-general, and the judges
of all the superior courts were chosen by joint ballot of the two houses
of the general assembly; the governor and treasurer were chosen an-
nually, the privy council was subject to the removal of two of their
number every three years by the "scratch" of the assembly; the secre-
tary, the attorney-general and the judges served during good behavior.
Nor did the people have any share in local government. The self
perpetuating county courts had general management of all local affairs.
These courts constitutionally appointed the sheriff, the coroner and the
clerk of the county ; they had the statutory privilege of appointing all
other civil officers of the county and all military officers under the
grade of brigadier-general, and of laying all taxes for county purposes
and of expending them as they saw fit ; and, with all these powers, they
were responsible to no one for their actions.
The development of West Virginia for the half century after the
Revolution produced new problems for the Old Dominion. Before the
close of the eighteenth century the population in the region now known
as West Virginia had begun to grow rapidly. In the Virginia conven-
tion of June 2, 1788, which was called to ratify or reject the federal
constitution, it was represented by six new counties which had been
formed from the district of West Augusta : Monongalia and Ohio which
were formed in 1776, Greenbrier formed in 1777, and Harrison, Hardy
and Randolph formed in 1784, 1785 and 1786 respectively. This number
of counties had increased to thirteen in 1800 by the formation of Pendle-
ton in 1787, Kanawha in 1789, Brooke in 1796, Wood in 1798 and Monroe
in 1799. These thirteen became sixteen in 1S10 by the addition of
Jefferson in 1801, Mason in 1804 and Cabell in 1809. To these coun-
ties four new ones were added before 1820 : Tyler in 1814, Lewis in
1816, Nicholas in 1818 and Preston in 1818. By the end of the next
decade a total of twenty-three counties was completed by the formation
of Morgan in 1820, Pocahontas in 1821 and Logan in 1824. The white
population had increased from 50,593 in 1790 to 70,894 in 1800 to
93,355 in 1810, to 120,236 in 1820 and to 157,084 in 1830.
During these years and partly as a result of changing conditions
the defects in the constitution became very marked. These defects
were early noticed by Jefferson who desired a state constitutional con-
vention to remedy them. Commenting on the constitution, in 1782 he
wrote: "The majority of the men in the state who pay and fight for
its support are unrepresented in the legislature. The roll of freeholders
entitled to vote not including generally the half of those on the roll of
the militia or of the tax gatherers. Among those who share the repre-
sentation the shares are unequal." To show some of the inequalities
which existed even at that early date between the four sections of the
state from the coast to the Ohio he prepared the following table:
2 A freehold was one hundred acres of uncultivated land without a house,
twenty-five acres of improved land with a house, or a house and lot in town.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 319
Fighting Men Delegates Senators
East of river falls 19 012 71 12
Falls to Bine Ridge 18,828 46 8
Blue Ridge to Allrglicnics 7,fi73 1 6 2
Trans-alloglieny 4,458 16 2
The inequality of the county system of representation is well shown
by the comparison of two counties. In 1800 Warick had a white popu-
lation of 614 and had two members in the house of delegates while at
the same time Berkeley with a white population of 17,832 had but two
members in the lower house. The inequality was equally noticeable
in the senate. In 1815 the entire West with a free white population
of about 233,469 or two-fifths that of the state was represented by four
senators, at the same time the East containing the other three-fifths of
the white population, 342,781, was represented by twenty senators.
Several attempts to secure adjustment were unsuccessful. In the
house of delegates in the May session of the assembly of 1784, a peti-
tion from Augusta county asking for a constitutional convention was
the subject of a two days debate, and although Madison strongly
advocated it. a bill for a convention failed — largely through the violent
opposition of Patrick Henry.
After 1790 petitions praying for a reform in representation and
suffrage were presented at almost every session of the assembly. Prom
the counties of Patrick and Henry these petitions were expected reg-
ularly at the commencement of each session. In the session of 1806
a bill for submitting to the people the proposition to call a constitu-
tional convention passed the house but was indefinitely postponed in
the senate through the influence of prudent men who feared the political
bitterness of the times.
In 1814, a constitutional reform bill which provided for extension
of suffrage, reapportionment of representation and the reduction of
the total number composing the house of delegates was rejected in the
house by a slight majority. The next year, a bill was introduced into
the house providing for a rearrangement of the senatorial districts on
a white basis. The fight was largely sectional. The western members
unsuccessfully urged the passage of the bill. Eastern constitutional
lawyers in the house held that the districts, created by the same power
that made the constitution, could be altered only by a constitutional
convention. This doctrine the westerners then determined to put into
practice.
In the spring and summer of 1816, following the defeat of several
bills providing for the call of a constitutional convention, threats of
dismemberment of the state were made and an earlier proposition of
1796 for division of the state, by a line from the head of the Rappahan-
nock to the mouth of the Greenbrier and thence along the New and
the Kanawha to the Ohio, were revived.
On August 19, 1816, a convention composed of representatives from
thirty-six counties (twenty-four west of the Blue Ridge) met at Staun-
ton and sent a memorial to the general assembly requesting the passage
of a bill for submitting to the people the question of calling a constitu-
tional convention. Though the house was successful in securing the
passage of a bill calling a convention to change the constitution by an
amendment which would have extended the right of suffrage, equalized
the land tax and secured representation on the basis of the white pop-
ulation, the senate frustrated this program which would have resulted
in larger western representation. Then the legislature, reversing the
doctrine held by the constitutional lawyers in 1815, passed a bill equal-
izing the senatorial districts according to the white population of the
old census of 1810 which no longer represented the true population of
the West. By this reapportionment, the West got nine instead of four
senators, while the number from the East was reduced from twenty to
fifteen.
Doubtless there were individuals who saw at a very early period
320 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
that there would be no peace of mind west of the mountains as long as
the East and the West were yoked together with their different customs
and their antagonistic views, but not until about 1822 was division of
the state suggested as a possible remedy, and even then the agitation
was directed more toward the discovery of a remedy to prevent division.
It was generally believed that a new constitution could be drawn which
would satisfactorily adjust the inequalities felt by the western people
and strengthen the unity of the commonwealth.
In 1824 public agitation for reforms was renewed with increased
energy. The question of the equalization of representatives in the
house delegates on the white basis became the subject of newspaper
controversy and general discussion which resulted in a second meeting
at Staunton on July 25, 1825, attended by upwards of one hundred
friends of reform. This convention passed resolutions in favor
of several reforms: representation in the house according to white
population ; the reduction of the total number of delegates in the house ;
the extension of the right of suffrage; the abolition of the executive
council, and a more responsible executive. These resolutions forwarded
to the general assembly, in the three following sessions were the subject
of discussions which finally (in January, 1828) resulted in the passage
of a bill for submitting the question of a constitutional convention to
a vote of the freeholders.
Meantime, western agitation for a constitutional convention steadily
increased. The Monongalia Chronicle of May 30, 1828, devoted several
columns to the question of the convention. The writer of one article,
representing the views of the people said: "Are we not of the middle
and western Virginia in the same political situation as our fathers were
when they rose up in arms against Great Britain? Are we not taxed
by men who are not the representatives of the people?" The issue of
March 2, 1830, began a series of articles by Alexander Campbell which
had appeared in the Wcllsbvrrj Gazette, discussing the inequalities in
the government of the state and the complaints of western Virginia.
The demand had become so urgent and so emphatic that the author-
ities at Richmond concluded that it was good policy to listen, even
though they intended to do nothing substantial if they could avoid it.
Already many of the inhabitants of this sparsely settled region of
western Virginia by 1829 looked with chagrin upon the emigrant wagons
which passed over the Cumberland road and down the Kanawha to
the more prosperous trans-Ohio west — and some had joined the caravans
and moved on into the farthest West, while others remained to fight
the battles of reform in spite of retarded deve'opment, due to the in-
efficiency of the state as an agent for internal improvement.
The election returns on the question of a constitutional convention
showed that the convention was favored by the almost unanimous vote
of the West and opposed by over one-half of the vote of the East.
The convention met at Richmond on October 5, 1829. It was an
august assemblage composed of ninety-six of the most prominent men
of the state (four members from each senatorial district) — eighteen of
whom were from counties within the present limits of West Virginia,
as follows :
Pendleton — William McCoy.
Monroe — Andrew Bierne.
Greenbrier — William Smith.
Pocahontas — John Baxter.
Jefferson — Thos. Grigg and H. L. Opie.
Hampshire — Win. Naylor and Win. Donaldson.
Berkeley — Elisha Boyd and Philip Pendleton.
Harrison — Edwin S Duncan.
Cabell — John Laidley.
Kanawha — Lewis Summers.
Randolph — Adam Lee.
Monongalia — C. S. Morgan and E. M. Wilson.
Brooke — Alexander Campbell and Philip Doddridge.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 321
Its dominating spirit of sectionalism was largely due to the geo-
graphic and economic conditions which for years the defects of the old
constitution had aggravated. The two sections agreed on the acceptance
of the bill of rights ; but, with their radically divergent ideas, they clashed
on the practical application of the principles of government.
The crux of the issue in regard to taxation was found in the fact
that the East assessed a large amount of slave property while the West
was practically non-slave holding. Monroe was of the opinion that
"if no such thing as slavery existed, the people of the Atlantic border
would meet their brethren of the West, upon the basis of a majority
of the free white population."
Practically all the time of the convention (October 5, 1829 to Jan-
uary 15, 1830), was consumed by debates on two questions: repre-
sentation and suffrage. On the question of representation the thirty-six
delegates from the district west of the mountains, led by Doddridge,
stood solidly for white population as the basis for both houses, in op-
position to the East which favored a representation based on a com-
pound ration of white population and direct taxes combined. Madison,
Marshall and Monroe defended the property basis on the ground that
the state was the conservator of property. Madison favored the white
basis for one house but opposed it for both. Accordingly Doddridge
proposed two resolutions: one to provide for the white basis for the
house; the other to provide the same basis for the senate. Madison's
vote carried the first but tied the committee on the second resolution.
Accordingly the committee recommended that "in the apportionment
of representation in the House of Delegates regard should be had to
the white population exclusively," and said nothing about a basis for
the senate.
In the debates, when the Eastern members demanded reasons, based
on facts and conditions, for what they termed "the most crying injus-
tice ever attempted in any land" against property rights, the Western-
ers continued to cite the bill of rights and the abstractions of Jefferson.
In answer to the statement that nearly three-fourths of the tax had been
paid by the counties east of the Blue Ridge, the West asked who were
the men who had fought the battles. When Judge Upshur from the
Eastern Shore, in a speech lasting the greater part of two days en-
deavored to show that the law of the majority came from no source,
not from the law of nature, nor from the exigencies of society, nor f rom
the nature and necessity of government, nor from any constitutional
source, Philip Doddridge of Brooke answered him by asking, if the
majority are not possessed of the right or power to govern, "whence
does the gentleman derive the power in question to the minority?"
When Randolph in a high key exclaimed that if he were not too old to
move he would never live under King Numbers, Campbell from the
Ohio extolled King Numbers as the most dignified personage under
the canopy of heaven. During the debate the white laboring farmers
in the western part of the state were designated "peasants" holding
the same place in political economy as the slaves of the tide-water
East. There were reports that the Western members would secede from
the convention. To allay sectional feeling Monroe urged mutual con-
cessions and suggested a white basis for the house and a mixed basis
for the senate.
Thus the debate continued until finally a plan of apportionment by
districts based on no principle and opposed by the West, was adopted.
The extension of suffrage was most strongly advocated by the west-
ern people. At this time in Virginia (the only state of the twenty-
four in the Union which still adhered strictly to freehold suffrage) of
143,000 free white males, there were 100,000 free white citizens paying
taxes to the state — of which about 40,000 were freeholders and 60,000
were men who owned personal property.
The westerners quoted Jefferson in favor of free manhood suffrage.
They believed that the man who brought a large family of intelligent
Vol. 1—21
322 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
children, or the section which brought a large population into the social
compact, was entitled to as much, if not more, power, than he who
brought only property. The latter was perishable, the former was the
hope of the society.
They held that nativity along with residence and military service were
as good proofs of "common interest with and attachment to the com-
munity" as the possession of real estate. They attributed the emi-
gration from Virginia to the non-participation of her citizens in
government.
In reply to the western appeal to the ideas of Jefferson, Randolph
gave notice that the East was "not to be struck down by the authority
of Mr. Jefferson. ' ' Among the conservatives who opposed any extension
of suffrage was Leigh who classed general suffrage with other plagues
such as the Hessian fly and varioloid, which had arisen in the north
and has been spreading to the south, "always keeping above "the fall line
in the great rivers."
Having failed in the effort for manhood suffrage, the "West fought
vigorously but unsuccessfully to extend the suffrage at least to tax-
payers but were defeated by a vote of 48 to 44. Several easterners argu-
ing that much of the land in the West, fit only for a lair of wild beasts,
was not worth a mill per acre and would never be of any value, were
determined to draw the line of suffrage restriction even closer by fixing
a minimum value for a freehold. Throughout the East the feeling was
pretty general that there should be some local attachment. Monroe
said that the elective franchise should be confined to an interest in the
land, and Randolph approvingly agreed that "terra firma" was the
only safe ground in the commonwealth for the right of suffrage. "The
moment you quit the land", said he "you find yourself at sea without
a compass without landmarks, or polar star."
The convention finally agreed to lessen the requirements of a free-
hold, and to extend the suffrage to leaseholders and housekeepers who
paid taxes.
Many of the debates on representation and suffrage were character-
ized by reference to possible dismemberment of the state. In the first
stages of the debate, the eastern delegates indulged most freely in such
expressions and several indicated that the separation of Virginia would
lead to the separation of the United States. Later in the debate the
western delegates and their constituents were even more emphatic in
their threats or warnings of dismemberment. Citizens of Wheeling held
a massmeeting at which resolutions were adopted calling upon the west-
ern delegates to secede in case the convention rejected the white basis.
Almost every issue of the Richmond Enquirer for the month of De-
cember, 1829, discusses the probabilities that the western delegates could
return from the convention to make a constitution of their own. Later
Doddridge acknowledged that they had contemplated such a course.
Baldwin of Augusta believed that a successful attempt to force repre-
sentation for slave property would result in dismemberment. Moore
of Rockbridge assured the conservatives that the west had been set-
tled by the Wallaces, Graemes, and Douglasses, and that if the struggle
came to Bannockburn, they would all be there and old Kirkpatrick
among the rest.
Philip Doddridge, typyfing the western democratic sentiment, moved
that the executive, unhampered by a council, should be elected by the
people and responsible to them. Although at that time eighteen states
elected their governors by popular vote, his motion was lost by the
negative vote of the chairman. Mr. Naylor of Hampshire proposed
that the office of sheriff should be filled by the people instead of by
the county court whose members were accustomed to give this office
to themselves in rotation, the one receiving it selling it at public auction
to the highest bidder ; but that recommendation met the formidable and
successful opposition of men as influential as Giles and Leigh who
thought such an innovation would disturb the county court system, to
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 323
them "the most valuable pai-t of the constitution." In the convention
there seemed to be an abhorrence of overlegislation and to remedy this
Mr. George of Tazewell proposed that the assembly meet but once in
two years. The motion was lost, many perhaps feeling with Randolph
that as the legislature of the United States met every year the Virginia
assembly should meet annually also in order to watch it. Resolutions
were submitted by western members looking toward the encouragement
of public education, but the eastern men opposed, some fearing the adop-
tion of a system by which the people of the East would be taxed for
the education of the children of the West. Nor did the West, after
failing to realize so many of its longed for reforms, have any prospect
of realizing them in the early future for the proposition that there
should be a constitutional provision for amendment received but twenty-
five votes. In opposing this proposition, John Randolph declared that
he would as soon think of introducing a provision of divorce in a mar-
riage contract, and that although he was strongly against the constitu-
tion, "if we are to have it", he exclaimed, "let us not have it with the
death warrant on its very face."
The completed constitution, a precedent for all later constitutions
of the South before 1860, provided for several minor reforms. Under
it the number of delegates was reduced from 214 to 134 (not to exceed
150), the county system of representation was abolished and repre-
sentatives apportioned according to districts which were so arranged
that the apportionment was more nearly in accord with the respective
population of the counties. Thirty-one of the representatives were as-
signed to the twenty-six counties west of the Alleghenies, of these thirty-
one the twenty-three counties now in West Virginia were given
twenty-nine. However, as no reapportionment could be made before
1841 and then not unless two-thirds of the assembly agreed, and since
the East had a large majority in the legislature, the chances for a
reapportionment were small. An age qualification of twenty-five was
added to the qualification for delegates. The number in the senate was
increased from twenty-five to thirty-two, not to exceed thirty-six. The
state was divided as it were into two great senatorial districts separated
by the Blue Ridge, the eastern district was given nineteen members
and the western thirteen although the western district contained the
larger number of electors. The age qualification for senators was
changed from twenty-five to thirty years. The right of suffrage was
extended to all white male citizens twenty-one years of age who were
qualified to vote under the old constitution and laws, to all who pos-
sessed a $25 freehold, a $25 joint tenantship, a $50 reversion, a five-
year leasehold of an annual rental value of $20, and to all taxpaying
housekeepers who were heads of families.3 But the right of suffrage
was granted in terms the interpretation of which proved very difficult.
In this constitution there was a provision for the viva voce vote char-
acteristic of the South. The power of the executive was increased and
the executive council was reduced in membership.
The term of the executive was increased to three years, ineligible
for the next three years. Contrary to the constitution of 1776 which
left all qualifications for the executive to the general assembly, several
qualifications were stated in the constitution. He was to be thirty years
of age, a native citizen of the United States, or a citizen at the time
the federal government was established, and a citizen of Virginia for
five years next preceding his election. The executive council was to
be a rotary body consisting of three instead of eight members chosen
by the assembly, and the senior councilman was to act as lieutenant
governor.
This constitution, when submitted to the final vote of the conven-
tion, was opposed by the votes of every delegate from trans- Allegheny
sHenning vol. 12 p. 120. The law of 1785 defined a freehold as twenty-five
acres of improved or fifty acres of unimproved land.
324 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
territory, now included in West Virginia, except that of Philip Dod-
dridge who was ill and absent. When submitted to the people, in April,
1830, and ratified by a vote of 26,055 to 15,563, the vote within the
bounds of West Virginia was only 1,383 for ratification and 8,365 against
it. Almost all the northwestern counties except Monongalia and Pres-
ton were practically unanimous in opposition. In Monongalia, the vote
was 410 for and 487 against. Out of a total vote of 646, Ohio county
gave only three votes for ratification. Brooke county, the home of
Campbell and Doddridge, gave 371 votes against it and no vote for
ratification, and Harrison gave only eight for it out of a total vote of
1,128. Logan gave only two votes for it, Cabell only five, Tyler only
five, Pocahontas only nine, and Randolph only four. The spirit of
Randolph was expressed at a meeting at Beverly which adopted resolu-
tions favoring division of the state in preference to a vote for adoption
of the constitution. Hampshire and Jefferson were the only two West
Virginia counties which gave a majority for it.
In the entire state the total vote was 41,618, of which 26,055 were
for the new constitution and 15,563 against it.
The constitution of 1830 did not settle the differences between the
East and West but really extended the center of discontent in the trans-
Allegheny region which would not be reconciled to it and continued
to talk dismemberment. A writer in the Wheeling Gazette of April,
1830, suggested that a convention in the West should be called to ap-
point commissioners "To treat with the eastern nabobs for a division
of the state — peacably if we can, forcibly if we must." A series of
essays appearing in many western papers urged that dismemberment
alone could bring relief to the West. On October 1, 1830, citizens of
Wheeling called a mass meeting to consider the expediency of measures
to annex northwestern Virginia to Maryland (north of a line from the
mouth of the Little Kanawha to Fairfax stone).
An editorial writer in the Wheeling Compiler said: "Should the
victory turn out in favor of our opponents, the declared enemies of
equal rights and practical republicanism, we still have, provided the
entire West will move unanimously with the counties in this section of
the state, one chance left, and that is Separation. This will not prove
an impractical matter. If the people of the West will it, it is effective. ' '
The Winchester Republican suggested that Virginia should let the
disaffected population of the northwest go, and suggested that the
southwest, deprived of its northern allies, would give up its desire for
separation if the desired improvements in the southwest should be com-
pleted. On December 3, 1830, just before the meeting of the legislature,
the same paper editorially made the following comments in regard to
possible dismemberment: "The preservation of the state we believe
will depend upon this legislature. Dispute the claims of the trans-
Allegheny counties to what they may deem a proper share of the
fund for internal improvements and a division of the state must fol-
low— not immediately perhaps, but the signal will be given for the rising
of the clans, and they will rise. It is not worth while now to speculate
on the mode and manner in which the government will be opposed.
Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. But a crisis is approaching.
The northern counties demand to be separated from the state with a
view of attaching themselves to Maryland or Pennsylvania; the south-
west counties go for a division of the state into two commonwealths.
Of the two projects spoken of, that which would be least injurious
to the Valley and the state at large, would be to part with the north-
western counties. Let them go. Let us get clear of this disaffected
population. Then prosecute the improvements called for in the south-
west, and that portion of our state, deprived of its northern allies,
would give up its desire for a separation."
Thomas J. Lees of New Jersey and president of Linsly Institute in
some notes of 1831 wrote: "That part of Virginia which borders on
the Ohio is rapidly improving in wealth and population ; its inhabitants
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 325
have long been dissatisfied with the selfish policy and the usurpations
of the eastern slave holders, whose influence in the legislative body has
ever been exerted in the perpetuation of an oppressive aristocracy. The
people here are very different from those of the eastern part of the
state. Industry is much more encouraged and r-espected; slavery is
unpopular, and the few who hold slaves generally treat them well. The
time is not far distant when western Virginia will either liberalize the
present state government, or separate itself entirely from the Old Do-
minion."
In 1831 a writer in the Rockbridge (Lexington) Intelligencer sug-
gested to the people of western Virginia the expediency and the neces-
sity for a division of the state, making the Blue Ridge the boundary
line. He based his proposition on the differences in the interests of
the two sections, and in manners, habits and customs — including the
use of slavery in the eastern section. He saw not a single advantage
derived from the connection of the two sections and thought that separa-
tion would be granted by the state and by the United States if the
western division would request it. The Staunton Spectator agreed with
the writer in the Intelligencer, pronouncing the reason substantial. The
Richmond Whig stated that both sides would vote for the measure when-
ever submitted.
Naturally the Constitution of 1830 worked unfavorably for the
West. The vast resources of western Virginia — forests of excellent
timber, deeply buried reservoirs of oil and natural gas, and 16,000 square
miles of bituminous coal in workable seams — remained undeveloped be-
cause of the short sightedness of eastern leaders. The West with no
railroads and no canals especially needed internal improvements4 but,
despite much public agitation and vigorous struggles in the general
assembly, it had to remain content with paltry appropriations for turn-
pikes, obtained by log rolling, while vast sums were spent on badly
managed improvements which were undertaken in the East.5
In 1831-32 the people of the Kanawha were defeated by the East
in their renewed attempt to secure an extension of the Staunton and
Potomac railway to the Ohio via the Kanawha valley.
By 1830 the West, including even the Kanawha valley began to
attribute their lack of prosperity to their proximity to the slaveholding
portion of the state, and favored the expediency of legislation to secure
emancipation.
Under the new constitution the present territory of West Virginia
received no public buildings, had no representatives in the United
States senate and had no opportunity to furnish the governor for the
state before the appointment of Joseph Johnson in 1850.
Under these conditions it is not surprising that equal representation
on the white basis continued to be the western cry.
In the two decades after 1830 the West grew in population by im-
migration of industrious, thrifty people including several colonies of
Germans who established homes in the northern panhandle, on the Lit-
* An article in the Kanawha Banner of December 31, 1830, referred to this
need as follows:
"The interest of the State required that early and vigorous encouragement
should be given to the towns in the West. This would have been done most
effectually by opening avenues of intercourse between them and the East. A policy
the reverse of this has been pursued, and Western Virginia, instead of being built
up as a healthful member of the body politic, has been regarded as a frontier
waste or terra incognita. It is to this policy that we are to look for the cause
of the lethargy that impedes the growth and prosperity of Western Virginia."
5 Owing to conflicting reports in regard to the relative merits of railways and
canals, Virginia in 1832 surrendered its interest in the James River Canal Company
to a joint company (the James River and Kanawha Company) which was empowered
to continue the work to the Ohio either by a railroad or a canal or by a com-
bination of both. The work of the new company was postponed by lack of capital
and the inability to secure it from the banks. In the meantime the management
of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal had incurred the displeasure of the federal ad-
ministration and its president was removed through the influence of Jackson.
326 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
tie Kanawha and in Doddridge and Randolph counties. Thus it was
stimulated to renew the fight for a larger share in the government. It
expected the Assembly of 1841-42, under authority of a clause in the
Constitution of 1830, to reapportion representation on a more equitable
basis. In this it met disappointment. Its delegates expressed this dis-
appointment by placing upon the journal of the house of delegates a
protest, signed by fifty of their number. They then tried to force the
call of a constitutional convention but were again defeated by a sec-
tional vote. In response to a call for new action, delegates from ten
northwestern counties met at Clarksburg and requested that a poll of
trans-Allegheny Virginia to determine the desire of the people on the
question of a new constitutional convention. There were many expres-
sions in favor of division of the state, and the editor of the Kanawha
Republican suggested that the new state should be named " Appalachia."
In response to a call made by a public meeting at Charleston, a conven-
tion of eighty delegates representing twenty counties met at Lewisburg on
August 1, 1842, and adopted resolutions asking the assembly to submit
to popular vote the question of a constitutional convention to equalize
representation on a white basis, but this proposal was promptly defeated
by the Assembly of 1842-43 by a strictly sectional vote.
After the indefinite postponement of the subject by the legislature,
which had the power to reapportion the state after 1841, westerners,
with sectional feeling more pronounced, finally settled into a decision
to endure the evils of the constitution until after the census of 1850,
satisfied that the excess of white population west of the mountains would
be so great that the East could no longer with any show of justice re-
fuse them their proper share in the general assembly. After another
defeat by a strictly sectional vote in the Assembly of 1842-43, they
ceased to make a united stand for reform by call of a new constitutional
convention.
Meantime, the question of internal improvements was presented to
the assembly as a most important state necessity. The following mes-
sage of Governor McDowell upon the situation was sent to both houses
of the assemby on December 2, 1844, and appeared in the Kanawha
Republican of December 11 :
* * * 1 1
"There is no work which could be better commended to your hands — no
one which is more needful to be done, and there is no time for doing it, which is per-
haps more propitious than the present one of political relaxation. Under this view
of the advantages of the moment I deem it my duty to recommend nothing which is
not directly connected with the invigoration of our domestic policy, and to that end,
shall invite your attention, chiefly, to those leading interests whose sound condition
is indispensable to every well administered and well doing commonwealth.
"Of these interests, 'the internal improvement' interests of the commonwealth
is one — a principal and in some considerable extent, a suffering one. Having ad-
verted to this subject in my former message, though in a particular connection
only, I would not recur to it now, but for the conviction, long and habitually enter-
tained, that the internal improvements of the State, by suitable highways for market,
is a State necessity, which, however, deferred, is absolute and inevitable at last.
Let the geographical situation of large and fertile districts beyond the Alleghany,
and the many circumstances affecting their population, be considered, and this neces-
sity becomes apparent. If improvements are not to go there, thousands of their
people are at once subjected to the alternative, for themselves and their children,
of hardships, poverty and ignorance, or immediate emigration. Such a consequence
as this might, indeed, be borne upon a small scale without any serious loss, but it
cannot be risked upon the territory and population of those immense districts, without
risking at the same time and to a fatal extent, the prosperity and power of the
State itself. The portions of the State which are most destitute, at present, of
commercial highways, and most dependent upon them, comprehend, together with
small parts of the Valley, the whole trans-Alleghany country, which does not border
upon and enjoy the trade of the Ohio, and form a united whole which is greater in
territory than that of half the States; greater in fertility of soil than any equal
area of our own State; rich in minerals, water-power and health — in every physical
element of wealth which human industry can use, and wanting nothing to render it
prosperous and happy, except facilities of intercourse and trade. But in this vital
and comprehensive want, itself the parent of so many others, it wants almost every-
thing else.
"Throughout the whole extent of this country, from Harper's Ferry to the State
of Tennessee, a distance of more than four hundred miles upon the Alleghany, it
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 327
is penetrated by a few earthen turnpikes only, at wide intervals from one another;
and of these few, one is unfinished — one just finished, and the oldest of them all has
been scarcely twenty years in use. — Perceptibly and advantageously, however, as these
turnpikes have aided the purposes of settlement and social intercourse, they have
been so inadequately supported, if supported at all, by means of lateral and tributary
connections with the vast tracts of the country intervening between them, that except
at their eastern and western ends, they never have been used, or used but little, for
the transportation of agricultural products. The agriculture of that whole region,
therefore, instead of being diversified as it might be, continues to depend, as it has
always depended, upon one solitary source — that of grazing alone for all its profits.
"In spite, however, of every disadvantage, and in spite of the disheartening diffi-
culties which have been entailed, for generations, upon the titles of its landed estates
under the operation of our own laws, such have been the irrepressible energies of
both country and people, that they have gone on steadily increasing in numbers
and resources. In twenty years, the trans-Alleghany district (exceeding somewhat
the country here spoken of) has added a hundred thousand to its numbers, and has
thereby changed its population from one-seventh to one-fifth of the whole popula-
tion of the State. Ten years ago it paid about thirty-six thousand dollars only,
into the treasury, which at that time was not more than the eleventh or twelfth part
of the whole revenue. It now pays upwards of a hundred and ten thousand dollars,
which is about the sixth part of the revenue. ' '
In 1845 eastern leaders of the democratic party decided to keep
control of the reform movement, and they were later able to control
the question of change in representation which was the most prominent
question between the two sections. They also offered various plans of
conciliation, such as the new educational law of 1846. To conciliate
the Northwest, the Assembly of 1847 allowed the Baltimore and Ohio
railway to select a western terminus on the Ohio below Wheeling —
either at the mouth of Grave creek or at the mouth of Fishing creek,
provided it built a lateral line to Wheeling, and a later legislature in-
corporated a branch road located westward from Grafton to a terminal
at Parkersburg — the most southern limit which the Richmond govern-
ment could be induced to concede as an Ohio river terminus of a rail-
road whose eastern terminus was not at Richmond.
They united in an effort to control the movement for a convention,
and favored by lack of harmony in the West, were able to secure a
mixed basis of membership for organization of the proposed convention.
Although they affirmed not very reverently that to the white basis they
could not and would not yield, they gradually advocated many of the
reforms which had so startled them when proposed by western members
in the convention of 1829-30. They became willing to extend the suf-
frage to every free white man over twenty-one, allowing him to vote
once where he resided and nowhere else; they favored a reform of the
county court and the judicial system, the election of the governor by
the people, and a more rigid accountability of all the governmental de-
partments. Finally, through their newspapers and through the gov-
ernors' messages they urged a constitutional convention to bring about
these reforms. On the other hand the westerners, who had favored these
reforms for years, were unwilling to vote for a convention which was
not organized on the white basis and which did not promise to equalize
representation.
In the legislature of 1850, the West was again defeated by the pas-
sage of a convention bill that adopted for the convention a mixed basis
which gave the East a majority of seventeen in the convention (the
white basis would have given the West a majority of thirteen). In
the western papers this defeat was attributed to the votes of western
members who were anxious to secure a convention on any basis. The
feeling in the trans-Allegheny region, however, was strongly against
"that abominable convention bill" as it was called in the Parkersburg
Gazette, and the people were urged to repudiate those traitors to the
interests of the West and republican principles who had voted for the
bill with no provision for a white basis. Anti-convention meetings were
held in many of the counties and the people were advised to vote against
the constitution. The Parkersburg Gazette, exhorting the West to
present an unbroken front in opposition to the eastern scheme to avoid
the reform most needed, said that it would then remain to be seen
328 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
whether the East would have the temerity to stake the integrity of Vir-
ginia upon her dogma of "might makes right."
A bill of 1850 provided for a convention of 135 members chosen on
the mixed basis— seventy-six from the East and fifty-nine from the
West. By an apportionment on the white basis, the West would have had
seventy-four delegates and the East sixty-one delegates.
At the April elections, when the bill was submitted for ratification
by the people, the trans-Allegheny leaders tried hard to defeat it. Al-
though the majority for the entire states was in favor of the convention,
majorities against it were returned by twenty-nine of the forty -three
western counties.
In the August elections for selecting delegates to the convention
the basis question was the issue. Not one of the thirty-four members
elected from the West favored the mixed basis and not one of the 101
members elected from the East, except Henry A. Wise, opposed it. The
Monongalia Mirror said: "We ask for the right of representation for
freemen, instead of being made 'hewers of wood and drawers of water*
to those whose chattels are deemed of equal value with ourselves. ' '
Hon. Waitman T. Willey of Monongalia county, in a speech before the con-
vention in 1851 in an impassioned and eloquent argument on the question of "A
Just Basis of Representation," expressed the sentiment of the western part of the
state that it had been unfairly dealt with by the east. He said:
"More than one-half of the people of Virginia, by at least one hundred and
fifty thousand — more than one-half of the voters of Virginia, by at least fifteen
thousand — are standing this day knocking at the doors of this hall; after long years
of delay, after mature deliberation and a quarter of a century's discussion and
patient endurance of their grievances, they are now, to-day, at this moment knocking
at the doors of this hall, demanding their proper political power, and an appointment
of representation upon the principles of the Declaration of Eights."
The convention of 135 members which met October 14, 1850, ad-
journed November 4 to await census data, and reconvened on January
6, 1851. On February 6, the committee on basis and apportionment
having found itself equally divided in opinion, submitted two reports.
The one, favored not only by the western members of the committee
but by every western delegate, advocated the white population as the
basis for the apportionment of both houses ; the other, having the almost
equally unanimous support of the East, advocated white population
and taxes combined as a basis for both houses (so that every seventy
cents of taxes would have a representation equal to one white person).
Every day 6 from February 17 to May 10, in committee of the whole,
the convention discussed the reports of this committee and the various
substitutes; but no conclusion was reached. The East had the power
to adopt its basis, but feared that if it should do so the West would
secede from the convention. Each side clung to its demands with bull-
dog tenacity. Feeling was so high that on May 10 the convention was
forced to adjourn until the following day. Then a compromise com-
mittee was appointed to prevent a split.7 Finally, the West, unflinch-
ingly refusing to consider any compromise which did not eventually
provide for the white basis or for submitting the basis question to the
people, partially gained its point. In the plan finally adopted after
various attempts at compromise, the apportionment for the house of
delegates was based on the white population according to the census
of 1850 (giving to the West eighty-three delegates and to the East sixty-
nine). The apportionment in the senate was arbitrarily fixed giving
thirty to the East and twenty to the West, but in the plan there was a
provision that either the legislature should make a reapportionment
on the white basis in 1865 or the governor should submit the basis ques-
6 One session a day proved insufficient for the discussions. The reporter struck
for higher wages, and the members enamored with their own verbosity agreed to
his demands.
i Various plans of compromise were proposed but the West declined any com-
promise until finally Mr. Chilton of Fauquier came forward with a modified com-
mittee report.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 329
tion to the people. Any qualified voter of twenty-five years of age,
except a minister of the gospel, or an officer of a banking corporation,
or an attorney for the commonwealth, was eligible for election to the
general assembly. The delegates were elected biennially; half of the
senators were elected every two years and served for four years.
With the amicable settlement of the question which for so many years
had been the great disturbing element, the convention was free to ex-
press that democratic spirit of the times which had been gradually
breaking down old barriers, and which Virginia had not been able to
resist as is shown by the work of the legislature of 1849 which abolished
imprisonment for debt and granted to women the right to make a will.
The provision extending suffrage to every white male over twenty-
one, two years resident in the state and twelve months in the district
where he votes not only greatly enlarged the number enjoying the
elective franchise but abolished the crying abuse of double and treble
voting. A man who before could vote in every district in which he
held real or pretended property which he could reach by fast driving
or riding on election day could now vote only in the district in which
he resided. Although the method of voting was still viva voce dumb
persons were permitted the use of the ballot — a provision which was
evidently suggested by the precedent in the Kentucky Constitution of
1850.
The executive council was abolished, the judicial system reformed,
and the county court reorganized. The governor, lieutenant governor
(for a term of four years), the twenty-one circuit judges (for a term
of eight years), the five judges of the court of appeals (for a term of
twelve years) and all local officers — the justices of the peace and attor-
ney for the commonwealth (for a term of four years), the clerk of the
court and the surveyor (for a term of six years) and the sheriff and
commissioners (for a term of two years) — were elected by the people.
Provision was made for the payment of jurors who previously had been
chosen from the loungers within reach of the sheriff's voice the day
the court opened and who had served without compensation.
The spirit of the times was also reflected in restrictions on the legis-
lature, both houses of which were now for the first time given equal
power of legislation. The general demand throughout the United States
for less frequent sessions of the legislature was reflected in the pro-
vision that the general assembly should meet once in two years, for
no longer than ninety days which, however, might be extended for
thirty days by the concurrence of three-fifths of the members. To the
old restrictions of 1829 — habeas corpus, bill of attainder, ex post facto,
impairing of contracts, freedom of speech and press, and religious free-
dom— were added several additional restrictions.
The general assembly was forbidden to pledge the state for debts
or obligations of any company or corporation, to grant charters of
incorporation to any religious body, to authorize lotteries or to grant
divorces, to change names of persons or direct the sale of the estates
of persons under legal disabilities. The attitude of the recently admitted
states was reflected in the provision prohibiting the legislature to form
a new county of less than 600 square miles or to reduce an old county
to a lower limit. One restriction, reflecting a phase of the slavery
question, forbade the assembly to emancipate any slave or descendant
of a slave.
The constitution declared that taxation should be equal and uniform
and that all property except slaves should be taxed according to its
value. All the resolutions, substitutions and efforts of western mem-
bers failed to keep this exception out of the constitution. On every
slave over twelve was assessed a tax equal to that assessed on land of the
value of $300. Slaves under twelve were not taxed.
Thus while the western fanner was taxed on his horse or steer, and
every other species of property, at its average market value, the eastern
planter was protected by the Constitution itself, from bearing his fair
330 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
proportion of the tax burden, by an arbitrary and inequitable valuation
of that particular property which constituted his principal wealth. A
majority vote of those elected to the assembly could exempt other taxable
property from taxation. A capitation tax equal to the tax on land of
the value of $200 was levied on every white male inhabitant of twenty-
one. One equal moiety of this white capitation tax was applied to the
purposes of education in primary and free schools.
Many in the convention would have been delighted to have had a
provision for a permanent system of schools incorporated in the con-
stitution, but Virginia was not yet ready for that.8
As in Michigan the same year, the constitution provided for a sinking
fund by directing the legislature to set aside seven per cent of the state
debt existing on January 1, 1851.
The constitution was ratified in October, 1851, by a vote of 75,748 to
11,063. The only counties giving majorities against it were five eastern
counties, which could not accept the compromise plan of representation
involving the practical surrender of the mixed basis.
In his speech at the close of the convention of 1851, after exhorting
the members on their return to their constituents to exert all their influ-
ence to allay sectional strife and to promote a cordial fraternal feeling
among the people of their beloved commonwealth, President Mason said :
"Virginia united has ever been one of the noblest states of the confed-
eracy. I cannot contemplate what she would be if torn by internecine
feuds or if frantically seeking her own dissolution. May you long live
to see this ancient commonwealth united and happy at home, honored
and respected abroad."
In spite of Mason's parting injunction, the rift between the East
and the West continued to widen in the decade of political agitation
which followed.
Leaders in the West regarded separation as inevitable. Hon. John S.
Carlile, in a speech at a convention in Wheeling, in May, 1861, said:
' ' There is no difference in opinion between the advocates of a separation
of this State. If I may be allowed, I can claim some credit for my sin-
cerity when I say that it has been an object for which I have labored at
least since the year 1850. The convention which met at Richmond in
that year, and adopted our present State Constitution, clearly disclosed
to my mind the utter incompatibility consistent with the interests of the
people of northwestern Virginia of remaining in connection with the
eastern portion of the State."
In 1850 a new source of sectional controversy arose. In that year
eastern men of influence in connection with slavery problems, advocated
secession from the Union. The portion of the state west of the mountains
was nearly solid against the proposal. Some of the reasons which induced
them to take that stand were set forth in resolutions passed by a mass
meeting in Mason county in 1850, which was the f orerunner of many simi-
lar meetings held in Western Virginia ten years later. The following is an
extract from the resolutions in Mason :
"As a portion of the people of the fourteenth congressional district, a part of
West Augusta on whose mountains Washington contemplated, if driven to extremi-
ties, to make his last stand and plant his last banner in defense of the liberties
of his country, we are prepared, in conformity with the parting advice of that same
Washington, to stand by the Union; and living in the line between slave holding
and non-slave holding states, which makes it certain that in the event of dissolution
of the Union, we should be placed in the position of borderers, exposed to the feuds
and interminable broils which such a position would inevitably entail upon us, and
regard for the safety of our firesides, not less than the high impulses of patriotism,
the glorious recollection of the past, and the high anticipation of the future, will
induce us to adhere unswervingly to this resolution. ' '
It was immediately after the movement of 1850 for secession that
Daniel Webster uttered his oft-quoted prophecy, that if Virginia ever
8 With the coming of New Englanders and other ' ' foreigners ' ' the free schools
became a subject of great concern. The West continued to oppose the demands of
the State University and various colleges and academies for greater participation in
the benefits of the literary fund.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 331
should join a movement to separate herself from the Union, she would
lose her territory beyond the mountains, for it would never go with her.
With the building of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad to the Ohio,
the trans- Allegheny Northwest became independent of Richmond. Trade
could no longer be diverted from Baltimore to Richmond. The politicians
by their narrow dog-in-the-manger policy which for a time had locked
sources of Western Virginia, had necessitated the opening of an eastern
door which greatly reduced the intercourse between the eastern and
the western parts of Virginia except in matter relating to legislation and
the revenue. Few northwestern Virginians visited Richmond. "They
had no business acquaintances there as many of them had in Baltimore,
where they sold their cattle and bought merchandise. Few eastern Vir-
ginians crossed the mountains into western Virginia. The line of busi-
ness separation was drawn a quarter of a century before the act of politi-
cal separation was accomplished."
Meantime, the fierce controversy over slavery was driving the North
and South farther and farther apart and neither the President, nor
Congress, nor the Supreme Court could suggest any middle ground which
would satisfy both.
Under the administration of Wise, the political hero of the West,
efforts were made to conciliate the West and thereby to endeavor to bridge
the chasm between sections. The West was exhorted to send her children
to Virginian schools taught by Virginians, and various schemes for rail-
roads and canals to connect the West and the East were proposed.
After 1851 the scheme of connecting the western terminus of the
James river canal with the Ohio river by a railroad was undertaken at
state expense, and from 1850 to 1854 more turnpikes and railroad com-
panies were incorporated with the privilege of constructing works of in-
ternal improvement in the West than in all the years preceding. Very
liberal appropriations were also made to the western turnpike companies.
The internal improvement legislation during the Wise administration
was determined largely by a program for a United South. Hence the
cherished scheme for completing the Covington and Ohio Railroad to con-
nect the James and Ohio rivers as a defensive measure, to tap the gran-
neries of the Union and to divert the mineral resources of the mountains
to Richmond. In 1854 at a convention which met at White Sulphur
Springs to consider internal improvements the extension of the Coving-
ton and Ohio was urged as a measure to encourage direct trade with
Europe, to free Virginia from the thraldom of northern monopoly, to
unite her eastern and western interests and to enable her to get control
of part of the commerce which was being diverted from the Ohio and the
Mississippi to the northern cities of the East.
Under the intensified general belief that dismemberment of the Union
was inevitable the assembly of 1857-58 made liberal appropriations
for completing the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad and incorporated
numerous companies to build branches thereto. At the same time
William B. Preston was sent to France as the agent of Virginia to
negotiate for the establishment of a steamship line between Norfolk
and Nantes.
The assembly of 1859-60 guaranteed the debt of the James river and
Kanawha Company and vested the entire control of the management in
the stock holders and authorized the company to borrow $2,500,000 to be
used in continuing the canal. This action was partly due to the move-
ment of a steamship line between Virginia and France and negotiated
by C. J. Faulkner with certain French parties for the purchase by them
of the rights and privileges of the James River and Kanawha Company.
The Bellot Company of Bordeaux and several parties associated with
them had become interested in the "Swan lands" which the assembly
had relieved from the penalty of a forfeiture and vested in John Peter
Dumas to hold in trust for the heirs and creditors of Colonel Swan, an
officer of the American Revolutionary Army. In 1859 M. Bellot and the
directors of the James River and Kanawha Canal Company entered into
332 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
an agreement for the sale of the companies property to certain French
parties and for the creation of a new company, the Virginia Canal com-
pany, with a capital stock of not less than $20,000,000. This new com-
pany was to complete a continuous waterway to the Ohio within a
specified time. Governor Wise made these French negotiations a promi-
nent reason for calling into extra session the assembly which took the
initial step to secession on the part of Virginia.
Thus the question of internal improvements was the paramount one
in the Kanawha valley at the opening of the Civil war. The lack of com-
mercial connection between the James and the Kanawha contributed to
the dismemberment of Virginia by a line along the Alleghenies.
Concerning the Richmond policy of internal improvements, Professor William
P. Willey, a son of Senator Willey, and sometime professor of law at West Vir-
ginia University, wrote as follows in his "Formation of West Virginia":
"Now having obtain undisputed control of the legislative machinery, and a
system of taxation that bore heavily on the west and lightly on the east, let us
see how they used this power as between the two sections. They first inaugurated
a system of public improvements at the expense of the State Treasury, on a mam-
moth scale. Railroads, canals, turnpikes, bridges, &c, &c, were built ad libitum,
from the public revenues. But although the 'Peasantry of the West' were con-
tributing an unequal proportion of the money, none of these internal improvements
were located or projected west of the mountains. They were all east of the Alle-
ghenies where no 'Western Peasant' ever traveled, ever used them, or ever saw
them. However dire the necessity for State aid in opening and developing the
western counties, not a dollar of the appropriations could they get. The eastern
section was being traversed by a network of railways, but not even a broad turnpike
could be obtained for the western section. This policy continued until a debt ap-
proximating forty million dollars was piled up against the State — which is not
paid to this day, although the old State has set apart one-third of it which she
desires the New State to carry. ' '
The following facts compiled from what appears to be official documents we
quote here to show how Virginia used her public revenues during this period:
"Anterior to 1858 the sum of $22,841,474.04 had been expended by the State
of Virginia for internal improvements:
To railroads $13,369 127.50
Navigation companies 4,749,666.30
Plank roads 396,456,44
Turnpikes 2,229,714.13
Bridges 133,100.00
State roads 1,778,906.61
"At the session of 1S58 the additional sum of $5,917,000 was appropriated,
and since paid:
To railroads $4,664,000
Navigation companies 647,000
Turnpike companies 166,000
"And to this sum may be added $3,351000, appropriated to works of internal
improvement prior thereto, and not called for, but since demanded — making in the
aggregate the total sum of $31,609,474.04 paid by the State for works of internal
improvement.
"By an examination of the report of J. M. Bennett, Esq., auditor of public
accounts of Virginia, under date of December 10, 1860, it will be seen that the out-
standing public debt of Virginia, estimated to the 1st of January, 1861, was
$32,188,067.32; that the unfunded debt of the State was about $5,000,000, and that
by estimating the back interest it would swell the public debt of Virginia in round
numbers to $47,000,000.
"It is not possible to determine what proportion of this vast sum of money
was expended west of the mountains, but an intelligent authority has estimated that
the entire expenditures by the State for internal improvements west of the moun-
tains from the beginning of the Commonwealth down to the time of the separation,
would not exceed $3,000,000 in all, though West Virginia contained one-third of
the whole territory of the State. ' '
Professor Willey summarized the question of state division as follows:
"The question of dividing the State on the lines finally accomplished, had been
a mooted question for fifty years prior to the war. It had agitated the Legislatures
and the conventions of the State. It had been a subject of discussion in political
campaigns and in party organizations. It had so embittered the population of the
two territorial sections as to threaten the public peace. The motive already existed,
at least in the western section, and the purpose was only slumbering awaiting the
' opportunity, when the war broke out. It was like a great ship that had been strained
in many storms which needed only another troubling of the waters to part its
timbers.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 333
"In the first place we have the anomaly of a state exercising sovereignty over
a territory so geographically divided by a chain of mountains as to effectually cut
off communication between its population on the one side and the other. * * *
The state government was administered from Richmond and its edicts carried around
through the District of Columbia and the State of Maryland to the Western territory
under its jurisdiction. * * * There was not only no communication between the
two peoples, but there was little or no acquaintance, and absolutely no commercial
relations. Western Virginia belonged by nature, not to Eastern Virginia, but to
the valley of the Mississippi. Its natural outlets to market were South and West
with Cincinnati and Chicago, with Pittsburgh on the North, and with Baltimore on
the East.
' ' How was it possible for a people thus divided, although living under one
State government, to develop or maintain any social, business, or political relations?
"It is practically impossible as a political proposition for two peoples to live
side by side in harmony for any length of time without either business or social
intercourse.
' ' Moreover, the people of Eastern and Western Virginia were never homogeneous.
They were as far apart in tastes and temperament as by geographical conditions.
Their peoples were of a different ancestry, different habits, different tastes, different
manners and modes of life. The population of the Western section, had come, largely
from the neighboring States of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. They
constituted the 'Yankee' element of the State. They had nothing in common with
the population of the Eastern section, and the enforced isolation only served to make
this fact more evident and the unnatural alliance more odious. * * »
' ' This high-strung aristocrat of the East could never have been fashioned into
fellowship with his democratic fellow citizen West of the mountains. * * He
regarded his brother West of the Alleghenies with contempt — contempt for his
humble ancestry, contempt for his plebeian tastes and occupations, contempt for his
want of personal address and the habits of a gentleman, contempt for his calloused
hands and his disposition to dirty his clothes with manual labor. They dubbed their
Western brethren the ' Peasantry of the West. ' They would not have associated witli
them on an equality. They would not have entertained them in their homes. They
regarded them as occupying a lower social plane than themselves — and these aristo-
cratic notions were just as intense as any religious prejudice ever was."
The interests of West Virginia with less than four per cent of her
population slave, were those of a northern state. Her sons continued
to attend schools in free states rather than across the Blue Ridge. Her
markets were in Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Mississippi river towns rather
than in Norfolk. Her geographic conditions allied her interests with
those of Pennsylvania and Ohio and her industries were those which
called for white rather than slave labor. Her natural destiny and
future loyalty to the Union and opposition to secession was clearly
forecasted by Webster, in his speech at the laying of the corner stone of
the addition to the capitol at Washington (in 1851), "And ye men of
Western Virginia who occupy the slope from the Alleghenies to - the
Ohio and Kentucky," said he, "what benefit do you propose to yourself
by disunion. If you secede what do you secede from and what do you
secede to. Do you look for the current of the Ohio to change and bring
you and your commerce to the "waters of Eastern rivers? What man
can suppose that you would remain a part and parcel of Virginia a month
after Virginia had ceased to be part and parcel of the United States."
Early in 1860, Isaac N. Smith of Kanawha, speaking in the house of dele-
gates on the Covington and Ohio Railroad Bill said: "As the lineal
descendant of the first white man who planted his home in the wilderness
of the Kanawha valley. * * * I stand here to say that when Vir-
ginia forces the necessity upon us, we can and will fight our battles with-
out help from those who would refuse it now."
Habits of dislike grew and hardened. Lines of cleavage became more
and more fixed. Every wedge tending to separation was driven deeper
by the weight of years. The old generations in passing bequeathed their
likes and dislikes to the new. The interest on the debt of antipathy went
on compounding. The eastern flint continued to strike fire from the
western steel, and it was only a question of time when the explosion would
come. Conciliation would not have been impossible early in the cen-
tury ; but when the eastern habit of injustice had reached a veteran age
with no sign of weakening, and the western habit of mistrust and hatred
had become second nature, the parting of the ways was inevitable.
As Professor Willey said: "There was no such unnatural and in-
congruous alliance organized or existing in the Union of States as that
334 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
which existed between the two Virginias. The discriminating policy
with which the government was administered between the two sections
continually intensified the natural conditions of antagonism. It de-
stroyed any possible fraternity. It is not strange that the two sections
parted. It is strange that they remained together as long as they did."
Governor Letcher, in his proclamation to the people of northwestern
Virginia on June 14, 1861, admitted that their complaints of inequal-
ities were well founded. He said : "There has been a complaint among
you that the eastern portion of the state has enjoyed an exemption from
taxation to your prejudice. By a display of magnanimity in the vote
just given, the East has, by a large majority, consented to relinquish
this exemption, and is ready to share with you all the burdens of gov-
ernment." But the belated confession of past sins and promises of
better conduct in the future were made too late to prevent the logical
result of long years of sectionalism and antagonism.
In 1862 Senator Waitman T. Willey of Monongalia county, speaking in the
United States senate in favor of the admission of West Virginia as a state, said :
"These counties of Western Virginia, knocking for admission into the Union
as a new state, contain in rich abundance all the elements of a great commonwealth.
Why have they remained undeveloped in the oldest state of the American Union?
Why are our mines unworked? Why are our waterfalls forever wasting away, un-
appreciated by the skill of man, chafing and foaming in their channels, as if in
conscious rage at the neglect? The answer to these questions is an irrefutable
argument in favor of the division desired. ' '
CHAPTER XXI
ACHIEVEMENT OF STATEHOOD
West Virginia, the only distinctively mountainous state of the Appa-
lachian region, is the only state whose formation represents a logical
conclusion of the sectionalism which existed before the Civil war in
all the Southern states from Pennsylvania southward to Florida. Ten
years after Webster's significant utterance of 1851 its people found
the occasion which furnished the opportunity for separation from the
mother state. Its determination to oppose the secession of the mother
state under which its people had so long struggled for adjustment of
inequalities and the establishment of better conditions of life was a
prominent factor in the preservation of the Union.
The secession of South Carolina and the other cotton states precipi-
tated a crisis which placed upon Virginia a new responsibility of de-
cision. Governor Letcher suddenly called an extra session of the
legislature which met January 7, 1861, to determine "calmly and wisely
what ought to be done."
Although the ostensible purpose of the session was to enact legisla-
tion in connection with the proposed sale of the James River and Kana-
wha canal to a company of French capitalists — "probably to raise
money to promote the arming of the state"- — and the larger part of the
governor's message was devoted to a discussion of banks and state
finance, "the real kernel of the message — not unlike the postscript to
a woman's letter — was found in a few paragraphs relating to the ques-
tion then everywhere uppermost in the public prints and in men 's minds
— secession." As soon as submitted, this part of the message engrossed
the attention of both houses to the exclusion of everything else. A
proposition to submit to the people of the state the question whether
they wanted a convention was offered in the house but was fiercely
opposed by secessionists and was voted down by a large majority. As
a lure to catch the western constituencies the convention bill was drawn
so as to authorize amendments providing for a fairer system of taxation
and for representation in the senate on the white basis. On January
19, the assembly agreed to resolutions resulting in the "Peace Confer-
ence" which met at Washington, February 4, 1861, and in which Ex-
President John Tyler, William C. Rives, John W. Brockenbrough and
James A. Seddon were delegates from the eastern part of the state
and George W. Summers represented the Kanawha valley. Among
its other acts was one proposing that the United States government,
pending the decision of Virginia, should suspend its functions in the
territory of seceded states. Its policies were doubtless influenced largely
by dictation from J. M. Mason and R. M. T. Hunter, the Virginia sen-
ators at Washington who advised pressure for "decided action by the
people in convention."
This session authorized an election (on February 4) to choose dele-
gates to a convention to determine the policy of Virginia in the im-
pending crisis. Only three weeks were allowed for the canvass ; and the
date of the convention was set for February 13, nine days after the
election. Doctor Rives suggested that the only amendment needed
was one shortening the time for the assembling of the convention.
Although the time was short and the season inclement, a keen in-
terest was excited throughout the state by these summary proceedings.
The canvass was brief but sharp. Candidates were required to define
335
336 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
decisively their attitude on the question of secession. The issue was
too menacing to admit of indifference or evasion.
It was not to he a convention of unlimited powers. In electing
delegates, the people were allowed to vote whether the action of the
convention, if anything should be done affecting the relations of the
State to the Federal Government, should be referred to the people for
ratification before becoming effective. In the West in most of the
counties meeting were held vigorously protesting against any conven-
tion to consider Federal relations, and condemning the act of the legis-
lature which had called such a convention without previously submitting
the question to the people.1 One of the earliest Union meetings was
held at Parkersburg, January 1, 1861. In it Gen. John J. Jackson,
Arthur I. Boreman and J. M. Stephenson participated and agreed to
the following resolutions:
"That the doctrine of secession had no warrant in the Constitution and would
be fatal to the Union and to all the purposes of its creation;
"That the laws of the United States were as binding on South Carolina as
before her secession ;
"That nothing in the election of Lincoln afforded a reasonable ground for the
abandonment of the government;
' ' That the proposed call for a convention was at the instigation of the enemies
of the Union and intended to precipitate secession;
"That the Legislature had no constitutional power to call a convention for the
purpose of chnnging the relation of Virginia to the United States;
"That they would not be bound by the action of such convention unless any
proposed alteration of such relation was first submitted to and sanctioned by the
people at an election giving ample time for discussion ;
"That they demanded the white basis of representation and ad valorem tax-
ation. ' '
Large meetings held at Clarksburg and in the Athenaeum at Wheel-
ing adopted similar declarations.
The following almost prophetic words written by young John J.
Davis (who served in both Wheeling conventions and in the house of
delegates of the Restored Government of Virginia) appeared in the
Clarksburg Guard just at the opening of the year, before the meeting
of the assembly :
"From numerous articles published in the newspapers — evidently by disunionists
— it is believed that a strong effort will be made in the approaching session of the
Legislature to induce that body to authorize the call of a convention for the purpose,
pretendingly, of determining what course Virginia shall pursue, or what position
she will assume, in the present alarming state of affairs existing in the country;
and it is believed that the movers of this scheme hope and expect, by the handi-
craft workmanship of their many dexterous and never-tiring wire-workers and trick-
sters, to be enabled in the building up of this convention to secure and to mix in its
body a majority of members favorable to disunion; and then to decide in favor of
disunion and proceed to make the necessary provision for the appointment of vigi-
lance committees and minute-men (another name for Jacobin clubs) in every county
and magisterial district in the State, to be set to work in every corner, and to work
openly in appearance but secretly as spies; to use all means, whether fair or foul, to
inflame the public mind, to excite and arouse the worst and most depraved portion
of the population, like the Yancy vigilance committees. And no doubt they expect
with this machinery to easily drag Virginia into revolution whether her people are
willing or not, if it can be done in no other way. ' '
The Tyler County Plaindealer expressed the following sentiments:
"No ties bind us to Eastern Virginia but the unjust laws they have made. In
no way are we, nor ever can be, of them. Our location, our trade, our interest in
every way, admonish us to separate ourselves, to protect ourselves while the power
to protect is left us. We are for secession at once, and let the Blue Ridge of
mountains be the line."
i There was a remarkable contest in Mercer county over the election of a dele-
gate to the secession convention. The majority of the people of the county were
strongly Union. The contest was between .brothers, W. H. and Napoleon B. French,
both of whom had been Whigs until a short time before the election when W. H.
French left the Whig party and joined the Democrat party. At the time of the
election Napoleon B. French was serving in the Virginia legislature as a senator
from the district of which Mercer was a part. He won by a majority of over 300.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 337
The Morgantown Star, edited by Marshall Dent, a Douglas demo-
crat, who went to the Richmond convention, said:
"The people of West Virginia have borne the burden just about as long as we
can stand it. We have been hewers of wood and drawers of water for Eastern
Virginia long enough, and it is time that section understood it; and it is time that
our would be leaders in our own section understood it. ' '
The tightest resolutions of instruction adopted by any public meet-
ing were adopted at Clarksburg, January 19th. They were offered by
John J. Davis, and refused to support for the convention any man
who was not unequivocally opposed to secession and will not so pledge
himself.
On these resolutions John S. Carlile and Charles S. Lewis were
nominated as delegates. Similar resolutions were adopted on January
28 by a meeting in Marshall county.
On January 21, at Parkersburg, at the largest meeting ever held
in Wood county, Gen. John J. Jackson was also nominated on a plat-
form of unconditional Unionism.
The theory of secession was stated with precision as follows in the platform upon
which Dr. Zadok Kidwell was a candidate for Congress in the Fairmont district, in
the Spring of 1861 (till called off by the Eichmond Convention). Following is the
declaration :
Resolved, That we owe obedience to the Federal Government only because Vir-
ginia has commanded us to obey its laws; and, therefore, whenever Virginia shall
release us from this obligation, we will acknowledge the binding authority of that
Government no longer.
Resolved, That our allegiance is due to the sovereign State of Virginia; and we
maintain that Virginia, speaking by her people in sovereign convention assembled,
has the right to command the services of her citizens as against any other State,
power, government of authority whatever.
The convention assembled at Richmond on February 13, 1861, and
began its sessions on February 14. It was really not a secession con-
vention when it first met. The conservative majority desired to secure
a peaceful solution of the issue. Outside of the public deliberations,
however, radical elements2 of the convention were planning secession
with determined purpose. This minority of "designing and desperate"
secessionists contrived to obtain control of the convention in order
to obtain authority for what had already been planned without its
knowledge. They strained every nerve to secure the passage of the
ordinance of secession and gradually won the votes of enough Union
members to accomplish their purpose.
The chief means in the convention for coercing Union members was
the committee on federal relations on which Unionists had only seven
of the twenty-one "members and the West had only four. The character
and purpose of this committee is illustrated by one of the declarations
contained in it which declared that the people of Virginia would "ex-
pect, as an indispensable condition that a pacific policy be adopted to-
wards the seceded states, and that no attempt be made to subject them to
the Federal authority, nor to reinforce the forts now in possession of the
military forces of the United States, or recapture forts, arsenals or
- Many of the radicals who urged secession were reactionaries on the questions
of suffrage. The convention had a committee on "constitutional reforms," with
Alexander H. H. Stuart as chairman. Through this committee an effort was made to
eliminate from the state constitution such democratic features as free suffrage.
Some of the committee's conclusions were stated in a report made by Mr. Stuart,
including the following:
"In the opinion of your committee, no system of government can afford per-
manent and effectual security to life, liberty and property which rests on the basis
of unlimited suffrage. In the South, all who are in a condition of servitude are
necessarily excluded from the exercise of political privileges, and the power of the
country is wielded by the more intelligent classes, who have a permanent interest
in the well-being of society. Slavery also constitutes an effectual barrier against
that tendency to antagonism between labor and capital which exists in the North. ' '
Elsewhere in the South, similar views were urged. A writer in De Bow's Maga-
zine declared that the maxim of "the greatest good to the greatest number" and
"the majority shall rule" are "pestilent and pernicious dogmas."
Vol. 1—22
338 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
other property of the United States within their limits, nor to exact
the payment of imposts upon their commerce."
In March, Marshall M. Dent, writing to the Morgantown Star, men-
tioned the following incident as showing the temper of the Richmond
populace at that time :
"This afternoon a crowd assembled at the old market and taking
down a Union flag which had been floating there for many days, hoisted
in its stead, amidst the cheers of the crowd, the rattlesnake flag. Speeches
were made by several persons, among whom was Charles Irving, Mr.
Clemens' second in the duel with "Wise. In the course of his remarks
Irving impressed upon the people that resistance was not enough ; that
the true policy was to drive the convention out of the city at the point
of the bayonet. Scarcely had Mr. Irving uttered these words when
the crowd shouted ' That 's right ! That 's right ! Drive them out ! ' and
these cries were followed by deafening cheers."
On April 1, a Washington dispatch to a New York paper said in regard to the
Virginia convention: "All information agrees in representing that a decided reae-
tion has occurred and that the Union sentiment is rapidly losing ground in all parts
of the State which have hitherto been opposed to the revolutionary movement in
any form." This was probably more apparent than real, the appearance being
created by the great activity of secession emissaries throughout the State.
Lang in his "Loyal West Virginia " says: "The policy adopted by the con-
spirators produced its effect on the people. That portion of society which takes
but little interest in public affairs in ordinary times is the element from which the
factionists draw the largest agency in furthering their purposes. They are ready
to distinguish between ordinary and extraordinary periods in the passing events;
and when they discover violent measures controlling the hour, either from timidity
or ignorance, they hasten to join themselves with those who are usurping the reins
of power or who occupy the largest share of public attention. This class also be-
came attached to the party of the conspirators, and thus swelled to the proportions
of respectability, they deemed the hour for action had arrived. A prominent actor
in the scenes in Virginia was dispatched to Charleston, South Carolina, to announce
that everything was in readiness in Virginia for the inauguration of the final act
of the drama."
On April 13 the debate turned to the surrender of Fort Sumter.
On April 15 the report of the three commissioners who had been ap-
pointed to ascertain the policy of President Lincoln was presented and
the question of going into secret session was debated. The principal
subject of discussion, however, was Lincoln's telegraphic call for 75,000
men for military duty. On April 16 the convention assembled in secret
session and Governor Letcher refused to comply with President Lin-
coln's request for Virginia's quota of the call for militia for three
months service.
The outside rabble, which filled the lobbies and galleries, had finally
changed the sentiment of the convention, partly by devices of intimida-
tion. Although the convention still hesitated for a time after the news
of the fall of Fort Sumter, it was finally induced by excited leaders to
cast the lot of Virginia with the Confederacy. Its adoption of secret
sessions on April 16 was a preliminary step. The decisive step was
finally taken on April 17, largely through the dramatic speech of Wise
who spoke with watch in hand, pistol in front of him, his hair bristling
and disheveled and his eye standing out with the glare of excitement.
Granville D. Hall in his "Rending of Virginia" says: "From beginning to
end the conspiring, fire-eating minority, with Wise at its head, took the aggressive
and employed every element of intimidation to dragoon the majority; while this
great imbecile majority accepted the attitude of apologists and were on the de-
fensive from the first. Such Union men as Summers and Willey made pleading
and pathetic speeches against secession, when all they had to do to make secession
impossible was to muster their majority and adjourn the Convention!
"At last there was no longer even the counterfeit of power to resist; and the
helpless Unionists were forced into secret session, where, under intimidation of
Wise 's horse-pistol, of the conspirators in Metropolitan Hall, of the mobs in the
streets, from distrust of one another, knowing their ranks were honey-combed with
treachery, they were driven to surrender. ' '
In reference to the reign of terror in and around the convention at this crisis,
Mr. Willey, member from Monongalia, some years afterward wrote the following
graphic description:
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 339
"During the progress of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, the excitement in
Richmond and in the Convention was intense. Bonfires and illuminations blazed
high in the streets and public squares; the national flag was torn from its place
over the dome of the Capitol 'and trampled under the feet of an infuriated mob.
Stores and public places were closed and the populace sought the streets to give
vent to their feelings. Strangers rushed to the city from all parts of the State and
helped to swell the throngs. Many who had come in advance of the call to meet on
the 16th of April assembled together in a large hall and sat with closed doors. No
ingress could be obtained to the sessions of this mysterious body. The Convention
went into secret session. The scenes witnessed within the walls of that room, as
detailed by members, have no parallel in the annals of ancient or modern times.
On the morning of the 17th, Mr. Wise, the member from Princess Anne, rose in his
seat and drawing a large Virginia horse-pistol from his bosom laid it before him,
and proceeded to harangue the body in the most violent and denunciatory manner.
He concluded by taking his watch from his pocket and, with glaring eyes and bated
breath, declared that events were now transpiring which caused a hush to come over
his soul. At such an hour, he said, Harper's Ferry and its armory were in posses-
sion of Virginia soldiers; at another period the Federal navy -yard and property at
Norfolk were seized by troops of the State."
The statement of Wise concerning- the seizure of Harper's Ferry
was true. The volunteer companies which had been organized in the
Shenandoah valley after the raid by John Brown, under orders from
some mysterious power, had assembled to the number of two thousand
or more, and had moved on Harper's Ferry with the design of seizing
the Federal armory and arsenals at that point. The small garrison of
marines, after destroying the most valuable property, fired the build-
ings and fled in precipitate haste.
The convention by a vote of eighty-eight to fifty-five approved the
ordinance of secession which was to take effect when ratified by a ma-
jority of the votes of the people of the state in an election set for May
23 (the fourth Thursday).
The body of the ordinance was the following: "Now, therefore, we, the people
of Virginia, do declare and ordain that the ordinance adopted by the people of this
State in convention on the 25 day of June, 1788, whereby the Constitution of the
United States of America was ratified, and all acts of the General Assembly of
this State ratifying and adopting amendments to said Constitution, are hereby re-
pealed and abrogated; that the union between the State of Virginia and the other
States under the Constitution aforesaid is hereby dissolved and that the State of
Virginia is in the full possession and exercise of all the rights of sovereignty which
belong to a free and independent State. And they do further declare that the said
Constitution of the United States is no longer binding on any citizen of this State."
The pretext for the secession was the proclamation of President Lin-
coln, which secessionists chose to announce and act upon as a declaration
of war.
The vote of western members stood 32 to 11 against it (4 not voting). Those
voting for secession were: Allen T. Caperton, John Echols, Napoleon B. French,
James Lawson, Johnson Orrick, Henry L. Gillespie, Cyrus Hall, Leonard S. Hall,
John N. Hughes, Samuel Woods and Franklin P. Turner.
Those voting against it were: Edward M. Armstrong, George W. Berlin, Caleb
Boggess, William G. Brown, John S. Burdett, James Burley, Benjamin W. Byrne,
John S. Carlile, Sherrard Clemens, C. B. Conrad, James H. Couch, Alpheus F. Hay-
mond, Chester D. Hubbard, John J. Jackson, William McComas, James C. McGrew,
Henry H. Masters, Logan Osburn, Spicer Patrick, Edmund Pendleton, George Mc-
Porter, Samuel Price, David Pugh, Marshall M. Dent, Ephraim B. Hall, Allen C.
Hammond, James W. Hoge, Burwell Spurlock, Chapman J. Stuart, George W.
Summers, Campbell Tarr, and Waitman T. Willey.
Those not voting were: Thomas Maslin, Benjamin Wilson, Alfred M. Barbour,
and Paul McNeil.
Those who did not change from the negative to the affirmative, but afterwards
signed the Ordinance of Secession were: Alfred M. Barbour and Paul McNeil.
Of the members voting against the ordinance, Haymond of Marion, Price of
Greenbrier, and Berlin of Upshur, recanted, went back to Richmond and cast their
fortunes with the Confederacy.
"Immediately after the passage of the fatal ordinance the con-
vention began to diminish in numbers. The delegates from the north-
western part of the state, from the counties which now compose the
state of West Virginia, finding themselves in a hopeless minority,
quietly, and in some instances secretly, took their departure for their
340 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
native mountains, where their humble yet more faithful constituents
received them with open arms and anxious minds."
The night following the passage of the ordinance, Hubbard, Clemens,
Carlile, Tarr, Dent and Burdett, of the Northwestern members, seeing
that further resistance in the convention was impossible, that the sooner
they got home and warned their people the better, and that their per-
sonal liberty was no longer secure in Richmond, quietly took a train
for the North and were in Washington next morning. Others followed
at once.
The Richmond leaders were reported to be indignant because Carlile
and Dent, when passing through Washington, had called on President
Lincoln and revealed to him the action taken by the convention in secret
session.
James C. McGrew, who was a member of the convention, afterwards wrote an
account of his observations at the Richmond convention and of the withdrawal of
the western members. The chief features appear in the following extracts:
"On the 16th [of February] in obedience to a resolution passed the previous
day, the President proceeded to appoint a "Committee on Federal Relations,"
to which should be referred all resolutions touching Federal relations and kindred
subjects. * * *
' ' The plans of the conspirators were adroitly laid, and successfully put into
operation. They evidently knew from the beginning that they would have a strong
Union sentiment to combat in the Convention and to overcome, if possible. A part
of the machinery prepared for this purpose was the introduction to the Convention,
five days after it met, of three commissioners from Georgia, South Carolina and
Mississippi: Henry L. Benning, John S. Preston, and Fulton Anderson each of
whom addressed the Convention, evidently by prearrangement with the conspira-
tors. * * *
"On the 9th of March the Committee made a partial majority report in which
'sovereignty' was declared to 'rest in the States,' slavery was held to be 'a vita'
element in Southern socialism, ' and any interference by State or Federal Govern-
ment was offensive and dangerous. * * *
' ' This committee report, which was made on the 14th of March, was made the
order of the day in committee of the whole and at once became the signal for a
general onset between the "Union men and the Secessionists. The debate began at
once and continued for about twenty-two days. It was characterized by great heat
and great ability on both sides. The vehemence and malignancy of the conspirators
was met by the sturdy determination and eloquence of the Unionists in defense of
all that was revered in the history of the country. * * *
' ' Alarmed at the strength of the Union sentiment in the Convention, the con-
spirators had early in the session quietly sent out instructions to their friends in the
several counties and boroughs in which Union delegates had been elected by small
majorities to hold meetings and pass resolutions instructing their delegates. *
Some of the weaker members were deceived by this device and gave in their adhesion
to the cause of secession. Notwithstanding these defections, the friends of the
Union still had the majority, and the conspirators found it necessary to adopt still
other methods to overcome it. Accordingly a secret circular, signed by six of the
conspirators who were members of the Convention, and two who were members of
the House of Delegates, was sent throughout the State to such of the citizens as
they thought they could rely upon to co-operate with them, requesting them in sig-
nificant language to present themselves in Richmond on the 16th day of April, to
'consult with the friends of Southern rights as to the course Virginia should pursue
in the present emergency, and to send from each county a full delegation of reliable
men.' This brought to the city hundreds, if not thousands, of desperate characters,
who were prepared to do the bidding of the cabal, whatever it might be. * * *
"This camarilla, thus brought together, held meetings behind closed doors in
a hall not far away from the capitol, where the Convention was sitting, to which
none but the faithful were admitted, whilst the conspirator Wise and his co-con-
spirators alternated between the two bodies, no doubt keeping the revolutionary
meeting accurately informed of everything that transpired in the lawful one, although
the latter was sitting in secret and the members were under their parole of honor to
disclose none of its proceedings. * * *
"The conspirators had early adopted a system of tactics calculated and intended
to arouse the passions of the 'lewd fellows of the baser sort,' who at once began
to carry out the devilish plan, and were soon joined by others of the more respectable
classes of the populace; and soon the city became a perfect pandemonium. Howling
mobs paraded the streets at night, with drums and horns and cow-bells, 'frightening
the ear of night ' with discordant noises ; going from place to place, denouncing with
opprobious epithets the Unionists of the Convention, one of whom they burned in
effigy in the street, others of whom they tried to intimidate by suspending ropes
with nooses attached to limbs of trees or lamp-posts near their lodgings at night,
calling them from their beds and kindly informing them that the halters were for
them I Until the Convention went into secret session, the lobbies and galleries of
the hall were crowded with this same excited, angry mob — hounded on by negro
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 341
traders — who hissed and howled whilst Unionist.? were speaking, sometimes com-
pelling them to desist. Upon leaving the hall, Union members were sure to encounter
a similar mob in greater numbers about the door outside, who would greet them
with insulting remarks, sometimes with threats of personal violence. * » *
"This state of affairs continued up to the passage of the ordinance of secession,
the mob continually increasing in numbers and violence. * * * When the 're-
liable men' began to assemble they found to their disgust the stars and stripes
floating from the flag-staff on the capitol. This they could not tolerate. * * *
"One evening immediately after the Convention adjourned, the mob rushed in
through the library, and with axes hewed down the door and went on up to the
roof. The flag was violently torn down, amid yells of the maddened crowd below,
and the secession emblem hoisted in its place — the canaille cheering as it arose.
From that time on the Convention sat under it.
' ' The newspapers of the city were for secession, and freely joined the mob in
abuse of the Unionists. * * *
"Thus, what was a decided Union majority when the Convention first came
together gradually melted away. * * *
"Preparation to begin the conflict had already been made, and the bombard-
ment of Fort Sumter began immediately — April 12th — and on the day following
Governor Pickens, in a telegram, boastingly conveyed the tidings to Governor Letcher
declaring 'War commenced, and we will triumph or perish.' * * *
"On the 16th of April the Convention went into secret session. This increased
the excitement and added to the alarm among the remaining Unionists * * *
The Union men could now comprehend fully their hopeless position, when they saw
those who had been elected as Unionists and who earlier had acted and voted with
them, yielding to the storm so furiously raging about them and beating about
their heads. * * *
"On the morning of the 17th, Henry A. Wise came into the hall, carrying a
large horse-pistol, which, with a flourish, he placed before him on his desk, and
proceeded to harangue the Convention in the most vehement and denunciatory man-
ner; and, looking at his watch, he declared that very hour events were occurring
' which caused a hush to come over his soul. '
"It was then the Union men of the Convention saw clearly the object of the
other assemblage which had been, and was then, sitting with closed doors, and whose
concealed hand was in the act of seizing the reins of government. * * *
"On the afternoon of the 17th of April, the Convention came to a vote on the
ordinance. The vote stood eighty-eight for and fifty-five against. * * * Already
the Convention had (April 25th) 'ratified' the constitution of the Confederacy and
entered into a union with it. * * *
' ' Late in the afternoon of Saturday, the 20th, some one made the quiet sugges-
tion that the Union members from the Northwestern part of the State get together
for consultation, and the Powhattan Hotel, near the capitol, was named as the place
of meeting. Accordingly, about twenty, who were hastily notified, quietly and
promptly met in Sherrard Clemens' bedroom in the hotel, and organized by electing
Gen. John J. Jackson (father of the present United States District Judge of the
same name) chairman. After careful deliberation, the meeting decided unanimously
that the members present, and such other Union members from the western counties
as might be willing to join in the movement (leaving only two in the Convention to
give information) should quietly withdraw from the Convention, go home to their
constituents, call public meetings, put on foot measures to resist secession, and
ultimately bring about, if possible, what had long been talked about and desired —
a division of the State.
"John S. Carlile, whose life was thought to be in danger, had been taken by
some of his friends the previous day and put on board a railway train and started
for his home; and a few other Union members had already left the city. It had
now become necessary for those intending to leave to procure permission from tin-
Governor in order to procure railway tickets and get out of the city. Eight members
went in a body to the Governor for this purpose, and after being sharply interro-
gated, a permit signed by the Governor was given them. They were informed by
the Governor that they could not get out over the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, as
he had given orders the night before to burn the bridge over the Potomac at Har-
per's Ferry. * * *
"On Sunday morning, the 21st, a party of fourteen (including two ladies),
after encountering some difficulty, got out of the city by two railroads. When they
arrived at Alexandria in the afternoon they found the city in an uproar — streets
guarded, all public conveyances by land and water discontinued; — and consequently
they were compelled to remain over night. * * *
' ' I left Alexandria next morning at two o 'clock for Washington in a buggy
with a brisk team driven by a white man who was well known in the city. We were
stopped in the suburbs once by a guard, but had no further difficulty until we
reached the Long Bridge over the Potomac, which we found guarded by a battery
of artillery. There we were again halted and closely interrogated by the officer
in command, and finally allowed to proceed. After two or three slight adventures
in Baltimore and Harper 's Ferry, I reached home the third day after escaping from
Richmond, worn in body and sick at heart.
"The party that remained at Alexandria were not permitted to come on to
Washington, but were compelled to turn their faces again toward Richmond. Instead
of returning to Richmond, when they reached Manassas Junction, they left the
342 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
railway train and hired conveyances across the mountain to Winchester, whence
they travelled by rail to Harper's Ferry and so on home."
Neither secessionists nor Unionists waited for the popular vote (on
the ordinance) which the convention provided should be taken May 23,
the date for the regular election of members to the general assembly.
Richmond authorities had already taken steps for military control. On
April 25, even before the people had heard of the Ordinance of Seces-
sion, the convention ratified a secret league entering into a temporary
union of Virginia with the Confederate States by which the entire military
forces and resources of the Commonwealth were placed instantly and
absolutely at the command of the president of the Confederate States.
Even before the passage of the secession ordinance, the insurrec-
tionary authorities at Richmond levied war against the United States
by the seizure of United States Property at Harper 's Ferry, -the capture
of the federal buildings at Richmond, Norfolk and Portsmouth, and the
attempted seizure of United States ships and other naval property at
Gosport.
The seizure of the arsenal at Harper's Ferry and the custom houses
at Richmond and Portsmouth and the act placing Virginia under the
control of the Confederacy as if she had already become one of its mem-
bers, justified prompt action for preservation of the Union.
The triumph of secession upon the James led to the triumph of
loyalty among the mountains, while Governor Letcher was training
the state militia for service against the Federal government. Western
leaders who understood the effect of the military league with the South-
em Confederacy and the minute plans of the secessionists to force rati-
fication recognized that plans for safety were far more important than
the fight against ratification. Even before the withdrawal of the Union
delegates of the West, meetings to express Union sentiments had been
held. One was held at Pruntytown on April 13 and one at Morgan-
town on April 17 each declaring that western Virginia would loyally
adhere to the United States. After the return of the western dele-
gates to their homes, Union meetings were held all over the western
counties for consideration of plans to support the Federal government.
In some places Union sentiment met strong opposition and loyal leaders
required strong moral courage. Sometimes speakers were mobbed,
meetings were broken up, or controversies ended in rough and tumble
fights and neighbors and kinsmen were arrayed against each other.
Among the first of a series of public meeting in the West was one
held at Wheeling. Mr. Hubbard, returning from Richmond, reached
Wheeling on the evening of April 19. The next evening at a public
meeting held at American Hall, in the Fifth ward, he was present and
gave his neighbors some account of his Richmond experiences, but re-
specting the injunction of secrecy, did not disclose the fact that an
ordinance of secession had been passed. He indicated what might be
expected and advised the young men to organize military companies.
He said a call would soon be issued from the mountain counties for a
convention to form a provisional government.
Similar meetings were held in a number of counties. One of the
earliest meetings was held at Morgantown, the home of Hon. W. T.
Willey, who had arrived fresh from the Richmond convention. The
temper of the citizens of this locality expressed at this meeting was
representative of the prevailing sentiment throughout the western sec-
tion. Commending the firmness of western delegates in resisting the
plans for disunion, they entered a solemn protest against the secession
of Virginia, denounced such action as treason against the government
of the United States, and declared that they would not follow Vir-
ginia, but would dissolve their civil and political relation with the East.
On April 22 the Wheeling Intelligencer on the basis of letters from
several counties announced the existence of a strong trans-Allegheny
movement for a general convention at Wheeling early in May to con-
sider problems of public safety. On the same day Senator Stephen A.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 343
Douglas crossing the Ohio at Benwood made a Union address which
encouraged loyalty to the government at Washington.
Deserted by Wise its leader of the decade before and seeking other
wise leaders for the future, the West was soon largely under the general
direction of John S. Carlisle after his safe return from the Richmond
convention. To inaugurate the movement already suggested, Carlisle
called a meeting at Clarksburg. This meeting was held oil April 22,
was attended by 1,000 or 1,200 men and its proceedings gave immediate
cohesions and directions to the views and purposes of Union men through-
out northwestern Virginia. Its resolutions were drawn by Carlisle who
had just returned from consultation with leading men in the upper pan-
handle, and whose appeal saved many wavering ones to the cause of the
■Union. It urgently requested that each county of northwestern Vir-
ginia should send at least five delegates to Wheeling on May 13 to de-
termine what action should be taken in the emergency. Express riders
were immediately started to give notice of the movement to all the coun-
ties in the district. There was great enthusiasm. When the call was
made for express riders, a sufficient number volunteered instantly, and
old farmers who were never known to be excited before, contributed
their money to pay expenses and offered horses : and in a short time
the express riders were on their way to their different destinations.
Other counties quickly followed the lead of the Clarksburg meeting
and appointed delegates to the proposed Wheeling convention.
In places of divided sentiment, there was a feeling of danger which
expressed itself in proposals for the organization of Union clubs for
defense. In Lewis county secessionists burned the barns of Cabel Bog-
gess, a Union delegate. In Marion county, much excitement was pro-
duced by a rumor of secession plans to use force to intimidate Union
men, and Rev. Jeremiah Simpson of the Methodist Protestant Church
there reported at Clarksburg that the situation might precipitate a riot
at any minute. At Clarksburg there were threats to burn the town
which caused some fear of night mobs from "across the river." In Bar-
bour county Union men feared to organize in the face of strong secession
sentiment.3 The Philippi court house was a storm center of the secession
3 Finding that no public meeting to uphold the Union cause could be held in
Philippi without danger of interruption by secessionists, a small number of Union
citizens met secretly for the purpose of appointing delegates to the Wheeling Con-
vention. This meeting was afterwards styled, the "Shoeshop Convention," because
it met secretly and at night in a shoeshop belonging to Martin Myers. The windows
were darkened and the door locked, and only sufficient candle light was used to
enable the clerk to do what writing was necessary. Not one word of the proceedings
of the meeting have been preserved in writing. The minutes and resolutions were
taken to Wheeling and were lost. Not many persons were there. The list, so far
as it can be now ascertained, consisted of the names of Martin Myers, Hanson L.
Hoff, William K. Hall, Edwin Tutt and Spencer Dayton. Mr. Hoff was chairman
and the resolutions were written by Mr. Dayton. Delegates to the Wheeling con-
vention were appointed, namely, H. L. Hoff, Joseph Teter, Sr., Eev. Alpheus Zinn
and Spencer Dayton. * * *
The delegates to Wheeling met in Philippi to make ready for the journey. As
yet it has not become public that a Union meeting had been held, but it was suspected
that Barbour would likely be represented at Wheeling, and the closest watch was
kept to thwart any attempt in that direction. Guards were posted at the bridge
and no one, suspected of being a Union man, was permitted to cross unchallenged.
When the delegates-cleft had reached Philippi and held an informal conference on
a street corner, and when the difficulties and dangers in the way of going to Wheel-
ing were understood, all the delegates, except Mr. Dayton excused themselves from
going. Mr. Dayton said he would go if it cost him his life. At night after the
other delegates had returned to their homes, he prepared to leave Philippi. He
saddled his horse and waited till long after midnight when the streets were quiet,
and when he supposed the guards at the bridge would be asleep. When he reached the
vicinity of the bridge, he "laid whip to his horse and went through at a dead run,
and out upon the pike to Webster." When Mr. Dayton returned from the conven-
tion, he reached home late at night, and hoped to enter his house undiscovered;
but in this he was not successful. The next day Confederate soldiers went to his
house to arrest him, but he was in hiding up stairs and they did not find him. On
that evening, at dusk, he escaped to the hill hack of his house, and succeeded in
making his way to Grafton which had been occupied by the advance guard of
MeClellan's army.
344
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
movement west of the mountains. Prom its dome floated the first Con-
federate flag which was raised on territory of West Virginia. In it
secessionists held their meetings, passed resolutions and formed plans.
At one of these secession meetings in which no voice had been raised for
the Union, Spencer Dayton attempted to speak in favor of the Govern-
ment at Washington and finding himself confronted by a leveled musket
was forced to escape by jumping through the window.
On Monday, April 30, the Wheeling Intelligencer informed the general public
of what had been done at Richmond by reprinting from the Baltimore American
of April 28 a copy of the ordinance of secession. In the same issue the editor pub-
lished the following stirring appeal:
"Fellow-citizens, language fails us in our desire to put the whole height and
depth of this stupendous infamy before you. Head it, and re-read it, and see what
a mockery and scorn has been made of your decree solemnly recorded by a majority
of 60,000 on the 4th of February last that no ordinance of secession should be
binding until passed upon and ratified by the people. Instead of this, all the power
you reserved to yourselves has been usurped. More than a week ago, before the
ordinance itself had leaked out from the dark recesses of that star chamber of
despotism at Richmond, you were told by the Richmond Enquirer that the ordinance
\v:is to be submitted, 'but simply as a matter of form and not of contest.'
Old Washington Hall Birthplace of West Virginia, May-June, 1861
"The State is in revolution now. The ordinance is worded to take effect from
its passage. It is as much in effect now as it ever will be. Under it our Congres-
sional elections have all been abolished.
"Union men of the Northwest! We conjure you as you have any manhood —
as you have any hope for yourselves or your children — in this hour of our deadliest
peril — to throw aside and trample under foot the last vestige of partyism. Let it
be blotted out from your remembrance that you have ever been divided as partisans,
but keep simply and only before your minds the one great, momentous truth that
if you falter or fail now your all is gone. Organize and enroll yourselves every-
where in Union organizations. Summon every energy of your mind and heart and
strength, and let the traitors who desecrate our borders see, and let history in all
after time record it, that there was one green spot — one Swiss canton — one Scottish
highland — one county of Kent — one province of Vendee — where unyielding patriot-
ism rallied, and gathered, and stood, and won a noble triumph."
Meantime, the Richmond convention was preparing to take a re-
cess. On May 1, it adjourned to meet June 1, presumably to await
the result of the vote to be taken on the fourth Thursday of May on
the question of secession ! The people were allowed formally to partici-
pate in the farcical proceedings of approving or rejecting what had
already been consummated beyond recall, without their consent and
even without their knowledge.
Wheeling, by reason of its geographical location and equally be-
cause of its resolute Unionism, was the city of refuge toward which the
alarmed loyalists throughout northwestern Virginia turned their eyes
with a view to concerted action for public safety. To it, on May 13,
in response to the recommendation of the Clarksburg meeting flocked
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 345
400 delegates (from the region north of the Kanawha and from Wayne
county) some of whom had been pursued by secession troops. Here
amid great demonstrations, with flags and banners flying, bands playing
and people cheering they assembled as a "mass convention" in Wash-
ington Hall, and promptly organized by the election of all the ma-
chinery of a parliamentary body. They declared their adhesion to the
United States, denounced the action at Richmond as usurpation, illegal
and void, appointed a central committee to exercise their powers in
organizing resistance to the usurpation of the state government and
in supporting the Federal Government, and provided for an election
on June 4 to select delegates to a second convention whose date of meet-
ing was set for June 11.
The following narrative of the opening session was written by Granville D. Hall
who served as a reporter of the Wheeling Intelligencer at the meeting:
' ' The delegates assembled in Washington Hall at eleven A. M., May 13. The
great audience room was filled with an eager, expectant fluttering mass. The wide
stage, on which sat many of the most eminent citizens of the Northwest, was dec-
orated with the national colors. In front of the stage on the main floor were tables
for the press; at which, during the sessions, besides reporters of the city papers,
sat the following from other cities:
Mr. Glenn, of the New York Herald;
Edward F. Underhill, New York Times;
Ainsworth R. Spofford, Cincinnati Commercial;
J. J. Henderson, Cincinnati Gazette;
Daniel O'Neill, Pittsburg Chronicle;
Fred Foster, Pittsburg Dispatch;
S. D. Page, Cleveland Leader;
John D. M. Carr, Chicago Press and Tribune.
"Chester D. Hubbard, of Wheeling, came forward on the stage and nominated
for temporary chairman William B. Zinn, of Preston County — a rugged old moun-
taineer, who afterwards represented his county in the June Convention and House
of Delegates. Mr. Zinn was escorted to the chair by Hon. John S. Carlisle, of
Harrison.
"George R. Latham, at that time editor of the Grafton West Virginian, com-
missioned in May, 1S62, Colonel of the Fifth Cavalry, afterwards member of the
United States House of Representatives and later Minister to Melbourne, was made
temporary secretary.
"At the suggestion of Gen. John J. Jackson, of Wood, Rev. Peter T. Laishley,
a delegate from Monongalia, offered prayer.
"At the opening of the afternoon session Andrew Flesher, of Jackson, chairman
of the committee, reported the following nominations:
"For permanent president, Dr. John W. Moss, of Wood.
"For permanent secretaries, Col. C. B. Waggener, of Mason; Marshall M. Dent,
of Monongalia, and Gibson L. Cranmer, of Ohio.
"The report as to permanent officers was adopted and Dr. Moss was conducted
to the chair by Messrs. Carlisle, Pierpont and McNeill (of Monongalia). The organi-
zation was completed, on motion of Mr. Burdett, by the appointment of James M.
Ewing as sergeant-at-arms and S. Clems and R. Higgins as doorkeepers. ' '
The membership of the convention reported by counties was as follows:
Barbour County — E. H. Menafee, Spencer Dayton and John H. Shuttleworth.
Berkeley County — A. R. McQuilkin, John W. Dailey, and J. S. Bowers.
Brooke County — Adam Kuhn, David Hervey, Campbell Tarr, Nathaniel Wells,
J. R. Burgoine, James Archer, Jesse Ediugton, R. L. Jones, James A. Campbell,
Robert C. Nicholls, Joseph Gist, John G. Jacob, Eli GTeen, John D. Nichols, Bazeleel
Wells and Montgomery Walker.
Doddridge County — J. Cheveront, S. S: Kinney, J. Smith, James A. Foley, J. P.
F. Randolph.
Frederick County — George S. Senseney.
Hampshire County — Owen D. Downey, George W. Broski, Dr. B. B. Shaw,
George W. Sheetz, George W. Rizer.
Hancock County — George McC. Porter, W. L. Crawford, Louis R. Smith, J. C.
Crawford, B. J. Smith, Thomas Anderson, William B. Freeman, W. C. Murry, J. L.
Freeman, John Gardner, Geo. Johnston, J. S. Porter, James Stevenson, J. S.
Pomeroy, R. Brenemen, Daniel Donahoo, D. S. Nicholson, Thayer Melvin, Ewing
Turner, James H. Pugh, H. Farnsworth, James G. Marshall, Samuel Freeman, John
Mahan, David Jenkins, William Hewitt, William Brown, A. Moore, D. C. Pugh,
Jonathan Allison, John H. Atkinson, Joseph W. Allison.
Harrison County — John S. Carlisle, Thomas L. Moore, John J. Davis, Solomon
S. Fleming, Felix S. Sturm, James Lynch, William E. Lyon, Lot Bowen, Dr. Duncan,
Waldo P. Goff, Benjamin F. Shuttleworth.
Jackson County — Andrew Flesher, David Woodruff, C. M. Rice, Geo. Leonard,
J. F. Scott, G. L. Kennedy, J. V. Rowley.
346
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Lewis County — T. M. Chalfant, Alexander Scott Withers, J. W. Hudson, Perry
M. Hale, J. Wk>ofter, W. L. Grant, J. A. J. Lightburn.
Marion County — E. R. Brown, J. C. Beeson, Isaac Holman, Thomas H. Barnes,
Hiram Haymond, Harvey Merrifield, G. W. Jolliffe, John Cliisler, Thomas Hough,
William Beatty, James G. Beatty, Aaron Hawkins, Jacob Sturm, Francis H. Pier-
pont, Jesse Shaw, Joshua Carter.
Marshall County — John H. Dickey, John Parkinson, Thomas Morris, W. Alex-
ander, John Laughlin, W. T. Head, J. S. Parriott, William J. Purdy, H. C. Kemple,
Joseph Turner, Hiram McMechen, E. H. Caldwell, James Garvin, L. Gardner, H. A.
Francis, Thomas Bowler, John R. Morrow, William Wasson, Nat Wilson, Thomas
Morgan, S. Dorsey, Jr., R. B. Hunter, J. W. McC'arriher, J. B. Morris, R. C. Holli-
day, William Collins, W. R. Kimmons, G. W. Evans, William McFarland, J. Horn-
Dr. John Wm. Moss, President op First Wheeling Convention
brook, John Reynolds, Remembrance Swan, J. B. Hornbrook, James Campbell, F.
Clement, J. Winders, William Baird, Dr. Marshman, William Luke, J. Garvin, S.
Ingram, William Phillips, Jr., A. Francis, Thomas Wilson, Lot Enix, G. Hubbs,
John Wilson, John Bitchie, J. W. Bonar, J. Alley, S. B. Stidger, Asa Browning,
Samuel Wilson, J. McCondell, A. Bonar, D. Price, G. W. Evans, D. Roberts, George
Hubbs, Thomas Dowler, R. Alexander, E. Conner, Charles Snediker, John Winters,
Nathan Fish, V. P. Gorby, Alfred Gaines, J. S. Riggs, Alexander Kemple, Joseph
McCombs, W. Alexander.
Mason County — Joseph S. Machir, Lemuel Harpold, William E. Wetzel, John
Godley, Wyatt Willis, William Wiley Harper, William Harpold, Daniel Polsley,
Samuel Davies, J. N. Jones, Samuel Yeager, R. C. M. Lovell, Barney J. Rollins,
David C. Sayre, Charles H. Bumgardner, John 0. Butler, Timothy Russell, John
Hall, A. A. Rogers, William Hopkins, Eugene B. Davis, David Rossin, Asa Brigham,
Charles B. Waggener, John M. Phelps, Stephen Comstock, W. C. Starr, John Greer,
Appolo Stevens, Major Brown, John J. Weaver.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 347
Monongalia County — Waitman T. Willey, James Evans, Leroy Kramer, Wil-
liam A. Hanaway, William Lazier, Elisha Coombs, George McNeeley, Henry Dering,
Dr. H. N. Mackey, Evans D. Fogle, James T. M. Laskey, James T. Hess, Charles
H. Burgess, John Bly, William Price, Dr. A. Brown, Dr. J. V. Boughner, D. P.
Fitch, E. B. Taggart, Alpheus Garrison, Dr. John McCarl, J. A. WSley, Joseph
Snyder, Joel Bowlsby, Amos S. Bowlsby, A. Derranet, N. C. Vandervort, Daniel
White, Dr. D. B. Dorsey, Jacob Miller, Dr. Isaac Scott, Marshall M. Dent, Eev.
Peter T. Laishley, Edward P. St. Clair, William B. Shaw, P. L. Rice, Joseph
Jolliffe, William Anderson.
Ohio County — John Alman, L. S. Delaplain, J. R. Stifel, Gibson Lamb Cranmer,
Alfred Caldwell, John McLure, Jr., Andrew Wilson, George Forbes, A. J. Woods,
Thomas H. Logan, James S. Wheat, George W. Norton, N. H. Garrison, E. Buchanan,
John Pierson, P. Witham, Perry Whitten, E. McCaslin, A. B. Caldwell, John E.
Hubbard, A. F. Boss, William B. Curtis, John Steiner, Daniel Lamb, Chester D.
Hubbard, H. Armstrong, S. H. Woodward, James W. Paxton, A. A. Handlan, Stephen
Waterhouse, J. Hornbrook, L. D. Waitt, John K. Botsford, George Bowers, Robert
Crangle, J. M. Bickel, James Paull, John C. Hoffman, Jacob Berger, A. Bedillion,
Sr., George Tingle, Samuel McCulloeh, J. C. Orr.
Pleasants County — Friend Cochran, Robert Parker, R. A. Cramer, James W.
Williamson.
Preston County — Harrison Hagans, R. C. Crooks, W. H. King, James W. Brown,
Charles Hooton, Summers McCrum, William B. Zinn, W. T. Brown, Reuben Morris,
D. A. Letzinger, John Howard, G. H. Kidd, James A. Brown, William P. Fortney.
Ritchie County — Noah Rexroad, D. Rexroad, J. P. Harris, A. S. Cole.
Roane County — Irwin C. Stump.
Taylor County — J. Means, J. M. Wilson, T. Kennedy, Thomas Cather, John S.
Burdett, J. J. Allen, B. Bailey, George R. Latham, T. T. Monroe, J. J. Warren.
Tyler County — Daniel D. Johnson, Daniel Sweeney, V. Smith, W. B. Kerr, J. C.
Parker, James M. Smith, J. H. Johnston, Isaac D'avis, S. H. Hawkins, D. King,
William Prichard.
Upshur County — W. H. Williams, C. P. Rohrbaugh.
Wayne County — William W. Brumfield, C. Spurlock, F. Moore, William H.
Copley, Walter Queen.
Wetzel County — F. E. Williams, Joseph Murphy, Elijah Morgan, William Bur-
rows, B. T. Bowers, J. R. Brown, J. M. Bell, Jacob Young, Reuben Martin, R.
Reed, Sr., Richard Cook, A. McEldowney, B. VanCamp, John McClaskey, S. Stephens,
R. W. Lauck, John Alley, Thomas MeQuown, George W. Bier, William D. Walker,
R. S. Sayers.
Wirt County — Henry Newman, E. T. Graham, B. Ball.
Wood County — S. L. A. Burche, John J. Jackson, Sr., J. D. Ingram, A. Laugh-
lin, Wellington Vrooman, J. C. Rathbone, G. E. Smith, D. K. Baylor, M. Woods,
Andrew Alls, Joseph Dagg, Jr., N. W. Warlow, Peter Riddle, John Paugh, T. E.
McPherson, Thomas Leach, S. S. Spencer, E. Deem, N. H. Colston, A. Hinckley,
Bennett Cook, George W. Henderson, George Loomis, J. L. Padgett, S. D. Compton,
S. N. Peterson, G. H. Ralston, V. A. Dunbar, A. R. Dye, W. H. Baker, William
Johnston, Jr., Dr. Jesse Burche, S. Ogden, Sardis Cole, P. Reed, John McKibben,
W. Athey, C. Hunter, W. P. Davis, R. H. Burke, George Compton, C. M. Cole, Roger
Tiffins, Edward Hoit, W. B. Caswell, Peter Dils, W. F. Henry, A. C. McKinsey,
Rufus Kinnard, John J. Jackson, Jr., C. J. Neal, J. G. Blackford, Henry Cole, W.
E. Stevenson, Jesse Murdock, J. Burche, J. Morrison, A. H. Hatcher, A. Mather,
Charles B. Smith, Arthur Drake, H. Rider, B. H. Bukey, John W. Moss, R. S. Smith,
M. P. Amiss, T. Hunter, J. Barnett, T. S. Conley and J. J. Neal.
The members of this irregular convention, although they agreed upon
the necessity of separation from Virginia and the formation of the new
state, were divided on the question of what should be done first. Their
conflicting ideas and plans were disclosed in a torrent of resolutions.
Many, led by John S. Carlile, insisted on the immediate formation of
a new state by the simple edict of the convention without the delay
and inconvenience which would result from adherence to constitutional
provisions. The Wood county delegation carried a banner which bore
the inscription "New Virginia, now or never." Others, led by W. T.
Willey, were opposed to immediate action, feeling that the time called
for thoughtful, guarded deliberation. They declared the execution of
Carlile 's plan would be "triple treason" — treason against the state,
against the United States, and against the Confederacy if it should
succeed in maintaining itself.
The following abstract from Hall 's account presents some of these differences :
"General Jackson, obtaining the floor, made a lengthy speech defining his
position. He was opposed to the Convention taking any decisive action; thought it
would be premature, revolutionary and altogether unwise. He was in favor of the
Convention passing a series of resolutions expressive of the wrongs of the Northwest,
and then adjourning at least until after the election;
348 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
"Mr. Carlile replied to General Jackson. No people who contented themselves
with paper resolves, while bayonets were bristling all around them and war was
being brought to their very doors as rapidly as it could be, ever maintained their
freedom in this way. ' Let this Convention show its loyalty to the Union and call
upon the government to furnish them with means of defense, and they will be
furnished. '
' ' This declaration was received with loud and continued applause.
"Waitman T. WRley obtained the floor and proceeded to address the Conven
tion, taking substantially the position taken by General Jackson against any im-
mediate measures looking to an independent State organization.
' ' The second day of the Convention was opened with prayer by Rev. Wesley
Smith, of the Methodist Church.
' ' Mr. Willey, rising to a privileged question and referring to his remarks the
previous evening, said he had been misunderstood to say that his view of the proper
course for the Convention to pursue was that it should adjourn until after the en-
suing election without taking any action whatever. But he wished to declare a
distinct and unequivocal position in condemnation of the usurpation at Richmond
and lay down a platform upon which to organize the public sentiment for a separa-
tion from the rest of the State. He would ask to be released from the position
assigned him upon the Committee on State and Federal Relations.
' ' Mr. Carlile, resuming said that it was due to a correct understanding on the
part of the country and to the position he occupied before the country, that he be
permitted to make an explanation.
"It is represented, he said, that a proposition looking to a separate State
government is revolutionary. I deny it. It is the only legal, constitutional remedy
left this people if they do not approve of the action of the Virginia Convention.
Like the gentleman from Monongalia, I desire to exhaust all legal and peaceful reme-
dies before we are compelled to the ultima ratio of nations. But can there be
anything revolutionary in availing ourselves of the constitutional means provided in
the organic law of the land for the very purpose of protecting our interests'? The
Constitution of the United States is also the constitution of Virginia; is the supreme
law of the land; is to be obeyed and respected by all, even by the constitutions of
the several States. It makes null and void every constitutional provision of a State
and every Legislative enactment which is in conflict with it. It provides expressly
and in terms plain and unmistakable for the separation of a State and the erection
of a new State within the boundaries of a State out of which the new State is to
be formed. Then where is there anything revolutionary in discussing and deliberat-
ing and exercising a privilege thus secured us by that instrument?"
After a debate which lasted three days the "mass convention"
changed its mind on the Carlile plan but reached the same object in an-
other way. Hon. P. H. Pierpont came forward with some resolutions
which were in the nature of a substitute for the Carlile plan, providing
for a new convention to which delegates should be regularly chosen by
all the loyal counties and which should devise such measures as the
welfare of the people of the northwestern counties should demand.
This proposition left the question and method of separation from the
old state to be determined by the new convention itself. This proposi-
tion met with the approval of the convention, and it made a call upon
all the western counties disposed to co-operate to send delegates to
the new convention. Delegating the execution of the plan to a well-
chosen executive committee this remarkable and historic convention ad-
journed amidst a blaze of enthusiasm accompanied by the singing of
"The Star Spangled Banner." The recommendation of the committee
that (if the ordinance of secession should be ratified on May 23) there
should be an election on June 4 to select delegates to a new convention
to reorganize the government, was put into operation.
The central committee appointed by the chairman of the convention
consisted of John S. Carlile, James S. Wheat, Francis H. Pierpont,
Campbell Tarr, George R. Latham, Andrew Wilson, S. H. Woodward,
and James W. Paxton. It actively opened communications with county
organizations and otherwise prepared to secure a full anti-secession
vote at the election of May 23. On May 21, it distributed widely
pamphlets containing an address of Mr. Carlile on the crisis, emphasizing
ing the immediate duty to repudiate the unwise act of the Richmond
convention which by proposing secession threatened war and its conse-
quential evils.
The Virginia politicians having fully made up their minds that Vir-
ginia should secede, ordered a close censorship of the United States mails
in order to seize' for destruction all papers and documents supposed to
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350 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
be hostile to the cause of secession. In Philippi the postmaster refused
to deliver such papers to the persons to whom they were addressed, but
turned them over to secessionists who publicly burned them in a street
bonfire. A similar course was pursued in other towns of West Virginia.
Because of the situation in Virginia in May, before the ratification elec-
tion, the post office department at Washington discontinued mail service
in Virginia by the following order which indicated a desire to recognize
the loyalty of the West:
"All postal service in the seceding states will be suspended from the 21st
instant. Mails sent to offices closed by this order will be sent to the Dead Letter
office, except those in Western Virginia, which will be sent to Wheeling. It is not
intended by this order to deprive the Union men of Western Virginia of their
postal service. ' '
Secessionists used several kinds of pressure to force the ratification
of the ordinance of secession. One kind is illustrated by the following
letter published by ex-Senator James M. Mason :
"Winchester, Virginia, May 16, 1861
To the Editor of the Winchester Virginian:
The question has been frequently put to me, What position will Virginia occupy
should the ordinance of secession be rejected by the people at the approaching
election? And the frequency of the question may be an excuse for giving publicity
to the answer.
The ordinance of secession withdrew the State of Virginia from the Union, with
all the consequences resulting from the separation. It annulled the Constitution
and laws of the United States within the limit of this State and absolved the citizens
of Virginia from all obligations of obedience to them.
If it be asked, What are those to do who in their conscience cannot vote to
separate Virginia from the United States? the answer is simple and plain. Honor
and duty alike require that they should not vote on the question; and if they retain
such opinions, they must leave the state. ' '
Other kinds are mentioned in the following extract from an address
issued by the June convention regarding the conduct of the election :
' ' Threats of personal injury and other intimidations * * * were used by
the adherents of the conspirators in every county in the State. Judges charged the
grand juries that opposition to disunion would be punished as treason against the
Commonwealth; and the armed partisans of the conspirators in various places
arrested, plundered and exiled peaceable citizens for no other crime than their ad-
herence to the Union. * * * yye are no^ apprised by any official announcement
of the vote taken under such circumstances; but whatever the result may be, we
denounce it as unfair and unjust and as affording no evidence of the will of the
people on the subject actually presented for their suffrages, and much less of their
consent to their transfer to the self -constituted oligarchy of the South. * * * "
Senator Willey in a public speech said that on the day of the vote
on the ordinance by the people, "30,000 glittering bayonets surrounded
the polls from the Chesapeake to the summit of the Alleghenies and por-
tions of the Confederate forces pushed across the Alleghenies into
Northwestern Virginia. ' '
On the day of the election Confederate troops to the number of about
one thousand arrived at Webster from the South on their way to
Grafton to rendezvous — "to defend the place against Northern aggres-
sion." Already there was a force of two hundred at Fetterman, in-
cluding William P. Thompson's "Marion Guards."
In the remoter southwestern counties of what is now West Vir-
ginia, it was probably dangerous to cast a vote against ratification of
secession. One can understand the situation better by recalling the
fact that the vote was taken viva voce (not by ballot). Mr. Hagar
of Boone county, in the Constitutional Convention at Wheeling said
that in his county the vote would have been heavily against secession
if the mode of voting would have been by ballot. He stated that the
Union men, in the face of threats and in fear of a drunken secession
mob at the court house, did not have the courage to vote. He reported
that at Chapmanville, in Logan county, only one of fifty Union men
there had the courage to cast his vote, and that he saved his life only by
cancelling the vote.
The vote against secession was very small at Richmond and other
points in eastern Virginia. Many Union men felt that it was utterly
useless to exercise their privilege as voters, and quietly acquiesced in
the secession movement whose leaders were so determined to win.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 351
It is doubtful whether the vote at the polls really settled the mat-
ter. The election was simply a farcical proceeding which was intended
to give authority for what had already been consummated at Richmond
beyond recall, without the consent of the people and even without their
knowledge.
Probably no complete official statement of the vote on secession was
ever made. The journal of the convention does not disclose the full
vote. It certainly does not disclose the vote by counties. John Minor
Botts once said to the Joint Committee on Reconstruction, "I have
never seen the vote, nor have I seen anybody who has seen it. Whether
that vote included the majority of the legal voters of the state, I have
never had any means of ascertaining."
A "Schedule" which was adopted by the Virginia Convention April
24, 1861, and which is to be found on pages 3-4 of "Ordinances Adopted
by the Convention of Virginia in Secret Session in April and May,
1861" (Richmond, 1861), provided that the election officers should make
return of the vote "to the clerks of their respective counties and cor-
porations," that those clerks should transmit to the governor copies
of the returns, and that the governor should "make proclamation of
the result, * * * to be published in such newspapers in the state
as may be deemed requisite for general information." The proclama-
tion (by Governor John Letcher) called for by that "Schedule," which
bore date of June 14, 1861, may be found on pages 155-156 of volume 11
(edited by Secretary of State H. W. Plournoy) of "Calendar of Vir-
ginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts" (Richmond, 1893). That
proclamation stated that "the returns of several counties have not been
received, and of others cannot be obtained," and declared that "the
aggregate vote aforesaid was found to be" 125,950 in favor of seces-
sion and 20,373 against it. To his proclamation the governor appended
an estimate of the vote of the counties from which returns had not been
received, but that appendix is not given in Mr. Flournoy's volume, he,
instead, giving, in an editorial note (on page 156), the estimate made
by the governor of the vote in those counties, which was 11,961 for
secession and 3,234 against it. It is seen that, according to Governor
Letcher's proclamation, including the appendix to it, the total vote of
the state was 137,911 for secession and 23,607 against it.
Hall in his "Rending of Virginia" says: "In the paper written by John
Goode he claims the popular vote on the ratification of the ordinance was 125,950
for and 20,373 against. Mr. Goode 's figures, however, appear to be incorrect. The
vote as announced in the Convention June 25, 1861, was: For ratification, 128,884;
against, 32,134. These figures will also be found in the American Cyclopedia. This
made a total vote of 161,018; majority, 96,750. It is not probable that these are
honest figures. The Presidential vote in Virginia the previous November had been
167,223. Under the conditions prevailing, it is impossible to believe so nearly the
whole vote of the State was cast on the ordinance. The conspirators had full control
of the returns and could cook the result to suit themselves. ' '
The Daily National Intelligencer of Wednesday, May 29, 1861, had
"official returns" from seventeen counties. Fragmentary returns of
the vote were also given in the Daily National Intelligencer of May 27,
28 and 30 and June 10, but they were not "official."
On May 31 the Wheeling Intelligencer announced that the majorities against
the secession ordinance in 26 counties of Western Virginia were as follows:
Barbour 350 Monongalia 2,200
Berkeley 700 Morgan 400
Brooke 600 Ohio 3,300
Cabell 650 Pleasants 145
Doddridge 550 Preston 500
Hancock" 771 Ritchie 378
Harrison 1,097 Taylor 700
Jackson 400 Tyler 755
Lewis 300 Wayne 800
Kanawha 1,200 Wirt 400
Marion 450 Wetzel 610
Marshall 1,851 Wood 1,696
Mason 1,725
Total Union Majority 13,378
352 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
On Jnne 1, it announced the following official returns chiefly from western
counties :
For Against Union Secession
County Secession It Majorities Majorities
Alexandria 983 106 877
Brooke 109 723 614
Berkeley 428 1,226 1,198
Clarke 3 553 550
Harrison 694 1,691 997
Hancock 23 743 720
Jefferson 813 365 448
Mason 119 1,844 1,725
Monongalia (about) 100 2 200 2,100
Marshall 142 1,993 1,851
Morgan 126 533 407
Ohio 157 3,368 3,212
Preston 63 2 256 2,193
Pleasants 158 363 205
Tyler 125 880 755
Wood 257 1,955 1,698
Wetzel 180 790 610
4,480 21,529 18,835 1,325
It explained that reception of the result of the vote in eastern counties had been
prevented by interruption of the mails from that section of the State, but ex-
pressed the expectation of a large majority there in favor of secession.
After June 1, the Intelligencer evidently ceased to publish reports
of election returns, probably because the fight at Philippi and other
military events diverted the popular interest from the election. Files
of the Richmond newspapers furnish the following additional reports
on the vote of counties of western Virginia on the question of secession :
For Against
Jefferson 813 365
Fayette (all but 3 precincts) 407 129
Pocahontas 360 13
Hardy 768 538
Greenbrier 1,000 100
Monroe 1,085 79
Randolph 200 majority
Other sources indicate that Mercer county cast only seven votes
against. Probably other counties south of the Kanawha were also
strongly for secession. According to the Richmond Dispatch the vote in
nearly all eastern counties was practically unanimous in favor of seces-
sion. Among the exceptions were the following :
For Against
Alexandria 950 106
Norfolk 901 74
Rockingham 3 010 22
Abington 1 907 20
Frederick 1,503 360
Curiously, Rockbridge county gave only one vote against secession,
and Clark county only three. Louden county gave a majority of 1,000
against secession.
On June 14 Governor Letcher issued a proclamation announcing
that the secession ordinance had been ratified by popular vote of 125.950
against 20,373 and declared the Confederate constitution to be in full
force in Virginia. He explained that in consequence of the presence of
hostile force election returns from some counties including thirty-four
counties in Western Virginia had not been received.
At the same time he attempted in vain to win western Virginia to the
cause of the South by promise of larger privileges and by appeal to past
friendships and historic memories. In his proclamation of June 14,
which was published at Huttonsville in Randolph County and at other
points, he stated that the East was willing to agree to relinquish unjust
exemptions from taxation and to share all the burdens of government.
The Richmond convention (reduced to 81 members) reassembled,
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 353
signed the ordinance of secession and promptly chose delegates to repre-
sent Virginia in the Confederate congress. It expelled members who
had represented western Virginia in the sessions previous to April 17
and had been absent since that date. Its remaining membership which
signed the ordinance included two or three western Virginia delegates.
The convention adjourned on July 1 to meet on November 13.4 Through-
out the seceded part of the state a deluge of paper money soon appeared
as evidence of the coming of the new era of inflation.
In western Virginia, which in its total vote of 44,000 at the election
gave a majority of 40,000 against the ordinance, the determination of
the people not to accept secession was immediately evident — even before
the arrival of returns of the election. Prom some sections radical seces-
sionists promptly withdrew. On May 27, the Wheeling Union, which had
claimed to owe obedience to the Federal government only through com-
mand of Virginia, suspended publication. Its editor, Philip Henry
Moore, promptly left for the South by river steamer. There was a gen-
eral impression that Virginia's control west of the mountains had ended.
The advance of United States troops simultaneously from Parkers-
burg and Wheeling, on May 27, cleared the Confederate forces out of
Northwestern Virginia and left the people free to organize.
The people of the northwest did not wait for further news from Rich-
mond. On June 4, on call issued by the Central Committee, addressed
to all the loyal people of Virginia, elections were held for delegates to
the convention to meet at Wheeling, June 11, in accord with the follow-
ing resolution of the First Wheeling Convention :
"8. Resolved. That in the event of the Ordinance of Secession being
ratified by a vote, we recommend to the people of the Counties here represented,
and all others disposed to co-operate with us, to appoint on the 4th day of June,
1861, delegates to a General Convention, to meet on the 11th of that month, at
such place as may be designated by the Committee hereinafter provided, to devise
such measures and take such action as the safety and welfare of the people they
represent may demand, — each County to appoint a number of Representatives to
said Convention equal to double the number to which it will be entitled in the next
House of Delegates; and the Senators and Delegates to be elected on the 23d inst.,
by the counties referred to, to the next General Assembly of Virginia, and who
concur in the views of this Convention, to be entitled to seats in the said Convention
as members thereof. ' '
On June 11th seventy-seven representatives from thirty-nine coun-
ties assembled at Wheeling as members of the Second Wheeling Con-
vention. The following is the list arranged by counties :
Alexandria County — Henry S. Martin, and James T. Close, delegates.
Barbour County — Nathan H. Taft, and D. M. Myers, members of the House
of Delegates, and John H. Shuttleworth and Spencer Dayton, delegates.
Brooke County — Joseph Gist, Senator, H. W. Crothers, member House of Dele-
gates, and John D. Nicholls and Campbell Tarr, delegates.
Cabell County — Albert Laidley,5 member House of Delegates.
Doddridge and Tyler — Chapman J. Stuart, senator, William J. Boreman, mem-
ber House of Delegates, and Daniel D. Johnson, and James A. Foley, delegates.
Fairfax County — John Hawxhurst and Eben E. Mason, delegates.
Gilmer County — Henry W. Withers, delegates.
Hampshire County — James R. Carskadon, senator, and Owen D. Downey, George
W. Broski, James H. Trout and James J. Barracks, delegates.
Hancock County — George McC. Porter, member House of Delegates, John H.
Atkinson and William L. Crawford, delegates.
Hardy County — John Michael, delegate.
Harrison County — John J. Davis, and John C. Vance, members House of Dele-
gates, and John S. Carlile, Solomon S. Fleming, Lot Bowen,e Benjamin F. Shuttle-
worth, and Charles S. Lewis, delegates.
Jackson County — Daniel Frost, member House of Delegates, and James F. Scott
and Andrew Flesher, delegates.
Jefferson County — George Koontz, delegate.
* At its November meeting the Richmond convention framed a new constitution
for Virginia and adjourned sine dAe on December 6, 1861.
s Albert Laidley who had been elected as delegate to the legislature from
Cabell did not take the oath of loyalty and did not remain at Wheeling. He went to
Richmond where he occupied a seat in the General Assembly, session beginning De-
cember 2, 1861, as the delegate from Cabell County.
8 Lot Bowen resigned August 13, 1861, because of a connection with the Army,
and was succeeded the following day by Charles S. Lewis.
Vol. 1—2 3
354 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Kanawha County — Lewis Ruffner, member House of Delegates, and Greenbury
Slack, delegate.
Lewis County — Blaekwell Jackson, senator; Perry M. Hale, and J. A. J. Light-
burn, delegates.
Marion County — Richard Fast and Fountain Smith, members House of Delegates,
and Francis H. Pierpont,? Ephraim B. Hall, John S. Barns, A. F. Ritchie, and
James O. Watson, delegates.
Marshall County — Remembrance Swan, member House of Delegates, and E. H.
Caldwell and Robert Morris, delegates.
Mason County — Lewis Wetzel, member House of Delegates, and Charles B.
Waggener, James Smith, and Daniel Polsley, delegates.
Monongalia County — Leroy Kramer and Joseph Snyder, members House of
Delegates, and Ralph L. Berkshire, William Price, James Evans and Dennis B.
Dorsey, delegates.
Ohio County — Thomas H. Logan and Andrew Wilson, members of House of
Delegates, and Daniel Lamb, James W. Paxton, George Harrison, and Chester D.
Hubbard, delegates.
Pleasants and Ritchie — James W. Williamson, member House iof Delegates,
and C. W. Smith and William Douglas, delegates.
Preston County — Charles Hooten and William B. Zinn, members House of Dele-
gates, and William B. Crane, John Howard, Harrison Hagans, and John J. Brown,
delegates.
Putnam County — George C. Bowyer, member House of Delegates, and Dudley
S. Montague, * delegate.
Randolph and Tucker- — Solomon Parsons, member House of Delegates, and
Samuel Crane, delegate.
Roane County — T. A. Roberts, delegate.
Taylor County — Thomas Cather, senator, Lemuel E. Davidson, member House of
Delegates, John S. Burdett and Samuel Todd, delegates.
Upshur County — Daniel D. T. Farnsworth, member House of Delegates, John
L. Smith and John Love, delegates.
Wayne County — William Rateliff, member House of Delegates, and William W.
Brumfieid, and William Copley, delegates.
Wetzel County — -James G. West, member House of Delegates, and Reuben
Martin, and James P. Ferrell, delegates.
Wirt County — James A. Williamson, member House of Delegates, and Henry
Newman, and E. T. Graham, delegates.
Wood County — John W. Moss, member House of Delegates, and Arthur I.
Boreman, and Peter G. Van Winkle, delegates.
The following officers were chosen for the permanent organization :
Dennis B. Dorsey of Monongalia County Temporary President.
Gibson Lamb Cranmer of Ohio County Temporary Secretary.
Arthur I. Boreman of Wood County Permanent President.
Gibson Lamb Cranmer of Ohio County Permanent Secretary.
Thomas Hornbrook of Ohio County Sergeant-at-Arms.
All the members before taking their seats, were required to take an
oath to support the Constitution of the United States as the supreme law
of the land, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Ordinance
of Secession passed at Richmond on the 17th of April, 1861.
Two plans were presented to the Convention: that of immediately
forming a new state out of the counties represented in the convention,
after the Carlile plan ; and the other of reorganizing the Virginia state
government and assuming that these counties represented in the con-
vention were the state. The majority of the convention soon shifted to
the support of the proposition for reorganizing the Virginia government
out of the loyal counties, vacating the offices and taking possession of
the whole machinery under the name of the government of Virginia.
By this method they controlled a state already organized, and quite
sure of the recognition of the Federal government in preference to that
purporting to be the government of Virginia at the city of Richmond.
The commonwealth of Virginia could be legally dismembered only by
its own consent. If the people west of the mountains represented the
state in the Union they could easily get the consent for division. To
this end the convention adopted with great unanimity, and promulgated
7 Francis H. Pierpont, having been elected Governor, resigined August 19, 1861,
and was succeeded by Ephraim B. Hall.
8 Another delegate from Putnam County qualified and took his seat, August 12,
1861, but his name has not been ascertained.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 355
an address or declaration of their motives and purposes, and a state-
ment of the grievances which impelled them to this course. It framed
and passed, without a dissenting vote, an ordinance which set forth in
detail the scheme of the convention for reorganizing the state of Vir-
ginia : the appointment of a governor, lieutenant-governor, and attorney-
general to continue in office for six months; the requirement of a test
oath of all officers then serving under the Virginia government with a
provision authorizing the governor to appoint successors to all incum-
bents who refused to take the oath; and an early meeting of the legis-
lature to provide for a speedy general election to fill all offices of the
government. Under this plan the Convention on June 20, unanimously
elected the following state officers :
Governor — Francis Pierpont.
Lieutenant-Governor — Daniel Polsley.
Governor's Council — Peter G. Van Winkle, William A. Harrison, William Lazier,
Daniel Lamb, James Paxton.
Later James S. Wheat was selected for Attorney-General.
To each of these was administered the oath of office by which they
agreed to support the United States constitution and laws made in pur-
suance thereof as the supreme law of the land. On June 25 the Second
Wheeling Convention adjourned to August 6.
After establishing the new government, the convention then formally
declared all ordinances, acts, orders, resolutions and other proceedings
of the Richmond convention illegal, inoperative, null and void.
With a view of taking up in earnest the work of erecting a new state,
the convention adjourned on June 25 to reconvene at the same place
on August 6 following.
At this time the people of western Virginia, under the reorganized
government, were without a judiciary, without sheriffs and without
legal protection of life, liberty and property.
After his election and installation by the Convention, Governor Pier-
pont at once entered upon the duties of his office. From the collector
of the port he accepted at the Custom House an office with a bare table,
a half quire of paper and pen and ink.
Some friends who came to congratulate him remarked that he was the first
man they had ever known to thank men for putting a rope around his neck. The
Governor replied that ' ' success was never convicted of treason. ' ' He immediately
addressed a letter to the President of the United States, informing him that there
was insurrection and rebellion ' in the State, that certain evil-minded men had
banded themselves together and had joined with like-minded men from other States,
that they had formed strong military organizations and were pressing Union men
into their army and taking their substance to support their organizations, that
their object was to overthrow the government of the State and of the United
States, and that he had not sufficient military force at his command to suppress
the rebellion. He called upon the President for military aid, and signed his letter,
"F. H. Pierpont, Governor of Virginia."
One of the first problems was to obtain money for expenses. Some members of
the Convention did not have money to pay hotel and boarding house keepers who
were expecting payment at the end of the week. When this situation was pre-
sented to him, Governor Pierpont said to Mr. Van Winkle: "We must have money.
I want you, after breakfast, to go with me to N. W. and M. M. banks, and en
dorse my notes for $5,000. one on each bank. I intend to have $10,000 from these
banks." Van Winkle said he would do it. They got the cashiers together. The
Governor told them what he wanted. They raised the objection that they could not
make the loan to the State without a vote of the stockholders. The Governor replied:
' ' I want it on my own individual note and Mr. Van Winkle will endorse it. I want it
to pay the mileage and per diem of the members of the convention. If my govern-
ment succeeds you are sure of your money. If it does not succeed, your money is
not worth a bubble." One of the cashiers replied: "You shall have five thou-
sand from this bank. What shall we do with it?" The Governor replied: "Place
it to my credit officially, and I will so draw my checks. ' ' The other cashier said he
would like to do the same thing, but nearly all his directors were of the Secession
party, and they would not meet until Thursday. Governor Pierpont said, "Please
give to them my compliments, and tell them to place the money to my credit, and
that I don 't want any higgling about it. ' ' On Wednesday the cashier informed
him that $5,000 was placed to his credit in the other bank. The Governor went imme-
diately to the convention, asked the President to inform all the members that if
they would obtain from the Sergeant-at-arms a certificate of the mileage and per
356 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
diem due them, and would bring it to him, he would give them a check for the
money.
On June 24 the Intelligencer announced that Governor Pierpont and
his council were hard at work on business of the government. A few
days later immediate financial needs of the new government were re-
lieved by arrival of funds which the Richmond government had on
deposit at Weston. On June 28 the seventh Ohio, marching via Grafton
and Clarksburg, arrived at Weston. James Jackson and six other seces-
sionists were immediately arrested and sent to Grafton. Other promi-
nent men of the town, who were also arrested, were released after an
examination. R. J. McCandlish, the cashier of the Exchange bank branch,
was arrested and forced to hand over $28,000 of its funds. Governor
Pierpont, upon being notified of the action, sent John List to Weston
to take possession of the money "on behalf of its rightful owners, the
true and lawful government of Virginia." The money was taken to
Wheeling and deposited in banks there to the credit of the state. It was
used in paying the salaries of officers, and other expenses incident to
setting the restored government in operation.
The old Atheneum at Wheeling was converted into a war prison in
which to keep the Confederates captured. Its interior business was a
marked contrast from the great political conventions recently held within
its walls. By the autumn of 1861, there were forty prisoners confined
there. The sight of men and blankets strewn about over the bare floors
of this historic old hall was a reminder of the horrors of civil war.
The convention reassembled on August 6, and, after much discus-
sion concerning the legality of such an act, on August 20 passed an
ordinance providing for the formation of a new state and adjourned
on August 21. On October 24, the people living within the boundaries
of the proposed state ratified the ordinance by a vote of 18,408 to 781
and at the same time elected delegates to a constitutional convention
which met at Wheeling on November 26, 1861.
On May 13, 1862, the legislature of the restored government passed
an act giving the formal consent of Virginia to the erection of a new
state out of her territory. This territory included 48 counties of north-
western Virginia and made provision for including three more — Jeffer-
son, Berkeley and Frederick — when they should vote to come in. [Jef-
ferson and Berkeley subsequently voted in favor of the proposition, but
the county of Frederick never voted on it.] The assent of these fifty
counties by a formal vote to the formation of a new state led to steps
preparatory to the formation of a constitution of the new state.
In pursuance of the ordinance of the June convention, the first legis-
lature under the reorganized government of Virginia met at Wheeling
on July 1, 1861. Governor Pierpont sent an elaborate message, among
other things informing the legislature that he had communicated to the
President of the United States the purposes and acts of the convention
and of the people of the northwest counties in endeavoring to preserve
the state of Virginia to the Union, and had received his assurance that
they should have such assistance from the Federal government as could
be given under the authority of the constitution.
Only July 9, the legislature of the two houses proceeded to complete
the organization of the government by filling the offices that were vacant.
After appointing various state officers, it proceeded to choose successors
to R. M. T. Hunter and James M. Mason, who had vacated their seats
in the United States senate and were engaged in the effort to overthrow
the Federal government. To fill these vacancies it elected Waitman T.
Willey and John S. Carlile, who proceeded to Washington, presented
their credentials from the Virginia government at Wheeling, and were
duly admitted by the United States Senate as senators from Virginia.
The new government also obtained the official recognition of the House
of Representatives at Washington, through the admission of three mem-
bers of Congress chosen in the northwestern districts in the May elec-
tions in defiance of Richmond authorities, and commissioned by Gover-
nor Pierpont under seals procured by him.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 357
Thus the way was prepared for the formation of a new state under
forms of legality.
The first constitutional convention of West Virginia assembled at
Wheeling on November 26, 1861, remained in session until February
18, 1862, reassembled on February 12, 1863, and adjourned sine die on
February 20, 1863. Its president was John Hall of Point Pleasant;
its secretary, Ellery R. Hall of Pruntytown ; its sergeant-at-arms, James
C. Orr of Wheeling. It had sixty-one delegates, representing 47 counties
(all but Webster) as given in the adjoining table.
Name Age Nativity Occupation County Postoffice
1 Gordon Battelle 47 Ohio Minister Ohio Wheeling
2 John L. Boggs* Virginia Pendleton
3 James H. Brown1 .... 42 Virginia Lawyer Kanawha Charleston
4 John J. Brown 35 Virginia Lawyer Preston Kingwood
5 Richard L. Brooks*. . 52 Virginia Farmer Upshur Rock Cave
6 Wm. W. Brumfield. . . 33 Virginia Farmer Wayne Ceredo
7 E.H.Caldwell 52 Virginia Lawyer Marshall Moundsville
8 Thos. R. Carskadon . . 24 Virginia Farmer Hampshire New Creek Sta.
9 James S. Cassady2 .. . 40 Virginia Farmer Fayette Fayetteville
10 H. D. Chapman 63 Mass Physician Roane Spencer
11 Richard M. Cook8 Virginia Farmer Mercer. . ._
12 Henry Dering 50 Virginia Merchant Monongalia Morgantown
13 John A. Dille 40 Penn Lawyer Preston Kingwood
14 Abijah Dolly 44 Virginia Farmer Hardy Greenland
15 D. W. Gibson* Physician Pocahontas
16 Samuel T. Griffith* Physician Mason W. Columbia
17 Robert Hagar 51 Virginia Farmer Boone Boone C. H.
18 Ephraim B. Hall 39 Virginia Lawyer Marion Fairmont
19 John Hall 56 Ireland Farmer Mason Point Pleasant
20 Stephen M. Hansley. . 42 Virginia Farmer Raleigh Marshall
21 Thomas W. Harrison. 37 Virginia Lawyer Harrison Clarksburg
22 Hiram Haymond 55 Virginia Farmer Marion Palatine
23 James Hervey 41 Ohio Lawyer Brooke Wellsburg
24 J. P. Hoback1 Virginia Farmer McDowell
25 Joseph Hubbs 54 Penn Farmer Pleasants St. Marys
26 Robert Irvine 47 Virginia Lawyer Lewis Weston
27 Daniel Lamb 51 Penn Cashier Ohio Wheeling
28 R. W. Lauck 49 Virginia Lawyer Wetzel Martinsville
29 E. S. Mahon 45 Maryland Farmer Jackson Ravenswood
30 Andrew Manns Greenbrier
31 J. R. McCutchen6 Virginia Farmer Nicholas
32 Dudley S. Montague . 61 Virginia Hotel keeper Putnam Red House Sh'ls
33 Emmett J. O'Brien... 42 Virginia Mechanic Barbour Burnersville
34 Granville Parker 51 Mass Lawyer Cabell Guyandotte
35 James W. Parsons 49 Virginia Farmer Tucker St. George
36 James W. Paxton 40 Virginia Merchant Ohio Wheeling
37 David S. Pinnell* Upshur
38 Joseph S. Pomeroy.. . 40 Penn Minister Hancock Fairview
39 John M. Powell 36 Virginia Minister Harrison West Milford
40 J. Robinson Calhoun
41 A. F. Ross* Teacher Ohio West Liberty
42 Lewis Ruffner 64 Virginia Salt Manf'r Kanawha Kan. Salines
43 Edward W. Ryan7 Virginia Minister .Fayette
44 Geo. W. Sheetz 38 Virginia Carpenter Hampshire Piedmont
45 Josiah Simmons 47 Virginia Farmer Randolph Leedsville
46 Harmon Sinsel .. 44 Virginia Carpenter Taylor Pruntytown
47 Benjamin H. Smith8 Virginia. Lawyer Logan Logan C. H.
48 Abram D. Soper 66 New York Lawyer Tyler Sistersville
49 Benj. L. Stephenson Virginia Farmer. Clay Clay C. H.
50 Wm. E. Stevenson. . . 40 Penn Farmer Wood Parkersburg
51 Benjamin F. Stewart. 52 New York Merchant Wirt Newark
52 Chapman J. Stuart... 41 Virginia Lawyer Doddridge West Union
53 Gustavus F. Taylor . . 26 Virginia Lawyer Braxton Braxton C. H.
54 Moses Tichenael* Minister Marion Fairmont
55 Thomas H. Trainer. . . 42 Virginia Minister Marshall Cameron
56 Peter G. Van Winkle. 53 New York Lawyer Wood Parkersburg
57 William Walker 34 Virginia Lawyer Wyoming Oceana
58 William W. Warder . . 40 Virginia Farmer Gilmer Troy
59 Joseph S. Wheat* Virginia Morgan Berkeley Spr gs
60 Waitman T. Willey. . . 50 Virginia Lawyer Monongalia Morgantown
61 Andrew J. Wilson ... . 60 Virginia Farmer Ritchie Pennsboro
* Occupied seats in the Second Session of the Convention, which convened February 12, 1863, and
adjourned February 20, ensuing; but not in first session.
1 James H. Brown resigned his seat February 18, 1862.
3 James S. Cassady resigned February 1 , 1862.
8 Richard M. Cook was admitted to a seat January 21, 1862.
* J. P. Hoback was admitted to a seat January 21, 1862.
5 Andrew Mann was admitted to a seat February 14, 1863, his credentials being a petition signed
by fifty citizens of Greenbrier county.
6 J. R. McCutchen was admitted to a seat January 11, 1862.
7 Rev. Edward W. Ryan was admitted to a seat February 3, 1862.
8 Benjamin H. Smith resided in Kanawha county, but had petitions signed by citizens of Logan
county, praying that he represent them in this Convention, and he was thereupon admitted to a seat.
The report of the Committee on Credentials on the contest between Dr. D. W; Gibson and Samuel
Young, for a seat in the Convention from Pocahontas County, is indicative of the times. The Commit-
tee said:
"The facts are in brief, that last October, in view of the probable recalling of the Convention, some
twenty-five citizens of Pocahontas county drew up and signed a petition that Samuel Young, of that
county be permitted to occupy a seat on the floor of the Convention as the delegate from that County.
That petition was drawn by Dr. Gibson, of Pocahontas county, present contestant for a seat, and was
signed by him. Since a short period after that time, Mr. Young has not been in Pocahontas County and
people there knew nothing of his whereabouts. On the day of the recent election to fill vacancies, a
number of refugees from Pocahontas, who were in Upshur county, to make sure of being represented in
the Convention, and having by consultation with an attorney, ascertained that a delegate so elected
would probably be received, held an election at Buckhannon, and elected Dr. D. W. Gibson. Berth
these gentlemen believing themselves entitled to seats by the best expression that could be obtained, had
come in and made application."
Dr. Gibson was awarded the seat, while the Convention paid the mileage and three days per diem
of Mr. Young.
358 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
The constitution framed by the convention was far better than the
prejudices of many of the members as reflected in the debates might have
indicated. Unfortunately there was no official provision for the publica-
tion of the debates of the convention.9 Perhaps the reasons for this neg-
lect are reflected in the remarks of three of tbe members. Chapman J.
Stuart, representing Doddridge county, speaking without historical fore-
sight said in the convention that to publish the debates which no one
would ever read would be an unnecessary expense. James H. Brown
of Kanawha, untrained in historical perspective, said that after the
vital point — the success and excellence of the constitution — had been
attained the debates by which it had been attained were "immaterial
and unimportant." Hall, a stickler for impromptu and informal dis-
cussion opposed publication because he feared it would lead to "set
speeches."
The name selected for the new state was not the only one proposed.
The name Kanawha which had been used in the ordinance for the forma-
tion of the state was rejected — probably because there was already in
the state a county and a river by that name. Mr. Willey said that
some of his constitutents along the Monongahela thought that Kana-
wha was too hard to spell. There was objection also to the name of
West Virginia. Many felt that as immigrants held the name Virginia
in disrepute, thousands, believing that the Virginian policy still prevailed,
would be kept away if that name were retained. Others feared that
the sobriquet "west" would disgrace the new state in comparison with
Virginia. The question was finally settled however by the sentiment of
those who had long lived in the Old Dominion and who revered the
memories of its most honored citizens.10
The question of boundaries was a source of considerable debate. On
the day that the convention assembled, the Wheeling Intelligencer urged
that the people wanted a homogeneous state. Such they could not have
by including the eastern valley where, contrary to conditions in north-
western Virginia, negroes were the staple, and where the people could
not agree with the trans- Allegheny counties on the question of prohibit-
ing slavery in the new state. Yet several attempts were made in the
convention to include the valley counties, together with additional coun-
ties in the southwest. Through the influence of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railway, whose officials were desirous of getting the road out of Vir-
ginia, the proposition was made to include, by a majority of the votes
of each county, Pendleton, Hardy, Hampshire, Morgan, Berkeley, Jef-
ferson and Frederick.11 The same day that this proposition was carried
(February 11, 1862) Brown of Kanawha, who at first had contended that
the Blue ridge should be the eastern boundaiy, moved to include, under
like conditions, seventeen additional counties : nine in the southwest
(Lee, Scott, Wise, Russell, Buchanan, Tazewell, Bland, Giles and Craig),
three between the Allegheny and Shenandoah mountains (Allegheny,
Bath and Highland) to fill in the niche between Monroe and Pendleton
counties, three extending along the Potomac to a point below Washing-
ton (Loudon, Alexandria and Fairfax), and the two counties of the east-
ern shore (Accomac and Northampton). The majority of the members
of the convention, believing that if these counties were included the new
state movement would fail, disapproved and defeated Mr. Brown's
motion.
Important changes in the electorate and in the election were made.
Desiring to accelerate the retarded development which had resulted
from tide-water policies and the long-delayed execution of projected
intra-state improvements in western Virginia, the new state made a jeal-
o The stenographic notes of the debate, made by Granville D. Hall, the thought-
ful and industrious reporter of the Wheeling Intelligencer, are in manuscript in the
department of Archives and History of West Virginia.
i° Harmon Sinsel, the eccentric member from Pruntytown was in favor of Vir-
ginia as part of the name because it reminded him of the Virgin Mary.
ii Hardy county included Grant which was formed from it in 1866; and Hamp-
shire included Mineral which was formed from it in the same year.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 359
ous bid for thrifty immigrants by extending the rather liberal suffrage
provision of the Virginia constitution of 1851. The residence qualifica-
tions for a voter, which had been fixed at two years in the state and
twelve months in the voting district, were reduced to one year in the
state and thirty days in the district. Viva voce voting, "that old aristo-
cratic thumbscrew which had kept a large part of the voters of Vir-
ginia virtually slaves," and without which it was generally believed that
Virginia could never have passed the ordinance of secession, was replaced
by the ballot system.12 The date of elections was changed from May to
October, which was considered a more convenient time for farmers to
meet, and which also was more suitable to the convenience of candidates
and politicians.
The legislative body, the name of which was now changed from "gen-
eral assembly" to "legislature," was to meet annually for not longer
than forty-five days -unless three-fourths of the members concun-ed to
lengthen the session. Annual sessions were favored on the ground that
they would prove less expensive than the biennial sessions which had
been tried under the constitution of 1851. For the first time, represen-
tation in both houses was to be based on the white population. The
delegates were to be elected for a term of one instead of two years, and
the senators (half each year) for a term of two years in place of four
years. To the age and district residence qualifications for legislators,
which remained as in the Virginia constitution of 1851, was added the
provision that a senator should be a citizen of the state five years next
preceding his election or at the time of the adoption of the constitution.
The clause of the constitution of 1851 which had debarred ministers
and bank officers from seats in the legislature was dropped, but a provi-
sion was borrowed from the constitution of Indiana debarring any person
who had been entrusted with public money and had failed to account
for and pay over such money according to law. A new anti-duelling
clause disqualified from holding office any person who had been concerned
in a duel.13
To the previous Virginia restrictions on the legislature prohibiting
it to authorize a lottery, to grant a charter to a religious denomination,
or to grant special relief in matters entrusted to the circuit court (to
grant a divorce, to change the names of persons and to direct the sale
of estates of persons under legal disability), or to form a new county
of less than minimum size, were added other restrictions: the prohibi-
tion of all special legislation, and of any law which would make the
state a stockholder in any bank, or grant the credit of the state in aid
of any county, city, town or township, corporation or person, or make
the state responsible for their debts or liabilities, or contract any state
debt — except to meet casual deficits in the revenues, to defend the state,
and to redeem a previous liability of the state (including an equitable
portion of the public debt of Virginia prior to January 1, 1861).
In one instance, the convention, after much debate, increased the
power of the legislature by giving it the additional, but as yet unused,
power to pass laws regulating or prohibiting the sale of intoxicants in
the state.
12 When the ballot method was adopted the Wlieeling Intelligencer made this
comment :
"Had this been done years ago, we never would have been in revolution to-day.
A large part of the voters of this State by virtue of the viva voce system have been
its veriest slaves. Thousands of men have voted every year contrary to their con-
victions in order to make their peace or secure the good will of those who had them
in some way and in some degree in their power. It was called by its adopters a
system that preserved 'the healthful influence of the landlord over the tenant,'
or in other words made the tenant a slave to vote as he was told. Such a system
was a disgrace to our statute-book. It was one of those old aristocratic thumb-
screws of Eastern Virginia engrafted by her and preserved by her in our early
and later constitutions to prop up her despotic influence."
13 The reason for inserting this disqualifying clause in the constitution was ex-
plained in the report from the committee. The constitution of 1851 had given the
legislature the power to pass laws disqualifying persons concerned in a duel; but the
legislature, although it had passed such laws, had been accustomed to repeal them
temporarily whenever a favorite so disqualified became a candidate for office.
Counties Represented in Wheeling Conventions
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 361
The term of the chief executive was changed from four years to two,
his term to commence March 4 instead of January 1, and his salary to
be reduced from $5,000 to $2,000 per year.14 His powers and duties
remained as under the previous Virginia constitution except that the
clause providing that he should be commander-in-chief of the naval
forces of the state was omitted. He still had no power to veto an act
of the legislature. The office of lieutenant-governor which was con-
sidered a very unnecessary appendage was abolished without debate.
In opposition to the wishes of Brown and others, who favored their
election by the legislature as in Virginia, the convention decided that
the secretary of state, the treasurer, and the auditor should be elected
at the gubernatorial election for a term of two years. The attorney-
general was to be chosen at the same time, and for the same term.
The whole judicial power of the new state was vested by the consti-
tution in a supreme court of appeals (of three judges, but otherwise
the same as in the Virginia state constitution), in circuit courts, and in
justices of the peace. The nine circuit judges were to be elected for
six instead of eight years and the court was to be held at least four
times instead of twice a year. Both the much disliked county court and
the Virginia district court (created by the constitution of 1851) were
abolished without mention.
In the constitution one may see the evidence of the earlier opposi-
tion to the inequalities of the Virginia system of taxation. Paxton,
in reporting from the committee on taxation and finance, said that
no feature of the constitution of 1851 was so odious as that which dis-
criminated in taxation — taxing slave property much lower that the
ad valorem tax on all other property. Therefore, the constitution clearly
provided that all property, both real and personal, should be taxed in
proportion to its value, and that no one species of property should be
taxed higher than any other species of property of equal value. It also
provided that educational, literary, scientific, religious and church prop-
perty might be exempted from taxation by law.
In its provisions for the local government, the constitution showed
distinct departure from the previous provisions of the Virginia consti-
tutions. In place of the county court system, which, although much
remedied in 1851, was still very objectionable to many of the people
of northwestern Virginia, the convention adopted the "Yankee institu-
tion" of townships as sub-divisions of the counties with provision for
regular township meetings and for various officers chosen by the people
of each township ; a supervisor, a clerk, surveyors of the roads and an
overseer of the poor, elected annually; one or more constables elected
biennially; and one or more justices elected quadrennially. The county
officers retained in the new system were a sheriff (elected for four years
and ineligible for the succeeding term) and a prosecuting attorney, a
surveyor of land, a recorder and assessor (all elected for two years) .
On the question of education the convention took advanced ground.
In this it was much influenced by Mr. Battelle, who, favoring greater
financial encouragement than was finally secured, said in the conven-
tion that to his certain knowledge people were leaving West Virginia in
droves, largely influenced by the fact that elsewhere they could edu-
cate their children. The educational question was not new. The earlier
discussions had finally resulted in the beginning of a Virginia system
of common schools in 1846. Thereafter, the West had continued to
agitate for reform of this system, which Mr. Johnson of Taylor county,
on March 11, 1850, in the house of delegates, had said was properly
called a system from the poor and might as properly be called a poor
system — one calculated to create and keep up distinctions in society,
and one so abhorent to the feelings of the poorer class of people that
1* Stevenson, who doubtless changed his mind later when he become governor of
the state, said in the convention that, as the governor might be at work but one
month in the year and could occupy himself with something else the other eleven
months, surely $1,600 would be enough for him.
362 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
the children of the poor man dreaded to come within the pale of its
provisions. Consistent with the policy of the West, expressed in long-
continued agitation, the convention provided for the establishment of
a thorough efficient system of free schools supported by interest fi-om
an invested school fund, net proceeds of all forfeitures, confiscations and
fines, and by general personal and property taxes.
In the convention, no one question caused more concern and divi-
sion than that of slavery.15 On the one hand, some strongly urged that
the new state should be free from slavery, sustaining their view with
the argument that the convention was providing for the future of a
region capable of becoming one of the most wealthy and important
parts of the Union, and which would long ago have been such had it
not been for the curse of slavery which repelled from its borders the
white population which had built up half a dozen states in the north-
west. "Make West Virginia free," they said, "and she will invite immi-
grants. Her coal and her iron can be mined only by free labor. Negro
slavery is wasteful everywhere, but less profitable in West Virginia than
in any other part of the southern states. ' ' Some also feared that Con-
gress might refuse the admission of the new state if it should appear
so wedded to slavery that it could not apply for admission with a free
state constitution. On the other hand, many in the convention, be-
lieving perhaps that slavery would gradually become extinct, thought
it unnecessary to make any provision for it. The convention finally
inserted in the constitution a clause forbidding the importation or immi-
gration into the state of any slave or free negro with a view to perma-
nent residence; but, feeling that there might be some objection to this
clause in Congress, it adjourned (on February 18, 1862) subject to
recall by the chairman in case any change should be necessary.18
The remaining steps necessary to secure statehood, were promptly
taken. On the fourth Thursday of April the constitution was ratified
by the people by a vote of 18,062 to 514. On May 13 the reorganized
legislature of Virginia, in extra session, gave the state's consent to the
formation of the new state. On May 29, Senator Willey, representing
reorganized Virginia, in a speech ably setting forth the causes and con-
ditions which led to the request, presented to the United States Senate
West Virginia's petition for admission to the Union.
The whole question regarding the admission of West Virginia was
laid before the Committee on Territories, of which Senator John S.
Carlile was a member. Carlile, who was expected to prepare the bill,
neglected to do so until nearly a month had passed and the session of
Congress was drawing to a close. Although he had been an ardent
new-state man, he now lost the confidence of his colleagues. In the
bill which was finally reported in June, 1862, from the Committee on
Territories, he inserted a provision that before the state should be ad-
mitted its boundaries should be extended to include the fifteen valley
counties, a new convention held, and a new constitution framed with
the provision that all children of slaves born after July 4, 1863, should
be free. It was evident to those who understood conditions that such
a bill even if desirable was impracticable and could not succeed, and
some even asserted that its intent was to block admission. The pro-
posed fifteen additional counties were Berkeley, Jefferson, Clarke, Fred-
erick, Page, Shenandoah, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Bath, Rock-
bridge, Botetourt, Craig, Allegheny and Warren. The bill required
that the proposed new constitution after being framed by the proposed
is The total population in the forty-eight counties represented in the convention
included 12,771 slaves and 334,921 whites.
is The convention determined that the constitution should be silent on the
question of slavery, and that at the time the constitution should be submitted to a
vote of the people on its adoption, a kind of side vote should be taken for emanci-
pation and against emancipation. When the vote was taken it was 6,052 for eman-
cipation to 610 against, or ten to one in favor of a free state. The vote on the
adoption of the constitution taken at the same time was 18,862 in favor to 514
against it.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 363
new constitutional convention should be submitted to the people of the
several counties at a new popular election for ratification, and after
ratification should be submitted to the Virginia assembly for its assent
through legislative act.
Apparently the bill was designed to defeat the plan for a new state.
It was generally believed that the people of the fifteen valley counties
were hostile to such an act. This Carlile should have known.
On June 26, 1862, Senator B. F. Wade of Ohio called for the bill
and Senator Charles Sumner arose in his seat and protested against the
gradual emancipation clause, and proposed to substitute the exact
wording of the Ordinance of 1787, providing for the organization of
the Northwest Territory, as follows: "Within the State there shall be
neither slavery nor involuntary servitude other than punishment of
crimes whereof the party is convicted." This, many believed, would
not be sanctioned by the voters within the territory proposed for the
new State. Advocates of the new state were dismayed. Mr. Carlile
now had openly denounced the measure. Senator Willey stood firm,
but the members of the House, Brown, Blair and Whaley, were forced
to believe that the lower House would not vote for it. Senator Willey
made another heroic effort, and on July 1 called up the bill for con-
sideration. A heated debate followed. In it Senators Wade, Hale,
Oollmar and Willey participated. Willey closed his speech with what
later was styled the "Willey Amendment," which was in reality a sub-
stitute for the Carlile Bill. It omitted the fifteen counties which Carlile
had added and also contained Senator Wade's amendment, "that all
slaves under twenty-one years July 4, 1863, shall be free on arriving at
that age." Senator Carlile as a last resort then delivered a speech fav-
oring the postponement of the matter until the first Monday in Decem-
ber following. He was answered in eloquent, well-timed speeches by
Senators Wade and Ten Eyck. Carlile then opposed the bill on the
grounds that if passed it would impose upon the people of the new State
a clause of the constitution not of their making and which they had not
ratified. But this argument was deprived of its force by the offer to
submit the proposed amendment to the people of West Virginia for their
approval.
After the several debates (on June 26 and July 1, 7 and 14) the
bill, amended to conform with the boundaries provided in the consti-
tution and to provide for gradual emancipation, passed the Senate on
July 14, 1862 — although opposed by Carlile. The vote was 23 for and
17 against, giving a majority of 6.
On July 16, six days after the passage of the bill, the Senate reported
it to the House. As an adjournment was near at hand, the House, by
a vote of 63 to 33 postponed it until the second Tuesday in December.
On December 9, 1862, the bill was debated in the House all day and
far into the night hours.
On December 10, it safely passed the House by a vote of 96 to 55.
As passed it contained a condition requiring that the Willey clause which
Congress had prescribed relating to slavery should be inserted in the
constitution of the constitutional convention and adopted and ratified
by a majority of the voters, and that after this was done and duly
certified the President of the United States could lawfully issue his
proclamation by which the act should take effect and be in force on and
after 60 days from the date of said proclamation.
President Lincoln requested the opinion of the members of his cabi-
net. He obtained opinions from six members, three of whom recom-
mended approval and three advised a veto. Evidently he was somewhat
undecided for a time until friends of the proposed new state became
alarmed. On the last day of the year he spent three hours with three
friends of the bill—from seven until ten, devoting much of the time to
comment upon the humorous features of the contest, but also disclosing
a wise and shrewd appreciation of the questions involved.
This final crisis in the struggle for statehood, the question of Presi-
dent Lincoln's decision, is well presented in the following narrative of
364 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Senator Willey of a personal visit to the White House on December
31, 1862, in company with Hon. Wm. G. Brown of Preston County and
Hon. J. B. Blair of Wood County, who were members of the House of
Representatives representing the Reorganized Government of Virginia:
"The bill still remained in the hands of the President until the last day of
grace, under the Constitution, when we became so apprehensive of a veto that we
determined to wait on him and make a last appeal for mercy. We found him
busily engaged with public men and public affairs. But he said he was glad to
see us, and greatly desired to have a full and free conference with us about the
new State, and that he would be obliged to us if we would call at his office that
evening at seven o 'clock, when and where we could discuss the matter at leisure
and without interruption.
Promptly at the time appointed, Mr. Brown, Mr. Blair, and myself were at the
White House. The President received us in his usual genial and familiar way. Our
conference had not proceeded very far until he said that he had received the written
opinion of each member of his cabinet, and that inasmuch as they wera brief he would
read them to us without disclosing any names. He did so. We had no difficulty,
however, in assigning to each paper the author thereof. Mr. Seward, Secretary of
State, Mr. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury, and Mr. Stanton, Secretary of War —
mighty men — were for the approval of the act. Mr. Wells, Secretary of the Navy,
Mr. Bates, Attorney-General, and Mr. Blair, Postmaster-General, were opposed to
it — three for, and three against. Pausing awhile, the President said he had an-
other paper from which he would read a little, and taking from the drawer of the
desk by which he was sitting several sheets of manuscript, he began to read from
them very deliberately, stopping quite frequently to make comment on the proposi-
tions. Of course we knew that he had written this paper himself, and, therefore,
supposing that it would reveal his final purpose, our interest in it was intense. But
before he had read it all through, and before reaching an ultimate conclusion, if,
indeed, he had yet reached any such conclusion, he laid it aside. Mr. Brown at this
point remarked that he considered this paper by far the ablest of all. ' ' Yes, ' ' said
Mr. Lincoln, with that quizzical expression of face and voice which usually come to
him when anything amused him, ' ' yes, Mr. Brown, I suppose you think this is the
odd trick. ' ' Whereupon Mr. Blair rejoined, ' ' And that is the trick we want. ' '
And I, not being an expert in that kind of nomenclature, held my peace, lest I
should disclose my ignorance.
And now the President required us to state to him the reasons, in full, upon
which we justified the creation of this new State. We did so to the best of our
ability. We assured him that the desire for a division of the State of Virginia was
not a sudden, recent impulse, excited by the rebellion then raging, but was an in-
veterate sentiment of half a century's growth among the people of the State, having
its origin in geographical, social, economical, and political antagonisms, which could
never be reconciled, at least while slavery existed; that the great majority of the
slaves were held in the eastern section of this State, whilst there were very few
slaves in the trans-Allegheny section out of which the new State was to be taken;
that this condition must necessarily remain so, because the climate, soil, and staple
productions of the latter were not adapted to slave labor, and, especially because its
interjection between the State of Ohio on the one side, and the State of Penn-
sylvania on the other side of it, afforded such ready and convenient facilities for
escape that few slaves would ever be brought there ; that thus, ' ' the inevitable con-
flict," which was then deluging the nation with blood would be perpetuated in
Virginia as long as slavery continued; that under the apprehension that if ever
Western Virginia obtained a numerical majority in the Legislature, their "peculiar
institution" would be endangered, the eastern slaveocracy had, by the most arbi-
trary and despotic proceedings, persistently withheld from our western people their
rightful and equal participation in governmental affairs; that the public revenues
had been mainly expended in the eastern sections of the State ; that the develop-
ment of the rich natural resources of wealth in our section of country had been
designedly hindered and delayed lest its increase in wealth and population should
become so overwhelming that our claim for a just and equal share of the political
power of the State could be no longer resisted ; that there was, in fact, no homo-
geneity of social, industrial, political, or geographical relations between the two
sections and under the then existing circumstances could not be.
Mr. Lincoln listened to us patiently, and not without apparent interest in what
we said. We also described the anomalous and perilous condition of the people
living within the boundaries of the proposed new State; that they were subjected
to the conflicting claims to their fealty and service of the Confederate States gov-
ernment and of the United States and were especially annoyed by the Confederate
States government at Eichmond, Virginia, which had been making provisions for
the establishment of a regular police in every county who might arrest and carry
away from the vicinage, to be tried in any other county in the State, all persons
suspected of disloyalty to the Confederate authorities; that large parts of said
territory were frequently overrun by marauders and guerrillas, harassing, robbing,
and sometimes murdering the people, under pretense of military warrants to do so.
We suggested that our organization as a State duly recognized by the United States
would go far toward arresting these disorders, would encourage, consolidate and
strengthen the friends of the Union, intimidate their adversaries, and be a potent
factor in a military point of view of suppressing the rebellion. And so we dis-
cussed the question pro and con for three hours or more.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 365
The evident drift and tendency of the President, remarkable through the de-
scription, and especially in so much of his own manuscript as he read to us, were in
the direction of approval. It was very apparent that he would like to find satis-
factory reasons for giving his assent, and his significant references to the Act as a
judicious "war measure" gave us assurance that in his view of it, if from no other
consideration, he was finding a sufficient justification of approval."
The enthusiastic and impulsive Mr. Blair in response to an arrange-
ment with the President, called at the White House early on the follow-
ing morning (January 1, 1863) to learn the fate of the bill. His col-
leagues are authority for the statement that finding the doors not yet
open he informally climbed through a window in his eagerness to reach
the President. After the President showed him the signature "Ap-
proved, Abraham Lincoln," he returned with a light heart to the Na-
tional Hotel to rejoice with his colleagues.
On December 31, 1862, President Lincoln gave his own views on the question,
in the following language: "The consent of the Legislature of Virginia is con-
stitutionally necessary to the Bill for the Admission of West Virginia becoming a
law. A body claiming to be such Legislature has given its consent. We cannot
well deny that it is such, unless we do so upon the outside knowledge that the
body was chosen at elections in which a majority of the qualified voters of Vir-
ginia did not participate. But it is a universal practice in the popular elections in
all these States to give no legal consideration whatever to those who do not choose
to vote.
"Hence it is not the qualified voters, but the qualified voters who choose to
vote, that constitute the political power of the State. Much less than to non-voters
should any consideration be given to those who did not vote in this case, because it
is also matter of outside knowledge that they were not merely neglectful of their
rights under and duty to this government, but were also engaged in open re-
bellion against it. Doubtless among these non-voters were some Union men whose
voices were smothered by the more numerous Secessionists, but we know too little
of their number to assign them any appreciable value.
"Can this Government stand if it indulges constitutional constructions by
which men in open rebellion against it are to be accounted, man for man, the
equals of those who maintain their loyalty to it? Are they to be accounted even
better citizens, and more worthy of consideration, than those who merely neglect
to vote? If so, their treason against Constitution enhances their constitutional
value. Without braving these absurd conclusions we cannot deny that the body
which consents to the admission of West Virginia is the Legislature of Virginia.
"But is the admission of West Virginia into the Union expedient? This, in
my general view, is more a question for Congress than for the Executive. Still
I do not evade it. More than on anything else, it depends on whether the admission
or rejection of the new State would, under all the circumstances, tend the more
strongly to the restoration of the National authority throughout the Union. That
which helps most in this direction is the most expedient at this time. Doubtless
those in remaining Virginia would return to the Union, so to speak, less reluctantly
without the division of the old State than with it, but I think we could not save as
much in this quarter by rejecting the new State as we should lose by it in West
Virginia. We can scarcely dispense with the aid of West Virginia in this struggle;
much less can we afford to have her against us, in Congress and in the field. Her
brave and good men regard her admission into the Union as a matter of life and
death. They have been true to the Union under very severe trials. We have
so acted as to justify their hopes, and we cannot fully retain their confidence and
co-operation if we seem to break faith with them. In fact they could not do so
much for us if they would. Again, the admission of the new State turns that much
slave soil to free, and this is a certain and irrevocable encroachment upon the cause
of the rebellion. The division of a State is dreaded as a precedent. But a measure
made expedient by a war is no precedent in times of peace. It is said that the ad-
mission of West Virginia is secession. Well, if we call it by that name, there is
still difference enough between secession against the constitution and secession in
favor of the constitution. I believe the admission of West Virginia into the Union
is expedient. "
The bill passed by Congress and signed by President Lincoln pro-
vided that the new State should become a member of the Union when
a clause concerning slavery, contained in the bill, should be made a
part of the constitution and be ratified by the people. Therefore, the
convention, which had framed the state constitution and had adjourned
to meet at the call of the chairman was reconvened at Wheeling on
February 12, 1863, and promptly added to the constitution the clause
providing for gradual emancipation.17 This action was ratified by the
it The clause concerning slavery, as adopted by the constitutional convention
at Wheeling, was as follows: "The children of slaves, born within the limits of this
State after the fourth day of July, 1863, shall be free, and all slaves within the said
366 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
people on March 26, by a vote of 23,321 to 472, and the result was
promptly certified to the President. The convention before its adjourn-
ment provided for an election, to be held on the fourth Thursday of
May following, to choose members of both branches of the Legislature,
a Governor and other State officers, judges of the Supreme Court of
Appeals, judges of the various circuit courts, and county officers.
Senator Carlisle, who had refused to resign his seat in the Senate
when asked by the Virginia Legislature to do so, opposed by delay
every plan looking toward an immediate admission of West Virginia.
On February 14, he presented a resolution proposing the postpone-
ment of the President's proclamation until the counties of Boone,
Logan, Wyoming, Mercer, McDowell, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Green-
brier, Monroe, Pendleton, Fayette, Nicholas and Clay, then in pos-
session of the Confederate States and over which the Restored Govern-
ment of the State of Virginia had not been extended, "should vote
and ratify the constitution. His resolution, however, was lost by a
vote of twenty-eight to twelve.
On April 20, 1863, President Lincoln issued his proclamation by
which West Virginia sixty days later, without further legislation, be-
came the thirty-fifth state of the Union.
On May 9, a state political convention assembled at Parkersburg
to nominate officers. Its deliberations, which were shortened by the
arrival of a Confederate force under General Jones within forty miles
of Parkersburg, resulted in the nomination of the following candidates:
Arthur I. Boreman, of Wood County, for Governor; Campbell Tarr, of Brooke
County, for Treasurer; Samuel Crane, of Randolph County, for Auditor; Edgar J.
Boyers, of Tyler County, for Secretary of State; A. B. Caldwell, of Ohio County,
Attorney General; for Judges of the Supreme Court of Appeals, Ralph L. Berk-
shire, of Monongalia County; James H. Brown, of Kanawha County, and William
A. Harrison, of Harrison County.
These officers were elected late in the month of May without op-
position. Judges were also elected in all the circuit but two, which
latter were in the disputed ground between the contending forces of
the war.
At high noon on June 20, 1863, West Virginia began its legal exist-
ence. The new state government replaced the reorganized government of
Virginia, which, directed by Governor Pierpont folded its tents and
moved from the new state and located at Alexandria. The service
of Governor Pierpont in the formation of the state won him a place
in Statuary Hall at Washington.18
The state had a government consisting of all departments — legis-
lative, executive and judicial — as provided for by the Constitution.
Its financial needs were supplied by two acts of the general assembly
of the Reorganized Government of Virginia — one of February 3, 1863
which granted to it all the property and the proceeds of fines, for-
feitures, confiscations and uncollected taxes within the boundaries of
the new state and another of February 4 appropriating the sum of
$150,000 from the treasury.
The first legislature, which assembled on June 20, consisted of 20
senators and 51 delegates.
State who shall, at the time aforesaid, be under the age of ten years, shall be free
when they arrive at the age of twenty -one years; and all slaves over ten and under
twenty-one years shall be free when they arrive at the age of twenty -five years; and
no slave shall be permitted to come into the State for permanent residence therein."
is The first suggestion that a statue of Governor Pierpont should be one of
West Virginia's contributions to the National Hall of Fame was contained in a
resolution adopted by the Society of the Army of West Virginia at itB meeting
in Fairmont in 1900. At the ensuing session of the legislature $5,000 was appro-
priated for the statue. Later, when a clay bust has been made, the deceased gov-
ernor's relatives and friends added to the appropriation $3,000 in order that the
work might be done in pure marble. The work was executed in Rome, Italy, by
Franklin Simmons and was completed in the autumn of 1903. The final work was
delayed until March 8, 1910. The unveiling exercises occurred April 30, 1910. A
granddaughter of Governor Pierpont, Miss Frances Pierpont Siviter, cut the cords
and recited an original poem.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 367
One of the first needs was a seal for legal authentication of state
documents. On the third day of the first session of the legislature
of the new state which convened at Wheeling in the old Institute
building on June 20, 1863, Peter G. Van Winkle a member of the
house of delegates, offered the following:
"Resolved, with the concurrence of the Senate, That a committee
be appointed to devise suitable devices and inscriptions for the seals of
the State, and report the same to the legislature; and that until such
seals are adopted and ready for use, the Governor be authorized to
affix his private seal to all instruments otherwise requiring the seal of
the State."
Under this resolution a joint committee of six were appointed,
three by each house.
The joint committee held several meetings, and as the members
differed somewhat radically in their tastes and views of what would
be appropriate for the seal, another senator and two delegates were
called into consultation with the committee, and a device for the seals
was finally agreed upon. J. H. Diss Debar,19 a foreigner, who was at
the capital contesting the seat of one of the delegates, and who was
an expert draughtsman, was selected to execute the original design,
working in the various emblems which had been decided upon by the
committee together with appropriate inscriptions. During a recess
of the legislature he completed the drawing of the seal and photographed
it for inspection of the members. On September 23, the joint committee
submitted to the House a report designating a seal with an obverse and
reverse side, "to be used when the coat of arms is made in the form of a
medallion," and also giving a full description of the seal.20 On Septem-
ber 26, the legislature by joint resolution adopted the legend, mottoes
and devices reported by the committee on the subject, as the great and
less seals, and in the coat of arms of the State, respectively; and the
Governor was authorized and requested to have engraved a great and
is Mr. Diss DeBar, the designer of the Coat-of-Arms, was an educated French-
man who brought a Swiss colony to Santa Clara, Doddridge County, West Virginia.
He was appointed by Governor Boreman to act as commissioner of immigration.
20 The description was as follows: "The disc of the Great Seal to be two and
one-half inches in diameter. The obverse to bear the legend 'State of West Vir-
ginia,' the Constitutional designation of our Republic, which, with the motto 'Mon-
tani semper liberi,' ('Mountaineers are always free') is to be inserted in the cir-
cumference. In the center a rock with ivy, emblematic of stability and continu-
ance, and in the face of the rock the inscription, 'June 20, 1863,' the date of our
foundation, as if 'graved with a pen of iron in the rock forever.' On the right of
the rock, a farmer clothed in the traditional hunting shirt peculiar to this region,
his right arm resting on the plow-handles, and his left supporting a woodman 's axe,
indicating that while our territory is partially cultivated it is still in process of
being cleared of the original forest. At his right, a sheaf of wheat and a corn-
stalk. On the left of the rock a miner, indicated by a pickaxe on his shoulder, with
barrels and lumps of mineral at his feet. On his left, an anvil partly seen, on which
rests a sledge-hammer, typical of the mechanic arts, the whole indicating the prin-
cipal pursuits and resources of the state. In front of the rock and figures, as if
just laid down by the latter, and ready to be resumed at a moment's notice, two
hunter's rifles, and surmounted at the place of contact by the Phrygian Cap or
'Cap of Liberty' indicating that our freedom and independence were won and will
be maintained by arms.
' ' The reverse of the Great Seal to be encircled by a wreath composed of laurel
and oak leaves, emblematic of valor and strength, with fruits and cereals, produc-
tions of our state. For device of landscape: In the distance on the left of the disc,
wooded mountains; and on the right a cultivated slope with the log-frame house
peculiar to this region. On the side of the mountain a representation of the viaduct
on the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in Preston County, one of the great
engineering triumphs of the age, with a train of cars about to pass on it. Near the
center a factory, in front of which a river with boats on the bank, and to the right
of it, near the foreground, a derrick and shed appertaining to the production of
salt and petroleum. In the foreground a meadow with cattle and sheep feeding
and reposing, the whole indicating the leading characteristics, productions and pur-
suits of the State at this time. Above the mountains, the sun emerging from the
clouds, indicating that former obstacles to our prosperity are disappearing. In the
rays of the sun the motto 'Libertas e fidelitate' ('Liberty from Loyalty') indicating
that our freedom and independence are the result of faithfulness to the principles
of the Declaration of Independence and the national Constitution."
368
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
less seal, of the dimensions, and bearing the devices, etc., recommended
by the committee in their report, and these were declared to be the
only legal official seals of the state.
Meantime, steps had been taken to enlarge the state by the annex-
ation of Berkeley and Jefferson counties. In July, 1863, Governor Pier-
pont certified to Governor Boreman that Berkeley county in accord with
an act of the Restored Government of Virginia of January, 1863, had
held an election to determine the question of annexation and that a
"very large majority of the voters" favored the proposition. Later,
a similar result of an election was certified for Jefferson county. Both
counties were admitted by acts of the West Virginia legislature.
On August 4 the legislature elected two United States senators Wait-
man T. Willey and Peter G. Van Winkle who after some formal objec-
tion were duly admitted. Soon thereafter each of the three newly
formed congressional districts elected delegates who were promptly
admitted to the House of Representatives.
First State Capitol Building, Wheeling (Linsly Institute),
Erected in 1858
An interesting question concerning the date at which salaries of cer-
tain state officers should begin arose for discussion soon after the in-
auguration of the government of the new state. The ordinance of Feb-
ruary 19 which provided for the organization of the government by an
election of officers on May 28, specified that the term of the officers
elected should begin on the sixty-first day from the date of the Presi-
dent's proclamation but should "continue and be computed as if the
same had begun on March 4, 1863. One of the officers, taking advan-
tage of the indefinite language of this clause of the ordinance, presented
a request for salary from March 4 to June 20. On October 15, 1863,
the legislature undertook to settle the question by a resolution declaring
that "the term of all officers, legislative, executive and judicial, elected
on May 28, 1863, began on June 20, 1863, and not previously." Later,
on November 12, it took steps to induce the official to refund the money
received by him for the period before June 20. The Auditor answered
that on August 10, 1863, the secretary drew compensation for services
for the period between March 4, 1863, and June 20, 1863, at the rate
of $1,300 per annum and that he had not refunded the same as required
by the joint resolution of the Legislature passed on the 12th November,
1863, which provided that the secretary was not to receive any further
compensation for services until he did so refund to the treasury.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 369
The Court of Appeals held, that the term of office and the salary
of the Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor and the salary of the
Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor and Treasurer, began March 4,
1863, more than three months before the state began its legal existence,
and nearly three months before the date of the election of these officers.
The selection of a permanent capital for the new state was long
delayed. Wheeling remained the capital until 1870, although never
selected by any legislative act. The first and second Wheeling conven-
tions had been held in Washington Hall. The first and fourth sessions
of the General Assembly of the Restored Government of Virginia had
convened in the United States Court Room in the Custom House, and
the second and third in Linsly Institute building. The constitutional
convention had held its sessions in the Custom House.
Linsly Institute, which had been erected in 1858, was the first
capitol (State House) of West Virginia. It was the capitol from June
20, 1863, to April 1, 1870. In front of it, on a large platform Governor
Boreman delivered his first inaugural address on June 20, 1863 ; and
within it the first legislature of West Virginia met on the same day.
In his first message to the legislature Governor Boreman recom-
mended speedy action in the establishment of a permanent seat of
government, which he considered especially important in order to avoid
possible political contention on the subject. The legislature, however,
confined its action to a joint resolution authorizing the Governor to use
rooms in Linsly for executive offices. Again, on January 16, 1866, two
years before the expiration of the lease on Linsly, Governor Boreman
suggested to the legislature the propriety of early action in selecting
a permanent location. In his annual message each year thereafter, with
a desire to end this source of sectional controversy and irritation which
had retarded the improvement and prosperity of the State, and in some
quarters had even shaken confidence in the permanent existence of the
State, he renewed his recommendation and continud to urge upon the
irresponsive legislature the importance of definite and final action on
the question.
Finally, in February, 1869, a few days before the close of Boreman 's
term of office as governor, the legislature enacted a law locating the
permanent seat of government at Charleston, effective April 1, 1870.
By legislative act of 1875 Wheeling again became the capital but
under an act of 1877, providing for a popular vote upon the question
Charleston again became the capital after May 1, 1885.
In the new state was included several counties which neither sup-
ported the new state movement nor sympathized in any large degree
with the federal cause. Among these were Monroe, Greenbrier and
Pocahontas which at first the Wheeling authorities probably did not
plan to include. In the three Wheeling conventions and the constitu-
tional convention of 1862-3, Monroe county had no representation. Its
sympathies were largely with the Confederate portion of the mother
state. During more than a year and a half (after the close of the
war) it had no local government.
The situation in Pocahontas is illustrated by the story of the migra-
tions of the county records. At the opening of the war in 1861 William
Curry was county and circuit clerk of Pocahontas. Finding that the
Federals were liable to invade the county, he took the records to a place
of supposed safety — the residence of Joel Hill, on the Little Levels.
Here they remained until January, 1862, when Mr. Curry becoming
alarmed for their safety removed them to Covington, Virginia, where
for a short time they were in the Allegheny county court house. Later
they were taken to the storehouse of Captain William Scott. In Septem-
ber, 1863, when General Averill's command reached Covington, Mr.
Curry again removed the records, first to the house of William Clark,
then to a stack of buckwheat straw in which they lay concealed for three
weeks, and finally into the mountains where they were stored in the house
of a Baptist minister until the surrender at Appomattox. In June, 1865,
Mr. Curry returned the records, depositing them at the house of Joel
Vol. 1—24
370 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Hill. A month later the records were taken to a vacant house belonging
to Rev. Mitchell Dunlap and there left until September, 1865. The first
county court, after the war, convened in November, 1865, in the Metho-
dist church at Hillsboro. Prom that time the records were kept in the
old Academy building until June, 1866, when they were taken back to
the county seat and deposited at the house of John B. Garey.
In the convention at Wheeling Captain Richard M. Cooke, of the
county of Wyoming, was admitted as a delegate from Mercer county by
authority (as he claimed) of a petition of a few people in the western
portion of Mercer, but there was no vote by which the people of the
county elected, authorized or commissioned any person to represent
them in the convention. No election was held by the people of the
county upon the question of the ratification or rejection of the constitu-
tion. Both the Virginia government at Richmond and the reorganized
government at Wheeling (and later the government of the -new state)
attempted to exercise jurisdiction over the territory. This led to the
arrest of many citizens by both sides for alleged political offenses, each
government charging treason.
There were probably only a few of the people of Mercer who favored
the North. There was an apparent unanimity of sentiment among the
people in favor of Southern rights and armed resistance to any Federal
attempt at coercion. Some of those who enlisted in the Confederate
army later deserted to the Federals. Some became outlaws, thieves and
robbers and made incursions into the county for indiscriminate plunder.
In August, 1861, after the retreat of General Wise's forces from the
Kanawha, Parkinson F. Pennington, a farmer of Mercer county, who
resided on Laurel creek, took a load of produce to the valley of the
Kanawha, to purchase goods and salt. On his route home he expressed
Northern views obnoxious to some of his Southern neighbors, who ar-
rested him without warrant and charged him with being a spy. His
captors, headed by Captain James Thompson, an ardent secessionist of
tremendous size, started for the courthouse, but becoming incensed by
his views convicted him by drumhead court and hung him with hickory
bars on a dogwood tree by the way near Concord Church (now Athens).
At the close of the war, Pennington's father and eighteen Union soldiers
started to the house of Captain Thompson to arrest him (all others of
the party having been killed in the war). Thompson, attempting to
escape, was shot and killed by one of the vigilance party.
On September 11, 1863, in the New River valley, in the region later
included in Summers county, Samuel Richmond was killed by seces-
sionists. He was a Union man, and opposed to the severance of the
Union and the secession of the Southern States. With the Richmond
characteristics, he left no doubt in the minds of the people as to his
beliefs, but proclaimed them far and wide. Being over the age at which
he could be required to serve in either of the armies, he remained at
home. He owned a large buhr hewed-log grist-mill, located at the lower
side of the falls, which was patronized for many miles around by the
people on both sides of the river, and especially when other mills were
out of commission by reason of the low water and dry weather. In
this region feeling was intense and much bitterness had been engendered
between the partisans of the Southern and Northern cause. On the
day of his death, Richmond ferried Allen Vincent across New river from
the Raleigh side. His wife urged him not to cross, fearful that some
harm would result, but he disregarded her warning. He went down to
the ferry, some half mile below the residence, got into his canoe, ferried
Mr. Vincent across to the Summers side and started to row back. He
was shot from ambush by two persons who were hid on the mountain
side. Being a man of powerful determination and physique, lie rowed
his canoe back to the opposite side. He was carried home, and there
died instantly from the result of the wound. This murder was regarded
as cold-blooded and unprovoked. It was committed in the heat of
partisan passion, when the woods were full of bushwhackers ready at
any moment (when they believed the interests of their partisans' sides
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
371
demanded it) to commit cruel, unnecessary and unprovoked destruc-
tion of human life and of private citizens' property. Many acts of
that character committed during the strife were unpunished. Samuel
Richmond and his descendants were good citizens and people of strong
personality. William C. Richmond, sou of Samuel Richmond, was ar-
rested at one time by the Confederate bushwhackers or scouts, and was
taken on horseback behind one o.f the soldiers. In traveling through
the mountains, after night, astride the horse, holding to the man who
held the bridle, in front, he took out his knife and deliberately cut the
man's throat from the rear, "slid" off his horse and escaped. The man
whose throat was cut fortunately did not die from the wounds.
Augustus Pack, an old man and noncombatant, a resident of Boone,
was arrested often by both sides and kept busy taking the oath of al-
legiance to the government of his captors.
Pend'eton county practically remained under jurisdiction of Virginia
Wheeling in 1870
until the close of the war. In Pendleton county at the opening of
1864, the county court adjourned to the Vint schoolhouse and then to
a private house. Only three members were present. Another session
was planned at the same schoolhouse, "providing the presence of the
public enemy prevents its meeting at the courthouse." Owing to the
insecurity of the Franklin jail, use was now made of the jail at Staun-
ton. In October the Franklin jail was burned. Its destruction was
attributed to the Home Guards, some of whom had been imprisoned
there when taken captive.
February 9, 1865, the sheriff was "notified to have the courthouse
windows returned and replaced, the house cleaned, and if Imboden's
wagon train be not removed from the courthouse yard, it will be moved
by him. Soldiers who will pledge their honor that they will not in any
way deface the property belonging to the courthouse will be allowed
the privileges heretofore granted them."
April 6, 1865, the last session of the county court under the laws
of Virginia met and reported a settlement with the sheriff. As they
proceeded the sessions of the court, had grown infrequent, and in the ter-
ritory controlled by the Home Guards the county government was
little heeded.
372 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Iu Barbour county after the opening of the Civil war several county
officers deserted their official duties for service in the Confederate cause,
leaving no one to execute their legal duties. Lawyers left their offices
and books. For a short time before June 3, the courthouse was used as
an arsenal for storing the scanty and almost worthless supplies which
were furnished to Colonel Porterfield, who was in command of Confed-
erate forces in that region. After the town was occupied (on June 3)
by Federal troops, however, it remained free from Confederates, except
during a few hours in 1863 at the time of the raids of Imboden and
Jones, when Spencer Dayton carried the court records on horses into
the hills to save them from danger of destruction. Apparently, after
an adjournment on May 8, the county court had no meeting for busi-
ness of record until October 7. At an election held on September 27
"to fill vacancies," Lewis Wilson was elected clerk and James Trahern
was elected sheriff, Nathan Taft prosecuting attorney, and" Joseph L.
Hawkins and Samuel S. Lackney assessors. This was the first election
under the Reorganized Government.
In the winter of 1862-3 Sheriff Trahern was taken from his home
by a detail of seven Confederates sent for that purpose by General
Imboden, who was in winter camp in Augusta county. He was taken
to Richmond and was held for some time, but was later allowed to
return home. Five of his captors were Barbour County men, and after
his return he informed on four of them, who were compelled to leave
Barbour. The fifth man befriended Mr. Trahern, and gave him money
to mitigate his suffering while a prisoner, and his name was not with the
other four, who were compelled to leave. At the close of the war, he re-
mained in Barbour, and became one of the prominent business men of
the county.
The kidnaping of the sheriff had deplorable results. The next
night two prominent citizens of Barbour, Henry Bowman and Henry
Wilson, who were Southern in their sympathies, were assassinated under
the mistaken belief that they had been implicated in the kidnaping
of Trahern.
On the Minute book of the county court under date of June 2, 1862,
the following resolution, offered by Spencer Dayton, is recorded :
"Whereas, on this date one year ago our court-house and county were in pos-
session and under the domination of organized bands of rebels who, by force of
arms, deprived our citizens of their peaceful rights of resort to courts of justice,
and in effect declared war against existing laws and authority, and against citizens
who recognized or appealed to such laws; and in place of the Federal banner, they
unfurled from the roof of this house a miserable badge of disloyalty and treason.
But, on the following day, June 3, 1861, the traitors were routed and driven from our
midst in base and cowardly confusion by volunteer soldiery of the United States,
through whose timely aid our citizens were relieved from an abhorred despotism
and have since enjoyed protection and the rights and blessings of civil liberty
under the government to which they were reared.
"Now, therefore, we the body of Justices for the County of Barbour, State of
Virginia, as a court, this day assembled at Philippi, do for ourselves and on be-
half of the people, enter in our record our sincere thanks to the Federal soldiers
engaged in the battle of Philippi, and to their national-head and commander-in-chief,
Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States. ' '
Considerable damage was done in Braxton and other counties by
partisan bands. The Braxton County records early in the war were
removed to Weston for safe keeping.
One of the officials of Lewis county refused to recognize the exist-
ence of the new state of West Virginia and paid to the Virginia Govern-
ment at Richmond the sum of $3,575.30, on judgments of commis-
sioners of delinquent taxes and forfeited land.
In many communities there was an absence of bitterness which seems
remarkable at the time of such tension. In many counties the board of
supervisors refused to take action against the property of former resi-
dents who were serving in the Confederate army and which under the
law of 1863 was declared forfeited. In Lewis County, even Jonathan
M. Bennett, who continued to serve as First Auditor of the Virginia
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
373
government at Richmond throughout the war, lost none of his property
during his absence.
The increase in the number of officials under the new township
system contributed to make the system unpopular. The number of new
officials for each township made the amount expended for salaries appear
disproportionate to the services rendered. The failure of the system
was partly due to the failure of the county officials to deliver books to
the new Justice of the Peace.
A question of the limits of the freedom of the press arose in Wheel-
ing. July 11, 1864, the Wheeling Daily Register was seized by govern-
ment orders and its doors were closed until further orders. Its editors
and proprietors, Lewis Baker and 0. S. Long, were arrested and placed
in Camp Chase military prison and held several months by order of
General Kelly, because they had published articles which were regarded
as unfriendly to the Union cause, but about September 1 they were
released by General Sheridan.
In the National Union Convention, which met at Baltimore on June
8, 1864, to nominate a president and a vice president, the new state had
ten delegates including General Kramer who cast the entire vote of the
delegation for Lincoln and Johnson. In the presidential election of 1864
the vote of West Virginia by counties was as follows :
County Lincoln McClellan
Barbour 393 298
Boone
Braxton
Brooke 464 401
Berkeley 726
Cabell 191
Calhoun
Clay 73
Doddridge
Fayette
Gilmer 224
Greenbrier
Hancock 224
Hampshire 163 7
Hardy 254
Harrison 1,323 863
Jackson 760 190
Jefferson 174 91
Kanawha 1,421 26
Lewis 649 448
Logan
Marion 1,082 511
Marshall 1,407 770
Mason 1,346 362
McDowell
County Lincoln McClellan
Mercer ...
Monongalia 1,321 705
Monroe ...
Morgan 205
Nicholas 148
Ohio 2,188 2,008
Pendleton 211
Pleasants 267 215
Pocahontas ...
Preston 1,612 569
Putnam 388 109
Baleigh
Randolph 177 50
Eitchie 678 216
Roane 275 31
Taylor 56 36
Upshur 819 60
Wayne 76
"Wetzel 329 755
Webster ...
Wirt 262 209
Wood 1,496 591
Wyoming . : .
Total 23,228 10,487
Apparently every newspaper in the state supported Lincoln for the
second term. Among these besides the Wheeling papers were the Wells-
burg Herald, Fairmont National, Monongalia Press, Ritchie Press,
Grafton State Journal, Clarksburg Telegraph, Upshur County Repub-
lican, Parkersburg Gazette, Point Pleasant Registrar, and Charleston
Republican.
CHAPTER XXII
STRATEGY OP WAR
The formation of West Virginia had an important relation to the
movements of armies in the momentous struggle of the Union against
secession, and it was not accomplished without the opposition of the
State Government at Richmond which represented the eastern end of
the state in its cooperation with the Southern Confederacy.
In the war of secession, which furnished the opportunity for state-
hood, the West Virginians in proportion to their number and wealth
did as much as the people of any other state. That they were not
friendly to secession was shown by their vote of ten to one against the
Virginia ordinance of secession. That the determined character of this
opposition to the action of Virginia was underestimated by the author-
ities at Richmond was shown by the persistent efforts of Virginia to
secure control of her western counties and to collect forces therein for
the Confederacy after the region had slipped from her grasp. Not until
the failure of the Imboden raid was the true sentiment of West Virginia
understood by the Confederates. To the Union army she furnished over
30,000 regular troops, exclusive of the 2,300 Home Guards consisting
of 32 companies organized to defend 32 home counties from invasion.
For the Confederate service she furnished between 7,000 and 10,000
men, nearly all of whom enlisted before the close of 1861. The impor-
tance of West Virginia's contribution to the war cannot be estimated
alone by the number of men which she furnished. The failure of the
Confederates to hold the territory and to secure the Baltimore and
Ohio Railway gave the Union forces a great advantage in the transporta-
tion of troops between Ohio and the East.
At the opening of the war the strategic Monongahela region became
the theatre of contending armies in a series of introductory episodes
which were larger in significance than in size of forces engaged or ex-
tent of territory covered. The geographic position of the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad, crossing the region of the Monongahela drainage
system and the eastern panhandle, and connecting Washington with
the Ohio, made it of inestimable value as an aid in the military opera-
tions of the United States government throughout the war and at the
same time determined to a large extent the theatre of Confederate
operations, especially at the inception of the war. The results of the
campaign, in which the battle of Philippi occupied a prominent place,
determined the control of northwestern Virginia including the western
division of the Baltimore & Ohio Railway, contributed largely to
the control of the remainder of the Baltimore and Ohio route from the
mountains eastward to Baltimore, encouraged the movement for the
formation of a new state west of the mountains, and influenced the
result of later important military events of the war.
The. secessionists very early in the war saw the importance of estab-
lishing their lines along the border of Ohio and Pennsylvania which
they hoped to make the battle ground. At the same time they under-
estimated the strength of the opposition which the people of north-
western Virginia would offer to the attempt to join them to the fortunes
of the Southern Confederacy. They especially desired to control the
Baltimore and Ohio railway which had a geographic position of great
strategic importance, and by which they particularly hoped to prevent
the concentration of Federal troops on Maryland and Virginia.
Following the approval of a secession ordinance by the constitutional
374
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 375
convention at Richmond, the Richmond government directed the move-
ment of forces into western Virginia both to encourage enlistments and
to guard the Ohio-Pennsylvania frontier. Therefore, on April 39, 1861,
General Lee ordered Major Boykin of Weston 1 to call out volunteers
and assume command at Grafton and took steps to control the Ohio
terminals of the main road at Wheeling and the branch road at Parkers-
burg. On May 4, he directed Colonel Porterfield, of Harper's Ferry,
to call out additional volunteers to rendezvous at Grafton, to assume
general command over Boykin and others in the vicinity, to distribute
200 muskets which at the request of Boykin had been sent to Colonel
Jackson at Harper's Perry, and to issue requisitions for additional
arms. On May 11, he ordered 400 rifles and ammunition from Staun-
ton to Major Goff at Beverly to be placed at the disposal of Colonel
Porterfield for use in the vicinity of Urafton.
In the meantime Boykin had encountered great difficulty in as-
sembling a force in the vicinity and had made a request for companies
from other parts of the state — a request to which General Lee did not
think it wise to comply.
On May 16, Colonel Porterfield reported from the region near
Grafton, stating that he discovered great diversity of opinion and much
bitterness of feeling and that he was seriously disappointed to find that
Major Goff at Beverly had received no rifles and had no information
that any had been sent. Both at Pruntytown and at Philippi he found
a company organized and awaiting arms ; and he was assured of another
company which was forming at Clarksburg, but which was without
either arms or uniforms. He reported that two companies were march-
ing toward Grafton to aid him : that of Captain Boggess, of Weston,
which had only flint-lock muskets, in bad order and without ammuni-
tion ; and that of Captain Thompson, of Fairmont, which had better
guns but little ammunition. Although urging the need of the best
rifles, he doubted whether there would be much use of the bayonet in
the hills, and thought that the rifles which had been in the fire at
Harper's Ferry would do if fitted up.
On May 23, Porterfield moved from Philippi to Webster and on
May 24 united with Captain Bill Thompson who had collected 200 men
at Fetterman. On May 26, he entered Grafton, from which Colonel
George R. Latham had retired with his company on the night of May
23 to muster into the Federal service at Wheeling. He held the town
until May 30 when the advance guard of Kelley's force from Wheeling
arrived. He was disappointed by failure to receive a supply of arms
which he expected to receive from Harper's Ferry but which could not
pass the Federal forces holding the railroad at Cumberland.
Ordered to advance to Wheeling, Porterfield, before he had time to
act and while disappointed with the failure of his appeals to secure
adequate arms and ammunition, found it necessary to fold his tents and
fall back toward Philippi before a superior force of troops from Wheel-
ing— the vanguard of the army of McClellan — under Colonel Benjamin
P. Kelley who proceeded to occupy Grafton without firing a shot. Porter-
i Major T. F. Lang relates his experiences as -a Federal recruiting officer at
Weston [in May or June, 1861] as follows: I distributed printed circulars through
the town, calling a general meeting at the court house for the following day. This
was the first official visit that quiet town had received from the "Lincoln Hire-
lings," and this innovation upon my part so incensed the great men (officers) of the
town that they waited upon me with "official" importance, and informed me that
I could not hold my advertised meeting in the court house, and that if I attempted
to enter it for such an unholy purpose my arrest would soon follow and in place
of the court house I would find myself in the county jail.
I challenged their authority to interfere with even so small a part of the
United States as a recruting officer, and I don't know whether it was my determina-
tion or their timidity, but the advertised call was held at the court house and no
interference was offered. * * * Soon after I procured the services of a lifer
and drummer, and treated tlie town to a parade. I then secured transportation, and
with colors flying left for Clarksburg with my recruits, much to the indignation
of the Secession element and the gratification of the loyal men, and that event
proved to be only the introduction that finally secured 750 men to the credit of
Weston and Lewis counties to the Union cause.
376 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
field had burned two bridges four miles east of Mannington ; but failing
in his plans to execute Governor Letcher's order to destroy the railroad
at Cheat river, and blow up the tunnel through Laurel Hill, west of
Rowlesburg, he was unable to prevent the Baltimore and Ohio from
falling into the control of the Federal forces, which thus obtained
a great advantage in the transportation of troops between east and west
in the operations of the war.
In the closing days of May, General McClellan's 20,000 troops had
crossed the Ohio at Parkersburg and Wheeling; and on June 1, about
4,000 of these under General Thomas A. Morris, of Indiana, reached
Grafton. Early in the evening of the following day, 3,000 of these
marched by two routes on Philippi (twenty miles southward) where
Porterfield had halted with his poorly equipped forces to resist the
further advance of the Federals.
The plan of the Federals was to capture the Confederates. With this pur-
pose in view, the attacking forces advanced in two columns, one east of the river
under Colonel Kelley, consisting of 1,600 men, and the other west of the river,
under Colonel Ebenezer Dumont, with 1,450 men, and two brass six-pounders.
Colonel Kelley 's troops left Grafton on the morning of June 2, on the cars going
toward the east. It was announced that they were going to Harper's Ferry. This
was to deceive any spies who might be waiting to communicate with Confederates
at Philippi. The soldiers left the cars at Thornton, about six miles east of Grafton,
and under the guidance of Jacob Baker, a citizen of Cove District, Barbour County,
set out upon the march for Philippi under orders to camp in the afternoon where
the men could rest and eat, and resume the march in time to reach Philippi at
exactly four o 'clock the next morning. This column was instructed to approach
on the road leading by the cemetery, but before reaching that point to cross the
hill to the eastern and southern end of town in order to cut off retreat on the
Beverly road. The column under Colonel Dumont left Grafton on the cars on the
evening of June 2, and moved to Webster, five miles west, and there left the cars,
under orders to march upon Philippi with plans to arrive before the town at pre-
cisely four o'clock, and to divert the attention of the Confederates until the real
attack could be made by Colonel Kelley.
At Philippi an attack was expected on the night of June 2. Captain James
Dilworth, who had been a militia officer, collected about fifty men at a point seven
miles west of Philippi, on the Clarksburg pike, and prepared to dispute the passage
of the Union army, which was then supposed to be marching toward the neighbor-
hood. Colonel Porterfield sent a picket down the road toward Webster, and also
sent Captain Jenkins with a strong cavalry picket to a point on the Clarks-
burg road and toward Elk City. With full confidence in the pickets, he lay down
to sleep in fancied security, believing that ample notice of any danger would be
given.
Just before the dawn of June 3, the two Federal columns converged upon the
town, after a march over muddy roads, and fired the opening guns of the first
inland battle of the war. The heavy storms which had impeded their march and
tested the physical endurance of the young army, had caused the Confederate pickets
to retreat from their posts to find shelter at Philippi. Colonel Dumont 's force
reached the top of the hill overlooking the town and on the opposite side of the
river, undiscovered, and placed the two cannon in readiness for the fight as soon
as Colonel Kelley 's force should be in position. But the attack was made a few
minutes sooner than was intended.
The rapid race of the Federals to Philippi, succeeded by the brief
battle in which not a single person was killed, was promptly followed
by the precipitate retreat of the stampeded Confederates who aban-
doned their baggage in their narrow escape from capture on the Bev-
erly road and left the Baltimore and Ohio free to transport armies for
the preservation of the Union. The Confederates, having strict orders
not to waste powder, began their retreat upon the first fire. While their
forces were decamping before the fire from the hill beyond the river,
Colonel Kelley 's troops began to arrive. One body came over the hill
back of the court house, and another passed through the gap further
south, and opened fire. Although they were too late to cut off the
retreat, they were in ample time to accelerate it. Colonel Kelley at
the head of his troops reached the main street before the Confederates
were out, and while pressing the pursuit was shot through the breast
by a man who was making his escape from an orchard at the rear of
the school house.2
2 As the Federal army moved into West Virginia, a foolish and unnecessary fear
seized the people that a terrible example was to be made of them. Reports flew
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 377
The surprise was complete. The Confederates were stampeded, and
in their precipitate retreat abandoned more than half of the few and
worthies guns they possessed and all their tents and baggage. So narrow
was their escape that a delay of ten minutes would have cut off their
retreat on the Beverly road and would have resulted in the capture
of the whole regiment.
From the rapid advance of the Union troops and the still more
rapid retreat of the Confederates the affair was called "The Philippi
Races." Although in comparison with later battles of the war, this
skirmish appeared insignificant, its result was especially important in
encouraging loyalty to the Union in Northwestern Virginia :! and in
revising the opinions of many who had been inclined to favor Virginia
in its act of secession.4
Colonel Porterfield retreated from Philippi to Huttonsville in Randolph County,
forty miles south of Philippi, and halted at the base of Cheat Mountain. His
forces were so few and were so poorly armed and equipped that resistance to the
advance of the large army which General McClellan was pouring into West Vir-
ginia could not be undertaken with probability of success. He was blamed by
those in power at Richmond for not making a stand, and soon after his retreat from
Philippi he was superseded in command by General Robert S. Garnett, who was
expected to hold the Union forces in check and to recover the lost ground in West
Virginia. Unable longer to endure the censure which was probably undeserved, he
demanded a court of inquiry which met at Beverly, June 20. This court found that
although he had taken ordinary precaution against surprise, and had acted with
coolness on the occasion of the surprise and had conducted the retreat in good order,
he had erred in not taking extraordinary precautions in face of the threatened
attack. The main fault was with those who sent him to the front and utterly failed
to support him, expecting him, with raw untrained troops, in a hostile country, to
withstand an attack from the larger number of troops which could be thrown
against him.
On June 22 McClellan crossed from Ohio with his official staff, and
on June 23 he established his headquarters at Grafton. A few days
later he established headquarters at Buckhannon, which had an impor-
tant strategic position in covering his base of operations and supplies
in the July campaign. From this point he directed commanding officers
at Grafton, Webster, Clarksburg and other points.
Clarksburg became the most important military post in West Vir-
ginia. It was the base of supplies for quartermaster and commissary
stores during that series of battles which began at Philippi and included
Rich Mountain, Laurel Hill and Carriek's Ford. It continued to be
an important military headquarters until the close of the war. Weston
was also an important strategic center, the possession of which by the
Union forces gave them a certain security and a point of vantage for
further movements into the Confederate territory of the northwest. It
was an important outpost for the protection of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad because of its location on the Staunton and Parkersburg turn-
pike, by which Confederate raiding parties aiming at the Northwestern
thick and fast. One was that sixty thousand Union troops had been scattered along
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad with orders to sweep southward and destroy all
property of Southern sympathizers, and drive the people from their homes.
In Barbour County several families congregated at one place in expectation of
meeting death from the advancing Federals, while the men, with what guns they
had, stood ready to fight for their families till death.
3 In expression of their appreciation the West Virginia soldiers made Colonel
Kelley a present of a splendid horse which he named Philippi in commemoration
of his victory, and which he rode the night of February 20, 1865, when it was
taken at Cumberland, Maryland, by sixty-one Confederates under Lieutenant Jesse
McNeill — who also kidnapped General Kelley and General Crook in the midst of an
army of 4,000 men and carried them to Staunton.
* About a dozen of Captain Jenkins ' men who were Union in sentiment and un-
willing to fight for the Confederacy deserted before reaching Huttonsville. When
this was reported, Colonel Porterfield sent for Captain Jenkins and upbraided him
for having a company of abolitionists. In the quarrel which ensued he asked for
Captain Jenkins' commission, wrote his discharge across the face of it, handed
it back to him, and discharged the whole company. Captain Jenkins sold his horse
and returned to Philippi, where he was arrested by the Federals as a spy, but after
a trial he was set at liberty, took the oath not to take up arms against the United
States, and during the remainder of the war he remained at his home at Elk City.
378 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Railroad west of Clarksburg were likely to approach. Most important
of all, it was the junction of the Weston and Gauley Bridge turnpike
with the state road and was the gate to the northern approach to the
Kanawha valley and the center from which the secession territory to the
south and west could be most easily commanded. Although troops were
first sent to Weston primarily for the purpose of securing the Virginia
funds in the Exchange bank, they were not withdrawn. Other troop
movements showed that the Union leaders did not intend easily to re-
linquish the advantage gained.
General Robert Garnett, who superseded Porterfield at Huttonsville
on June 14 and reinforced his army to over 6,000 by troops from east-
ern Virginia, completely failed with inadequate forces to recover an
important strategic position. He planned to established a base at Evans-
ville in Preston county.5
Early in July, 1861, Garnett fortified two positions to prevent the
Union forces from moving southwest. One fort was constructed at the
western base of Rich Mountain (five miles west of Beverly), on the
Staunton and Parkersburg turnpike between Beverly and Buckhannon.
The other position was at Laurel Hill (Belington) on the road between
Beverly and Philippi, just over the line in Barbour county. The two
fortified positions were twelve miles apart, but no road connected them
except in a round-about way. The stronger Confederate force was
placed on the road leading from Philippi because that was the direct
route to the south.
Lang in his "Loyal West Virginia" says of these Confederate fortified posi-
tions : "To have held the position selected for General Garnett after the battle
of Philippi, except with a force so large as to make defeat impossible, was simply
a military blunder. Camp 'Rich Mountain' is a gap in the Laurel Hill range,
where the Staunton and Weston turnpike crosses it, about five miles west from
Beverly. Garnett regarded this pass as naturally very strong and easily held; he
therefore intrenched about 2,000 of his men and 4 pieces of artillery under com-
mand of Colonel Pegram of Virginia forces, while he himself, with about 6,000 men
and 4 pieces of cannon, occupied Laurel Hill, fifteen miles further to the westward.
This place was very strongly fortified; in fact, both at Rich Mountain and Laurel
Hill the Confederate commander had selected the very strongest natural position for
defense to be found in that part of the country. * * * The fortifications con-
sisted of heavy breastworks of timber and earth; but the stupid part of the whole
business just referred to was that they had completely isolated themselves from all
accessible base of supplies, with but one rough road as a line of advance or re-
treat, and this in face of the fact that the first principle in military operations
is to be sure of your base of supplies and lines of retreat. * * * "
McClellan, upon taking the field in his campaign against Beverly,
Rich Mountain and Laurel Hill, had about 20,000 men, consisting of
16 Ohio regiments, 9 from Indiana, and 2 from West Virginia, with
4 batteries of artillery of 6 guns each, and 2 troops of cavalry. Of these
forces about 500 were guarding the railroad under the command of
5 Garnett had been an officer in the United States army, but had resigned to ac-
cept service under the Confederacy. Early in July he had been re-enforced by troops
from eastern Virginia until he had six thousand men, exclusive of a few companies
of local militia who were expected to scout and to do picket duty. He hoped to prevent
the Federal forces from advancing further, and he formed plans to capture the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and either hold it or destroy it. His design was to
establish a base at Evansville in Preston county, from which he could strike in
different directions, and in case of being overpowered in front, or threatened from
the west, he intended to retreat up Cheat river. His engineers surveyed the wagon
road from Rowlesburg to St. George with that object in view. General Lee wrote
as late as July 1, urging that the railroad be cut at Rowlesburg, saying that the
rupture of the railroad at that place would be worth an army to the Confederacy.
General Garnett soon satisfied himself that he could not push forward to the rail-
road with the force at his disposal; and instead of improving the Cheat river road
for his own use, as he had contemplated, he blockaded it to prevent its use by
General McClellan who might have reached the Confederate flank by that route. He
felled trees across every road crossing Laurel Mountain between Cheat Mountain
and St. George. He wrote to Lee that he did not believe the Union forces would
advance south of Philippi, for the simple reason that they probably had as much of
Northwestern Virginia as they wanted. Lee replied that the Federal forces would
not be satisfied with what they already held, but would push over the mountains to
Staunton unless prevented from doing so. Events proved that Lee's judgment was
right.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 379
Brigadier-General C. W. Hill of Ohio. Brigadier-General Morris of
Indiana was at Philippi with a strong brigade, and the rest of the
forces were designated into three brigades, forming the immediate com-
mand of General McClellan. The brigade commanders were Brigadier-
General W. S. Rosecrans, U. S. A.; General Newton Sehleich of Ohio,
and Colonel Robert L. McCook of Ohio.
McClellan 's forces advanced in two columns against the Confederates,
designing to attack both positions at once. Pour thousand men under
General Thomas A. Morris marched from Philippi against the force
under Garnett fourteen miles beyond on the road to Beverly; and
ten thousand men under McClellan marched by way of Buckhaniimi
to execute the contemplated movement to Beverly and to attack the
Confederates at Rich Mountain.
On July 11 an attack was made on the Confederates at Rich Moun-
tain, and after a sharp fight the Union troops gained a victory. The
Confederate force at that place was destroyed. About 600 surrendered
two days later, after vainly trying to escape through the mountains.
After defeating a detachment under Colonel John Pegram at the battle
of Cheat Mountain. McClellan pursued the retreating force through
Beverly and Huttonsville, seized the summit of Cheat Mountain and
intrenched a part of his command on the main Staunton turnpike lead-
ing over the mountain. At one o'clock on July 12 he reached Beverly,
and thus cut off Garnett 's retreat over Cheat Mountain as he had
planned. But Garnett was no longer at Laurel Hill.
When news of this defeat reached Garnett at the other camp at
Laurel Hill, he abandoned his position without a fight and retreated
eastward into Tucker county toward the Northwestern turnpike, hoping
to escape by that route. He blockaded the road behind him by felling
trees across it, to hinder pursuit ; but General Morris followed with
3,000 men, cutting out the blockades, and pressing so hard upon the
rear of the retreating army that Garnett was obliged to offer battle at
Carrick's Ford on Cheat river, in Tucker county." The Confederates
were defeated and Garnett was killed (on July 13). The remnant of
the army rapidly fled, abandoned its baggage, threw away guns, left
the sick to fall in the hands of the pursuing Union troops, and after
reaching the Northwestern turnpike crossed into Maryland and back
into Virginia, finally crossed the Alleghenies into Hardy county and
thence passed through Pendleton county and arrived at Monterey
in a demoralized condition. In Highland county it met reenforcements
which were hurrying from Staunton to help drive McClellan 's army
back ; but the battle had been already lost, and the campaign was over.
The Federals under Morris were not in condition to continue the
pursuit beyond Carrick's Ford. They were starving, and returned to
Belington by way of St. George and Clover Run.
Garnett, in his report from Laurel Hill, informed General Lee
that the lack of enlistments and aid to the Confederate cause indicated
that he was in a foreign country. After his retreat there were few
Confederates in West Virginia west of the Alleghenies and north of
the Kanawha valley.
After the brilliant campaign of Union achievements which termi-
nated at Carrick's Ford, the Union troops in Randolph were several
weeks "principally engaged in driving from the country the bush-
whackers, and in protecting the peaceable citizens in their pursuits of
farming, merchandising, etc."
6 Late in May a Confederate flag was raised over the court house at St. George
in Tucker County by Abe Bonnifield and others, but on June 10, 1861, it was cap-
tured by a body of forty men from Kowlesburg who acted on the invitation of
Union men at St. George.
As the war spirit grew the old officials of the county ceased to function. About
June 28, the Union men proceeded to hold elections in the county. To prevent these
elections Eobert MeChesney was sent into Tucker County from Garnett 's neighboring
forces. Eight miles below St. George (at Hannahsville) he was killed by an op
posing force which fired upon his small force of ten men.
380 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
On July 14, McClellan, leaving 6,000 men as guards and reserves
at Clarksburg, Webster, Grafton, Rowlesburg and other points, moved
southward with 14,000 men and occupied Huttonsville, followed by the
line of military telegraph by which throughout his brief campaign he
had been able to keep in touch with Grafton and to announce to the
excited country the news of his victories — which, although small in
comparison with many later victories of the war, were important as a
preparation for some of those later victories, and were significant in
their larger results which contributed to the integrity of the Union.
As a result of his victories, McClellan suddenly became prominent
and was soon called to Washington to command the Army of the Po-
tomac in the advance on Richmond. He was succeeded by General
Rosecrans in command in West Virginia, and General J. J. Reynolds
in command of the Union troops holding intrenched positions on Cheat
Mountain summit, Elk Water and Huttonsville.
The Confederates, encouraged by their victory at Bull Run, south
of Washington, decided upon a new attempt to drive all Union forces
from Virginia. For that purpose General Robert E. Lee was sent into
Randolph county via the Staunton and Beverly turnpike with 14,000
men to recover the ground lost. There he met 9,000 Federal troops
under General Reynolds who had constructed two fortified camps (seven
miles apart) — one at Cheat Mountain guarding the road from Staun-
ton and the other near the source of Tygart's Valley river guarding
the road from the Kanawha valley.
In his plans of this campaign Lee did not exhibit the military genius
which characterized his later campaigns in the war. In September
he advanced toward the camps, with expectation of a success which
would have opened the way to Grafton and Clarksburg, but disap-
pointed by rains and other unfavorable conditions he retreated with
his entire army without striking a blow.
Two Confederate columns were sent by the Staunton road against Cheat summit
and one by the Lewisburg and Huntersville road against Elk Water. At the same
time another column was ordered to pierce the line between Elk Water and Cheat
summit a distance of eight miles through a trackless mountain forest, to gain the
rear of both positions. The movement began on September 11. A part of Lee's
command succeeded in reaching the rear of the Union troops at the Summit, and
a part attacked by the Staunton road in front. Both were repulsed. The column
sent against Elk Water appeared before that position, but, because of the failure
of the other columns, made no attack. On September 15, all the columns retired
to their old positions.
A party of Lee 's retreating force f ortified a camp on Greenbrier river
in Pocahontas county thirteen miles from Cheat Mountain. At this camp
they successfully resisted the attempt of Reynolds to dislodge them but
fell back and established a winter camp on top of the Allegheny Moun-
tain. After repulsing an attack of General R. H. Milroy (successor of
Reynolds) they faced Milroy 's camp at Huntersville all winter but in
the spring moved eastward over the mountains beyond the borders of
West Virginia and were soon followed by the Federals.
Aside from the influence on the success of the Reorganized Govern-
ment of Virginia in western Virginia and on the consequent organiza-
tion of a new state, the chief immediate result of the campaigns of
1861 in the Northwest was the control of the trans-Allegheny lines of
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad for the Union, whose success in the
struggle against secession was largely dependent upon rapid communica-
tion between Washington and the West. The Federal control of this
portion of the railroad line facilitated the problem of keeping the
road open east of the mountains from Piedmont to Harper's Ferry,
where the Confederates seized every opportunity to blockade the national
capital by destroying this means of transportation between East and
West, and finally resulted in continuous uninterrupted communication
for strategic military purposes between Washington and the Ohio. Al-
though the road was closed to ordinary traffic from May, 1861, to Api'il,
1862, the company, under guard of Federal troops commanded by Gen-
eral Kelley, was rebuilding bridges and replacing what had been de-
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 381
stroyed by the Confederates, it was in good condition for business for
the remainder of 1862. On April 2, 1862, upon the completion of the
work of repair, one hundred guns were fired in celebration of the
event of the first regular train that ran from Baltimore and safely
arrived at Wheeling. For later repairs and replacements the road
spent large sums. In 1862-3 its losses from Confederate attacks were
heavy. It lost 42 locomotives, 386 cars, 127 spans of bridges, aggregat-
ing 4,713 feet, 36 miles of track, and the water stations and telegraph
lines for a distance of 100 miles were destroyed. During the period of
the war its fine bridge at Harper's Ferry was twice destroyed.
A supreme test of the railroad's strategic importance occurred in
September, 1863, when it became necessary to send two army corps from
the Army of the Potomac to reinforce General Rosecrans at Chattanooga,
who had been defeated at Chickamauga by General Bragg, and was in
peril. It was of supreme importance that large reinforcements shoidd
be sent to Chattanooga within a few days. An appeal for help was
presented to the railroad officials. "At a consultation President Lincoln
seemed almost in despair," says Professor Draper in his "History of
the Civil War." "I advise," said Stanton, Secretary of War, "that
the powerful detachment be sent from the Army of the Potomac to open
the road." Lincoln smiled incredulously: General Halleck considered
such an attempt impracticable. "I do not," said the Secretary of War,
"offer you this opinion without first having thoroughly informed my-
self of all the details. I will undertake to move 20,000 men from the
army on the Rapidan, and place them on the Tennessee near Chat-
tanooga within nine days." Not without reluctance, Lincoln gave his
consent that the eleventh and twelfth corps should be moved.
The account of how the army was transferred has been given by President
Garrett, as quoted by Thomas Scharf:
"I arrived at the very moment when they were at issue as to the possibility of
making so large a transfer in so short a time. In response to their questions, I re-
plied that I could put 30,000 men in Louisville, Ky., in ten days, provided I was
clothed with absolute power over the whole route, as well as all military authority,
not even excepting that of General Halleck, then general-in-chief ; that the lines
of railroad and telegraph should be under my sole control and command, and should
be protected at night at threatened points with lanterns to warm the approach of
any danger; that no military officer should give any orders not subject to my
control, and that I be empowered to seize and run cars, stop the mail and pas-
senger trains, government freight and all other trains ; that full authority be given
me to seize wagons, lumber, and impress men on the Ohio river for the purpose
of building a bridge.
' ' The secretary of war, who was much pleased with the prospect of accom-
plishing this great feat of transportation contrary to the expressed opinion of
General Halleck, replied that he would grant me everything and hold me responsible
for success. General Hooker, who was to command the expedition, replied that
while he had great respect for me personally, he would not as long as he held
the rank of major general, become the subordinate of any civilian, and that he would
there and then tender the resignation of his commission if any such authority was
to be given me. I replied that it was only with such authority that I would be
responsible for the success of the movement, and without that authority I would not
attempt the transfer of so many troops in such a short time.
"It was because I knew that absolute authority over every appliance for the
movement, as well as every man to be moved, was necessary, that I insisted on dic-
tatorial powers. That I was not mistaken was made apparent at the very outset of
the movement, when it became necessary to threaten several colonels with arrest,
and embarrass the transfer; and again at Grafton a train was stopped by tele-
graph from a general officer until he could catch up with his command. Such inter-
ference, you can see, would have been fatal to the operations of a movement of 30,000
men over more than 1,000 miles along a single track railroad, as well as dangerous
to the lives of large numbers. Mr. Stanton settled the matter with General Hooker
in a private interview, upon returning from which he asked me to recommend four
men of prominence for appointment as captains on the staff of General Hooker.
"Clothed with full power over men, material, and railroads, I repaired to
Camden Station, Baltimore, and there took up my abode and did not leave the sta-
tion, except to go to Washington, for five days, sleeping in my chair when I could,
and eating at the depot as opportunity offered. I dispatched Mr. Wilson, master of
transportation, to the Ohio river with power to seize flat boats and lumber, to
construct a bridge over the river to be in readiness for the first train of cars that
arrived with troops; and when, on the third day of my labor, I repaired to Wash-
ington to attend a cabinet meeting, I was met by Mr. Stanton and General Halleck
with the remark : ' ' Well, you have failed. It is impossible to have the bridge com-
382 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
pleted over the Ohio before the troops arrive there on the cars. ' ' I was surprised
and almost confused. Something, I thought, had gone wrong or been omitted, and
yet I could not think where or by whom the error or omission had been made.
However, while the discussion was going on, we were interrupted by the hurried
entrance of a messenger with a dispatch for me, announcing the completion of
the bridge and the passage of the troops without the least delay. The entire two
corps were landed safely in Louisville within the time stipulated by me, without
accident or injury."
To transfer the two army corps from "Washington to Stevenson,
Alabama, a distance of 1,192 miles in seven days, it was necessary to
connect diverging railroads with improvised tracks, to build temporary
bridges across large rivers, to pass through half a dozen states, and to
cross the Ohio twice. The troops were accompanied by their artillery,
baggage, and animals.
In the contest to gain and retain control of the Kanawha valley the
Confederates also lost. The policy of Lee was to hold the valley by
posting a force below Charleston. General Henry A. Wise, who was
ordered to the Kanawha early in June, 1861, experienced considerable
difficulty in raising and equipping soldiers in that region, but finally
secured an army of eight thousand men (including about 2,000 militia
from Raleigh, Fayette and Mercer counties) with which he planned an
advance against Parkersburg. His orders were to proceed with the
force placed at his command, and to rally the people of the Kanawha
to resist the invading army. With the meagre nucleus of an army lie
advanced to Lewisburg, thence down the Kanawha valley, his force
gradually increasing until, by the accession of Colonel Tompkins' detach-
ment, already in the valley, it numbered full 4,000 men, including con-
siderable cavalry and four batteries of artillery. General John B.
Floyd, of Virginia, who had been secretary of war under President
Buchanan, was assigned to the protection of the line of the Tennessee
& Virginia Railroad. The two commands were expected to consoli-
date when necessary, and at one time they were expected to proceed
northward to Parkersburg and Clarksburg, and even to Wheeling.
With a Confederate force of about 2,700 men, Wise established
headquarters about two miles below Charleston, but soon found it neces-
sary to retire eastward up the Kanawha.
McClellan originally intended to conduct his campaign in West Vir-
ginia by way of the Kanawha valley, but his plans were postponed by
the gathering of the Confederates near Beverly. Later when his flank
was menaced by the presence of Wise in the Kanawha valley, General
J. D. Cox was ordered (on July 2) to cross the Ohio from Gallipolis
with a brigade to conduct a campaign against Wise, and on July 6
he was ordered to march on Charleston and Gauley Bridge. Crossing
the Ohio with about 3,000 men, he drove back some of Wise's advance
detachments, and on July 11 moved up the Great Kanawha river in
transports. On the evening of July 16 he reached the mouth of the
Pocotaligo where he heard that some of Wise 's forces were in a position
above the mouth of Scarey creek on the south side of the Kanawha and
about three miles distant. Landing troops on the south side of the
river on July 17, he attacked but was repulsed with a loss of fourteen
killed and forty-seven wounded. Delayed by this check until he could
get land transportation which arrived on July 23, he advanced on July
24, took Charleston on July 25, and reached Gauley Bridge on the
morning of July 29. Wise, retreating before him, did not halt until
he reached Greenbrier and the White Sulphur Springs, where he was
joined by General Floyd.
A few days later Wise's plans were further threatened by another
Federal force which advanced southward from Clarksburg.7 On
7 The commands of Generals Wise and Floyd, being sorely pressed by the
enemy, the militia brigades of General Alfred Beckley and Augustus A. Chapman
were called into service in August, 1861, and sent to Cotton Hill, in Fayette county.
A vivid and perhaps exaggerated picture of the drastic treatment of Unionists
in the Kanawha valley by General Wise in the summer of 1861 appeared in the
following editorial from the Wheeling Intelligencer of November 29, 1861, based
upon a report of a gentleman residing in that region:
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 383
August 13, Colonel E. B. Tyler, with the Seventh Ohio Infantry, was
ordered by General Rosecrans to occupy a position at Cross Lanes (in
Nicholas county) covering Carnifex Ferry on the Gauley river, twenty
miles above General Cox's position at Gauley Bridge.
The Confederates soon tried to secure control of the Gauley. On
August 26, General Floyd with 2,500 Confederates attacked Colonel
Tyler at Cross Lanes and compelled him to retreat to Charleston, but
a few days later Wise failed in an attack upon the forces under General
Cox at the mouth of Gauley, and on the same day (September 3) Gen-
eral Rosecrans started for Clarksburg on a march via Weston, Bull-
town, Sutton, and Summerville to Nicholas — a march which resulted in
a drawn battle at Carnifex Ferry and the withdrawal of Floyd into
Greenbrier after burning the bridge behind him to prevent pursuit.
In the following November, Wise was defeated by Rosecrans at
Gauley Bridge in a final battle of a campaign which left the lower
valley in the hands of the Federals. After the defeat of Wise and
Floyd in detail, facilitated by their own continual lack of concert and
cooperation, the Confederates were finally pushed over the Alleghenies
in this region and never again obtained a permanent foothold.
In his message to the legislature in December, 1861, Governor 1'i.er-
pont, referring to the condition of the southern section of the state
which had been overrun by the secession forces, said :
"There seems to be no doubt that nearly all the able-bodied men
between sixteen and sixty have been forced into the Confederate army,
including thousands who are at heart true to the Constitution and the
Union. * * * A large proportion of the slaves have been sent far-
ther south for security. All the live stock within the rebel lines has
been seized for the use of the army. Farms have been stripped of
horses, wagons, fencing and timber, and the houses of the people of
blankets and even clothing — whatever, in short, could be made useful
to the soldiers. The property of men known or supposed to be true to
' ' Since early in the summer, the valley has been the scene of warfare. Wise
(Mine among the people as a hesom of devastation. He literally laid bare the country
all around him. His worthless promises to pay are left widespread among the
people; but their corn, their wheat, their oats, their hay, their bacon — their all —
is gone, to be heard of no more. He took horses, mules, wagons, and impressed them
in his service, both as he came and as he left. He paid for nothing the whole
time. His cavalry, sustained themselves by depredating first upon one farm and
then upon another. They roved from field to field, from locality to locality, like
droves of grasshoppers. They let down fences, entered and fed their horses from
grain in the shock. They took corn and oats from the barns. They quartered
themselves at the tables of the farmers like so many brigands and footpads, never
even giving so much as a slip of Wise 's script in return. Their trail was desolation
everywhere. The infantry were provided for by the script system. Foragers stay
and make valuation on farm products, to store houses of provisions, etc., and give the
owners certificates therefor. If the owners objected, the property was considered
sold in spite of the objection, and was transferred to the wagons just as though
it had been paid for in gold. Nothing was allowed to interfere. In like manner
clothing and everything else that was of value was taken.
In the town of Charleston, the case of two young Jews, clothes dealers, af-
forded a distressing example of Wise's brutalism. He got hold of a letter which
one of them had written to a dealer in the East, at the bottom of which was a note
indicating his sympathy with the Union. Wise had him and his brother arrested
and thrown into prison; and on being visited by a lawyer on their behalf, revealed
a depth of devilish brutality that astounded his visitor beyond belief. He said he
intended to have these Jews shot unless they made over their stock of goods to him ;
that if they would assign the goods, he would not shoot them; but that he wanted
it understood that either through blood or an instrument of writing he intended to
have the goods. The lawyers (from whose own lips we have these facts) went back
to the poor fellows and told them the sorry tale. He left them in prison in tears.
The sequel was that Wise took the property and carried them away captive with him.
"The old demon used to curse frightfully. His profanity was most disgusting.
When he had no one else to curse, he cursed O. Jennings, his son, and cursed him
roundly, too. Especially did he belabor him when Jennings remonstrated against
destroying the beautiful and costly bridge over Elk Kiver. His whole bearing was
that of maniac devil — seemingly let loose to fill a portion of the unexpired term
of Satan himself. Never did a people more rejoice to see a pestilence leave their
midst than the people of Kanawha to see Wise compelled to make off. The feeling
was not confined to Union men; it was general."
384 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
the Union has been taken without compensation, and they regard them-
selves fortunate whose lives are spared. The property which is pre-
tended to be paid for is paid for in treasury notes of the Confederate
States, or in bank notes issued on the deposit of such treasury notes.
This currency, even at Richmond, is already at a discount of not less
than thirty per cent — really valueless."
Wise was probably glad to be called to the eastern coast. The fol-
lowing statement of his impressions indicates that he was disappointed
in the people of the Kanawha :
"The Kanawha valley is wholly disaffected and traitorous. It was
gone from Charleston down to Point Pleasant before I got there.
Boone and Cabell are nearly as bad, and the state of things in Braxton,
Nicholas, and part of Greenbrier is awful. The militia are nothing for
warlike uses here. They are worthless who are true, and there is no
telling who is true, you cannot persuade these people that Virginia can
or will ever reconquer the northwest, and they are submitting, subdued
and debased."
By October 1, Rosecrans had concentrated his entire command, in-
cluding Cox's brigade, at Big Sewell Mountain. There, his force be-
came reduced by sickness and by detachments, until he had but 5,200
effective men. His base of supplies was 60 miles distant. The roads
after the autumn rains became so difficult that horses and mules were
destroyed in their effort to transport supplies. On October 5, therefore,
he very considerately withdrew his forces toward Gauley Bridge and
encamped in that vicinity at locations convenient to water transporta-
tion upon which his army was dependent for subsistence and clothing.
Orders were immediately dispatched requesting paymasters to come
and pay the troops — none having received any pay since they entered
the service.
In the Spring of 1862, General Cox marched eastward from Charles-
ton and occupied a position at Flat Top mountain. In August he moved
on to join General Shields in the Shenandoah valley, leaving General
Lighburn in command, with headquarters at Gauley 's Bridge. His
eastern outpost was at Fayetteville, occupied by the 27th Ohio. The
Federal force in the valley was then 3,500 men.
On May 12, 1862, the Federals with 800 cavalry and 120 infantry,
commanded by Colonel Elliott, of Crook's brigade, reached Lewisburg,
drove the Greenbrier Riflemen back to the Greenbrier river and occu-
pied the place. A few days later they were reenforced by Colonel Gil-
bert with a large detachment of Crook's brigade. On May 29, they
fell back to Meadow Bluff.
Following the defeat of General Heath by General Crook in the
battle of Lewisburg on May 23, 1862, Mr. Samuel Price, one of the
most prominent citizens of Greenbrier county, was ordered to report
at Crook's headquarters to take the oath of allegiance. Refusing to take
the oath he was first threatened with the guard house, but was allowed
to remain at his home on parole. Later he was ordered to go to Charles-
ton with other prisoners en route to Camp Chase, Ohio, and although
allowed to ride his horse he felt that he was subjected to a series of
insults on the route. At Charleston he was first put in jail with other
prisoners, but through the influence of Dr. Patrick, Sr., was released
on parole, allowing him to stay at the hotel. About three months later
he was released by the expedition of General Loring which drove the
Federals back.
The Federals held possession of the Kanawha valley until Septem-
ber 6, 1862, the troops occupying Camp Piatt, at Charleston, opposite
Brownstown, with their most eastern post at Fayetteville. Scouting
parties operated south and east through this territory.
In Fayette county the people were largely in favor of the Con-
federate cause. In May, 1861, the county court at a special session
appropriated $5,000 for the purchase of equipment and uniforms for
soldiers of the Confederacy. In June it invited the peaceful resignation
of any member who might feel friendly to the North. The county fur-
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 385
nished a company for the Union army, however. Federal forces which
occupied Fayetteville in the fall of 1861, remained until they were
driven out on September 10, 1862, by General W. W. Loring's forward
movement from the Narrows, which captured valuable military stores
at Charleston. They returned in May, 1863, to drive the Confederates
out. During the war there was a general exodus of the citizens, and
only four houses remained at the cessation of hostilities.
After 1861, the Confederates never made a serious attempt to re-
cover or to hold the trans-Allegheny region of West Virginia. Although
as late as 1863 certain politicians and generals in the Confederate serv-
ice still believed the majority of the West Virginians were in sympathy
with secession they had no shadow of a basis for any lingering hope
after the great raid of Imboden which found few willing to grasp the
opportunity to enlist in the Confederate service.
Early in 1863, General Jenkins, commanding a Confedei'ate cavalry
brigade at Dublin Depot, on the line of the Virginia & Tennessee rail-
road, determined upon a raid across the mountains and down the
Kanawha valley to capture valuable Federal supplies and horses at
Point Pleasant. On March 20 with a detachment of 800 men and with
Dr. Charles Timms of Putnam county as surgeon, he began the march
of 200 miles over the mountains, despite bad roads and bad weather.
On March 27 he reached Hurricane Bridge, Putnam county and after
defeating a Federal force there resumed their march toward the mouth
of the Kanawha. On March 28 he reached Hill's Landing, on the
Kanawha, just as the steamer "Victress" was departing down the river
with a Federal paymaster and considerable government funds. At
Point Pleasant for four hours he closely besieged Captain Carter, with
Company E of the 12th West Virginia Infantry, two blocks from the
court house. The citizens fled to the opposite side of the river and
spread the news. Federal reinforcements soon arrived, including a
battery of artillery. The Confederates withdrew, crossed the Kanawha,
and that night camped at the headwaters of Ohio Eighteen, in South
Mason county. On the next day they reached Tazewell county, Virginia.
On April 19, 1863, at Tuckwiler's Hill, near Lewisburg, a small
encounter occurred between Edgar's battalion and a detachment of the
2nd West Virginia Cavalry under Colonel Paxton, the latter retreating.
The battle of Dry Creek, two miles from White Sulphur Springs was
fought on August 26, 1863.
Perhaps the most important later military event in the Kanawha
valley was what is known as the Dublin raid and battle of Cloyd Moun-
tain, in which many men from the Kanawha region were engaged on
both sides. Early in the spring of 1864, General George Crook, who
commanded the Kanawha department, concentrated his forces at
Fayetteville, and in May began his march through the mountains to
Dublin Depot, Pulaski county. The weather and roads were both in
bad condition, and men and train moved slowly. En route his force
camped at Loup creek (Fayette county), at Mercer (Mercer county),
and at Princeton. It arrived at Rock Gap, Bland county, on May 7,
and at Shannon, Giles county, on the day following. On May 8, at
Cloyd 's mountain they encountered and defeated a Confederate force
in command of Generals Jenkins and McCausland. General Jenkins
who was left wounded on the field was taken to the house of David
Cloyd, where a Federal surgeon amputated his arm at the shoulder,
but he died under the operation.
One of the last fights of the war was fought on Greenbrier river,
seven miles east of Hinton, at a point known as the Big Rock. Thur-
mond's Rangers were coming down Greenbrier river, some in a large
canoe made from a big poplar tree and others by the road. Suddenly
they encountered a squad of Union men who fired on them from the bluff
above the big road, shooting bullet holes through the big canoe and
buttons off their coats, but shedding no blood.
Although by the campaign of McClellan, southward from Grafton
to Huttonsville, the Confederates practically lost control of the entire
Vol. I— 2 5
386 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
region of Northwestern Virginia, which so largely controlled the Balti-
more & Ohio Railroad and found no subsequent opportunity to make
a serious attempt to regain it, they made several subsequent raids which
produced a feeling of uncertainty and insecurity in some sections and
severely tested the alertness of the Federal forces and Home Guards.
General A. J. Jenkins with 500 Confederates made a raid through Mon-
roe, Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur and Lewis (and west-
ward to the Ohio through Gilmer, Roane and Jackson) in August, 1862,
and returned via the Kanawha valley.
In November, 1862, General John D. Imboden with over 300 Con-
federates dashed over the Alleghenies from Pendleton county with the
intention of reaching Rowlesburg in order to destroy the B. & O. bridge
over Cheat at that point and the neighboring trestles on Laurel Hill,
but after reaching St. George within twenty miles of his destination
he received information of Federal plans which caused him to make a
hasty retreat.
In the spring of 1863, the great Imboden raid, of 5,000 Confederates
in two divisions, crossed the Alleghenies into northwestern Virginia
to gain recruits and to obtain horses and cattle for General Lee's con-
templated movement to Chambersburg and Gettysburg. The main or
southern division under Imboden crossed into Randolph county, cap-
tured Beverly, and continued westward into Upshur and Lewis coun-
ties. From Weston it moved southwesterly toward the Kanawha and
in May slowly retired across the Alleghenies. The northern division
of 3,000 cavalry under General William B. Jones, crossing via Green-
land Gap and through Maryland and Preston county and Monongalia
county to the Monongahela, damaged the B. & O. Railroad at Rowles-
burg, cut down the suspension bridge at Albrightsville (Preston coun-
ty), tried to burn the suspension bridge at Morgantown and destroyed
the railroad bridge at Fairmont by a powder explosion and then pro-
ceeding via Philippi and Buckhannon formed a junction with Imboden
at Weston. Both divisions carried away many horses and cattle.
At Rowlesburg from noon until night on Sunday, April 23, Jones directed
one division of 1,000 cavalry against the Federal forces under command of Major
Showalter who by trees felled across the up-Cheat road was able to repel the attack.
In the darkness he retired to West Union on the Northwestern turnpike, six miles
from Rowlesburg. Amid the consternation which reigned, Showalter, fearing that
he was surrounded, retreated to Morgantown and toward Pittsburgh and Wheeling
before he decided to return to his post. For this retreat he was severely crticised.
At Kingwood, Morgantown and Fairmont, Jones' men alarmed the citizens
and seized many horses which were corralled and driven away without offer to pay.
At Philippi, Jones intended to burn the bridge over Tygart's and was prevented only
by the appeal of Southern sympathizers who suggested that the Confederates might
soon need the bridge to facilitate their retreat. Here, on May 2, he collected
the thousands of cattle and horses taken in Preston, Monongalia, Marion, Barbour
and Tucker counties and sent them southeast via Beverly. Fearing that he might
plan to seize the county records, Spencer Dayton had hurriedly placed the most
valuable records in a coffee sack which he carried to the home of Joshua Glasscock
in Pleasant district for safe keeping. Jones advanced via Harrisville to the
petroleum wells in the direction of Parkersburg. On the night of May 9, at Burn-
ing Springs,. he destroyed 100,000 barrels of oil, by a fire whose illumination was
plainly seen at Parkersburg, forty-two miles distant.
At Fairmont on April 29 Jones met some resistance at the Palatine end of the
suspension bridge. He found much harder fighting, however, at the upper (railroad)
bridge. The small Federal force of 275 men, who at first held a position near the
Pruntytown road, were completely surrounded and at the mercy of Confederate
sharpshooters. After a desperate contest in which they were forced back almost
to the bridge, they raised the white flag and surrendered, and after a few hours im-
prisonment in the court house were released on parole. Following the formality of
the surrender, Colonel Mulligan arrived by train from Grafton and opened fire
from the other side of the river, but was unable to prevent the destruction of the iron
bridge which had cost the railroad half a million dollars. Mulligan fell back to
Grafton and proceeded to Philippi, and thence via Buckhannon to Weston.
In reply to a telegram from Governor Pierpont, inquiring concerning losses,
General Lightburn answered as follows:
"Tour public and private library was destroyed; eleven horses taken from Mr.
Watson; John S. Barnes was wounded; young Coffman was killed; no property
burned except your library and Coffman 's saw mills. Money taken from N. S.
Barnes, $500; Fleming, $400; A. Fleming, $300 in boots and shoes; Mrs. Sterling,
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 387
$100; Jackson in flour ami feed, loss great; Major Parrish lost all of his goods;
every one who had good horses lost them; National newspaper office destroyed ami
type all in 'pi'; United States property destroyed, $500; Monongahela river rail-
road bridge of the Baltimore & Ohio road, destroyed, piers only left standing,
bridge in river. Coal Run, Buffalo and Barricksville bridges all destroyed. It was
Lieutenant Zane of Wheeling who destroyed your library by burning it in front
of your office. "
The Federal forces everywhere retreating before the Imboden-Jones
advance, concentrated at Clarksburg and "West Union. In June, 1863,
Imboden, under orders from General Lee, in connection with plans for
the Gettysburg campaign, moved into Hampshire county to destroy
bridges which might facilitate movement of Federal troops from the
West to the East. After destroying the bridge across the South Branch
he marched directly to Gettysburg.
After Imboden 's great raid, General W. W. Averill, who superseded
General B. S. Roberts in command of the Union forces in the northern
part of West Virginia, adopted a new feature — the conversion of the
infantry into a body of cavalry for more rapid movement to points
needing immediate protection, a precautionary measure to lessen the
dangers of any future Confederate invasion. General Averill was placed
in command of a mobile force drawing its supplies from Clarksburg to
patrol the region south of the railroad to the Kanawha and to coop-
erate with General Kelley commanding on the line of the railroad and
with General Seammon commanding on the Kanawha and the Gauley.
He was instructed to guard the passes and approaches via Cheat River
Mountain on his left and to be ready in an emergency to cross the
mountains to aid in any movement in the direction of the Valley of
Virginia. He was later assigned to the Kanawha valley.
Late in June, Averill drove back across the Alleghenies a raiding
force of 1,200 Confederates, which, under General Wm. L. Jackson, had
suddenly attacked Beverly. After a hasty march to Gettysburg, where
he arrived too late to participate in the battle, he attacked a body of
retreating Confederates under command of Bradley T. Johnson and
with 1,300 men defeated them near Martinsburg. Soon thereafter,
starting from Winchester he raided up Dunlap creek as far as Calla-
ghan's, and destroyed saltpeter works within reach. He then moved
into Greenbrier to drive back a raiding force of 2,000 Confederates
under General Sam Jones, and after a severe battle of two days at
Rocky Gap, near White Sulphur Springs, in which he lost heavily,
was forced (by lack of ammunition) to retreat. A few weeks later he
led 2,500 men from Beverly to Pocahontas against a body of Con-
federates under General Echols which he soon defeated at Droop Moun-
tain s on November 6, 1863.
Averill's greatest achievement was the great raid of December 8-25,
from Keyser to Salem, Virginia, with 2,500 cavalry and artillery to
destroy several miles of railroad, his almost miraculous escape from
Confederate armies which attempted to surround him, and his safe
return via Pocahontas county to Beverly. His route was via Peters-
burg, Franklin, Monterey, Mt. Grove, Callaghan's, Sweet Sulphur
Springs and New Castle. He reached Salem just as a train load of
soldiers were arriving to defend the place. His artillery forced the
train to back out of the place, and he destroyed the railroad, cut the
telegraph wires, and destroyed the stores. The track was torn up for
sixteen miles, five bridges burned, and valuable property destroyed
including 100,000 bushels of shelled corn, 10,000 bushels of wheat, 2,000
barrels of flour, 1,000 sacks of salt and 100 wagons. Having completed
this work, his next business was to get out of a death trap. He was
hemmed in by forces under Fitzhugh Lee, Jackson, Early, and Echols,
and before him every stream was flooded by heavy rains. His object
s In the battle of Droop Mountain, the Federals advancing from Beverly formed
in line on the Levels near Hillsboro. The Confederates, led by General Echols, had
advanced from Meadow Bluff in Greenbrier, and after six hours of firing, they were
flanked on both wings and retreated beyond Lewisburg to Sinking creek in Giles
county. Echols soon reoccupied Lewisburg.
388 HISTORY OP "WEST VIRGINIA
was to cross into West Virginia, striking Monroe, Greenbrier or Poca-
hontas county. On his route of retreat his first encounter with the
Confederates was on the Fincastle and Covington turnpike within eight
miles of the James river bridge, which he reached before they had time
to bum it. He raced them to the next bridge, five miles farther, and
succeeded in crossing it, although Jackson's force was upon him. To
General Early's formal request for his surrender, he made no reply.0
He crossed the Alleghenies, and one morning when the weather waa
bitterly cold and the Greenbrier greatly swollen, he put his command
across it and marched into the Levels before the inhabitants had any
news of his coming.
Hugh Maxwell states the purpose and difficulties of Averill's expedition as
follows: "It was a momentous issue. General Burnsides was besieged at Knox-
ville, Tennessee, by General Longstreet, and the Government at Washington feared
that the army under Burnsides could not hold out until reenforcements could be
sent. The only hope was in cutting Longstreet 's line of supplies (the railroad
passing through Salem) and compelling him to raise the siege. Averill was ordered
to cut that railroad, even if to do so he must sacrifice his whole army. The smaller
sacrifice could be made, if it would save Burnsides. On December 8, Averill with
his veteran cavalry moved from Keyser, passed through Petersburg, Monterey.
Back Creek, Gatewoods, New Castle to Salem. Pour Confederate armies, any of
them larger than his, marched and countermarched to cut him off. Still during
eight days he rode toward Salem in terrible storms, fording and swimming over-
flowing mountain streams, pursuing ravines and miserable roads night and day, and
on December 16 he struck Salem. During the last twenty hours his men rode without
rest. The Confederates had ascertained the point of attack, and were hurrying troops
from Lynchburg. But Averill drove them back and tore up the railroad for a dis-
tance of sixteen miles. He destroyed immense quantities of military stores, and
performed the task which had been assigned him. Then began the perilous retreat.
The Confederate armies were surrounding him. Bains had deluged the country.
Streams were crossed by swimming. He dragged his cannon through with ropes.
When there were bridges, he burned them behind him, and hurried on. He captured
a dispatch and learned from it that only one avenue of escape was possible. That
was the road which led across the Alleghenies into Pocahontas County. The rain
had changed to snow. The cold was intense. The roads were sheets of ice. Snow
and sleet broke trees and blockaded the roads. So terrible was the storm that cattle
froze to death in the fields. Horses fell and were crippled. Soldiers dismounted
and dragged the cannon by hand up the mountains, and tied trees to them to hold
them back in descending. The Confederates hung upon the rear, and continual
fighting was necessary to cover the retreat. The army reached Beverly in a miserable
plight from cold and famine. But not a cannon had been lost, and only 119 men."
In retaliation for Averill's Salem raid, General Fitzhugh Lee, who
participated in the Confederate maneuvers for his capture, led an in-
vading force into the South Branch valley, penetrating as far as Rom-
ney, but because of bad weather conditions he was forced to leave all
artillery at the eastern base of Shenandoah mountain, and he soon
returned eastward. About the same time (January, 1864), General
Early led an army into the South Branch, compelled the Federal gar-
rison under Colonel Thoburn to evacuate Petersburg and directed some
foraging parties under General Rosser which collected cattle and burned
some small railroad bridges east of Cumberland. This raid was fol-
lowed in March, 1864, by a counter raid into Pendleton county by 400
men of the 12th New York cavalry, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Root,
which destroyed the saltpeter works above Franklin and proceeded to
Circleville without meeting a Confederate force.
In May, 1864, Averill, with his cavalry, participated in a Federal
force from the Kanawha, commanded by General Crook, against Con-
federates who were guarding the railroad westward from Lynchburg
into Tennessee, and was successful in destroying the railroad bridge
at Dublin. One incident of the expedition was the battle of Cloyd
Mountain in which General Albert G. Jenkins, in command of Con-
federates, was killed.
9 Morton in his history of Monroe County, referring to General Echols ' hurried
march by way of Sweet Springs to the top of Peters Mountain to intercept Averill,
states that Averill's escape was partly due the aid of a country physician named
Wylie who was well acquainted with the country roads and yielding to threats un-
willingly acted as pilot to Covington and received a reward for his service. ' ' The
smoke of the burning bridge over Jackson's river at Covington apprised Echols
that his prey had eluded him."
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 389
In August, 1864, Averill was sent in pursuit of a Confederate force
led by General McCausland and General Bradley T. Johnson, which,
after a disasterous raid to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, retreated
through Maryland and the South Branch. At Moorfield he overtook
them and defeated them in a brief fight which resulted in the capture
of many prisoners and the recovery of all the property seized in Penn-
sylvania.
Later raids were that of Colonel V. A. Witcher, in September,
1864, who started from Tazewell county and penetrated to Weston and
Buckhannon, two later attacks on Beverly — one under Major Hall in
the late autumn of 1864, and the other under General Rosser in Jan-
uary, 1865, and General Rosser 's successful surprise attack of Federal
forces under Colonel George R. Latham at Keyser in November, 1864.
At Weston the force of Colonel Witcher (who had been with Jones'
western raiding force in 1863), refilled the stores, took good horses in
exchange for old ones and robbed the Exchange Bank of all its funds.
Rosser 's attack at Keyser resulting in some damage to the railroad
track there was the last of the active raids in West Virginia.
In their repeated raids, the Confederates were doubtless encouraged
by the demoralization resulting from the divided sympathies of the
people in several counties of the region visited. At the outbreak of
the war, nearly all county officers of Barbour were Southern in sym-
pathies; and for several months after Colonel Porterfield was driven
from Philippi, there was no execution of the law by the civil author-
ities, and Philippi was almost deserted. In the following September,
under the Reorganized Government of Virginia, there was an elec-
tion to fill vacancies. In the winter of 1862-63, the new sheriff, Mr.
Trahem, was kidnapped from his home by a detail of Confederates,
under orders from General Imbodeu (who was encamped in Augusta
county), and was sent to Richmond. Although he was released and
allowed to return, his capture led to retaliatory acts against the Con-
federate sympathizers in the county. In the raids under Imboden
and Jones, which occurred in the spring of 1863, Barbour was not as
much concerned as other counties of the region. In several cases rec-
ords were carried away and in Randolph the sheriff (J. F. Phares)
was shot. Later, near the close of the war, M. T. Haller, in command
of the Home Guards in Barbour county, was killed in an ambush by a
Confederate scouting party led by a Mr. Moore.
In the eastern panhandle Confederate operations began in April,
1861, with the swift seizure of Harper's Ferry, the seat of the United
States arsenal. On April 24, Lieutenant Jones, U. S. A., by orders
from Washington and in expectation of an attack by Confederate
forces en route from Winchester and other points, fired the factories
and blew up the government arsenal and safely escaped with his men
to Hagerstown and thence by omnibus to Chambersburg where he
secured a train for the East. Throughout the war Harper's Ferry had
a strategic importance which was largely determined by its location on
the railway between Washington and the West and its railway con-
nection up the Shenandoah, but also by its geographic relation to the
most convenient route for Cenfederate invasions into Maryland and
Pennsylvania.
At different points along the Potomac between Harper's Ferry and
Piedmont, also along the South Branch, Confederate operations oc-
curred at irregular intervals until near the close of the war, and were
usually along the route of the railway.
After the Confederates realized that West Virginia had forever
slipped from their grasp and that the Baltimore and Ohio could no
longer be utilized in the earlier plans to fortify the banks of the Ohio,
they became openly hostile to the road and sought to damage it so
that it could not cany Union troops from the Ohio to the Potomac.
Governor Letcher, of Virginia, said, "The Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road has been a positive nuisance to this state from the opening of the
war till the present time, and unless the management shall hereafter
390
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
be in friendly hands and the government under which it exists be a
part of the Confederacy it must be abated." In various Confederate
raids the officers had instructions to strike the railroad wherever pos-
sible. Jackson at one time complained to President Garrett that the
eastbound trains disturbed the repose of his camp and requested a
change of schedule. To this request President Garrett complied. Dur-
ing the war many Baltimore and Ohio trains were captured and in
some cases the engines were transported for use on the ' ' scantily stocked
Virginia roads of the same gauge." The bridge at Harper's Ferry
was twice destroyed and the extensive machine-shops and engine houses
at Martinsburg were razed to the ground.
Early in the conflict the Confederates held the entire railroad in
their grasp from Harper's Ferry westward to Piedmont and over the
mountains. In May, 1861, General "Stonewall" Jackson, by the prac-
tice of strategy between Martinshurg and Point of Rocks, caught many
trains, which, after a run by steam to Winchester, were removed by
John Brown's Fort, Harper's Ferry
horse power to the railway at Strasburg — producing a loss to the Balti-
more and Ohio which crippled it seriously for some time. On June 19,
after the failure of Colonel Porterfield at Grafton and Philippi, Con-
federates directed a raid from Romney to destroy a section of the rail-
road in that vicinity. The withdrawal of General Johnston from Har-
per's Ferry to Winchester in June, 1861, gave the railroad company an
opportunity, quickly grasped, to rebuild the section of its road which
had been destroyed. In May, 1862, Jackson, after his celebrated raid
down the Shenandoah, pursued General Banks to Martinsburg and
westward to Williamsport, Maryland, but soon retreated to Harper's
Ferry and up the Shenandoah, followed above Strasburg by forces
under General Fremont who had recently taken command of the Moun-
tain Department with headquarters at New creek (subsequently at
Petersburg and Franklin). In 1862-63 the road sustained severe losses
including forty-two locomotives and tenders, 386 cars, twenty-three
bridges and thirty-six miles of track — losses which seriously impaired
transportation in the East. For a time the use of the railway by
Federal forces was completely terminated by the surrender of Harper's
Ferry with valuable supplies by General D. H. Miles to Stonewall Jack-
son on September 15, 1862, in connection with the Antietam campaign.
The periodical occupation of Harper's Ferry, which caused some
of the wits to suggest that its name should be changed to Harper's
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 391
Weekly, was finally ended by General Sheridan's decisive and devastat-
ing valley campaign against Early in the summer of 1864.
In September, 1863, the eastern section of the railroad was kept
open by detachment of the Array of the Potomac, while it transported
a large army westward en route to Chattanooga to support Rosecrans.
East of the mountains, the Federal authorities built a fort on the
Potomac at the moutb of New creek (later Keyser), which became an
important strategic point, especially for the protection of the route
of the railroad eastward and the South Branch country southward and
eastward. Frorn this point General Kelley directed the attack on Im-
boden in Hardy county on November 18, 1863, and completely routed
him. From this point also marched General Averill in December, 1863,
at the head of a famous expedition (2,500 cavalry and artillery) under
orders from General Kelley to cut the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad
at Salem at all hazards in order to prevent Confederate supplies from
reaching Longstreet, who was besieging Burnsides at Knoxville. For-
ward by the most direct route via Petersburg he and his men rode for
five days and nights, through terrible storms or by swimming over flow-
ing mountain streams, over terrible roads and for long periods without
rest; and after outfighting and outriding 12,000 Confederates who tried
to hem them into the jaws of death, they returned in triumph. Eluding
four Confederate armies which marched and countermarched to cut
them off, they reached Salem on December 16, performed the task as-
signed, striking a blow which was felt throughout the Confederacy, and
after many hardships of a perilous retreat before the pur-suing Con-
federates found an avenue of escape across the Alleghenies into Poca-
hontas county and reached Beverly without the loss of a single cannon.
In retaliation for this blow at Salem, General Fitzhugh Lee made an
invasion of the South Branch valley, penetrating to Romney after leav-
ing his artillery at the eastern base of the Shenandoah mountain.
In 1864 the Confederates made several attacks along the route of
the railway. Late in January, 1864, General Early invaded the South
Branch and after compelling the evacuation of Petersburg sent a forag-
ing party under General Rosser to collect cattle and destroy railway
bridges east of Cumberland. In May, 1864, Captain J. H. Neill with
sixty-one Confederates captured Piedmont and burned much railroad
property. On July 4, 1864, Imboden made an attempt to destroy the
railroad east of Cumberland. On August 1, 1864, Confederate forces,
after burning Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, attacked General Kelley
at Cumberland and after a repulse crossed the Potomac at Old Town,
advanced to Romney and attacked New creek, but were overtaken by
General Averill (by order of Kelley) at Moorefield and completely
routed. Thereafter Kelley was employed in defense of the railroad.
In November, 1864, General Rosser with 2,000 Confederates attacked
Keyser and captured much property.
Throughout the war the spacious walled highway of the Shenan-
doah by its relation to the passes of the Blue Ridge flanking it on the
east and to the northern route via Hagerstown (Maryland), and Cham-
bersburg (Pennsylvania), was an important geographic factor in stra-
tegic military movements and diversions — enabling the two armies of
Virginia by marching and countermarching to play a game of back
and forth "hide and seek," furnishing the opportunity for unexpected
dashes of attack or of support, and contributing strongly to the Con-
federate advantage until the Irish soldier Sheridan caused the peace
of desolation to rest upon the valley, preparatory to the grander peace
which soon thereafter came to the entire reunited country.
CHAPTER XXIII
A TRAVELER'S TALES FROM THE OIL REGION (1864)
The following interesting and somewhat humorous narrative present-
ing a traveler's observations on the conditions of life in November, 1864,
in the region of the new state fronting the Ohio — a region which was
beginning to attract the oil hunters — was written by John Russell Young1
on December 5, 1864, as a special report to Forney's Philadelphia Press
and was published under the title "A Visit to the Oil Regions of West
Virginia." Its pictures, although doubtless exaggerated and not typical
of the life in the less isolated communities, illustrate certain phases of
the beginning of the oil industry, even in later decades, as it advanced
eastward from the Ohio and unfortunately fastened on the minds of
eastern people erroneous ideas of West Virginia which persisted long
after the earlier crude conditions had disappeared through the awaken-
ing of business activity and social progress.
"It was morning when we left Wheeling, and the night was far advanced
when we reached Parkersburg (going down on an Ohio steamer). A reconnoitering
party reported that there was neither room nor entertainment for man in the town,
and we were compelled to spend the night in our eubbyholed state rooms. As the
boat returned before sunrise we were driven on shore by a pertinacious clerk — -
sleepy, sullen and hungry — and disposed to be resentful toward the falling rain.
I should certainly recommend Parkersburg to any gentleman whose propensities
are amphibious. The delightful uncertainty as to whether we were on land or water,
and the ingenuity with which every deceptive pool was scanned would have been
charming to philosophic men. We were not philosophers, who had huddled around
the stove in the bar room of the Swann House and looked at the bar keeper depre-
catingly, as men who had neither house nor home, and therefore were in the con-
dition of uninvited guests or poor relations. We were nothing but poor oil hunters
who came to get rich.
"What was the use of working for a living when you can prosper by your wits.
I believe this was the feeling of all who splashed thru the mud and groped their way
to the hotel.
"Parkersburg is the oil metropolis of the West Virginia district. At the
junction of the Ohio and Little Kanawha rivers, and connected with the north and
west with a branch of the B. & 0. Eailway it commands all the trade of the West
Virginia valley. It is within easy reach of Marietta, the metropolis of the Ohio dis-
trict; of all the Ey connections of the country and but 36 hours from New York or
Chicago. It is a straggling, imperfect, unfinished town, which had in earlier days been
prosperous, but upon which the blight of war had fallen and dried up the spirit and
vigor. Many rich men live here. How rich men can content themselves to dwell
in a place of this kind is a mystery of money getting that I cannot explain. The
oil princes — to use a common term — do not spend all their wealth here, however.
They make their money and hurry away with it, regarding this as a kind of oily
Bialto, where good money is to be gathered up and carried to other markets. The
class of men who live here, therefore, are unlike the men who ploughed up California
and are now ploughing up Colorado. There is very little gambling, no bowie knives,
and little of that primitive civilization which disgraced the Pacific coast and made a
vigilance committee necessary. We are now so near New York and Philadelphia that
capitalists may come and see for themselves and return in 10 days. The only diffi-
culty is with the guerillas. If a man is nervous and not a believer in predestination
he had better not venture far beyond the region of Burning Spring. Still this is
merely a fear, that looks dismal when read in Northern parlours, but is laughed
at in West Virginia. In 1862 there was really cause for alarm. In 1862 the guer-
rillas had complete possession of the country, and a man 's horse was about as safe
as the life of a lamb in a wolf infested forest. Beyond that, however, no danger
exists and has never existed. No lives have ever been lost by oil hunters and but
rarely a horse is taken. The people are so much attached to the Union that they
give no succor to bushwhackers, and our soldiers have a way of taking no prisoners.
Guerilla-life cannot subsist on this regimen, and a journey from Parkersburg to
Burning Springs is as safe as from Philadelphia to Germantown. Even beyond
that point and far on in the rich counties that are now regarded as neutral but
dangerous ground, the military authorities are busily making arrangements for
392
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 393
securing rebels and robbers, and in a few weeks Northern capital and enterprise
will be permitted to enter and possess these coveted acres.
"'Every road leads to Rome' and with the gentlemen in Wirt county every
road leads to the Burning Spring. So like a true traveler, when I came to Parkers-
burg and found all the world was pushing to Burning Spring, I chartered a homely
and comfortable Rosinante and went on my way along the Elizabeth pike, with the
rest of oily mankind. Take the map of Virginia and you will find that in a southerly
direction from Parkersburg, in an adjoining county of Wirt, a small creek empties
in the Kanawha river, known as Burning Spring Creek. There are a number of
other streams in the neighborhood, such as Standing Stone Run, Nettle Run, Reedy
Run, Two Riffles Run, Chestnut Run, and others that only make their appearance
on the oil company maps. This point lying in a southwesterly direction from Oil
City, is the heart of the present Virginia oil region, and around it for a radius of
50 miles, embracing the counties of Tyler, Pleasants, Wetzel, Ritchie, Wood, Wirt,
Roane and Calhoun, we have what is known as the West Virginia Oil Territory.
"We are constantly ascending or descending a hill, and at every turn of the
road we come to some unaccountable cleft or abyss, over which the moss was growing,
and down in whose crevices dark streams of greasy water would arise. Oil men had
been here with sticks and divining rods, and wherever there was the odor of gas
or a mere globule on the water, straightway its value advanced a thousand per cent.
As we approach Elizabeth we cross a very high hill and descend into a plain formed
by the Kanawha river.
"In 1860 when the excitement was at its height, there were at least 3000 people
in and around Elizabeth boring for oil, and endeavoring to develop oil lands. There
came a crisis. The price of petroleum suddenly decreased until the barrels as they
came from the hands of the cooper, were of more value than the oil that filled them.
Two causes led to this. The world had not learned the uses of petroleum, and the
early surface wells threw forth so many barrels of oil, that the supply was larger
than the demand, and the market became overstocked. This disheartened capitalists,
and lands fell. Then came the war. Virginia seceded and the line of the Ohio
became contested ground. McCIellan crossed, but his forces were too busy with the
Baltimore & Ohio Railway to think of protecting the 3000 oil hunters who were
then swarming along the Kanawha. Altho there was no organized army of the
Confederates in West Virginia, there was nevertheless a body of guerillas who were
constantly harrassing the country. The result was that a panic ensued. In a week
the whole party left. The derrick stood in the field with the half bored well, the
oil gushed up and overspread the ground, the houses were torn down for camp fires,
and the whole enterprise perished. It is now rising again under the impetus of the
great excitement in Pennsylvania.
"Elizabeth is an astonished town to-day. The people do not know what all
this means. Their lands, that were but recently of no value but for sheep feeding,
are in as great demand as turkeys on Thanksgiving. Leaving the Kanawha at
Parkersburg, we touch it again at Elizabeth. There is no bridge over the river;
but we managed to ford it, and, taking the road that leads through the Two Riffles
Run, pushed directly on.
"Go to West Virginia that you may climb the high hills and bow down to the
sublimity of Almighty God.
"All Along the river and on the banks of its tributary rivers, we find evidence
of the great panic that suddenly strangled the enterprises of 1860. Every few rods
we see the black and mouldering derrick and the unfinished well in the ground.
The few brave men who remained have made princely fortunes — the Rathbones,
Camdens and McFarlands being among the oil princes of this new domain. They
made their money by buying these lands at low prices, sinking good wells and dis-
posing of their purchases to the companies recently formed in New York and Phila-
delphia. Around the Burning Spring there are few wells throwing up oil and these
are not recently developed ; but there are the remains of wells that have produced as
many as 1000 barrels per day, in their time, the gas sending up the oil in a thick
rushing stream as high as the tree tops, so that no tank could hold it, and it rushed
out in the river and covered the stream.
"Next to Burning Spring the most important part of West Virginia seems to
be Hughes River. It is a stream about half as wide as the Schuylkill and so shallow
that at most seasons of the year a horse can ford it. Plowing in the Kanawha
and running in a northwesterly direction, it forms a part of the boundary line of
Richie and Wirt counties, and intersects the Little Kanawha at a point called
Newark some 20 miles from the Burning Spring Run.
' ' The oil men, whether trusting to their own instincts or to the teachings of
geologists, have laid violent hold on these high and rocky banks and now ask large
sums for their possession. In former years large quantities of petroleum were taken
out of the alluvial bank of the Hughes river by a natural process. The rock was
separated and thru the fissure the oil ran for years, saturating the stream. Former
settlers who gathered the oil in small quantities for medicinal use, were in the habit
of laying bare this stratum by removing the earth and digging out the oil with
hoes, axes and farming utensils. It has been said that with the exception of Venango,
the oil has flowed here in greater quantities than anywhere else. A number of
wells have been sunk but when I passed thru the country the enterprise had not
been far enough developed to make Burning Spring and Oil City in any way dread
rivalry.
"Bull Creek. Another point in West Virginia is known as Bull Creek — a
394 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
stream which runs into the Ohio river some 30 miles above Parkersburg, taking its
rise in Wood county, and being one of the number of streams which are known as
French Creek, Cow Creek, McElroy Creek and by other names that belong to the
classic vocabulary of Virginia. The Bull Creek Company is a Pittsburg enterprise,
principally in the interests of the Phillipses whose names are familiar to all happy oil
men as being those of the princes of their aristocracy. The Horse-Neck well, some
six or eight miles from the source of the creek, has attained great celebrity and
was, in its day, one of the most successful enterprises in Virginia. The supply of
oil has greatly decreased I am told, but at the same time it is a curiosity and is
always visited by travellers thru the region. The country around Bull Creek is
tame when compared with the vicinity of Burning Spring, and might be regarded
in New York or Pennsylvania as very pleasant farming land.
"Further up the Ohio at Sistersville, we come to what seems to me to be the
beginning of the Virginia line of upheaval. In Tyler county, especially around the
county seat, Middlebourne, the evidences of oil are very abundant. This is so near
our state that one almost imagines that he is riding on Pennsylvania farms and
homesteads. The people of Tyler county are an intelligent busy class and more
enterprising than of any of the other counties I visited. They have taken their own
lands in hand and do not invite the outside world with as much avidity as their
more humble neighbors on the Little Kanawha. As an evidence of their confidence
in their own enterprise, I know of one gentleman now living near Sistersville who
refused $40,000 for a tract not more than 80 acres in extent. He was boring a
well at the time and the neighbors around him were also boring wells. The indica-
tions around him seemed to justify him in refusing this large offer. But even
Tyler — reticent, shrinking, uncongenial Tyler — is beginning to give way before the
great impetus of Northern money and Northern genius. Companies are being formed
embracing within their limits large tracts of land of Tyler county. The capitalists
of the West, from Chicago, St. Louis and Cincinnati as well as from Boston, who
came rather late into this new business are greedily and eagerly endeavoring to
supplant the masters of these coveted lands.
"Former Enterprises. The first operators in West Virginia were merchants
from Pittsburg, who began operations in Hughes River. They sank a well in
November, 1859, and bored a number of wells with different success. Oil was then
unknown in the commercial world, being generally used for medicinal purposes and
to a small extent for lubrication and illumination. The success of these Pittsburg
capitalists led a Wheeling firm to begin operations near a small station known as
Petroleum, on the Northwestern Virginia Railway. Petroleum is now a busy, thriv-
ing, prosperous village. Altho the Hughes river territory was the first developed,
fame extended towards Burning Spring. Mr. J. C. Rathbone, an old settler, near
the Kanawha whose old fashioned frame mansion may still bo seen, in 1860 leased a
well to Mr. Karnes, who succeeded in obtaining a supply ranging from 1,500 to
2,000 gallons daily. Mr. Rathbone bored a well which yielded 10,000 gallons daily
and the excitement became very great, capitalists rushing hither from the East.
The Rathbone farm began to look like a city of the forest, and where the sheep
and cattle were wont to live in undisturbed content, derricks and cisterns, and bar-
rels and scaffolds formed a busy and exciting scene. As an evidence of the success
of the early enterprises in this country, in the Burning Spring region alone, during
1861, 4,000,000 gallons were produced. In 1862, however, it fell off to a little over
3,000,000 gallons; while in 1863, so much had the guerillas interfered with business,
that the product did not exceed 2,000,000 gallons. All this was produced in a
territory of not more than one mile square, and under proper enterprise and skill
1865 may surpass all the years that passed. This territory of Burning Spring is
generally admitted to be the beginning of the line of the great upheaval to which
I have alluded, which causes a vein of rock 20 feet wide to stand perpendicular on
edge, and, running north one degree east, crossing Hughes river at the oil wells,
and touching Bull Creek. In all this country we find gas and burning springs which
are generally supposed to be an excellent indication of oil.
"Oil is transported from Burning Spring to Parkersburg via the Kanawha, on
flat boats at a cost of 75c a barrel. In the summer and winter seasons when the
stream is not navigable, it is carried in wagons at a cost of $2 a barrel. A company
has been organized to perfect the navigation of the river, under the provisions of a
bill passed by state legislature, and enough stock has been subscribed to carry out
the improvement. From Hughes river the oil is hauled to the railway at a cost of
50c a barrel and from Bull Creek it is taken to the Ohio for 50c a barrel.
"One can imagine the opportunities presented by West Virginia when I tell you
that, while there are 2,346,137 acres of improved land, there are 8,550,257 unim-
proved. Before this oil excitement, the lands averaged eight dollars an acre; now
many undeveloped tracts have been refused at $1,000. Altho New Hampshire has
but 40% of the territory of West Virginia, yet, under the most extended aud vigor-
ous system of improvement, it surpasses it in every respect. Still there is a great
future for West Virginia especially when New Hampshire money and genius is
introduced.
"In Mason and Kanawha counties salt has been found. These salt formations
accompany the vast formations of sandstone that underlie the whole of the north-
western counties of Virginia, and the works were used by the rebel authorities. A few
miles from Charleston on the Great Kanawha and in the line of the great upheaval,
the salt wells are very productive. They are several hundred feet in depth, yielding
a lime of remarkable purity, free from sulphate of lime or gypsum, and crystallized
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 395
with less trouble than customary, and sent into commerce as a superior muriate of
soda. Mason county is also famed for salt mines, but the rebellion has quite ruined
the manufacture, in consequence of rebel incursions and the dearth of labor.
"In the valley and in Preston county, iron furnaces are in operation, and the
ores of Laurel Hill are rich and pure. These ores occur in two groups upon the
western slope, the upper group above the second seam of coal resting upon a red
colored sandstone, and overlaid by silician slates. The coal products of the state
are boundless. The fields of the Kanawha are the most valuable on the continent.
Indeed, for salt, coal, iron, and oil, West Virginia bids fair to rival if not excel
any state of the Union.
"Familiar Life in Western Virginia. 'Judge M ' said a way-companion
who jogged with me over the hills on our way to Elizabeth, 'was a wheezy old
fellow who got into some difficulty in New Orleans about thirty years ago, and was
troubled with a great remorse of conscience. He came to West Virginia and settled
in Wirt county because he wanted to hide himself, and get as near Ilades as possible
before he died.' The emphasis of my companion's illustration must excuse its
profanity, but in a rude way I could give you no better idea of the first impres-
sions made upon a traveller by this country. The population is sparse, and we
find few of the noble traits that poets lead us to suppose are found in the character
of the mountaineer. The rudest dwellings in Moyamensing or Kensington would be
a palace in Wirt county. The broad hills and sweeping streams which group to-
gether many sweet pictures of Nature are dull and heavy in the eyes of these men.
"Let me take one out of a hundred — such a one as I found lounging at the
tavern counter in Elizabeth and a man of great importance in his own county.
Tall, gaunt, unshaven and uncombed ; with a cold gray eye that never seemed to
smile; hard, long fingers that made a perpetual appeal for soap and water, and
narrow, high cheek bones, very gaunt and cadaverous, straight, coarse hair and
imperfect teeth. The shoulders were high and perched, the long arms swung over
the body like branches of a weeping willow tree. ' They are so much given to living
on mountain sides,' said my companion, 'that they can't stand straight — one foot
is always higher than the other.' His body — that might be realized, if the reader
took a caricature of the Yankee, the Southerner, and the negro, and combined the
ridiculous traits of all — was covered with a homespun cloth, that came from the
dyeing vat blue, but had assimilated to itself every color that could be gathered
from the clay of the roads and the bark of the tree. His people are clannish in
their traditions and friendships, the families have intermarried, and the offspring
of three generations lie scattered over the hills. A father has a large farm from
which each son, as soon as he marries, receives a slice, builds himself a log cabin,
receives a horse for a dowry, plants corn, sends his wife into the field with hoe
and harrow, while he with his gun and dog lounges off amid the mountains to
shoot rabbits, squirrels and foxes. He has never been to school — he cannot read or
write — he never sees a newspaper. He knows there is a town called Parkersburg
where reside many great men who can read and write and who call themselves
lawyers. He also knows another town called Elizabeth, at which the squire lives
and which contains the village tavern, at which he can hear the news every Saturday
afternoon. Within 10 miles there is a Methodist and Baptist church where the young
people are married, their children ehristene3, and the dead buried. They bury
their dead on the high hills, and some of their cemeteries are scenes of surpassing
loveliness and beauty. Only in their graves do these people approach the taste
and decorum of life. Their civilization for the last one hundred years has been
the civilization of death.
' ' The apathy to the world that lies beyond and around them enters also into
their affections. Altho parents love their children and husbands love their wives,
there is nothing of the pure love that sanctifies our childhood home and makes life
sacred. A poor emigrant woman lamenting for her husband whom death had taken
away after a wedded life of 20 years simply said ' Barney was a hard working man
and always earned a living for his family. ' Companionship to her had been nothing
but child-bearing and bread and butter. Among the people I have seen in West
Virginia I have found few exceptions to this illustration. Marriages are made to
unite contiguous tracts of land or to keep desirable possessions in the same family.
Children are huddled into the hills to track rabbits, to follow the plow or to drop
corn over many a weary acre, the boy learns to shoot and dig, row and swim; the
girl learns to sew, spin, make apple butter and cook. Beading and writing are
considered unnecessary. The whole duty of the parent is performed by keeping
the children from starvation and frost. At a farm house on the Kanawha as I
travelled in the direction of Hughes river, I saw a father, lounging at the door
with his hands in his pockets and speaking to his boy who had been in Sherman's
army for three years and was just returning home. He had no word of greeting
beyond ' Them 's good boots you 've got anyway. ' Then as the boy passed into the
house without another word the father added. 'Thomas was always a good boy,
he could hit a squirrel in the top of a tree. * * * Them boots have got heels
on them, and '11 be mighty good for plowin. ' * * *
"There are no schools here and but one or two churches outside of Parkers-
burg. The only denominations represented are Methodists and Baptists and these
are feebly supported. The people have a kind of stupid improvised morality
* * * Horse stealing is the highest crime known to them. It occurred to me
that one reason why so many are for the Union is that to them secession means
396 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
horse stealing. Davis's men came and took horses; but Lincoln's men bought
them. * * *
' ' I sat around a tavern fire the other night. There were a number of specu-
lators in the party and one of them, a Copperhead, was engaged in conversation
with the landlord whose intense but rude Unionism was delightful in these wild
woods. One said: 'I hate these snakes and copperheads who stays at home and
fights the government, I would a great deal rather shoot one of them than a rebel.
* * * ' That illiterate man whose grammar was bad had in him the philosophy
of the war.
"In their dealings with the new race of men who have come upon them so
suddenly these people show much of the rude cunning of the Indians. There are
many amusing stories of their bargains.
"These barren hills that have produced so many scanty crops and can scarcely
be persuaded to bud and blossom have suddenly become mines of wealth. Those
who own them have a vague and wild idea of the sudden riches that have swollen
up around them. They know that there is oil in the ground and that a great many
well dressed gentlemen who wear gold watches and have pen knives are anxious
to buy their land, but they trade as they barter for a horse or a cow at a village
fair. They ask some vague sum, perhaps twenty times the former cost, but scarcely
one-fourth of the value in New Tork. When the bargain is made, they use all
manner of contrivances to induce the buyers to give the children presents. A com-
mon subsidy expected is a 'frock.' The wife will not sign a deed unless she gets
a ' f roek. ' This demand in the earlier times was compromised by a five dollar bill
from the buyer, later the sum arose to ten and finally to twenty-five as the price
of land advanced. Recently, in one instance where the buyer told the wife to buy
a frock at the store and have it charged, the price was raised to $100 and the
question threatens to embarrass all future operations.
' ' The same excitement which has been raging in the West Virginia wilderness
for the last six months has been transferred into the Valley of the Muskingum in
the counties of Green and Fayette, and along the Ohio river from Pomeroy to
MacConnelsville, where the presence of oil destroys the theory that the oil deposits
of the Ohio are confined to the line of upheaval which runs from Middlebourne
to Charleston. * * * The town of Marietta is the center of the oil district and
divides the honors with Parkersburg. It is connected with Cincinnati and the west
by rail with Wheeling and the east by the navigation of the Ohio. * * * The
enterprises in Ohio are mostly in charge of Pittsburg capitalists — men who have
triumphed in Pennsylvania and Virginia and are thirsting for other worlds to con-
quer. * * *
"As I heard the stories and quaint traditions, and saw them laugh and grow
merry over their newly acquired riches, I could not resist a comparison of the oil
hunters of this century and the gold hunters who came under the haughty Cortez
and the grim Pizarro * * * Men who came here anxious to make a few thou-
sands and go home again have made hundreds of thousands and now look haggard
and hungry because they can make no more. The most restless, uneasy, selfish and
covetous man whom I have met in my many journeyings was an oil speculator on
the banks of the Ohio whose gains reached many hundreds of thousands — a man who
came here in poverty, who has succeeded in every enterprise, and whose wealth placed
him far above any possibile contingency of want. Yet to him every newcomer
seemed to be an enemy and every dollar that was not gained by himself cast sad-
ness over his soul.
"If any reader wishes to be particularly good let him by all means come to
the cosy, clumsy town of Newport. We were doomed to remain here a day amid
the snow and the frost on the cheerless bank of the Ohio waiting for the tardy
boat. Newport is what might be called a very good town in the worse sense of
that charming phrase. The people all go to church and save their money, wear plain
clothes, charge high prices for their comforts and strictly prohibit the sale of in-
toxicating liquor. It is a settlement of members of a predominate religious de-
nomination and the laws of the municipality seem to be based upon the laws of the
ecclesiastical association. It is crowded with oil men, as every village and town
on the banks of the Ohio at this time happens to be, and there was something amusing
in the self denial which they were compelled to show among these good people. Your
true oil hunter has no fondness greater than that for whiskey. It had a great effect
in the development of West Virginia.
"This was the way in which our earlier Indian fathers were despoiled of their
lands and homes. And I have no doubt that if the secret history of many of the
trades that now lie booked and docketed away in the courthouses at Elizabeth,
Parkersburg, Middlebourne and Ritchie [were known], it would be found that the
great western staple had as much to do with controlling and determining the mind
of the original owners of these lands as a string of beads or a high silk hat or a
pair of red pantaloons had to do with persuading our Indian ancestors to surrender
their rights to many a lovely and fertile plain. So if you come after oil in Virginia
bring whiskey (and a piece of calico or muslin to make frocks). In Newport resign
yourself to cider.
"It was with something of a gratified feeling that I bade farewell to Virginia
and Ohio and the classic regions of Bull Creek, Buck Creek, Burning Springs,
Sistersville, and, passing hastily thru Wheeling, arrived at Pittsburg on a cold dismal
evening on my way to Venango county. I saw enough of Pittsburg to assure friends
in the east that it is not only reeking with smoke but dripping with oil. The very
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 397
skies had a petroleum look as if the heavens were becoming jealous of the earth
and were about to (rain oil).
"This enterprise [the oil business] has given us a literature of its own as well
as an aristocracy of its own. An oil man — talks of oil, dreams of oil, thinks of
oil, and is glib and profuse about petroleum and carbon and naptha and benzen and
lubricating oil. He has his own slang phrases. The petroleum aristocrat or the
oil prince, who has lived his life in penury and gloom and finds himself the possessor
of an income which he has not the genius to spend is an odd and laughable com-
bination of humanity. * * * The nabob and the oil princes have pretty much
the same characteristics. Living in Venango or Wirt has not given men the liver
complaint or the gout, but there is the same want of taste and delicacy, and an
utter inability to comprehend the real uses of money in the effort to imitate Beau
Brummel or to ride in equipages not even surpassed by the magnificent display of
Mr. Belmont.
"I met some of these ridiculously rich men in my travels, and, as I write, my
mind recalls the history of one whose name I do not care to mention, but whose
story has been told to me a hundred times, and is now a part of the romance of
petroleum. Call him Johnny Jones. * * *
"Johnny Jones found the poor barren acres, that were left to him by his
foster mother, to be mines of more wealth than were ever discovered in the El Dorado
of the Far West. He had enough rude sense to keep him from parting with them
for a frock or a string of beads, like some of his more ignorant brethren in West
Virginia, and simply sold enough to have them developed and to retain an interest
which for the last year, has paid him an income estimated at from $3,000 to $5,000
a day. * * * Johnny 's sudden wealth carried him up into the clouds, and as
the heaven of his early dreams had been self gratifying wealth, he hurried out into
the world with his gains and began to be a great man. * * * Sharks with
diamond rings and astonishing vests — sharks who knew the mystery of the gambling
house and the bagnio — took possession of him and began to feed upon his sub-
stance.
' ' The poor country wife was left at home to do her plain cooking, make her
apple butter and astonish the neighbors by the display of several new gaudy dresses.
Johnny went to Philadelphia, showering his favors upon hack drivers who took his
fancy, pleasant spoken gambling men, and ladies of miscellaneous and cosmopolitan
attachments, and upon all that was wicked and vile and seducing in the great
metropolis. In three months he spent $90,000. Some friends who thought that his
money might be more advantageously applied, obtained the interference of the law;
and so Johnny 's affairs are now in the hands of a receiver, and his money is paid
to careful, prudent men, and his great gains are husbanded by others, while he is
only permitted to spend a limited income ($50 or $100 a day).
"Hints to Travelers. To reach Parkersburg there are two routes from the
east. That from Baltimore via the B. & O. is the nearest, but the propensities
of the rebels to interfere with its operations and particularly the recent raid upon
New Creek by McCausland makes travel on that route an exploit requiring courage.
You leave Baltimore and go to Grafton. Here the Northwestern Virginia Railway
branches off to Parkersburg, running thru the upper part of the oil region. On the
Parkersburg road you can reach a station within sixteen or twenty miles from any
of the great wells, and thence if you are fortunate may be conveyed by horse or
an open wagon called a buggy. There are few of these conveyances, however, and
nine out of ten of those who come to the oil fields are compelled to travel on foot.
The route most patronized is from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, thence on the Ft.
Wayne and Chicago road to Wheeling, which is a journey of about twenty hours.
At 11 every morning the packet boat runs along the Ohio river, and for $3.15
you can travel to Parkersburg, arriving there about 10 or 12 o 'clock in the evening.
These boats do not make any particular time, as they are mere local conveyances,
stopping at every little town and village on the banks, and every farm house, in-
deed, if they are hailed. There are two hotels at Parkersburg which are generally
patronized, and at which reasonable accommodations may be had. At Parkersburg
the oil hunters generally take horses and go to Burning Springs, just 30 miles dis-
tant over a reasonably good pike, and which may be easily traveled in a day. On
this route there are one or two good inns, Butcher's Inn about 10 miles from
Parkersburg, and Dick Timmins' place, about two miles from Elizabeth. The
accommodations are limited at these places, and the tavern keepers are among the
best of the class I have ever seen, and they will do as well as they can. At Elizabeth
there are two small inns, and at Burning Springs there is one in which the traveler
may have an opportunity of finding how little of comfort or convenience is neces-
sary for the wants of life. The general custom for the traveler in this region is
to take up his abode at the farm houses; and altho the people are rude and coarse,
still they have a kind of well meaning hospitality which is very pleasant in its
way. If the traveler desires to visit some of the upper regions, he stops at Sisters-
viUe in Tyler county, and thence with a horse and wagon proceeds to Middlebourne.
This is the center of the upper oil district. Travelling accommodations and hotel
keeping are more abundant there than in Wood county, and the oil hunter may find
a reasonably good bed and a tolerably good meal. If he desires to visit Bull Creek,
the steamer stops at a little landing at the mouth of that creek, and as there are no
hotels, no private houses, no farms, and rather a surly community, he must depend
upon his persuasive powers with pioneers and oil diggers, and not particularly
398 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
complain if he is compelled to sleep in a barn wrapped up in his robes, or find
shelter under some of the oil-well sheds.
' ' The most prudent course for a traveler to adopt in visiting any of these
regions, is to go either to Marietta or Parkersburg taking with him his own horse,
and carrying with him a plain, rough suit of travelling apparel, and if possible
a haversack with two or three days ' rations. Thus, in marching order he can very
readily advance into the country without depending upon any particular base of
operations, like the somewhat celebrated Sherman of the West.
' ' The only danger of the West Virginia country arises from the fact that very
frequently the guerillas interfere with the oil hunters. Wirt, Wood, Ritchie and
Tyler counties are safe, but beyond this, say about 50 miles from Parkersburg, my
remarks would not apply. They are not dangerous gentlemen, however, unless you
have excited their anger by some act of undue loyalty, or wear the uniform of the
United States. The greatest danger that may happen you is the loss of a watch,
a pocket book, or a horse. The government of West Virginia, however, has taken
strong steps to drive these annoying marauders away. Whenever a guerilla is
caught, he is straightway shot; and this bold course with the increasing strength
of our army, is gradually making West Virginia as easy of access as Ohio or
Pennsylvania. ' '
CHAPTER XXIV
PROBLEMS AND POLICIES OP RECONSTRUCTION
Post-bellum progress was long retarded by sectional survivals of the
periods of sectionalism and civil war — by wounds of conflicts which
were slow to heal or by scars long visible which recalled old disputes and
produced new irritations.
The new state government, laying the foundation stones of state in-
stitutions and of future order and development, was confronted by many
serious difficulties and obstacles — economic, social and political. The
people, separated into many detached local groups by precipitous moun-
tains and rugged streams, had not developed unity of action nor social
and commercial identity except perhaps in the counties along the Ohio,
and along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
The most serious immediate political difficulty was the sympathy for
the Confederacy exhibited in various parts of the state. Although the
Confederates had soon lost control of the larger part of the state, over
7,000 West Virginians had entered the Confederate army early in the
war — about one-fourth of the number who enlisted in the Union army —
and the Confederate raids and skirmishes into the state, at first to pre-
vent separation from Virginia, were continued until the close of the war.
Counties along the southern border of the new state were partially
under the control of the Confederates until near the close of the war,
and "were forced to pay heavy taxes to the Richmond government and
to furnish soldiers for the Confederate army." Other counties along
the border suffered from irregular "bands of guerillas and marauders"
whom the state troops were unable to manage. In this sad state of
disorder, the governor recommended that the citizens should organize to
capture and kill the "outlaws" wherever and whenever found, and ap-
pealed to the Washington government which organized the state into a
military district under command of General Kelley who scattered many
irregular bands, and generally rendered life and property secure; but,
in some portions of the state, the civil authorities were helpless against
lawlessness long after the close of the war.
Under these conditions, the administration was seriously embarrassed
by lack of funds to meet ordinary expenditures. In 1864, the governor
reported that one-half of the counties had paid no taxes, and that others
were in arrears. In fourteen counties there were no sheriffs or other
collectors of taxes "because of the danger incident thereto." The bur-
dens of the counties which paid were necessarily increased. One of the
earliest measures of the state government was an act (1863) providing for
the forfeiture of property belonging to the enemies of the state, includ-
ing those who had joined the Confederate army, but such property was
seized only in a few instances and the law remained practically a dead
letter because the citizens of the state were usually unwilling to take
advantage of the political disabilities of their neighbors.
Although in the election of 1864 there were only a few scattering
votes in opposition to the officers of the state administration, there was
no means of obtaining an expression of the people in some of the extreme
southern counties where the governor reported that owing to the Con-
federate incursions and local conditions it was still impracticable to
organize civil authority. In some counties a large portion of the in-
habitants denied that they were legally under the jurisdiction of West
Virginia — stating that their county had never taken a vote to authorize
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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 401
anyone to represent them at the Wheeling convention nor to ratify the
constitution which was made there.
Partisan and sectional feeling was increased in some of the border
counties by occasional retaliatory acts, and by various seizures and
arrests by "Home Guards" or others claiming authority.
Immediately at the close of the war, in 1S65, Mr. James Thompson who early
in the war had led in the unlawful execution of Parkinson Pennington was advised
by his neighbors and friends to leave the country to avoid a suspected attack by
the enemy. But instead of listening to this advice, he prepared himself for war,
posted pickets on his farm at different points until the date of his death. Finally
the removal of the guards one day furnished the opportunity for his arrest. In
May, 1865, thirty armed men attached to the Union cause advanced to the house
and surroundings. Thompson first seized his gun but upon his wife's advice dropped
it and tried to escape by running. After he had managed to escape the first line of
guards he received a fatal shot from, a youth posted behind a tree. His aggressive-
ness in the cause of the South had led him to make a mistake which cost his life.
Lorenzo L\ Garten was the captain of a company known as "Home Guards."
For some time, immediately after the surrender of the Southern armies and the
close of the war, Captain Garten and his Home Guards proceeded throughout the
country to gather up what was called "Government property." The horses and
material which the Southern soldiers had brought home from the army, whether
United States property or not, were taken charge of and turned over to the Federal
authorities and sold.
Judge James H. Miller, in his History of Summers County, expresses the fol-
lowing local view of the situation along the New river region:
"About the time of the close of the war bands of men went through the county,
gathering up what they called 'government property.' They were nothing more
than marauders, and took advantage of conditions to invest private property and
divest private owners of what little they had left remaining from the depredations
and necessities and conditions of a state of war. One of these bands visited the
Lick Creek country, and went through the Laurel Creek neighborhood, carrying off
the horses of A. J. Miller and Mr. Foster, who had not been engaged in the war
by reason of over age. They wore masks or false faces to conceal their identity,
not only taking the horses, which they claimed belonged to the government, but
they carried off the clothing, wearing apparel and ornaments and jewelry of the
ladies, taking off from the house of Mr. Alderson everything they could lay their
hands on. stuffing their pockets full of trinkets, including what eatables they could
find on the premises. One Hen Atkins wore as many as three overcoats, one of
which was Mr. Alderson 's. After sacking the country, they started back to the
Big Creek country. In crossing the Laurel Creek, Atkins was riding a large horse
of A. J. Miller's. The creek had become swollen, and in making the passage, he
was drowned. * * *
"After the raids these pretended soldiers would meet and divide up the spoils,
which were taken in the name of the government and as government property. This
is only an instance of the conditions existing on this border at the close of the
Civil War."
Several arrests attracted considerable attention by the prominence of the men
arrested. On June 10, 1865. Samuel Price of Greenbrier county, who had been
elected Lieutenant-Governor of the seceded state of Virginia in 1863 and thereafter
had served as president of the senate at Richmond, and Allen T. Caperton of Monroe
county were arrested by a squadron of about thirty cavalrymen and taken as
prisoners to Charleston.
It was late in the fall of 1865 before there was anything like a full
restoration of civil government in Mercer county — partly because every-
thing in the system of local government administered by townships and
a county board of supervisors was new and novel to the people who had
always known nothing but the old Virginia county court system with one
or more magistrates in each magisterial district clothed with jurisdiction
to try warrants for small claims and to sit as a court to administer
county affairs. There was strong opposition to the board of coitnty
supervisors which at first was composed of men who could not write their
names.
At the close of the war, in which there had been much waste and
destruction of property accompanied by arrested development in regions
which had previously begun to feel the pulse of a larger industrial life,
the people of the new-born state turned first to the work of political
reconstruction and then to the larger economic utilization and exploita-
tion of rich but latent resources whose development was possibly hast-
ened by the separation from the Old Dominion.
There were still many sources of disorder and friction. The most
prominent related to the political status of those who had joined or
Vol. 1—2 6
402 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
aided the Confederate cause, although the larger number of the brave
Confederate soldiers from "West Virginia laid down their arms in good
faith and without desire for revenge and returned in peace to build
up and start anew as useful citizens of the young commonwealth.
Notwithstanding that the constitution had extended the right of suf-
frage to all white male citizens of the state, the first general election
laws of West Virginia, passed in 1863, had provided for election super-
visors and inspectors who were authorized to require, from all whose
eligibility to vote was in doubt, an oath to support the constitution of
the United States and of West Virginia. Naturally the Unionists con-
sidered that those who supported the Confederate cause could not
safely be entrusted with political power immediately after their re-
turn from the Confederate armies, and before they had proven their
willingness to co-operate in maintaining the established order. This
opinion was largely based upon conditions and events immediately
preceding the close of the war and was especially enforced by reports
of various acts committed in Upshur, Barbour, Marion, Harrison and
other counties. The action of a comparatively small number of law-
less ex-Confederates provoked the enactment of new laws which were
regarded as unjust to many law-abiding citizens. The legislature, how-
ever, could make no distinction and with partisan spirit increased, on
February 25, 1865, passed the voter's test act, requiring from all
voters an oath that they had neither voluntarily borne arms against
the United States, nor aided those who had engaged in armed hostility
against the United States.1 On March 1, with some fear that the test-
oath act was not constitutional, it also proposed an amendment2 dis-
franchising those who had given voluntary aid to the Confederacy —
of course with the intention of removing the disabilities in course of
time. This proposed amendment, which required the concurrent ap-
proval of the subsequent legislature and ratification by popular vote
before it was part of the constitution, further aroused the spirit of
antagonism and insubordination in the minds of the ex-Confederates
who, returning with a spirit entirely different from that of the Con-
federate raiders and lawbreakers of an earlier date, were "impatient
to repossess themselves of place and power." The test-oath act was
opposed on the ground that in most cases it operated against persons
who had accepted the results of the war and who claimed full recogni-
tion as citizens under President Lincoln's amnesty proclamations. In
the election of 1865 it was not strictly enforced and in a few places it
was entirely ignored. Many ex-Confederates, claiming that the law
was unconstitutional, took a free hand in organizing the local govern-
ment. In many parts of the state they were sustained by local citizens
who claimed that since the war was ended the requirements of the law
were unnecessary, unwise, unjust, and contrary to the American idea
of government. In some places they ran for office, and in Greenbrier
county two were elected — one to the State Senate and the other to the
House of Delegates. In many instances, however, the oath was en-
forced— resulting in a large number of damage suits brought by persons
who were denied the right to vote, either because of the refusal to take
the oath or because of inability to take it. In his message of January,
1866, Governor Boreman, commenting upon the alacrity with which the
ex-Confederates insisted upon participation in politics, advised the
legislature to enact a more efficient registration law, to require election
i Judge A. F. Haymond (b. 1823) who after opposing the secession movement
in 1861 had joined the Confederate army in 1862, found in returning to Fairmont
in June, 1865, that by the required lawyers test oath he was prohibited from re-
suming the practice of law in the state courts; but he was relieved from the opera-
tion of the statute by a special act of the legislature secured by petition of loyal
citizens of Monongalia and Marion counties.
2 The amendment was as follows: "No person, who, since the first day of
June, 1861, has given or shall give voluntary aid or assistance to the rebellion
against the United States, shall be a citizen of this state or be allowed to vote at
any election held therein, unless he has volunteered into the military or naval service
of the United States and has been or shall be honorably discharged therefrom. ' '
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 403
officers to take a test oath, and to give the necessary concurrence in the
proposed disfranchisement amendment so that it could be submitted
to the people. The legislature, although some of its able leaders ad-
vised the cessation of prescriptive measures, promptly passed a regis-
tration law, authorizing the governor to appoint in each county a
registration board consisting of three citizens who were given power
to designate the township registrars, and to act as the court of last
appeal in all election and voting contests.3 It also concurred in the
proposed "deeitizenizing" amendment which was promptly submitted
to the people at an election held in May, 1866, under the operation
of the new registration law and ratified by them by a majority of about
7,000 votes, thereby disfranchising between 10,000 and 20,000 persons.
By the execution of the registration law at this election much bitter
feeling was engendered resulting in a determined, aggressive and hostile
resistance to proscription by an increasing party which asserted that
the ratification of the amendment had been illegally and unconstitu-
tionally secured. Some threatened to move to Ohio under whose laws
they could exercise the rights of citizenship.
Although there is yet considerable difference of opinion in regard
to the wisdom of these measures, it is generally agreed that they were
in part the natural result of conditions which seemed to threaten not
only the politics of the administration, but also the integrity and in-
dependence of the new state. Many of those who were disfranchised
hoped to see West Virginia return to the control of Virginia. In Jeffer-
son county a large number of persons, stating that the transfer of the
county from Virginia to West Virginia during their absence was illegal
and void, refused to acknowledge that they were West Virginians and
attempted to hold an election as a part of the state of Virginia, but
they yielded when General Emory was sent to aid the civil authorities
in maintaining the law. Virginia, too, tried in vain to secure the return
of Jefferson and Berkeley counties, first by annulling the act of the
Pierpont government which had consented to the transfer, and second
(1866) by bringing suit in the Supreme Court, which in 1871 was de-
cided in favor of West Virginia. In 1866, while Pierpont was still
governor of Virginia, the legislature of that state appointed three com-
missioners to make overtures to West Virginia for the reunion of the
two states, but the legislature of West Virginia rejected the proposition
in 1867, stating that the people of the new state were unalterably
opposed to reunion. At the same time the legislature, although it re-
pealed the registration law of 1866 in order to thwart the argument of
unconstitutionality which was urged against the proscription laws, was
forced by circumstances in some of the southern border counties to
enact in its place a more exacting registration law, requiring the ap-
plicant for registration not only to take the test oath, but also to prove
that he was qualified to vote. A state of insubordination existed in
three or four counties. In some places no elections were held in the
fall of 1866 because of the fear of violence. The judge of the ninth
district, including Greenbrier and Monroe counties, received anonymous
letters threatening his life. In his message the governor stated that the
ex-Confederates who caused the trouble were "learned men."
The situation on the Greenbrier and Upper New was made worse by the ap-
pointment of Judge Harrison to the circuit judgeship of that district. Nathaniel
Harrison was a native of Virginia, connected with the illustrious Harrison family,
educated at the University of Virginia, an accomplished lawyer and a polished
orator who lived in Monroe county before the war. He had married into the William
Erskine family, which owned the Salt Sulphur Springs. At one time he had been
prosecuting attorney for the county.
Judge Miller says that Harrison was a Confederate as late as 1862, and that
failing to secure a place on the staff of General Chapman during the war, he went
to Richmond and squandered his patrimony in tobacco speculation and dissipation.
As the result of the war became evident, according to Miller, he returned to Monroe
3 This act which was regarded as necessary to the execution of the provisions
of the proposed constitutional amendment also denied access to the ordinary courts
of justice in cases of persons bringing suit against election officers.
404 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
county and with protestations of loyalty to the Federal cause secured the circuit
judgeship of the 9th district which included Monroe, Greenbrier and Mercer
counties.
In the fall of 1865 he rode into Princeton to hold his first term of court at
the old county seat established in 1837, but finding that people there detested him
so much that no one spoke to him, he turned on his horse without even dismounting
and rode eastward back to Concord Church on the Red Sulphur Turnpike, where
he opened in the old Methodist church the first term of court held in Mercer county
after the close of the war.
Judge Harrison at once proceeded to turn out of office all the ex-Confederates
who had been elected to various offices in the fall of 1865 and so strictly enforced
the test oath law that not even a school trustee or school teacher could hold office
unless able to swear that they had not aided or sympathized with the Confederacy.
Under Harrison's "regime" only 75 of 1,000 legal voters in Mercer county, only
117 of 1,300 in Greenbrier and only a total of 300 in Monroe were allowed to vote.
Seeing a chance for much profit in various suits against ex-Confederate soldiers
for acts done during the war, he imported from Philadelphia Major Cyrus Newlin,
with whom, according to Judge Miller, he entered into a partnership to cooperate
in the institution and prosecution of these damage suits against ex-Confederates.
The defendants could not defend themselves before him because they could not take
the oath. Many on the jury could not read or write. Harrison as judge tried the
eases and was accused of deciding uniformly in favor of Newlin and his clients.
Judgments against defendants were frequently quite large. Judge Harrison's in-
come from this source alone, according to rumor, was over $20,000 a year. Many
of the judgments were never paid.
Judge Harrison's practices and conduct aroused an increasing opposition,
finally became unendurable, and culminated in proceedings to secure his removal.
On January 31, 1870, Senator Spencer Dayton presented charges and specifications
against Harrison and a petition of Lewis Ballard and ten other persons praying for
his removal from office. These charges and the petition were referred to the Com-
mittee on Judiciary. On February 3, the Senate received from the House a request
to concur in a joint resolution giving notice to Judge Harrison of proceedings for
his removal on charges of misconduct and neglect of duty specified in the resolu-
tion (including corrupt, practices, bias, perjury, intoxication, and gross licentiousness
and adultery). On February 4 the Senate by a vote of 15 to 6 adopted this resolu-
tion, and also adopted a joint resolution fixing February 25 as the date of Harrison's
trial before the joint convention of the two houses. On February 28 the Senate
adopted a joint resolution on rules for the trial. On March 1 further proceedings
were stopped by a communication from Governor Stevenson announcing that Judge
Harrison had resigned and that his resignation had been accepted.
Harrison left West Virginia soon after his resignation and went to Denver,
Colorado, where he died alone and in poverty.
Judge Miller recalls the following instance which occurred in Green Sulphur
precinct illustrating the bitter partisan feeling of that region in the decade fol-
lowing the war:
"John Gwinn was one of the respected citizens of that district, a brother of
E. J. Gwinn, the owner of GTeen Sulphur Springs, who had been a strong Democrat
before the war, but was a Union man and a Republican after the war, and a man
of broad information and liberal towards his section. Mr. Gwinn was registrar
for that precinct, which was then in Blue Sulphur District, Greenbrier County.
When registration day came, he permitted every person to register — Democrat,
Republican, Confederate, Union and Yankee, all voters. He sent his returns into
the court house, where there was a board of registration, or supervisors of election,
or something of that kind, consisting of Joe Caldwell, who was nicknamed 'Old
Scratch,' and two others whose names I have forgotten. They threw out the regis-
tration of Mr. Gwinn, although Mr. Gwinn was one of their own party, and none,
or but few, of the votes of that precinct were counted."
Speaking of the situation in the counties from which Summers was formed,
Miller says:
"When the war closed the affairs were placed in the hands of the dissolute
and ignorant, bigoted and radical. A board of registration for each county was
instituted, as well as a Board of Supervisors. These grafters' principal purpose
was to keep themselves in power. Seventy-five percent of the people [were] dis-
franchised and decitizenized. The courts were not fair, and civil liberty was a
farce. The proscribed could not bring a law suit, collect an honest and undenied
debt, serve on a jury, practice a prof ession, 'teach school — nothing near fair except
the air outside of the temple of justice, water, payment of taxes and death. The
good and conservative men who were loyal could not get an appointment to office.
There were so few who could get office that were qualified that it became necessary
to give two or three offices to one man; in some instances one man would not hold
as many as five offices. This condition brought to the community swarms of vaga-
bond lawyers from the North, who had no occupation at home, as those lawyers
who had Southern sympathies could not practice their profession without taking
the test oath. A large number of these office-holders could not read and write,
being ignorant and bigoted.
"Only such as were permitted to vote could hold office, and there were so few
that could read and write that frequently one man held from three to five offices.
"The lawyers * * * in whom the people had confidence, and in whom the
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
405
people were willing to trust their lives, liberty and property and honor were not
permitted to practice. Col. James W. Davis, of Greenbrier, was an exception. He
went into the war a radical 'Secesh, ' and was wounded in battle. He persuaded
the Legislature that he was not such a dangerous 'Confed., ' and therefore it passed
a special act removing his disabilities.
"No one could vote unless he was registered. Eegistrars were selected who
would register no one who would not vote to sustain the existing conditions, and
these corrupt registrars were sustained by Judge Harrison.
"A party desiring to win his cause in his [Harrison's] court would walk up
on the bench, slip into his 'itching palm' a gold or other coin, and that invariably
won his case. It has been said that he would sit on the bench by the side of a
jug of whiskey.
' ' Joel McPherson was elected clerk in Greenbrier County. He was not of the
Harrison kelter. The time came for him to qualify. There was no question of his
election; it was not contested or contraverted. He was a man of powerful physique,
and when Harrison refused to permit him to qualify in open court, he walked up
Second State Capitol Building at Charleston in Kanawha, 1870-71
behind the judge's desk, took him in his arms and started to pitch him out of the
window, which was twenty or thirty feet from the ground; then the judge con-
sented to permit Mr. McPherson to qualify, and he held the office for many years.
"This board of registration was appointed by the Governor, consisting of three
members, removable by him when he saw fit. Its powers were equal to that of the
Spanish Inquisition, says Judge David E. Johnson; they had power to send for
persons and papers — to say who should vote and who should not. They could erase
any and all names that he did not consider loyal to the gang and vote to per-
petuate them in power by a stroke of his pen (that is, such of these registrars as
could write), or they would place on the list such names as he wished, and in this
the law protected them, too, they being exempt by law from prosecution or by civil
suits. These registrars reported to the district registrars, and there was where
the greater shame and outrage was perpetrated.
"Much credit is everlastingly due to Major James H. McGinnis, of Beckley,
Hon. Allen T. Caperton, of Union, and Hon. Frank Hereford, of the same place,
for the services rendered by them to this section in protecting the people after the
war against these piratical policies against human rights and human liberties.
"Mr. Caperton could not practice law, as he was a Confederate, but he stood
by the old soldiers to the last in their days of trial and adversity. When Hon.
Marion Gwinn, Win. E. Miller, J. W. Miller, John A. Miller and the men of Lick
Creek were all sued after the war for trespasses never committed (or committed be-
fore they entered the army), it was Caperton and McGinnis who stood by them and
saved them from bankruptcy and the poor house.
"Many suits of this character were brought before Judge Harrison, and many
good and honest men despoiled of their property and rights under the guise of law."
406 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
The new registration law which gave to registrars the power to
identify those who had aided the secessionists in any form, increased
the antagonism to the administration, and the opposition to the laws.
Prior to each election in 1867, 1868, 1869 and 1870, opposition to the
execution of the law was heated and intense, resulting often in threats
and menaces against the registrars and registration boards. During
the campaign of 1868 there was much partisan excitement and many,
unable to take the iron-clad oaths which would enable them to vote,
and perhaps further irritated by the adoption of the fourteenth amend-
ment, frequently attempted to intimidate public officials and threatened
violence which in some places prevented elections and in others com-
pelled the governor to appeal for Federal troops to aid in the main-
tenance of law and order. Force was necessary to aid in the execu-
tion of the law in the counties of Monroe, Wayne, Cabell, Logan,
Randolph, Tucker, Barbour and Marion. In some counties the restric-
tions were almost entirely disregarded. At Fairmont, in Marion county,
prescribed persons who had in some way gotten their names on the
registration books tried by intimidation to induce the board of regis-
tration to retain them there. As might have been expected, in some
instances disorders arose from the arbitrary refusal to register persons
against whom there was no tangible evidence, or for unnecessary and
unwise rigidity in administering the law.
Before the election of 1869 there was a vigorous discussion of the
suffrage question in all its phases accompanied by a bolder and more
aggressive opposition to the enforcement of the registration laws. With
the admission of negroes to the suffrage by the fifteenth amendment
which was proposed by Congress, February, 1869, and ratified by the
West Virginia legislature in the same year,4 the question of removing
the restrictive legislation which disqualified Confederates from voting
became more and more prominent and was seriously considered by the
more conservative wing of the party in power. A large number of
the liberal Republicans considered that a continuance of the test oaths
was inexpedient and desired to adopt some policy that would termi-
nate the bitter animosities of years. A majority of the legislators
chosen at the hotly contested election of 1869 favored repeal or amend-
ment of the prescription laws but could not agree upon a definite plan.
The legislature of 1870 repealed some of the test oaths. Governor
William E. Stevenson, a man of liberal as well as vigorous progressive
views, earnestly favoring liberal legislation to encourage projects of
internal improvement and industrial enterprise which would engage
the people of the state in the development of its resources and termi-
nate the quarrels over past issues, recommended an amendment of the
constitution to restore the privileges of those who had been disfranchised
by the amendment of 1866. W. H. H. Flick in the House proposed
the amendment which after acceptance by the legislature of 1870 and
1871 was ratified by a vote of the people by a majority of 17,223 and
proclaimed by the governor in April, 1871. Judging from the figures
in the Auditor's report, it appears that many disfranchised persons
voted for the constitutional amendment which determined their legal
right to vote.
Each political party became divided on the proposed amendment, which required
the sanction of another legislature and sanction by the people before it became
effective. In the conventions of 1870 it was the issue and subject of debate. Demo-
crats refused endorsement because the word "white" was omitted. Eepublicans
could give no enthusiastic and unqualified endorsement, because of ' ' Eadical ' '
opposition within the party which was reluctant to lose very valuable election
machinery. After the official announcement of the enactment of the Enforcement Act
by Congress, in May, 1870, the Democrats raised the slogan of the "white man's
party." At registration time, they claimed that under proper interpretation of the
4 Henry 6. Davis, striving to hold the majority party to its previous declara-
tion of principles opposed to negro enfranchisement, urged that the fifteenth amend-
ment should be submitted to a vote of the people. The action of the legislature in
ratifying the amendment produced a reaction, causing many Conservatives and Lib-
erals to unite with the Democratic party.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 407
Enforcement Act any voter who declared his intention to take the test-oath could not
be denied the privilege of suffrage — and they circulated posters explaining their
interpretation. The party in power, however, refused registration on grounds more
technical than before — its local officers requiring each person, whose right of suf-
frage was questioned, to prove that he was a voter. Democrats who complained
that they were illegally denied the right to "vote appealed to Judge J. J. Jackson
(a Democrat) of the Federal District Court which had been given cognizance of all
cases arising under the Enforcement Act. When Judge Jackson sitting at Clarks-
burg appointed Federal election commissioners who began to arrest the offending
election officials and registrars, the Republicans appealed to the Federal Circuit Court
in the form of a habeas corpus proceeding before Judge Bond, who by releasing
the prisoner in the case reversed Jackson's position and instruction of the previous
August. Flushed with dawning victory the Democrats continued to make arrests,
and at the close of the hotly contested campaign won a complete victory.
In the election of 1870 the opposition pushed their claims to regis-
tration— often by intimidation of the registrars. In some counties the
law was so far disregarded that every male of the required age was
registered. This laxity in the enforcement of the more stringent fea-
tures of the registration law, together with the opposition to negro
suffrage, resulted in a victory for the Democrats who elected John J.
Jacobs governor by a majority of over 2,000 votes and secured a work-
ing majority in both houses which they retained for a quarter of a
century — largely by their conservative policy in following to comple-
tion the plans initiated by the Republicans.
In Mercer county where business after the war languished under
political disabilities5 the struggle to overthrow the registration laws
and to secure "home rule" was closely connected with a county seat
fight in which one party later charged that the board of supervisors
by its power to lay and disburse county taxes squandered, stole or
wasted a large amount of public funds.
In the fall of 1865 Judge Nathaniel Harrison, recently elected
judge of the circuit court of the seventh judicial district, including
Monroe, Pocahontas, Nicholas and Greenbrier, and a man detested by
ex-Confederates for his desertion from their cause, rode into Prince-
ton to hold his court at the old county seat established in 1837,6 but
receiving no invitation to alight, he rode eastward and opened court
at Concord Church on the Red Sulphur turnpike. At the close of his
first term of court "in the forests" at Concord the people of that sec-
tion and of other sections of the county began agitation for the per-
manent removal of the county seat from Princeton to Concord. In
the election which followed to settle the question of removal, Concord
failed to receive the requisite three-fifths. Soon in a second election,
however, she won by the decision of the board of supervisors and soon
began the erection of a court house which was never completed.
A legislative act of 1867 (secured by Colonel Thomas Little) which
permanently located the county seat at Princeton was repealed in
1868 through the influence of George Evans, the representative from
Mercer. A fight of injunctions followed, obtained first by one and then
by the other.
In the fall of 1869, at a meeting of the board of supervisors, Mr.
Benjamin White, sheriff of the county and a resident of Princeton,
in a strong and boisterous speech urged that public records were no
longer safe at Concord Church and should be removed at once to Prince-
ton. His speech so alarmed two of the board that they retired from
the meeting, leaving only three members of the board who on the
question of removal voted with Mr. White, who thereupon procured
wagons in which the records were taken to Princeton. The removal
arousing a feverish excitement threatened open collision. Mr. George
Evans, who after the tender of the promised support of Princeton in
his anticipated candidacy for clerk and recorder of the county, aban-
doned his fight for Concord Church.
o Judge J. H. Miller states that of a total of 1,100 legal voters, less than 100
were allowed to vote.
e The court house built at Princeton in 1839 was burned by the Confederates
under Jenifer in 1862.
408 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
In January, 1870, a committee of safety, organized at Princeton
to devise a plan by which the vexed county seat question could be
terminated without danger of another removal, decided to secure from
the legislature a special act submitting the question to the people of
the county for settlement by a mere majority vote. In order to get
such a law passed, Mr. Benjamin White, acting for the Princeton people
who furnished the money to pay his expenses, quietly mounted his
horse, pushed over the mountains to the Kanawha, took passage on a
steamboat to Wheeling by the Kanawha and Ohio rivers, accomplished
his purpose, and returned before the people of Mercer learned of his
activities.
After much dissension and discussion among themselves the com-
mittee of safety determined to postpone the special election under the
special law until September just before the regular state election, and
meantime to get control of the registration board and register all the
ex-Confederates who would vote for Princeton and thus also get their
names on the eligible lists for the state election. Later the committee
managed to get control of the board of registration by the resigna-
tion of one of the members, who after resisting previous attempts to
control him, fell into a trap set for him with the knowledge and ;,
of a personal friend of the governor (Mr. George Evans), who at once
proceeded to Charleston and secretly secured from the governor the
appointment of a successor in the person of Mr. Davis, a Democrat
who had held office as a Republican. Thus constituted with a majority
favorable to Princeton, the board appointed liberal district registrars
who actively hunted and registered all white male citizens over twenty-
one years of age.
The people of Concord Church, aroused over the local question and
over the misplacement of the book containing the names of the voters
of Plymouth district in which Concord was situated were so anxious
to wreck vengeance on their opponents in the county seat question
that they were willing to put in jeopardy the chances of shaking off
their civil and political shackles. Apprehensive of the supposed plan
to register every ex-Confederate and overthrow the Republican party
they informed Major Cyrus Newlin (a partisan Republican lawyer of
Union) who instantly wrote to the governor inducing an investigation.
Mr. A. F. Gibbons, whom the governor sent to investigate, was met
with open arms by the people in favor of Princeton and assured that
all would vote for Stevenson if the books were not blotched with
erasures. Although Mr. Gibbons was wary and forced the committee
to eliminate about two hundred names of the most prominent
ex-Confederates from the lists, Princeton still had names enough for
her purpose.
h\ the meantime the Concord Church people sent a messenger to
the capital to secure an injunction prohibiting the officers from open-
ing the election polls. Princeton sent after him their messenger who,
starting twenty-four hours later, outrode him by two hours.
After the refusal of the judges to grant an injunction, the county
seat question was easily settled at the election by a majority vote of
over 400 in favor of Princeton, at the same time the entire Democratic
ticket was elected. The county authorities immediately began to erect
on the old courthouse foundation a new building which was completed
in 1875. The feelings of the people at Concord were somewhat mollified
by the establishment of a normal school there in act of February 28,
1872.
Closely related to the double struggle in Mercer county was the
formation (in 1871) of Summers county — a child of necessity, whose
creation, first agitated as a result of the prospective completion of the
Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, and urged to relieve inconveniences
of communication with the courthouses of Greenbrier, Monroe and
Fayette, was largely due to several selfish disputes of older settled
communities, and was strongly opposed by a large majority of its own
original citizens. It happily settled the disputes of other counties. To
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 409
secure desired ends the Princeton committee of safety joined with
men such as Hon. Sylvester Upton, who after election to the
legislature voted for the erection of the new county, which by in-
cluding two districts of Mercer, forever destroyed the hopes and aspi-
rations of Concord Church to become the county seat. Senator
Allen T. Caperton of Union, the county seat of Monroe, also enlisted
his influence in favor of the new county, which absorbed from his
county some of the lower part which had long agitated the removal
of the courthouse from Union to Centreville (now Greenville). The
delegate from Fayette was glad to contribute from his county a slice
to weaken the upper end which for years had agitated the question
of removal of the county seat. Greenbrier, who had plenty of territory,
was glad to get rid of what was regarded as bare and isolated terri-
tory forty miles from her county house and not worth the expense of
collecting the taxes and enforcing the laws.
Coincident with the formation of Summers county, under the lead
of Evan Hinton there was a counter movement to create a county in-
cluding practically the same territory with the county seat at New
Richmond.
The failure to include part of Raleigh in the new county was due
to an agitation to remove the Raleigh courthouse from Beckley to Trap
Hill which might have won if the Richmond District (friendly to Beck-
ley) had been added to Summers. The clause which Moses Scott in-
serted in the bill for organizing Summers, preventing the inclusion of
any part of Raleigh, left the new county with less than the area of 400
square miles required by the constitution — although Evan Hinton and
J. H. Ferguson arranged for extending the lines in Greenbrier and
Monroe, leading to the legal territorial and boundary disputes of 1894.
In 1894 Summers county held that it was entitled to Alderson and North
Alderson and some additional territory. Both Monroe and Greenbrier entered vigor-
ous protest, because the loss of the strip would have caused considerable shiiukage
on their taxable valuation. The people living within the strip were divided in senti-
ment. Some who were animated by a patriotic feeling toward the old counties were
not in favor of changing their allegiance. Others were influenced by the fact that
Hinton was within easier reach than Lewisburg or Union. To settle the question
John Hinchman was appointed by Monroe and William Haynes by Summers. These
commissioners elected James Mann of Greenbrier as umpire. A question was raised
as to the legality of this commission, but the line as determined by them was
finally accepted. After a trial held at Alderson in April, 1897, the court held that
Summers was too tardy in presenting its claim, and since the older counties had
been in undisputed possession more than twenty years, the new county could not
equitably gain title.
There may have been an intent in the act of the legislature to give Summers
a broader area; but, if so, the intent was thwarted by "fogginess in the phrase-
ology. ' ' Taxable property to the amount of $400,000 was saved to Monroe.
At the date of its formation Summers county had but few roads
and those which it had were unfinished and of poor grade. The most
important were the Red Sulphur and Kanawha turnpike and a road
leading up New river.
The Eed Sulphur and Kanawha Turnpike, a State road, had been constructed
before the war from the Eed Sulphur via the mouth of Indian, down New
River to Pack's Ferry, thence across into Jumping Branch at or near the mouth
of Leatherwood, out to Jumping Branch Village, thence by Shady Springs to Beck-
ley, and into Fayetteville and Kanawha Falls. At the latter place it united with
the James River and Kanawha Turnpike, leading to Charleston.
The road leading up New River was via the mouth of Bluestone, crossing at
Landcraft 's Ferry, thence back down New River, up Bluestone to the foot of
Tallory Mountain, up this mountain to Pipestem, thence by the G. L. Jordan and B.
P. Shumate locations to Concord Church and Princeton.
A "bridle path" from the mouth of Greenbrier down to Richmond's Falls was
destroyed by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company. A road had been built
up Lick Creek to Green Sulphur over Keeney's Knob to Hayne 's Ferry on Green-
brier River, and to Johnson 's Cross Roads, in Monroe County. Another road led
from Green Sulphur to the Big Meadows by way of Hutchinson's Mill (now Elton),
and another from Forest Hill to Rollinsburg (now Talcott), — with few cross roads.
* * * One misfortune has been in the unfortunate grades made in locating many
of the public highways by unscientific engineering in the early days.
Before the war there was a path over Keeney's Knob leading from Lick Creek
to Alderson, known as the Hog Road, by which the hog-drivers from Kentucky took
410 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
a "near cut" directly across the mountain, in driving their hogs to the Eastern
markets. The route of these Kentucky hog drivers was from the Kanawha over
the Sewell Mountain to War Ridge, over that ridge to the Little Meadows, thence
up Lick Creek and over Keeney's Knob to Griffith's Creek, thence to Alderson's
Ferry, thence up Greenbrier River and across the Allegheny Mountains to Jackson's
River, thence down Jackson's River to Buckhannon and down the James River to the
head of canal navigation.
The legislative provision locating the county seat of Summers at
the mouth of the Greenbrier was later the source of a quarrel which
was never settled by the courts. The first courthouse was the old log
Baptist church, two miles up the New river from Foss.
Evan Hinton, the "Father of the County," was the first sheriff,
by appointment of the judge of the circuit court.
The first jail occupied in the county was a small, one-story, hewed
log house, located near the railroad crossing in the city of Avis. It was
entirely insecure, and was principally used for prisoners charged only
with misdemeanors. The jails at Lewisburg, Beckley and Monroe were
used from time to time, until the Summers county jail was built, about
1884 — from bonds issued by the county after the question of bonding
the county had been submitted to a vote and adopted.
The increasing influence of leadership in southern and southeastern
counties of the state is seen in the settlement of the location of the
state capital, which Governor Boreman had continued to urge in every
message as a measure immediately necessary for harmony and for the
future prosperity of the state.
On January 20, 1869, Andrew Mann, representing Gh-eenbrier and Monroe
counties in the House of Delegates, offered the following preamble and joint reso-
lution :
".Whereas, The location of the State Capital has been deferred from time to
time without any good reason for such delay, and whereas the failure to locate the
State Capital has created great dissatisfaction on the part of the people, deterring
enterprising parties abroad from locating in the State, rendering ourselves an un-
settled people in the estimation of the public. Therefore
"Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
"That we use our utmost endeavors to locate the State Capital during the present
session of the Legislature, by such concessions and deferences to the different
desires of members of the Legislature, and the people we represent, as will finally
settle this vexed question harmoniously, placing the Capital where it will develop
the natural resources of the State the most, and accommodate the largest number
of inhabitants."
This was adopted by the House and at once reported by Mr. Mann to the
Senate which referred it to its judiciary committee with instructions to report a
bill in relation to locating the Capital. But the House did not wait for this. Jan-
uary 21, James T. McClaskey, a delegate from Monongalia county, offered House
Bill No. 4, entitled "A Bill permanently locating the seat of Government of this
State."
Section 1, provided that, "The permanent seat of Government for this State
is hereby located at the town of Charleston, in the county of Kanawha." This
passed the House February 17th, by a vote of 29 yeas to 23 nays. It passed the
Senate February 26, the vote standing yeas 17, and nays 4. This Act became
effective April 1, 1870 — more than thirteen months after its passage.
There was great rejoicing at Charleston. The people hastened to prepare for
the coming of the State Government. Public meetings were held soon after the
passage of the Act and various plans were suggested and considered as to the best
method of providing accommodations for the officers, records and archives of the
State. Finally, on the 27th of May, 1869, a few enterprising citizens resolved to
take subscriptions to a joint stock company for the erection of a building to answer
the temporary purposes of the law locating the capital. This succeeded, and when
$16,500.00 had been subscribed, and $1,650.00 paid, the subscribers were incorporated
under the name of "The State-House Company." The charter bearing date August
25, 1869, and terminable June 1, 1889, authorized the increase of the capital stock
to $100,000.
A meeting of the stockholders was held at the Kanawha county court house,
September 24, 1869, for the purpose of organization. Benjamin H. Smith was
elected president; Alexander T. Laidley, secretary; John Slack, Sr., treasurer; and
George Jeffries, William A. Quarier, Greenbury Slack, S. S. Comstock, Thomas B.
Swann, Edward B. Knight, Henry C. McWhorter and John Slack, Sr., directors.
Plans, drawings and specifications with estimates of cost of a building thought
to be adequate to the wants of the State authorities, were obtained from competent
architects of Cincinnati. After published notice for bids, the contract for the
erection of the building was let to Dr. John P. Hale, of Charleston. Laborers were
immediately employed in cutting stone at the quarry on Coxe's Hill in the rear of
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 411
town. On Monday, September 20, the ground was laid off, and on the next day
excavation for the foundation was begun. On November 3, the cornerstone was
laid by the Masonic Fraternity. The building could not be completed by April 1,
1870, the time fixed by law for the removal of the seat of government, but other
arrangements were made for temporary quarters.
The citizens of Charleston chartered the steamer "Mountain Boy," a popular
Kanawha river packet, to convey the executive officers with the archives and para-
phernalia of the State Government from Wheeling. At 5:00 a. m., Monday, March
28, 1870, the "Mountain Boy" arrived at the wharf at Wheeling with a reception
committee appointed by the citizens of Charleston to escort the State officials. It
was composed of Dr. Albert E. Summers and Dr. Spieei Patrick of Charleston;
Colonel Jerome T. Bowyer of Winfield, Putnam county; and Colonel Hiram B.
Howard and Hon. John M. Phelps of Point Pleasant, Mason county. These gentle-
men waited on Governor William E. Stevenson, and the other State ollicials at an
early hour, and informed them of the plans for transportation. The day was spent
in transferring to the steamer the boxes containing the books, papers, records, etc.,
of the executive officers, the State library, and the baggage and household goods
of the officers. At midnight, the steamer enveloped in a mass of flags and bunting,
cast off her moorings and steamed down the Ohio. At Parkersburg, the home of
Governor Stevenson, she made her first landing, and many persons went on board
to greet the officials. On March 30, at eleven o'clock, with a brass band which had
met her down the Kanawha, the ' ' Mountain Boy ' ' steamed slowly up to the Charles-
ton landing, while the United States Artillery, then stationed at Charleston, fired a
salute from the head of the wharf.
In connection with a formal procession starting from Front street, the mayor
of Charleston with members of the municipal government received the State officials,
and the mayor delivered an address of welcome. The procession then moved via
Dunbar street and Church street and Center avenue to the residences provided for
the Governor and other officers of the State. "It was a gala day, such as had
never been seen in Charleston before. ' ' The Bank of the West gave its entire
building for the use of State officers; the Merchants Bank of Charleston furnished
a portion of its building to the State Treasurer; the trustees of St. John's Protestant
Episcopal Church gave the free use of its schoolroom for the State Library. On
December 20, 1870, the "State House Company" formally delivered to the Gov-
ernor the capitol building which had cost $79,000 and which was immediately oc-
cupied by the State officials. Governor Stevenson, in his ensuing message to the
Legislature, speaking of the building, said: "It is, as you cannot fail to observe,
a neat, commodious, and substantial structure, and reflects much credit upon the
public spirited citizens under whose management it was completed and finished."
The removal of the capital to Charleston attracted larger attention
to the Kanawha whose new era of development was already forecasted
in plans for the completion of a railway across the Alleghenies to the
Middle New and via Charleston to the Ohio at Guyandotte.
Members of the Constitutional Convention of 1872
CHAPTER XXV
THE CONSTITUTION OF 1872
Elated with success in securing repeal of prescriptive legislation
and in defeating the Republicans at the polls, leaders of the Demo-
cratic party, with plans to capture other strategic political points,
decided upon a call for a constitutional convention.
After the passage of the Flick amendment which accomplished the
enfranchisement of the ex-Confederates, an object for which the Demo-
crats professedly had striven for five years, further amendment to the
constitution seemed unnecessary. However, the strong reactionary
elements within the Democratic party interpreting the attitude of the
liberal Republicans on the amendment as a sign of weakness, desired
to put them completely to rout or, as the Wheeling Intelligencer said,
they were not willing to wait until the corpse of the Republican party
was decently buried "but must administer on the estate at once" — and
for this purpose demanded a constitutional convention. Their strength
is shown in the legislature which on February 23, 1871, passed a con-
vention bill.1
The most radical advocates of the convention (many thought), were
apparently resolved to restore pre-bellum conditions as far as possible.
In their zeal to make war on the state constitution they constructed
various ingenious complaints against it. The Wheeling Register first
objected (July 26, 1872) to it on the ground that a reapportionment
could not be made under it without diminishing the existing representa-
tion of some of the counties, and later (August, 11), on the ground that
a new constitution was necessary to extend the time in which the Vir-
ginia debt should be paid. The Democratic papers and various stump
speakers emphasized the point that the constitution of 1862-63 was
adopted without the consent of the whole people — at a time when many
were in the Confederate army ; and when many others, refusing to rec-
ognize the reorganized state authority, had not participated in the
election. Some, who were jestingly called "Democratic protectionists"
were accused of wanting a convention to frame a constitution which
would provide protection against the consequences of engaging in fu-
ture rebellion. All the advocates of the convention were most emphatic
in expressing their wish to abolish the township system, which they
claimed was a new and expensive importation from the northern states.
They desired to restore the old county-court system, and many pro-
posed to abolish the ballot and to restore viva voce voting. Some fre-
quently hinted that too many people were voting, and that some prop-
erty qualification should be adopted to disfranchise the negro population
i Among those most prominent in urging the need for a convention were Judge
Ferguson, Colonel B. H. Smith who led a large meeting at the capital, and Hon.
C. J. Faulkner who was the leading spirit of a similar meeting in Martinsburg.
Among those who took the lead in opposing the convention by articles in the
press was Granville Parker, who feared radical changes in the organic structure and
believed that any needed change could best be accomplished by amendments. He
especially opposed the proposition of politicians to knock out the existing judicial
and township system, claiming that their abrogation would necessitate a com-
plete change of the new code which had been prepared at an expense of $100,000.
He also feared that the radicals who proposed to abolish the free school system and
the ballot would remove constitutional restrictions which prevented the legislative
logrolling that had bankrupted the old state under the pretext of making "internal
improvements." He desired no radical changes which would lessen the good opinion
and confidence of capitalists and business men who were so essential to the future
of the state.
413
414 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
and some of the poor whites. Others, who fiercely denounced the court
of appeals which had sustained the constitutionality of the proscription
laws, at the same time criticised the constitution because it gave to the
legislature the power to remove judges. But perhaps the most unique
argument in favor of a new constitution appeared in the Martinxburg
Statesman whose editor, apparently unconscious that the thirteenth and
fourteenth amendments had preceded the fifteenth amendment to the
constitution of the United States, declared in bold type, perhaps only for
negro consumption, that under the existing state constitution slavery
could still exist in "West Virginia after the repeal of the fifteenth amend-
ment by Congress, which he expected to be done soon ; and he undertook
to inform the colored voters that if they should oppose the call for a
convention they would be voting to retain a constitution which still rec-
ognized them as slaves.
On August 24, 1871, the people determined the question in favor of a
new constitutional convention by a vote of 30,220 to 27,638 (17,571 not
voting). All the largest centers of population except Martinsburg voted
in the negative. The big majorities for the convention were from local-
ities in which there was a large ex-Confederate element, the counties of
Jefferson, Hampshire, Hardy, Greenbrier, Logan, Gilmer and Braxton.
The Democratic strength was again shown in the following October
when the Democrats elected 66 of the 78 members of the convention.
The twelve Republican members were humorously called the "twelve
apostles. ' '
The convention whose members were elected on October 26, 1871,
assembled at the capitol building at Charleston at noon on January 16,
1872. The sessions were held in the Methodist Episcopal church, known
as Asbury Chapel, which stood on the north-east side of Virginia street,
between Alderson and Summers streets.
The members, elected by Senatorial Districts, Counties, and Delegate
Districts, were as follows: —
First Senatorial District — William K. Pendleton and A. J. Pannell. Second
Senatorial District — Joseph W. Gallaher and Alpheus P. Haymond. Third Sen-
atorial District — Waitman T. Willey and A. H. Thayer. Fourth Senatorial District
■ — Benjamin Wilson and Daniel D. Johnson. Fifth Senatorial District — Okey
Johnson and David H. Leonard. Sixth Senatorial District — Blackwell Jackson and
Samuel Woods. Seventh Senatorial District — Nicholas Fitzhugh and Alonzo Crush-
ing. Eighth Senatorial District — Evermont Ward and Isaiah Bee. Ninth Senatorial
District— Samuel Price and William McCreery. Tenth Senatorial District — James
D. Armstrong and John T. Peerce. Eleventh Senatorial District — Charles J. Faulk-
ner and William H. Travers.
Barbour County — Joseph N. B. Grim. Berkeley County — Joseph B. Hoge and
Andrew W. McCleary. Boone County — William D. Pate. Braxton County — Homer
A. Holt. Brooke County — Alexander Campbell. Doddridge County — Jephtha F.
Randolph. Fayette County — Hudson M. Dickinson. Hampshire County — Alexander
Monroe. Hancock County — John H. Atkinson. Harrison County — John Bassel and
Beverley H. Lurty. Jackson County — Thomas B. Park. Jefferson County — Logan
Osburn and William A. Morgan. Kanawha County — John A. Warth and Edward B.
Knight. Lewis County — Mathew Edmiston.* Logan County — M. A. Staton.
Marion County — Fountain Smith and Ulysses N. Arnett. Marshall County — Han-
son Criswell and James M. Pipes. Mason County — Charles B. Waggener. Mercer
County — James Calfee. Mineral County — John A. Robinson. Monongalia County
— John Marshall Hagans and Joseph Snyder. Morgan County — Lewis Allen.
Ohio County — James S. Wheat, George O. Davenport and William W. Miller.
Pendleton County — Charles D>. Boggs. Preston County — William G. Brown and
Charles Kantner. Putnam County — John J. Thompson. Ritchie County — Jacob
P. Striekler. Roane County — Thomas Ferrell. Taylor County — Benjamin F. Mar-
tin. Tyler County — David F. Pugh. TJpshur County — Daniel D. T. Farnsworth.
Wayne County — Charles W. Ferguson. Wetzel County — Septimius Hall. Wirt
County — D. A. Roberts. Clay-Nicholas Delegate District — Benjamin W. Byrne.
Cabell-Lincoln Delegate District — Thomas Thornbnrg. Gilmer-Calhoun Delegate
District — Lemuel Stump. Greenbrier-Monroe-Summers Delegate District — Henry
M. Mathews, James M. Byrnside and William Haynes. Hardy-Grant Delegate
District — Thomas Maslin. Pocahontas- Webster Delegate District — George H. Mof-
fett, Raleigh-Wyoming-McDowell Delegate District — William Prince. Randolph-
Tucker Delegate District — J. F. Harding. Wood-Pleasants Delegate District —
James M. Jaekson and W. G. H. Core.
2 Mathew Edmiston did not qualify and therefore never occupied his seat in
the Convention.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 415
Officers, clerks and pages were as follows:
Samuel Price, of Greenbrier County President.
Gibson J. Butcher, of Weston, Lewis County Secretary.
Barney A. Galligan, of Ohio County First Assistant Secretary.
Beuhring II. Jones,3 of Greenbrier County Second Assistant Secretary.
John H. Woods, of Philippi, Barbour County Enrolling Clerk.
Jacob B. Cunningham, of Hardy County Sergeant-at-Arms.
G. J. Wetzel, of , Boorkeeper.
Henry S. Walker, of Harrison County Printer.
George Byrne, of Kanawha County Page.
Frank Cox, of Kanawha County Page.
John D. AUlerson, of Greenbrier County Page.
Josiah D. Wilson, of Harrison County Page.
Samuel Price, the president, was a man of considerable experience in law and
politics. He was born in Fauquier county in 1805, and had spent all his life in
Virginia except a brief time spent in Kentucky in 1827-28. In November, 1828, he
located in Nicholas county to practice law. In 1834 he was elected to the legislature
as a representative of Nicholas and Fayette. In the same year he settled in Wheel-
ing to practice law. In 1837, he moved- to Lewisburg and married Jane Stuart,
the granddaughter of Colonel John Stuart who served as the first county clerk of
Greenbrier county. In October, 1850, he was elected a member of the Virginia con-
stitutional convention of that year. In 1861, he represented Greenbrier in the Vir-
ginia secession convention and served as chairman of the committee on Federal
relations. He was elected Lieutenant-Governor of the seceded state of Virginia in
1863 and subsequently served two terms as president of the Senate at Richmond.
In June, 1865, following the collapse of the Confederacy, he was arrested by
cavalrymen and taken to Charleston as a prisoner. In 1866, he became a director
of the Covington and Ohio (later Chesapeake and Ohio) Railroad Company. In
December, 1869, he was elected circuit judge but unable to take the test oath re-
quired of him, he did not receive his commission. Later, four years after his service
in the constitutional convention of 1872, and eight years before his death, he was
appointed by Governor Jacobs to complete the unexpired term of Allen T. Caperton
in the United States senate.
Meeting on January 16, 1872, the convention remained in session for
eighty-four days at Charleston, then a village with unpaved and un-
lighted streets and shut off from the mails for three days at a time. It
declined to accept the invitation to adjourn to Wheeling with free
transportation. The radicals felt that nothing good in the shape of
constitutional reform could be accomplished in that "iron hearted
city," in which had been framed the first constitution to which they
were so strongly opposed; and many no doubt were influenced by the
fact that the "best livers of Charleston" had thrown open their homes
to the members of the convention who would have been compelled to
seek boarding houses in Wheeling.4
Strong efforts made by the most radical reactionaries to keep West
Virginia under the influence of the life and institutions of Virginia
and the South were resisted by the more moderate members. On Jan-
uary 20, Mr. George Davenport, a liberal young Democrat from Wheel-
ing, wishing to indicate that the Union Democrats were unalterably
opposed to the manner in which the ex-Confederates were "running
the convention," presented a sarcastic resolution requesting that the
names of Grant and Lincoln counties should be changed to Davis and
Lee. A few days later, some radical members made themselves rather
ridiculous by opposing the first provision of the constitution which
declared that the constitution of the United States is the supreme law
of the land. Ward, of Cabell, on this question announced that he be-
lieved in the reserved rights of states ; and Col. D. D. Johnson of Tyler
objected to the clause because it ignored the "heaven born right to rev-
olutionize." After the early sessions of the convention, the efforts of
the more radical reactionaries were somewhat neutralized by the more
liberal Democrats who feared that the ex-Confederate element of the
3 Beuhring H. Jones died March 18th, and his death was announced to the Con-
vention by President Price; whereupon as a testimony of respect for the deceased,
that body adjourned until ten o'clock the next day. His remains were taken in a
hears© from Charleston to Lewisburg, where they were laid to rest in the cemetery
at that place. He has been called the "Poet of Johnson's Island."
4 A complete file of the Kanawha Daily (the only daily published in Charleston
during the convention) containing the most complete account of the debates that
can be found, is in the possession of the Department of Archives at Charleston.
416 HISTORY OP "WEST VIRGINIA
party would force into the constitution provisions which might defeat
it before the people. Some, observing how vigorously many members
rode the hobby of economy, feared they would adopt a constihition in-
tended not so much to benefit the people as to save money. The rad-
ical as well as the economic spirit of the members was shown in the
great "squabble" which arose on January 22 after Mr. Farnsworth
of Upshur made a customary and appropriate motion that the United
States flag should be placed over the convention hall while the conven-
tion was in session.5
The new constitution exhibited the marks of the period of partisan-
ship which preceded it. Due to this feeling was the insertion of Sec-
tion 3 of Article I which made martial law unconstitutional, the pro-
vision that no citizen should ever be refused the right to vote because
his name had not been registered, and the clause prohibiting the leg-
islature from ever establishing or authorizing a board or court of reg-
istration. Several new sections, quoted from the Virginia constitu-
tion of 1851 and introduced into the bill of rights — consisting of glit-
tering generalities on the equality of man, the sovereignty of the peo-
ple, the inalienable right of the majority and the repugnance of test
oaths to the principles of free government — were introduced as finger
boards to denunciate and anathematize the prescriptive laws of the
Republican party.
'I'll i' qualifications for suffrage under the clause of the constitution
of 1862 was changed in two days: (1) by the omission of the word
"white" to make it conform to the fifteenth amendment, and (2) by
increasing the period of residence in the district from thirty to sixty
days. The proposition to omit the word "white"" from the clause on
suffrage called forth long debate before it was finally carried. Mr.
Martin of Taylor, expressing the hope that his arm might be palsied
in any attempt to strike out the word "white," said that, with the ex-
ception of those who had been re-enfranchised by the Flick amend-
ment, the legal voters were "carpet baggers, negroes, mulattoes, Chi-
nese, Dutch, Irish, coolies, Norwegians, scalawags with a few of the
native population of the country." It was his purpose, he said, to give
the latter more protection. Mr. Thompson, of Putnam, desired to
cut off "that hideous tail" to the constitution (the fifteenth amend-
ment) ; and, to provide for an emergency remedy, he urged the reten-
tion of the word "white." He did not consider that the negroes, who he
said claimed every species of artificial rights in addition to natural
rights, were quite as capable of self government as the buffaloes of the
plains which had only their natural rights to protect.
Different views in the convention, in regard to the best method for
the expression of the popular vote, resulted in a peculiar provision
which exisls in no other state and which leaves the voter free to select
open, sea'ed or secret ballot. The opposition to the secret ballot was
strong. Ward asserted that the ballot system had given a great deal
of trouble to the world. Samuel Price, of Greenbrier, president of the
5 After Farnsworth 's motion, Ward, who it was jocularly said was perhaps best
known for his magic ointment and scalpwash, moved to strike out "United States
flag" and insert the "flag of West Virginia," arguing that his first allegiance was
to his state. After a futile attempt to lay on the table, Farnsworth 's motion was
adopted, but the weighty question was reconsidered on January 24 and 2fi when
Col. Johnson wished to amend the resolution so that it would provide for inscribing
on the flag the words "West Virginia rescued from tyranny." "In 1861," inter-
jected Hagans, who rose from the opposite side. But while various members were
debating over the probable expense which would be incurred by the purchase of a
flag, Mr. Henry Pike who, looking after coal land in that region, happened to be
present, solved the question by offering a flag as a gift to the convention. Whether
or not Pike 's offer was made out of pure generosity or not, the convention accepted
it, voted its thanks to Mr. Pike, and ordered the sergcant-at-arms to raise the flag
over the convention. On February 19, the flag arrived and, after it was seized upon
frantically by the "twelve apostles," and kissed by some of them, it was hoisted
over the convention hall.
6 Although the constitution makes no distinction between white and colored in
the exercise of the elective franchise, nor in the holding of office, it provides that
white and colored children shall not be taught in the same school.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 417
convention, joined Ward in declaring that the people of their counties
favored the viva voce system of voting. Mr. Martin, with face toward
the flesh pots of the East, lamented that although fifteen years before
in old Virginia the right to vote had been regarded as the most sacred
one known to man, "now-a-days the voter sneaks up, drops a little slip
of paper through a hole in a door and then goes away lively as though
he had done something he was ashamed of." All the more liberal
Democrats however, fearing that a provision for viva voce voting would
defeat the constitution, secured its defeat by a vote of 36 to 29.
Twenty-four members insisted that at least the voter ought to be re-
quired to put his name on the back of his ballot, and were able to se-
cure the compromise clause which was finally adopted.
The legislature was required to meet in biennial sessions of not longer
than forty-five days, unless two-thirds of the members concurred in
extending the session. The members of the house of delegates were
chosen for a term of two years ; and the senators, half of whom were
elected biennially, were chosen for a term of four years. Representa-
tion was based on population. Although in a few instances the con-
vention in laying out the senatorial and judicial districts was ac-
cused of gerrymandering, the larger state papers do not reflect any
serious discontent. The list of persons debarred from seats in the
legislature was enlarged by the inclusion of persons holding lucrative
offices under foreign governments, members of Congress, sheriffs, con-
stables or clerks of courts of record, persons convicted of bribery, per-
jury or other infamous crimes, and all salaried officers of railroad com-
panies.
On the latter debarment, peculiar to West Virginia, there was much
debate. The attitude toward railroads at Charleston had greatly
changed in the ten years since the convention in Wheeling in which
VanWinkle of Wood, advocating the dropping of bank officers from the
disqualified list, had clinched his argument and won the convention by
saying that it might just as consistently proscribe railroad officers as
bank officers. The growth of railroad influence produced anti-rail-
road sentiment in some sections. It was sneeringly said that the state
should be called the state of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Farns-
worth, whose policy was to grant to big corporations no liberal fran-
chises which worked to the detriment of land owners, declared his fear
that the entire state would soon be under the control of the Baltimore
& Ohio Railway which by means of its through connections, he said,
diverted to the west the immigrants who otherwise might stop in West
Virginia. Among those who opposed the disqualification of men who
had been active in improving means of locomotion was Mr. Hagans
who — after recalling the times not so remote when the people of the
trans-Allegheny region had carried deer skins on their backs to Phil-
adelphia and had drunk sassafras tea six months of the year because
they could not get store tea — said that without railroads residence in
West Virginia would be about as desirable as residence at the North
Pole.
The legislature was forbidden to pass special acts in a long list of
additional cases including the following: the sale of church prop-
erty or property held for charitable uses; locating or changing county
seats; chartering, licensing, or establishing ferries; remitting fines,
penalties or forfeitures, changing the law of descent; regulating the
rate of interest and releasing taxes. The state, in addition to the pro-
hibition of 1863 which prevented it from holding stock in any bank,
was prohibited from holding stock in any company or association in
the state or elsewhere, formed for any purpose whatever. The only
new power given to the legislature (a power which remained inopera-
tive for thirteen years) was that of taxing privileges and franchises of
corporations and persons, which in the constitution of 1863 had been
withheld largely through the fear that a corporation tax would dis-
courage corporate capital which was then so much needed to build up
the new state.
Vol. 1—2 7
418 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
The governor and all the executive officers were to serve for four
years; and, with the exception of the secretary of state, were to be
elected by the people. No provision was made for a lieutenant-gov-
ernor. In case the governor was unable to act, the duties fell upon
the president of the Senate or the Speaker of the House ; and, if neither
of the preceding persons should be qualified, the legislature was given
the power to appoint — unless the vacancy should occur in the first three
years of the term, in which case an election by the people was required.7
The judicial system, which was entirely reorganized, consisted of a
supreme court of appeals, a circuit court, county and corporation
courts and justices of the peace. The supreme court of appeals, a
rotary body consisting of four judges elected by the people for twelve
years, could render no decision which should be considered as binding
authority upon any inferior court except in the particular case de-
cided unless the decision was concurred in by three judges. The
number of circuits was fixed at nine and a provision forbade the
legislature to increase that number until after 1880. After much
debate, in which Osborne humorously suggested that there was no
way out of the difficulty but to put the office up to the lowest bidder,
the salary of judges of the supreme court of appeals was raised from
$2,000 to $2,250 and of the circuit judges from $1,800 to $2,000.8
In addition they were allowed the customary mileage.
The Convention fixed very modest salaries for state officers and for members
of the legislature. The salary of the governor was fixed at twenty-seven hundred
dollars per annum; of the secretary of state at one thousand dollars; of the state
superintendent of free schools at fifteen hundred dollars; of the treasurer at four-
teen hundred dollars; of the auditor at two thousand dollars; and of the attorney
general at thirteen hundred dollars. However, fees were subsequently fixed by
statute to be paid certain officers, and from this source emoluments were eventually
derived that caused their salaries to dwindle into insignificance. Members of the
legislature were to receive for their services four dollars per day, during a session,
and ten cents a mile for each mile traveled in going to and returning from the seat
of government, by tlie most direct route. The president of the Senate and speaker
of the House of Delegates were allowed an extra compensation of two dollars per
day each, during the time they were presiding. No other allowance or emolument
than that expressly provided for, could directly or indirectly be made or paid to
members of either house for postage, stationery, newspapers, or any other purpose
whatever. The latter clause was inserted because it was claimed that under the
first constitution some of the members of the legislature received special allowances
which exceeded their three dollars per diem. One of the framers of the Constitution
of 1872 when asked years later why salaries were limited by the Constitution re-
plied: "We were anxious that our work should be ratified by the people and were
afraid if we increased salaries even to what they should have been as of that time,
and took the power of regulating them away from the people, that the proposed new
constitution would be turned down at the polls."
Abandoning the township system, the convention reestablished the
old county-court system composed of a president and two justices
with its police, fiscal and judicial powers. This court was eulogized
by Mr. Haymond of Marion as the guiding star to younger members
of the profession, the "theater upon which their youthful geniuses
might disport with gay freedom before the assembled people." Hagans
answered this speech by suggesting that it would be far better if
these young lawyers were safely housed by the state in some law-
school where they would not afflict the public with such a "fraud as
the farce known as the county-court of the olden times." He con-
tinued by declaring that it was cruel, and almost criminal, to impose
on men who had never read a law book in their lives the delicate and
difficult tasks of adjusting the complex questions that arise in the
suits that come before them. He had learned, he said, that the
hapless suitor whose attorney could not boast of gray hairs could al-
most copy the inscription over the inferno, "He who enters here
? This provision is peculiar to West Virginia.
8 In the convention of 1861-62 Harmon Sinsel, urging the strictest economy in
the finances of the new state and stating that respectable families could live on
$500 a year, advocated small salaries for judges partly on the ground that men
liked the honor of the office.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 419
leaves hope behind," and rewrite it at the threshold of the august
forum of the county court, for it mattered not how ably a case might
be put by the young lawyer, nor how much law he might bring for-
ward to sustain it until it appeared as clear as a sunbeam, the "ven-
erable and foxy lawyer" had but to refer to the "youth and inex-
perience of his young friend" and close with a few well chosen ami
hackneyed expressions about the "good sense" and profound judgment
of the court, when lo ! the heads went together for an incredibly
short time and with a wave of the hand it was "Judgment for the
defendant, Mr. Clerk."
Although the question of the Virginia debt arose in the convention,
and although Mr. "Willey advocated the adoption of some addition to
the clause of the constitution of 1863, relating to it so that there
would remain no shadow of a question as to West Virginia's inten-
tion to assume her equitable proportion, the constitution omitted the
entire clause. This was regarded by many as repudiation.
The antiquated clauses of the constitution which relate to the for-
feiture of land may be regarded as a monument to a mistake of the
dead but living past.9 Originating with a purpose to quiet titles
s West Virginia at the beginning of her history inherited the confusion of land
titles which had resulted from the mistakes made by the mother state in the early
years of our national existence when she had urgent need of revenue to support
her government. The earlier failure to secure either revenue or much desired
barrier settlements in the west, by the statute of 1779 which placed public lands
on the market at a fixed charge of forty pounds for each one hundred acres (a
price which proved too high for the hunter-farmer of the frontier) , induced the
legislature in December, 1792, with the expectation of increasing revenues from
land taxes, to offer western lands for sale at the merely nominal price of two
cents per acre — an offer which in the next decade resulted in the acquisition of
almost all the territory of western Virginia, principally in large grants often reach-
ing a million acres in a single tract, by speculators who neither became residents
on the land nor paid taxes thereon. Much confusion resulted from the methods
by which the grants were located. Without adequate returns from the lands to
enable her to supervise the location and survey of the lands sold, the state allowed
every buyer to establish his own boundaries ( ! ) ; and later, when she reluctantly
and gradually entered upon the policy of forfeiting titles for non-payment of
taxes, she first found many boundary disputes and subsequently discovered that
many tracts had never been entered upon the commissioners book for assessment.
Finally, forced by the stern fact that the settlement of western Virginia bv those
who were willing to brave the dangers and bear the inconveniences of the frontier,
was retarded by the fear of the insecurity of ownership of soil upon which settlers
might erect their humble homes, the Virginia legislature in 1831, and in 1835,
passed two acts which provided for the forfeiture of titles returned delinquent
(and not redeemed') and for the protection of pioneer settlers — acts which were the
lineal ancestors of sections three and six of article twelve of the West Virginia con-
stitution of 1872. The Virginia legislature, though it showed a growing tendency
to forfeit titles for non-payment of taxes and to favor pioneer settlers who paid
the taxes, hesitated to forfeit a title absolutely; and from time to time it passed
numerous acts granting former owners of forfeited lands additional time to redeem
them, and it never transferred a title to a claimant who had no claim of title
derived from the commonwealth.
West Virginia in her first constitution adopted the growing policy of the mother
state in regard to forfeitures, and again temporized with the delinquent tax payer,
but made a distinct advance by a provision which for the first time showed a dis-
position to favor the owner of a small tract whose delinquent taxes did not exceed
$20. In a statute of 1869 her legislature provided for the proper entry of all land
and imposed forfeiture as a penalty for failure to enter land on the books for a
period of five years, but allowed the owner to redeem it within a year. The
members of the convention of 1872 inserted in the constitution provisions which
prevented any further temporizing with the question of forfeiture of tracts of un-
assessed land containing 1,000 acres or more and extended the transfer of a for-
feited title to persons who had actual possession for a term of years and had
paid taxes charged on the land for five years. In 1873 an act of the legislature
(still in force) provided for the forfeiture after five years of all tracts of non-
assessed land of less than 1,000 acres. The tendency of this system to breed
litigation is well illustrated by the fact that there were recently on the docket of
the circuit court of McDowell county thirty-seven suits by the state for the sale
of forfeited lands, and in the larger part of these suits there were from ten to thirty
tracts of land involved. These suits frequently resulted from the efforts of in-
dividuals who took an unfair advantage of the forfeiture clauses of the constitution
in the litigation of their claims. They imposed upon the state the burden of proof
and they assumed no responsibility for the costs of the suits. The parties behind
this litigation, in many cases, would have had no standing in court if forced into
a suit in ejection.
420 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
and reduce litigation, they are still a prolific source of expensive liti-
gation; and lawyers familiar with the abuses and objectionable features
of their operation have recently advocated their abolition in the inter-
est of a less complex system of land laws, if this can be done with in-
justice to none and without unsettling land titles.
The clause of the constitution of 1863, requiring that an amend-
ment proposed by one legislature must be approved by the next be-
fore it could be submitted to the people, was omitted from the con-
stitution of 1872.
Although the new constitution, which was ratified by a majority of
only 4,567 in an aggregate vote of over 80,000, made some wise changes
— lengthening the terms of members of each House of the Legislature
and providing for biennial legislatures — it contained several restrictions
and inhibitions and imperfect provisions which have retarded or pre-
vented governmental adjustments, and have been criticised by leading
men of both parties. Although some of these have been changed, others
still remain.
Amendments have been submitted and ratified by the people at
several different times. The first effort to appease the clamor for amend-
ments was made in 1879 when the legislature proposed two amend-
ments: (1) an entire revision of the article on the judiciary, increas-
ing the number of circuit courts from nine to thirteen, authorizing
a further change in the number after 1885, increasing the number of
terms of the circuit court in each county from two to three each year
and abolishing the county court system but still retaining the name
for its successor — a police and fiscal board of three commissioners for
the administration of county affairs; (2) a change in Section 13 of the
bill of rights, providing for a trial by a jury of six in suits at common
law before a justice when the value in controversy should exceed $20. 10
In 1883 the legislature submitted the amendment, changing the time
of state elections so as to coincide with the day on which the federal
elections are held.
With a hope of removing or reducing the many evils which still
existed, the legislature of 1897 appointed a non-partisan (bipartisan)
joint committee to suggest needed revisions of the state constitution.
In an elaborate report, this committee suggested many needed changes
some of which have since been adopted.
It prepared several desirable amendments upon which the legislature
failed to act. Among those for which there was a general demand was
one providing that members of the legislature should receive $4.00 for
day of actual attendance for a period not to exceed sixty days, at a
regular, and forty days at any special, session; and another providing
that, in order to secure more deliberate consideration of bills, no bill
may be introduced into the legislature after the fortieth day of the ses-
sion. The committee felt that the provision which limits the jurisdic-
tion of inferior courts to a single county should be made more flexible
in order to meet the growing necessity of development. Therefore, it
suggested that the creation of such courts should be left to legislative
discretion and judgment. It also urged the adoption of a secret Austra-
lian ballot in order to prevent the great traffic in votes which has ex-
isted under the constitutional method of voting. To secure this it would
be necessary to omit the antiquated clause which provides that "the
voter shall be left free to vote by either open, sealed or secret ballot as
he may elect." The committee also proposed to equalize taxation (1)
by an exemption on real estate against which there was a lien for debt
if The working of justices ' jury has not always been satisfactory. In 1897,
after sundry decisions of the supreme court, the legislative committee on the revision
of the constitution, in order to avoid the necessity of recording evidence in a jury
trial before a justice or of taking bills of exceptions to the ruling and conduct of
the justice, and with the idea that the judgment of a justice upon the verdict of
jury should not be final and binding as the judgment of a court of record upon a
verdict in such court, proposed to aid to Section 13 of the bill of rights a provision
in such case for an appeal to the circuit court for re-trial, both as to law and fact,
under such regulation as the legislature might prescribe.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 421
of purchase (intended chiefly to benefit the farming class who were pay-
ing more than their fair proportion of the taxes), and (2) by giving
the legislature power to tax "business" (in addition to privileges and
franchises) with the special purpose of reaching the intangible prop-
erty of corporations and large enterprises which had escaped taxation,
or had paid only a small amount of their fair proportion estimated on
the basis of wealth.
In 1901 the legislature proposed amendments which were ratified by
the people, limiting the invested school fund to $1,000,000, requiring the
legislature to provide for the registration of all voters, making the
office of secretaiy of state elective under the same provision as the other
state executive officers, providing that the salaries of all these officers
shall be established by statute and that all fees liable by law for any
service performed by these officers shall revert to the treasury,11 and
increasing the number of members of the supreme court of appeals
from four to five — whose salaries, together with the salaries of the
circuit judges, were to be fixed thereafter by statute instead of by the
constitution.
With the wonderful industrial development of the state, there was a growing
public opinion in favor of larger salaries for public officers holding public positions
of large responsibility. Finally, on February 13, 1901, the legislature proposed an
amendment which after ratification by the people in the election of November, 1902,
placed in the legislature the power to establish the salaries of state executive
officers. The amendment was as follows:
"The officers named in this article" [the "Executive Department," consisting
of the governor, secretary of state, state superintendent of free schools, auditor,
treasurer and attorney general,] "shall receive for their services a salary to be
established by law, which shall not be increased or diminished during their official
terms; and they shall not — after the expiration of the terms of those in office at the
adoption of this amendment — receive to their own use any fees, costs, perquisites of
office or other compensation, and all fees that may hereafter be payable by law,
for any service performed by any officer provided for in this article of the con-
stitution, shall be paid in advance into the State treasury."
It had two objects; the termination of the vicious fee system, and the ad-
justment of salaries to suit changing conditions.
Under the amendment, as ratified, the legislature, in 1903, allowed the governor
a salary of five thousand dollars per annum ; the secretary of state, four thousand
dollars; the state superintendent of schools, three thousand dollars; the auditor,
four thousand five hundred dollars; the treasurer, two thousand five hundred dol-
lars; the attorney general two thousand five hundred dollars. In 1913 the salary
of the state superintendent of schools was increased to four thousand dollars; of
the treasurer to three thousand five hundred dollars; and still later the salary of the
attorney general was increased to four thousand dollars. By an act of the legis-
lature passed January 28, 1919, the annual salary of the governor from March 4,
1921, was increased to ten thousand dollars. Early in 1921, by another legislative
act, the salaries of the other state executive officers were again increased.
Under the judicial amendment, also ratified in the election of November, 1902,
and transferring from the Constitution to the legislature the establishment of salaries
for judges, the legislature, in 1903, fixed the salary of each of the supreme court
judges at four thousand dollars per annum, and of circuit judges at three thousand
three hundred dollars. In 1909 it increased the salaries of the supreme court judges
to five thousand five hundred dollars. By an act passed February 28, 1919, it
increased the salary of each of the judges of the supreme court of appeals to eight
thousand dollars per annum, ' ' from and after the first day of July, one thousand
nine hundred and nineteen ; ' ' and at the First Extraordinary Session on March
19, 1919, it enacted a law allowing each of the circuit judges an annual salary of
five thousand dollars, except in circuits of over sixty thousand population in which
the salary was fixed at five thousand five hundred dollars.
ii This turned a considerable sum iuto the treasury. The fees derived from the
office of secretary of state and auditor were variously estimated from $10,000 to
$15,000 per year. The committee of 1897 also suggested amendments providing for
the election of a county treasurer to collect the taxes of the county, and for the
payment of salaries to the county officers in place of fees, which should then revert
to the treasury. Those in favor of the abolition of the fee system in payment of
county officers urged that the fees amounted to more than a just compensation for
the officer 's services and more than he would receive if he were paid a fixed salary,
they favored reduction in the cost of administering county government, which had
become burdensome and oppressive to the people. The demand for reforms became
so strong that the legislature in 1908 passed a county salaries bill. Notwithstand-
ing the name of this bill, the fee system in payment of county officers is not entirely
abolished, and there is much demand for complete abolition of the abuses that
exist under the present system.
422 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
In addition to the adopted amendments which had been suggested
by the legislative committee, the people in 1908 voted upon two proposed
amendments — one of which proposed to increase the pay of commis-
sioners of the county court in order to secure more competent men,
and the other to amend Section 4 of Article IV, of the constitution
so that it would no longer prohibit the appointment to office (state,
county or municipal) of persons (women) who are not citizens en-
titled to vote in the state. Both were rejected. In the election of
1910 another attempt to amend Section 4 of Article IV failed. At the
same election an attempt to amend the constitution, increasing the
number of members of the supreme court from five to seven was de-
feated. In 1912, an amendment to prohibit the manufacture and sale
of intoxicants in the state after July 1, 1914, carried by more than
ninety-two thousand majority. In 1913, an amendment creating the
office of lieutenant-governor 12 passed both houses of the legislature ;
but no statute was passed submitting this proposed amendment to the
people, and unless later provision is made by a special session of the
legislature it cannot be submitted at the next election.
In February, 1919, the legislature passed a "legislative amendment"
which increased the salaries of members of the legislature to five hun-
dren dollars and provided a means for more deliberate consideration of
bills (which had been recommended by the committee of 1897).
This amendment which was ratified in the election of November, 1920, was as
follows:
All sessions of the legislature, other than extraordinary sessions, shall con-
tinue in session for a period not exceeding fifteen days from date of convening,
during which time no bills shall be passed or rejected, unless the same shall be
necessary to provide for a public emergency, shall be specially recommended by the
governor and passed by a vote of four-fifths of the members elected to each house;
whereupon, a recess of both houses must be taken until the Wednesday after the
second Monday of March following. On reassembling of the legislature, no bill
shall be introduced in either House without a vote of three-fourths of all the mem-
bers elected to each house taken by yeas and nays. The regular sessions shall not
continue longer than forty -five days after reconvening, without the concurrence of
two-thirds of the members elected to each House.
Sec. 33. The members of the legislature shall each receive for his services the
sum of five hundred dollars per annum and ten cents for each mile traveled in going
to and returning from the seat of government by the most direct route. The
Speaker of the House of Delegates and the President of the Senate shall each
receive an additional compensation of two dollars per day for each day they shall
act as presiding officers. No other allowance or emolument than that by this sec-
tion provided, shall directly or indirectly be made or paid to the members of
either house for postage, stationery, newspapers, or any other purpose whatever.
For years the constitutional limitation on contraction of debts by
the state was regarded as a serious obstacle to any satisfactory plan
for construction of a much needed system of state highways. Finally,
on February 15, 1919, the legislature by unanimous vote adopted a
joint resolution proposing an amendment vesting in the legislature the
power to authorize a bonded indebtedness (not exceeding $50,000,000)
for construction and maintenance of roads. The amendment ratified at
the general election of November, 1920, is as follows:
' ' The legislature shall make provision by law for a system of state roads and
highways connecting at least the various county seats of the state, and to be under
the control and supervision of such state officers and agencies as may be prescribed
by law. The legislature shall also provide a state revenue to build, construct, and
maintain, or assist in building, constructing and maintaining the same and for
that purpose shall have power to authorize the issuing and selling of state bonds,
the aggregate amount of which, at any one time, shall not exceed fifty million
dollars.
"When a bond issue as aforesaid is authorized, the legislature shall at the same
time provide for the collection of an annual state tax sufficient to pay annually the
interest on such debt, and the principal thereof within, and not exceeding thirty
years. ' '
12 The absence of any constitutional provision for a lieutenant-governor, which
was considered an unnecessary office by the makers of the constitution, has several
times caused much difficulty in the organization of the senate. The waste of time
spent in balloting for a presiding office has been far more expensive than the smaller
sum which would be necessary to pay the salary of a permanent presiding officer of
the senate.
HISTORY OF WiiST VIRGINIA 423
After 1900, there were many expressions in favor of a constitutional
convention to prepare a constitution more adequately adapted to pres-
ent conditions and needs. In 1903, Governor "White, suggesting the need
of such a convention, said: "Our constitution creaks at almost every
joint." Governor Dawson especially urged the need of reform in the
size of the Senate, which can be most effectively accomplished by a
constitutional clause providing for county representation in the Senale.
There was a growing feeling that the size of the Senate should be in-
creased so that each county may have a representative, and that there
should be some early change in the present system of choosing senators
under which it is possible for eight counties to control the majority of
the Senate. Both the legislative and executive branches of the state
government have recognized the inadequacy of the present organic law
as a means of solving modern economic problems relating to taxation
and the proper regulation of public service corporations. Although the
need of a new constitution was again suggested by Governor Glasscock,
and although many recognized that a constitutional convention would
be the cheapest and surest solution of the problems — especially social,
economic and financial— which have resulted largely from the recent
preferred what they considered the less expensive method of "patch-
rapid industrial development of the state, many conservative leaders still
work ' ' amendments.
CHAPTER XXVI
INDUSTRIAL AWAKENING ALONG THE KANAWHA
The first actual railway construction in West Virginia after the war
— the construction of a railway westward from the Jackson's river
across the middle of the state from east to west along the general route
of the old James river and Kanawha turnpike, reanimated the old com-
munities of the lower Greenbrier, the Middle New and the Kanawha
valleys.
The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, traversing one of the most pic-
turesque regions of West Virginia, is the successor of the Covington
& Ohio Railroad, which was organized as an extension of the Virginia
Central (incorporated 1850) the successor of the Louisa Railroad which
obtained its charter in 1836. The Virginia Central received its charter
under the influence of a state policy to link Chesapeake Bay and the
Ohio river by a railway and construction was prosecuted by state ap-
propriations until 1861 when the line was in operation to Jackson 's river
(ten miles east of Covington). It was operated to Covington in 1867.
Work on the Covington and Ohio, abandoned in 1861, was resumed in
1868 under charters of incorporation secured from the legislatures of
both Virginia and West Virginia in 1865 and under later acts of 1867
which conferred additional privileges. Commissioners appointed by
the two states x to cooperate in enlisting the interest of capitalists and
the early completion of the road experienced great difficulty in securing
the financial aid necessary to meet the heavy expense of construction.
In August, 1868, they finally contracted with the Virginia Central
railway company which undertook the construction. Under this ar-
rangement the name of the road was changed to the Chesapeake and
Ohio. Its president, General William C. Wickham, succeeded in at-
tracting the interest of Collis P. Huntington and his associates, who in
November, 1869, made contracts which ensured the successful com-
pletion of the road.
On June 9, 1870, the new road acquired from Virginia the title to
the Blue Ridge Railroad which Virginia had constructed through the
mountains.
The new road was aided by the state through an act of 1868, which
authorized townships to hold special elections to determine whether they
would purchase stock. It also received aid from the sale of public land.
The policy of the state to aid the road created much opposition to which
railroad men actively replied.
To leading citizens of Monroe, familiar with the topography of
Monroe, it seemed rather strange that the Chesapeake and Ohio should
have chosen the difficult route between Callaghan and Ronceverte, re-
quiring long tunnels and heavy cuts and fills, while from Covington to
Peterstown there is one continuous valley. Had the watergaps through
which Second creek escapes been followed, the economic consequence
to Monroe county would have been striking. Sweet Springs, Salt Sul-
phur and Red Sulphur would have become prominent by their nearness
to the railroad.2 Apparently the influence of White Sulphur and Lewis-
i The commissioners of Virginia were John B. Baldwin, George W. Boiling,
Thomas S. Flournoy and William J. Robertson. The commissioners of West Vir-
ginia were James Burley, E. T>. Bamsdell, Joel McPherson and John S. Cunningham.
2 In 1889 there was an agitation for a second C. & O. line on the Monroe survey,
which would have been equivalent to a double track similar to the double lines
between Clifton Forge and Richmond. It was urged that the Big Bend tunnel
could not admit a second track. In 1904, a paper railroad, called the "Monroe
Central," was much discussed.
424
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 425
burg was the double magnet that drew the road into its more difficult
course.
The first line surveyed for the main line of the railway was through Keeney 's
Knobs from Alderson, down Lick Creek to its mouth, but it was abandoned and
the present route secured. The principal rights-of-way from the land owners were
secured by Robert F. Dennis, a lawyer of Lewisburg. Comparatively few of the
rights-of-way were condemned. Mr. Huntington purchased, about the time he was
securing right-of-way, or soon after, the land on which Hinton is built from
Rufus Pack, administrator of the estate of Isaac Ballangee, in the name of the rail-
way company, and later organized the Central Land Company and transferred the
land to that company. He did the same at Huntington, purchasing the real estate
upon which that city is built, and transferring it to the Central Land Company, of
which he was the president until his death. Immediately after the location of the
line of the railroad, the excavations for the round-house at Hinton were begun by
Alexander Atkinson, an Irish-American contractor.
Morton in his History of Monroe county states that the decision
to construct the road from Covington to the Ohio was partly due to
General Echols who resided at Staunton after the close of the Civil war
and who induced C. P. Huntington to ride horseback with him over the
proposed route in order to convince him of its practicability.
In the Greenbrier Independent in 1872 appeared articles opposing
the road on the ground that it carried whiskey, killed chickens and
cows, scared the horses, and threw teamsters out of employment.
Construction westward to Huntington was pushed vigorously.
Prom 1869 to 1873 engineering corps and contractors were busy in the
Alleghenies, in the Greenbrier valley, along the canyons of New river
and the bottom lands of the Kanawha, and across Teay's valley until
continuous rails completed the new link between East and West. The
full stoiy of the work done would tell of the hardships and dangers
bravely borne, and of the faith and patience of skill and intelligence.
The materials for construction were brought over land in wagons
or down the Greenbrier river in bateaux. The labor used in construc-
tion was largely furnished by colored laborers from Virginia. The em-
ployees for several years were principally Virginians. The Big Bend
tunnel (located a half mile west of Talcott Station) which was com-
pleted early in 1872, was constructed by William R. Johnson, a Vir-
ginia contractor, at an immense cost. Several shafts were drilled from
the top to the level of the grade so that forces could work in each
direction.
On January 29, 1873, the last spike was driven on the New river
bridge at Hawk's Nest, and the special Richmond train of President
Wickham proceeded westward to Charleston and to Huntington. At
Charleston the event was celebrated by appropriate display of speeches
terminating in a great display of fireworks. At Huntington the union
of opposing waters by bands of steel was celebrated by pouring into
the Ohio a barrel of James river water brought from Richmond. The
President in his speech emphasized four great advantages of the road:
(1) shortness of route between the Ohio and Norfolk harbor; (2) its
easy grade and reduced number of curves; (3) the mild climate along
the route ; (4) the short distance of its Huntington terminus from
Cincinnati.
The service of the road for several years was very inefficient and
the tonnage very light. Only local passenger trains, and only a few
freight trains were operated. Mails were not carried for some time.
The first engines were fired with cordwood. L. S. Alley, one of the
first locomotive engineers who made the trip on the road, was born in
Prince George county, Virginia, in 1832 and served on the eastern end
of the road (east of Jackson river) as early as 1852. During the war
he ran an engine between Jackson river and Staunton. His first trip
west of White Sulphur Springs in the Allegheny mountains was in the
latter part of 1873. The first telegraph operator at Hinton was a man
by the name of Robert Baird, who had his office in a box car, and used
the old-style telegraph instrument. The first passenger depot there was
a one-story frame building (immediately opposite the Hinton ferry)
which was converted into a freight depot in 1900.
426 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
The construction of the railroad resulted in the settlement of a number of
Irish families in the communities along the route. Among these was Thomas Hurley,
a native of Cork County, Ireland, who married Catherine Lawler, and reared a
family on the mountain above Elton in Summers County. Other Irish settlers of
the neighboring region were James Hurley, who located near the top of Keeney's
Knob, and Patrick O 'Leary, who located in the same neighborhood. Another was
Richard Twohig, who had emigrated from Ireland to Rockingham County in 1850,
and after aiding in the construction of the railroad resided in Greenbrier County.
Others were Patrick Conly, Terrenee Foley, Edward McGuire and Mr. Florence
Dionohue, who settled in the same region. About 1876 the Irish settlers of Sum-
mers County built for Catholic worship a log church which was later abandoned for
a frame building.
The completion of the railroad soon resulted in the abandonment
of tolls (about 1875) on the old James river and Kanawha turnpike —
which thereafter was used as a public road.
To secure heavier tonnage the railroad corporation early offered
inducements for the establishment of enterprises along the line. Among
the immediate industrial influences of the new railroad was the impetus
given to the timber and lumber industry along the entire region of the
route. Activity in the stave business appeared first. Along the New
river many buyers of staves or stave timber arrived to encourage the
business. Among the earliest was Theodore Arter of Cleveland, Ohio,
a representative of the Standard Oil Company, who by 1875 established
at Hinton headquarters for purchase and shipment of staves for oil
barrels. In the early days Captain Thomas Quinn, an Irish boatman,
floated large quantities of staves and lumber down the New river in
bateaux. Among the earliest lumbermen in this region were Robert
Elliot (a native of Canada), W. R. Johnson (a Pennsylvanian), James
Allen Graham and his brothers, B. F. Hall (of Ohio), Owen Bearse,
Jr. (of Massachusetts), B. B. Burks (of Kentucky), Sam Smith (of
Ohio), John P. Mills (of New York) and Daniel F. Mohler. Burks
began operations on Tallery Mountain at the mouth of Bluestone as
early as 1873. Bearse 's firm began business on Lick creek and at one
time owned all of North Alderson which they converted into town lots.
Hall and Bearse did a large business at Meadow creek, up which they
built a tramway, but they finally failed. Mills built below the Hinton
ferry a large steam mill and a handsome residence which were dam-
aged by the flood of 1878. Mohler, one of the first to operate on a large
scale, located at the mouth of Griffith's creek about 1880. Smith, the
first to engage in the walnut timber business, began his purchases by
1874, but failed in business.
Those who undertook the risks and inconveniences and hardships of
that period deserved large profits. Some sacrificed the pleasures and
conveniences of established homes in towns and cities of the East in
order to start enterprise in the wilderness.
About 1874 or 1875 William R. Taylor of Philadelphia bought the old Cabell
place in the Big Meadows, Greenbrier County, and upon it erected a very large
steam sawmill and grist-mill with a church in the roof, and also a large store build-
ing and a modern barn which he filled with a fine stock of horses. He was a pioneer
in other developments in the neighborhood. A few years later, however, each of
his buildings was burned to the ground and Mr. Taylor abandoned the country, sold
his land, and removed his family to Philadelphia. Neighborhood gossip attributed
the destruction of the buildings to his wife who did not desire to live in the region
and wished to induce her husband to return to Philadelphia.
Among the later successful lumbermen of that region was T. H.
Lilly who opened business at Hinton by 1901 and organized the Lilly
Lumber Company. The Commonwealth Lumber Company, a corpora-
tion composed of Pennsylvania capitalists, constructed a bridge across
the Greenbrier at the mouth of Griffith's creek, built a broad gauged
lumber railroad to the top of Keeney's Knob and built up a village
of fifty houses near the site of the old fort.
An immense amount of timber was floated down the Greenbrier
river by the St. Lawrence Boom and Manufacturing company and other
companies. Within twenty-five years the walnut and cherry was
largely taken out by rafting, even from points on the upper Greenbrier
above Marlinton. This rafting became an important industry at flood
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 427
periods in the river. There were a number of skillful pilots who with
a raft of 50,000 feet of lumber could thread their way between the
rocks of the swift river.
By 1910, the timber business was- about terminated in the imme-
diate vicinity of the main line of the railway in the region of Summers
and Greenbrier counties. The most valuable forests had been largely
cut and removed.
The earlier success of the railroad was restricted both by loose
methods of management and the provincial prejudices of many
people residing along the route — some of whom had originally worked
on the road. The company charged high freight rates for slow trans-
portation, and at the same time conductors, baggage men and other
subordinate officials in some instances managed to secure free trans-
portation for county produce which they purchased for almost noth-
ing and sold at good prices at Richmond and other eastern points.
Various people inscrutable and mysteriously peculiar or jealously preju-
diced objected to the collection of fares or at least objected to paying
their fares in money. Some seemed to regard the railroad as the
visible representative of a magic fund of wealth upon which the
people should draw as heavily as possible at every opportunity.
To maintain telegraphic connections at first was rendered difficult
by the depredations of the natives who cut the wires and appropriated
them for domestic purposes.
The later effect of the road may be traced in the increasing price
of the land, the rise of many new industries, and the changed character
of the population. Speculators and promoters promptly arrived to
survey the resources of the country and to prepare for the new era
of greater activity in opening the wealth which had so long remained
dormant. Many who came to work on the railroad or in some resulting
industry later married or sent for families left behind, bought a small
farm along the route of the railroad, or contributed to the growth of
new towns. The mingling of newcomers from many older communities
was conducive to the formation of new ideas and the stimulation of
a larger and more vigorous life.
On November 1, 1873, the Chesapeake and Ohio found itself unable
to meet the interest on its mortgage bonds. On October 9, 1875, after
strenuous efforts to effect a settlement with the creditors, the road
passed into the hands of a receiver appointed by the United States
circuit court. After a sharp litigation, on January 21, 1879, it passed
to another receiver, General "Wickham, appointed by the state courts
of Virginia and West Virginia and by him on July 1, 1878, it was sold
and conveyed to C. P. Huntington and others by a scheme of reorganiza-
tion which simply allowed time for further development of the business
of the road without any diminution of the bonded indebtedness.
In 1880 the road was extended from Richmond to a more satis-
factory terminal at Newport News, and westward from Huntington to
the Big Sandy and across the bridge, thus connecting with the Eliza-
bethtown, Lexington & Big Sandy Railroad. In the same year the
fare was reduced from five cents to three and one-half cents per mile.
Unable to meet the heavy fixed charges provided in the plan of
reorganization, on June 15, 1886, the road was leased to the Newport
News and Mississippi Valley Company with hope of greater returns.
After the annidment of this lease, and as a result of suits brought by
Mr. Huntington to recover advances of money, the road again passed
to the receivership of General Wickham and in September, 1888, it
was reorganized through the cooperation of the powerful house of
Drexel, Morgan & Co. and placed under control of M. E. Ingalls, who
was also president of the "Big Four" system. In 1889, under charge
of H. E. Huntington the line was finished to Cincinnati.
Meantime various improvements on the line had been begun at con-
siderable expense. Among these was the arching and ventilation of
the Big Bend tunnel. This tunnel was originally arched with wooden
timbers, which becoming decayed, were condemned by the county
428 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
authorities under the direction of Elbert Fowler, the prosecuting
attorney. A short time before Mr. Fowler retired from the office of
prosecuting attorney a crew on a freight train was caught in the tunnel
by the falling of rotten timbers from the arch, and a number were
killed and crippled. Through Fowler's initiation, a coroner's inquest
was held, the tunnel was condemned, and the railroad company was
held responsible. Finally, the railroad company was induced to begin
work on a brick arch which was completed after more than ten years
(in 1897), the construction being managed without interfering with
the transportation of the road and without interruption of trains,
exception temporary delays from occasional falls of debris. Apparently
Mr. Fowler "s activities in compelling the company to arch the tunnel,
aroused the antagonism of railroad officials, who especially opposed him
in his last race for prosecuting attorney.3 With the increased number
of trains passing through the tunnel the density of the smoke increased
until the fumes therefrom became almost unbearable and even de-
structive to human life. After public sentiment had been aroused by
the dauger to employees and to passengers, the railroad company finally
undertook the work of installing fans which after a year or two were
placed in complete operation, resulting in safety of passage through
the tunnel. Other improvements which followed were the substitution
of stone abutments and iron superstructures for the large wooden tres-
tles originally constructed over ravines and creeks, and the erection of
a better bridge across the Greenbrier at Lowell and the enlargement of
the yards at Hinton and other points.
To meet the demands for extension and increasing traffic exacted
high intelligence and forethought and much outlay of money. The
entire road was gradually relaid with heavier rails and furnished with
the most modern equipment. From a single track line laid with light
rail upon a road bed unfit for modern traffic, the road grew into a
double-tracked well-equipped line with grades and curves much re-
duced by changes in alignment.
*In 1914 the road bed was double-tracked from Clifton Forge, Vir-
ginia to Cincinnati with the exception of a few short sections in tun-
nels and along the gorge of New river from Cotton Hill to Gauley
Junction.
To avoid expensive litigation resulting from accidents which were
quite frequent for fifteen years after the completion of the road, the
company finally inaugurated the block system. In 1908 it obtained
connection with Chicago by acquiring a road through Indiana via
Indianapolis.
From a line battling for its corporate existence before 1890, it later,
under the presidency of George W. Stevens and his successor, W. J.
Harahan, became a legitimate competitor of the other great trans-
Allegheny carriers. From 1890 to 1909 the mileage increased from
215 to 600, the number of locomotives from 237 to 672, the number of
freight cars from 9,707 to 35,700 of larger capacity, the number of
passenger cars from 155 to 300, the total annual tonnage from 3,760,577
to 18,511,362, the annual coal shipment to seaboard from 682,551 tons
to 4,800,000 tons, the total coal tonnage from 1,454,856 to 12,795,786
(including coke), and the total revenue from $7,161,949 to $26,630,717.
From 1890 to 1920 the size of the heaviest rails increased from 75
pounds to 100 and 130 pounds, the number of locomotives from 237 to
946, the number of freight cars from 9,707 to 52,394 (of largely in-
creased capacity), the number of passenger cars from 155 to 400, the
3 Mr. Fowler was killed at Hinton in 1885 by an attorney named J. S. Thomp-
son. He was engaged in a number of enterprises in the region about the vicinity of
Hinton. One of these enterprises was the proposed construction of a branch of the
Norfolk and Western Eailway from the mouth of East River in Giles County, clown
New River to Hinton. He was also a promoter of the New River Railroad and
Mining Company which proposed a railroad up New River. He was also a pro-
moter of the Hinton Steamboat Company which proposed to navigate New River
east of Hinton.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 429
total annual tonnage from 3,760,577 to 40,838,116, the total revenue
from $7,161,939 to $90,524,184.
From 1910 to 1920 the railroad's first track mileage in West Vir-
ginia increased from 630 miles to 802 miles ; the number of coal mines
on its West Virginia lines from 115 to 520; the total coal production
at these mines from 15,073,000 to 28,625,000; and the coke production
from 467,740 to 614,755. The comparatively small increase in coke pro-
duction is due to the by-products arrangements which are largely super-
seding the bee hive ovens as coke producers. The recent increase in
passenger traffic along the line of the C. & O. is reflected in the follow-
ing comparative statement of the number of passengers from its largest
stations in West Virginia for 1910 and for 1920.
1910 1920 Per Cent
Passengers Passengers Increase
Huntington 149,654 294,434 98
Charleston 172,291 295,913 71
Hinton 55,118 87,957 60
Ronceverte 47,851 62,075 30
White Sulphur 11,907 31,980 168
Along the main line of the new railway, new towns vigorously sprang
into existence.
White Sulphur Springs, at the eastern border of the state, recog-
nized new opportunities to become a greater health resort.
A few miles farther west, the site of a new town was partly deter-
mined by the needs of the old county seat of Lewisburg which was
located several miles from the railway route.
From a village of three houses which owed its birth to the con-
struction of the railroad, Ronceverte evolved into a good business town.
Its growth was largely determined by its timber industries, its con-
venient access to a good agricultural region and its location at the
junction of the later Greenbrier branch line.
In 1872 on the site of Koncevcrte stood only one or two farm houses and a
grist mill. Soon thereafter Colonel C. C. Clay began the lumber industry, which
finally culminated in the formation of the St. Lawrence Boom and Manufacturing
Company (of Pennsylvania and Maryland capitalists) which built at Bonceverte
one of the largest mills in the state, opened large timber holdings in Pocahontas.
The timber industry continued to be a factor in the life of the town until Sep-
tember 1908 when the last log was cut and the mill closed. In 1882 the town
was incorporated. In 1888 the first bank was opened. In 1889, a steam fire engine
was installed and a voluntary fire department was organized. In 1S92, an electric
light plant was installed. In 1900 coincident with the opening of the Greenbrier
division of the C. & O. a second bank began business. In 1903, the city reservoir
and water system was installed. In 1907 the electric railway connecting Lewis-
burg and Ronceverte was completed. In 1909 a new charter was obtained and in
1911-12 the streets were paved.
Hinton was built on land purchased by Mr. Huntington who later
transferred it to the Central Land Company which he organized and
of which he was president. Its growth was influenced by its selection
as the end of the Huntington division, and the headquarters superin-
tendent and operative and office forces of the division since the con-
struction of the road.'
The town of Hinton, which includes two separate municipal govern-
ments (Hinton and Avis) was largely a result of the railroad. Its
growth began in 1872 with the arrival of the first train of flat cars
carrying material for construction of the railway. Within nine months
it increased from a single log hut to a town of 300 inhabitants.
In 1871, when Summers county was formed, there were but two houses within
the corporate limits of the two corporations, Hinton and Avis. One was the old
"Jack" Hinton residence built of hewed logs near the railroad crossing at the
foot of the hill in Avis; the other, known as the Ballangee residence, was in the
center of the yard near the round-house. The Hinton homestead was occupied as a
boarding house for a number of years after the completion of the railroad. It was
an old two-story log house, with an old fashioned stone chimney, large fire-places
covered with shingles, and the kitchen at the end of the "big house." It was
430 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
finally torn down by the railroad company to make room for its double track. The
Ballangee house was also of hewed logs, the "big house" was two stories and the
kitchen one story. There was a double porch fronting the mountain. This house
was used by the railroad company for roundhouse, offices, and storage place for
junk and rubbish for many years, but in the construction of the new yard tracks
about 1898 or 1900 it was pulled down.
The Isaac Ballangee tract, on which the city of Hinton stands, was owned by
the heirs of Isaac Ballangee, and consisted of 165 acres. Kufus Pack, guardian of
some of the heirs, who were infants at the time the railroad was projected, took
proceedings in the circuit court of Summers county to secure a decree for sale,
by which the title was conveyed to the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Company, in
consideration of the sum of $3,500. Afterwards the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad
Company conveyed all the property except what it desired for railroad purposes, and
some five lots on which it had built tenement buildings, to the Central Land Com-
pany of West Virginia, a corporation of which C. P. Huntington, the promoter and
builder of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad was the President, and continued in
ownership until the company was placed in the hands of a receiver of the United
States Court for West Virginia, who continued to sell lots and exercise dominion
. over the property until the death of C. P. Huntington, in 1903, when the remain-
ing unsold portions, about 80 acres mostly hill land, were sold to William Plumley,
Jr., and E. H. Peck of Hinton for $11,000.
The territory now included in the boundaries of the city of Hinton was laid
off into town lots and a map made thereof in 1873. Stones were placed at the
corner of each street, and corner lots were sold for $300, while inside lots brought
$250 each. The first buildings erected in the town were principally on Front Street.
The site of the present court house and all the flat remained an open common and
was used as a pasture for cows, hogs and horses. The first business and residence
building on the flat was that of John N. Carden opposite the court house in which
he established the Hotchkiss House, which he ran as a hotel for a number of years.
The next building was on the corner of Second Avenue and Ballangee Street, near
the court house square. It was built by Carl Fredeking and used by him for mer-
cantile business.
Another one of the early buildings was a one-story two-room frame built by
B. L. Hoge, directly after the flood of 1878, near the present brick Methodist church.
Another of the earliest buildings was the old Thespian Hall, built in what was
known as Middle Hinton. This building was used for some time in connection
with an amateur theatrical venture by which home talent furnished the actors and
amusements for the town, but not being well supported financially the venture
failed and the building was torn down. The first brick house in Hinton was built
by John Finn on the corner of Third and Summers streets in 1874. The building
was later owned by the city and used as an administration building.
W. C. Ridgeway, early in the history of the town built what was at that time
considered a modern hotel on the corner of Third and Front, streets, a corner now
known as "Scrapper's Corner." The upper town was building up more rapidly
than the lower until the great flood of 1878, which practically destroyed the
upper part of the town. Seventeen houses were washed away, a great deal of real
and personal property destroyed, but no lives lost.
The Bank of Hinton, established in 1887, was the first bank in the town, it
has since (1900) been converted into the First National Bank of Hinton. The sec-
ond bank established was the Bank of Summers which opened for business in 1895.
The Citizens Bank is the youngest banking institution in the county and was
founded in Hinton in 1905.
In 1878 several enterprising citizens of Hinton undertook the building of a
steamboat by popular subscription. The project was launched by an excursion from
Hinton to Bluestone and the necessary money subscribed. The boat "Cecilia"
was built in 1878 and made a few trips between Hinton and Bull Falls, but it
proved to be too large for the rousrh waters of the New, and the enterprise failed.
The Hinton Circuit of the Methodist Episcopal Church was formed in 1872 as
part of the Baltimore Conference. Services were held in an old frame public school
building situated where Dr. Hollev 's hospital now stands until 1876 when the First
Baptist Church was erected. This church building was used jointly by the Meth-
odist with the other denominations until the First Methodist Church was built in
1880. The corner stone for the First Methodist Episcopal Church South, was laid
in December, 1876. The Presbyterian Church of Hinton was organized in June,
1874, but owned no church property for some time. The services were held once a
month in the building of the First Baptist Church. The St. Patrick 's Church, organized
organized April 25, 1874, by Father D. P. Walsh, secured a deed for their lot from
the C. & O. Railroad on May 26, 1874, and in 1878 erected a one-story frame church
building which was occupied by the congregation until 1898 when a new modern
brick church was erected.
In 1879 an effort was made to incorporate the two towns, Hinton and AviB,
as one. The town of Avis was so bitterly opposed that incorporation was voted
down, but Hinton (the lower town) proceeded at once to vote for incorporation as
the "Town of Hinton" and was so incorporated in September, 1880. Ten years
later, Avis became convinced that it should be an incorporated town and in 1890
was incorporated as "Upper Hinton." The two towns remained separate until
1897 when, for political reasons, they were united by a special legislative charter
under the title of the ' ' City of Hinton. ' ' This union, however, did not prove
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 431
satisfactory to the politicians who, therefore, proceeded to secure an act of the
legislature of 1899 which established Hinton as a separate corporation and left
Upper Hinton without a municipal government. Soon, the upper town was again
separately corporated under the name of Avis and so continued. At an election
held on May 2, 1919, a charter bill of the legislature, consolidating the three towns
of Hinton, Avis and Bellpoint, was adopted.
There have been many interesting features in local politics throughout the
history of Hinton. For many years the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad was a large
influence in city politics. The principal trouble in elections for several years was
the use of illegal negro voters brought in for the purpose; an influence of this
character occurred in the general election of 1902. At this election a number of
negro laborers, complete strangers in the community, came to the First Ward polls
to vote late in the evening. Their votes were challenged and refused, but a man-
damus was secured from Judge McWhorter of the circuit court, and under this pre-
emptory mandamus the ballots went into the box. The negroes were arrested at
once, but obtained bail and were never seen in Hinton again.
Hinton and Avis were without water service until 1890 when the Hinton Water
Works Company, composed of enterprising citizens, put in a first class system of
water works for both towns. In 1901 this water company purchased from Dr. Peck
and Mr. Starbuck their electric light plant with which they had several years earlier
displaced the old fashioned kerosene street lights. In 1904 this local company sold
both the water works and the light plant to a company whose stockholders resi'leil
in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. At the end of five years this eompanv hail never
declared a dividend on the stock. This company in 1909 sold to another company
composed entirely of local men, which continued to operate it thereafter. The
sewage system was established at a bonded endebtedness to the town of $10,000.
A factor in the improvement of the town was the bridge planned across New
River from Temple street to the mouth of Madam 's creek, incorporated by the
Hinton Toll Bridge Company in 1905, and completed only after considerable delay.
In 1907, the post-office at Hinton distributed mail to 7.000, including six
country postal routes. Hinton is the center for a large surrounding country, twelve
public roads centering there. In 1907, the bank deposits at Hinton were about
$1,000,000. In 1907. Hinton had three weekly newspapers and two dailies. The
McCreery hotel, built in 1907, was constructed by local capital and is thoroughly
modern and complete in its appointments.
The population which was 3.763 in 1900 decreased to 3 656 in 1910 and in-
creased to 3.912 in 1920. Tn 1916 it had 8 churches, 4 hotels. 3 banks, 2 theaters,
3 public schools, 2 daily newspapers, 2 weekly newspapers. Its principal industry
was the manufacture of lumber. There are two mills in operation.
The estimated population of Hinton and Avis in 1918 was 6,000. The popu-
lation of Avis increased from 1,432 in 1910 to 3,912 in 1920.
The development in Fayette county is reflected in the incorporation
of the following towns. Favetteville, 1883; Montgomery, 1890; Ansted,
1891; Mt. Hope, 1895; Powellton, 1897; Glen Jean, "l898; Scarboro,
1901; Thurmond, 1903; Oak Hill, 1903; Kilsyth, 1903; Macdonald,
1904 and Stuart, 1906. Of these Montgomery, a shipping center for
twenty-six coal operations, is the largest town. Until 1890 the station
was called Cannelton which at the completion of the railroad was fhe
name of the post office on the opposite side of the river. From 1876
the town was called Coal Valley Post Office, through the influence of
the Coal Valley Coal Company which began to operate a coal mine there,
platted the town and changed the name from Montgomery's Landing
to Coal Valley. The number of stores in the town increased to four or
five by 1880, but the rapid growth did not begin until about 1895.
The later growth was influenced by the construction of the Kanawha
and Michigan on the opposite side of the river, the erection of the new
bridges across the river, and the connection of the Virginia Railway
with the Chesapeake and Ohio. Its future is assured by vast tracts
of neighboring coal land still undeveloped, including a tract of 10,000
acres belonging to the C. P. Huntington estate.
The proposition to relocate the county seat at Montgomery was sub-
mitted to the voters in 1892 and rejected by a vote of 1,894 against
2,357.
Mount Hope, around which mines opened in rapid succession after the open-
ing of the Loup Creek Branch, was incorporated as a town in 1895, and had at-
tained a population of about 1.200 persons on March 24, 1910, when a disastrous
fire left it a mass of blackened ruins, the loss aggregating one-half million dol-
lars with only one hundred and sixty thousand dollars insurance, and fully 1,000
persons rendered homeless. It revived quickly, however, and new houses of brick
432 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
and stone with much better fire-proof construction largely replaced those that had
been destroyed.
Ansted, two miles from the main line of the Chesapeake and Ohio,
began its progressive history in 1873 with the organization of the
Gauley-Kanawha Coal Company which acquired lands through the
agency of Col. G. W. Imboden and completed a narrow gauge railroad,
later (1889) converted into a broad gauge.
Thurmond, located at the mouth of Dun Loup creek at the junction
of the Loup creek branch of the Chesapeake & Ohio, where a moun-
tain side was cut away to make a train yards for the hundreds of cars
of coal that arrive daily from the mines along the branch. Through
it in 1910 the road secured nearly one-fifth of its entire revenues and
about 45 per cent of the earnings of the Hinton division. It handled
in that year 4,283,641 tons of freight producing a revenue of
$4,824,911.49.
The growth of Glen Jean resulted largely from its location at the
junction of the Chesapeake and Ohio, the Kanawha, Glen Jean and
Eastern, and the White Oak railways.
In relation to the railroad, Charleston had the disadvantage of loca-
tion across the unbridged Kanawha, which, according to the Wheeling
Intelligencer, had "the poorest excuse of a ferry that was ever allowed
to cross a stream," The Intelligencer, referring to the uncertainties of
the ferry, predicted that the town, whose facilities for modern travel
were restricted to a "John boat" controlled by a lazy oarsboy imper-
vious to the appeals and signals of beckoning passengers, would become
a mere "Switchville. " In this forecast, the oracle of Wheeling was
mistaken.
Charleston rose on field and swamp and soon became the state capital.
In 1892 it secured improved facilities of access to the railway station
by the erection of a toll-bridge under the auspices of a private cor-
poration. Its later growth was assured by its location in the center of
a region of unexploited wealth of timber and minerals and by its selec-
tion as the permanent seat of the state government. Naturally it be-
came a center of banking, wholesale mercantile business, and industrial
manufacturing plants. Its recent development was also influenced by
improvements in river navigation and by increased facilities of railway
connection with the northwest, northeast and southeast.
Charleston was incorporated as a city in 1861. Its first brick street paving
was begun in 1870 by Dr. John P. Hale on Capital street, and its first gas lights
appeared in 1871. In 1871 the names of streets, which had been much confused,
were reconstructed and recorded. In the same year the first steam ferry across
the Kanawha was established. In 1872 the temporary capitol building was com-
pleted, and the West Virginia legislature first met in Charleston. In the same
year the first wholesale grocery of Charleston was established by Ruby and Hale.
Two years later the first wholesale dry goods house was opened by Jekenko Brothers.
The first wholesale hardware store was opened in 1875, the first wholesale liquor
house in 1876, and the first wholesale shoe house in 1877. In 1873, coincident with
the opening of the C. & O. for travel, the improvement of navigation on the
Kanawha was begun by the United States government.
In 1875, the slowly growing town encountered a disappointment in the re-
moval of the capital to Wheeling by act of the legislature — an act largely due to
lack of adequate communication and hotel facilities at Charleston, and special in-
ducements offered by Wheeling. On the 18th of January, 1875 — five days after the
session began — Hon. Jonathan M. Bennett, of Lewis county, a senator from the
Ninth Senatorial District, introduced "Senate Bill No. 29," entitled "A Bill to
remove the seat of Government temporarily to Wheeling." On February 13, this
passed the Senate by a vote of thirteen yeas, to eleven nays. It was reported
to the House of Delegates the same day, and five days later, passed that body, the
vote standing thirty-eight yeas and twenty nays. Although Governor Jacob did
not approve this act, it became a law on February 20 without his signature. This
act was as follows:
"Whereas, Henry K. List, Michael Reilly, John McLure, Geo. W. Franzheim
and Simon Horkheimer, citizens of Wheeling, have agreed to furnish the State,
without cost thereto, suitable accommodations, in said city for the legislative, exec-
utive and judicial departments of the State, including the state library, should the
seat of government of the State be removed temporarily to said city; and
Whereas, It appears to the legislature that the capital of the State should
be located at a more accessible and convenient point; therefore,
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 433
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia. That on and after the
passage of this act, until hereafter otherwise provided by the law, the seat of
government of the State of West Virginia shall be at the city of Wheeling."
The date of the removal was fixed for May 21. The people at Wheeling ener-
getically proceeded to erect a new capitol building. A Capitol Committee was ap-
pointed, Captain John McClure being its Chairman. On March 17 ensuing, the
city council adopted an ordinance providing for an issue of city bonds to the amount
of $100,000.00, the proceeds to be used for the erection of a public building. This
ordinance was approved by a vote of the people in April, following. The bonds
were issued and put on the market. Bids aggregating $429,000.00 were made for
them, and all were sold above par on July 19. The purchasers being:
John J. Brown of Morgantown, West Virginia $20,000.00
Exchange Bank of Wheeling, West Virginia 60,000.00
Bank of Wheeling, West Virginia 15,000.00
Kingwood National Bank, Kingwood, West Virginia 5,000.00
On September 4, the foundation of the new building was completed. Meantime,
Charleston decided to test the constitutionality of the act providing for the re-
moval. On March 30, sixty days before the day set for the removal, John Slack,
Sr., John T. Cotton, Edward C. Stolle, John C. Ruby, John T. White, Alexander
H. Wilson, and Gustave Stolle, representing the interests of Charleston, applied
to Evermont Ward, Judge of the Ninth Judicial District, for an injunction restrain-
ing the State officials from removing the State Archives and other public property
from Charleston to Wheeling or elsewhere. The applicants having entered into
bond under the penalty of $5 000.00, the injunction was granted. Thus began,
what proved to be in some respects at least most remarkeble legal proceedings.
On May 18, John L. Cole, the State Librarian, appeared in the Circuit Court of
Kanawha County, and asked that the injunction be dissolved. James H. Ferguson
and William A. Quarrier, made able arguments in favor of its perpetuation. Joseph
Smith, the presiding Judge, ordered the injunction dissolved, but suspended his
decree until May 27 so that the plaintiffs could apply to the supreme court for an
appeal. On May 20, an appeal was granted by Judge Charles P. T. Moore at
Point Pleasant.
Meantime, on April 24, Governor John J. Jacob issued a notice to the Auditor
and all other heads of Departments to have the archives and paraphernalia of their
offices ready for shipment to Wheeling on May 21, and he employed carpenters to
make boxes for packing the archives, and draymen to convey them to the wharf boat.
These laborers, arrested under complaint of the plaintiffs, were taken into court,
where they were held to answer the charge of violating the terms of the injunction.
Writs were also served upon the State officials all of whom made answer except
Governor Jacob who gave the matter no attention, and he was not arrested.
On May 12, the City Council of Wheeling appropriated $1,500.00 to defray the
expenses of the removal. The steamer "Emma Graham," one of the most popular
passenger packets on the Ohio, was chartered at a cost of $1,000.00 to transport the
officials and State property from Charleston. At the appointed time she steamed
up the Great Kanawha and arrived at the landing at Charleston on May 21.
Captain John McClure, Chairman of the Wheeling Bemoval Committee, hastened to
notify the government of the presence and purpose of the steamer. After all
the state officials had boarded her and selected their quarters, the steamer de-
parted, leaving all the public property behind in the custody of Judge Smith.
At Parkersburg all passengers were transferred to the steamer "Chesapeake," bound
for Wheeling. Near Sistersville, the boat received an escort Committee composed of
twenty gentlemen from Wheeling, who had descended the river on the steamer
' ' Hudson ' ' to conduct the State officials to the new capital city.
On May 23, the state officials arrived at Wheeling and on the morning of May
24 established their offices in the Linsly Institute buildings to await the decision
of the supreme court of appeals (consisting of three judges) — Alpheus P. Hay-
mond, John S. Hoffman and Charles P. T. Moore.
Following the decision of September 13, dissolving the injunction, the archives
and other property of the state government was boxed at Charleston, and forwarded
to Wheeling on two barges towed by the steamer "Iron City." Three days after
their arrival at Wheeling, Governor Jacobs issued a proclamation declaring Wheel-
ing to be the capital. On November 10, the legislature met in Washington Hall.
Over a year later, on December 4, 1876, the government occupied the new capitol
building.
Charleston did not lose hope. The people were weary of a "capital on steam-
ers." On January 16, 1877, Peregrine Hays of Gilmer county submitted in the
house a bill providing for the location of a permanent capital and erection of nec-
essary public buildings. This bill, approved by the house on February 5 by a vote
of 40 to 16 and by the senate on February 19 by a vote of 12 to 9, submitted the
question of location to a vote of the people by an election which was held in August,
1877. In the spirited triangular contest between Charleston, Wheeling and Martins-
burg, Charleston received a majority of the votes — by whi^h under the provisions
of the bill she became the permanent capital eight years later on May 1, 1885.
The vote by counties was as follows :
Vol. 1—2 8
434
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
*No return.
COUNTIES
3
CO
1
o
3
CO
a
'-&
a
o
^>
CO
CD
*%*
ccj
J3
o
COUNTIES
b0
B
-Q
M
u
s
o
b£
3
jo
CO
a
03
a
a
o
CO
CD
Tj
o
Barbour
Berkeley
Boone
1,415
48
4
3,569
4
1
960
951
34
1,832
587
479
39
1,760
225
116
1,902
573
95
594
13
2,169
328
6,140
261
1,167
885
308
140
206
3,004
1,017
Mineral
Monongalia. . .
Monroe
Morgan
Ohio
561
1,188
8
40
15
2,165
1S9
446
259
1,798
5
2
859
1,572
2
3
1,086
363
160
4
7
573
1,193
146
8
32
2
2
1
172
1
155
626
1,404
Braxton
293
656
6
160
11
40
2
5
965
Cabell
218
Calhoun
Clay
Pendleton
Pocahontas. . . .
Preston
Putnam
Raleigh
Randolph
Ritchie
Roane
Taylor
Tucker
Tyler*
280
93
Doddridge
Fayette
1,587
2
241
42
Gilmer
Grant
653
310
5
160
414
226
3,875
68
41
42
1,426
1
87
149
8
187
1
1,340
2
29
1,654
1,034
Greenbrier
Hampshire
Hancock
Hardy
31
145
1,995
1,410
141
6
Harrison
Jackson
Jefferson
Kanawha
Lewis
Upshur
Wayne
Webster
Wetzel
Wirt
843
2
79
1,226
238
1,253
2
60
1
2
24
186
163
2,011
Lincoln
362
Logan
McDowell
1
1
51
612
Marion
2,431
1,473
18
12
23
3
Wood
1,302
Marshall
Wyoming
566
Mercer
29,942
8,046
41,243
Prompt steps were taken to select a capitol site and to erect a capitol build-
ing thereon. For this purpose the legislature appropriated $50,000 and authorized
the Board of Public Works to receive donations of land or money to supplement
it. On August 13, 1878, the old State House Company donated the old capitol
building which had been erected in 1870, and also the grounds. The old building
was demolished and on its site a new one was begun by A. H. Sheppard of Mead-
ville, Pennsylvania, under a contract of May 27, 1S80, and finally completed (in-
cluding inside decorations) by July 7, 1888, at a total cost of $389,923.58.
Early on May 2, 1885, two steamers, the "Chesapeake," carrying the state
officials and their effects, and the ' ' Bell Prince, ' ' towing a barge full of archives,
left Wheeling for the new capital. Large canvas banners decorated the sides of the
barge and steamers, and legends thereon informed the populace along the river
that the State Capital of West Virginia was again in transitu. Early on Sunday,
May 3, the steamer arrived in sight of Charleston. A cannon on the deck of the
' ' Bell Prince ' ' was fired every few seconds, and all the steamers in port kept up a
continuous blowing of whistles. The entire population lined the banks of the river,
thankful for the victory in securing the capital, which ' ' shall never be removed, ex-
cept by vote of the majority of the qualified voters of the State cast at an elec-
tion held for that purpose, in pursuance of an Act of the Legislature."
By 1885 Charleston began to feel the stimulation of a larger life,
which was marked by a series of improvements. In 1884 its desire for
more convenient communication with the northwestern part of the state
was partially realized by the opening of the Kanawha and Michigan
railway (an eastern continuation of the Ohio Central) in 1884 4 and
the completion of the Ohio River Railroad soon thereafter. In 1884 the
city hall was built. In 1885 an ice plant was established. In
1886 the Charleston "Water Works Company began business. In 1887
electric lights were introduced. The first street car line began to operate
in 1890 with mules and changed from mule power to electric power in
1894. The old Keystone bridge, built in 1873 in the interests of the
* The K. & M. was extended to Gauley Bridge by 1894. In the summer of 1917,
an extension of its main line from Gauley Bridge to Belva was begun with plans
to connect, at the Nicholas county boundary, with the Flynn Lumber Company Rail-
road, an important standard gauge subsidiary begun about 1905 and now owned by
the K. & M. Co., but also tributary to the C. & O. Eailway at Belva.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 435
"West End" and destroyed by ice in 1879 was rebuilt in 1886 as a
free bridge. About the same time the old suspension toll bridge, con-
structed in 1852, was purchased and made free from toll. Bettor
communication across the river was secured in 1891 by the opening
of the new steel bridge for traffic. New evidences of improvement
appeared in the opening of the Burlew Opera House in 1892 and the
completion of a new stone court house in 1894.
By 1910 the city had eighty-three miles of street paving, seventy-
five miles of paved sidewalks, twenty-seven miles of sewers, fourteen
miles of electric street railways in operation, thirteen school buildings.
thirty-eight churches, four first-class hotels and ten smaller hotels
Local transportation by trolley lines is furnished by the Charleston Interurban
Railroad, which maintains fourteen miles of track within the corporate limits of the
city and interurban lines sixteen miles east, on the south bank of the Great Kanawha
River, to Cabin Creek Junction, and twelve miles west, on the south bank of the
Great Kanawha River, to St. Albans, a city of 4,000 people. The Charleston -Dunbar
Traction Company maintains about three miles of track within the city limits and
(since 1914) about four miles of interurban track to Dunbar, Va.. a thriving in-
dustrial town of about 3,000 population. Other suburbs housing industries tributary
to Charleston are Spring Hill and Belle, Va.
The recent growth of the town is reflected by the increase of postal
receipts at the city post office as indicated below:
1900 $ 93,720.00
1910 103,517.00
1911 116,663.00
1012 141.366.00
1913 150,068.00
1914 170,578.00
1915 191,930.00
1916 212,237.00
1917 267 971.69
1918 534,141.53
By 1921 there were in the Charleston District — extending from Montgomery to
St. Albans — 55 large manufacturing plants of various kinds, with investments ag-
gregating $35,000 000, and employing 9,440 people. They included the following:
Steel and other metal workers, 12 plants, with capital of $5,520,000; employees,
2,550; chemical products, 8 plants, with capital of $10,375,000; employees, 2,080;
electrical, 6 plants, with capital of $7,950 000; employees, 900; glass manufacturers,
9 plants, with capital of $5,800,000 ; employees, 2,200 ; wood-working mills, 5 plants,
with capital of $975,000; employees 435; other mills, 6 plants, with capital of
$960,000; employees, 580; brick and clay products, 4 plants, with capital of
$410,000; employees, 420; and oil and gas products, 4 plants, with capital of
$3,300,000; employees, 260.
The owners of these plants chose their present locations because of the ad-
vantages of fuel, power, transportation, and the convenience of raw materials.
Most of them have lately added very largely to the size of their original plants,
the amount of their investment, the number of people employed, and the amount
of their output.
Four of the manufacturing plants recently acquired by the Charleston District
are quite notable both for their intrinsic importance and for the impetus their
stamp of approval will undoubtedly give the district as an eligible location for
plants of similar kind. These are the Libby-Owens Sheet Glass plant, the Owens
Bottle plant, the Rollin Chemical plant, the Warner-Klipstein Chemical plant, and
the Roessler-Hasslacher Chemical plant. These plants represent an investment of
$14,450,000.
The Kelly Axe factory, located on the west side near the mouth of Kanawha
Twomile, was established in 1905. It covers about 30 acres of land and produces
more than one-half of the axes manufactured in the United States. The South Side
Foundry and Machine Works, located on the south side of Kanawha river, was
established in 1890. The plant of the Charles Ward Engineering Works, located
on the south side of the Kanawha river near the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway depot.
was established in 1873. The Kanawha Mine Car Company factory, located on the
Kanawha & Michigan Railroad near the eastern end of Thompson street, was estab-
lished in 1902. West Virginia Clay Products Company, located on the south side
of Elk river on the Coal & Coke Railroad near the mouth of Twomile, was established
in 1912. It manufactures all kinds of building bricks. Baldwin Steel Company
plant, located on south side just west of the railroad bridge across the Kanawha
river, was established in 1907, and reorganized in 1912 with Joseph Kreg as president
and treasurer. Banner Window Glass Company plant, located in South Charleston
on Eastern avenue near D street, was established in 1907. Its glass sand is shipped
from Lawton, Ky., and its lime from Marble Cliff, Ohio. The Charleston Window
436 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Glass Company plant, located on the Kanawha & Michigan Railroad near Twomile
creek, was established in 1910; employs 50 skilled workmen and 90 laborers.
Charleston has a large number of wholesale houses distributing groceries, dry
goods, hardware, machinery, etc. It is also a strong financial center. The following
was the financial statement of the various banks of the city for April 4, 1913:
Loans Deposits
Kanawha Valley Bank $1 028,730.52 $3,039,954.94
Charleston National Bank 1,031,929.21 1,770,934.53
Kanawa Banking & Trust Co 486,935.84 1,163,692.08
Kanawha National Bank 380,055.32 1,155,229.17
Citizens National Bank 294,250.48 1,238,537.40
National City Bank 154,954.27 815,688.72
Capital City Bank 237,327.65 438,717.74
Charleston-Kanawha Trust Co 168,637.80 272,975.14
Elk Banking Company 65,411.89 213,989.17
Peoples Exchange 42,427.14 130,456.42
Glenwood Bank rf 30,327.43 39,075.99
Totals $3,920,987.55 $10,329,251.30
During the World war, Charleston was the center of a tremendous
expenditure of money including more than $100,000,000, by the United
States Government for the location of armor plate, projectile, gun
forging and high explosive plants. The signature of the armistice in
November, 1918, temporarily stopped the operation of the high ex-
plosive plant, permanently built, but on June 1, 1919, the War Depart-
ment announced that it would sell this entire plant to private pur-
chasers for operation as a manufacturing city for chemical purposes.
The sale of this plant to large chemical manufacturers greatly in-
creases the prominence of Charleston as a chemical manufacturing
center.
Charleston 's increase of population for each decade of more than a century is
indicated in the following table:
1778 to 1790 35
1798 to 1800 60
1805 to 1810 100
1820 500
1830 750
1840 1,200
1850 1,500
1860 1,800
1870 4 000
1880 4,500
1S90 8,000
1900 11,099
1910 22,996
1920 39,846
At St. Albans the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Company in 1871
erected a sawmill to cut lumber for the railway which was then under
construction and which later attracted the mills and factories which
made St. Albans a prosperous "lumber town." Several great timber
companies located up Coal river, down which they rafted their products.
St. Albans was retarded in growth by the policy of the Central Land
company, which, although it held lands at St. Albans, devoted all its
attention to the development of Huntington. Later the preparation
for a greater city was made by Grant Hall who, after purchasing the
lands of the Central Land company, graded the streets and laid cement
walks. These foundations were soon followed by the inauguration of
a system of lighting and water-works, and more recently by other
municipal improvements including trolley car connections with
Charleston.
In 1900 contracts were made for the construction of the Kanawha,
Pocahontas & Coal River Railway along Coal river. The charter,
granted in 1896, provided for a route via the junction of Marsh and
Clear forks, thence via Marsh fork to the Norfolk and Western in
Mercer county. The road was constructed from St. Albans through
Boone and into Lincoln counties in 1905-07. It leads to rich coal
fields and lumber regions.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 437
Huntington was planned by C. P. Huntington who, after an irritat-
ing experience at Guyandotte, was firmly convinced that his mission
was to locate a new town. It was planned for orderly growth and
development. It was also favored by its location 5 at a natural gate-
way between different regions, its excellent shipping facilities and its
vicinity to a territory rich in timber and mineral wealth. Other factors
in its later growth were the convenience of cheap fuel and the con-
struction (in 1895) of the Camden Interstate Electric Railroad which
connects with Ashland, Kentucky, via Kenova. The life of the town
has also been influenced by the state normal school established in 1867
on the foundations of the old Marshall Academy which was first in-
corporated by the Virginia legislature in 1838. Its humanitarian spirit
is expressed in the establishment of the Huntington State Hospital
(at first known as the West Virginia Home of Incurables) by legislative
act of 1897.
Mr. Huntington had the vision of a seer. He saw rising from the
cornfields on the banks of the Ohio river, a magnificent city that should
stand for all time, a monument to his energy and ambition. Calling
to his assistance an engineer, he told him to plan a city. From this
conference the engineer designed the plan for a city with broad avenues
and streets, a modern city in which he eliminated the handicap of
narrow, crooked streets and other inconveniences that marred older
cities. Building began in 1871 and for the first few years business was
confined to the river front. The first municipal government was begun
in 1872 by the election of a mayor and a council. The first public
school, also built in 1872, was the small beginning of the splendid
school system of a half century later. The first church was a small
meeting place called Holderby Chapel which later was for a time
supplemented by vacant store rooms and halls. The first newspaper
was The Independent, established in 1872 by 0. G. Chase.
The industrial development of the town began with the construction
of the railway shops and round house in 1872. In 1872 The Bank of
Huntington, now the Huntington National Bank, was organized to aid
in the growing business.6 The banking facilities kept pace with the
city. In fifty years one bank of small capital increased to nine banks
with a capital of two and one-quarter million dollars and deposits of
over seven million dollars show the financial growth of the banking
business.
CONDITION OF HUNTINGTON BANKS DECEMBER 31, 1921
Surplus and
Capital Undivided Profits Loans Deposits Resources
Htg. Natl $ 700,000 $ 291.7S3.45 $ 5,839,195.75 $ 6,702,223.91 $ 8,436,037.36
First Natl 1,000.000 489,297.25 5.992,668.37 5,286,164.72 8,340,461.97
Union B. & T 225,000 78,170.28 1,391,617.59 1,406,565.49 1,780,357.97
American B. & T. . 150,000 27,000.00 965,559.81 769,238.09 1,249.363.43
Htg P. &T 300.000 110,000.00 2,254,116.63 2,122,081.76 2,592,311.12
Ohio Valley 150,000 40,000.00 1,034,785.30 925,713.87 1,261,314.62
Twentieth St 100,000 47,000.00 847,092.94 747,889.86 1,073,099.44
Cabell Co 25,000 3,214.20 315,046.40 321,830.15 399,794.35
Total $2,650,000 $1,086,435.18 $18,640,082.79 $18,281,707.85 $25,132,740.26
The growth of the town for the first fifteen years was a repetition of the strug-
gles of all new towns, against the handicap of mud streets, board sidewalks, inade-
quate water supply from public wells, poor fire protection from cisterns in the
streets, and (until 1880) a volunteer fire company with hand power fire engines.
In this period business gradually struggled from the river front to Third Avenue.
On August 2, 1880, a paid fire department was established.
In this period of struggle was born the "Huntington spirit," which makes of
every resident a "booster" for his home town. By struggle and hope the town
continued to grow.
The second industry of any size, started by the Ensign Manufacturing Com-
pany, was the manufacture of car wheels which began in a small way, but gradually
grew — with the addition of an axle, forge and car building plant — until it became
6 According to tradition, Henry Clay, standing on an elevation and looking west
of the Guyandotte river, once prophetically said, "There is a site where a great
city will be builded. ' '
6 The Bank of Huntington was begun with a capital of $25,000. Peter C.
Buffington was president, Robert T. Oney was cashier. The directors were Peter
C. Buffington, John N. Buffington, J. H. Poage, D. W. Emmons and W. H. Hagen.
438 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
the second largest employer of labor in the city, and surpassed only by the Chesa-
peake and Ohio shops which had grown from small beginnings to be the largest
single factor in the industrial development of the city. Gradually many small plants
— planing mills, blacksmith shops, machine shops, foundries and a glass factory-
sprung up in different sections, and gave to the town the appearance of a live
bustling manufacturing center.
In 1883 was organized the first wholesale house — a grocery, which marked the
beginning of the Huntington wholesale and jobbing trade, which later covered
southern Ohio, eastern Kentucky and western West Virginia. A larger wholesale
grocery business was established by Harvey, Fuller and Hagen in 1887. In that
year business enterprise was doubtless stimulated by the beginning of a system of
water works by the Huntington Water Company under a franchise granted December,
4, 1886. In 1889 the growing town became the county seat and in the same year
was further improved by construction and operation of its first car line. In 1890,
it inaugurated new public improvements, beginning with street paving, sewers and
sidewalks, by which it began to get "out of the mud." Its first trunk sewer was
laid on 9th street in 1890. By 1921 it could boast of 80 miles of paved streets,
linked up with 75 miles of paved country roads, over 100 miles of concrete side-
walks, and 60 miles of sewers.
In 1895 the "Huntington spirit" took concrete form in the organization of
the Huntington Chamber of Commerce, comprised of representative citizens. This
organization, by its untiring efforts in placing before the general public the ad-
vantages of Huntington, greatly stimulated the upbuilding of the city.
About 1900 began the real growth and development of the city, which at that
time had a population of 11,923. The principal earlier events that contributed
largely to this new growth were the building of the Gnyandotte Eiver Railroad
which tapped the wonderful coal fields of western West Virginia, the extension of
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway up Big Sandy River which opened up the vast
resources of eastern Kentucky, and the development of the oil and gas industry in
the territory lying immediately to the south of the city.
In 1909 the city government changed to the commission form and immediately
inaugurated a system of public improvements in keeping with the rapid growth of
the city. Natural gas, piped to the city, furnished an unlimited supply of the best,
cheapest and cleanest fuel in the world.
In 1912, through the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce, was organized the
Huntington Development & Gas Company, the primary object of which was to
furnish Huntington with an adequate supply of cheap natural gas for fuel and to
induce manufacturers to locate here. The offer of cheap gas was an inducement
which brought many new industries.
Huntington's population rose from 12,000 in 1900, to 31,000 in 1910, and to
50,177 in 1920. In July, 1912, it had nine banks with a capital stock of $1,420,140,
and deposits of $4,246,290. In 1913 it had 36 churches, 15 hotels, 24 general stores,
5 wholesale groceries and over 65 other prominent business establishments.
By 1921, it could boast more than one hundred factories, which employed more
than ten thousand workmen. Seventy-five per cent of the workers owned their
own homes.
The absence of labor troubles is partly explained by the fact that over ninety-
five per cent of the population is American born.
The chief wholesale houses of Huntington and their capitalization are as
follows:
Name Paid Up Capital Stock
Hagen, Ratcliff & Co $ 125,000
Sehon, Stevenson & Co 1,000,000
Huntington Wholesale Grocery Co 200,000
Emmons-Hawkins Hdwe. Co 1,000,000
Foster-Thornburg Hdwe. Co 400,000
Banks Supply Co 400,000
Miller Supply Co 200,000
Watts, Ritter & Co
Jeff Newberry Co 200,000
Norvell-Chambers Shoe Co 500,000
Creasey Corporation
Croft Stanard Co 300,000
O. L. Stanard Dry Goods Co 300,000
Huntington Paper & Woodenware Co 50,000
The Huntington schools have an enrollment of more than ten thousand pupils,
housed in modern school buildings, equipped with every modern device and taught
by a carefully selected and well qualified corps of teachers.
From the humble beginnings of one small chapel have arisen thirty-five magnifi-
cent churches, representing all the leading denominations. The Ministerial Asso-
ciation composed of the pastors of these churches forms a strong organization for
the religious, moral and civic betterment of the city.
Under the new management of the Chesapeake & Ohio Company
after 1890, branch lines were pushed into the coal fields up the tribu-
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 439
taries of the New river and the Kanawha, including a branch from
Cabin creek to Kayford, one from Gauley to Greendale, one from Thur-
mond to Stewart and one from Ronceverte to Winterburn. The Green-
brier branch was completed to Durbin and a line was constructed up
the Guyandotte to Logan.
Many branch lilies, penetrating timber and mineral regions, were constructed.
The Mill Creek branch, extending from Hawk's Nest to Ansted, was completed as
a broad-gauge road in August, 1890. The Gauley branch, extending northward
along the Gauley river and the waters of Twenty Mile creek to Greendale in Nicholas
county, was partly completed in 1893-94. Its extension up Twenty Mile creek and
Bells creek to mines in Nicholas county was completed in 1903-04. Tributary to
it is a narrow-gauge logging road, extending from Vaughan along Twenty Mile
creek, which was begun about 1902 when the West Virginia Timber Company estab-
lished its mill at Vaughan, and at one time extended nearly to the head of Twenty
Mile creek, but was shortened following the completion of lumber activities on the
upper waters. The Cabin creek branch, constructed to Acme by private capital
in 1S94, absorbed by the C. & O. in 1902 and later extended to Coal river and to
Colcord. The Loup creek branch, begun in 1892, was completed to Macdonald by
September, 1894. The Kanawha, Glen Jean & Eastern Railroad, extending from
Glen Jean on the Loup creek branch to Macdonald and thence westward to Paz on
the Virginian Railway, was constructed in 1913. The Keeney creek branch ex-
tending to Lookout, was completed in December, 1894. The Arbuckle branch, ex-
tending from Thurmond to Minden, was completed in June, 1904. The Paint creek
branch, built by the Charles Pratt Company in 1902, and leased by the C. & O. in
1904, was completed to Keeferton in June, 1905, and extended to Kingston in May,
1911. The White Oak branch, extending from Whiteoak Junction, on the Loup
creek branch to Lochgilly (formerly Stuart) was completed in December, 1900. The
Laurel creek branch was completed to Gentry in October, 1904. The Piney creek
branch was extended to Lester in 1905.
Under a law of 1899 the Piney branch of the Chesapeake and Ohio
starting from Prince station on New river was surveyed in 1898 and
1899 and fourteen miles completed by 1900 (to Raleigh station, about
three miles from Raleigh Court House). Thence the survey followed
Piney southwest and up Soak creek, thence across the Winding Gulf,
a tributary of the Guyandotte, which it followed to its mouth and then
on the Guyandotte to Pineville. In the same year the survey was
changed to Slab Fork of the Guyandotte. In August, 1902, at Jenny's
Gap, on the ridge between the waters of the New river and the Guyan-
dotte, this proposed extension came into conflict with the extension of
the Deepwater Railway, starting at Glen Jean (or Loup creek) and
running across the divide to the waters of Guyandotte and thence
across the mountains to the Bluestone river. The decision in the
Raleigh circuit court in favor of the Chesapeake and Ohio was later
reversed by the supreme court of appeals.
The Powellton branch of the C. & O., extending along the valley of Arm-
strong creek, was completed about 1905.
The Sewell Valley Railroad, extending from Meadow creek station on the main
line of the C. & O., northeastward along Meadow creek and down Sewell creek to
Rainelle on Meadow river and to Wilderness (Nallen P. O.), was completed to
Rainelle soon after 1908, and to the Wilderness in 1916.
As the timber region along the Greenbrier neared exhaustion, the Meadow river
basin timber region in Greenbrier, Fayette, and Nicholas counties attracted the
attention of certain capital interested in timber. The prospect of a railroad from
Charleston to the sea board via the Meadow river basin and either via Ronceverte
or Alderson brought the timber and coal holding of this section rapidly into the
market. Several successful business men, tired of waiting for the projecting rail-
road, organized the Sewell Valley Railroad for the purpose of opening this timber
region to market via the C. & O. Railroad. In the spring of 1908 the construction
of this railroad from Meadow creek on the C. & O. was begun. Within the next
year the foundation of the big mill was raised, and in September, 1910, the first
board was sawed. The mouth of Sewell creek was chosen for a convenient location
for a new town, — the town of Rainelle which was incorporated in April, 1913, and
soon had a population of over 1000 people. This town soon established a repu-
tation for its cleanliness and its conveniences. Workmen's houses were built with
a view to comfort and sanitation. All were supplied with the purest running water,
and most of them with modern bathrooms. Some were steam-heated and lighted
with electricity. A modern school house was constructed by the company for the
education of the children of the community. Soon the town had a bank which did
a flourishing business. The sawmill had become the basis for new life in a region
scarcely touched.
The Coal river branch, extending from Saint Albans to Sproul and to Scth
and Clothier and above, was partly constructed by local capital, and later (1905)
440 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
absorbed by the Chesapeake and Ohio. It extends from the main line at Saint
Albans southward through Kanawha and Boone counties to Clothier at the Boone-
Logan county line, a distance of 51 miles. The Spruce Fork extension of this
branch, completed in June, 1913, extends from Clothier southward up Spruce Fork,
a distance of 11 miles.
An expensive tunnel through the Guyandotte-Coal river is needed to give the
Clothier region direct connection with the Guyandotte valley at Logan.
Two of the most prominent branch lines were the Greenbrier branch
and the Guyandotte branch.
The Greenbrier branch was planned a decade before its construc-
tion. In December, 1890, while an unusually deep snow lay on the
ground (three feet or more), Colonel John T. McGraw, of Grafton, made
a visit to Pocahontas county and purchased the farms known as Mar-
lin's Bottom for a town site. At that time only five families lived on
the land upon which the town of Marlinton was built. The name of the
postoffice had been changed a few years before from Marlin's Bottom
to Marlinton, largely through the initiative of Mrs. Janie B. Skyles, a
Maryland lady who resided there, and in spite of the bitter opposition
of some of the older citizens, who objected to giving up the descriptive
and historic name of Marlin's Bottom.
The purchase of the town site by Colonel McGraw was the first in-
timation that county people had of proposed railway developments.
The plan was that the Camden System of Railroads would be extended
up Williams river, across the divide at the head of Stony creek, and to
Marlinton, and that the C. & 0. R. R. would build an extension from
the Hot Springs to Marlinton to connect with the Camden Road.
The town site was laid off into town lots in 1891, and widely adver-
tised "as a place where a town would be built," following the con-
struction of the railroad. The Pocahontas Development company was
chartered to promote the town. It acquired the 640 acres on which
the town was to be built and began valuable improvements. It offered
$5,000 to be applied on a new court house if the people of the county
would change the county seat from Huntersville to Marlinton. In
1891, the people at a special election agreed to the change by a vote of
940 against 476. At that time Marlinton had a population of about
one hundred people. In 1894, at another election, at which the ques-
tion was again submitted to satisfy the remaining hopes of Hunters-
ville, Marlinton again won. The wisdom of the removal was justified
by the later construction of the railroad.
The construction of the railroad was delayed by the financial situa-
tion which threatened a panic. Colonel McGraw, who had invested
largely in lands elsewhere in Pocahontas county never ceased his at-
tempts to interest capitalists in plans to construct a railroad to the
region. His attention being called to the natural route for a railroad
up Greenbrier river, he had a survey made from Marlinton to Ronce-
verte at a cost of $10,000. On this location the railroad was after-
wards built.
The Greenbrier Railroad was commenced in 1899 and finished in
1901. To connect with it at Durbin the Coal and Iron Railroad was
begun by 1901.
Marlinton especially felt the effects of the development which followed. It
had already improved considerably in the decade since it became the county seat,
in 1892 it welcomed its first newspaper, the Pocahontas Times, which had been estab-
lished at Huntersville in 1882. In 1896 its communication with neighboring com-
munities was facilitated by construction of telephone lines along all the principal
roads of the county. In 1899 its increasing business resulted in the establishment
of two banks, the Bank of Marlinton and the Pocahontas Bank — which for more
than a year imported over lonely roads by special messengers from the nearest
express stations (forty -five to fifty-seven miles distant) large sums of money needed
to finance new activities. In April, 1900, the town was incorporated by the circuit
court, and May 5, 1900, it held its first town election for choice of officers.
The Greenbrier, Cheat & Elk Railroad, a standard gauge tributary to the
Greenbrier division of the C. & O. at Cass in Pocahontas county, and extending
westward to the Shaver Fork of Cheat river and beyond, was begun in 1900, and
had about seventy-five miles of track by 1920. Although the principal function
of the road was the transportation of logs for the West Virginia Pulp and Paper
Company, the grade is suitable for its use for other purposes.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 441
In 1917 the West Virginia Pulp and Paper company constructed a line, G. C.
& E. Railroad, from Cass on the C. & O. to Cheat Junction on the Durbin branch
of the Western Maryland, which affords railroad facilities for a large area of timber
and penetrates a vast coal field of the New river seams which lies on Cheat moun-
tain and on the waters of Shaver 's Fork river.
The Guyandotte and Buffalo creek branch, tapping the main line at
Barboursville, was completed to Logan in 1904 and to Craneco (90
miles) early in 1912.
This branch has several sub-branches. The Dingess Run branch, from Stollings
to the forks of Ddngess east of Ethel was completed in February, 1912. The Run
creek branch from Rolfe, eastward to Slagle, was completed in October, 1912. The
Logan & Southern Railway from Monitor Junction up Island creek to the mouth
of Cow creek was completed in December, 1913. Further extension up the branches
of Island creek has been planned.
Logan, which was insignificant before the construction of the Guyan-
dotte branch, having a population of only 444 in 1900, was incorporated
as a city in 1907. In 1910 its population had increased to 1,640, and
in the following decade it increased to 2,998.
Holden, which was reported with a population of 600 for 1913,
became a point of commercial importance. Its existence resulted from
the lumber and mining industries which were developed after the con-
struction of the railroad. It has been regarded as the best example of
a model coal and lumber town in the state. It is well planned and well
built — with comfortable homes for the employees who have families,
and with commodious club houses for the unmarried men. A modern
artificial water purification system and a theatre building add ma-
terially to the health and comfort of the community.
Ethel, according to the postmaster's report had a population of
2,000 in 1913, but this report evidently included the population of the
surrounding territory.
In Lincoln county Hamlin's shipping point is West Hamlin, which
in 1913 had a population of 175 with five stores, two churches, one
hotel, one school building, and a large tobacco warehouse.
In the decade following 1910, the branch lines and extensions con-
structed or acquired by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad in West Vir-
ginia territory aggregated 281 miles, including the Coal River Railroad
(69 miles, acquired in July, 1910), the Raleigh and Southwestern (20
miles, acquired in February, 1911), the Winding Gulf branch (15 miles,
completed in January, 1912), which was connected with the Virginian
Railway in December, 1917, the extension of the Logan division from
Stollings to Man (11 miles, completed in January, 1912), the Buffalo
creek branch from Man to Craneco (nearly 11 miles, completed in
January, 1912), the Big Coal branch, from Seth to Whitesville (13
miles, completed in March, 1919), and the Pond Fork branch from
Madison to the mouth of West Fork (12 miles, completed in January,
1921).
The Chesapeake & Ohio Company for over a decade felt the need
of a line from the Kanawha northward through Ohio to facilitate trans-
portation facilities from the West Virginia region of coal production.
Before 1909 it owned part of the Toledo and Ohio Central, the Hocking
Valley and the Kanawha and Michigan railroads. Early in 1910, as
a result of a litigation attacking the ownership as a violation of the
Hepburn act, it purchased control of the Hocking Valley and also a
half interest in the Kanawha & Michigan Railway, in which it had
equal privileges with the Michigan Southern Railway Company which
owned the other half. In 1914 it sold to the New York Central lines
its interest in the Kanawha & Michigan. From funds obtained from
this sale the company began plans for construction of a line into south-
eastern Ohio. In 1910 a survey had been made for a line crossing the
Ohio at Sciotoville (seven miles above Portsmouth) and following the
Little Scioto river to connect with the Hocking Valley at Jackson, Ohio,
but this plan, involving revision of grades on the Hocking Valley line
was abandoned. A later study of the situation resulted in the decision
442 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
that the best route was via the Little Scioto as far north as Waverly
and thence via the Scioto Valley to Columbus.
By 1914 the C. & 0. officials, impatient with restrictions which in-
adequate railway connections placed upon traffic operations along their
line in West Virginia, made active preparations for construction of the
northern branch from near Edginton, Kentucky, to the Hocking Valley
connection near South Columbus, but at the opening of the World war
felt compelled to suspend construction because of the rapid advance
in money rates. Late in 1914, however, they decided to build thirty
miles of the southern end of the proposed line to connect at Waverly
with the Norfolk & Western Railwaj' and to arrange to use the latter
line from Waverly to the connection with the Hocking Valley at South
Columbus. Promptly (in October, 1914), the construction of the bridge
across the Ohio at Sciotoville was begun, and in April, 1915, the work
of grading was started.
The completion of this Chesapeake and Ohio Northern will greatly
facilitate shipments demanded by the increasing development of traffic
along the Kanawha and the Guyandotte.
CHAPTER XXVII
EXPANSION OP DEVELOPMENT NORTH OP THE
KANAWHA
Development iu the northern part of the state largely followed the
lines of railways — chiefly the main line and branches of the Baltimore
and Ohio, and the lines of the Western Maryland which first penetrated
the northern interior from the Baltimore and Ohio line at Piedmont.
Projected Railroads That Failed
In the decade after the war there were many projected railroads
which failed through lack of capital. In 1864, the West Virginia
Central was projected from the Pennsylvania Central line either via
the Monongahela or via Brandonville, Grafton, Buckhannon, Sutton
and Charleston to the mouth of the Big Sandy. In 1865, coincident
with the revival of projects for a railway along the New river and the
Kanawha, the Monongahela and Lewisburg Railway Company was in-
corporated to build a road beginning at the Pennsylvania state line
and passing through Morgantown, and via Fairmont, Clarksburg and
Buckhannon to intersect with the proposed Chesapeake and Ohio and
to give connection with the mineral deposits of the Virginias and the
cottonfields of the South.
Other roads projected in rapid succession were: the Monongahela
Valley (1868) from the Pennsylvania state line to Fairmont, the
Uniontown and West Virginia (1869) crossing the Cheat near Ice's
Ferry thence via Morgantown, the West Virginia Central (1870) from
the Pennsylvania line of Preston county to Charleston, the Pittsburg,
Virginia and Charleston to Wayne county, the Pittsburg, West Virginia
and Southern Narrow Gauge (1878) from Washington, Pennsylvania, via
Mt. Morris and Morgantown to Grafton, the West Virginia and Penn-
sylvania (1881) between the Pennsylvania state line and Clarksburg,
and the Blacksville and Morgantown Narrow Gauge (1882). The Pitts-
burg. Virginia and Charleston Railway, originally chartered as the
Monongahela Valley, reincorporated under the new name in 1870 was
opened to Monongahela City in 1873, absorbed the Brownsville road
(from Mt. Braddock) in 1881, opened the Redstone branch in 1882,
but never reached West Virginia. In 1887 it was leased by the Penn-
sylvania Railroad Company which still operates it.
Much of the earlier activity in connection with projected railways
in the northern part of the state was largely related to the inter-
ests of Monongalia and Preston counties, and especially to the inter-
ests of Morgantown which had already obtained telegraphic com-
munication with the world by a line erected between Pittsburg and Fair-
mont in 1866. In 1871 the legislature authorized the extension of the
Iron Valley Railroad (which was constructed from Hardman's on the
Baltimore and Ohio via Three Fork creek to Irondale) via Decker's
creek to Morgantown and the Pennsylvania boundary, and another line
from the Baltimore and Ohio near the mouth of Raccoon creek via
Martin's Iron Works, the mouth of Green's run, Bruceton and Brandon-
ville to the Pennsylvania boundary on the Big Sandy. In 1873 the
legislature appropriated $1,000 for a survey in the general direction of
the latter line with a view to connection with the Pittsburg, Washington
and Baltimore Railroad, but plans for financing the construction of the
road failed. The county court of Preston at that time prosecuting an
443
444
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
expensive suit against the Baltimore and Ohio for taxes, refused to sub-
mit to the people the question of a county appropriation to aid in build-
ing the road and after the improvement of the financial condition of
the county in 1876 by the acceptance of $18,000 by compromise with the
Baltimore and Ohio, interest in the proposed road had declined. In
1877 the county court of Preston voted to submit to the people the
question of subscribing to the capital stock of the proposed narrow
gauge railway from the Baltimore and Ohio via Kingwood to Mor-
gantown, but friends of the enterprise decided not to submit the pro-
position. In 1878 public meetings were held in Monongalia to en-
courage the construction of a railroad from Morgantown l to Grafton.
After a period of "hard times" the earlier idea of a railway follow-
ing Decker's creek from its mouth and connecting Morgantown and
Kingwood 2 with the Baltimore and Ohio at the point where the short
UHowvv VJ.-V fe S
railway from Irondale furnace tapped it was revived in 1881 and a
route surveyed.
In July, 1882, Monongalia voted down, by a majority of 32, a prop-
osition to take $150,000 of the capital stock of the Iron Valley and
Morgantown Railroad. A later proposition to apportion part of the
subscription to a narrow gauge road from Morgantown to Blacks-
ville was also lost by a large vote. In the meantime Grant and Case
districts which had been influential in defeating the railway projects
devised by others, proposed, December 27, 1882, a plan for a railroad
i In her efforts to secure railway connections, Morgantown was partly influenced
by lack of adequate facilities for river navigation. Lock ' ' number 9, ' ' although
its completion in 1879 was celebrated by 1,500 people gathered from surrounding
points, proved ineffective until the completion of lock "number 8" in 1889, after
a delay of ten years during which steamers could not ascend the river above New
Geneva.
2 In 1882 the Kingwood Eailway Company was organized to construct a narrow-
gauge railway from Kingwood to Tunnelton. Kingwood especially felt the immedi-
ate need of railway connection. She had already endeavored to hold her position as
the county seat by neighboring improvements. Additional development of resources
in the vicinity necessarily awaited the coming of the railway. Promoters and
prospectors were already active in preparation for new industries. In 1882 the
Preston company was incorporated to traffic in minerals and timber lands, to mine
and manufacture minerals and to contract for the construction of railways, tele-
graph lines and bridges.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 445
of their own from the Pennsylvania line via Grantsville and np Davis
run to the Marion county line — a plan which received only 114 votes
at a special election called in the two districts.
Construction on the Iron Valley and Morgantown road was begun
at Morgantown March 22, 1883, but was discontinued a few days
later. At a meeting held in Fairmont in the fall of 1884, the attempts
of the directors of the West Virginia and Pennsylvania Railroad to get
aid in the construction of that road, also failed.
At other points there were rumors of approaching railroads which
vanished before they arrived. In 1873 Charleston also expected a
terminal railway from Parkersburg via Two Mile creek, Tupper's
creek and Pocotaligo. In 1873 the Shenandoah and Ohio was projected
from the Shenandoah valley via Franklin. In 1873 the Washington
and Ohio Railway was projected via Winchester, Capon Springs, Moore-
field, Petersburg, Bnckhannon, Weston, Glenville, Sandy ville and
Point Pleasant.' In 1895 the Chesapeake and Western was projected
via the South branch valley. Later paper lines were the Seaboard and
Great Western of 1899 and the C. and I. in 1902.
Concerning the three proposed lines last named, Morton in his History of
Pendleton county says:
"On April 20th, 1895, a vote was ordered as to whether 'the county shall issue
the bonds of Pendleton county to the amount of $32,000, to be subscribed to the
capital stock of any responsible and reliable company that builds a railroad through
this county along the South Branch valley from and connecting with some general
line of railroad passing or to the county seat, and also secure to such company the
right of way for such railroad through the county.' Franklin and Mill Run dis-
tricts were each to pay one-fourth of the issue, and each of the other districts one-
eighth, the bonds having a maximum and minimum life of 2 and 15 years. But
the order was rescinded, and June 1st made the election day. Still another election
was ordered for December 7th of the same year for $50,000, the projected road to
run by way of the South Fork, Franklin, Smith Creek, and Circleville.
"Another paper railroad appeared four years later. A vote was ordered for
September 16th on a levy of not more than $26,000 to pay for the right of way
of the 'Seaboard and Great Western' from Skidmore's Fork in Rockingham to the
line of Grant county. This order in turn was rescinded, and a vote ordered 14 days
later, enabling the districts of Sugar Grove, Franklin, Mill Run and Bethel to vote
a subscription to pay the damages on a width of 100 feet in the right of way.
"Still another project was the 'C. and I.' Railroad in 1902, in behalf of which
an election was called for the third of May, the bonding of Bethel district to be
$5,000, and that of Franklin $15,000."
Baltimore and Ohio Branches
Although the earlier post-bellum activities to secure additional rail-
roads in the Monongahela valley were most prominent in the lower
counties, Monongalia and Preston, the first actual construction result-
ing in the opening of new lines of railway in this region was farther
south along the valleys of West Fork, Buckhannon and Tygart's. The
construction of a railroad from Clarksburg to Weston, authorized by
act of 1866, which also gave the Baltimore and Ohio directors posses-
sion of the road from Grafton to Parkersburg, was the beginning of
a system of short lines converging at Clarksburg and Grafton — often
originally built by independent companies and sometimes constructed
as a narrow gauge which was later widened into a standard gauge —
furnishing connections to Buckhannon, Richwood, Sutton, Pickens, Bel-
ington and Philippi, opening vast coal fields and timber regions, and
penetrating some of the best farming sections.
The first movement resulting in this remarkable development ap-
parently originated at Weston, the county seat of Lewis, which, al-
ready becoming a center of local trade before the war, was stimulated
to a larger growth at its close, first by securing the location of the
asylum for the insane, and later by securing transportation facilities
which tapped its resources and encouraged industrial development.
Weston had long expected a railroad. In 1846 its citizens enter-
tained a convention of people of Western Virginia which met to con-
sider a proposed all Virginia railroad from Alexandria to Parkers-
burg via Weston — a proposition made in opposition to the extension of
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 447
the Baltimore and Ohio lines westward from Cumberland through
western Virginia. Later its leading citizens secured from the Virginia
legislature an act authorizing a Weston branch of the Northwestern
railroad which was completed from Grafton to Parkersburg in 1857.
After the war, they renewed efforts. In 1870 they had ambitions to
make Weston a railroad center. In February, 1870, they participated
in a Clarksburg convention which resulted in the organization of the
Northern and Southern West Virginia Railroad which planned an
eastern connection with the Pennsylvania lines and a western connec-
tion willi the lines of C. P. Huntington to the Pacific. In 1871, they
induced Lewis county to subscribe $125,000 for stock in the proposed
road, which was lost under conditions immediately preceding the panic
of 1873. In 1872, their increasing expectations were disapproved by an
adverse vote of Lewis county on a proposal to bond the county for
$200,000 to aid in the construction of the projected east and west air-
line (Washington and Ohio) railroad from Washington to Cincinnati
via Winchester, Moorefield, Buckhannon, Weston, Glenville and Point
Pleasant.
After the directors of the nearly defunct Northern and Southern
line had retired from the struggle, citizens of Weston decided thai
Lewis county should act for itself in the construction of a branch line.
In 1873, they proposed a line from Grafton to Weston via Philippi and
Buckhannon, but the pi'oposal was rejected by the legislature. In 1875,
they incorporated the Weston and West Fork Railroad with a capital
stock of $10,000 and with authority to increase this stock to $250,000.
Lewis county subscribed $50,000 by a bond issue and Weston subscribed
$6,000. The route was promptly surveyed.
Rights of way were easily obtained except at Clarksburg, which
was finally driven to liberal action by the effort of Bridgeport to secure
the terminus by an offer of free right of way. The work of grading
was begun early in 1877, but was stopped by the failure of the con-
tractor in the following August. After an arrangement for a mort-
gage on the road, work was resumed early in 1878. The road soon en-
countered additional financial difficulties, from which it was saved by
the financial ability of Johnson N. Camden, who organized a holding
company, the Clarksburg, Weston and Glenville Railroad, which, after
its incorporation in August, 1878, leased the unfinished Weston and
West Fork line and advanced money for its completion.
On August 9, 1879, the first passenger train (one coach) arrived at
Jane Lew, at which a huge crowd of people had gathered to celebrate
the event. •s On September 1, the first train reached Weston, which re-
newed the rejoicing. On November 1, the road began to carry the mails.
Until 1881 the road was operated by an executive committee headed
by President Camden, and thereafter under the immediate direction of
Dr. A. H. Kunst acting as general manager.
Buckhannon, which by the establishment of a stage line to Weston
felt the benefits of the new railroad, soon initiated efforts to obtain an
extension, and at a large mass meeting in Upshur Courthouse on Feb-
ruary 27, 1882, took steps to assume the responsibilities required by the
railroad company. The Buckhannon West Fork Railroad Company was
organized in the following April, and grading was begun at once on a
narrow gauge road which was completed to Buckhannon in 1883. The
name was soon changed to the Weston and Buckhannon Railroad, of
which A. H. Kunst became president and manager.
Following the successful completion of the road to Buckhannon, the
county court of Gilmer, at the suggestion of the railroad officials, sub-
mitted to the people of the county the proposition of a bond issue of
$50,000 to aid in securing an extension to Glenville. Although the bond
3 Jane Lew had experienced a rapid development following the Civil war, owing
largely to the rich agricultural district around it. Marble works were established
in 1872. In 1877 a census of the town showed two stores, two drug stores, a tan-
nery, a saddler's shop, a wagon shop, a pottery, a tailor shop, a flouring mill, a
good school and a church.
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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 449
issue was authorized the Glenville enterprise failed, through increasing
interests elsewhere.
After considerable discussion the project of an extension south of
Weston took definite form in the incorporation of the Weston and Elk
River Railroad Company, of which John Brannon of Weston was presi-
dent. The chief object was to construct to Sutton a line which would
develop the timber resources of the virgin forests southwest of Flat-
woods and furnish an outlet for the other products of Braxton. The
enterprise was aided by a bond issue voted by the people of Braxton.
After the completion of the surveys, the plans of the promoters were
suddenly changed by the enlarging plans of Senator J. N. Camden, who,
having secured large tracts of coal between Clarksburg and Fairmont
and the control of large tracts of timber land in the vicinity of Pickens
in Upshur and Randolph counties, and also in the counties of Braxton,
Webster, Nicholas and Pocahontas, had determined to build a broad-
gauge railroad from Fairmont to Camden-on-Gauley, and a branch road
from Weston to Pickens.
On April 10, 1889, the first important step of the larger enterprise
was taken by a merger of the Clarksburg, Weston and Glenville, and the
Weston and West Fork into the Clarksburg, Weston and Midland Rail-
road, which allowed its stockholders five per cent of the stock held in the
other companies and which soon also absorbed the proposed Weston and
Elk River line, the Buckhannon and West Fork and the Weston and
Centerville railroads. On July 20 of the same year the proposed line
to Pickens and Lane 's Bottom was incorporated as the Buckhannon River
Railroad, which in the following February was merged into the Clarks-
burg, Weston and Midland.
After the completion of the mergers the absorbing company in 1890
changed the name of the composite road to The West Virginia and
Pittsburgh Railroad,4 which received financial aid from officials of the
Baltimore and Ohio, and which later in 1890 was leased to the Baltimore
and Ohio for 999 years — the lease being effective upon the completion
of the change to a standard gauge.5
The work of widening the gauge from Clarksburg to Weston and
thence to Buckhannon was begun in the summer of 1889 and completed
in the summer of 1890. The grades were reduced somewhat where the
railroads crossed the hills and some of the shortest curves were some-
what straightened.
The work on the extensions to Sutton and Pickens, engineered by
B. & O. officials, was also begun in 1889.
The extension to Sutton was completed early in 1891. The first train
entered the station, a half mile from town, on May 5, 1891. Senator
Camden, who, with other officials, was a passenger on the train, was
given a reception by a large crowd of citizens estimated at four hundred
to five hundred persons (about double the population of the county seat
at that time). The first train to Sutton on a regular schedule ran on
July 15, 1891.
The results of the construction of the railroad to somnolent Braxton
were immediately seen. A big lumber boom was constructed just below
Sutton and thousands of logs were sawed there. Before the completion
of the road to Sutton, construction was begun at Flatwoods (six miles
east of Sutton), on the extension to the Gauley river timber lands, where
Camden-on-Gauley in Webster county was established in 1892. This ex-
tension, which was later (1899) continued to Rich wood in Nicholas
county, opened to development a region quickly responsive to the touch
of capital.
* Early in 1890 the property of the West Virginia and Pittsburgh Railroad
Company was mortgaged to the Mercantile Trust and Deposit Company of Balti-
more, as security for a bond issue of $4,000,000 sold to complete the construction
of the railroad. All the outstanding debts of the company, which had previously
taken over the debts of the companies merged to form it, were paid off from the
proceeds of the loan.
5 The West Virginia and Pittsburgh Railroad was sold to the Baltimore and
Ohio in September, 1899.
Vol. 1—29
450 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Sutton, settled by descendants of the original trans-Allegheny pioneers, re-
ceived a new impetus from the advent of the railway branch which brought new
Mood and new industries. The chief resources of its growth were the large lumber
plant erected by the Pardee-Curtin Lumber Company and the advantages resulting
from the facilities of shipment for a large surrounding region including all of
Clay county.
Camden-on-Gauley is largely a child of the lumber industry which was de-
veloped in this region by the Gauley Lumber Company under the management of
J. N. Camden and C. K. Lord (a vice president of the Baltimore and Ohio). The
industry resulted from the purchase of an immense tract of timber land (140,000
acres) in Webster, Pocahontas and Nicholas counties by Camden, who connected it
with the West Virginia and Pittsburg Railroad. The machinery for the first large
lumber plant costing $140,000 was hauled from the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad,
a distance of forty miles — so that the plant could be completed and ready for work
coincident with the completion of the branch railway from Flatwoods. Within
eighteen months the place became a thriving business town of considerable mer-
cantile trade. Its later growth was influenced by its healthful and scenic sur-
roundings. In 1905, the Gauley mill was acquired by the Cherry River Boom and
Lumber Company.
The West Virginia Waste Wood Chemical Company, located at Gauley Mills
in the vicinity of the lumber mill, was established in 1916, its head office being at
17 Battery Place, New York City. The plant is designed to manufacture acetone,
refined methyl alcohol, methyl acetone, acetone oil, flotation, oils, pitch, charcoal
briquettes, and a number of solvent oils, its raw material being the sawdust, slabs,
bark, and other refuse from the Gauley Mill of the Cherry River Company, its
capacity being 150 tons of wood.
Richwood, located at the end of the later extension of the branch from Camden-
on-Gauley, became the foremost lumber town in the state. Its rapid growth was
due to extensive sawmills, a paper pulp mill, a tannery, a clothes-pin factory, a hub
factory and other prosperous woodworking industries.
The West Virginia Midland Railroad, tributary to the Richwood
branch of the B. & O. at Holly Junction, extends to Webster Springs.
The Midland Company was incorporated in 1905, for the purpose of
building a railroad from Sutton in Braxton county to Marlinton in
Pocahontas county. In April, 1906, this company purchased and took
over the Holly River and Addison Railway Company, which operated a
road from Holly Junction to Webster Springs, and which had purchased
the Holly River Railroad Company property, and built the line from
Holly in Braxton county to Hechmer on Holly River in Webster. This
company built the line from Diana, a point on its main line, to Webster
Springs, with a view of developing and offering rail facilities for the
visitors there in the summer months for the purpose of drinking the Salt
Sulphur waters, then and now so justly famous and well known.
In February, 1916, George A. Heckmer, the general manager of the road, in
writing of its achievements and plans, said:
' ' This Company owes its existence to the untiring efforts of Hon. John T.
McGTaw, of Grafton, W. Va.
"The line from Holly to Hechmer was built in 1899, Holly to Webster Springs,
1901 and 1902, Webster Springs to Breece, 1906, Holly to Long Run, 1910, Marple-
ton to Coal Bank, 1911.
"There has been in addition to the above work some grading done along the
main line for the purpose of standardizing the road, and some from Skelt on
the Back Fork of Elk River, to connect the Pickens and Webster Springs Rail-
road with the West Virginia Midland, with a view of opening a through line
from Holly Junction to Pickens, in Randolph County.
"We have now under way plans for the complete standardizing of the road
from Holly Junction to the mouth of Leatherwood Creek in Webster County, on
the main Elk River, the proposed line to follow the waters of Holly River to the
mouth of Grassy Creek, up Grassy Creek to the divide with Elk, through the hill
by a tunnel 1,150 feet long, and thence to Webster Springs on a very low grade
against out-bound traffic."
The Erbacon and Summersville Railroad, tributary to the Richwood
Branch, was begun in 1911 at Erbacon and by 1920 twenty miles of a
standard gauge track had been completed. The Harmount and Hall
Railroad, tributary to the Richmond Branch at Wainville, and extending
a distance of five miles, was built about 1911 for transporting logs to
the mill at Wainville. The Smooth Lumber Company Railroad, tribu-
tary to the Richmond Branch at Areola, was begun about 1910 and by
1920 had fifteen miles of narrow gauge track.
The Cherry River Boom & Lumber Company Railroad, which serves
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the great lumber mills of the Cherry River Company at Camden-on-
Gauley, at Holcomb, and at Richwood, was begun in 1899 in connection
with the establishment of the Richwood mill. It is a broad gauge road
with several branches. The principal branch, extending up the North
Fork of Cherry River and crossing the Dogway Fork of Cranberry
was begun in 1906, and completed to Dogway in 1911, and subsequently
extended up the Cranberry River in Pocahontas county.
A second branch, starting from Cranberry Station, was completed in
1917. A third branch, starting from near Allingdale, and extending
up the south side of Gauley, was begun in 1917.
In 1892 the Buckhannon river extension was completed into the un-
broken forests and to the site of Pickens, at which was erected a large
lumber manufacturing plant. Around this plant the town grew.
The Pickens and Hacker Valley Railroad, a lumber carrying road
of three foot gauge, was begun by Henry Spies at Pickens in 1899 and
ompleted to the Hacker Valley in 1903.
The Alexander and Eastern Railroad, a lumber railroad, tributary to
the Pickens branch at Alexander in southern Upshur and extending
into Randolph near the Webster boundary, was begun as a narrow gauge
in 1891 and changed to a standard gauge in 1895. The Chemical and
Helvetia Railroad, was built as a narrow gauge in 1913 to haul cord-
wood to the chemical plant at Selbyville. The Pickens and Hacker Val-
ley Railroad, a narrow gauge lumber road extending westward thirteen
miles into Webster county, was begun in 1899 and completed to Hacker
Valley in 1903. The Pickens and Webster Springs Railroad, another
lumber road, was begun by Senator J. N. Camden in 1893. Its steel
was laid in 1900 and 1901 and it was completed to Skelt in 1905.
The timber industries on the Gauley river and at Pickens created
a great freight carrying business for the railroad which assured its
success from the start. In making the road a broad-gauge, Senator Cam-
den seems to have contemplated a connecting link between the Pitts-
burgh region and the south by extension of the line to the Chesapeake
and Ohio at Covington.
The useful influence of the railroad on the life of the entire region
which it penetrated was soon apparent in the increased business activity.
It was especially marked at Weston, which received a wonderful impetus
by the construction of the early narrow gauge system to Clarksburg, by
the later extension and change to broad gauge, by securing the location
of railway offices and repair shops, by the opening of mineral and timber
resources, and by the establishment of large manufacturing industries.
Among the earliest effects at Weston was the creation of a demand for
building lots which was met by the survey of lots in "Haleville" in
1883. Sawmills started the hum of industry which awoke many sleepy
communities. The lumber business supplemented the old business of
floating logs to market down the river. The heavy forests of the region
soon disappeared.0 Agricultural life was greatly changed by the ar-
rival of cheaper grain and flour from the west, which caused the aban-
donment of wheat raising and of flour mills and a great increase in
cattle raising and sheep raising.
In 1891 Weston began permanent improvements in paving, and replaced its
kerosene lamps by electric lights for street illumination and for dwelling. Soon
thereafter the electric light company constructed water works in town. In 189.4,
a bond issue for such water works by the municipality was authorized but soon
thereafter was declared invalid on technicality. The establishment of a sewerage
6 From about 1875 to 1890 many poplar logs obtained at a low price, were
floated on the West Fork and its tributaries by R. T. Lowndes and others who
manufactured them on circular saw-mills at Clarksburg. The larger part of the
timber of virgin forests not removed by the river was cut by portable stave and
circular lumber mills which found an opportunity for most active operations in
the Collins settlement and other territory in the southern and southwestern parts
of the county. In many instances the product was transported by wagon for
twenty or twenty-five miles to reach railway shipping points. The timber of com-
mercial value has now largely been cut and sold. Practically all the poplar and
the greater part of the best oak has disappeared.
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system was proposed even before 1890, but the propositioH to bond the town for
the construction of the system failed in the election of 1890 and began in 1896.
The sewerage system was installed following a survey of the town which was
made in 1897, but the failure of method in the plan, and the failure to keep a
record of the locations caused much difficulty and expense thereafter. In 1893 coal
for domestic use was largely superseded by gas obtained from the Big Isaac well
by the Weston Gas CompaHy, which later was forced to lower its rates by a com-
peting company, but finally increased rates by an agreement which was regarded
as necessary to secure reasonable profit.
At the beginning of the new century, industrial development at Weston re-
ceived a new impetus by the opening of the rich oil fields in the western end of
Lewis county on Sand Fork of the Kanawha, in a region once known as the Camden-
Bailey-Camden lands and largely settled by humble Irish who after a period
of day-labor on the construction of the Baltimore and Ohio in West Virginia, de-
cided to invest their small earnings in small farms. The effect of the oil devel-
opment on Weston was immediately evident in the great volume of business, in
the increase of population, in the establishment of manufacturers, and in the es-
tablishment of two new banks in 1902. The manufacture of glass was begun
in 1902, and additional plants were established by 1904.
Among the social effects was the establishment of gambling joints which ran
wide open in the heart of the town. The oil and gas boom brought a wave of
vice and crime similar to that which had followed construction of the railroad.
The ultimate result was a strong prohibition sentiment, which in 1906 resulted
in a brief period without saloons.
Demand for street car service to Clarksburg followed the oil development.
In 1902, the Clarksburg and Weston Street Car Company was incorporated to build
a line from Weston to connect with the Fairmont and Clarksburg lines. In 1912,
the Monongahela Valley Traction Company was organized, and it took up the
work in earnest. The road was well constructed throughout. The first car ar-
rived at Jane Lew, July 26, 1913, and at Weston shortly afterward. Plans for
extending the trolley line from Weston to Glenville have been considered.
After 1900, Jane Lew became an important shipping point for gas well supplios.
In 1906, its expectation of securing a glass factory resulted in a large lot sale.
In 1907, the village was incorporated for the purpose of forestalling future efforts to
license saloons. In 1903, the Bank of Jane Lew was established and soon there-
after a trolley line was constructed.
Surrounded by a fine agricultural region and favored by a good
country trade, Buckhannon had already grown to be an important place
even before the advent of the railroad which greatly increased its devel-
opment. Better transportation facilities gave it new manufacturing
plants and made it the home office of several industries, such as the
Newlon Coal works, and the A. J. G. Griffin Lumber plants, which ex-
tended their influence through the counties of Upshur and Randolph
and even into Webster and Nicholas.
The first steam sawmill in Upshur had been operated on Outright
run. The commercial lumber industry, began about 1883 as a result of
the construction of the railroad to Buckhannon, increased with its later
extension up the river. The Buckhannon Boom and Lumber company
operated large mills at Buckhannon and Ten-Mile. Buckhannon re-
ceived many logs from river floats, and both logs and lumber from Ten-
Mile by tramroad. Other logs were brought by railroad after the ex-
tension of the West Virginia and Pittsburg line to Newlin in 1891. In
1893 about half of Upshur county was still covered with timber, which,
however, was rapidly taken out thereafter.
Buckhannon soon showed the results of the new development. In 1887, it
obtained the location of the woolen mill built by Parke brothers. In 1888, it had
its first electric light plant. In 1889, it had a tannery and, in 1902, it had a glass
plant in operation. By 1S94 the town contained a population of about 2,700 witk
a strong tendency toward further increase which later became stronger by the
completion of new railroad lines, especially by the construction of the short line
from Tygart 's Valley Junction by the Baltimore and Ohio in 1904 in order to
compete with the Coal and Coke.
A short line of the Baltimore and Ohio has been planned to extend
from the mouth of French creek to connect with the Richwood branch
in the vicinity of Holly Junction or Centralia, avoiding the heavy
grades on the old route between Buckhannon and Weston. If completed
it will greatly benefit Buckhannon and the people along the line. It
was expected that it would haul all the heavy freight from the region
between Holly Junction and Richwood — a traffic which would be greatly
increased by the development of mining lands of the Baltimore and
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HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 457
Ohio in that region. By avoiding the heavy grade between Weston and
Buckhannon, great expense would be saved. By the construction of the
new branch the freight from Richmond could reach Grafton by a grad-
ually descending grade for almost the entire distance.
Below Upshur, on Tygart's Valley river, Philippi, the county seat
of Barbour, also began to feel the spirit of new industrial life. Incor-
porated in 1871 by the legislature, by 1884 it became a terminal of the
Grafton and Greenbrier Railroad, a narrow gauge road which had pro-
jected plans for extension to Charleston, and which was widened to a
standard gauge a few years later and extended up Tygart's to Bel-
ington.7 With its completion began the steady progress of portable
sawmills from the line of tract toward the heads of streams producing
increasing quantities of lumber which found shipping points at Meats-
ville, Belington, Philippi and Clements. At the beginning of this new
industry much timber along the river was drifted to Grafton, where it
was manufactured into lumber at Curtin's band mill.
The development of Grafton, which had begun before the war, was
considerably stimulated after the war by timber industries depending
upon the surrounding region and especially upon the supply of timber
from Tygart's Valley river. By 1870 the manufacture of lumber on a
large scale by a large circular-sawmill was begun east of Grafton at Wes-
terman and a large water-power sawmill was operated at Valley Palls.
The latter at first received timber over wooden tramways and later from
the river rafts floated from points as high as Philippi. Later a large
band mill constructed by Captain G. W. Curtin at Grafton received its
supply of logs chiefly from points on Tygart's above the boundaries of
Taylor.
In 1872, Grafton seemed to have had aspirations to become the capital
of the state. A convention of "delegates from six or eight counties and
citizens of Grafton" held at Grafton in the early part of the year, and
presided over by ex-Governor Johnson, drafted a set of resolutions in-
structing the delegates of the counties at the Constitutional Convention
at Charleston to submit to the people of the state the question of re-
moving the capital from Charleston. Although the town failed to se-
cure the capital, it was successful in the contest for the county seat in
1878.8
After the construction of the Grafton and Greenbrier branch to
Philippi (later extended to Belington), Grafton received large quanti-
ties of dairy and farm products for shipment east.
The earliest projects of a railroad along the Monongahela to inter-
sect the earlier Baltimore and Ohio lines between East and West, were
revived under more favorable auspices and under more favorable con-
ditions, including the completion of the line from Weston to Clarks-
burg. The construction of the road by sections, which were later com-
bined into a single line, was a great stimulation to industrial and so-
cial development in each county through which it passed and also in
parts of Preston.
'The Grafton and Belington Railroad along the east bank of Tygart's Valley
river, was chartered in April, 1881, as a narrow gauge line, under the name "Grafton
and Greenbrier Railroad" and was opened for traffic from Grafton to Philippi in
January, 1884. In 1892, at foreclosure sale it was purchased by the B. & O., which
promptly changed it to a standard gauge and extended it to Belington. The Berry-
burg branch was completed in 1900. The Point Pleasant, Buckhannon and Tygart
Valley Railroad was built from Tygart Junction (on the Grafton and Belington) to
Century Junction in 1900 and completed in October, 1904.
s In November, 1878, at a special election, Grafton was chosen as the county
seat by a large majority of the popular vote. It promptly arranged to remove
the archives and office equipment from Pruntytown to Brinkman's Opera House.
The county court at its next meeting at Pruntytown authorized the use of the
opera house as a court house, and adjourned to meet at Grafton in the after-
noon. Into wagons which were ready the records and equipment were quickly
carried under the direction of John W. Mason, who on his bay horse proudly led the
procession to Grafton, which enthusiastically celebrated her rising fortunes while
Pruntytown mourned the beginning of her decline. Pruntytown was later con-
ciliated by political negotiations which secured for her the location of the reform
school for boys.
458 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Clarksburg, which had become the terminus of the line constructed
from Weston, became the starting point of the Monongahela line to
Fairmont; and later it was made the eastern terminal of the short line
constructed to the Ohio at New Martinsville. The town, steadily grow-
ing under the earlier impetus which it had received from its location on
the Parkersburg line of the Baltimore and Ohio, had also been favored
by the traffic of the turnpike which served as a prominent thoroughfare
from Fairmont up West Fork and to Sutton in Braxton county, and
by the limestone soil, and the earlier development of settlement, which
at the opening of the war had made Harrison probably the most im-
proved of the inland counties of West Virginia with a total valuation of
live stock exceeded only by Hampshire and Greenbrier counties and a
corn production exceeded only by Hampshire and Jackson counties. By
the close of the war it was the center of a good coal trade. It received
large additional prosperity from the construction of lines later combin-
ing to form the West Virginia and Pittsburg railroad, which penetrated
southward to the richest coal and timber lands in the heart of the state
and northward through great coal fields to the metropolis at the head
of the Ohio.
Clarksburg had a steady growth after 1890. Its population which was 3,008 in
1890, increased to 4,050 in 1900, to 9,200 in 1910 and to 27,869 in 1820. In the
decade after 1910 its population increased over 200 per cent. Following the
destruction of the capitol building, at Charleston, by fire, in January, 1921, Clarks-
burg made a strong but unsuccessful effort to seeure the re-location of the capital,
claiming a geographical location which made it the logical lecation for the seat
of the state government. In 1921, it had good hotels, improved streets, a good water
supply, an efficient fire department, good electric railway service which connects
it with neighboring towns, well-equipped schools, two modern hospitals, two daily
newspapers, and a telephone service not surpassed by any towns in West Vir-
ginia except Wheeling. It has a progressive Chamber of Commerce with a mem-
bership of 700. It is the headquarters of the West Virginia Sunday School Associa-
tion. It owns its water works and filtration plant. Its water supply is from the
West Fork river, which is dammed to form a large reservoir just above the city,
and also has two other storage dams. Its government is the Commission form —
two commissioners and a mayor.
In 1888, seven years after the completion of the Western line to
Clarksburg, the Monongahela River Railway Company was organized
•to build a road from Clarksburg to Fairmont. It was incorporated by
J. N. Camden and others, beginning with a capital of only $5,000, which
was later increased. Opened for traffic in 1889 and completed in 1891,
it became the property of the Baltimore and Ohio in 1897. It opened
rich coal fields, especially contributing to the success of the large plants
of the Consolidated Coal Company, which produces an enormous ton-
nage both of coal and coke. It also increased the importance of Clarks-
burg as a commercial and industrial center.
The short line connecting Clarksburg with New Martinsville was
incorporated by H. H. Rogers, T. Moore Jackson and others, who sold
the franchise to the Baltimore and Ohio. Completed by 1902, it opened
rich coal fields and timber regions which have contributed to the wealth
of Clarksburg and the entire region.
Favored by geographic situation, rich resources, and increasing railroad
facilities, the old town of Clarksburg found itself in a state of development exceed-
ing all expectations and exciting larger dreams of future prosperity and great-
ness. Municipal improvement followed each prominent industrial advance. Illu-
minating gas was introduced in 1871. Natural gas for heat and light was piped
from Doddridge county in 1891. An electric light plant was erected in 1887, and
water works were established in 1888. Great changes followed the discovery of
oil and gas — in the western end of the county in 1889 — which also increased the
growth of Salem. Better lighted and better paved streets and the construction of
new business houses soon indicated the advent of new prosperity. A street car
line was constructed in 1900. By 1903, the city was heated by gas from one
of the largest wells in the world, and shortly thereafter its facilities as a business
center were increased by the construction of the Waldo hotel, which ranks as one
of the best modern hotels in the state.
The Monongahela River Railroad connecting Clarksburg with Fair-
mont, completed in 1888 and opened for traffic in 1889, was an im-
portant link and a determining factor in the combined Monongahela
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 459
system. It opened valuable mines in a rich mineral field, including
those at Monougah, and gave an industrial stimulus which resulted in
the rise of several towns. It supplied coal for both eastern and west-
ern markets- — and also for local use in Upshur and Lewis. It gave
a more direct route for passenger traffic from Clarksburg to Wheeling,
and stimulated the construction of the line from Morgantown to
Uniontown, by which a continuous direct connection was secured with
Pittsburg — in each case superseding the elbow routes via Parkersburg
or Grafton.
Fairmont, like Clarksburg;, felt the flow of a new life awakened by the con-
struction of connecting lines of railway which opened new industries. Even in the
earlier post-bellum period, it began to feel a larger prosperity resulting from the
return of the soldiers and others to work on farms which in some eases had long
been idle. Its revival of industrial development in a larger sense really began about
1870 by the purchase of large tracts of land by capitalists interested in the mineral
resources of the county. Three mines, opened in quick succession by eastern com-
panies, soon began to make large shipments of coal, and produced a development
in population and wealth which was only retarded by the panic of 1873 and the
high freight rates charged by the Baltimore and Ohio. An era of improvement
began in 1876, after a fire which destroyed a large part of the principal business
section of the town in spite of the efforts of the primitive voluntary "bucket bri-
gade" (of men, women and children) which at that time and place had not been
superseded by the modern fire-engine. With some additions to the insurance money
which largely covered the losses, the owners of the destroyed buildings were able
to replace them with better structures and to secure better street grades. With
the new era of development came the demand for the extension of Monongahela
slack-water improvement to Fairmont — which Captain Roberts (who made the gov-
ernment survey from Morgantown in 1875) regarded as the head of the navigation
of the Ohio.
By 1881, enterprising citizens of Fairmont actively participated in co-operative
effort through county committees and public, meetings, to test the sense of the
people on the question of the construction of a railroad up the Monongahela through
Monongalia, Marion, Harrison and Lewis counties. With the construction of sec-
tions of railway connecting the town with Morgantown in 1886 and with Clarks-
burg a few years later, enterprising citizens, seizing opportunity by the forelock
organized the "Fairmont Development Company," which contributed greatly to the
rapid growth of the town by offering inducements to new industrial plants which
were seeking a location. The town was also favored by other advantages such as
schools and hotels, and more recently it has been benefited by the construction of
electric lines connecting it with Clarksburg and Mannington.
Fairmont has shared in the prosperity arising from the oil wells in the western^
part of the county, which caused a rapid increase of population at Mannington
after 18S9.
The growth of Fairmont for the decade after 1910 is reflected in the following
statement of its Postoffice receipts:
Year Post Office Receipts
1911 $ 53,389.75
1913 57,578.93
1915 61 285.63
1917 74,111.41
1919 104,645.14
1920 102,197.27
The decrease in 1920 was due to the reduced postage rate.
The city has twenty-four church organizations, a Y. M. C. A. and a Y. W. C. A.,
a normal school, two high schools, nine ward schools, and a parochial school. The
Y. M. C. A. was founded in 1902 and constructed its home in 1908. The com-
munity life has been considerably influenced by the work of the normal school,
which in 1893 was moved from its old location at the corner of Main and Quincy
Streets to a site on Fairmont Avenue between Second and Third Streets, and
finally in January, 1917, was again moved to new and more commodious quarters on
the west side of Locust Avenue. The development of the Fairmont schools, first
under the superintendeney of Joseph Rosier, and later under the superintendency of
Otis G. Wilson, has attracted more than local attention.
The city has two hospitals. The Cook Hospital, founded by John R. Cook in
1899, was moved in 1905 to a building constructed for hospital purposes. In
1914, four years after the death of Dr. Cook, the hospital was purchased by com-
munity funds collected for that purpose and was converted into a general community
hospital.
Fairmont has two daily papers, one issued in the morning and one in the after-
noon. It has two fire departments and good street car service. It has six banks,
a Building and Loan Association and a Community Savings and Loan Association.
Its stores are attractive and modern.
A commission form of government was recently adopted and is now in operation.
460 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
In the year preceding April 1, 1922, the city issued 265 building permits val-
ued at $758,500.
The assessment of property for April 1, 1920, was as follows:
Real Estate $13,099,900.00
Personal Property 6,026,345.00
Public Utilities 2,594,146.00
The bank deposits in 1920 were $13,266,625.77 and the bank resources were
$16,395,158.01.
Fairmont is the center of a large electricity system from which high pressure
lines radiate to several towns along the Monongahela. Its power plant was com-
pleted for operation in April, 1919, and its capacity was greatly increased in April,
1921. The growth of its electric service in three decades after 1890 is indicated as
follows:
Year Horsepower of Plant
1890 40
1900 550
1906 4,000
1914 5,000
1916 8,400
1917 9,700
1919 27,000
1921 53,500
The Monongahela River bridge, a high level bridge from the business section
of the city to the east side at the Monongahela Railroad station, is one of the most
recent improvements. This bridge was first planned when the Monongahela Rail-
way was completed to the East Side in 1915 and became increasingly necessary
because of the rapid development in the industrial development on the East Side
after the arrival of the new railway. The demand for the improved communication
culminated in a bond issue in 1917. Preparations for construction were begun in
1918, and actual construction was begun in April, 1919. In the spring of 1920, the
progress of the work was for a short time seriously threatened by a strike of railroad
employees and the consequent demoralization of traffic conditions; but through the
hearty co-operation of the management of the two railways the contractor was able
to arrange shipments of needed supplies so that the construction could be con-
tinued without delay and additional expense. The concrete arches were completed
in August, 1920, and the work on the superstructure was completed in April, 1921.
The bridge was formally opened on May 30, 1921.
In 1921, Fairmont had 35 miles of paved streets, 18 miles of sewers, 45 miles
of water mains, and a municipal water plant. It obtains its water supply from the
Tygarts Valley River, two miles above the city, where it has a municipal pumping
station, which forces the water into a large reservoir (20,000,000 gallons) on the
hills, 480 feet above the river level, overlooking the beautiful valley.
The industrial development of the city has been greatly assisted by the Cham-
ber of Commerce, composed of over 600 members. This organization has recently
assisted in underwriting the new bridge, in the formation of a traffic club, in the
movement for better roads, in the formation of a temporary employment bureau, in
relief of congestion at freight stations, in quotation of freight rates, in check-
ing of freight bills, in the investigation of proposed industries, in conduct of the
B. & O. industrial survey, and in the adjustment of freight rates.
The Fairmont Traffic Club was organized in October, 1920, to promote closer
relationships between shippers and transportation companies and has been useful in
securing better express service and in arranging for better Pullman service.
Two years before the Camden line between Fairmont and Clarks-
burg was built, Morgantown secured connection with the Baltimore
and Ohio at Fairmont by a line later extended to connect with the Bal-
timore and Ohio line via Connellsville and Pittsburg. Even as early
as the latter part of 1883, while the Pennsylvania interests were still
endeavoring to secure the construction of a branch line into West Vir-
ginia along the Monongahela, the Fairmont, Morgantown and Pitts-
burg Railroad Company was organized — apparently backed by the Bal-
timore and Ohio— to extend the Baltimore ond Ohio line from Fair-
mont to Morgantown and also to connect with its line at Uniontown.
Construction was delayed by contests with the West Virginia and Penn-
sylvania over the right of way — in 1884 at Fairmont, and later at Point
Marion and along Cheat river, where there was room for only one road.
The new line, operated by the Baltimore and Ohio, was opened to South
Morgantown by January 30, 1886, and to Morgantown a few days later.
Three years later, Morgantown secured satisfactory steamboat com-
munication with Pittsburg by the completion of "Lock Number 8"
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 461
after a delay of ten years. The first boats which arrived at the wharf
in 1889 were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd which the captain enter-
tained by a display of an electric searchlight, the first that many of those
present had ever seen.
The extension of the railroad from Morgantown to Uniontown, on
which grading began in the spring of 1892, was practically completed
early in 1894; and, after some delay occasioned by the bridge across
Cheat at Point Marion, was opened to traffic in the following summer —
soon resulting in the opening of rich coal fields in Monongalia county.
In 1895, the authorized capital of the road which under the incorpora-
tion of 1893 had been $1,000,000 was increased to $2,740,000. At first
inadequate for the vast freights which it carried, in 1907 the road was
improved by equipment with new 85 pound rails and by a double track
over part of its route.
The completion of railway connections with Fairmont revived the projected rail-
nay up Decker 's creek. Grading for this road was begun in the spring of 1887
under the direction of the West Virginia Railway Company which proposed to
complete a line via Masontown, Beedsville and Hardman 's Furnace to Independence
on the Baltimore and Ohio eleven miles east of Grafton, but on the failure to
dispose of its bonds, suddenly collapsed, producing much anger among its unpaid
Italian laborers and resulting in considerable friction in the settlement of its
affairs. In the early nineties, the right of way and other properties belonging to
the bankrupt company were purchased by George C. Sturgiss at public auction.
Coincident with the collapse of the Decker 's creek line, the Tunnelton, King-
wood and Fairchanee narrow gauge, surveyed in 1882 and graded in 1883, was
completed from Tunnelton to Kingwood (in 1887). Originally constructed largely
for transportation of timber, it was changed into a broad gauge by J. Ami Martin
in 1896 in order to facilitate shipments of coal to the East. With this road is
largely associated the growth o'f Tunnelton which until 1873 contained less than
a dozen families. A new era of industrial development for the town began with
the advent of the Merchants' Coal Company in 1895.
About 1891 the old expectation of the construction of a road on the west side
of the river in Monongalia was temporarily revived. Stephen B. Elkins, who visited
Morgantown in 1890-91 to secure options on large tracts of coal lands on the
west side of the Monongahela, contemplated for awhile the purchase of the old
West Virginia and Pennsylvania rights by the Davis-Elkins interests but negotiations
failed largely on account of the prices demanded by the promoters.
The previous projects of a railway up Decker's creek were revived by Hon.
George C. Sturgiss in 1898. The Morgantown and Kingwood Eailroad was chartered
in January, 1899, with a capital stock of $200,000. The new company opened an
office at Morgantown and construction was begun on July 5, 1899, under the
superintendence of J. Ami Martin. By November, 1900, the road was completed to
the Preston county line, over eleven miles from Morgantown. From this point, after
waiting in vain for expected local aid, the road was completed to Masontown in
1902. At this time there were several projects for extensions westward.
In 1902 the road passed to the control of Senator Stephen B. Elkins and his sons,
who also purchased the property of the Cheat River and Pittsburg Railroad and
determined upon eastward extension to connect with the Baltimore and Ohio at
Rowlesburg and with the Cheat Valley Railroad.
In the meantime work was pushed on the new road and new lines projected.
At a meeting of the stockholders March 28, 1902, the directors were ordered to
purchase the property of the ' ' Central Railway of West Virginia, ' ' and at the
same time determined upon the extension of their lines across the Monongahela
river and down its left bank into Pennsylvania to join with the Wabash system.
Another extension was planned which would place a line on the left bank of the
Monongahela between Morgantown and Fairmont; another would build a road up
Dents run and over the hill summits of Little Indian creek, down which the road
would extend to the Monongahela river. Still another line was projected up Scotts
run and across Monongalia county to some point on the Ohio river and up Robinsons
run to Waynesburg. Pennsylvania.
With the Elkinses came plans for extension eastward. At a stockholders'
meeting. April 6, 1903. President Davis Elkins reported the purchase of the Cheat
River and Pittsburg Railroad Company's property. At a meeting of the stockholders
May 11. 1903, it was determined to extend the road to connect with the Cheat
Valley Railroad. At the same meeting it was agreed that the road should be ex-
tended to Rowlesburg, so that eastern connection with the B. & O. might be had.
The line was completed to Kingwood in 1906 and to Rowlesburg in 1907.
On March 12, 1906, the first passenger train ran to Kingwood on the new line.
The completion of the line to Kingwood marked an era in the history of Pres-
ton county and on March 17, 1906, five days from the time the first passenger train
of the M. & K. ran into Kingwood, the Preston county metropolis gave a fitting
celebration of the event. J. Ami Martin, who possibly had done more toward the
building of the road and the improvement of Preston county than any other man,
was lionized at this celebration and presented a valuable gold watch.
462 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
This short line road has proven a very valuable factor in the industrial develop-
ment of the region through which it passes, opening up valuable coal and timber
lands and carrying heavily laden trains of lumber, coal and coke for shipment via
the B. & O. at Morgantown and Rowlesburg. The Decker 's creek valley became a
beehive of modern industry with daily shipments of products equal in value to the
entire products of the valley for years previous to the construction of the road.
At; Sabraton, near Morgantown, is located a large plant of the American Sheet and
Tin Plate Company. The chief coal companies in operation along the line are the
Connellsville Basin Coal and Coke Company and the Elkins Coal Company both of
which make large daily shipments.
In October, 1919, the Morgantown and Kingwood Railroad was purchased by
the Baltimore and Ohio with financial co-operation of the Bethlehem Steel company.
Coincident with the railroad development solving problems of trans-
portation on which depended the larger usefulness of the vast resources
so long stored away in her neighboring hills, Morgantown expanded be-
yond her ancient boundaries.
The influence of the railway connection affected every phase of the
community life.
In 1885, stimulated by the prospective opening of railway train
service to Fairmont, the town celebrated the one hundredth anniversary
of its existence. The railroad then under construction was completed
early in January, 1886, and the first train from Fairmont arrived on
February 14. The better communication was a timely improvement for
the University, which in 1885 began an era of larger usefulness under
the administration of President B. M. Turner, resulting in a steadily
increasing attendance, which was further increased by provisions of
1889 and 1897 for admission of women, and also resulting in a small
expansion of buildings between 1889 and 1894 — the first series of ex-
pansions to meet increasing needs for space and more adequate in-
struction under modern conditions.
Late in 1884 a company was organized to bore for gas at Morgantown and began
work on a gas well between Foundry Street, and Decker 's Creek, but by March,
1885, having failed to find gas, abandoned the enterprise.
In the election of May, 1885, the town by a vote of 119 to 36 decided to sub-
scribe $5,000 for water works, but no further action was taken. Many improve-
ments were undertaken under the leadership of Col. Richard E. East, who became
mayor in May, 1888. Surveys were made to determine whether buildings jutted
upon the streets. Many property owners were induced to try brick sidewalks.
Streets were named. Within the following year, gas mains were laid, gas lights
replaced the old oil lamps for street lighting.
Late in 1888 the Union Improvement Company was formed by E. M. Grant
and others (with outside capital) to supply the town with gas, and on February 12,
1889, turned the gas into the mains for use. The company later became the Union
Gas and "Water Company which was absorbed by the West Virginia Utilities Com-
pany in 1903. The latter was absorbed by a larger consolidating company in 1913.
The year 1889 marked the beginning of a series of improvements indicating
on increasing spirit of enterprise which was doubtless influenced by the realization
of a dream of half a century, the opening of regular steamboat communication
with Pittsburgh following the completion of Lock No. 9 late in the year.
In 1889, the town council inaugurated plans for water works, sewers and a
fire department, but encountered opposition and difficulties. Finally in April,
1889, E. M. Grant, manager of the Union Improvement Company, agreed to under-
take to install a system of water works, and on September 13 turned the water
into the mains for use. Under an ordinance of November 24, 1891, George C.
Sturgiss by June, 1892, installed on the river bank near the Victor Mills a small
electric plant which was later (1903) acquired by the Union Utilities Company.
In 1903, to supply the increasing needs for water, new water works plants, a
pumping station and a filtration plant were erected on the Monongahela above the
mouth of Cobuns Creek. In 1903, a larger electric plant was constructed on
Deckers Creek by the Morgantown Electric and Traction Company, which in the
same year begun the operation of the first electric street car line (The "Loop").
After three defeats of a proposed bond issue for sewers (in 1889 and 1892
and 1894), the council found other ways to begin such sewer improvements as
were immediately needed to protect the people from disease.
In September, 1890, the town influenced the county court to contract for the
erection of a new courthouse which was badly needed.
As early as October, 1884, the old courthouse was pronounced dangerous. In
July, 1888, when steps were taken to secure plans for a new building, strong ob-
jection was raised by some who proposed to remodel the old building until more
money could be obtained for a new one. On September 13, 1890, the court decided
to award contract for a new structure and arrang* to rent the Methodist Protestant
church-building for temporary use during the period of construction on the new
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 463
court building. In January, 1891, it added to the public square by purchase of the
Lazier block by which a complete frontage was obtained on Chancery Row, Wal-
nut Street, and High Street.
In 1895, railway connection with Uniontown and Connellsville was obtained by
the completion of the branch of the Baltimore and Ohio begun in 1892.
In 1895 the first telephones, belonging to the peoples Telephone Company
of Monongalia County, were installed.
In 1897, the Morgantown Independent School District was created. Although
response to the needs of better educational facilities was rather slow, in 1901 the
town finally completed at the corner of Spruce and Walnut an artistic brick
building to replace the old Academy building which had been used from 1868 to
1896, when a fire made it unfit for school purposes.
In 1914-15 the needs of a high school were met by the construction of a new
brick building in front of the older one.
On March 9, 1899, an important step in the later development of the town
was taken by the county court — the purchase of the old Monongahela suspension
(constructed in 1852) bridge from the West Morgantown Bridge Company, and the
abolition of the tolls. The purchase which had been agitated for ten years was
finally accomplished only after steps had been taken to obtain from the War De-
partment permission to construct a free public bridge. Several years later (in 1907)
another important step was taken in replacing the old bridge with a modern struc-
ture adequate to the needs of increasing travel and traffic.
Business soon increased beyond the capacity of the two banks which existed
when railroad connection was opened. In 1888, the Monongahela Bank was estab-
lished by reorganization of an older bank. Banks later organized were: The Farm-
ers and Merchants, in 1895; the Citizens' National, in 1900; the Federal Savings
and Trust, in 1904; the Bank of Morgantown, in 1906; the Union Bank and Trust
Company in 1920; and the Commercial Bank, in 1921.
The Morgantown Savings and Loan Society began business in 1897, and was
followed closely by the Athens Building and Loan Association in 1904 and the
Monongalia Building and Loan Association, in 1904. Among the later organizations
of this kind are the Union Building and Loan (1916) and the Morgantown Building
Association (1918).
In 1901, the town was incorporated as a city and tripled its previous area by
absorption of three other corporations: Seneca, Greenmont and South Morgan-
town.
In 1902, opportunities for new growth were provided by various land com-
panies, two of which built bridges across Decker 'a creek — one to South Park, and
the other to the Chancery addition. In the next ten years it had a rapid growth
both in population and in industrial activity.
In the decades after 1900 it was the leading glass manufacturing town in the
state. Its chief glass plants were the Seneca A (established in 1896), the Seneca B
of Star City (established in 1911), the W. R. Jones (established in 1901), The
Marilla (established in 1902), the Mississippi (established in 1902), The Pressed
Prison Plate of Sabraton (established in 1903), The Star (established in 1904),
The Union Stopper (established in 1905), The Economy Tumbler (established in
1906), The Crystal Tumbler (established in 1910-11), the S. R. Wightman (estab-
lished in 1905).
The Sabraton Works of the American Sheet and Tin Plate Company were
established in 1905.
Among other manufacturing plants established after 1890 were the following:
The Morgantown Brick Company, Westover Plant, in 1890 (Seneca Works 1898),
The Victor Mills, in 1891, The Morgantown Planing Mills Company in 1894, The
Morgantown Wholesale Company, 1897, The Morgantown Printing and Binding
Company, 1898, Morgantown and Kingwood Railroad Shops, 1899, The Kincaid
and Arnett Feed Mills, in 1900, The Morgantown Ice Company, in 1901, The Mor-
gantown Foundry and Machine Company in 1903, R. A. Wilbourn Company, in 1908,
Chrisman Foundry and Machine, in 1909, Morgantown and Wheeling Railway Com-
pany, in 1910, General Woodworking Company, in 1910, Lough-Simpson Grocery
Company, in 1911, Monongahela Supply Company, in 1913, The Morgantown Broom
Company, in 1919, Jackson and Grow Machine Company, in 1919, Morgantown
Macaroni Company, in 1921.
Connections with the western part of the county were greatly improved by
the construction of the Morgantown and Dunkard Valley Railroad to Cassville in
1908-11, and by its later extension under the new name Morgantown and Wheeling
Railway.
In 1914-15, to facilitate communication with South Morgantown whose business
activity was largely increasing, the county built a fine concrete bridge across Deck-
ers Creek near the railroad bridge.
Early in the new century two small hospitals were established. Plans for a
large city hospital and more adequate hotel facilities were postponed by immediate
demands of other business.
More adequate quarters for the post office were obtained by the construction
of a Federal building in 1913-15. A movement to secure a city hall — a movement
which began in 1890 — finally resulted in the purchase of an inadequate building and
grounds on Spruce Street in 1914.
An attempt to secure a commission or business manager form of government
was defeated by popular vote in 1917, but a modified business manager government
was adopted in 1921.
464 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
With new industrial development came many other changes — in
population, property, prices, public problems and prosperity. At the
opening of the second decade of the new century, the bright prospects
resulting from the continued growth of established business and popula-
tion were increased by the extension of electric lines beyond the im-
mediate vicinity of the town and the construction of the "Buckhannon
and Northern ' ' Railroad on the west side of the river, completed in 1912
between Fairmont and the Pennsylvania line.
In the eastern panhandle, in addition to the Shenandoah branch, the
Baltimore and Ohio Railway has a branch which was chartered in 1871
and opened in 1884 from Green Spring to Romney. An extension line,
the Hampshire-Southern Railroad, was organized in 1906, begun in 1909,
and opened from Romney to Moorefield in April, 1910, and to Peters-
burg in the following October. It furnishes facilities for shipment of
large quantities of export cattle, hard wood timber and limestone. Tt
Pomney County Court House
has also given a vigorous impetus to the business of fruit growing along
the South Branch. Its futher extension southward into valuable forests
of timber in Pendleton county was planned by its promoters.
Development in the eastern panhandle after 1900 was influenced by
two north and south railroads which cross the main line of the Balti-
more and Ohio — the Cumberland Valley at Martinsburg and the Nor-
folk and Western at Shenandoah Junction. The latter road especially
stimulated improvements in the two old towns, Shepherdstown and
Charleston.
Railways Along the Ohio
In the upper panhandle, and southward along the Ohio the touch
of new industrial enterprise has set its mark at many points. Among
the chief new industrial factors which contributed to the development
were the production of oil and gas, and the establishment of glass and
steel manufactures. Farther south the timber industries were more
important. The extension of railroad lines was also a determining
feature.
To connect Wellsburg with Wheeling, the Panhandle Railway Com-
pany was incorporated in 1868, at the initiative of Wellsburg, to con-
struct a line from Holliday's Cove via Wellsburg to Wheeling. By act
of 1871 the road was designated as the Pittsburg, Wheeling and Ken-
tucky ("Pe-wi-ky" Railroad, but it was never built southward from
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
465
Wheeling. The original company began grading in 1870, the new com-
pany, aided by a subsidy voted by Ohio county in 1872, completed the
grading and bridging by 1874 but was compelled by the hard times to
abandon further work. In 1876 the Pittsburg, Columbus and St. Louis,
securing a ninety-nine year lease on the property and franchise, laid
the rails and ran the first trains. By 1890, the line was extended from
Steubenville Junction in Hancock county to New Cumberland.9
In September, 1890, the completion and opening of the terminal bridge
from North Wheeling across the Ohio above Martin's Ferry — an im-
portant achievement which marked the end of forty years of striving,
giving Wheeling a direct outlet to the West without depending upon the
Bellaire bridge or the Steubenville bridge. The Wheeling Bridge and
Terminal Company was organized in 1882 as the Wheeling and Harris-
burg Railway Company. In 1888 is received a subsidy of $300,000 and
began construction. In the same year the Wheeling and Lake Erie Rail-
Down Draft Kilns at the Cresent Yard, New Cumberland,
Hancock County
(Courtesy of West Virginia Geological Survey)
way Company, organized in 1886, was also voted a subsidy of $300,000
by Wheeling and by 1889 it built its road from Bowerston to the Ohio
at Portland station from whence it entered Wheeling by the terminal
bridge line. By 1890 it was completed to Toledo and over it the first
train ran on August 2, 1891. The terminal bridge railway was pur-
chased by the Pennsylvania system at a forced sale in 1905.
Between Bellaire and Martin's Ferry four great bridges now span
9 The people of New Cumberland even before the arrival of the railway believed
their town was the most convenient location for the court house and offered to donate
the grounds and brick to erect a building. At a special election held October, 1884,
to determine the question of the relocation of the court house, New Cumberland
was selected as the county seat by a vote of 747 against 401. In vain did the
people of Fairview employ lawyers to resist the relocation by application to the
supreme court for an injunction to prevent the removal of the records.
The removal to temporary quarters was accomplished on December 24. A per-
manent building was promptly constructed, and a special night expedition secured
for it the bell of the old court house at Fairview (now Pughtown). In 1905
Chester, the residence of the sheriff, aspired to be the county seat but at a special
election held April 25 was only able to secure 917 votes against 926 for New
Cumberland. Several Fairview leaders urged the removal to Chester. Eecently
there have been suggestions of the possibility of later removal to 'WJierton, at which
a large steel plant was established in 1911.
Vol. 1—3 0
466 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
the Ohio. The great "steel bridge," at Eleventh Street, begun in
1891 under a city franchise of 1890, rests on great piers of masonry
at an elevation safely above any of the tall chimneys which decorated
the Pittsburg boats of the fifties.
The Wabash railway bridge, constructed in 1905, crosses the river
about six miles south of Steubenville. The Wheeling and Lake Erie
bridge, at Martin's Ferry, is operated by the Baltimore and Ohio. About
1909 a trolley and general traffic bridge was built across the Ohio at
Steubenville.10
At Wheeling, street cars were introduced in 1866, and by 1880 con-
nected the extremities of the city and furnished a means of communica-
tion with all towns lying within a radius of five miles from its center.
Until about 1880, when a labor strike contributed to the decline of
the industry, the city was a great nail manufacturing center. Later its
SSS**"
*."•■:
.f g • • »
Clifton Sewer Pipe Yard, New Cumberland, Hancock County
(Courtesy of West Virginia Geological Survey)
interests were diverted to iron and steel manufactures. In the last
quarter century it has undergone great changes resulting from the com-
binations of mills and the strengthening and expansion of industry in
the whole Wheeling district — including establishments at Martin's
Ferry and Steubenville, in which Wheeling capital dominates, and in
Bellaire, which may be regarded as tributary to Wheeling.11 Besides
the works owned by the United States Steel Corporation there are sev-
eral large independent companies. In the various manufacturing estab-
lishments of Wheeling proper, 176 by the census of 1910, were employed
about one-fourth of the entire population of the city.
In trade and business relations the city by excellent electric trans-
portation facilities linked to itself the population of Benwood, McMechen,
Glendale, Moundsville, Elm Grove, Wellsburg and Follansbee. By 1913,
io Communication of the upper end of the panhandle with Wheeling via Steuben-
ville was facilitated by the construction of two trolley bridges across the Ohio at
East Liverpool — one to Chester (about 1900) and the other to Newell (about 1910).
11 In 1887 about 30% of Wheeling's manufactured goods was conveyed to
market via the Ohio (12% up-river and 18% down-river), and 70% by rail (25%
over the Baltimore and Ohio to eastern cities and 30 to 35% to western markets and
the remainder over the Pittsburg, Wheeling and Kentucky and the Cleveland, Lorain
and Wheeling railways). Imports arrived by the same routes in about the same
proportion.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
467
a movement toward prospective unification of several communities under
one government began to take form.12
Favored with great natural shipping facilities, the city is a great
commercial and jobbing center. Its increasing future advantages are
indicated by the prospective canalization of the Ohio and the opening
of canal traffic into Lake Erie.
Between 1908 and 1913, Wheeling was much benefited by the con-
struction of freight and passenger terminals and the elimination of
grade crossings in the city.
The New York Central, through the Lake Erie, Alliance, and Wheel-
ing, which was constructed to Dillonville, Ohio, by 1911, made attempts
to enter the city.
The population of Wheeling, which was 34,522 in 1890, increased to 38,878 in
1900, to 41,641 in 1910 and to 54,323 in 1920. In its population many nationalities
are represented. Thirty per cent is native born of foreign or mixed parentage.
Thirteen per cent is foreign born, chiefly from Germany, Austria, Russia and
England. Only three per cent are negroes. The population of Wheeling district,
including the many suburban towns is about 225,000. The following statement
of postoffice receipts for the decade after 1912 reflects the increase of population
aHd of business.
1912 $225,649.53
1913 230.567.49
1914 235,821.22
1915 240 388.58
1916 274,757.27
1917 287,449.98
1918 345,371.86
1919 331,951.97
1920 341,971.66
Some idea of the amount of business in the Wheeling district may be obtained
from the following statement of the condition of Wheeling banks on January
1, 1921: J
Dollar Savings and Trust
Co....
The National Exchange
Bank
The National Bank of
West Virginia
Wheeling Bank and
Trust Co
Security Trust Company
Citizens-Peoples Trust
Co
Mutual Savings Bank
Quarter Savings and
Trust Co
Bank of the Ohio Valley
Half-Dollar Savings
Bank
Center Wheeling Sav
ings Bank
South Side Bank & Trust
Co
State Bank of Elm Grove
(City)
Fulton Bank and Trust
Co. (City)
First National Bank of
Elm Grove (City)
Bank of Warwood (City)
Community Savings and
Loan Co
Industrial Savings &
Loaa Co
Date
of
Organ
ization
1S87
1899
1817
1870
1903
1916
1887
1901
1875
1S96
1901
1890
1904
1919
1908
1911
Capital
750,000.00
500,000.00
500,000.00
300,000.00
300,000.00
300.000.00
None
200,000.00
175,000.00
100,000.00
100,000.00
100,000.00
100,000.00
100,000.00
100,000.00
25,000.00
200,000.00
100,000.00
•S3,950,000.00
Resources
$13,500,000.00
7,698,344.04
6,771,094.59
5,500,000.00
3,631,524.63
3,012,683.55
2,329,432.19
1,494,504.71
2,146,186.49
2,268.914.83
1,826,121.15
1,800,000.00
1,423,766.16
520,000.00
775,000.00
653,543.68
622,940.52
408,000.00
S56,372,056.54
Surplus
81,500,000.00
500,000.00
250,000.00
400,000.00
348,136.94
100,000.00
98,739.83
100,000.00
49,000.00
150,000.00
64,111.50
100,000.00
45,000.00
22,000.00
30,000.00
15,000.00
27,212.94
18,406.70
$3, 817,607.91
S7.900.000.00
4,860,367.29
3,442,722.36
3,800,000.00
3,167,812.08
2,272,202.84
708,364.31
1,244,796.47
1,435,065.54
1,957,422.27
1,198,813.73
1,100,000.00
1,080,992.18
420,000.00
675,000.00
501,239.57
612,079.74
390,000.00
$36,766,878.35
Deposits
$10,500,000.00
5,234,674.97
4,532,766.42
4,850,000.00
2,982,546.67
2,514,974.29
2,185,219.50
1,192,588.70
1,909.528.91
1,997,297.16
1,658,298.16
1,150,000.00
1,273,054.96
395,000.00
750,000.00
588,223.20
355,727.58
193,000.00
$44,612,900.00
13 In 1913, Wheeling was governed under a modern charter which vested great
powers in a board of control, consisting of a mayor and two elective members with
a council composed of ward representatives. The municipality owned several public
utilities— including waterworks, a gas plant, an electric light plant and incinerator.
It had a lower tax rate than any other city of its size in the country. The first
attempt at municipal regulation of milk supply was made in 1906, and was followed
by more effective legislation under a new charter in 1907. The Wheeling Milk
Commission was organized in 1909 and began the certification of milk in 1910.
The sewage system of the city was still antiquated and inadequate, and the method
of sewage disposal was open to grave criticism.
468 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Activity in the year 1921 was indicated by the 627 building permits which
were issued by the city, and which represented a cost of construction aggregating
$1,152,687.
Wheeling is the principal wholesale center for a large part of West Virginia
and has about 100 traveling salesmen serving regular routes of trade. Its principal
industries are iron, steel, glass, and coal mining. The iron industry grew from
small beginnings. The original supply of iron from the ores from Glen's Run was
later supplanted by the better ores from the Great Lakes.
The city has 22 hotels, three of which are ranked commercially as first class.
It has 20 theaters, two of which have a rank above the other 18 which are moving
picture theaters. It has four daily newspapers.
It obtains its gas from the City and Suburban Gas Company which furnishes
the supply from 26 producing wells located in Spring Hill and Rich Hill town-
ships in the county and assisted by a compressor station located at Majorsville
W. Va. Its domestic gas supply is furnished by the Natural Gas Company of West
Virginia, but its industrial gas supply is partly furnished by the Manufacturers'
Light and Heat Company whose head offices are at Pittsburgh. Its electric light
is furnished chiefly by the Wheeling Electric Company. Its telephone service is
supplied entirely by the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company which re-
cently absorbed the holdings of the old National Telephone Company.
It owns a system of efficiently conducted waterworks which represents an in-
vestment of over $1,208,000. It has forty-seven miles of paved streets, of which
thirty are paved with bricks and asphalt.
The health department has proven very useful in food inspection, sanitation,
garbage collection, water tests, milk tests. The city government is located in the
former State capitol, a fine building at the corner of Sixteenth and Chapline streets,
which is also used as a county court house. It is operated under the city manager
plan adopted in 1915 under a charter from the legislature which reduced the old
system of a council of about forty to a council of nine, one from each ward, and
one at large. The council appoints the city clerk, chief of police, city solicitor,
judge of police court and the city manager. The city manager appoints all other
employees for other departments and has entire supervision of the executive business
of the city, including the enforcement of the ordinances and directions of council.
The new plan has proven useful in fixing responsibility and in securing non-partisan
administration.
Wheeling is connected with other points along the Ohio by a network of electric
railways, on both sides of the river. The Wheeling Traction Company connects with
the large steel and iron mills of Bellaire and Martins Ferry, and also serves the
mill towns of Benwood, McMechen and Moundsville.
Its subsidiary, the Panhandle Traction Company, operates its vast service be-
tween Wheeling and Steubenville and intermediate points.
From Wellsburg to Bethany an independent electric railway is operated on a
daily schedule by a small but enterprising company organized by President Cramblet
of Bethany College.
West Virginia Traction and Electric Company operates from central Wheeling
eastward through the residential district along the national turnpike to Elm Grove,
Triadelphia, and West Alexander. It owns and operates Wheeling Park, the chief
amusement park in the Wheeling district. Its subsidiary, the West Virginia Trac-
tion and Electric Company, operates from North and South Wheeling.
The Wheeling Improvement Association was formed in June, 1919, to aid a
program of city planning and suburban development. It employed trained engi-
neers to consider a number of definite projects, including the proposition of ex-
tending a roadway along the west side of Wheeling Hill, a plan for parking
Wheeling Hill, a plan for straightening Wheeling Creek, a plan of making the
highlands of Chapline Hill accessible as a residential section. It also began in-
vestigations for plan to protect the south side and other low grounds of the city
from floods.
Wheeling ranks high as a church city. In Greater Wheeling in 1920 there were
71 churches, of all denominations, with a combined membership of 32,000 — 15,000
Roman Catholics and 17,000 Protestants. One of its most valuable religious and
social assets is the Union Mission (for rescue work), supported and endorsed by
all Protestant churches of the community.
The city is prominent for its benevolent organizations. Wheeling Hospital,
founded by Bishop Whelan early in 1850, is in charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph
and is controlled by a board of directors of which Bishop Donahue is president.
The Ohio Valley General Hospital, organized as the City Hospital, received its
charter in January, 1890, and in 1892 found a home at the corner of Twentieth
and Eoff streets, in the building of the Wheeling Female Seminary, which in 1914
was replaced by a new fireproof building on the same site. The Children's Home
was founded in 1870. The Young Men's Christian Association, organized in De-
cember, 1884, obtained a new building for its home in May, 1920. _ The Young
Women's Christian Association was organized in 1907, and has a dignified cen-
trally located building which is partly sustained by a well conducted cafeteria.
The Associated Charities was formed in 1909 by a merger of several philanthropic
agencies operating entirely on a volunteer basis. The Ohio Anti-Tuberculosis
League, organized in 1909, maintained a sanitarium at Elm Grove for several years
and in 1918 secured a more satisfactory location in the same neighborhood. The
Florence CritEtenden Home was reorganized in 1910. The House of the Good Shep-
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 469
herd, for destitute and wayward young girls, was established in 1900. St. Vincent's
Home for Girls, originally established in 1856 in connection with the Wheeling
Hospital, obtained a home at Elm Grove in 1894. St. John's Home for Boys was
opened at Elm Grove in 1895, by the Sisters of St. Joseph. St. Alphonsus Home
and Orphan Asylum was established in 1890. The Home for the Aged, Altenheim
(founded by Anton Reymann), was opened in 1900 for worthy women of advanced
age. It is located at Woodsdale on the national road. The West Virginia Home
for Aged and Friendless Women was first founded, under a different name, in 1887.
The Union Mission was organized in 1917.
A factor of no small importance in the industrial growth of Wheel-
ing and other cities southward along the Ohio was the Ohio River Rail-
road which, after its completion, supplemented the declining commerce
of the river ' 3 and furnished a more rapid means of transportation.
For two decades or more following the Civil war steamboat business
on the upper Ohio was extensive and profitable. During a large part
of this period large packets, the Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and others
carried passengers, railroad iron, and agricultural implements from
Pittsburgh to the West, and local favorites, the Emma Graham, Katie
Stockdale, Keystone State, Scotia, Hudson and others, plied the trade
between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Meanwhile the local traffic be-
tween intermediate points more than held its own, some of the partici-
pants becoming independent financially. The Andes (Captain Charles
Muhleman), and the St. Lawrence (Captain List), were in the trade
between Wheeling and Cincinnati; the Courier (Captain John H.
Roberts, one of the most popular of rivermen), and the Diurnal (Cap-
tain Asa Booth), maintained daily communication between Wheeling
and Parkersburg. Each of the smaller towns such as Steubenville,
Sunfish, Mattamoras, and Marietta had its daily packet connecting it
is During the Civil war, through-traffic southward on the Ohio entirely ceased.
The rail-lines which most seriously threatened river commerce were located north
of the Ohio, and were undisturbed by military operations. Although hampered by
lack of capital, the progress made in railway building during the time of disturb-
ance was sufficient to increase materially their competitive power. Bridges across
the Ohio were authorized by Congress in 1866, and the connections between the
two banks of the river were soon thereafter made.
During the period of waterway inactivity, the railways were not only extending
their lines, but they were making more efficient their existing facilities. Consolida-
tion of connecting lines into single systems for the purpose of increasing the effi-
ciency of long-distance operations was proceeding rapidly. In the sixties appeared
the first of the fast freight lines, which facilitated enormously the handling of
thru business from the West. Co-operation of railways in the construction of union
stations, connecting tracks and similar facilities increased in the decade 1860-1870.
* * * In short, business relations were established which carried over after the
waterways were again available; and, except at certain periods when circumstances
were exceptional, the rivers did not even approach their former position of im-
portance.
The consolidation of connecting railroad links had given the eastern trunk lines
control of their western connections, and with it the power to reach out to the
source of traffic and control its transit. By the end of the sixties, the railways hail
gained a considerable degree of confidence in their ability to compete with western
rivers and lakes.
After the war steamboats were constructed with special reference to the carry-
ing of freight. The towboat, or propelling steamer, built with powerful engines,
stern wheel, and shallow draft, to handle the tons of barges, flats and rafts, also
appeared on a larger scale, and became a factor in the development of the coal
trade of the river.
Competition between the two forms of transportation had a steadying effect
upon water rates. The river rates had earlier been determined wholly by the supply
and demand of transportation, and this had been influenced greatly by the condi-
tion of navigation. But by 1870 it appeared that an enhancement of the water rate
during a season of low water had a tendency to divert traffic to the railway, and
that the boats could therefore no longer enjoy the full benefit of their situation.
To some extent agreements for prorating on thru traffic were entered into between
rail and water lines. For example, the C. & O. prorated with Ohio steamboats
on an allowance of two miles of waterways for one mile of rail. These agreements,
however, were difficult to arrange and to keep in force because of the lack of boat-
ing organization and the necessity of making contracts with so many individual
steamboat owners. Nevertheless prorating arrangements between railways and the
packets operating on the Ohio for the purpose of handling Pittsburg steel products
continued until about 1900, wfi'en they were terminated in response to the desire of
railways serving the Pittsburg district.
470 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
with some larger city and intermediate landings, and on the lower
Ohio the Bays of Ironton operated packets between Pomeroy, Galli-
polis, Kanawha river ports,14 and Huntington and points farther south.
Moreover, after 1873, when the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad reached
the Ohio river at Guyandotte, the Cincinnati and Big Sandy steam-
boats, known as the Railroad Line, did a good business under the man-
agement of Captain "Wash" Honshell. In fact the raftsmen of the
Great Kanawha and the Big Sandy came to look upon Honshell as a
sort of monarch of the river and are said to have written him from
time to time for permission to float their rafts on his river.
But these daj's of glory and profit were doomed. Many things con-
tributed to that end, chief of which was the desire of a growing country
for the best possible transportation. But the rivermen probably has-
tened their own undoing. In the late seventies some of them had defied
the Standard Oil Company, then developing into a powerful monopoly.
It controlled the railroads from the upper Ohio to the East and had
practically closed them to independent producers of oil. To aid the
latter the steamboats carried large quantities of crude oil to Hunting-
ton, West Virginia, for shipments east over the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad, then in the throes of bankruptcy and eager for business. An
act of Congress prohibiting all shipments of oil, either crude or refined,
on steamboats did not serve the purposes of monopoly. By the use of
open barges the rivermen continued to carry the production of the in-
dependent producers.15
It was under these conditions that plans for a railroad to parallel
the Ohio river were revived. For some time construction was delayed
for lack of funds, but, after two years of agitation, local parties under
the leadership of Captain John McClure of Wheeling, a former river-
man of note, and J. N. Camden, of Parkersburg and Standard Oil con-
nections, announced that eastern capital was available and construction
began. The fact that W. H. Vanderbilt was said to own 80,000 shares
and the control of the proposed road may be significant.
The Ohio River Railroad, a connecting link between the great Penn-
sylvania system and the Chesapeake and Ohio, was first chartered in
1881 as the Wheeling, Parkersburg and Cincinnati Railroad, but was
chartered in its later name in 1882. The road was opened for traffic
from Wheeling to Parkersburg on June 15, 1884, from Parkersburg
June 15, 1884, from Parkersburg to Point Pleasant on January 1, 1886,
from Point Pleasant to Huntington on April 1, 1888, and from Hunting-
ton to the Big Sandy in 1893. The entire Ohio River Railroad with its
branches was purchased by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
in August, 1901. A branch was constructed from Millwood to Ripley
in Jackson county in 1888 and another from Ravenswood to Spencer
in Roane county in 1892. A connecting branch from New Martinsville
to Clarksburg was completed in 1902, and another from New Martins-
" In good stage of water, in the early seventies, the Ohio and Kanawha river
navigation gave direct access to fifteen counties. There were frequent steamers
from Wheeling to Parkersburg, and mail boats from Parkersburg to Charleston
via Point Pleasant.
After her formation in 1863, West Virginia created a Kanawha board to con-
tinue the work of the old James Eiver and Kanawha Company, and to make adequate
improvement to supply the needs of the rapidly increasing population and business
of the Kanawha valley. In 1871-72, in connection with the lively interest which
was aroused in favor of improvement of internal waterways, and when there was
revival of the old idea of a James .River and Kanawha Canal, the United States
government was asked for aid. In the following two years, Congress appropriated
a total of $50,000 which was expended on sluice and wing-dam improvement.
Early in 1875 lock and dam improvements were recommended and in March, Con-
gress appropriated $300,000 to begin the permanent improvement of the river.
After a quarter of a century the work was completed practically to Montgomery
at a cost of over $4,000,000. Of the ten dams constructed, eight were movable.
Those constructed in 1880 were the first movable dams in America.
is This statement in regard to post-bellum transportation on the Ohio is based
upon the conclusions of Dr. Charles Henry Ambler, who has made a careful study
of the subject and has in preparation for early publication a volume on the history
of Ohio Eiver influences.
HISTORY OF WEST VIR<? \IA 471
ville with a view to connection with Salem wait, completed to Middle-
bourne in 1913. An electric line was completed from Sistersville to
Middlebourne in 1913.
Moundsville, at the junction of the new road with the Baltimore and
Ohio, received a new stimulus to growth. New Martinsville felt the
beginning of a new life which was further stimulated by manufactur-
ing plants and the oil industry. Sistersville and St. Mary's received
their largest stimulus from the oil industry. Williamstown later felt
the influence of closer relations with Marietta by bridge connection
across the river.
Parkersburg, which owed much of its prosperity to the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad and the magnificent bridge by which it was connected
with the Cincinnati Railway, also received a new impetus by the rail-
way connection north and south. In 1887 it had three petroleum re-
fineries with an annual product of 300,000 barrels which was shipped
largely by rail (only 20 per cent by down-river navigation). From
Elizabeth and other points it received large quantities of grain.
It still received some fiatboat traffic of other native products from
the Little Kanawha,1" and especially rafts of logs of hardwood for
the Parkersburg mills. Its interests were benefited by the passage
of the Interstate Commerce Act in 1887. Its river trade was threat-
ened with reduction by the construction of the railway from Zanes-
ville to the mouth of the Muskingum, but its railway facilities gave
it a compensating increase for any reduction in other directions.17
Between Parkersburg and Huntington, several towns obtained new
advantages for growth, Point Pleasant especially received a new stim-
ulus to growth which was reinforced by the completion of the Kanawha
and Michigan along the Great Kanawha to Charleston in 1884 and
later by the construction of the railway bridge over the Ohio in 1885,
and the Baltimore and Ohio bridge across the Kanawha in 1887.
The decline of river traffic at various points, coincident with the
extension of railway competition was not indicative of commercial de-
cay at such places.
The effects of the construction of the Ohio River Railroad on the
local river traffic were immediate and disastrous. At once the passenger
list of the Courier fell from a hundred or more to twelve. Deprived of
the income from their contract for carrying the mails the Diurnal, her
sister boat, was soon libeled for debt and it was announced that the
Courier would follow her into the courts. Soon the St. Lawrence passed
to the Big Sandy trade, and Captain Muhleman sold the Andes and
retired from the river. When the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad ex-
tended from Huntington to Cincinnati, 1889, a similar shifting of the
steamboats in that trade took place, and all along the West Virginia
part of the Ohio, the case of the steamboatmen became desperate. Some
extended the length of their runs ; others cut rates ; many entered trades
on the lower Ohio and even the western and southern rivers ; but most
of them were compelled to make new acquaintances among lawyers and
i« On February 4, 1863, the legislature of the reorganized government of Vir-
ginia by incorporating the Little Kanawha Navigation Company with authority to
issue stock took the first step to improve the Little Kanawha, whose commercial
importance had attracted attention long before. The Company constructed several
locks and dams. The proposition for further improvement was renewed after the
war and under the provisions of an act of January 28, 1866, amended by an act
of March 4, 1868, the work of improvement from Parkersburg to Burning Springs
in Wirt county was begun in 1870 and actively prosecuted by General J. J. Jackson
and Hon. J. N. Camden. The completion of work to Burning Springs opened up
a new field of commercial enterprise to the back counties along the valley of the
river and its tributaries.
" The Little Kanawha Railway, chartered in 1896 to connect Parkersburg and
Burnsville, was begun in 1897 and opened to Palestine above Elizabeth in 1898.
It is now operated by the B. and O. Railway Company. Along the survey of the
Wabash system, considerable grading was done between Palestine and GTantsville
and as far up as Glenville but construction suddenly ceased in 1903, for financial
reasons. Later there were rumors of a prospective line from Parkersburg to
Charleston via Elizabeth, Spencer, Walton, down Two Mile and up the Great
Kanawha.
472 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
judges. Some few survived the thinning out processes and continued
to ply the river for a decade or more, reluctant to yield to the forces
of progress and the plans and schemes of big business.
"Western Maryland Railway
Another important line of railway, constructed up the North Branch
of the Potomac from Piedmont and later supplemented by a line up
the Elk from Charleston, pierced a region centering at Elkins in Ran-
dolph and on the upper Cheat above Parsons in Tucker.
Perhaps tne most remarkable industrial changes which have been made in any
of the counties of the northern part of the State since the war have appeared in
Tucker and Randolph, especially since the first penetration of the railroad into the
Upper Cheat and Tygart's Valley country in 1885. In these counties, in 1870,
there was a waste of valuable timber which indicated the economic wisdom of the
speedy construction of an outlet to the nearest navigable point on Cheat or at
Tucker Court House twenty-five miles above Eowlesburg station of the Baltimore and
Ohio. In 1870, Diss Debar, the State Commissioner of Immigration, who issued a
handbook to exhibit the various resources of the state, proposed a fifty -five mile
double track tramway from the Staunton turnpike to Tucker Court House, or St.
George, via the Laurel Fork of Cheat — an enterprise which he said would promote
the development of a rich timber region large enough to form a separate county.
About the same time (1869) the Randolph, Tucker and Preston Turnpike was
projected with a proposed termination at West Union or Chisholm's Mills.
Randolph, although settled a century earlier, remained so inaccessible that few
people had settled in its borders. The families of the earliest settlers in many
instances still occupied the property of their pioneer ancestors. Although Tygart's
Valley region was fairly well settled and prosperous, other regions were in a wild
and unsettled condition — -resulting from the difficulty of making mountain roads
and the distance from railroad connection. The streams as a rule were not nav-
igable for boats and were too swift for any use except to float timber. From 1865
to 1895 many logs were floated on Cheat to Rowlesburg and Point Marion, and on
Tygart's to Grafton (largely fo the Purdee and Curtin Lumber Company). From
1888 to 1896, much spruce timber was floated from Shaver's Fork (almost at the
head of Cheat) to Point Marion. The steam saw mill industry began in 1878 with
the appearance of a portable mill brought from Virginia to Dry Fork. The more
active industry followed the arrival of railroads which made accessible the great
coniferous and hardwood forests and, after 1894, encouraged the increase of the
lumber business by the use of many huge band mills supplemented by the smaller
portable saw mills.
Canaan Valley in Tucker and the surrounding plateau country remained practi-
cally undisturbed until the fire of 1863 destroyed the spruce on a large area, and
some parts were undisturbed until the storm of 1877 swept a path through the
spruce belt. The lumber industry, which had begun by the erection of a saw mill
on Cheat as early as 1830, was stimulated by the gradual introduction of steam
mills after the close of the Civil war, especially after the completion of the railroad
through the timber to Davis and westward to Parsons.
For over a decade after the close of the Civil war period, although the settle-
ment of the tillable parts of the county developed more rapidly than in the period
before the war, Randolph was neglected while the tide of investment and immigra-
tion passed by to the far west. By 1880, however, it began to receive new acces-
sions by immigration. In 1879. the main body of a thrifty Swiss colony artfully
decoyed into the wilderness of woe by land agents, crossed Shaver's Mountain to
Alpina. Food was high, for Webster was then the nearest railroad point and
difficult to reach by wagon. Instead of burning spruce-pine logs as the earliest
settlers had done, they sawed them into lengths suitable for lumber in hope of
placing them on the market — only to find that there was no accessible market.
The construction of a railroad from Piedmont up the North Branch
to tap the undeveloped resources of Randolph county was proposed long
before it was accomplished.
Railroad projects are partly the product of environment and usually
grow in the mind of the originator before they are finally realized.
They usually originate in a knowledge of resources awaiting develop-
ment, and are partly based on faith in future profits.
In the almost inaccessable and sparsely populated interior region
between the upper Potomac and the Elk, which had no east and west
trunk line railroad, Henry G. Davis early used his opportunities to
discover vast untouched natural resources of timber and coal, for which
he finally found a means of transportation to market. Beginning with
his observation and experience at Piedmont, his vision "gradually ex-
tended to the crest of the Alleghenies and to a wider horizon beyond,
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 473
and from this vision was born within him a conception of a new railroad
which later found outward expression in the charter of the Piedmont
and Potomac Railroad and ultimately developed into the West Virginia
Central and Pittsburgh Railway.
Following his marriage early in 1853, Davis sought a wider field
than that offered in his earlier railroad experience since 1842. At Pied-
mont, whose importance was first determined by the necessity of larger
locomotives to operate trains westward over the summit, he saw new
opportunities in the possibilities of the future development of the tim-
ber and coal resources of the region. In accepting the position of
station agent there, he really assumed in part the duties of a division
superintendent. He became responsible for directing the movements
of trains up the long incline to the summit and the selection of engineers
and crews for that purpose. During the first year he lived in a box car,
but built a house to which he brought his wife the next year.
While acting as station agent and superintendent of motive power,
Davis started a general store in connection with his brother. In 1858
he resigned in order to get more time for the private enterprises in
which he had been engaged. The firm of H. G. Davis & Co., while trad-
ing with the farmers of the narrow valley, found a larger business in
supplying the railroad with oil and lumber and in shipping coal. It
opened the timber sources of the back country by its sawmills and its
pioneer lumber camps in which John Reilly acted as foreman. At the
same time (1858) it established the Piedmont Savings Bank, which later
became a state bank and finally a national bank. During the civil war
the firm was the principal business concern of the upper Potomac re-
gion— a region which was the border land between the Union and Con-
federate forces. It supplied the government with horses and anticipated
the needs of the railway for lumber and cross ties and bridge timber,
and pushed its sawmills and tramways farther into the wilderness.
With the profits accumulated from the sale of supplies to the gov-
ernment and of equipment to the railroad, Mr. Davis pursued his larger
plans, based on his confidence in the resources of the upper Potomac.
He had already acquired wild lands on George's creek. He now bought
several thousand acres of fine timber land in the wild Cheat river region
at the summit of the Alleghenies — lands which had once been a part of
the estate of Lord Fairfax, reaching to Fairfax stone, and whose later
development was closely associated with the construction of a railroad
into the interior wilds beyond the headwaters of the Potomac. In the
spring of 1867 he moved to Deer Park, Maryland, which continued to
be his summer home until 1892. From this point he traversed the wild
country on foot and on horseback in order to observe its resources.
In August, 1868, accompanied by his brother, Thomas, he made a
pioneer exploring trip westward via Greenland to First creek to ex-
amine veins of coal. In October, 1872, over a year after his first elec-
tion to the United States Senate, and again in September, 1877, he
made a horseback trip to inspect the timber on the Savage and its trib-
utaries. In November, 1874, he made a trip to Tucker, Randolph and
Barbour counties to look at coal deposits. In December, 1875, he ex-
amined new coal fields which had recently been discovered or opened
on Stony river and Difficult creek. Early in July, 1881, he and Stephen
B. Elkins went on horseback from Deer Park for a three-day trip to
examine the country in the vicinity of Fairfax stone and on the back-
water of Cheat river along the proposed line of railroad which was then
being surveyed by Mr. Parsons. They slept at night at the deserted
Dobbins House, using their saddles for pillows. Two weeks later,
starting from Deer Park and accompanied by Elkins, Senator Bayard,
Senator Camden, Secretary Windom, Major Shaw and Lewis Baker,
he made a ten days' horseback camping trip from Deer Pai"k over part
of the proposed route of the railway and beyond to White Sulphur
Springs which he expected to reach by extensions of his original line
of railway. They passed through Canaan Valley, Meade's Corners via
474 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Mullinix's on Dry fork, Traveler's Repose on the upper Greenbrier and
Huntersville (then the county seat of Pocahontas).
Meantime construction of the long proposed road had begun at
Piedmont. The Potomac and Piedmont Coal and Railway Company,
which had been incorporated by the legislature in 1866, had begun con-
struction in 1880. In 1881 it secured a new charter under a new name —
the West Virginia Central and Pittsburgh Railway Company, which
was organized with H. G. Davis as president. Early in November, 1881,
the first section of the road, that to the Elk Garden coal fields, was
formally opened. Passing over the divide beyond the headwaters of
the Potomac, the new road continued south of the Great Backbone
Mountains to Davis in the heart of the hard wood forests by November,
1884.
In the heart of a region of almost impenetrable forests the town of
Davis had been laid out with the original intention of making it the
terminal of the railway, but later a new terminal was selected in the
heart of Randolph county. The density of the forest stimulated the
efforts for conquest. Trails were hewn and blazed into the unpene-
trated forests of spruce and hard woods which soon became a source of
new wealth. Within a year (after 1880) Davis became the center of
important lumber and mining industries. At Thomas were located the
coke ovens.
The main stem was pushed forward through the primeval tangled
wilderness beyond Thomas until the proposed terminal in Tygart's
Valley was reached and a thriving little city (Elkins) begun.
Meantime, in order to avoid dependence on the Baltimore and Ohio
for an outlet eastward, plans were made to extend the new road to
Cumberland, where connection could be had with the Pennsylvania
system and the C. & 0. canal. The construction of this extension was
bitterly fought by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in the courts and
even by physical obstructions, but the Davis interests won in the courts
and completed the extension, after which they resumed friendly rela-
tions with the Baltimore and Ohio.
The eastward extension, at first known as the Piedmont and Cumber-
land Railway, was constructed in 1886 (and 1887) as a separate road,
but the majority of its stock was owned and controlled by controlling
stockholders and friends of the West Virginia Central, who saw the
advantage of securing at Cumberland three competitive outlets — the
Pennsylvania system, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, besides the Balti-
more and Ohio Railway. Its chief engineer was J. U. Crawford, the
chief engineer of the branch lines of the Pennsylvania Railroad at
Philadelphia. Plans to complete the road for active operation by April,
1887, were delayed by obstacles thrown in its way by the Baltimore and
Ohio, whose track it paralleled for the entire thirty miles. The chief
conflict occurred at Cookerly farm, through which the legal agent of
the Piedmont and Cumberland purchased a right-of-way from Mrs.
Cookerly, but which was at that time leased or rented by a stubborn
tenant who refused to recognize the right-of-way before the expiration
of his period of lease. Considerable litigation followed. The managers
of the new railroad, refusing to pay the lessee of the farm for a right-
of-way purchased from the owner, continued the grading of the road
through the farm and laid the tracks which were used by construction
trains in hauling materials to complete the tracks between the farm and
Cumberland. One night, in this period of operation, a large force of
Baltimore and Ohio men went to the farm, removed the track and ties
to some point near Martinsburg and put a wire fence around the farm
property, and established a guard. The result was a new litigation in
the courts of Allegheny county, Maryland. After several months of
delay, a force of 500 to 600 miners from Elk Garden arrived at the
farm one night by train over the new road, put the Baltimore and Ohio
guards to flight, relaid the track through the farm, took possession and
established guards to protect trains which were promptly run over the
entire route to Cumberland. According to tradition the trains carried
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 475
United States mails over the road that night and thereafter. The
costly proceedings were finally terminated by arrangements between
the legal departments of the rival roads, by which the new railway
obtained considerable damages.
Pending permanent arrangements, the West Virginia Central op-
erated the link to Cumberland for sixty per cent of the gross earnings.
Favorable traffic arrangements were made with the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company and the Chesapeake and Ohio Central at the Cumberland
terminal.
Early in 1889 the main line of the road, west of Thomas, following
the waters of the wild and picturesque Blackwater Run, was completed
down the the lower section of the Dry Fork through the mountain gap
to Parsons on the main branch of the Cheat; and, later in the year,
after turning up Shaver's Fork for a short distance, it crossed to Lead-
ing creek and reached picturesque Elkins (previously known as Leads-
ville), which was established as a town with terminal facilities, and has
had a steady growth partly due to the proximity of the exhaustless
Roaring Creek coal fields. From Elkins (by gradual extensions) one
branch followed up the Valley river (sending off a smaller branch at
Roaring creek, live mdes west of Elkins) and another pushed eastward
to Shaver's Fork, which was reached at a point above Alpena. The
eastward branch followed the Shaver's Fork, until finding a way
through Shaver's Mountains, it crossed to Glady Fork, ascended it to
the divide and descended the West Fork of the Greenbrier to Durbin
in Pocahontas. Another line was contemplated from Belington to
Clarksburg to connect with the West Virginia and Pennsylvania Rail-
road that had been surveyed from Clarksburg to Brownsville, but was
abandoned. By 1891, trains were running on extensions to Beverly,
and to Belington, where connection was made with a Tygart's Valley
branch of the Baltimore and Ohio from Grafton. By 1904 connections
were made at Durbin. Parsons became the terminal of a branch line
constructed up Dry creek from Hendricks to Horton.
The new road, after passing through Mineral and Grant, penetrated
the vast coal fields of Tucker and Randolph. It carried into the silence
of the primeval woods the hum of modern industry, and expressed its
material usefulness in gigantic lumber plants and rich coal mines, and
in newly made and growing towns — living monuments to men such as
Windom, Blaine, Gorman, Bayard, Wilson, Fairfax, Davis, Douglas,
Hendricks and Elkins. The opening of mineral and timber resources
created towns such as Bayard, Thomas, Davis, Douglas, Hendricks, Bretz
and Parsons in Tucker ; such as Montrose and Elkins in Randolph, and
such as Belington in Barbour.
Bayard received its earliest stimulus from the large Buffalo Lum-
ber Company and the Middlesex Leather Company. Another factor in
its growth was the North Branch Coal and Coke Company whose prin-
cipal office was located there. At Thomas were located the large Davis-
Elkins Coal and Coke works. Six miles eastward on the branch from
Thomas, the coal works and manufacturing industries together with a
tannery and lumber plants soon supported a population of 1,500, form-
ing the town of Davis, with quite a mercantile trade increased by that
of the surrounding country. Elkins, located in a lovely valley, border-
ing the northwestern bank of Tygart's Valley river, received its first
stimulus to growth from the construction of engine and car shops by
the railway company and the erection of homes for many operatives
of the road. The resulting activity attracted a good class of merchants
who increasingly attracted trade from the surrounding country.
The completion of the railroad through the timber to Davis and be-
yond furnished an outlet for the timber in the eastern and central sec-
tions and admitting portable and stationary sawmills which have since
continued to operate. The later construction of the Dry Fork Railroad
and its branch to Laneville opened a new field of operations. Every-
where, temporary railroads were forced into the heart of the woods
followed by sawmills, tanneries, pulp mills, and lumber camps, to aid
476 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
in the campaign of conquest and destruction of the previously un-
molested forests — leaving behind the desolating tracks and unsightly-
debris of their triumphant march.
In 1905, along much of the old Fishinghawk pack-trail of early days
from Beverly via Files creek and Fishinghawk to the Sinks of Gandy,
the axe of the lumberman just beginning to break the primeval soli-
tude, and steam whistles were heard both on west and east sounding
the death knell of West Virginia's greatest primeval forest. On the
forty-three miles of the Coal and Iron Railway between Elkins and
DUrbin there were forty-nine saw mills. The wilderness had been cut
in two by the railroad, and again further east by the Dry Fork, and
again by log roads, one of which was twenty miles long. At the same
time lumbermen were advancing from the waters of Greenbrier to
attack the mighty forests from that side.
With the rapid disappearance of the timber, there emerged the
problems of conservation and replanting. The West Virginia Pulp
and Paper Company by 1912 was already making extensive plantations
of spruce on its cut-over lands near the head of Shaver's Fork of Cheat.
The Babcock Lumber and Boom Company established a large lumber
industry at Davis and in 1921 were constructing about fifty miles of
standard gauge railroad into the lumber woods on Allegheny front
mountain for use in transporting logs to their mill at Davis.
The industrial changes following the railroad resulted in demands for relocation
of the court houses in three counties.
The first contest resulted from a demand for the removal of the county seat
from old St. George to the more convenient location at Parsons. At a special
election regularly held on April 28, 1893, to determine the question, the vote stood
in favor of removal but was thrown out on a technicality. At another special
election held July 15, 1893, the returns were again in favor of removal. Thereupon
William E. Cayton, county clerk, and Nige Parsons, a lawyer, both of St. George
secured an injunction against the action of the county court, but before the penal
bond could be secured the court ordered the records, safes and everything pertain-
ing to the court house in St. George removed to Parsons, August 7. To prevent
the inconveniences of a long suit in the courts and to circumvent further technical
proceedings from the officers and lawyers at St. George, the leaders along the rail-
road decided upon a course of successful action. A contract for the removal was
given by the court to James Poling of Parsons, for a very meager sum but every
person who had wagons and teams in the immediate vicinity joined the movement
and assisted Mr. Poling without pay. The work was undertaken under the leader-
ship of Mr. Ward Parsons and his deputies with about seven hundred men, twenty-
five wagons and teams, and a number of saddle horses. The party rendezvoused in
Parsons, immediately after the arrival of the 7:00 p. m. Cumberland train, which
brought in about four hundred men from Canaan Valley, Davis and Fairfax district.
The roads leading to St. George were carefully patrolled. The work was accom-
plished that night without any resistance by the St. George people although they
had made great preparations to prevent the removal and set off some dynamite as
a signal for the collection of their forces. The opposition, disheartened by reports
of their pickets, did not appear in force on the scene of action. Everything was
removed from the court house with as little damage as possible. If there had been
resistance the affair might have had serious consequences. It was suspected that
men on both sides were prepared for battle. After the removal of everything to
the Wamsley farm, about three miles south of St. George on their way to Parsons,
the party camped while some of the men went to Parsons to secure rations prepared
by the anxious wives and daughters and weak-kneed men who had remained in
town waiting the hazardous return of the expedition. The following day (August
8) the work was completed. The heavy safes and records were placed in the new
temporary court house in Parsons. In vain did the St. George people renew the
contest in the circuit court on the ground that the county court had broken the
injunction. Judge Hoke sustained the county court. When the circuit court con-
vened at Parsons after the removal, the county officers who resided at St. George
were very reluctant to attend. Thereupon, A. M. Cunningham, prosecuting attorney
of Tucker county, who lived in Parsons, served notice on William E. Cupp, sheriff,
William E. Cayton, county clerk, and C. W. Minear, circuit clerk, to attend court
and take up their duties as officers in the new county seat, or their offices would
be declared vacant, and would be filled according to law. Every officer obeyed the
notice, and later purchased property and located at the new county seat.
Elkins became the county seat of Randolph county after a spirited contest,
or rather a series of contests, against Beverly at which a new court house was
begun in 1892 and completed in 1894. The town, on August 30, 1897, made a
proposition to furnish a court house and jail and requested an election to determine
the question of removal. The county court at first ordered an election for October
5, but later delayed action (September 6) and finally declined to take action. In
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 477
the election of October, Beverly won. The contest was renewed when the county
court, on April 29, 1898, accepted a bid for the construction of a new court house
at Beverly on the site of the old building which had been burned. Strong interests
at Elkins began injunction proceedings to prevent the construction. In November,
1898, the question of removal was again submitted to the people, Elkins again
agreeing to furnish grounds. Elkins, which received three-fifths of the vote cast on
the question, but not three-fifths of the total vote, demanded a recount which the
county court refused to grant. On February 4, 1899, she obtained a mandamus
from the supreme court of appeals ordering a re-canvass of the vote. On March
28, the county court made a re-count, recording only the total number of ballots
returned by the districts. It entered objections to the returns from Roaring creek
district on the ground that the election officers had not been sworn. On March 29,
the total vote was announced: 2,145 in favor of relocation, 1,320 against, and 312
blank. The court finally decided that the 312 blank ballots should be counted as
part of the totnl number of votes cast, making a total of 3,777— of which less than
three-fifths had voted for removal. Elkins again appealed to the supremo court
of appeals, which reversed the decision of the commissioners.11* The county court
then released citizens of Elkins from their proposition to furnish a site for build-
ings, and by order of July 5, 1900, proceeded to purchase grounds at Elkins on
which the new court house was soon erected.
The rapid growth of Belington and the ambitions of its property owners,
together with the local sectional feeling in the two ends of Barbour county, in
1903 produced a county seat contest in which the adherents of Philippi and of
Belington spent considerable effort and money. After a strenuous campaign, in
which Belington especially opposed the methods of the "court house ring" at
Philippi, the people by their votes at a special election decided against removal
of the county seat.
is While awaiting judgment of the supreme court there were frequent rumors
of impending hostilities between the two towns, only six miles apart. The tension
reached a high pitch. Elkins people avoided visits to Beverly and Beverly people
avoided intercourse with Elkins. For a while, few ventured to travel on the turn-
pike between the towns after dark unless armed. Rumors that the Elkins citizens
were arming preparatory to a march to Beverly to storm the court house and capture
the records caused intense excitement through the county, and attracted rural
sympathizers to each town to aid the townsmen in a prospective fight.
At Elkins military organization and drills were frequent at evening after the
men had quit their work in the shops and factories. The Elkins forces were
encouraged and directed principally by John T. Davis, James Posten, W. G. Wilson
(sometime speaker of the House of Delegates), Jesse Goddin and other leading
citizens.
Meanwhile, the supporters of Beverly were not idle. Apprehensive of imminent
danger of attack, the citizens of Beverly banded together under the leadership of
Major J. French Harding of Confederate fame, Lieutenant William H. Wilson, F.
A. Rowan and others who had experienced active military service. They threw up
around the court house a line of intrenchments, designed to protect the clerk's office.
Armed squads stood guard over the vaults containing the records. Over a hundred
armed men were drilled by Major Harding and ready to occupy the intrenchment
at the first signal of danger. Among these men were many mountaineers, expert
shooters, armed with Winchester rifles. The townsmen were chiefly armed with shot
guns loaded with buck shot. Beverly had an advantage through the support of
the county officials whose influence was almost solidly in favor of the old county
seat, from which it was popularly believed the records could never be taken. She
also had another advantage over Elkins which although she had twice as many men
in arms felt her disadvantage as the attacking party. Determined to resist an
attempt at attack, she placed pickets at a distance of one-half mile, one and one-
half miles and two miles down the pike and along the right of way of the railroad.
The crisis was reached one night when Squire John DeWitt, an Elkins shoe-
maker and a famous county character, whose sympathy for Beverly could not be
suppressed even by a shower of rotten eggs, rode into Beverly out of breath, and
excitedly and dramatically announced that the "Hessians" were coming. At the
same time all communication by telephone and telegraph between the two towns was
cut off by Elkins sympathizers. Within a half hour after DeWitt 's arrival one
hundred and fifty Beverly patriots armed to the teeth were prepared to defend the
site of their ancient seat of local government, and advanced to the breastworks
at the foot of Mt. Iser where but thirty years before Imboden's cohorts had been
intrenched. At Elkins a special train stood at the railway station awaiting the
order to carry to Beverly five hundred armed Elkins supporters who thronged the
streets. Plans were completed to leave at 9 p. m.
Older heads discouraged the expedition and probably prevented serious conflict.
At a quarter of nine the band began to play on the corner in front of the Elkins
National Bank and attracted the awaiting crowd. The late attorney C. Wood
Dailey (a brother of Judge Dailey of Moorefield), the chief counsel of the West
Virginia Central, now the Western Maryland, mounted the bank steps, obtained the
attention of the throng, and began a most remarkable speech, pleading for law and
order, and urging his hearers to await the verdict of the supreme court before
prosecuting their rash action. He spoke of the certainty of bloodshed; and as he
continued his speech, which was over an hour in length, his eloquence reached a
478 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
For twenty years Senator Davis managed and developed the West
Virginia Central Railway, and made it a valuable road with greater
possibilities. In 1902 he sold it to the Goulds, who had purchased the
western Maryland and projected its extension from Hagerstown to
Cumberland 19 with a desire to extend a railroad into Pittsburg from
the region tapped by the West Virginia Central.
The Coal and Coke Railway
The industrial activity and prospective future of the regions along
the upper Monongahela, and along the Elk, received new promise of
importance by the construction of an important outlet in 1906.
Finding himself in possession of several million dollars of cash
capital, resulting from the sale of his interests in the Western Maryland,
Senator Davis was ambitious to use it in the further development of
West Virginia, by the construction of a new road northward from the
Kanawha at Charleston, to release the imprisoned resources of coal and
timber in the interior region bordering on territory, which he had al-
ready developed. In February, 1902, he bought from E. J. Berwind of
New York, the Roaring creek coal property and twenty-two miles of
raFroad (The Roaring Creek and Belington Railway), and also other
coal lands in Randolph, Upshur, Braxton and Gilmer counties.
Meantime he organized the Coal and Coke Railway Company, be-
ginning by the purchase of the link known as the Charleston, Clenden-
nin and Sutton Railway (extending from Charleston to Gassaway), which
had already been built by Pittsburg capitalists and mine owners, who
had begun construction at Charleston in 1893. He promptly began con-
struction of the eastern link. In May, 1903, at the age of eighty years
he rode on horseback from Elkins to Sutton over the contemplated route
of the new road, which was under construction. In the construction
many engineering difficulties were encountered and overcome. On the
one hundred miles of new road, it was necessary to pierce the mountain
twelve times, to make many deep cuts and fills and to construct thirty
steel bridges. On the sixty-three miles of old road, heavier rails were
laid and trestles were replaced by fills without interruption of traffic.
The last spike, which completed the construction of the entire line, was
driven in the small hamlet of Walkersville in Lewis county. The eastern
end was completed to the Buckhannon river early in 1904, and to the
Elk at the new town of Gassaway later in 1905. The first train over the
entire line from Elkins to Charleston was run in January, 1906. The
road, in which Senator Stephen B. Elkins also had an interest, was
completed in co-operation with the Wabash interests. Its authorized
capital was $10,000,000.
The convenience of the road for travel was appreciated by the people
of a large area, who could now reach the capital by a trip of a single
day. Conceived as a means in the development of vast coal and timber
properties, it fortunately became a connecting link between great trunk
lines, especially by its old established and valuable Charleston terminals
adjacent to those of the Kanawha and Michigan, with which track con-
nection was formed. Favored by its geographical location, the road
high pitch which served to dampen the ardor of the crowd before him. When he
closed, the crowd disbanded quietly, and hot headed leaders sought a retreat. Orders
were given that the special train was not wanted.
A few days later, the decision of the court was announced and the removal of
the records was accomplished quietly and legally.
!9 The connecting link from Big Pool, Maryland, to Cumberland was completed
in 1906. The line from Cumberland to Connellsville, where it connected with the
P. & L. E. was completed in 1912.
In 1914 the Western Maryland Railway (under the influence of the Rockefeller
interests) proceeded to construct two branch lines up Helens Run and Bingamon
creeks, tributaries of the West Fork river, between Fairmont and Clarksburg, to
afford adequate railroad facilities for mining the vast area of Pittsburgh coal located
on these streams. Lines were completed and put in operation in 1916 and 1917.
Coal mined on these lines was shipped on Western Maryland trains which used the
B. & O. tracks from a point near Fairmont to Connellsville.
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480 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
obtained good connections with both eastern and western markets for
coal and coke produced along its line. At the south, it reached the
middle and western states by the Kanawha and Michigan and the Chesa-
peake and Ohio lines. At the north, it had connections with the lakes
and the eastern seaboard by the Wabash (Western Maryland) and Bal-
timore and Ohio systems. The company owned carefully selected coal
lands and coal rights along the route of the road in four counties drained
by the Monongahela — Randolph, Barbour, Upshur and Lewis — and also
in Gilmer and Braxton. The Pittsburg vein in this region is regarded
as better coal than its type in the Fairmont and Clarksburg districts —
being harder and yielding a greater per cent of large blocks.
Along the entire line of the road many communities, villages and
towns, began to emerge. The chief towns along the Elk were Gassaway
in Braxton, Clay in Clay, and Clendennin in Kanawha. Branch lines
were extended from Gassaway to Sutton and from Clay up Buffalo.
Clendennin received a new stimulus from oil operations. Gassaway,
about midway on the route, received an impetus from the location of
railway shops and the principal divisional headquarters. Other towns
arose through the development of natural resources, especially coal
and timber. Almost every community felt the stimulation of the pe-
riod of construction. The Collins settlement in Lewis county is an
illustration. Immediately upon the beginning of the construction work
in the fall of 1903, it had a market for dairy products, poultry and truck
in the construction camps along the route. The two tunnels caused two
considerable towns to appear with hundreds of laborers, doctors, time-
keepers, merchants and others. The sudden prosperity was not confined
to paper towns. Jacksonville, Walker sville,20 Crawford and Orlando
awoke to new life. Walkersville began a period of prosperity. Orlando
continued to grow.
Eastward in Upshur, stations were established at Prenchton, French
Creek, Sago, Kedron and Sandrun; and in Randolph at Middlefork,
Lantz, Kingsville, Leiter and Monroe.
From Roaring Creek Junction, the Coal and Coke at first used the
Western Maryland tracks to Elkins but in 1911, extended its own line
to that point. Elkins began a period of larger improvements, including
a street car line. The Elkins Electric Railway was begun in May, 1907,
ran its first cars in December, 1910, and was completed to Harding in
May, 1914.
The northern division from Belington along the west bank of the
Tygart Valley to Roaring Creek Junction and thence to Mabie, was com-
pleted from Roaring Creek Junction to Coalton in 1893, from Coalton
to Mabie in 1896, and from Roaring Creek Junction to Belington in 1898.
The Moore and Keppel Railroad, a standard gauge lumber road from
Midvale on the Coal and Coke to Adolph (17.5 miles), built to haul logs
to the mill at Ellamore, was completed in 1915. The first line of rail-
road from Elkins to Belington, the Belington and Beaver Creek Rail-
road, was acquired by the Western Maryland in November, 1905. The
Belington and Northern, begun as a coal road in 1902, with plans to
connect with the Little Kanawha at Glenville, was soon abandoned.
For over five years Senator Davis personally directed details of
management of the new road, and the general supervision necessitating
incessant travel, but in November, 1912, following his eighty-ninth birth-
day, he relinquished active management. During the last summer of his
life, the summer of 1915, in the ordinary course of business activities, he
visited the towns which had grown up from the wilderness along the
route of the West Virginia Central Railway under his guiding hand-
Thomas, Davis, Parsons, Hendricks, Bayard and others — and also Gas-
20 Walkersville in 1869, reported that over two hundred acres of land had lately
been cleared on two farms adjoining the village, forcing the squirrels to the hill
tops and depriving the foxes of brush thickets in which to hide. There were then
seven residences, one store, a hotel, a blacksmith shop, a tannery, a shoe shop, a
cabinet shop and a village school.
Vol. 1—31
482 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
saway and other new communities along the route of the Coal and Coke,
which owed their existence largely to his enterprise.
Early in 1917, the Baltimore and Ohio purchased the controlling
interest in the Coal and Coke, which thereafter became the Charleston
division of the Baltimore and Ohio. The deal has solved many of the
problems of the older road. Heavy freight from Richwood and way
points is routed over the Coal and Coke from Orlando to Sago, thus
avoiding the heavy grades on Oil creek and on Buckhannon mountain.
Empty cars are sent from Grafton via Clarksburg and Weston, thus giv-
ing what is in effect a double track from Grafton to Orlando. The
condition of the old roadbed along Oil creek led to a proposal to abandon
it and to construct a short stretch of railroad from Arnold to connect
with the Charleston division near Jacksonville.
The purchase of the Coal and Coke increased the importance of
Weston as a railroad center. Late in 1919, some of the principal offices
of the Charleston division were moved from Gassaway to Weston.
The Baltimore and Ohio promptly established over the Coal and Coke
route a through train service from Grafton, via Tygart's Junction to
Charleston, and contemplated its use for the establishment of through
trains from Charleston to Pittsburgh via Weston, Clarksburg, Fairmont
and Morgantown.
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE AWAKENING SOUTH OP THE KANAWHA
Along the southern border of the state, and across the southern
interior, as in other parts of the state, the development of railway sys-
tems in recent years created an industrial revolution, and the beginning
of a great material development which is still in its infancy. The rail-
roads opened communication with the markets of the world and attracted
capital to exploit rich coal fields and valuable timber lands. Every delay
in securing transportation facilities postponed the day of prosperity.
Every extension of railroads has resulted in great industrial and social
changes, including large increase in the permanent population.
In no part of the state has the railroad created a greater transforma-
tion, than that which has recently occurred along the southern border
and through the interior, between the upper Kanawha and the upper
Bluestone.
Along the Route op the Norfolk and Western Railway
The Norfolk and Western Railway of Virginia emerged in 1881, as a
result of the foreclosure sale of the unsuccessful Atlantic, Mississippi
and Ohio Railroad, which had been formed in 1870, by the consolidation
of the Norfolk and Petersburg, the Southside and the Virginia and Ten-
nessee railroads. Organized primarily to develop coal, iron and other
resources, and especially attracted by the discovery of good coal near the
site of Pocahontas in Virginia, it began its existence by the purchase of
the proposed New River Railroad,1 which was projected as a narrow
gauge to connect with the Chesapeake and Ohio at Hinton, but was com-
pleted as a broad gauge which, ascending East river from New and pass-
ing along the valley of the Bluestone, penetrated the great Plat Top coal
field of Pocahontas coal. This New river division terminating at Poca-
hontas, selected partly with a view to later extension to the Ohio, was
constructed in 1881-82, resulting in large shipments of coal by 1883. The
Flat Top mountain extension down the Bluestone and up its western
branches, begun in 1884, greatly increased shipments.
The original five feet gauge of the western extension was changed to
4 feet 9 inches on May 29, 1886, and the gauge of the main line was
also changed on June 1, 1886.
The Elkhorn tunnel, following the famous coal vein through Flat
Top mountain, was begun in 1886, and completed in 1886.
The construction of the line was rather slow. The tunnel through
Flat Top mountain, to reach the coal on the west side of the mountain
at the head of Elkhorn Creek, was not undertaken for several years
i General Gabriel C. Wharton, an ex-Confederate of Montgomery county, Vir-
ginia, who had become impressed with the commercial value of the Pocahontas coal
by observing its outcrop on Plat Top mountain, in 1872 secured from the Virginia
legislature a charter incorporating the New River Railroad Mining and Manufac-
turing Company to construct and operate a railroad from New river depot in Pulaski
county on the line of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad to a point at or
near the head of Camp creek in Mercer county and with provisions for building
branch roads in Mercer and other counties. In 1875, experimental lines were sur-
veyed from New river depot down the New river to Hinton on the Chesapeake and
Ohio road. Shortly thereafter, Colonel Thomas Graham of Philadelphia, who through
friends got control of the majority of the stock and began work to secure all the
coal land in the Pocahontas region, prepared to push the railroad. He succeeded
in securing the Virginia state convicts and placed them on the line and began the
construction of a narrow gauge (3 feet) railroad.
483
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 485
after the opening of the road to the Pocahontas mines and those in the
vicinity of Bramwell. Following the construction of the tunnel the
development of the Elkhorn field began. For several years Elkhorn
was the principal station in McDowell county. The line' was not com-
pleted to Welch until 1892.
In the entire region traversed by the surveyors, from the Elkhorn
tunnel to the Ohio in 1887-88, there was no village, excepting a small
settlement at the mouth of Pond creek opposite the site of Williamson.
Between the tunnel and the site of Welch there were no roads larger
than a bridle path or a sled path, and thence along Tug Fork to the site
of Williamson the path was very poor. Throughout the region the popu-
lation was scant and scattered and the dwellings inferior.
The original northwesterly route to the Ohio, surveyed in 1886, via
Elkhorn creek, Pinnacle creek, Clear Fork, Coal creek and Mud river,
was regarded unsatisfactory and was abandoned in 1888. The route
adopted for the Ohio extension followed down Elkhorn to Tug, thence to
Pigeon, thence up Pigeon and Laurel Fork and across the divide to
Twelve Pole, which was followed to its mouth at Ceredo. The difficult
construction of this extension was begun in 1890, and opened on Novem-
ber 12, 1892, by the completion of the Hatfield tunnel, eight miles east
of Williamson.2 The Ohio river bridge was completed in 1891. Mean-
time, in 1890, the purchase of the Scioto Valley Railroad and the Shen-
andoah Valley Railroad furnished additional terminal facilities.
The engineering problems met and successfully solved, in accomplish-
ing the strategic purposes of the railway directors, resulting in the
opening of vast previously secluded regions to the larger life of the
world, were many and complicated. As the earlier problems were
solved, subsequent ones arose in the necessity of perfecting the original
road to meet the demands of increasing traffic.
A large portion of the original line of extension to the Ohio was
remote from other railways, and therefore, required cross-country trans-
portation for men, sustenance and construction materials. From a
financial standpoint, the venture was hazardous; and therefore, the route
was first located with considerable curvature to secure immediate
economy of construction. From the necessity of revising both grades
and curvatures, the road was later practically rebuilt; and branches,
sidings and double tracks were added to meet new demands.
In constructing the original line across from Naugatuck on Tug Fork,
to Dingess and down Twelve Pole, the purpose of the management was
to locate as near as possible to the Ohio, a coal of good quality which
could be easily transported to Kenova for shipment down the river on
barges. Later, finding the earlier service too uncertain for the steady
movement of traffic westward, and confronted with the necessity of a
second track for the economical and prompt movement of the vast traffic
resulting from the great development of the Pocahontas fields, and the
increasing growth of traffic toward the Northwest, the directors of the
railroad decided to construct a second track along the line of the Big
Sandy, which furnished a better grade for heavy traffic. This line for
an established and growing traffic was constructed with less attention
to the immediate economy illustrated in the numerous curves of the
earlier route. It began operation in 1905, and largely supplanted the
old line, both for passenger traffic and for heavy freight traffic. The
use of the old route is largely confined to local traffic and to through
trains of returning "empties."
The contractors who managed the construction secured labor from
wherever it could be obtained. The laborers were of all kinds and classes,
typical of those usually employed on rough construction work in un-
developed and inaccessible regions. Comparatively few were native born
white Americans. Many were foreigners and more were colored. Ap-
parently the laborers who did the work did not remain as citizens of
2 According to Judge James French Strother, the two sections of construction,
one westward and the other eastward, were connected at Roderfield, in McDowell
county in 1892.
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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 487
the region. When their work was done they folded their tents, like the
Arabs, and quietly stole away. A very few of the contractors, who were
always strong men, lingered along the route.
Among the branches extended were the following: North Pork
branch, 1894 ; Briar Mountain branch, 1902 ; Crane Creek branch, 1903 ;
Tug Fork branch to Gary, 1904, with extensions in subsequent years;
Clear Fork branch, 1905; Widemouth branch, 1905; Dry Fork branch,
1906, with extensions in subsequent years ; Spice creek branch, 1909 ;
Poplar Creek branch, 1909 ; and Sycamore branch, 1911.
A continuous plan of improving the line on Tug river, from Vivian
to Naugatuck, was begun and successfully completed. The alignment
and grades were improved, a new second track was constructed and at
many points a third and fourth track were constructed.
Later improvements on the line down Big Sandy, from Naugatuck
to Kenova, were found necessary on account of increased demands for
efficiency in transportation. The work of improvement was continuous.
The re-building and strengthening of bridges, the driving and lining
of new tunnels for two tracks, the construction of new station buildings
of a permanent character, and enlargement of old depots in order to
take care of the business from the timber and coal development, con-
tinued almost without interruption.
The railroad was practically rebuilt through McDowell county in
the first decade of the twentieth century, and at a much greater cost
than the original construction. On one mile of the line through the town
of Welch are five bridges and three tunnels which cost the railroad
about $2,000,000 for a double track and the entire work was completed
without disturbing the residents of the town, many of whom were hardly
aware that the work was in progress,
Additional railroad extensions were made in Mercer county along,
the Bluestone river and its tributaries, as far down as Widemouth creek
and on its various branches. In McDowell county, extensions on Tug
fork were made in 1909 above Pageton and in 1912, to Jenkin-Jones
in order to reach the well-known No. 3 ' ' Pocahontas Coal Seam. ' ' King
branch was extended in 1913, and Superior branch in 1917. On Dry
Fork branch, extended in 1905-06, from Iaeger to Canebrake above Ber-
wind a further extension was begun in 1912, through the dividing ridge
between Dry Fork waters of Tug, and of Indian creek of Clinch river,
to Cedar Bluff in the state of Virginia in order to relieve Bluefield of
through-tonnage from the Clinch Valley coal field (of Virginia) to the
Ohio river and western points. The latter extension was completed in
1913. In 1915 the Jacobs Fork branch of Dry Fork was constructed
in order to develop timber and coal of that territory. In Mingo, the
Lick Fork branch was extended in 1911.
Mate Creek branch was acquired in 1915, the Alma branch in 1915,
and the Wayne branch (between Wayne C. H. and East Lynne) in
1908. ' i
The unusual growth and development along the line of the road
necessitated improvements made at Bluefield, North Fork, Keystone,
Welch, Williamson and other points. One of the most important im-
provements was the electrification of the section of the railroad between
Bluefield, on the east, and Kimball, on the west — locally known as
"Vivian Yard" and also, from Bluestone Junction down the Bluestone
river to Simmons. This successful project, known as the "Elkhorn
Grade Electrification," was completed in the Spring of 1915, and in-
cluded about 106 miles of main tracks, yards, sidings and branches.
Additional extensions of the Electrification Field were subse-
quently made, from Kimball to Farm, about three (3) miles west of
Welch, and up the Tug Fork Branch from Welch to Wilcoe, but further
plans for extension were postponed by conditions of the period of the
World war.
In the year 1913, the Ohio river bridge which crosses the river at
Kenova was rebuilt and changed from single to double track, being in
continuous use under the stress of most heavy traffic.
488
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
In 1920, a branch line was put under construction up Pigeon creek,
from Lenore, in Mingo county, for a distance of 18 miles, in order to
place under development a new coal field not heretofore reached by-
railway.
The influence of the road on the undeveloped regions through which
the route was surveyed was remarkable. Regions in which the managers
of the road at first were unable to secure proper police protection were
developed into law-abiding communities by the influences resulting from
the influx of people and the establishment of schools, churches and other
social institutions.
On the crest of the Alleghenies, in Mercer county, Bluefield, "the gate-
way to the Pocahontas coal field," has had a phenomenal growth fostered
by substantial business conditions. In 1888 it was a mere flag station
on the farm of John B. Higginbotham. In December, 1889, it was in-
Birdseye View, Charleston
corporated as a town, with Joseph M. Sanders as its first mavor. Its
population increased from 600 in 1890 to 4,644 in 1900, and il,188 in
1910. Its post office, established in September, 1887, was advanced to
first-class rank in 1911. It has exceptional railway transportation facil-
ities, and has promising prospects of becoming the center of a series of
important electric lines. It is the official seat of the Appalachian Power
Company, which owns five separate power sites on New river near Pu-
laski, Virginia, aggregating a total fall of 275 feet (75,000 horse power).
Bluefield was located on the old farm of John B. Higginbotham who deeded
it to three of his five sons just before the railway sought it for yards. It was
named by Mrs. Hattie Hannah, a sister. Its first post office was a successor of an
earlier one which had been established at the "Cross Roads" (about two miles
southeast of Bluefield) in 1886. Its first newspaper, The Bluefield Journal, was
established in 1891 ; and its first daily, The Daily Journal, was started two years
later. The Weekly Telegraph was also started in 1893 and became a daily in 1895.
The Labor Advocate was first published in 1893.
The first water supply after that from individual wells, was brought by gravity
from East Eiver mountain for the Virginia Land Company and the hotel, soon
after the birth of the town in 1888. Later, the company obtained water from
Beaver Pond Spring, pumping it through the property of Walter M. Sanders.
Following a litigation, it was allowed only the surplus water — by a decision of the
United States Circuit Court of Appeals. The water supply in 1921, entirely from
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 489
springs — Ada Springs, Beaver Pond, and East River mountain — was pure but not
adequate. The water works company planned an increase by a northwest supply
or by installing another pump on the Brush Fork Watershed. It seemed willing
to sell its plants to the city, which was inclined to purchase it at a reasonable
price.
About 1900, the town began to pave its streets with brick and continued by a
series of bond issues. About 1911 to 1913 it began to use macadam (gravel and
tar). In 190203 its first trunk line sewers were constructed, one emptying into
East river and another into Bluestone. Early in 1911 a gas company, a subsidiary
of the Southern Gas and Electric Company of Baltimore, established north of the
railway a plant for the manufacture of gas for the town.
At its beginning the town had electric lights furnished by the railroad com-
pany. The city buys its electricity from the great Appalachian Power Company,
which gets it from two hydro-electric plants on the New river at Byllesby, Virginia,
and a steam plant at Glenn Lynn. Virginia, and supplies light and power for the
Pocahontas Coal Fields, for the Virginia Railway shops at Princeton, and for the
towns of Princeton, Welch, North Fork, Bramwell and others. The Appalachian
Power Company has an interchange (at Switchback) with the Northwestern Elec-
tric Power Plant (with a capacity of 3300 K. W.) at Bluestone. This company
owned the Bluefield and Princeton electric lines and cars and tracks, but in the
spring of 1921 several months of poor service, due to a strike, transferred them to
the Princeton Power Company which installed new cars and improved the service.
Bluefield became a thriving business center — a great shipping center for the
Pocahontas coal field. Its population rapidly grew to 11,188 by 1910. By 1916 it
had three banks, seven hotels, several small manufacturing plants, railroad repair
shops, two daily newspapers, paved streets, an electric railroad, and good water and
sewer systems.
In 1921 it had four banks, with capital and surplus as follows:
Capital Surplus and Undivided Profits
Bluefield National $250,000 $ 50,000
Commercial 100,000 25,000
First National 250.000 455.000
Flat Top 100,000 150,000
Its churches included: 4 Baptist, 1 Catholic 2 Christian, 1 Dunkard, 1 Episco-
palian, 1 Hebrew, 1 Lutheran, 4 Methodist, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Church of God, 1
Salvation Army, 1 Y. M. C. A., 1 Railway Y. M. C. A.
It had four hospitals. It had one daily newspaper, The Bluefield Daily Tele-
graph.
In addition to its electric lines it had auto bus passenger service to Princeton,
and to Hinton and Beckley every day. The auto competition with the Princeton
Power Company in 1921 threatened to curtail the excellent suburban passenger
service of that line, or to necessitate an increase of fares on the suburban lines.
In order to complete highway connection through the Pocahontas coal field by hard
surface road the city has urged the State Road Commission to construct an uncom-
pleted link of five miles.
The capital employed in industries increased from $1,130 000 in 1914 to
$2,419,000 in 1920 (114*%). The amount paid for wages in Bluefield factories in-
creased from $904,000 in 1914 to $2,136,000 in 1919. From January 1 to October,
1921, the city issued 215 permits for construction work — including 141 houses, 10
business buildings, three churches, and 33 garages — aggregating a value of approxi-
mately $2,300,000.
The Bluefield Chamber of Commerce, which has nearly 500 members, has been
useful in recent development of the city. In November, 1921, it established a
"Traffic Bureau" under direction of an expert traffic man to assist local ship-
pers by audit of freight bills, quotation of rates, training of shipments and general
advice on various subjects.
In May, 1921, the city by popular vote adopted the commission-manager form
of government, which was strongly opposed by many of the local politicians. In
July, 1921, the new government was begun, the new Board of Directors (chosen for
four years) selecting for city manager, a Michigan man, at a salary of about
$5,000.
A new hotel is under construction by the Coal Realty Company which expects
it to cost $1,000,000.
The industrial awakening' around Bluefield naturally produced some
agitation in favor of removing the county seat from Princeton to the
center of greater activities. In November, 1898, on petition of 1,257
pei'sons residing principally at. Bluefield, Bramwell and neighboring
places, the question was submitted to popular election, resulting in the
defeat of the proposition by a large majority (882 for relocation and
2,373 against). In March, 1906, the question was again submitted to
election, resulting in a vote of 2,098 for removal and 5,174 against re-
moval. Bramwell on the Blue Spring river, in Mercer, rapidly grew
from a village to a town. By 1910 its population was 1,458. By 1916
490
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
it had five churches, five stores, four restaurants, and a bank and a hotel.
In McDowell county, Welch was located on practically wild lands
acquired in 1885 by John Henry Hunt and transferred in 1889 to
Captain I. A. Welch, J. H. Bramwell and J. H. Juring, who laid out
the town and in 1893 transferred the larger number of lots to the Welch
Land and Improvement Company. The arrival of the railroad in 1891
gave the town a steady growth and soon stimulated the old life and
created a new life in the entire county, which was without bridges and
wagons until 1880, and still had little more than bridle path communica-
tion in 1891. Land which had only been worth $1.00 per acre increased
rapidly in value. The meagre exports of furs and ginseng were soon
supplemented by vast exports of coal. The simple life of widely sepa-
rated homes was rapidly disturbed by the increasing appearance of the
evidences of modern highly developed community life. Taxes which in
1892 were only $4,000.00 for the entire county rose in proportion to
Birdseye View op Business Section, Charleston
the demands for the conveniences supplied through the agency of
government. i
The development along the railway in McDowell county determined
the removal of the county seat 3 from Peeryville to the village of Welch.
At the popular election held September, 1891, the question of relocation
at Welch was settled by an overwhelming vote of 1,455 against 145.
The removal was delayed for another year by an injunction awarded
George W. Payne to restrain and prohibit the removal of the county
records to Welch. After bitter litigation for a year, the injunction
was dissolved, and in October, 1892, the records were removed to a two-
story house which was offered rent free for two years. A commodious
and substantial courthouse was built in 1894 and an annex was added
in 1910.
The population of McDowell increased abnormally during the two
decades ending with 1900 and 1910. This was directly due to the rapid
development of its great coal fields and the lumber industry after the
3 The first court in McDowell was held at the house of G. Washington Paine
immediately below the site of Peeryville on Dry Pork. During the Civil war,
through the Republican influence of the Elkhorn side of the county, the county seat
was removed to the Tug river five miles above the site of Welch and near the site
of Wileoe where the first court house was built. In 1872 it was relocated at Peery-
ville (now English).
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 491
completion of the Norfolk and Western Railway, and its numerous
branches within the borders of the county.
Keystone, which was the largest town in McDowell in 1915, is situated
on Elkhorn Creek, three fourths of a mile west of the mouth of North
Fork, on the main line of the Norfolk & Western Railway. It was in-
corporated as a town in 1896, when the population was estimated at
664 persons. The town owes its remarkable growth to the coal mining
industry in the immediately surrounding region. It was incorporated
as a city in 1909.
The town of Kimball, also located on Elkhorn Creek, just above the
mouth of Laurel Branch, about eight miles east of Welch, was incor-
porated as a town in December, 1906, when its population was estimated
at 907 persons.
In 1902 at Gary the United States Steel Corporation completed one
of the largest operating plants in the world and subsequently built two
branch lines of railway connecting with the Norfolk and Western in
the Flat Top field.
According to Judge James French Strother of Welch, McDowell was first
settled by a hunting class of people largely from Virginia, North Carolina, and
Kentucky, one of the earliest grants being for 40 acres at Peeryville — now English
— in 1823. Over a large portion of the county even as late as 1915, practically the
only means of communication were unimproved dirt roads, bridle paths and foot
trails. In the thickly settled coal mining regions, however, a great awakening on
the importance of good roads began by 1910. Between 1910 and 1915, better roads
were constructed both by paid labor and prison labor under the immediate charge
of W. J. McClaren, the county road engineer. The short-term prisoners of the county
and of its incorporated towns were employed very effectively. The result was not
only an economic saving for the county but was also useful in improving the "moral
fiber" of the prisoner. In the five years, over thirty-six miles of road were graded,
and eight miles were macadamized with native sandstone.
McDowell is essentially a fuel producing county. It has practically no farms.
It has but few local traditions and lives very little in the past. Its interest is
largely in active work of the present — largely the work of making money, but its
people show much interest in permanent civic improvements.
It is a corporation-owned county which has a larger population than any other
county in the state except Kanawha. Probably many of its people have better
homes on corporation property than they would have on property of their own,
although this system of tenantry is generally regarded as a great hindrance to
the health of community life. In many respects McDowell ranks among the first
counties of the state. It pays the highest salaries to its teachers. It has district
supervision of schools throughout the county. It has 450 miles of public road of
which 100 miles are concrete. One of its banks received the largest number of
individual subscriptions in the state for Second Liberty Bonds.
The development in the vicinity of Williamson together with the
inconvenience of communication with the county seat at Logan logically
led to the formation of Mingo county from the southern territory of
Logan in 1895. Since Logan and Mingo counties are served by two
entirely different railroad systems, communication between them by rail
is possible only at Kenova, Wayne County, where the Norfolk and
Western crosses the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. The lack of direct
connection between the two counties makes trade between them difficult
and expensive.
Williamson, situated about midway between the McDowell county
'line and the Wayne county line, was incorporated as a town in 1894
and as a city in 1905. Although it had no population in 1890 it re-
ported a population of 1,200 in 1900 and 3,561 in 1910. It is built on a
sandy terrace high enough above the river to give it drainage and pro-
tection from floods. Besides its impox*tance as the county seat it is
the supply point for a considerable portion of Mingo county and for
a large part of Pike county, Kentucky. It is the center of the great
coal mining industry of Mingo, and is the headquarters for many of
the operating companies. Its growth, following the construction of the
railroad in 1892, was phenomenal.
Williamson began to use electric lights by 1900, obtaining its supply from the
Williamson Electric Company which until 1918 obtained from its own plant, but
now purchases from the Kentucky and West Virginia Power Plant at Sprigg, West
Virginia. The city owns its water works. Its first water plant, established in 1900,
492
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
was leased to a private company in 1902 but was taken back in 1906 or 1907.
It began a system of sewers about 1905. Since 1912 the town has used gas fur-
nished by the United Fuel Company. Its first ice plant was established about 1912.
Before that date its ice was shipped from Ashland, Kentucky. Its city hall was
constructed in 1915. It has a commission form of government which was estab-
lished in 1915 and the success of which has been somewhat restricted by partisan
politics. W. R. Farrer was city manager in 1921. The community has developed
excellent schools, which under the direction of Superintendent A. C. Davis steadily
extended their facilities. In 1921, the city constructed a new high school building.
The opportunities for future industrial development are large. Within 25 miles of
Williamson are 62 coal mines with a yearly production of $12,000,000.
Matewan, situated on Tug Fork at the mouth of Mate creek, nine
miles east of Williamson by rail, was incorporated as a city September
16, 1895. Its population by 1910 was 588. The town, owes its existence
and growth to the lumber and coal mining industries of the surround-
ing region, the traffic being handled by the Norfolk and Western. It
has no factories.
Mixco County Court House
Kermit, situated on Tug Fork about one mile from the Wayne
County Line, and incorporated as a village December 15, 1909, and by
1913, had a population estimated at 300. It is the center of a large gas
industry. Tributary to the Norfolk and Western at Rapp, a narrow
gauge road is in operation on Right Fork of Laurel Fork of Pigeon creek.
Another narrow gauge road is in operation on Spruce Fork of the Left
Fork of Laurel, connecting with the Norfolk and Western at the mouth
of the Fork, one-half mile north of Rapp.
Through Wayne county development was less marked. On the Big
Sandy line, opened for traffic on December 15, 1904, the most important
point west of Mingo county was opposite Louise, Kentucky (the ter-
minus of a Kentucky branch of the C. & O. Railway from Catlettsburg).
Here by 1913 the old town of Cassville (incorporated 1850) had a popu-
lation of about 500, with three hotels, four churches and a graded school.
In the same year the Big Sandy was locked and dammed for navigation
to Port Gay and plans to make it navigable to Glenhayes on Tug Fork
were under consideration.
At the mouth of Big Sandy, Kenova, built on the site where Stephen
Kelley built his cabin in 1798, had several industrial plants by 1913
and a population of over 1,000. By 1920 its population increased to
2,162.
On the Twelve Pole branch, Wayne, the county seat, had a population of only
981 in 1920. A proposition to remove the county seat of Wayne to a point midway
between Ceredo and Kenova was defeated at a special election on February 6, 1906,
by a vote of 2 566 against 1,148. As a result of the continued increase of de-
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
493
velopment on the Ohio above the mouth of the Big Sandy, the proposition became
more insistent. On September 15, 1921, at another election on the question a
majority of the votes were in favor of removal to Kenova, but this majority was
460 votes short of the necessary three-fifths. The destruction of the court house
by fire on October 4, 1921, revived and increased the agitation for removal to
Kenova. Citizens of the town of Wayne set a guard over the county jail in which
they placed the records not destroyed, and promptly pledged their united efforts
to solve the mystery of the fire. Citizens of Kenova promptly started a petition
for a new election and soon had enough names to indicate a large increase of senti-
ment in favor of removal.
Of the southern tier of West Virginia counties bordering on Virginia,
Monroe, the most eastern, was the last one penetrated by the road. It
finally obtained a branch road, the Potts Creek Railroad, in 1909. This
branch leaves the main line on New river, climbs the divide between
Stony and Potts creeks, and follows the latter stream to Paint Bank. The
stations in Potts Creek precinct are Waiteville and Laurel Branch.
Only mixed trains are in service, and timber products form the chief
item of freight.
The development of the country traversed by the Norfolk and Western Railway
in the first two decades after 1S92 is indicated by the following table showing the
growth of passenger business at certain West Virginia stations located on the road:
Passengers Forwarded Passengers
1893 1912 1893
Bluefield
Bluestone
Cooper
Bramwell
Simmons
♦Mora
*Matoaka
Maybeury
Elkhorn
North Fork
Keystone
Eckman
Vivian
Welch
*Wilcoe
*Gary
Davy
Iaeger
*Berwind
Devon
Thacker
Matewan
Williamson
*Chattaroy
Naugatuck
*Fort Gary
Wayne
Kenova — Local
Kenova — Connection .
51,167
6,070
24,507
23,419
18,061
20,063
18,941
9,196
20,625
7,210
9,931
14,489
2,822
2,747
' 1,347
2,224
3,857
7,446
' 2,274
' 7,790
14,312
1,948
163,461
61,385
14,127
30,566
17,275
12,204
21,442
26,847
38,369
128,449
79,029
15,342
64,590
132,590
16,904
31,993
23,870
36,427
12,636
10,257
16,436
24,864
88,044
18,786
14,311
16.S63
12,507
61,309
6,339
*Not in existence in 1893.
48,035
5,531
20,421
20,904
22,815
24,438
22,017
8,024
17,921
6,366
12,255
14,59S
2,847
2,719
' 1,653
2,094
4,269
6,921
' 2,229
' 7,294
14,860
2,550
Received
1912
153,591
61,649
17,954
27,878
19,813
13,641
21,341
29,533
37,894
124,805
69,562
20,007
67,417
133,525
17,977
45,152
25,679
32,949
10,290
10,639
18,101
25,677
87,401
20,737
16,693
16,693
10,719
54,441
8,429
The development of the passenger traffic of the region along the Norfolk and
Western in the decade after 1912 is indicated by the following table:
Bluefield....
Bluestone. . .
Cooper
Bramwell.
Simmons . . .
Mora
Matoaka. . .
Maybeury . .
Elkhorn....
North Fork.
Keystone. . .
Eckman. . .
Vivian
Welch
Passengers
Forwarded
Passengers
Received
1912
1920
1912
1920
163,461
244,153
153,591
222,437
61,385
44,437
61,649
60,431
14,127
12,963
17,954
17,090
30,566
21,200
27,878
20,692
17,275
16,844
19,813
18,114
12,204
17,048
13,641
13,271
21,442
28,217
21,341
35,923
26,847
24,009
29,533
23,804
38,369
19,671
37,894
20,730
128,449
215,950
124,805
201,501
79,029
32,122
69,562
30,397
15,342
14,916
20,007
9,251
64,590
11,534
67,417
13,187
132,590
193,944
133,525
203,678
Passengers
Forwarded
1912
1920
16,904
8,257
31,993
28,391
23,870
32,108
36,427
56,072
12,636
7,225
10,257
13,576
16,436
15,937
24,864
31,740
88,044
184,734
18,786
24,559
14,311
24,336
16,863
31,409
12,507
19,225
61,309
117,622
Passengers
Received
1912
1920
17,977
10,628
45,152
59,446
25,679
39,704
32,949
56,278
10,290
11,104
10,639
12,333
18,101
16,632
25,677
32,690
87,401
159,389
20,737
25,609
16,693
23,367
16,693
32,410
10,719
18,068
54,441
116,876
8,429
19,280
494 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Wilcoe
Gary
Davy
Iaeger
Berwind
Devon
Thacker
Matewan
Williamson
Chattaroy
Naugatuck
Fort Gay
Wayne
Kenova — Local
Kenova— Connection 6,339 16,814
A comparison of coal loaded in the various West Virginia fields along the
Norfolk and Western Railroad for the years 1910 and 1920 is presented in the
following table:
1910 1920
Pocahontas field 10 270,064 tons 14,832,210 tons
Tug Elver field 1,966,711 tons 3,903,545 tons
Thacker field 1,933,834 tons 4,390,330 tons
Kenova field 727,965 tons 500,220 tons
Total 14,898,574 tons 23,626,305 tons
The Virginian Railway
Within the last decade the wild region between the upper Kanawha
and the upper Blnestone has been penetrated by the Virginian Railway
which in West Virginia was begun in 1894 by the construction of the
little five-mile road south from Deepwater on the Kanawha to serve
certain lumber interests in the region. In 1902 the extension of this line
toward the coal fields4 was begun on a more careful plan of construction,
with straighter alignment and lighter grades. In 1907 the ambitious
and far-reaching plan of the release of the vast coal domain to the tide-
water came to fruition by the consolidation of the Deepwater Railway
of West Virginia and the Tidewater Railway of Virginia which were
built together by the same management and incorporated as the Vir-
ginian Railway.
The road was built by Mr. H. H. Rogers and his associates to secure
* The original certificate of incorporation of Deepwater (January 28, 1898)
called for a route from Deepwater up Lower Loup, across the divide and down
White Oak creek and Dunloup to its mouth at Glen Jean. Early in 1902 conceiving
the idea of extension in the southeast through coal fields, from Glen Jean across
the divide to Piney creek and up Piney to Flat Top mountain across to Camp creek
and to Bluestone. This route was later changed, April, 1902, further west through
Jenny's Gap and Clark's Gap in order to reach better coal territory. Finally a
preliminary survey was rue connecting with Jenny's Gap (August, 30). At the
same time surveyors of the Chesapeake and Ohio appeared in Jenny's Gap, but the
Deepwater projected their survey through the gap and staked off their line Sep-
tember 1 and 2, although the north end of the line, between Jenny's Gap and Glen
Jean, had not yet been surveyed nor had the Deepwater ordered or agreed to make
the extension beyond either termini fixed by the articles of incorporation. On
September 2 a meeting of directors passed a resolution of extension which was
filed in the office of the secretary of state, and on September 8, filed maps. From
the date of the contact with the Chesapeake and Ohio engineers, the Deepwater
Eailway engineers and officials pressed work of location of the entire line and com-
pleted the same February 27, 1903 — filing maps as fast as data could be procured
and prepared.
The Chesapeake and Ohio completed to connect with the old survey of 1899
and on September 11, 1902, filed a map of the projected location and on the same
day filed a map of the old 1899 survey. It completed actual location of the new
road on November 1, 1902. On October 2 it got deeds to land in Jenny's Gap and
about December 30 began work of construction on the disputed strip and proceeded
at the cost of $8,500 until June, 1903, when the trial court decided that the Chesa-
peake and Ohio had paramount right of appropriation. The Deepwater by a writ
of error obtained from the court of appeals a reversal of the decision of the
Kaleigh court.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 495
the best possible line regardless of expense, or of connecting railways,
or of adjacent towns or to get the revenue of immediate traffic, but with
a view to future possibilities inherent to the terminal and intermediate
territory. Its main objective points were to penetrate the heart of the
New river-Pocahontas and Kanawha coal fields which were not thor-
oughly served by existing roads, and to secure facilities for unloading
coal at the tidewater terminal. Its course was selected by engineers
who had a free hand to select a route and produce a line having the
most economical grades and curves from the standpoint cf operation.
Its location and grade were determined only after the completion of five
or six thousand miles of field surveys and careful consideration of
various ruling factors. Over much of its route from Deepwater to
Princeton, it has a succession of heavy cuts and fills, with many tunnels
and high steel viaducts. Its easy grades toward the East were selected
with a view to the heavier freight traffic in that direction.
In March, 1907, its head of travel was Mullens. On July 1, 1909, it
was in operation throughout its entire course. Its efficiency was assured
by many improvements and the increased equipment which rapidly fol-
lowed. Its assembling yard was located at Princeton, from which long
trains of coal are drawn eastward behind huge Mallet locomotives.
At Pax, twenty-seven miles from Deepwater, it has a six-mile con-
nection with twelve mines by the Kanawha, Glen Jean and Eastern
Railroad owned and operated by "William McKell. At Bishop it con-
nects with the White Oak Railway which is operated by the large New
River Company with the Glen Jean and carries the production of four
mines. At Page it receives the large exports of the Loup Creek Colliery
Company's mine. At Mullens it connects with the important Winding
Gulf branch along which are many important mines. It receives the
shipments of large lumbering operations at Maben, Herndon and
Gardner.
At Deepwater the company planned to build a bridge across the
Kanawha and Michigan in order to secure additional facilities for
shipping coal.
The Piney River and Paint Creek Road, extending from Beckley Junction to
Prosperity, was constructed in 1907 and was later leased and operated by the Vir-
ginian Railway Company. The Winding Gulf Branch of the Virginian Railroad was
begun in 1904 and completed in 1910. The Kanawha Glen Jean and Eastern Rail-
way, extended from Glen Jean to Pax, and connecting Loop Creek and Paint Creek,
was completed into Raleigh county in 1906.
Along the route of the road many communities soon felt its stimu-
lating influence.
Princeton, after the location of the Virginian shops, grew steadily.
The population in 1910 was 3,027. By 1916 it had two banks, several
wholesale and retail stores, five churches, three newspapers, an electric
railway, and good water and sewerage systems. Its population in 1920
was 6,224. In 1916 it was connected with Bluefield by an electric rail-
way line. By 1919 it had a modern improved highway to Athens, the
seat of the Concord State Normal School.
Matoaka, fifteen miles northwest of Princeton, had a population
of 647 people in 1920. In 1916 it had two churches, five stores, two
hotels, four restaurants, and a bank.
Mullens, situated in the eastern edge of Wyoming county, at the
month of Slab Fork of Guyandotte river, is much the largest town in
the county. Its population in January, 1915, was 1,000. It was first
settled by A. J. Mullens soon after 1890. It is the junction point on the
Virginian for the railroad leading up Guyandotte and Winding Gulf to
the developed commercial coal mines on the latter stream in Raleigh
county. It has a weekly newspaper which was established in 1915. It
has two banks, one of which began business in 1910, and the other in
1916.
To Mullens a daily hack line was immediately established from Pineville which
became the county seat of Wyoming county in January, 1907, and was incorporated
as a town in June, 1907. Pineville is only a country village with no manufacturing
496 HISTORY OP "WEST VIRGINIA
industries. It was not settled until about 1853. It is surrounded by large eoal
deposits whose development is retarded by lack of transportation facilities. It
became the county seat only after a long and bitter fight against its older but less
central rival, Oceana (in the northwestern part of the county), which finally lost
by a disastrous fire which destroyed the old court house. Its population was 334 in
1910, and decreased to 304 in 1920. It has a weekly newspaper which was estab-
lished in 1899. It has two banks.
McAlkin, a mining village on the Winding Gulf, on the Virginian
Railway, became headquarters for two large eoal companies, and by 1916
had a population of 1,000.
Lester developed largely due to mining and lumber industries. By
1916 it had nine stores, three restaurants, one sawmill, one planing mill,
three hotels and three churches, and a population of about 1,200. In
1920 its population was 1,412.
Beckley increased in population from 342 in 1900 to 2,161 in 1910 (a
gain of nearly 600%) and to 4.149 in 1920. In 1908 it was incorporated
as a city. Its growth was largely the result of the mining and lumber
interest in the county. By 1906 it became the home of Beckley Institute
established by a board of the Christian Church. By 1916 it had ten
stores, four hotels, seven churches, and a high school. In 1920 it had
two weekly newspapers and three banks.
In 1922 the Virginian- Wyoming Railway Company had under con-
struction a line of railway connecting with the main line of the Vir-
ginian railway near Maben, W. Va., and extending through Polks Gap,
down Milans Fork and up Laurel creek to Glen Rogers, W. Va., a dis-
tance of fourteen and one-half miles. "This line when completed will
be leased by the Virginian and besides serving the developing mines
of the Raleigh Wyoming Coal Company will serve other mines shortly
to be developed."
Besides the coal mines on its own lines, the Virginian, under track-
age arrangements with the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, serves coal mines
in Raleigh county between Pemberton and Cranberry; two mines (Scar-
boro and Whipple) in Payette county and in connection with the
Kanawha, Glen Jean & Eastern Railroad, all the mines on that line. The
mines which it serves represent a capital investment of over $25,000,000.
An appreciation of the rapid development in a decade of coal mining
in the field newly opened by the Virginian can be gained from the fol-
lowing data :
In 1910: — 14 mines, with a production of 1,685,875 net tons.
In 1920 :— 103 mines, with a production of 7,602,381 net tons.
In 1921, there were more than 150,000 acres under development on
the main line, branches and connections, of the Virginian. An equal
area of smokeless and high volatile coal lands was accessible for develop-
ment by the construction of additional branch lines.
The Virginian Railway, already unique among coal carriers by
reason of the rapid growth of its coal tonnage and of its large tonnage
trains, has recently made, and is still making, physical improvements
which will result in a still greater showing. Among these improvements
is the double tracking of Clarks Gap Hill in Wyoming county. Clarks
Gap is the summit of the Virginian's line. To reach it a two per cent
grade is encountered for a distance of about fourteen miles eastward
from Elmore. This work of improvement enlarges the "neck of the
bottle" for a greatly increased freight movement over this summit. In-
cluded in this work is the double tracking of several steel bridges and
the widening of five tunnels. By 1922, the double track was connected
and in operation. The work of concreting the tunnels was almost com-
pleted in January, 1922. The total cost of these particular improve-
ments will be in excess of $2,500,000.
At the tidewater end of the line, 9.7 miles of road starting from
Sewall 's Point was double tracked, and upon it was installed mechanical
and electrical interlocking equipment and automatic signals. At
Sewall's Point a large double car dumper was added to the facilities. In
it two standard coal cars are dumped at one time. It was designed
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498 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
primarily for use in dumping the large newly-constructed 120-ton cars,
which were put into operation by the Virginian in 1921. These ears
have a greater carrying capacity than any coal cars elsewhere^ in use
and are confined strictly to the tidewater service. The Virginian has
also recently purchased and put into regular road service a number of
locomotives of the Mallet type, the most powerful in the world for such
service.
Quite naturally with the growth of the coal traffic and the improve-
ments in the physical facilities of the railway there has been a growth
in other lines of traffic though perhaps not so marked as that of coal.
The increase in population, especially in the coal field, is indicated by
the increased sales of passenger tickets. The gross ticket sales at Prince-
ton in 1913 amounted to $25,731.17 and in 1920 to $71,163.36. At Mul-
lens the sales in 1913 amounted to $13,931.84 and in 1920 to $89,326.11.
CHAPTER XXIX
OIL, GAS, AND COAL DEVELOPMENT
The "political revolution of 1872 could not check the steadily grow-
ing economic revolution which through the peaceful process of time
changed the industrial character of the state."
The vast resources of West Virginia, whose development was so long
delayed and retarded by lack of transportation facilities, have recently
furnished the incentive for many new enterprises which have greatly
changed the life of the region. The recent industrial development had
its origin largely in the increasing demand for timber, coal, oil and gas,
and to the resulting inducements for the construction of railroads and
the establishment of certain manufactures, such as glass, iron and steel
for which a portion of the state furnishes a clean, cheap fuel.
In 1876 at the expense of $20 000 West Virginia prepared for the Centennial
Exposition at Philadelphia an exhibit of her resources which attracted the attention
of the world and the investment of capital in the state. The West Virginia building
was made entirely of the eighteen varieties of hardwoods of Marshall county.
Among the many exhibits were large blocks and masses of bituminous coal, some
of which had been hauled over fifty miles by ox teams before they could reach a
railway station for transportation to Philadelphia.
Petroleum, first obtained in large quantities in 1860 on the Little
Kanawha near Parkersburg, developed a thriving business which, al-
though ruined by the Confederates in 1863, was revived in 1864-65 and
greatly extended by operations in "Wirt, Wood and Pleasants counties.
In these years, coincident with increasing steamboat traffic on the Ohio,
the oil excitement attracted many speculators and promoters to the
region.
From 1876 to 1889 there was little extension of productive area, but
the yearly production which steadily declined in these years rapidly
increased in the following decade — rising from 544,000 barrels in 1889
to 16,000,000 barrels in 1900, surpassing both Pennsylvania and New
York. In 1910 West Virginia produced 11,753,071 barrels of oil, rank-
ing fourth in production in the United States. In 1911 she produced
9,795,464 barrels, ranking fifth in production. The speculation in oil,
although it rained some, built fortunes for others. By means of a series
of pumping stations constructed after 1890 the product was forced
through pipe lines over the mountains to the seaboard cities.
After 1882, by the opening of new gas wells, and the discovery of
new gas fields, the practical use of gas became a large factor in the
industrial and social development of the state, furnishing the induce-
ment for the location of many manufacturing establishments seeking
cheap fuel. It also attracted immigrants desiring a clean and convenient
fuel for their homes.
Its convenience resulted in the establishment of many glass plants in West
Virginia. As early as 1821 a window glass factory was erected at Wheeling. In
1864 the cost of manufacture was reduced by one-half by the discovery of a new
process which is regarded as the second great improvement in modern glass manu-
facture. As early as 1879 gas was used for fuel in the glass works at Wheeling.
In 1900 it was used almost exclusively in all the glass works of the state. As a
fuel in the manufacture of glass it has no equal. In 1870 there were in the state
(at Wheeling) six glass works employing 860 persons with products exceeding
$600,000 per annum. In 1890 there were seven establishments employing 1,371 per-
sons with products valued at $945,234. In 1900 the number had increased to 16
employing 1,949 persons and with products valued at $1,871,795.
In 1911 there were 28 flint glass factories employing 6,033 persons and produc-
499
500 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
ing annually a product value at $6,854,187; and 21 window glass factories employing
3,153 persons and with an annual production value at $3,467,622.
At the close of the war, following the awakened interest in the latent
mineral resources of the region and the investments of capitalists indi-
cated the beginnings of a new era of development, coal mining com-
panies were formed and coal mining operations were begun in Putnam,
Boone, Wayne, Mason and Monongalia counties by 1869, and in Marion
in 1870, and in Sewell Mountain on New river in 1873. Operations were
extensive in these counties and in Payette, Harrison and Ohio by 1880,
and at the same time embryo operations were begun in the coke indus-
try which steadily increased after 1880 and especially after 1890 when
machines were introduced for mining. In June, 1883, the first coal was
shipped from the Flat Top field. The valuable Pittsburg vein of coal
was easily accessible along the Monongahela, especially cropping out
above the water level in Monongalia, Marion, Harrison and Lewis
counties. In 1903 there were 530 mines inspected in the state, and the
total production was 24,000,000 long tons, of which nearly 19,500,000 tons
were shipped to market. Coke burning which began in a small way as
early as 1853 did not begin its rapid development until 1902.
Oil Development
The petroleum industry owes more to West Virginia than to Penn-
sylvania. The tools which Captain Drake used in penetrating the earth's
rocky strata near Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1859 were invented in
Western Virginia a half a century earlier. Many years before he com-
pleted the historic oil well of 1859, large quantities of oil were marketed
from the territory on Hughes river in Ritchie and Wirt counties.
Oil was first discovered in West Virginia in connection with the
boring or drilling of salt wells which began on the Great Kanawha above
Charleston in 1807. Although, at first, it was regarded as a nuisance
except for limited use as a "medicine," by 1826 it began to produce
considerable profit by its use for lamps in workshops and manufactories.
Ten years later, above the mouth of Hughes' river, upon whose waters
the early settlers found oil floating Dr. Hildreth reported that fifty or
one hundred barrels were collected annually from pits dug in the sand.
Here, it was sold as "Seneca oil" to which was ascribed rare medicinal
properties. George S. Lemon, who arrived from lower Virginia and
reared his home at the forks of Hughes' river, and who promptly
engaged in the collection and sale of the oil from a well which he sank
in quest of salt, secured an increased production of oil. Bushrod W.
Creel, who later appeared as claimant of the oil land and supplanted
Lemon in the sale of oil, found his principal market at Marietta with
Bosworth, Wells & Company who sold it to drug and chemical companies
in Pittsburg, Baltimore, Cincinnati, New York and St. Louis. His sales
to this company increased from $238.95 in 1848 to $4,400.76 in 1851.
then declined to $239 in 1855 and amounted to $1,000 in 1860. The
price per gallon rose from 33 cents in 1855 to 40 cents in 1857.
Up the Little Kanawha, and not far distant from Hughes' river was
a small stream which the early settlers called Burning Spring run, be-
cause near its mouth there were two springs from which natural gas
escaped. The land on which these springs were located was purchased
by two Rathbone brothers, who came from New York to Parkersburg in
1842. To make a test for salt brine below the mouth of the small stream,
in 1859 they bored a well in which they struck petroleum at a depth of
200 feet. Abandoning the salt project, and enlisting other Parkersburg
men in the enterprise, they bored a deeper well which produced 200
barrels of oil daily. They then organized the Rathbone Oil Company
which sunk another, yielding 1,200 barrels daily, and producing an ex-
citement which rapidly spread and increased in intensity and dramatic
interest. Here was the Eldorado of 1860! The history associated with
it reads like a romance.
In a wild thicket of 1860 there suddenly arose, by April, 1861, a
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 501
town with a hotel brilliantly lighted from mains of natural gas, and
with a population of several thousand inhabitants ' — a swarming mass
of humanity, capitalists, adventurers and public men. It marked the
beginning of the later era of oil and gas development in West Virginia
in which so many fortunes have been made and lost.
Hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil were shipped — floated — in
flat-boats, on rafts, or adrift, to Parkersburg, there to be sent to market
by rail or river. At last, the production exceeded the cooperage, and
the oil was pumped in bulk into barges lashed to the river shore at
the mouth of Burning Springs run. About 300,000 barrels thus stored
were destroyed on May 9, 1863, by General Jones of tbe Confederate
army, with 1,500 troops, who visited the town, destroyed the machinery
and kindled the largest tire ever started in West Virginia. The oil
was simultaneously ignited, and the boats set adrift to float down stream.
The light was clearly seen at Parkersburg forty miles away.
For awhile, the whole enterprise perished. ' ' The derrick stood in the
field with the half bored well, the oil gushed up and overspread the
ground, the houses were torn down for eampfires * * *. The few
brave men who remained — the Rathbones, Camdens and McParlands —
made their money by buying these lands at low prices, sinking good
wells, and disposing of their purchases to companies formed in New
York and Philadelphia."
In 1864, with the approaching close of the war, oil hunters began
to arrive at Parkersburg, impelled by the thirst for riches which might
be obtained along the Little Kanawha above the oil metropolis. "All
the world was pushing to Burning Springs along the Elizabeth pike."
In 1865, there was a revival of the development and consequent ex-
citement of five years before. Operations extended along a northwest
line from Burning Springs through Wirt, Wood and Pleasants counties
to the Ohio river on the anticlinal called the "Oil Break." The chief
points of development were Burning Springs, Oil Rock, the California
House, on Hughes' river two miles below the forks, Volcano, Sand Hill,
and White Oak. Light oil was found at all these places except at
Volcano and Sand Hill where the "heavy oil," used for lubricators,
was obtained.
While excitement was high along Fishing creek in Wetzel county and in Tyler
county, oil speculators and well-borers had already been attracted by indications
of gas and oil along the tributaries of the West Fork in Lewis county and along
the Pennsylvania boundary of Monongalia. Even in the Cheat river valley in
Preston they were prospecting and purchasing with expression of confident ex-
pectations which materially increased the value of undeveloped tracts of land. Har-
rison county was affected by a strong show of oil on the head waters of Cabin run
(a tributary of Hughes river) in Ritchie county, and became excited by an oil
strike at a depth of 200 feet in Clarkburg which resulted in the beginning of oil
leases on town lots, cultivated farms and wild lands. In Taylor county, too, an
oil strike was reported at a depth of 300 feet. Fortunately the mania for buying
"shares" in unknown companies had somewhat subsided. Except in a few in-
stances of wild investment in untested petroleum lands, prices continued to rise. In
Monongalia county considerable excitement caused by the expectation of striking
a rich oil field in the spring of 1861, and quieted by the intense excitement of the
war, was revived in 1865.
Wells in the oil territory multiplied in number, with a corresponding
increase in production. In April, 1876, ex-Governor William E. Steven-
son, of Parkersburg, who collected the statistics of petroleum for the
Centennial commissioners, stated that there were then 292 wells in the
state averaging about 3 barrels each, or a total production of about
900 barrels daily. Parkersburg, then the chief oil market, had a rec-
tifying capacity of 2,000 barrels per day. The estimated amount of oil
produced in the state from 1859 to 1876 was 3,000,000 barrels.
A second period of development extended from 1876 to 1889, in
which there was but little extension of the productive area. Capitalists
expended much money in drilling in new territory but without success.
i On a dark and stormy night in the winter of 1867, every light and fire in the
town was suddenly extinguished by the exhaustion of the supply of gas, causing
much suffering before a supply of fuel could be obtained from another source.
o
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 503
The new wells were not deep enough to reach the lower sands. There
was almost a steady decline in the production, especially between 1879
and 1885, as shown by the following statement of the number of barrels
of each year:
1876 120,000 1883 126,000
1877 172,000 1884 90,000
1878 180,000 1885 91,000
1879 180,000 1886 102,000
1880 179,000 1887 145,000
1881 151,000 1888 119,448
1882 128,000
As well boring became a business, the invention of improved ap-
pliances resulted from necessity. Although borings along the Little
Kanawha had been made with ease, operators as they advanced to new
attempts in other regions of softer rock encountered difficulties which
were not overcome for a quarter of a century — resulting in a check upon
oil development. Finally, to prevent the choking of their uncased op-
ening by crumbling walls, they used large iron pipes which enabled them
to bore to far greater depths. By this discovery, the oil development
was revived in 1889. At the same time the earlier chance methods of
searching for petroleum were supplanted by methods based on scientific
knowledge of its relation to certain rock formation and rock foldings.
In 1874, W. C. Stiles of Wood county discovered a method to reduce
the expense of pumping by connecting a series of wells, so that the en-
tire series of wells could be pumped with one engine and one man.
A third period in the development of the oil industry began in 1889
with a sudden increase in production caused by the discovery of deeper
sands by the drillers. The Doll's run, Eureka, Mannington and Sisters-
ville fields were found and developed; and, from that time until 1900
the growth of West Virginia's oil production increased rapidly.
The beginning of the larger oil development of West Virginia was
a direct result of a discovery in geology which was put to a practical
test by Dr. I. C. White who later became state geologist and obtained
a reputation as one of the great economic geologists.
The discovery resulted in the location of probable territory by a
study of rock foundation in advance of drilling operations. Dr. White 's
investigations and practical work in locating oil fields were based upon
the "anticlinal theory." An anticline, in geology is a stratum of rock,
or many strata, forming a series, folded in the form of an arch. It
had been long known that many wide and long anticlines existed in
West Virginia ; some buried deeply underground, others approaching the
surface. Some of them are measured in length by scores of miles ; and
from side to side many miles wide. The general course of the largest
anticlines is northeast and southwest across the state, generally paral-
lel with the ranges of the Allegheny Mountains, and in fact, owing their
origin for the most part to the same agencies which formed the Alle-
gheny and associated ranges of mountains. They are vast folds in the
layers of rock, due to crumpling by lateral pressure. Though the gen-
eral direction of the folds is pretty regular, there are many local ir-
regularities, which if studied in detail, would involve many complex
problems.
The earlier shadowy belief that oil had collected uuder the arches
or anticlines led to important results under the investigation and con-
clusions of a trained geologist whose work greatly reduced the doubt
and the gamble in boring for oil. Gradually oil operators recognized
certainty and importance of the new discovery and induced oil operators
of Pennsylvania and others to make new ventures southward in West
Virginia where the production had greatly fallen between 1882 and
1888.
Because of the little confidence of practical oil men in the ability of
geologists, Dr. White received little encouragement when he undertook
the field work tests to determine whether geology can assist the drill
in locating oil. The preliminary work required much surveying, and
504 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
much minute examination of the region's formation. He chose as his
territory the region about Mannington, Marion county, which was
twenty miles from any producing oil well. An account of how the work
was done, and its result, deserves a prominent place in the industrial
history of "West Virginia.
The following statement by Dr. White concerning his success in testing the
anticline theory is quoted from his article on the development of the Mannington
oil field which was published in the bulletin of the Geological Society of America
(1892):
"Guided by this theory, I located in 1884 the important gas and oil field near
Washington, Pennsylvania; also the Grapeville gas field along the great arch of
the same name in Westmoreland county; and the Belvernon field on the Monon-
gahela river. On the same theory I located and mapped out the celebrated Taylor-
town oil field nine months before the drill demonstrated the truth of my conclu-
sions. On the Mannington-Mount Morris belt a derrick was built to bore for oil
on one of my locations at Fairview more than five years before Jhe drill finally
proved that my location was immediately over one of the richest pools in the
county and before the drill had shown that there was any oil in that portion of
West Virginia. The negative results in condemning immense areas of both oil and
gas are even more important in preventing unnecessary expenditure and waste of
capital where a search for either gas or oil would certainly have been in vain.
"My first work was to determine the tide elevation of these coal beds, es-
pecially the Waynesburg, with reference to oil, gas, and saltwater as developed by
the Mount Morris borings. For this purpose one of my associates ran a line of
levels from the Monongahela river (using a Baltimore and Ohio railroad datum)
out to the oil field, and made a complete survey and map of the twenty or more
wells that had been drilled at that time (February, 1889) in and about the vil-
lage of Mount Morris. He also obtained the elevations of the coal beds at every
possible point. From the data thus acquired, it was learned that wherever the
Waynesburg coal had an elevation of 950 feet above tide, gas and not oil was
found, and that where it had dipped down below 870 feet, saltwater was a cer-
tainty— in the Mount Morris region at least. As the Washington coal is 155 feet
above the Waynesburg bed, the gas and saltwater limits were found to be 1,105
and 1,125 feet above tide, respectively, when referred to the Washington bed as
a datum line.
"With these facts in hand, it was only a question of correct identification,
or tracing of coal beds, and a simple matter of leveling in order to follow the
strike of the surface rocks at least, for a hundred miles or more. But the query
arose: Suppose the surface rocks do not lie parallel to the oil sand, then where
will the oil belt be found? The interval between these coal beds and the oil sand
might either thin away considerably, or thicken up an equal amount in passing
southward from Mount Morris. Of course, if either of these things should happen,
the strike of the oil would not run with the strike of the surface rocks, but would
gradually veer away from the latter either eastwest or westward, depending upon
whether the intervening measures should thicken up or thin away. To meet any
such possible contingencies, the territory within which it was considered possible
for oil to exist, was gradually widened southward, and at Mannington extended
eastward to where the Waynesburg coal had an elevation of 1,025 feet instead of
950 (the eastern limit of oil at Mount Morris), and carried westward to where
it had an elevation of 800 instead of 870 feet (the western limit of oil at the north).
' ' In following the strike line from Mount Morris to Mannington its direction
was found to vary greatly. For the first five or six miles between Mount Morris
and Doll's run, the strike was about south 30 degrees west; but toward the head
of Doll's run, the line turned rapidly westward, making a great curve or elbow,
and running westward past the village of Fairview, from which, with many curves
and sinuosities, it crossed successively Plum run, Mods run, and Buffalo creek at
Mannington, on a general course of south 45 degrees west, but varying from this
10 to 15 degrees either way in certain localities. The strike line carried on south-
ward from Mannington, passed into Harrison county.
' ' This course which I thus mapped out for the extension of the Mount Mor-
ris oil belt was so crooked, and passed so much farther westward than the practical
oil men had considered possible, that my geologic line, or hypothetical belt, fur-
nished occasion for many jokes and jibes at my expense among the oil fraternity;
and it was with the greatest difficulty, and only by liberal gifts of supposed oil
territory, that I could induce any of them to risk their money on a purely geological
theory. Finally however, a contract to drill a test well in the vicinity of Man-
nington was entered into in the spring of 1889.
' ' The problem I had to solve was, whether the interval between the surface
rocks and the oil sand would remain the same as at Mt. Morris, or whether it would
either thicken or thin; since, upon my theory, if I made a location at Mannington
where the Waynesburg coal had an elevation of 900 feet above tide, and the interval
from it to the oil sand remained the same (1 625 feet) as at Mount Morris, then
if the oil rock proved open and porous, a fair oil well should be found; while if, on
the other hand, this interval should thin away to, say 1,575 feet, then gas would
be found, and if it should thicken up to 1,675 feet, salt water would be obtained,
and this, especially, would be fatal to my theory, for practical oil men were pre-
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 505
dieting that Mannington was several miles too far west, and henee was a salt water
territory.
"In the absence of any evidence bearing upon the subject, and rather in opposi-
tion to a general geological fact, viz.: that the sedimentary beds thin away rapidly
westward from the Alleghenies, I made up my mind to take no chance on salt
water in this, the first test well, and in finally determining the location, placed it
where the Waynesburg coal had an altitude of" 970 feet, and the Washington about
1,125 feet. Such a location at Mount Morris would have been in the gas belt by
an elevation of 20 to 25 feet to spare.
"As the drill progressed it was found that the intervening rocks were thicken-
ing instead of thinning when compared with the Mount Morris column, and when
the top of the oil sand (Big Injun) was finally struck, the interval from it to the
Waynesburg coal measured exactly 1,725 feet instead of 1,625 feet as at Mount
Morris. Finally, on October 11, 1889, the drill penetrated the oil-bearing zone of
this sand, and was immediately followed by copious showing of oil, the result being
that my theory was at once raised from the domain of conjecture to that of demon-
strated fact. Thus a great victory was won for geology, since it taught the prac-
tical oil men once for all that they could not afford to disregard geological truths
in their search for oil deposits.
' ' This thickening of the interval between the Waynesburg coal and the oil sand
to the extent of 100 feet in the distance of 25 miles from Mount Morris to Man-
nington, proved to be exactly the effect that I had anticipated, that is, it caused
the oil belt to veer westward until it gradually encroached upon the territory occu-
pied by the gas belt in the vicinity of Mount Morris; so that the western edge of
the oil belt at Mannington is found where the Waynesburg coal has an altitude
of 950 feet above tide, which is where the western edge occurs at Mount Morris,
and the gas belt begins; and hence, had the first location at Mannington been made
without taking into account a possible thickening, the well would have been too far
westward, and a dry hole or salt water would have been the certain result. The
amount of this eastward shifting of the strike of the oil sand compared with the
strike of the surface rocks between Mount Morris and Mannington is something
more than half a mile.
' ' Since this Mannington test well was drilled, about 200 others have been
sunk along the belt, as previously defined by me, between Mount Morris and Man-
nington; and the correctness of my theoretical work has been demonstrated by the
drill in opening up this belt through Marion and Monongalia counties one of the
largest and most valuable oil fields of the country. Fewer dry holes have been
found along this belt than on any other oil belt known to me, not more than five
per cent of the wells drilled within the defined limit proving totally dry. ' '
In the year 1893 — just after the oil and gas fields of West Virginia
had been developed in the northern end of the State Dr. White, in a
talk before the members of the West Virginia Legislature, predicted
that the petroleum and natural gas fields of the State would extend
entirely across it from Hancock county on the north to the Kentucky
line on the southwest. The West Virginia Coal, Oil, and Gas Map, as
well as the State's Survey Detailed County Maps, show how closely
that prediction was fulfilled, and also how the structural theory of oil
and gas was verified by every pool of gas or oil found along this great
petroliferous belt.
The Fairview oil fields were first opened by the penetration of the
Big Injun sand by the Fleming oil well drilled by E. M. Hukill, of
Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania, and later (in 1890) by the Hamilton well
near Mannington, which, was a producer at first but was later plugged.
The first well in Mannington, drilled by the Burt Oil Company, was be-
gun in October, 1889, and completed in April, 1890, immediately at-
tracting the attention of the Standard Oil Company to West Virginia
fields. Its completion was delayed by the distance of the nearest oil
well supply companies at Clarksburg, and by the inconvenience of car-
rying damaged tools to that point for repair. It was a big "gusher"
and was named the "Daisy." After it was placed under control, it
produced 240 barrels per day. It continued to produce for sixteen
years (until 1906).2
Development increased after 190], and the Mannington field rapidly
became one of the largest in the state. The number of fortunes made
continued to increase for several years.
2 After the drilling of the first well in the Mannington field in 1888, wells were
put down rapidly. The "boom" probably reached its height in 1893. The largest
well ever drilled in the Mannington field was the Robert P. Floyd well which pro-
duced about 1,600 barrels a day. During the oil "boom," the population of Man
nington increased from about 400 to 5,000.
506 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
In 1893 oil was also discovered in the Gordon sand on "Whetstone
run three miles southwest of Mannington.
The productive fields of Doddridge and Wetzel counties were opened
in the spring of 1892, by the completion of a well of small production
on the Sullivan farm in Doddridge county.
After this date, the development over the entire western part of
the state made rapid progress. The Whiskey run field in Ritchie county
was developed in 1893 and 1894. The Cairo field was developed with-
in the next year or two, and the Hendershot ' immediately followed.
These fields have been extended until they join each other and make a
practically solid producing territory, with the exception of dry streaks
and spots that always appear in oil regions.
Another early development, begun at Nineveh, Pennsylvania, in
1888, was extended into West Virginia. This long and narrow field,
which might be called a "shoestring" belt, extends through the western
part of Greene county, Pennsylvania, into Wetzel county, West Vir-
ginia. It is a Gordon field, and produces both oil and gas. Its most
prolific spots were in the vicinity of Higbee, Greene county, Pennsyl-
vania, and at Littleton, Wetzel county, West Virginia.
The Sistersville field was opened in the winter of 1891-1892. The
Eureka or Belmont pool on the Ohio river, thirty miles below Sisters-
ville, was opened in the winter of 1890-91. The Wolf Summit field was
opened in the fifth sand in the early part of 1889-90.
In 1893 the Sistersville field was regarded as the greatest producing
oil field in the world. Although many counties contributed to the
aggregate oil production of the state, there were but three main pro-
ducing fields — the Sistersville field, the Eureka-Belmont field, both along
the Ohio river, and the Marion county field in the northern part of the
state. In these producing fields the derricks stood in every yard and
at the street corner and even on the property devoted to religious
worship.
The Mt. Morris, Doll's Run, Fairview, Mannington oil and gas field
whose southern end had not yet been found was ' largely covered by
leases which were held by a Pittsburgh syndicate.
The gas wells at Warfleld on the Big Sandy, and those at Burning
Springs above Charleston completed the chain of evidence that the oil
belt would extend entirely across West Virginia from the Pan-handle
to Kentucky; for the gas was evidence that the heavier fluid was near.
The details of the negotiation of leases and rentals on oil territory
from the Ohio eastward to Doddridge and other northern interior coun-
ties, gathered and properly collected and arranged would present a
story of intense human interest. At the earliest period of active leasing,
when there were no banks in Tyler or Doddridge counties and
when the farmer would not accept checks, the "leasers" carried on
their persons large sums of money and were also well armed. One of
the oldest "leasers" was Joseph Noble of West Union.
The regions about Mannington have furnished oil from four differ-
ent strata or paying sands. The Wetzel county territory has been pro-
lific from two different strata. The Ritchie county and Wood county
fields have produced oil from three or four different sands.
In the summer of 1900 the famous ' ' Copeley ' ' well, drilled in Lewis
county, West Virginia, opened what was then entirely new territory
in Gordon sand. Immediately eastward, in its development, oil was
discovered in the fifth sand which furnishes most of the present pro-
duction of oil. Territory included in Lewis county and adjoining
counties is one of the most prolific gas fields in the entire state.
The greatest excitement of 1899 centered around oil developments
on Polk Creek (in Lewis county), where the Camden well No. 1 was
started as a test at the mouth of Dry creek. So much gas was encoun-
tered that operations were suspended for a time. Suddenly, on Octo-
ber 5, the well came in as a gusher with an estimated production of
from 1,000 to 3,000 barrels a day. The oil was thrown nearly to the
top of the derrick and flowed for some distance in the channel of Polk
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508 • HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
creek. Dams were constructed in the channel to hold it back, and bar-
rels were submerged in the pools to collect as much of the precious fluid
as possible. The construction of tanks was rushed with all possible
speed. One week after the strike, eight 250-barrel tanks and two 1,200
barrel tanks were standing near the well, at least partly tilled with oil.
Efforts were being made by the company to confine the output of the
well until a pipe line could be laid to the Jarvisville field.
A close watch was maintained by the company to prevent other
parties from gaining the secret of the amount of production. The suc-
cessful strike undoubtedly cost the company thousands of dollars in
the increased prices which they were compelled to pay to secure leases
on the farms adjoining.
The news of the gusher on the Camden farm created the greatest
excitement which had appeared in that region since the years of the
Confederate raiders. All classes of people rushed to the scene with curi-
osity to see the marvel. The fever of speculation rapidly spread.
Royalties were bought at unheard-of prices, and farmers were offered
fabulous prices for their lands. "Men rushed madly in all directions
from the well," said a writer in the Weston Independent, "determined,
if possible, to secure leases at any cost."
The opening of the first "gusher" of the Sand Pork fields of Lewis
county on September 22, 1900, on the Copeley farm of the old Camden-
Bailey lands, was a remarkable event in the history of the oil industry
— an event which produced a sudden tide of prosperity, which disturbed
the social equilibrium for miles around. The increasing flow from 200
barrels per hour to 7,000 barrels per day, rapidly filling ten large,
hastily improvised 250-barrel tanks, and rising rapidly in the bed of
the stream which was dammed to save it, and tiowing down the stream
eight miles beyond the first dams, soon raised the four maiden sisters
of a pioneer Irish family from poverty to wealth and created a rapid
demand for immediate development on adjacent lands which in the
main had been leased by the South Penn Oil company. The signs of
new life were seen in the faces of the crowds of curious visitors, and
the active industry of many new operators and speculators. ■
The oil spurted far above the top of the derrick. Laborers clad in
oil skin worked constantly and with frantic efforts to control or to
reduce the flow. They hastily improvised tin tanks, each with a capacity
of 50 barrels, which were filled in a few hours. The over flowing oil
formed a riverlet flowing into Sandfork, which rapidly rose in the bed
of the stream. Laborers hastily threw up in the channels of the streams
a series of dams one below the other for a distance of eight miles. They
worked day and night at fabulous wages and sometimes fell exhausted
for the want of sleep. The oil flowed on over the last dam and continued
down the channels of the streams to the Little Kanawha. Weeks passed
before sufficient tankage could be brought to the field, or before a pipe
line could be constructed to provide for the production of the well.
The greatest excitement followed the strike, visitors came from far
and near, roads were crowded with people riding or driving to see the
wells. A general rush was made to get material into the field, 200 teams
were employed in hauling engines, boilers, pipes and casings from
Weston. Boarding houses, feed stores and barns sprang up in the neigh-
borhood of the new well which "disturbed the social equilibrium for
miles around." The four maiden sisters, descendants of the pioneer
Copeley, who had taught numerous terms of school, were enabled to retire
from the profession in ease and comfort for the remainder of their lives.
Their neighbors, most of whom had experienced some difficulty in secur-
ing a comfortable living from their rough farms, became wealthy over
night. Prosperity, such as the first Irish settlers had never dreamed
of, came suddenly to the rough hollows of Sandfork. By 1902 the oil
production of Lewis county approached its highest point. By 1912
there were in the county about 200 wells producing oil and 500 pro-
ducing gas. The oil and gas industry was principally in the Freeman's
creek, Court House, and Hacker's creek districts. The product from
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 509
the few wells drilled in Collins settlement and Skin creek districts, was
very light. In Hacker's creek district, the gas wells had a light volume
(one million to ten million feet), hut had a heavy rock pressure. In
hoth Freeman's creek and Court House districts, hoth the volume and
the pressure were heavy. In these districts were found all the paying
oil wells.
Later, new fields of importance were developed toward the south-
west — especially in Roane county and the southwestern part of Clay
county, and in Kanawha, Boone, Lincoln, Cabell and Wayne.
In addition to the principal oil fields of the first two decades after
1889 there were several smaller pools such as the Cow run pool near
Moundsville, the Injun field near Middlebourne, Tyler county, the Cam-
eron, or Adeline, pool which is also of some extent ; and the Jug Handle
pool, in Tyler county, which is really a part of the Middlebourne
development.
The depths of the wells, from which the most of the oil is pumped from the
West Virginia fields, is an interesting matter for consideration. Scarcely any two
oil wells are of exactly the same depth. Some are quite shallow, others penetrate
far down into the hidden recesses of earth.
Practically all the West Virginia oil, however, is obtained from strata far below
the level of the sea. The hills, ridges, and plateaus where the wells are bored, are
sometimes high above the level of the ocean; but, to reach the oil, the drill must
go to sea level and usually far below.
The various pools have produced oils of many different grades and
characteristics. In the department of History and Archives at Charles-
ton, there are more than one hundred samples of oil taken from wells
of various fields of the state. No two samples are alike. They vary
from colorless to jet black. They also show a specific gravity varying
from 65 or 70 down to 30.
The growth of oil production in barrels for the three decades after 1889 is
indicated by the following figures:
1889 544,113 1906 10,120,935
1890 492,578 1907 9.095 296
1891 2,406,318 1908 9 523 176
1892 3,810 086 1909 10,745,092
1893 8,445,412 1910 11,753071
1894 8.577 624 1911 9,795,464
1895 '. ' ' 8,120.125 1912 12,128 962
1896" '. 10,019770 1913 11.567,299
1897' . .13 090,045 1914 9,6S0,033
1898'"" ' 13,603,135 1915.. 9,264.798
1899 13.910,630 1916 8 731.184
1900 . ' 16 195,675 1917 8,379,285
1901 14.177,126 1918 7.866.628
19n" " 13 513 345 1919 (estimated) 8,000.000
1903 12903'706 1920 (estimated) 8,173,000
1904 '.'.'.'.'..'.'.'.'.....'........ .12.644,686 1921 (estimated) 7,942,000
1905 11,578,110
In 1898, the production in West Virginia surpassed that of Penn-
sylvania for the first time, and has since been greater than the produc-
tion of that state and New York combined. In 1900 the highest amount
of production was reached.
In the meantime a cheaper method of transportation was secured
by lines of iron pipes connecting numerous wells and large tanks 3 and
larger trunk lines through which a series of powerful engines and pumps
forced the oil over the mountains, and from station to station for hun-
dreds of miles to market on the seaboard and elsewhere.
3 In early stages of oil development it was customary to pump one well at a
time, with a steam engine for each well. That made the process expensive. When
wells were tolerably near together, a central boiler was rigged up, and steam was
sent through pipes to engines located at several wells, and they were pumped in that
manner. The plan was wasteful, for so much steam condensed in the transmission
pipes that a large part of the power was lost. Another plan made use of connecting
rods from a central engine to several pumps; but when distance between wells was
considerable, this method was not practicable.
510 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
The Eureka pipe line, connecting series of large tanks, was begun in 1890 to
meet the needs of better market facilities. The first main line was laid from Eureka
(Pleasants county) to Morgantown (about 77 miles), and from there on east toward
Philadelphia. In 1892 when the Sistersville field was opened, another line was laid
from Sistersville to Morgantown (about 70 miles). In the same year, two other
lines — one from the Pennsylvania state line to Morgantown (about 13 miles) and
one from the state line of Pennsylvania to Downs (about 15 miles) — were also laid.
In 1897 a main line was run from Elm Eun, Ritchie county to Morgantown (about
76 miles). In 1900 a main line was laid from Downs to Sand Pork (about 50 miles),
from Downs to Ten Mile (about 18 miles), and from Downs to Dolls Eun (about
16 miles), a total of 84 miles of main line. In 1902 a main line was laid from
Elm Pun to the Kentucky state line (about 116 miles) to connect with the Cum-
berland Pipe Line Company at that point and another main line was laid from Elm
Run to Pnrkershurg (about 22 miles). In 1909, 83 miles of pipe were laid from
Elm Run to Hamlin. In 1912 about 110 miles were laid from Blue Creek field to
Downs. Small lines were laid to the different pools as they were opened after 1890.
The petroleum was not only pumped from the wells, but it was
pumped to market. Railroads never carried much "West Virginia' crude
oil as freight. The large pipe lines were laid from the oil fields to the
Atlantic seaboard, and the oil was forced hundreds of miles through
the pipes. The pipes varied in size, but many were six inches or a foot
in diameter. They were of iron, and were buried in the earth deep
enough to equalize the temperature and to prevent expansion and con-
traction of the metal by heat and cold. The pipes are buried for two
reasons: for protection from injury and to facilitate location through
fields, farms, forests, over mountains, and under rivers. By being
deeply buried, the fields through which they pass may be cultivated over
the top of the pipes. Pump stations are located at certain points along
the lines to force the oil forward. Immense power is required, for
ranges of mountains are crossed by the lines, and the oil must be forced
from the base to the summit.
The designing, construction, and maintenance of the long oil pipe
lines involved engineering problems that were worked out by master
minds which made the development of the oil industry possible on a
gigantic scale.
From 1901 to 1907 the production of oil in "West Virginia steadily
declined. With 1908 began a period of increase whicb (excepting the
year 1911) continued until 1913. After 1912 there was a steady decline
except for the years 1919 and 1920. The decline was lessened by new
oil development on Cabin creek after 1916.
The state did not share in the general decline in the production of
petroleum in 1909. This was due to active developments in Roane,
Harrison and Lincoln counties — especially at Shinnston pool where a
gusher estimated at 4,000 barrels a day was opened on December 8.
Its product of 1910 was greatly increased by tbe discovery of several
important oil fields during the year. In 1911 the number of oil wells
completed in the state was 1,191. The increase of production in 1912
was due to the remarkable development in the Blue Creek field in
Kanawha county, which was begun in September, 1911. The field, in
1912, extended rapidly northeast and southwest, until it attained a
length of about ten miles. In May, the production reached about 25,000
barrels a day, but this decreased until at the end of the year there was
a total production of 8,000 barrels. Other developments in the same
locality resulted in other productive wells. The total number of wells
in the state in 1912 was $4,775,874, an increase of $442,454 over 1911.
The output of 1914 showed an abrupt decline, due to a continued smaller
output in the Blue creek pool, and to falling prices in the market at
the season of the year when drilling activity is usually at its height.
The diminution from 1912 to 1916 was due both to lack of discovery
of new pools and to the small capacity of new wells sunk as well as to
the regular decline in the older districts.
On January 1, 1912, West Virginia had 4,755 productive gas wells distributed
over 33 of the 55 counties with rock pressure varying from 0 to 1,040 pounds to the
square inch, according to the statistics of the U. S. Geological Survey. The following
is the list of counties producing natural gas in commercial quantity: Boone, Clay,
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 511
Brooke, Cabell, Calhoun, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Hancock, Harrison, Kanawha,
Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, Marshall, Mingo, Wayne, Monongalia, Nicholas, Ohio, Pleas-
ants, Putnam, Upshur, Ritchie, Roane, Taylor, Tyler, Wetzel. Wirt, Wood.
Tn addition to these gas producing counties, it is possible that pools of sas of
commercial value may hereafter be found in Preston, Barbour, Randolph, Webster,
Raleigh, Wyoming and McDowell counties, especially if drilling operations should
be carried to great depths.
The petroleum industry in "West Virginia has been much better man-
aged than other industries such as coal and gas. Although the oil men
wasted natural gas they did not waste oil. No great enterprise in the
state, has been developed with more economy. The millions given to
found Chicago University represented only a small part of the savings
made possible by utilization of the by-products of the oil industry —
by-products which represent a distinct saving. The coal waste in the
state would build ten such Universities. The waste in smoke from coke
ovens would have been enough to found such a university every year.
The waste of natural gas would have built and endowed a hundred such
universities.
The development of the petroleum industry was an important factor
in the stimulation of other industries. Although it was a great source
of wealth and of community activity, its results were not always good.
In many instances the oil business, while increasing the amount of
capital invested and furnishing a supply of ready money to farmers
for royalties, resulted in destruction of local roads, the immigration of
farmers to the towns, and has not contributed sufficiently to permanent
institutional development. Although it influenced many valuable eco-
nomic changes, its effects on agricultural interests were in some ways
directly harmful. In oil and gas territory, many of the best farms were
soon covered with briers and bushes ; country homes, and rural churches
and schools were neglected ; and bad habits of extravagance and idleness
were encouraged.
Various phases of the development of the oil business are illustrated by the
experience of Colonel John J. Carter, an oil operator of Pennsylvania who came
to West Virginia in 1893, and on his own account bought properties at Sisters-
ville known as the Shay, Ludwig & Mooney, and Gillespie Companies. Shortly
after 1893 the Carter holdings were sold to the Standard Oil Company and
on May 1, 1893, these were incorporated as the Carter Oil Company, a sub-
sidiary of the Standard. Col. John J. Carter was the president, and George
A. Echbert secretary-treasurer. The main office was first at Titusville, Pennsylvania,
until August, 1915, when Col. Carter retired from the presidency and was succeeded
by A. P. Corwin. In 1915 the offices were removed to Sistersville, and from there,
in 1918, to Parkersburg, its present headquarters. In 1915, an eastern and a western
division was created, the eastern division, comprising Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky
and Tennessee, and the western division, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and
Wyoming. The present officers of the eastern division are A. F. Corwin, president,
A. V. Hoenig, vice president and general manager, C. B. Ware, treasurer, and
Richardson Pratt, secretary. For years F. C. Harrington was an official and became
widely known. Originally the wells at Sistersville showed water and because of that
investors were loath to invest in them. It was Col. Carter's belief that effective
pumping would clear these wells of water, and thus result in producing an oil which
would pay. This proved to be true when put into effect. The company invaded
other sections of West Virginia and eventually became one of the largest oil pro-
ducers of the state.
In time it was discovered that the gas which they discovered had a considerable
content which by compression could be converted into gasoline. W. H. Cooper,
employed as a mechanical engineer, was given charge of this feature, and in 1911
he established a compression plant as Sistersville. Since then gasoline has been an
important product of the Carter Oil Company and this corporation has increased
the value of the wealth of the state to a very considerable extent.
Gas Development
Although bubbles of natural gas had been obtained long before, the
first gas was struck in a well which was drilled for salt at Charleston
in 1815. It was first used as a fuel for manufacturing purposes on tbe
Great Kanawha in 1843. A great gas reservoir, tapped by accident,
furnished force to lift the salt brine to the salt furnace where it also
furnished the heat to boil it — thereby reducing the price of salt. Al-
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HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 513
though it became the principal fuel at the Kanawha salt works, vast
quantities were wasted before its great value as a fuel became generally
recognized. With the development of the Burning Springs oil region,
vast quantities of gas were accidentally found, in boring for oil, and
allowed to escape with no effort to control it for use. In that field alone,
the gas wasted was enough to light the cities of America for many years.
Prior to the year 1882, nearly all the gas known in the state was acci-
dentally discovered in boring for oil. Later it was sought and found
chiefly along the crest of anticlines, while those who tested the synclines
almost invariably met with failure and consequent financial disaster.
Much of the gas development in West Virginia was based upon the
theory of anticlines. Gas, oil and water arranged themselves within the
subterranean reservoir according to their specific gravities, water at
the bottom, oil next and gas at the top beneath the anticline. A well
in penetrating the highest part of the anticline will strike gas first. If
it penetrates farther down on the side of the anticline it may strike oil
first, or water. The wells were usually bored on the highest part of the
anticline. Lines of gas and oil productions mark the direction of the
anticlines.
Before the year 1882 no systematic search was made for gas, but
after that date the opening of new wells and the discovery of new gas
fields was a large factor in the industrial and social development of
West Virginia, furnishing the inducement for the location of many
manufacturing establishments seeking cheap fuel, and attracting immi-
grants who desire a clean and convenient fuel for their homes.
The oil operators were not slow to learn that natural gas could be
made to do the oil pumping. There was nearly always plenty of gas
within piping distance of oil wells. This gas frequently issued from
the wells under great pressure — it was sometimes as great as the pres-
sure of steam in a boiler. The gas was occasionally piped directly into
steam engines and was made to act as steam. The pressure forced it
into the cylinders and it drove the pistons just as steam would do. A
steam engine might be seen running; smoothly and pumping the wells,
without any fire near. The gas did the work but the waste was enormous.
Enough of the gas was blown through the cylinder in running one pump
to have operated fifty pumps by the use of good gas engines. In many
parts of the oil fields nobody thought anything of wasting gas, and no
protest was heard against using it in any amount. But better methods
finally prevailed, and gas engines came into use. These were operated
by exploding, by means of electric sparks, small quantities of $ras in
cylinders by which pistons were driven to and fro, and the pumps were
operated. It made one of the cheapest powers in the world. A twenty-
horse power gas engine could be run at a cost for gas of only three or
four dollars a month, the gas costing but a few cents per thousand cubic
feet. The availability of that cheap power greatly facilitated oil devel-
opment in West Virginia. The gas engine needed no engineer. Once
started, it would run hours or even days without attention. One over-
seer could look after a considerable number of such engines in a small
territory. In a short time villages in the vicinity of large wells com-
menced the use of the gas for light and fuel. It was found so cheap
and so satisfactory that its use spread rapidly. Pipe lines were laid to
towns many miles from the region of production, and coal and wood
nearly went out of use as fuel in the towns ; and many farm houses in
the gas territory put down pipes, and employed gas to heat their homes,
light their premises indoors and out, and in some cases flambeaux were
installed in sheltered places in fields where cattle congregated in cold
weather to warm by the cheerful "blaze. The use of gas for domestic
purposes was an innovation which spread with remarkable rapidity
among the people.
It spread with equal rapidity among manufacturers. It drove coal
and coke largely out of use for heating furnaces and boilers; and it
quickly displaced artificial gas and electricity for lighting purposes in
many places. It was not long in reaching large manufacturing centers,
Vol. 1—33
514 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
and in a short time Pittsburgh and Wheeling had undergone a remark-
able change.
Gas from West Virginia fields was piped to Pittsburgh, Cleveland,
Columbus and Cumberland. Gas lines like the oil pipe lines were con-
structed across the country over mountains and under rivers by the most
direct routes possible.
On main lines the pipes were largely 20 inches in diameter. In
many instances the pressure of gas was strong enough to force itself
through the pipes for long distances without artificial pressure. A well
six miles from Mannington developed a pressure of 800 pounds per
square inch almost instantly in a three-inch pipe. Some of the greatest
gas wells in West Virginia were never tested for pressure ; but measure-
ments or attempted measurements have been made for others. A well
in Wetzel county which blew several months before it was possible to
shut it in, was finally curbed in July, 1898, and after all the waste —
perhaps four or five billion cubic feet of gas — the pressure was still
1,200 pounds to the square inch. Another well in Wetzel county showed
a pressure of 1,075 pounds in one minute, which was the limit of the
apparatus measuring the pressure. The well was 2,800 feet deep. A
well in Monongalia county went to the limit of the gauge in one minute,
at 1,200 pounds. What was believed to be the largest gas well ever
struck in West Virginia, or in any state, both in volume of gas and
in pressure, was drilled in 1893, six miles southwest of Mannington,
Marion county, to a depth of 3,055 feet.
After 1908 West Virginia ranked first among all the states in the
production of gas.
By 1904 nearly all the principal towns west of the Alleghenies were
supplied, or about to be supplied, with this fuel; and the Pittsburgh
region received many million feet daily through a great sixteen-ineh
pipe line of the Philadelphia company, which, crossing through the
immense field of Wetzel county, extends down into the central portion
of Tjder county. The Tri-State Gas Company supplied Steubenville
and many other Ohio towns from West Virginia. The Wheeling
Natural Gas Company, the Mountain State Gas Company, and others
had extensive plants; and the Carnegie Company, which consumed in
its various iron and steel works at Bessemer, Duquesne, Homestead, and
Pittsburgh, thirty to fifty million feet daily, let the contract for an
extension of its lines into West Virginia territory. In June, 1913,
tentative investigations indicated that plans to supply Baltimore with
natural gas from West Virginia were under consideration.
The increase in production was especially rapid in the decade before
1918, after which it began to decline. In 1915 it was 244,004,599,000
cubic feet, and in 1917, 308,617,101,000 cubic feet, with a value of
$57,000,000. This was probably high tide in gas production. War
conditions, less drilling and natural decline in productive capacity
diminished the supply.
West Virginia contains 30 per cent of all the natural gas land acre-
age, and 21 per cent of all the productive gas wells in the United States.
It furnishes forty per cent of all the natural gas produced in the
United States. It consumes 13.5 per cent of all the natural gas con-
sumed in the United States, 45 per cent of its population depending on
gas for lighting, heating and cooking.
For many years gas was recklessly wasted. Long after it was
utilized for illumination, in the oil fields and in towns, large flambeaux
were allowed to burn continually — not only all night, but also all day.
In many towns the waste was finally stopped only by the installation
of gas meters and increase in the price charged by the utility companies.
One of the products of natural gas is lampblack. The capital in-
vested in the plants in West Virginia for making this product is said
to be about three-quarters of a million dollars. The industry is of com-
paratively recent origin, for it began after the custom of plugging gas
wells, and saving the gas, became popular. The apparatus for con-
verting the gas into lampblack is usually housed in sheds which, from
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
515
their outside appearance might be mistaken for brick kilns. They send
up much smoke, and soot settles down upon the surrounding objects,
to a greater degree than it accumulates about coke ovens. The process
of manufacturing the lampblack is exceedingly wasteful. Ninety per
cent of the gas is said to escape as waste, where ten per cent is utilized.
The following tables, taken from the annual reports on Mineral Statistics of
the United States Geological Survey, give the annual value of natural gas production
in West Virginia from 1889, the quantity produced since 1906, and also the value
and production of Pennsylvania for comparison:
Year
West Virginia
1000 Cubic Feet Value
Pennsylvania
1000 Cubic Feet Value
1882
$
$ 75,000
1883
200 000
1884
1,100,000
1885
40,000
60,000
120,000
120,000
12,000
5,500
35,000
70,500
123,000
395,000
100,000
640,000
912,528
1,334,023
2,335,864
2,959,032
3,954,472
5,390,181
6,882,359
8,114,249
10,075,804
13,735,343
16,670,962
14,837,130
17,538,565
23,816,553
28,435,907
33,324,475
34,164,820
35,515,329
36,424,263
47,603,396
57,389,161
41,324,365
50,000,000
50,000,000
50,000,000
4,500,000
9,000,000
1886
1887
13,749,500
1888
19,282,375
1889
11,593,989
9,551,025
7,834 016
1890
1891
1892
7,376,281
1893
6 488,000
1894
6,279,000
1895
5,852,000
5,528,610
1896
1897
6 242 534
1898
6,806,742
1899
8,337,210
10,215,412
12,688,161
1900
1901
1902
14,352,183
16,182,834
18,139,914
1904
1905
19,197,336
18,558,245
18,844,156
19,104,944
20,475,207
21,057,211
18,520,796
18,539,672
21,695,845
20,401,295
21,139,605
24,344,324
28,716,492
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
119,400,392
122,687,236
112,181,278
166,435,092
190,705,869
206,890,576
239,006,682
245,453,985
238,740,162
244,004,559
299,318,907
308,617,101
265,160,917
250,000,000
250,000,000
250,000,000
3,508,602,756
Co.
138,161,385
135,516,015
130,476,237
127,697,104
126,866,729
108,869,296
112,149,855
118,860,269
108,494,387
113,691,690
129,925,150
133,397,206
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919 (estimated).
1920 (estimated).
1921 (estimated).
Grand Total. . .
$593,445,237 1,484,105,323
\l Development
$471,969,923
West Virginia has stored away beneath the surface of its hills a large
amount of coal estimated to exceed 160,000,000,000 short tons, includ-
ing among its various beds, a large area of the deep Pittsburgh coal
bed — the most eminent of the rich deposits of the great Appalachian
field — and one which by its economic importance was the most potent
factor in the wonderful growth of the Pittsburgh district as a manu-
facturing center. Owing to the moderate development of manufactures
and the large consumption of natural gas — only eight per cent of the
coal produced is used within the state.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 517
The coal mining industry in West Virginia is still in its infancy.
Many pioneer miners, who have watched it grow and expand from very
small beginnings, are still living. There was no mining on an extensive
scale before the Civil war.
Long years of exploration and experimental development were re-
quired to prepare the way for the recent period of active remarkable
development. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, West Vir-
ginia coal was used only by the cross-roads blacksmiths or by the settler
whose cabin stood near an outcrop. In 1810, the people of Wheeling
began in their dwellings the use of coal which was obtained from the
first mine discovered near the city. In 1811, the New Orleans, the first
steamboat on the Ohio, burned coal which her captain, Nicholas Roose-
velt, had found "on the banks of the Ohio" two years before. In 1817,
coal was first discovered in the Kanawha valley, and began to take the
place of wood for use in the production of salt near Maiden, above
Charleston, at the Kanawha Salines, one of the most productive salt
regions in America at that time. A small mine was opened near Mason
City in 1819, and another in 1832.
In 1835, Dr. S. P. Hildreth of Marietta, Ohio, published an account
of the Appalachian coal field which directed attention to West Virginia.
From 1836 to 1810, Professor Rogers, Virginia's most expert geologist,
visited the West Virginia mines which had been opened at that time,
and made analyses of the coals (in Harrison, Monongalia, Taylor,
Fayette, Mineral, Grant, Preston and Kanawha counties). The total
produet for 1840 was nearly 300,000 tons, of which 200,000 tons were
used in the Kanawha salt furnaces, and nearly all the remainder was
consumed by the factories and dwelling houses of Wheeling. In 1843,
the Baltimore and Ohio began to carry small quantities from Piedmont
to Baltimore. In 1847 small shipments were made by river from Mason
county, where new mines were opened in 1858 and 1859, and worked
throughout the war. From 1854 to 1860 more than a score of corpora-
tions were created under the laws of Virginia for the purpose of enlist-
ing foreign capital, but the realization of their plans was postponed
by the war.
At the close of the war there was an awakening interest in the latent
mineral resources of the new state. It was the beginning of a new era
of development for West Virginia. In 1865 the Averill Coal Company
began operations at the mouth of Pocotaligo river in Putnam county.
In 1866 the Peytona Cannel Coal Company prepared to begin work on
Coal river in Boone county. The Wayne County Coal Company was
also organized ; and, by 1869, a new company began to mine on an
extensive scale in Mason county. A year later two coal banks were
opened in Monongalia county. In 1873 John Nuttall began operations
in Sewall Mountain on New river. There was a steadily increasing
business in many localities. By 1880 operations were extensive in
Mineral, Monongalia, Marion, Fayette, Harrison, Ohio, Putnam and
Mason counties. They steadily increased thereafter — and especially after
the introduction of mining machinery, beginning with 1890.
In June, 1883, the first coal was shipped from the Flat Top field.
During the ten years prior to 1882, II. M. and C. D. Straley, J. A.
Douglas, and J. D. and D. E. Johnston, had gotten control of 20,000
acres along the north side of the Bluestone river in the Flat Top region,
which, about 1882, they conveyed to E. W. Clark of Philadelphia for
$105,000. Clark and his associates apportioned these lands to six joint
stock companies. At the same time they organized the Trans-Flat-Top
Land Association, which acquired large tracts of land in McDowell,
Wyoming, Raleigh, Boone and Logan counties. The holdings of the six
joint companies, together with that of the Trans-Flat-Top Coal Land
Association, aggregated 232,483 acres. The land of the Association
was later sold and conveyed to the Pocahontas Coal and Coke Asso-
ciation.
Embryo operations in the coke industry began quite early, but
larger operations began only recently. The first coke produced in West
518
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Virginia was made in 1843, on Cheat river above Ice's Ferry, at the
old Green Spring iron furnace. The first brick coke oven in the state
was built in Monongalia county about 1853, and the first fire-stone coke
oven in 1878. After 1880 there was a speedy growth in the develop-
ment of the industry.
The production of coal in "West Virginia expressed in short tons
rose from 444,648 in 1863 to 1,000.000 in 1873, to 1,120,000 in 1878, to
2,335,833 in 1883, to 5,498,800 in 1888, to 10,708,578 in 1893 to 16,-
700,999 in 1898, to 29,337,241 in 1903, to 65,000,000 in 1910, and to
90,766,637 in 1918.
In 1890 the importance of the industry led to the creation of the
office of chief mine inspector, who by 1912 had five associates to aid
him in his duties. In 1903 there were 530 mines inspected.
Many improvements for the betterment of the condition of the
mines and the miners were made. In spite of the care taken to pre-
vent accidents, some of the most destructive mine explosions occurred.
In 1907, of the 729 men killed in coal mines, 484 were killed as a result
of gas and dust explosions — most of them in the terrible December
disaster of the Monongah mines of the Fairmont Coal Company.
Coke Ovens, Norfolk and Western Railway, West Virginia
The waste in smoke from the old beehive coke ovens was appalling
when viewed from the standpoint of the modern movement of con-
servation.
The statistics of coal mining in West Virginia are available from 1863, but
were not compiled systematically before 1873. The annual production of coal in
the state for the first decade after 1863, according to the statistics available, was
as follows:
Year
Short Tons Year
Short Tons
1863 444,648
1864 454,888
1865 487,897
1866 512,068
1S67 589,360
1868 609,227
1869 603,148
1870 608,878
1871 618,830
1872 700,000
TIic following table shows the yearly output of coal in the state in short tons
(of 2,000 pounds) beginning with 1873.
1873 1,000,000
1874 1,120,000
1875 1,120,000
1876 896.000
1877 1,120,000
1878 1,120,000
1879 1,400 000
1880 1,568 000
1881 1,680 000
1882 2,240,000
1883 2,335,833
1884 3,360,000
1885 3,369,062
1886 4,005,796
1887 4,881,620
1888 5498,800
18S9 6,231,880
1890 7,394,654
1891 9,220,665
1892 9,738,755
189.3 10,708,578
1894 11,627,757
1895 11,387 961
1896 12,876,296
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 519
1897 14,248,159 1909 51,446,010
1898 16,700,999 1910 65,000,000
1899 19,252,995 1911 59,831,580
1900 22,647,207 1912 66,786,687
1901 24,068,402 1913 71,308,982
1902 24,570,826 1914 73,677,058
1903 29 337,241 1915 74,184,169
1904 32,406,752 1916 79,612,298
1905 37,791,580 1917 89,383,450
1906 43,290,350 1918 90,766,637
1907 48,091,583 1919 84,980,552
1908 41,897,843 1920 89,590,274
The state ranked third in the production of coal in 1903 ; and, over-
taking Illinois, it ranked second in 1911. In only one year (1908) of
this period was there a decrease, but owing to more favorable condi-
tions for the cheap production of coal in West Virginia, the percentage
of decrease was less than in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Ala-
bama. The decrease was particularly noticeable in the cokemaking
counties of Payette and McDowell. At the same time the completion
of the Virginian Railway from Deepwater on the Kanawha to Sewell's
Point, near Norfolk, the first transportation line constructed from the
coal fields to the seaboard, prepared the way for a larger development
of the coal industry. The main purpose of this new line was to furnish
an additional outlet for the coals of the Kanawha, the New River and
the Pocahontas region. During the months of 1909, when it was in
operation, it carried nearly 1,500,000 tons of coal and it was expected
that within two years it would furnish transportation for nearly 5,000,000
tons a year. The production of 1909 suffered somewhat from a shortage
of labor attributed to the exodus of miners to Europe during the business
depression of 1908. The large increase of coal production in West Vir-
ginia in 1910 was largely due to abnormal condition, including the strike
in the states of the Middle West, which closed most of the larger mines
in Illinois. The output of the year 1911 was somewhat less than that
of 1910, perhaps due in part to labor troubles. There was no serious
interruption in the mining industry, however, and the few instances
of disaffection which arose were settled satisfactorily within a short
time after the strikes began.
Meantime, the United Mine Workers, determined to unionize the
West Virginia non-union coal mines which had partially nullified the
desired effects of the union strikes in Illinois and other parts of the
Middle West. This led to a most bitter labor war — one of the most pro-
longed in American history. The struggle centered in the Cabin Creek
and Paint Creek collieries of the Kanawha valley. The Cabin and Paint
Creek coal fields were controlled almost entirely by two men — Charles
M. Pratt, Brooklyn, and former United States Senator George M. Wet-
more, Rhode Island. Brutal treatment for years had engendered bad
feeling and open hostilities broke out in the spring of 1912. Company
stores and other places were equipped with machine guns and the hated
mine-guards were increased. The miners themselves smuggled in arms
and ammunition. In August, 1912, Governor Glasscock called out the
militia and "martial law was enforced almost continuously until the
summer of 1915." Great numbers of guns and ammunition, both from
guards and miners, were confiscated. Intense feeling led to excesses,
and thirteen men were killed. The chief demands of the miners were :
Recognition of the union ; freedom to trade at other than company stores ;
payment of wages in cash instead of credit scrip, good at company
stores; weighing system at mines and payment on basis of short ton;
nine-hour day ; and better housing conditions. The strikers were finan-
cially supported by the United Mine Workers and operators whose
mines were unionized. "This support alone enabled them to keep up
the fight." A temporary settlement was made in April through the
intervention of Governor Hatfield, but the agreements were not signed
until July. "Practically all the strikers' demands were granted":
A 12 per cent increase of pay; change from long to short ton; nine-
520 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
hour day; semi-monthly pay; right to employ one of their own num-
ber as check-weighman ; and the privilege of trading where they pleased ;
the introduction of check-off system "whereby the union dues are de-
ducted from pay by the company and turned over to the union officials. ' '
Thus the union secured a foothold in southern West Virginia.
The influence of these troubles upon the coal production in 1912
is shown in the decrease of 557,469 short tons, or about 10 per cent,
in the production of Kanawha county, and of 340,554 tons in output
of Fayette county ; whereas in most of the other counties of the state,
the production of 1912 showed good gains over the preceding year.
The total number of men reported idle because of labor troubles in
1912 was 12,165, and the total number of working days lost was 606,588,
or an average of 50 days for each of the men employed. The total
number of men employed in the coal mining in 1912 was 68,248.
There were 359 fatal accidents in the coal mines of the state in 1912,
Thacker Coal & Coke Company, Tipple No. 11 Operation
compared with 360 in 1911. Of the fatalities in 1912, 346 were under-
ground, three in the shafts, and ten on the surface.
With a production in 1913 exceeding for the first time in its history
a total of 70,000,000 tons, West Virginia became firmly established as
the second in rank among the coal-producing states. The total produc-
tion was 71,308,982 tons, or an increase of 4,522,295 short tons over the
output of 1912. The increased production was accompanied by a con-
siderably larger gain in value. The production increased in spite of
labor troubles in the Paint Creek and Cabin Creek districts of the
Kanawha field which were not settled until the spring of 1913, and also
the spring floods in the Ohio valley which reduced shipment to the
West for a considerable length of time. In 1914 the state exceeded all
its previous records on production of coal, and continued to maintain
its position of second place among the coal producing states. By strikes
in the coal mines of Ohio, its coal producers were enabled to capture
for the time the markets originally supplied by Ohio. The average
number of employees in the coal mines in the state was 78,363. The
average production of each man was 908 tons. The production in some
of the older districts was materially reduced, but this was partly made
up by the number of new mines. The production of coke in 1914 was
estimated at not much more than 55 per cent of that of 1913, but a
part of the decrease in coke production was attributed to the increased
use of by-product coke, made elsewhere.
The year 1915 was a notable one in the coal production of the state.
The greatest increases were in the New River and Pocahontas field.
During the early part of the year the coal industry in the greater part
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 521
of the state was depressed, but later it revived. The shortage of labor
is indicated by the decrease in the number of men employed from
78,963 in 1914 to 75,882 in 1915.
The continued increase for the five years beginning with 1914 and
ending with 1918 was due to the stimulation of increased prices during
the World war, resulting (especially in 1917-18) in the opening of
hundreds of small mines, many of which required trucks to haul their
products to the railway, and few of which could continue operation
with profit under normal conditions. Naturally, production declined
in 1919, but in 1920 it surprisingly recovered toward the high point
reached in 1918.
For the year ending June 30, 1920, there were 118,896 persons em-
ployed in the mines of West Virginia. McDowell county had the largest
number, Fayette came second, Logan third, Raleigh fourth and
Kanawha fifth. Logan county had more machine mines than McDowell
and Favette took third place in this regard.
The number of men employed when considered by counties runs m
the same proportion as the production of coal. The only exception is
the fact that Logan county has more machine miners than McDowell ;
McDowell county produces more coal than Logan or than any other
county in West Virginia.
The following table sIm.ws the number employed in each county:
Employ eil Employed
County Inside Outside Total
Barbour 2,137 410 2,547
loon" ::::::.:... <™ **» *&«
Braxton 410 62 472
Brooke 2 240 324 2,584
rlav 790 ISO 970
Fayette '.'.'.'.'.'.'...' 10,838 2,G04 13,442
Gilmer 129 29 158
Grant 330 84 414
Greenbrier 77 22 99
Harrison 6,111 1 L54 7,76»
Kanawha 7 208 1,362 8,570
Lewis 163 30 193
Lincoln 368 67 435
Lo<ran in 79S 2,281 13,079
Marion...... 5 754 1.024 8,788
Marshall 1296 235 1,531
Mason 237 52 289
McDowell 1^.614 4,635 19,289
Mercer 2844 846 3,697
Mineral':'. 709 152 861
Mingo 2,666 681 2,947
Monongalia 4 159 725 4,688
Nicholas 409 101 510
Ohio 1-351 240 1.591
Preston' 2,305 535 2 840
Putnam 631 la6 787
Raleigh 8642 1,622 10264
Randolph 762 136 898
Summers 50 10 60
Tav]or 1,255 208 1,463
Tucker 1,514 185 1,699
Upshur '.'.'.'. 694 140 834
Wayne 147 56 20.,
Webster 14 16
Wyoming 1,431 439 1,870
Prior to 1910, West Virginia showed annually a steadily-increasing
production of coke. High tide was reached that year with 4,217,380
tons valued at $7,525,922. There has been a steady diminution in coke
production since 1910, the production in 1916 being 1,957,632 tons.
Coal lands of West Virginia, especially in southern counties, are
largely owned by great corporations. One of the largest holders is the
United States Steel Corporation (or its subsidiaries), which owns large
tracts in Mingo and Logan counties, and leases mines in McDowell
522
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
county, which are operated by the United States Coal and Coke Com-
pany (the largest coal producing company in the state). Through its
subsidiaries, it is the largest producer of coal in the state and employs
more men than any other coal mining company in its region of opera-
tion. Another large holder is the Norfolk and Western Railway Com-
pany which owns most of the shares of the Pocahontas Coal and Coke
Company, which does not engage in mining coal, but leases to operating
companies on royalties.
The company ownership of large tracts of mining lands upon which
mining camps or mining towns are built, resulting in the dependence
of the miners upon the company store and company houses, has a his-
torical explanation in the earlier conditions under which mines were
Mephisto Operation, War Eagle Coal Company, Mingo County
first opened in remote and sparsely settled regions. In many instances
the mining companies have established satisfactory living conditions.
Among the best are those of the mining town of Widen (Elk River Coal
and Lumber Company) in Clay county, Lundale in Logan county,
Holden (Island Creek Coal Company) in Logan county, Glen White
(E. E. White Coal Company) in Raleigh county, and Borderland (Bor-
derland Coal Corporation) in Mingo county. Usually, however, the
life of mining towns — by their monotonous aspect, lack of comforts and
lack of amusements — is essentially dreary, and often the health of the
inhabitants is endangered by unsafe methods of sewage disposal. Pos-
sibly the conditions in most cases would be no better if the miners
owned their own houses or rented from other landlords. On Deckers
creek in Monongalia county a coal operator, who constructed for his
employees neat houses with bath tubs, later discovered that the bath tubs
were used for coal bins.
Although West Virginia operators have natural advantages, which
enable them to mine coal more easily and more cheaply than the soft
coal of neighboring states can be mined, by geographical location they
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 523
are placed at a disadvantage in reaching the large markets of New
England, New York and the Great Lakes. They have especially felt
the competition of operators in the central fields (western Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois), whose operators as early as 1884 began to
complain of the invasion of their markets by West Virginia coal mined
by unorganized labor. They regarded every attempt to unionize their
mines as a part of a conspiracy to drive them from the markets of the
central competitive field, and many of them — especially in southern
counties of the state — undertook to debar the union from their fields
by means of anti-union contracts with the miners whom they employed,
and by injunctions against union representatives.
On October 24, 1907, Judge Dayton issued at Philippi a temporary
injunction to restrain John Mitchell and other officers of United Mine
Workers from organizing or interfering with about 1,000 nonunion
miners employed by the Hitchman Coal Company in the Wheeling dis-
trict. This injunction was followed by others a decade later.
Although local unions appeared as early as 1894, the United Mine
Workers attained no large strength in the state until 1916 or 1917.
In 1912 they made a desperate effort to unionize the mines on the
Kanawha at Paint creek and Cabin creek. Succeeding in this, they
soon determined to extend their organization to the Guyandotte.
In September, in connection with the determined efforts of the
United Mine Workers to organize the stronghold of nonunion mines in
Logan county, and following the rumor that women and children were
being killed there, occurred the famous march of armed miners of
Cabin creek (in Kanawha county) to invade Logan. At Lens creek,
after their district president, C. F. Keeney, had failed in an effort to
dissuade them, the courageous governor of the state, John J. Cornwell,
met them at 10 o'clock at night, and, using an ice-cream wagon for a
platform, addressed them, requested them to return, and promised to
investigate the conditions in Logan. Other miners who had continued
the march to Danville, ten miles from Logan county, were also induced
to return to their homes. Thus a battle between invading miners and
the forces of the authorities and operators in Logan was narrowly
averted.
Governor Cornwell kept his promise. A commission, appointed by
him to investigate conditions in Logan, found that there was no basis
for the rumors in regard to the killing of women and children, but re-
ported that the treasurer of the Logan County Coal Operators' Associa-
tion paid to the sheriff of that county $32,700 a year for the salaries of
deputy sheriffs.
In 1920, during strikes, United States troops were twice sent to
Mingo county to protect property and preserve order. Miners and
operators each charged the other with violent methods. In December,
1920, encouraged by the presence of Federal troops, Sheriff Blankenship
began a campaign of "voluntary disarmament," resulting in a large
collection of firearms obtained from miners and citizens and from coal
companies. The amount of violence in Mingo was greatly exaggerated,
and all the lawlessness and violence in that region of earlier private
feuds was probably not due directly to the industrial struggle.
The culmination of the struggle in Logan, resulting from the attempt
to force the unionization of the mines of that region, was reached in
August, 1921, resulting in repeated requests of Governor Morgan for
Federal troops, which were finally sent and were successful in securing
disarmament of determined forces of miners which threatened to pre-
cipitate civil war.
CHAPTER XXX
DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COUNTRY LIFE
(By Professor A. J. Dadisman)
"West Virginia is often considered an industrial state, on account of
its vast natural resources and extensive factories; but agriculture also
plays an important part in the lives of the people. One or more veins
of coal underlie 17,800 square miles of the State, and oil, gas, limestone
and other minerals have been found in large areas; but regardless of
these facts, agriculture is of far greater importance to the State than
all its natural resources. (See table 1, at end of chapter.)
Within the State are 87,289 farms with nearly 10,000,000 acres of
land of which more than 5% million acres are improved farm land.
The value of all farms and farm property reaches almost half a billion
dollars. The census of 1920 shows that West Virginia produced in the
year 1919 farm crops valued at more than $96,000,000, domestic ani-
mals valued at more than $62,000,000, and livestock products valued
at more than $25,000,000. Farmers received from the sale of dairy
products alone more than $6,000,000 and from poultry products more
than $7,000,000. About S9 per cent of the farms are producing corn,
40 per cent wheat and oats, 79 per cent hay and 82 per cent orchard
fruits. About 77 per cent are keeping dairy cattle, 42 per cent beef
cattle, 79 per cent horses, 26 per cent sheep and 78 per cent hogs.
The development of agriculture in the last ten years has been phe-
nomenal. New farm machinery has been introduced, new markets de-
veloped, better livestock kept, new crop rotations adopted, and scien-
tific farming practiced.
While the waste land in the State, as far as agriculture is concerned,
is considerable, there are also thousands of acres of farm land prac-
tically undeveloped.
The last Indian war affecting the territory now comprised within the State of
West Virginia terminated in 1795. With the menace of the savage redskin removed,
white settlers came into the State from various localities. Most of the settlers came
across the Allegheny Mountains from Virginia and the Carolinas, some came from
Pennsylvania and New York and a few from New England. Many of these settlers
were hunters and fishermen but they brought with them limited ideas of agriculture.
Soon after the settlers arrived they erected cabins and cleared a few acres of land
on which grain for bread was grown, while wild game supplied most of their meat.
Wool was obtained from sheep that ranged on the hillsides and flax was grown
on leveler land. By means of crude home-made implements, wool and flax wore
converted into clothing and each family was practicing an almost self-sufficing type
of livelihood.
For more than a century after West Virginia was settled, farming was carried
on in a very primitive way. A small patch of corn, and often one of tobacco, along
with a small garden was the extent of a family's farming. In many cases the
only implement used in the growing of these crops was a hoe. Horses for cultivating
fields could not be kept because of the raiding Indians. In the course of time, oxen
and horses could be kept and plows and harrows were needed.
A few of the better agricultural sections of the States — the Shenandoah, South
Branch, and Ohio and Kanawha valleys — were acquired largely by military grants.
There a highly developed agriculture was practiced very early.
The surface of West Virginia is most variable. Narrow, level valleys
are found along the streams, and the tops of many hills are broad and
flat, but the surface of the greater part of the State is rolling or hilly
and steep. The soil is as variable as the surface. Much of the steeper
land, which has been cultivated until erosion has rendered it unfit for
524
526 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
growing crops, is being turned back to forests. In the last decade the
acreage of improved farm land decreased by 1,449 acres.
Owing to the varying origin and ideas of settlers and because of
the great variety of topography, soil and climate, farming in "West Vir-
ginia has been slow in developing, and in becoming standardized in any
large section. The development of agriculture as a skilled business was
greatly retarded by the habits of the people resulting from frontier
conditions and long continued lack of transportation facilities. There
had been little concentrated effort or co-operative action for the im-
provement of agriculture before the Civil war. Except in a few coun-
ties the people, remote from stores and destitute of means, were satisfied
with production for bare subsistence and gave little attention to pro-
duction for the markets.
Before the Civil war, markets for farm products grown in West Vir-
ginia were reached with difficulty and at a great expense. Before 1830
Washington and Alexandria were the principal markets for a con-
siderable amount of flour produced in the South Branch valley. Small
wooden boats were built, loaded with flour, and, in time of high water,
floated to market. The boats were sold for the lumber they contained.
Before the Civil war great quantities of wheat were grown along the
Ohio river. Flour mills, large for that day, were numerous. In 1830
one mill near Wellsburg made as much as 10,000 barrels of flour an-
nually, besides what was called country work. The greater part of the
flour was shipped down the Ohio river in flat boats to Cincinnati, Louis-
ville, New Orleans and other cities along the rivers. Corn and rye, as
well as wheat, were common and sure crops, but there was neither home
nor foreign market for either of them. Prices for farm crops were very
low. To find a market and make the corn and rye profitable, a large
number of small still-houses (for making whiskey and brandy) sprang
up. There was a great demand for the product of the still-house, as
well as of the flour mill, in the "Louisiana Country" where sugar and
semi-tropical fruits were grown. One section supplemented the other
and a mutually advantageous trade sprang up. The still-house in most
sections of the State was fast disappearing or gone by 1836. Its place
was taken by livestock which furnished a new medium of market for
the grain and the forage crops. The chief markets for the livestock
were found at Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Richmond and Cincinnati. Many
men who are still living have driven cattle to Baltimore. Pittsburgh and
Wheeling are still the markets for a large part of the cattle, sheep and
hogs produced in the northern and western parts of the State. Since
the recent industrial development throughout the State, and the growth
of cities and towns and improved transportation facilities, nearer mar-
kets are found for almost all agricultural products. In fact, the State
falls far short of producing all the common farm products consumed
within its borders.
The farming in West Virginia may be characterized as general farm-
ing with livestock, and specialized production in a few sections. The
growing of apples and peaches in the Eastern Panhandle, and apples
in the Northern Panhandle, have made the two sections famous. The
fruit industry in the eastern part of the State dates from the time of
pioneer settlements.
In 1774 George Washington leased to William Bartlett an orchard
of 125 acres in what is now Berkeley county. In this lease it was stipu-
lated that within seven years the lessee should plant one hundred winter
~^apple trees and one hundred peach trees and should keep them well
pruned and fenced in from animals. There were probably small
orchards in this section before this time.
It was not until 1851, however, that the first commercial orchard
in the State was planted. In that year W. S. Miller, a young farmer
near Gerrardstown, Berkeley county, planted sixteen acres of apples,
peaches and plums. His neighbors predicted a failure and great loss
as the result of such large planting. When the Civil war broke out
Mr. Miller had on hand a large number of young trees which he had
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 527
grown for nursery stock, and, as no market could be found for them,
he planted them on his own farm. He had faith in fruit production.
At the close of the war he had about 4,000 bearing peach trees on his
farm. His plantings did so well that it was not long until his neighbors
became interested and began to plant extensive orchards. After the
success of his early plantings he made others until he had over 6,500
matured trees — more than 2,500 peach trees and 4,000 apple trees. In
addition to these he planted a large number of cherry, pear and plum
trees. This immediate neighborhood is now known as the famous
"Apple Pie Ridge."
In 1876 E. W. Border purchased forty acres of land near Kearneys-
ville in Jefferson county and planted the entire tract to winter apples
with peaches as fillers.
Prom these beginnings, planting steadily increased until Bei-keley,
Hampshire, Jefferson and Morgan counties now lead in apple produc-
tion and Hampshire, Mineral and Berkeley counties lead in peach
production.
The early planters began with many varieties. Among them were
York Imperial, Ben Davis, Yellow Newton, Grimes, Rambo, Ralls, Rome,
GtevHsfeih," Smokehouse, Peak's Pleasant, Winesap, "Winter Sweet Para-
dise, and Vandiver, and a large number of summer apples. It was
found that only a few of these were siiitable for commercial plantings,
and today one finds the older orchards largely made up of York Im-
perial, Ben Davis, Grimes and Yellow Transparent, while the newer
plantings include such varieties as Starks Delicious, Golden Delicious,
Stayman and Winesap. Most of the fruit produced is sold directly by
the growers themselves, but there is a growing tendency toward co-
operative marketing. With the Martinsburg Fruit Exchange as a start-
ing point it should not be many years until satisfactory marketing
methods can be established. The section as a whole looks to the South
for its principal market, but the crop of 1920 was sold in twenty-one
different states. Since the extension of the plantings a complete failure
is practically impossible. Although the crop of 1921 was regarded as
almost a failure, most growers had sufficient apples to pay operating
expenses.
Twelve years after Washington's venture in the Eastern Panhandle,
Jacob Nessby moved from Pennsylvania to what is now Hancock county,
purchased a tract of land, cleared it, and planted fifty acres of apples
and peaches. He grew chiefly seedlings which produced inferior fruit.
A market was found for this low-grade fruit by making it into fruit
brandies. As a result of Mr. Nessly's success hundreds of acres of
orchards were planted and Hancock and Brooke counties became famous
for their winter apples. These were stored in caves and marketed in
the early spring, as far south as New Orleans, after the ice in the Ohio
river broke up. Following the Civil war and the conditions produced
by it in the South, this market entirely disappeared and many of the
oid orchards were cut down and the land utilized for growing other
crops. The Northern Panhandle was long the foremost apple region
of the State, but now has been surpassed by the Eastern Panhandle.
The development of orchards in the northern part of the State
spread down the Ohio river. The first orchards were chiefly infei-ior
fruit which was used for cider and vinegar, but they have been replaced
by standard market varieties. The famous Grimes Golden apple
originated in Brooke county on the farm of Thomas Grimes.
Although but few commercial orchards are found in the State,
except in the Eastern Panhandle and Ohio Valley, many small orchards
producing fruit for home use, and some for local markets, are found
throughout the State.
For two or three decades preceding the Civil war the farmers along
the river valleys, as well as on productive uplands, had a highly de-
veloped agriculture. Labor was cheap and plentiful. Slave labor was
common among the more progressive farmers. During the Civil war
but little progress in agriculture was made; but, as soon as the war
528 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
closed, development was active. New improved farm machinery and
well bred livestock rapidly replaced that of previous years. New rail-
road construction furnished new markets, which, together with high
prices, stimulated development. But this prosperity did not continue
long. The "fertile fields of the boundless west" were developing also.
When train loads of cheap corn and other crops from the West began
to supply West Virginia markets, agriculture in West Virginia declined.
The crisis came in 1873. Thereafter, agriculture in West Virginia made
almost no progress until 1880, when it began to revive again.
Previous to 1880 very little commercial fertilizers had been used in
the State. The census of 1880 shows that $176,300 were expended for
fertilizer in 1879. The amount of fertilizer used increased very slowly
until 1909, when the amount expended was $528,938. In the last decade
the amount expended for commercial fertilizers has increased very
rapidly, reaching $1,709,546 for the year 1919. The expenditure for
commercial fertilizers averages approximately $1.15 per crop acre
throughout the State.
The crops commonly grown throughout the State are corn, wheat,
oats, hay and potatoes. Rye is a common crop in many sections, but is
grown usually in small acreage. Buckwheat is grown in the higher
altitudes; tobacco is grown in the southwestern part of the State; and
truck crops to some extent throughout the State, but particularly in the
Ohio and Kanawha valleys.
Corn is the most important crop grown in West Virginia. It is
produced in every county and does well on fertile soil. Corn for silage
is almost indispensable where large numbers of livestock are fed. The
silo has been increasing in popularity for the last ten years, both among
the dairymen and feeders of beef cattle. The acreage of wheat and
rye has remained about constant after 1880, while the acreage of other
crops gradually increased, except barley, which was grown to a con-
siderable extent before 1890, but since that time has almost ceased to
be grown. Potatoes are grown throughout the State, but they are pro-
duced in larger quantities in the Ohio Valley and mountain glades.
Meadow and pasture grasses and clovers grow luxuriantly throughout
the State. But a few years ago, alfalfa and soy beans were almost un-
known to the farmers of West Virginia, but now several thousand acres
of these crops are grown. (See table 3, at end of chapter.) The large
limestone areas are especially adapted to the growth of bluegrass which
is unexcelled as a pasture for cattle and sheep. Cattle are commonly
fattened for the market on bluegrass without additional feed. Much
of the hill land of West Virginia is too steep for cultivation, but will
produce permanent pasture with proper care.
Crop yields in West Virginia are increasing. Fifty years ago crops
were grown on virgin soil which needed no commercial fertilizers to
yield well, but the yields soon began to decline gradually until they
were lowest about 1885 to 1895. Since 1895 they have been increasing
gradually until now crop yields are higher than they have ever been
before. The greatly increased amount of commercial fertilizers used
in the decade after 1910 will account only in part for the increased
yields. Perhaps better eron rotations, including the use of legumes and
better culture methods with modern machinery, have done most to in-
crease crop yields.
— West Virginia is preeminently a grazing State. Her hillsides of
rich bluegrass sod and streams of pure water make ideal pastures. Beef,
mutton, wool and milk can be produced economically on these grazing
lands which can be used for no other purpose except growing timber.
Several sections of the State were famous for particular breeds of
livestock before the Civil war. Owing to the difficulty of marketing
dairy products, the beef-cattle industry developed more rapidly than
the dairy industry. During the last fifty years all kinds of livestock
have gradually increased. The census of 1920 showed a decrease in the
numbers of sheep and horses, but this was due to a change in the time
of taking the census. There was probably an increase in the number
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 529
of farm animals for the State as a whole. However, cattle raising in
the districts of coal and oil, which are under development, has declined
in recent years.
The three leading breeds of beef cattle are well established in West
Virginia. About 33 per cent of the cattle of the State are Herefords,
18 per cent Shorthorns, and 10 per cent Aberdeen Angus. Perhaps not
more than one per cent are Galloways. As early as 1790, improved
cattle were imported from England to Virginia, and probably to what
is now West Virginia. However, no notable developments in livestock
were noted until just before the Civil war.
In 1855 and 1857 the names of Renick, Luddington and Rogers of
Greenbrier county were listed among the first to bring registered Short-
horn cattle into the State. The breeding of Mr. Renick shows in many
of the pedigrees of cattle found near his old home at the present time.
Mr. Rogers developed a large herd of pure-bred Shorthorns, numbering
about thirty head in 1870.
About 1870 J. M. Rouson and Henry B. Davenport began breeding
Shorthorn cattle in Jefferson county. In 1874 P. S. Lewis brought to
his farm near Point Pleasant, from Kentucky, some high priced Short-
horns. This farm is now operated by C. C. Lewis, a son of P. S. Lewis,
and is said to contain the oldest continuous herd of Shorthorns in the
State. Not long after this time several names were added to the list of
breeders. The number of registered Shorthorn sires that were sold
throughout the State between 1775 and 1890 indicates that they were
very popular among the farmers.
The first pure-bred Herefords were brought into West Virginia be-
tween 1875 and 1879 by C. P. Goss of Summers county. Herefords
have gradually proved their suitability to natural conditions, until now
they are the predominant breed of the State, and there are almost twice
as many of these as any other breed of cattle. Mr. Goss developed a
fine herd of Herefords and sold breeding stock throughout West
Virginia and adjoining states. In 1882 James K. Vandervort of
Lewis county bought a pure-bred Hereford sire, but never developed a
pure-bred herd. L. D. Bond of Buckhannon was the second real pioneer
breeder of Herefords in West Virginia. Perhaps the largest and most
widely known breeder of Herefords in the State was S. W. Anderson
of Greenbrier county. He began in a small way in 1889 and developed
his herd until he had about 200 head of pure-breds. Before he disposed
of his herd, in 1909, he sold breeding stock in twenty different states,
and in foreign countries, besides the large numbers he sold in West
Virginia. The high standard of Herefords in West Virginia is due
largely to the efforts of Mr. Anderson. The West Virginia Hereford
Cattle Breeding Association, which holds two sales at Clarksburg an-
nually, has helped very materially to promote the Hereford industry.
The development of Aberdeen Angus has been much slower than
the development of the other breeds. Perhaps the first breeders were
J. S. Arnold of Mineral county and Leland Kittle of Randolph county,
about the year 1886. By 1890 several breeders had developed small
herds of pure-bred Angus, or were using pure-bred sires. In 1892 many
new herds were started, some of which are still in existence.
The dairy and beef industries in West Virginia have not been clearly
separated. Beef and dairy cattle have been put in the same class with-
out distinction, and, in fact, many herds have been used, both for the
production of beef and milk. Of the distinctly dairy breeds in the
State, the Jersey ranks first. It includes 16 per cent of all the cattle
of the State. The Holstein ranks next, with 6 per cent. There are a
few herds of Guernseys, Brown Swiss, Devon, Red Polled and Ayr-
shires. Just when the various breeds were first brought into the State
is not known. However, in 1870, the census shows that there were
104,434 milch cows in West Virginia. The number increased gradually
until there are about 245,000 daily cows in the State by 1921. Dairying
has been developed in the Northern Panhandle, in Jefferson and Berk-
ley counties, and around the larger cities — and, to some extent, in the
Vol. 1—34
530 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
other sections of the State. Dairying is more remunerative than gen-
eral farming. Cow testing associations were first organized in 1920.
Now there are six active associations in the State, testing 1,500 cows.
Since the Civil war, milk, butter, and cheese have been important as
articles of commerce. Dairy products are produced on more than 75
per cent of the farms of the State. Each decade has shown a large
increase in the production of these commodities until now there are
produced annually 67,000,000 gallons of milk, 17,700,000 pounds of
butter, and 88,000 pounds of cheese. The annual receipts for dairy
products are $6,400,000. Poultry is kept on nearly 95 per cent of the
farms of the State. There are but few commercial poultry farms.
Turkeys are grown in the less thickly settled and grazing sections of
the State. Each year the farmers produce 21,000,000 dozens of eggs
and receive for eggs and chickens $7,300,000. (See table. 2 at close of
this article.)
The early pioneers who crossed the mountains into western Vir-
ginia brought with them a few sheep in order to provide their own
cloth and yarn. The small flocks required constant care to prevent
wolves and foxes from destroying them. In the Northern Panhandle
of the State wheat "sold at 12% cents a bushel; and as late as 1821,
flour at $1.25 a barrel and other products in proportion." The pro-
duction growing crops at their low prices became a much less re-
munerative business than "wool at 75 cents to $1.25 a pound, two or
three pounds to the sheep, and two or three sheep to the acre." At
an early date Merino sheep were imported from Europe and since that
time flocks of Merinos have been found in the Northern Panhandle.
During the Civil war the demand for woolen clothing for the soldiers
caused an increase in the price of wool and many farmers found it
more profitable to grow sheep than cattle. Before 1837 woolen factories
for making coarse woolen cloth had sprung up; later, many smaller
factories developed, some of which are still in operation. With the
decline in the price of wool, about 1890, and with the constant dog
menace, many farmers disposed of their sheep or turned their attention
to lamb production instead of wool production. Wool production has
never recovered. There are, however, probably about as many sheep
on West Virginia farms today as at any earlier time. When the dog
menace is removed and when sheep-proof fence is introduced, West
Virginia offers greater opportunities for the expansion of the sheep
industry than for any other livestock enterprise.
As long ago as 1750, hogs were grown in the South Branch Valley
and driven to Winchester, to Richmond, or to Cumberland to market.
This section of the State still grows hogs for the general market. A
few grown in the Ohio Valley are marketed at Wheeling. But few other
sections grow more than enough for home use. The early settlers turned
their hogs in the woods after branding them and gave them little at-
tention until fall when they were ready for meat. The disappearance
of the forest and the high price of corn have tended to prevent the
increase in the numbers of hogs.
In pioneer days oxen were in general use for most farm work.
Gradually but slowly they have been replaced by horses. In some
sections of the State they were used for general farm work until the
last decade. Now a team of them is rarely seen. In but a few sections
of the State have well-bred horses been raised until recent years. About
1880 several pure-bred stallions were brought into the State. More
recently well-bred horses have been imported from France, Belgium,
England and Germany and crossed with native stock. Harrison and
Greenbrier counties have been leading counties in introducing well-bred
horses. Riding and driving horses which were the pride of many
farmers from an early date in West Virginia history, have been rapidly
replaced by the automobile in the last ten years until now but few
remain. The production of well-bred horses has never received the
attention that has been given to the development of other livestock.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 531
In recent years "West Virginia farmers have considered livestock
farming almost essential to soil maintenance. In the days of the early
pioneer settlers the matter of soil was of little importance. The pioneer
cleared the land and farmed it until the soil was so much depleted that
crop yields were considerably reduced. All around him was virgin
forest whose soil had never been molested and which for the work
of clearing became his farm. As the country became more thickly
settled, however, there was a limit to the acreage of each family, anil
the preservation of the soil (and the reclaiming of that already worn
out) became a matter of interest. Soil depletion has continued until
today the proper care of soils is one of the farmer's chief considerations.
When soil is once destroyed it can be replaced only by years of careful
agricultural work and at an enormous cost.
But little improvement was made in farm machinery before the
Civil war. There were few dealers in farm implements even at the
close of the war. The first plows were made entirely of wood. Those
with wooden mouldboards were common before 1850, and some of the
most progressive fanners of the earlier period used the crudest kind of
iron plows. The heavy push harrow was gradually replaced by one
made of a wooden frame with wooden teeth. Before 1850 no drills for
planting corn or wheat were used in the State, and, except the turning
plow, all farm implements were of domestic manufacture. Before 1850
hay was cut with a scythe made by the local blacksmith and winnowed
with a wooden rake without wheels. Before 1840 wheat was threshed
with a flail or trodden out by cattle. After 1810 a crude windmill was
used for separating the grain from the chaff. With such farm imple-
ments only small areas could be farmed. Slowly the forest was cleared,
improvements were made, and agriculture assumed larger proportions.
Improved harvesting machinery was introduced before labor-saving
machinery for planting or tilling. Reaping machines were in use sev-
eral years before the Civil war. These machines were often drawn by
oxen. The wheat fell on a wooden platform when cut and was raked
off into bundles by a hand rake. The binder was well introduced by
1870. The first crude thresher made its appearance in 1840. The first
type used in the State was the "chaff piler" which did not separate the
grain from the chaff. It was operated by horse power. A thresher
which separated the chaff from the grain appeared soon after 1850,
and a steam thresher was first used about 1880. Threshing machines
and other farm implements were rapidly improved after 1880. Soon
after the Civil war the mowing machine and hay-rake were introduced.
Gradually the introduction of other machinery followed. Many of
the present-day farmers have witnessed the advent of the hay-loader,
potato digger, corn planter, tractor and other machines which are
almost indispensable on a modern farm. Improved machinery has re-
moved drudgery from the farm, and has stimulated agriculture more
perhaps than anything else. It has made possible larger agricultural
production, which in turn has naturally developed roads for transporta-
tion, improved waterways, new and varied markets, and factories and
mills for processing and manufacturing products, and has insured the
farmer a good living from the land.
Agricultural education throughout the State and scientific farming
have developed within the last fifty years. Most of the progress has
been made within the last decade. These developments are closely re-
lated to the College of Agriculture at the West Virginia University,
founded in 1867.
Very few courses in agriculture were taught at the university in
the earlier years of its existence. The university catalog of 1872 listed
William E. Fontaine as the first instructor in agriculture. He taught
chemistry and natural history in addition to all the agriculture. Wood-
ville Latham, who succeeded Mr. Fontaine, taught agriculture, physics
and chemistry. In 1885 A. R. Whitehill was appointed instructor in
agriculture, chemistry and physics. In 1890 T. C. Atkeson was ap-
532 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
pointed professor of agriculture, and later became Dean of the college.
The first student who received a bachelor's degree in agriculture was
John "W. Johnson, in 1894. The school gradually developed until it
now has 307 students and more than thirty instructors, some of whom
are dividing their time between teaching and research work. For 1921
the number of graduates witli the bachelor's degree in agriculture
was thirty-four.
The State Agricultural Experiment Station was organized in 1888
with John A. Meyers as first director. The Experiment Station was
established for the purpose of conducting investigational work in va-
rious branches of agriculture. Most of the investigational work is con-
ducted in laboratories and on the State farms near the College of Agri-
culture. These farms contain about a thousand acres of land and are
devoted to livestock, dairy, agronomy, poultry and horticulture. Ex-
periments for the purpose of determining the best methods of farming
are performed on each of these farms.
The State Board of Agriculture was organized in 1891 and con-
tinued until 1912, when it was abolished. In 1891 the State legislature
adopted the policy of making annual appropriations to aid in conducting
farmers' institutes and other work for promoting agricultural interests
and industries. Perhaps the most important work of the Board of
Agriculture was the support and direction of farmers' institutes, the
first of which was held at Buffalo, Putnam county, in 1895. In 1920
126 fanners' institutes were held with an attendance of nearly 11,000
people. When the Board of Agriculture was abolished its work was
continued by the newly created State Department of Agriculture, whose
duties are largely regulatory through police power in the field of
agriculture.
Agriculture extension work was started in West Virginia in 1907
under the supervision of D. W. Working; and in 1912 the Extension
Division of the College of Agriculture was formed.
Owing to a lack of knowledge of methods of grading, packing and
marketing fruit by West Virginia fruit growers, the State legislature
in 1919 established the West Virginia Demonstration Packing School,
and appropriated $25,000 with which to purchase a site and erect suit-
able buildings. A committee located the plant at Inwood, Berkeley
county, eight miles south of Martinsburg on the Cumberland valley
branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Buildings were erected and dur-
ing the first season, 1920, more than 80,000 bushels of apples were
packed. As the crop of apples for 1921 was very light in this section,
the plant was in operation but a short time. Sufficient floor space is
provided for four grading units, each with a capacity of four to five
hundred barrels per day. The plant is operated under the direction
of the Extension Division of the College of Agriculture. The Inwood
Fruit Growers' Club provided the fruit for demonstration packing pur-
poses and pays the cost of packing it. The State provides a super-
intendent and necessary instruction to those interested in methods of
handling fruit. In addition to its use in demonstrating proper methods
of grading and packing apples, the plant is serving the larger purpose
of teaching the fruit growers methods of co-operative marketing under
a single trademark.
The C. H. Musselman Canning Factory at Inwood, Berkeley county,
uses the poorer quality of fruit of the growers in that vicinity. A free
site of eight acres was donated by the fruit growers as a location for
this plant. The buildings were completed and machinery installed
ready to begin canning fruit in August, 1921. The plant handles
apples only, making cider of those not fit for canning. Owing to the
shortage of apples in the fall of 1921, about eighty-five carloads were
imported from Maine. The plant represents an investment of a quarter
of a million dollars and employs from August until the latter part of
November 260 people, two-thirds of whom are women and girls.
The Reymann Memorial Farms, located at Wardensville, Hardy
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 533
county, consist of two tracts of land, one of 675 acres, the other 262
acres, making a total of 937 acres. The Cacapon river borders one side
of the farm of which 350 acres are river bottom. The farms were given
to the West Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station on March 1,
1917, by the relatives of the late Lawrence A. Reymann of Wheeling.
When presented, they were valued at a little more than $70,000, in-
cluding the livestock and equipment. On June 30, 1921, the inventory
value was $105,483. Their principal industry is dairying. The dairy
herd in 1921 consisted of about 175 head (including young stock) of
pure-bred Ayrshire cattle. The farms until recently were twenty
miles from a railroad, but are now touched by a railroad. The difficulty
of reaching a shipping point necessitated the making of cheese as a
means of marketing the dairy product. The cheese produced on this
farm has become famous throughout the State and in adjoining states.
A ten-acre experimental orchard has been planted, and a new large
dairy barn has just been completed. The farm is well stocked and
equipped for carrying on its work.
Since 1891 considerable advance in agriculture has been made
through the influence of farmers' institutes, better communication, and
various farmers' organizations. In the decade after 1850 agricultural
societies were formed in Marshall, Monongalia, Jefferson, Cabell and
Ohio counties. Within the last few decades farmers' organizations
have sprung up throughout the State. The Farmers' Alliance was per-
haps the first farmers' organization of any considerable strength in
West Virginia. But little of the work of this organization has survived
to the present time. The Grange came next, and is still active in sev-
eral sections of the State. The organizations which have affected the
farmers of West Virginia most — Extension Service and Farm Bureau
• — can be traced directly to a meeting of the State Horticultural Society
at Keyser in 1909. At this meeting steps were taken to establish horti-
cultural socities in the counties throughout the State, resulting in their
organization in many counties. In 1912, with the financial help of
various business men's organizations — such as the Board of Trade in
Wood, Ohio, and Kanawha counties — county agricultural agents were
brought into these counties to work with these county agricultural
societies. The Extension Service of the College of Agriculture de-
veloped from this small beginning. In 1922, the Extension Service had
twenty-four members of the administrative staff and "specialists," thirty-
five county agricultural agents, eleven home demonstration agents, five
men conducting cow-testing associations, forty-four agents of boys' and
girls' clubs, and a few additional assistants.
The county Farm Bureau also evolved from the county agricultural
societies. The West Virginia Farm Bureau Federation is composed of
the county farm bureaus which (in 1922) have a membership of about
20,000. Each county farm bureau is composed of a number of local
clubs — farmers' clubs, farm women's clubs, and boys' and girls' clubs.
The work of these various organizations may be summarized as "a
country life movement in West Virginia."
The work of the Extension Service has not been limited to teaching
the rural people how to earn more money. It also encourages the
things that tend to make a more satisfying rural life. Community
study by means of a score-card has developed in the last five years and
has proved a valuable aid in community development.
Boys' and girls' club work was begun in Monroe county in 1907,
and since that time has grown rapidly, and has spread throughout the
State. In 1921 there were enrolled in the work 7,538 members, who
produced through their project work products worth $212,051.72. Some
of the clubs which were organized in 1912 are still alive and active.
The work has grown until it includes demonstrations in the following
agricultural and home-making subjects: corn, potatoes, pigs, poultry,
dairy calf, beef calf, sheep, garden, canning and clothing. During the
years 1916-21 the County Camp, or Short Course, was developed. In
534
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
1921 thirty-two county Short Course schools were held and were at-
tended by 6,610 boys and girls. The theme of the instruction in these
Short Courses is "Pour-Fold Life" development expressed through
project work. In 1921, forty older club boys and girls gave volun-
tarily a month of their time, without pay, in helping younger boys and
girls to improve their club work. The clubs of ten counties own all or
part of their camp equipment. To train leaders more thoroughly so
that they may have a clearer vision of their work, the State has estab-
lished a training school, or camp, "at Jackson Mills, in Lewis county,
which bears half of the expense. This camp will not only serve as a
State Training School, but also as a memorial to one of West Virginia's
noted heroes.
Fanners' clubs have many kinds of work. Each one takes up the
work needed in the particular community. Some, which have developed
commercially, buy fertilizers, feed and spray materials cooperatively
and sell wool, potatoes and other farm products. Others are confining
their efforts to a study of local farm problems, largely by means of
demonstration methods. Still others find a need for a great variety of
work. The farm women's clubs study various problems related to home-
building and civic improvements generally, and present plans to create
a social life in the community.
Several active associations representing different branches of agri-
culture have been organized. One of the earliest State associations for
encouraging any branch of farming industry was the West Virginia
Sheep Breeders' and Wool Growers' Association, which was organized
at Parkersburg in 1879. The West Virginia Horticultural Society was
organized in 1894, the West Virginia Livestock Association in 1901, the
West Virginia State Poultry Association in 1901, and the West Vir-
ginia Dairy Association in 1904.
The timber industry of West Virginia has benefited the farmers of
the State more perhaps than any single industry besides general farm-
ing. The 5,800,000 acres of land not included in farms within the State
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
535
are mostly in forests, or cut-over land which is growing into forests.
The 3,469,000 acres of woodland in farms are made up of timber land
and cut-over land, a considerable part of which is pastured. The lum-
ber output in West Virginia was comparatively small before 1885,
although large quantities of timber had been burned in the clearing of
the land. In 1910 the virgin forest area was a little more than one
and one-half million acres, and the cut-over area was somewhat less
than three million acres. Practically all the saw timber has been re-
moved from a large part of the State. Portable steam saws were in-
troduced about 1860 and became more numerous after the construction
of railroads. In 1909 there were 1,524 sawmills in West Virginia ; by
1912 the number had been reduced to 961 active mills. The forests of
West Virginia have been converted into many products. In addition
to sawed timber, which has been produced since 1775, cooperage stock,
hooppoles, telephone and telegraph poles, crossties, fire wood, and pulp
wood have been produced in large quantities. As late as 1880, nearly
40,000,000 hooppoles were cut in West Virginia. Until recently one
could see large rafts of logs floating down the rivers during the spring
freshets. Many of these logs reached sawmills within the State, and
many were floated to the Ohio and Monongahela rivers to points beyond
the borders of West Virginia. Reforestation work has been carried on
but little in any part of the State. "The present gross acreage con-
tained within the boundaries of Federal National Forests in West Vir-
ginia is 845,365 acres, of which 98,527 acres have actually been pur-
chased to date." The growth of new timber is estimated to be about
one-half as fast as the removal of the old timber. The principal forest
products of 1921 were lumber (697,600,000 feet), wood pulp (35,821
tons), mine timbers.
Recent preparations of conditions requisite for the full development
of agriculture point to a continued advance in practically all lines of
endeavor.
The following tables indicate the present status and general trend ot
536
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
some of the leading agricultural developments so far as they can be
shown from recent census figures:
TABLE 1— FARMS AND FARM PROPERTY
(From the United States Census)
1920
(January 1)
1910
(April 15)
1900
(June 1)
Land area of the State acres
Land in farms acres
Improved land in farms acres
Woodland in farms acres
Number of farms
Acres per farm
Improved acreage per farm
Value of all farm property.
Land
Buildings
Implements and machinery
Livestock
Value of all propel ty per farm
Value of land per acre
15,374,080
9,569,790
5,520,308
3,469,444
87,289
109.6
63.2
$496,439,617
307,309,704
103,473,702
18,395,058
67,261,153
5,687
32.11
15,374,080
10,026,442
5,521,757
3,968,836
96,685
103.7
57.1
$314,738,540
207,075,759
57,315,195
7,011,513
43,336,073
3,255
20.65
15,374,080
10,654.513
5,498.981
6,180,350
92,874
114.7
59.2
5203,907,349
134,269,110
34,026,560
5,040.420
30,571,259
2,196
12.60
TABLE 2— LIVESTOCK ON FARMS AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS
(From the United States Census)
1920
(January 1)
1910
(April 15)
Number
Value
Number
Value
Cows and heifers one year old and over. .
Steers and bulls one year old and over. . .
Calves under one year old
Dairy cattle, total
587,462
327,031
127,177
133,254
332,441
255,021
169,148
162.817
6,331
14,981
509,831
*
7,003
305,211
*
4,179,658
4,027,510
61.800
28,610
67,161,992
17,715,107
88,562
2,253,006
20,987,164
$33,727,219
21,126,872
9,047,863
3,562,584
18,419,657
15,307,562
17,82 .634
17,49 i, 47
336,287
1,839, 87
5,049,727
*
61,000
4,046,132
*
4,230,975
3,881,016
250,080
29,537
8,227,663
36,638
1,469,983
8,585,884
560,770
303,279
112,386
145,105
*
*
176,530
159,557
16,973
11,577
566,952
343,408
5,748
211,463
116,725
*
*
*
*
71,230,033
18,969,699
70,473
2,472,803
18,074,410
$15,438,628
9,107,613
3,961,468
2,369,547
*
*
18,467,123
17,419.881
1,047,242
1,334,089
2,724,651
676,250
20,682
1,779,050
308,342
*
*
*
*
*
4,054,498
9,063
762,247
3,464,309
Mules, total except spring colts
Sheep, total except spring lambs
Goats, total except spring kids
Swine, total except spring pigs
Spring pigs
Poultry, total
Chickens
Turkeys
Livestock products
Milk produced, gallons
Butter made, pounds
Cheese made, pounds
Wool produced, pounds
Eggs produced, dozens
* No data. Note the month in which the census was taken.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
537
TABLE 3— ACREAOE, PRODUCTION AND VALUE OF THE PRINCIPAL FARM PRODUCTS
(From the United States Census)
Acres Harvested
Quantity Produced
Value
1919
1909
Unit
1919
1909
1919
1909
1,088,557
568,21 9
298,036
169,915
19,760
31,095
910,550
229,249
314,226
16,441
4,548
1.038,931
676,311
209,315
103,758
15,679
33,323
708,900
308,814
281,794
6,661
696
Bu.
Bu.
Bu.
Bu.
Bu.
Bu.
Ton
Ton
Ton
Ton
Ton
24.564,851
17,010,357
3,747,812
3,054,668
186,709
537,883
1,099,679
217,636
326,147
18,359
9,122
22,116,677
17,119,097
2,575,996
1,728,806
148,676
533,670
639,152
278,074
249,986
6,514
1.406
$42,447,028
29,768,131
8,395,097
3,054,668
326,749
860,616
23,746,574
6,529,080
9,132,116
495,693
273,660
16,715,867
6.461,619
498,107
45,266
2,731,338
400,638
9,365,300
7,540,491
1,518,784
70,068
139,305
$15,997,700
11,907,261
Wheat
2,697,141
Oats
912,388
122,258
Buckwheat
Hay and forage, total
Timothy alone. . .
Timothy and clover
Clover alone
Alfalfa
Vegetables, total
Potatoes
Sweet potatoes. . . .
Other crops
Soy beans
Tobacco
Small fruits
351,171
7,493,106
3,404,456
3,001,535
75,863
17,932
6,968,618
34,526
2,678
1,152
11,233
3,162
42,621
2,079
*
17,928
2,931
Bu.
Bu.
Bu.
Lb.
Qt.
Bu.
Bu.
Bu.
Bu.
Bu.
Lb.
2,809,398
221,378
7,871
7,587,052
2,092,376
5,008,996
4,189,162
706,411
33,364
42,861
4,077,066
215,582
*
14,356,400
2,336,562
4,709,956
4,225,163
328,901
29,916
79,723
2,278.638
170,086
*
1,923,180
191,002
Tree oi
vines
Orchard fruits, total .
Apples
Peaches.
Pears
Cherries
Trees not bearing:
Apple
8,186,968
5,554,731
2,049,862
116,685
2S4.739
2.571,655
651,742
284,435
6,770,384
4,570.948
1,244,582
154,908
332,429
4,589,587
1,441,188
284,074
3,040,192
2,461,074
368,584
32,101
111,043
2,186,740
3,224,751
196,809
92,834
♦No data.
CHAPTER XXXI
TELEPHONE AND HIGHWAY COMMUNICATION
Industrial progress has been greatly influenced by corresponding
development of means of communication and transportation. "When the
State began its separate existence there were no telephones, and few
facilities for rapid travel by highways in the larger part of the State.
Of the few turnpikes the most important were the James river and
Kanawha, the Winchester and Parkersburg ("Northwestern") and the
Staunton and Parkersburg which had been begun by Virginia to silence
the rising murmurs of popular discontent west of the Alleghenies. South
of the Great Kanawha roads of any kind were few and in bad condition.
The new State, relinquishing all rights in the chartered turnpikes in
which Virginia had held an interest, turned them over to the counties
for supervision and repair. While such turnpikes added to the facil-
ities for travel in the most densely settled parts of the State, much ex-
pense and work was required to maintain them in good condition. The
turnpike from Point Pleasant to Charleston was in a very bad condition
at the close of the war. The Guyandotte and Covington turnpike via
Charleston and White Sulphur Springs was kept in fairly good condi-
tion for the daily stage line. Steamboat navigation, excluding that on
the Ohio, was confined to a few miles on a very few streams and was
not yet satisfactory. There was but one railroad, the Baltimore and
Ohio, whose immediate influence affected only a narrow strip of territory
across the northern border of the State.
Development of Telephone Service
Telephone service developed more rapidly than modern highways.
The first step toward a telephone system in West Virginia was the
establishment of a telephone central office in Pittsburgh on January 1,
1879, by the Central District and Printing Telegraph Company. The
first telephone exchange in the State was established at Wheeling by
the Central District Company on May 15, 1880. An office was estab-
lished at Parkersburg in 1882. Later, offices were established at
Moundsville, Wellsburg and New Cumberland — and, gradually, at all
the most important points in the State.
For several years each exchange was isolated. No connection was
afforded from one office to another. The telephone horizon was but
little broader than the horizon of vision. In a short time, however, just
as demands had been made for a switchboard, the necessity for com-
munication between various cities and towns arose. As a result, toll
lines were built connecting various cities and gradually forming a net
work of wires by means of which it is now possible to communicate with
anyone in a radius of two thousand miles.
The first toll line in West Virginia was constructed in 1883 and
connected Wheeling with Pittsburgh. It practically followed the course
of the Ohio river and, consequently, when the next year the record
flood came, much of it was washed away and had to be rebuilt. This
line was only the beginning in West Virginia. Wheeling was soon con-
nected with Steubenville, Ohio, and Parkersburg; Morgantown was
given a northern outlet through Uniontown, Pennsylvania; Clarksburg
and Parkersburg, and Fairmont and Clarksburg, and Fairmont and
Morgantown were all connected, and by the year 1900 the State was a
system of "highways for talk."
538
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 539
In the territory of the Central District Telephone Co., toll lines
connecting the exchanges mentioned below were built at the dates
given :
Wheeling, W. Va — Steubenville, 0 1895
Morgantown, W. Va. — Uniontown, Pa 1895
Wheeling, W. Va. — Parkersburg, W. Va 1896
Moundsville, W. Va.— Cameron, W. Va 1896
Cameren, W. Va. — Fairmont, W. Va 1899
Clarksburg, W. Va.— Parkersburg, W. Va 1899
Clarksburg, W. Va.— Grafton, W. Va 1899
Morgantown, W. Va.— Waynesburg, Pa 1900
Clarksburg, W. Va.— Fairmont, W. Va 1900
Fairmont, W. Va. — Morgantown, W. Va 1902
The early development of telephone service in southern West Vir-
ginia was begun by the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Com-
pany by the establishment of exchanges at Charleston and Huntington
about 18S8 or 1889. No other development was undertaken until 1896,
when a toll line was constructed between Charleston and Montgomery,
West Virginia, a distance of twenty-seven miles. About 1898 the com-
pany purchased an existing line owned by an independent company
from Charleston to Saint Albans, and Wintield, a total distance of
twenty-five miles.
The American Telephone and Telegraph Company constructed the
Cuj'ahoga Falls-Charleston line through to Charleston about 1897.
From this time until the latter part of 1901 there was no development
by any of the Bell or associated companies, but from 1895 or 1890 until
1901 the independent companies were very active through southern
West Virginia and many exchanges were constructed, including Charles-
ton, Huntington, Point Pleasant, Spencer, Weston, Buckhannon, Sutton,
Hinton, Alderson, Ronceverte and Lewisburg; also Elkins and sur-
rounding territory. Many toll lines were also constructed in different
sections of the State by independent companies. In the summer of
1901 the American Telephone and Telegraph Company constructed what
is known as the Petersburg-Georgetown line which was completed early
in 1902.
In 1901 the Southern Bell Company constructed exchanges in Point
Pleasant and Montgomery, West Virginia, covering the New River coal
fields and the greater part of Fayette county.
During the year 1903 the Point Pleasant-Ravenswood-Belleville toll
line and the Ravenswood-Spencer toll line were constructed, connection
being made at Belleville with the Central District and Printing Tele-
graph Company, making a through line from Point Pleasant to Parkers-
burg. In 1904 exchanges were constructed at Ravenswood and Ripley,
and the exchange at Spencer, which was constructed several years pre-
vious by a local company and sold to the Central District and Printing
Telegraph Company, was purchased by the Southern Bell Telephone and
Telegraph Company. In 1903 construction work was started on the
Charleston-Sutton-Weston line which was not completed until in 1904.
Another connection was established with the Central District and Print-
ing Telegraph Company at Jane Lew, West Virginia, giving a through
route from Charleston to Clarksburg. Exchanges were constructed at
Weston and Buckhannon in 1904.
In 1903 the Southern Bell Company purchased the property of the
West Virginia Telegraph and Telephone Company, which included Hin-
ton, Alderson, and Beckley exchanges and a number of Farmers' lines.
During the same year the exchanges at Alderson and Hinton were en-
tirely reconstructed, new plants being installed; and early in 1904 the
Beckley exchange was completely reconstructed, a new plant being
installed.
In 1905 the Sutton-Richwood was constructed and also the Hinton-
Bluefield line. Connection was established at Bluefield with the Blue-
field Telephone Company which had been operating in Bluefield and be-
tween Bluefield and Welch for a number of years. The Richwood ex-
change was constructed during 1907.
540 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Construction work on the Huntington-Logan Toll Line was started
in 1904 and completed in the early part of 1905. The Logan exchange
was completed during the latter part of 1905. The Spencer-Weston Toll
Line was constructed in 1909. The Huntington, W. Va.,-Pikeville, Ky.,
Toll Line was completed in 1906. The Charleston-Madison Toll Line was
constructed in 1909, the Madison exchange being opened in the early
part of 1910.
The Southern Bell Company purchased the Huntington Mutual Tele-
phone Company's property in January, 1910, and during that year the
properties at Huntington were consolidated, which included toll lines
from Huntington to Hurricane. In December, the same year, the South-
ern Bell Company purchased the property of the Charleston Home
Telephone Company, which included the Charleston, East Bank, Mont-
gomery and Clendenin opposition exchanges, and also toll lines connect-
ing same and extending to Hurricane and Buffalo, West Virginia. These
properties were consolidated with the Bell Plants during the summer
of 1911. In 1912 the Southern Bell Company transferred its West Vir-
ginia property to The Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company, and
in October, 1912, The C. & P. Company purchased the property of the
Point Pleasant Telephone Company, and this property was consoli-
dated with the Bell property May 1, 1913.
In the period from 1901 to 1910, a number of small exchanges were
opened at various points on the toll lines indicated above. In January,
1901, there were only two Bell exchanges in the southern part of the
state (Huntington and Charleston) ; while there are now twenty-four.
On January 1, 1901, the Huntington exchange had about 230 stations
and the Charleston exchange about 715, with no connecting stations.
There are now 10,537 stations in the twenty-four exchanges, with 14,310
service and connecting stations, making a total of 24,847 stations.
At Charleston and Huntington, the plants owned by the company
have been rebuilt, and a large amount of underground work done. A
new central office equipment was installed in 1906 and 1907.
As indicated, the southern section of West Virginia was rather ex-
tensively developed by independent companies before the Bell Company
started to develop there ; but the Bell, either by purchase or connecting
agreements, has utilized their lines. There are now only seven ex-
changes in which there is duplicate service : Beckley, Ravenswood, Rip-
ley, Spencer, Sutton, Weston and Buckhannon. This does not include
the territory covered by the West Virginia Eastern Telephone Company
— a sub-licensed company which operates in Randolph, Barbour and
Tucker counties and which has opposition service over its entire ter-
ritory and in its three exchanges.
One interesting fact in connection with the telephone situation in
this territory is that each of the following towns have three telephone
exchanges: Ripley, Spencer, Ravenswood and Weston. This section of
West Virginia is also thoroughly covered with Farmers' line develop-
ment, the lines being constructed and owned by the Farmers.
The eastern panhandle is operated by the Chesapeake and Potomac
Telephone Company (Bell System). Keyser and Piedmont, which had
exchanges previously operating independently, were connected with the
Bell System through a traffic agreement in May, 1901, after which they
had the benefits of communication with the outside world. An exchange
was established at Harper's Ferry on October 1, 1905, and at Charles-
ton and Shepherdstown in 1906.
The first "long distance" telephone line to traverse West Virginia
was the New York-St. Louis line, built in 1894. In the State of West
Virginia it followed the course of the National Pike. In 1906 a line
was constructed from Cumberland, Maryland, to Parkersburg, following
closely the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. In the same year a line was
built from Pittsburgh to Grafton. In 1902 the Lynchburg, Virginia-
Cincinnati, Ohio, line was constructed, passing through Charleston and
Huntington, West Virginia.
It has been only recently that the telephone has been recognized as
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
541
a necessity. Until the last few years it was regarded as a luxury ; and
the subscribers' list of the telephone companies included only the
wealthier people; but it has become an indispensable adjunct to daily
life in both office and home.
In 1913 telephone development had by no means reached its zenith
in West Virginia. The subscribers' list was constantly growing, and
the telephone managers by the installation of reserve plants in the
larger cities were preparing for enormous growth in the next decade.
In 1912 the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company dis-
posed of its property in the State to The Chesapeake and Potomac Tele-
phone Company of Baltimore, and on January 1, 1917, The Chesapeake
and Potomac Telephone Company of West Virginia (having been or-
ganized by the Bell Company for the purpose) took over all of the Bell
property in the State, and has continued its operation. During 1917 and
Repairing Damage on South Side Hill, Near Charleston, Winter
op 1918
1918 the property of the Consolidated Telephone Company was merged
with the Bell Company 's plant in a number of exchanges. In most cases
the Consolidated plant was removed, the service being transferred to
the Bell Central Office where additions to the equipment necessary to
handle the increased service had been made.
In 1913 a considerable amount of reconstruction work was done
throughout the State, but no exchanges or extension pole lines were
constructed.
In 1914 new lines were extended from Montgomery, Fayetteville, Oak
Hill and Thurmond along the Giles, Fayette and Kanawha turnpike.
This line was placed in order to provide additional toll trunks between
Charleston, Fayetteville, Oak Hill, Beckley and Thurmond.
In 1915 a pole line was constructed from Clothier to Logan. Cir-
cuits were extended over an existing line from Charleston to Madison
and over the new line into Logan. Also numerous lines and circuits
542 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
were placed to furnish service for the Virginian Power Company in the
New River Coal field. This service was furnished from a private branch
exchange at Cabin Creek Junction operating from East Bank exchange.
Also pole lines were placed and circuits strung on Main Island creek in
Logan county to furnish service to the large coal developments in that
vicinity.
On July 21, which was West Virginia day at the Panama Pacific
International Exposition at San Francisco, Governor Hatfield and
others at Charleston conversed with officials and visitors in California
in the previous January over the trans-continental telephone line which
had been opened.
In 1916 there were few extensions made to telephone plant during
the year, although a large rebuilding program was carried out.
In July lines were washed out and service seriously crippled by a
flood along New river east of Thurmond, but service was soon restored
to its normal condition. On August 9, about twenty miles of telephone
line was washed out by a heavy cloudburst on Cabin creek and Coal
river and service was not fully restored for about sixty days.
In January, 1917, The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company
of West Virginia was incorporated under the laws of the State, being
formed by the Bell Company for the purpose of taking over all of the
plant formerly owned by The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Com-
pany, The Central District Telephone Company and the Consolidated
Telephone Company, thus putting all property of the Bell Company in
the State into one company. During the year a number of the Con-
solidated exchanges were combined with The Chesapeake and Potomac
Telephone Company of West Virginia and the plant of the old In-
dependent Company dismantled. The Clarksburg-Fairmont-Morgan-
town group were merged on September 1st, and the Parkersburg-Spen-
eer-Ravenswood group on December 1st.
Following the American declaration of war against Germany in
April, 1917, The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company forces be-
came depleted because of the need of expert telephone men in govern-
ment service.
Within the year, some additional long distance circuits were placed,
but the efforts of the telephone company were largely directed toward
the winning of the war. Only essential work was completed and every
effort was made to defer work that could not be included in that purpose.
In the following year the principal activity in the Wheeling area
was the preparation for the merger of the Bell and Consolidated plant
which was scheduled for August of this year. In the meantime a con-
siderable number of the employees of the telephone company had en-
listed or had been inducted into the military service of the United
States. While this was a great handicap the company realizing the im-
portance of trained men for the government service employed other
men to "carry on" its work. Government activity and high salaries
attracted a number of the employees of the company at a time when
they could hardly be spared. Under these conditions, whenever addi-
tional telephone service was requested, arrangements were made to fur-
nish temporary magneto service until more adequate equipment could
be secured. Later common battery service was furnished.
In the summer of 1918, a fire-proof central office was constructed at
Nitro and a complete 1-D common battery switchboard was installed.
On this board, at one time, there were in excess of 400 telephones a1
work.
After the signing of the armistice, the telephone company carried
very heavy traffic.
In 1919 telephone men who had been mustered out of the Army and
Navy began to return home. The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone
Company offered employment to each man who had resigned for mili-
tary or naval service and each was credited with continuous service
under the "Bell System Employees Benefit Plan." From the Bell Sys-
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 543
tern as a whole there were 17,500 employees in the military and naval
service of the United States.
The year 1920 found The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Com-
pany of West Virginia without facilities for furnishing telephone serv-
ice required by the public. During the war the telephone company
worked along the lines of furnishing service that would be beneficial to
the government and the interests thereto. Equipment for the furnishing
of telephone service could not be secured except for the most essential
usages. Therefore, telephone development was restricted. However, a
number of long distance lines were added throughout the State. Among
these were new circuits from Charleston and Beckley to Blucfield, pro-
viding a second route to the southern section of the State. These lines
were strung partly on the poles of the Virginia Railway Company and
the Bluefield Telephone Company. A new pole line was provided be-
tween Logan and Williamson, and additional circuits provided between
Huntington, Logan and Williamson. Local telephone lines were ex-
tended to the new coal development along Tug river in the vicinity of
Williamson. Telephone service was also extended to the coal operations
along the Coal and Coke Division of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company from Burnsville to Braxton and Exchange.
During the year 1921 a large construction and rebuilding program
was carried out, but few extensions were made into new territory. Toll
circuits were extended from Mullens through Princeton to Bluefield.
Additional facilities were provided in many cities and towns so that
telephone service would be furnished to those applying for it. During
the miners' insurrection, before the arrival of Federal troops to pre-
serve order, many telephone lines were cut by unknown parties.
Late in 1921 plans were made for expansion of the telephone system
in a number of the larger cities and towns of the state in 1922. The
budget is quite a large one, and provides ample facilities for providing
service in rapidly growing cities.
C. & P. Stations in Service in West Virginia Division
(January 1, 1922)
Exchanges Company Stations Service Stations
Avella 4
Beckley 724 39
Belington 42 37
Benwood 554
Blaine 27 8
Buckhannon 497 15
Burnsville 49 16
Cameron 12 ...
Charleston 10,205 57
Chester 377 33
Clarksburg 6,142 7
Clendenin 120
Dunbar 64 ...
East Bank 398
Elizabeth 32
Elkins 749 74
Elm Grove 1,032
Fairchance 5 ...
Fairmont 4,374 34
Farmington 53 51
Fayetteville 168 14
Follansbee 307
Glenville 33 11
Grafton 1564 85
Hinton 893 131
Huntington 8,289 36
Jane Lew 74 61
Kanawha 101 18
Kenova 252
Keyser 564 46
Kingwood 176 99
Logan 1,126
Louisa 9
544 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Exchanges Company Stations Service Stations
Madison 230 ■
Mannington 463 48
Mason City 79
Matewan 32
Montgomery 435
Morgantown 2,887 72
Moundsville 969
Mount Hope 173
Mullens 188
New Cumberland 155 51
Newburg 89 17
Newell 160
New Martinsville 359 46
Pt. Marion 3
Point Pleasant 347
Oak Hill 142 16
Parkersburg 5,448 175
Philippi 199
Pennsboro 99 7
Peidmont 307 10
Ravenswood 99 22
Ripley 36
Riehwood ' 234 35
Salem 212 28
Shinnston 183 67
Sistersville 584 21
South Charleston 412 6
Spencer 158 10
St. Albans 643 80
Sutton 180 15
Terra Alta 100 192
Thurmond 279
Tunnelton 49
Warwood 659 12
Weirton 413 69
Wellsburg 441
Weston 905 178
West Union 52 8
Wheeling 8,934
Williamson 669
Williamstown 294 22
Woodsdale 1,661
Total Stations 68,977 2,079
Stations in service January 1, 1918 53,961
Stations in service December 31, 1921 71,056
The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company has no lines into
regions of least industrial development, such as Pendleton county and
Wyoming county, Monroe county, Pocahontas county, and parts of
Nicholas county. In some cases, however, it reaches chief points in these
counties by connections established over lines of local companies. From
the Sutton-Richwood line, it reaches Summersville (Nicholas county)
over the lines of the "Gauley Bridge, Summersville and Camden Tele-
phone Company." From Ronceverte it furnishes service to Union
(Monroe county) over the lines of the "Limestone Telephone Company,"
and through Lewisburg it reaches Marlinton (Pocahontas county) also
over the Limestone Company line. It also serves Petersburg and Moore-
field over toll lines extending from Burlington, south of Keyser.
The evolution of telephones is illustrated by the following brief abstract from
E. C. Smith's excellent History of Lewis County:
The first telephones in the county were not at the county seat. John Beeghley,
in the early eighties, was the owner of a chain of stores in northern Lewis and
southern Harrison counties. The delay in communication between stores was very
annoying and even costly at times. Soon after the telephone was placed on the
market he built a line connecting the stores, one of which was at Lightburn. His
neighbors were quick to realize the advantages of the telephone and they requested
permission to connect with the Beeghley line. The merchant determined to take up
the telephone business on a commercial basis. He extended his lines in all directions
until within a surprisingly short time connection was established with all parts of
the county.
Meanwhile the people of Weston had been trying to work out some scheme by
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 545
which they might secure telephone service. In 1885 the Central Telephone Company
was organized with Jacob Koblegaid as president and James B. Fmstcr as secretary.
This company was later reorganized as the Western Central Telej hone Company in
1S88. Several telephones were installed in different places of business in Weston,
and a line was run to Glenville by the company. By 1895 John Beeghley 'a system
had grown to such an extent that he found it expedient to establish connection in
Weston. He therefore leased for five years the plant of the Weston Central com-
pany and. before his lease had expired, arranged to consolidate the two companies
into the United Telephone System. At the time of the merger there were eighty
telephones on the Beeghley lines and about thirty in the Weston system. The for-
mation of the new company caused a great improvement in the service and greatly
extended the use of the telephone not only in business houses, but also to private
residences. Practically all property holders in Weston soon leased telephones. The
service was further improved by arrangements made for switchboard connections
with systems in adjoining counties.
The Bell System entered the field at the beginning of the century, and estab-
lished a long distance service far superior to that of the United System. Its local
service was never comparable to that of the Beeghley lines on account of the larger
number of subscribers of the latter company in Weston. In 1903 the People's
United Telephone System, a co-operative company, was incorporated, and within
three years it had extended its lines into practically every section of the county, with
instruments even in log houses situated far from the ordinary course of travel.
Weston now hnd three systems, the Beeghley still predominating, but the other
having a considerable number of subscribers. Early in 1917 the Bell Company ab-
sorbed the Beeghley lines, to the great improvement of the service.
The following if? a list of telephone and telegraph companies doing
business in West Virginia and the valuation of the property of each as
assessed by the Board of Public Works :
American Telephone & Telegraph Co., of W. Va $ 300,000.00
Amos Telephone Co 8.000.00
Athens Telephone Co 3,000.00
Aurora, Oakland & Terra Alta Telephone Co 500.00
Asbury Telephone Co 700.00
Arbovale Mutual Telephone Co 3,500 00
Big Hurricane Telephone Co 700.00
Berkeley Springs Telephone Co 2 225.00
Bluefiel'd Telephone Co 200,000.00
Berea & Slab Telephone Co 10,000.00
Bethany Telephone Co 1,500.00
Big Four Telephone Co 1,300.00
Barboursville Telephone Co 3,000 00
Bridgeport Telephone Co 7,000.00
Buffalo Telephone Co 1,550.00
Burton & Uniontown Telephone Co 300.00
Bruceton Telephone Co 550.00
Brandonville & Terra Alta Telephone Co 625.00
Bluestone Mutual Telephone Co 800.00
Beverly & Marlinton Telephone Co 2,6.85 00
Behler-Bagans Telephone Co 1,300.00
Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. of W. Va 5,500,000.00
Cowen Telephone Co 1 975.00
Citizens United Telephone Co 1,450.00
Citizens Telephone Co 1,921.00
Cameron Telephone Co 3,000.00
Citizens Telephone Co. of Rockport, W. Va 2,500.00
Clear Fork Telephone Co 830.00
Clarksburg & Mnnnington Telephone Co 1,700.00
Cabell-Mason Telephone Co 350.00
Chenoweth Valley Telephone Co 300 00
Duncan Telephone Co 970.00
Deep Valley Telephone Co 750.00
Echo Telephone Co 325.00
East Side Telephone Co 1,700.00
Exchange Telephone Co 1,100.00
Eglon Mutual Telenhone Co 1 900.00
Fraziers Bottom. Upland & Glenwood Telephone Co 1,075 00
Fairview Telephone Co 800.00
Friendship Mutual Telephone Co 6.000.00
Flemington Telephone Co 2 870.00
Farmers Union Telephone Co 1,600.00
Finch Telephone Co. (McKim Division) 1.475.00
Frankford Telephone Co 2,375.00
Fairmont & Western Telephone Co 600 00
Farmers Mutual Union Telephone Co 995.00
Farmers Rural Telephone Co. of Vernon, W. Va 425.00
Vol. 1—3 5
546 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Farmers Telephone Co. of Pt. Marion, Pa $1,500.00
Finch Telephone Co 500.00
Flat Rock Telephone Co 375.00
Gassaway Telephone Co 2,400.00
Gauley Bridge, Summersville & Camden Telephone Co 3,000.00
Green Sulphur Mutual Telephone Co 300.00
Glade Valley Telephone Co 2,075.00
Greenville Telephone Co 1,200.00
Guyan Telephone Co 1,800.00
Hiils & Browns Creek Mutual Telephone Co 200.00
Hardy Mutual Telephone Co 925.00
Inland Telephone & Telegraph Co 8,000.00
Independent Home Telephone Co 2,050.00
Jefferson County Telephone Co 70 000.00
Lincoln County Telephone Co 1,625.00
Longdate Independent Telephone Co 3,000.00
Lansing Telephone Co 2,650.00
Limestone Telephone Co 25,000.00
Marlinton & Academy Mutual Telephone Co 1,520.00
Marlinton & Elk Mutual Telephone Co 500.00
Marlinton & Stoney Creek Mutual Telephone Co 625.00
Marlinton & Clover Lick Mutual Telephone Co 950.00
Marlinton. Knapps Creek & Dilleys Mill Mutual Tele-
phone Co 2,500.00
Monroe Mutual Telephone Co 2,800.00
Milton Telephone Co 1,000.00
Masontown Telephone Co 3,400.00
Marie Telephone Co 1 ,200.00
Marion Telephone Co 1,700.00
Mt. Lookout Telephone Co 4,500.00
M. K. Duty (Telephone) 175.00
North Bend & Southern Telephone Co 2,500.00
North Fayette Telephone Co 5,000.00
North Biver Telephone Co 450.00
Newville Telephone Co 1,350.00
Odd Telephone Co 4,200.00
Oakland Telephone Co 2,500.00
Oakvale Telephone Co 950.00
Oak Hill Telephone Co 5,000.00
Putnam Telephone Co 1,500.00
Postal Telegraph-Cable Co. of W. Va 25,000.00
Pritchard Telephone Co 6,000.00
Pittsburgh & Wheeling Telephone Co 4 000.00
Pocahontas Telephone Co 4,500.00
Peoples United Telephone System 40,000.00
Pruntytown Telephone Co 1,900.00
Proctor & Peabody Telephone Co 3,400.00
Ronceverte & Elkins Telephone Co 5,000.00
Bomney Consolidated Telephone Co 10,000.00
Bock Oak Telephone Co 250.00
Biver Bend Telephone Co 500.00
Eockville & Kingwood Telephone Co 900.00
Bowlesburg Telephone Co 650.00
Bio & Bomney Telephone Co 1,750.00
Sardis Telephone Co 7,000.00
Short Line Telephone Co 10,000.00
Shinnston Union Telephone Co 2,660.00
Silver Hill Telephone Co 1,650.00
Slanesville Telephone Co 700.00
St. Cloud Telephone Co 900.00
Summers & Mercer Mutual Telephone Co 900.00
Tri-District Telephone Co 900.00
Trap Hill Telephone Co 5,000.00
Turkeyfoot Telephone Co 2,275.00
United Telephone Co 7,000.00
United American Telephone Co. of W. Va 12,000.00
Union Bidge & Ohio Biver Telephone Co 500.00
United Farmers Telephone Co 2,200.00
Wallace Telephone Co 915.00
Waterloo, Buffalo & Winfield Telephone Co 1,225.00
Wadestown Telephone Co 4,600.00
Webster Telephone Co 700.00
West Virginia Mutual Telephone Association 13.280.00
Wellsburg Home Telephone Co 6,000.00
Western Union Telegraph Co 800,000.00
Total $7,243,376.00
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 547
The Movement foe Good Roads
Although the opening of new wagon roads was stimulated by every
extension of railways, the beginning of a policy of permanent roads and
intelligent direction in their construction was delayed in West Virginia
until the first decade of the twentieth century.
The earlier road laws, first codified in 1872-73, and revised in 1881
and 1891 and thereafter, appeared so contradictory in the code of 1906
that their interpretation was difficult or impossible. In 1907 the legis-
lature, by creation of the office of state highway inspector, took the first
step to lift West Virginia ''out of the mud" in which it had "wallowed"
under a traditional system of roads inherited from the distant period of
King Alfred. Under this law, H. E. Williams of Greenbrier county was
appointed inspector and after a series of investigations, published
(1908) a report recommending the creation of a state office of public
roads. In 1909 the legislature took another forward step by an enact-
ment of a state roads law which provided for creating of a state highway
commission and the office of county engineer, and for state aid in road
construction. This act was abolished in 1911.
In 1913 the legislature created the state road bureau with authority
over all public roads of the state, but without funds to execute the pro-
visions of the act. The chief work accomplished under the law was
the creation of a highway department at the University which sought to
improve highway construction by a series of short lecture courses which
were attended by the county road engineers from 1914 to 1918.
By act of 1917 the state road bureau became the state road com-
mission, located at Charleston.
The work of the state road commission after 1917 was aided by
Federal appropriations from which the state received allotments as
follows :
1916-17 $ 53,270.4(1
1917-18 106,540.92
1918-19 159,713.89
1919-20 1,542,846.40
1920-21 1,064,018.20
$2,926,369.87
The amount of money available from the motor vehicle tax for 1917-20 for
distribution to counties was as follows:
1917-18 $ 270,063.62
1918-19 385,806.11
1919-20 389,223.61
$1,045,093.34
The importance of permanent improved roads increasingly attracted
public attention in the period of the World war by the inability of the
railroads to handle the large commerce of the country, and the necessity
of resorting to highway transportation .for relief.
Under the constitutional amendment, ratified in 1920, authorizing
bond issues to finance the construction of a system of permanent high-
ways, the legislature promptly took steps for the inauguration of active
work of construction under the direction of the state road bureau.
Perhaps the largest single factor in securing the ratification of the
good roads amendment to the state constitution was the large increase
in the use of passenger automobiles and motor transportation trucks in
the state. The number of regular automobile licenses increased from
25,089 in 1918 to 45,019 in 1919 and 61,330 in 1920. The number of
special privilege licenses increased from 4,470 in 1919 to 8,758 in 1920,
the number of dealers' licenses from 671 to 803, the number of
chauffeurs' licenses from 5,352 to 8,542, and the number of motor-cycle
licenses from 1,129 to 1,459. The approximate increase in the total
number of licenses of 1920 over those of the previous year was 43
per cent.
In 1921 the legislature carefully revised the good roads law of 1917
and especially extended the provisions relating to licensing of auto-
548
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
mobiles and regulation of traffic. The revised law specifically defined
and classified the different types of automobiles, and required those with
solid tires to pay a higher license fee than those with pneumatic tires.
The following narrative, prepared by W. S. Downs, presents some of
the chief features of modern highway development from 1910 to 1920 :
The decade after 1910 witnessed the dawn of a new era in transportation facili-
ties. Due to the development of the motor truck and automobile, we are rapidly
changing from railroads to highways as a means for transportation. Large cor-
porations have been organized to develop coal and timber lands or to transport
commodities, whose very life is dependent upon the use of the public highways to
transport their products and thus the highways are gradually assuming the burden
and uses which formerly belonged only to the railroads. As a result of the un-
precedented development in motor transportation, highways that were considered
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model roads a few years ago are today no longer adequate for the present traffic,
and indeed, many of them have been utterly destroyed by vehicles and loads which
a few years ago were undreamed of. The increase in the size of the load, in render-
ing almost useless many roads which were constructed for lighter traffic, and in
requiring the public to construct the future roads stronger and more expensive in
design, presents one of the greatest problems facing the state today and the ten-
dency is rather towards restricting the size of the load and regulating the kind of
traffic which may use the public highways. It seems to have been clearly demon-
strated that no state or community can afford to provide highways for unrestricted
and unregulated loads.
The last ten years have seen the construction of practically all the paved roads
in West Virginia. Prior to the year 1910 paved highways were generally confined
to the limits of the larger cities and towns. True, some very good roads had been
constructed in some sections of the State, notably in the eastern panhandle and
in Ohio county, known as "stoned" roads and since limestone had been used to
"stone" these roads they may be classed as a type of water-bound macadam and
as such afforded excellent roads for horse-drawn traffic. However, for a half cen-
tury prior to 1910 there was very little activity in highway building and it was
not until the automobile had become a rather common vehicle of travel that much
interest was shown in "improved" roads, or much effort made to provide better
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 549
roads outside the limits of the cities and towns. At the same time the automobile
soon demonstrated that the water-bound macadam type of highway is unsuitable
for such traffic and it was not long before the few miles of such type of highways
which had been constructed were worn out and were in worse condition than some
of the dirt or unimproved roads. Therefore, we may properly say that road building
in West Virginia really began with the last decade. Prior to 1911 all road con-
struction in West Virginia was financed by direct levies on the taxable property
in the county or districts in which the roads were located. However, to meet the
demand for some speedy construction of roads in certain sections of the State, the
legislature in 1911 provided that districts or counties might vote bonds for road
construction That same year bonds for highways improvements were voted in
three counties of the state, namely: Wood, Cabell and Hancock, and by the end
of 1920 over $28,500,000 in bonds had been voted either as a county or district
proposition in 41 counties of the State.
The following table shows the amount of bonds voted for road construction
each year, which amounts are in addition to the funds derived from direct tax
levies:
1911 $ 605,000.00 1916 $7,228,500.00
1912 .... 275,000.00 1917 4,010,000.00
{III ... 1,4HV)00.00 1918 1,092,000.00
1914 '" ... 150,000.00 1919 6,041,200.00
1915 ;;;;;;; 3,263,000.00 1920 4,447,500.00
These bonds were voted in the counties as follows:
Barbour $ 130,000.00 Monongalia ^In'onnnn
Boone 550,000.00 Morgan 250,000.00
Brooke " 800,000.00 McDowell 1,843,000.00
Cabell 1,900,000.00 Pleasants 60,000.00
Doddridge 375,000.00 Pocahontas 260,000.00
Fayette 1,748,000.00 Preston 444,000.00
Greenbrier 608,000.00 Putnam »f»-»J
Hancock 630,000.00 Raleigh M^.OOO. 00
Harrison 300,000.00 Randolph - '
Jackson 241,000.00 Ritchie ?^'22n"S2
Kanawha 2,179 000.00 Roane 515,000.00
Lewis 350,000.00 Summers 439,200.00
Lincoln' 675,000.00 Taylor 1,000,000.00
Lo^an 1,200,000.00 Tucker 210,000.00
Mai-ion 2,093,000.00 Upshur 180,000.00
Mason 344,000.00 Wayne 1,000,000.00
Monroe 167,000.00 Webster 2:jO,000.00
Marshall 735,000.00 Wetzel 510,000.00
Mercer 850,000.00 Wood 500,000.00
Mineral 422,000.00 Wyoming 550,000.00
Mingo 1,000,000.00
In 1913 there was created the State Road Bureau which, considering the fact
that it was vested with no power or authority to enforee its rules or to supervise
construction, and was provided with little funds with which to function, did very
good work. The State Road Bureau in 1917 was changed to the State Road Com-
mission and the road laws were re-codified and amended, insofar as it was necessary
to take advantage of the reeent act of the United States Congress which appro-
priated Federal funds to the several states for road construction. The act of 1917
divided the public roads into two classes: Class A or Intercounty Roads, and
Class B or county-district roads and provided that State and Federal funds should
be expended only on the Class A roads. The Class A roads as later established
comprised about 10% of the total road mileage in the State or a total of 4,619 miles.
This perhaps was the most progressive step taken by the legislature up to that
time for better roads and while the State constitution which vested the authority
of roads in the county courts limited the authority of the State Road Commission
to a more or less advisory capacity, yet the requirements of the Federal Government
in the expenditure of its aid through the Commission and the county courts for
road construction set a higher standard and tended to point the way for a State
road system which finally culminated in the resolution of the legislature in 1919
submitting to the vote of the people an amendment to the constitution to provide
for state control of highways.
As a result of the last 10 years' efforts at road building there are today
approximately 1,200 miles of paved roads in West Virginia of which approximately
800 miles are parts of the Class A or inter-county system of roads. And in addi-
tion several hundred miles of graded earth roads have been constructed. Yet with
approximately 800 miles of Class A system of roads paved, not more than two
county seats in the State are actually connected by paved highways. With each
county acting as an independent unit and often with the several districts in the
counties voting bonds to improve certain roads, without regard to any system or
connections with adjoining districts, it is little wonder that the roads which have
been constructed have failed to connect into a system of State or inter-county roads.
It was this situation that confronted the legislature in 1919 and prompted it to
propose the amendment to the State constitution to provide a state system of high-
550 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
ways and it was the realization on the part of the people that the county system
of building state roads had been a failure, that caused a majority of over 100,000
votes for the said amendment at the last general election. This amendment makes
it possible for the State legislature to create a system of State roads to be con-
structed and maintained by a central state organization.
Following the practice then general throughout the country, the first improved
roads in West Virginia were a type of water-bound macadam, commonly called
"stoned" roads. This type reached its highest development in the counties where
limestone was abundant although sandstone, shales and gravel were often used to
build "stone" roads. This type of surface, while very satisfactory for slow moving
horse-drawn traffic, could not withstand the destructive action of the fast moving
automobile or trucks with ■rubber tires whose suction action displaced the smaller
particles, thus destroying the bond and causing the surface to disintegrate. In
recent years it has been found necessary in order to preserve these roads, to provide
a surface treatment of asphalt or oils and many of them have been reconstructed
with an asphalt or bituminous surface.
"West Virginia, being a pioneer state in the use of brick for the paving of city
streets, it naturally followed that this type of paving would be used on many of
the rural highways, especially in the sections of the State where brick are manufac-
tured, and where limestone or other stone suitable for macadam are not abundant.
The brick were at first laid on the natural soil after it had been smoothed or
shaped up with a layer of sand. But as traffic increased in weight, it was found
necessary to provide a sub-base of crushed stone and later of concrete which greatly
increased the cost of paving and as the cost has continually increased there has
been less a percentage of new highways constructed of brick in more recent years.
Cement concrete has largely superseded brick and has been used not only for a
base coarse but for a wearing surface, largely because of the fact that it is cheaper
than brick and at the same time combines a durable wearing surface with a great
degree of strength to withstand heavy loads. Moreover, it permits the use of local
materials such as river gravel, crushed limestone and even sandstone in the construc-
tion thereof. However, the cost of this type of road has so increased along with
other types that there has been a tendency within the last year or two to find a still
cheaper type; and more roads are being constructed today with local material having
a bituminous binder, and, in many cases, even less durable types such as gravel or
improved earth roads are bindbuilt.
Another argument in favor of the cheaper type of road is the fact that our
road locations being comparatively new, are not firmly settled and the soil condi-
tions of most of our hillsides is such as to render them unstable. Slips and land-
slides are of common occurrence so that expensive type of roads are often destroyed
by nature's agencies long before traffic has made appreciable inroads on the ordinary
<ite of the surface. Therefore, economy would seem to dictate that the present
pavement should be of a cheaper type.
CHAPTER XXXII
POLITICAL AND LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Party control, which was first held by the Republicans, passed to the
Democrats in 1870-71, was regained by the Republicans by 1896 and
held thereafter, although through party division they failed to elect the
governor in 1916.
1. Under Early Republican Control. In the election of 1864
there was no division of parties. There were only a few scattering votes
in opposition to the officers of the state administration and to Repub-
lican candidates for Congress. Boreman was reelected without opposi-
tion, by a vote of 19,192. In 1866 1 he was again reelected by a vote of
23,802 against 17,158 for Benjamin H. Smith (of Kanawha), his op-
ponent. Near the close of his term he was elected to the United States
Senate, and for a few days the duties of the governorship devolved upon
D. D. T. Farnsworth, who had been elected president of the senate.
In the election of 1868 Governor William E. Stevenson defeated
J. N. Camden, the candidate for governor, by a majority of 5,000. He
was a man of liberal and vigorous progressive views, and continued the
constructive policy of his predecessor, endeavoring to remove the deeply
rooted prejudices against immigration and earnestly favoring liberal
legislation to encourage projects of internal improvement and industrial
enterprise, which would engage the people of the State in the develop-
ment of its resources and terminate the quarrels over past issues.
At the session of the legislature of 1869, Governor Stevenson recommended
the repeal of the attorneys' and teachers' test oaths, and stated that he thought
the wisdom of the further continuance of the suitors ' test oaths was questionable.
He also suggested the amendment of the Constitution so as to restore the privilege
of citizenship to those disfranchised. He uses this language:
' ' These restrictive measures were adopted during the time of great public peril.
They were prompted by that instinct of self-preservation which impels every com-
munity to shield itself from present or impending danger. Under such circumstances
prompt and decisive measures were imperatively demanded and those entrusted with
authority did not hesitate to resort to them. These disabilities were not, however,
intended to be perpetual, but only to remain in force until all danger to the public
peace was past — until those upon whom they were imposed gave evidence that they
accepted in good faith the result of the war, and until the permanency of the State
was fixed beyond all question. These restrictions did not originate in a vindictive
spirit, nor have they been adhered to by any considerable number of persons for
unworthy purposes, etc. ' '
At the session of 1870 the Legislature enacted bills repealing the attorneys',
teachers', and suitors' test oaths. Mr. Flick, who was a Northern man and had
come into the State after the war, offered an amendment to the Constitution pro-
viding that all male citizens of the State should be entitled to vote, except the usual
disqualified classes such as minors, persons of unsound mind, paupers, etc. This
amendment was adopted by the Legislature and submitted to a vote of the people,
and was afterwards adopted. By this legislation, the returned Confederate soldiers
and those who had aided and sympathized with the Confederate cause were admitted
to vote and were relieved of other political disabilities. The effect of this was to
turn the State over to the Democrats.
2. Under Democratic Control. In 1870, although somewhat dis-
concerted by the adoption of the Flick amendment, the Democrats elected
John J. Jacob to the gubernatorial office by a majority of over 2,000
votes over Stevenson and secured in both houses a working majority
which they retained for a quarter century. Although his usefulness
was somewhat restricted by certain limited views, Governor Jacob was
conservative and moderate in his policies and two years later was sup-
1 The subjects of legislation in 1866 were varied, covering taxes, obstruction of
justice, land-deed laws, laws affecting ex-soldiers, incorporations for rivers and road
improvements, immigration and the development of agriculture.
551
552 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
ported by independent Republicans and reelected by a majority of 2,363
votes over J. N. Camden, the regular Democratic candidate, in a cam-
paign of caustic personal abuse. He devoted much attention to measures
relating to the material development of the State.
The legislature which assembled in January, 1871 had a Democratic majority
in both houses, and elected Henry G. Davis to the United States Senate by a vote
of 53 as-ainst 22 for James H. Brown the Republican enndidnte. At this session
resolutions were introduced to compel the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company to
modify its tariff charges and cease discriminations against the State of West Vir-
ginia and its citizens and from that time there was quite an agitation looking to
the correction of the evils under which the citizens of the state suffered by reason
of such discrimination.
At the session of 1871 the legislature approved a bill submitting to the people
the question of calling a Constitutional Convention. At the election held the next
year this was ratified by the people, and the Constitutional Convention at Charleston
assembled in 1872. Among its members were a large number of the most prominent
men of the state.
At the session of the legislature of 1872, among the members elected appeared
A. Brooks Fleming of Marion and George C. Sturgiss of Monongalia. The Democrats
were in complete control and selected the speaker of the house by a vote of 50 to 5.
They were also in complete control of the convention which adopted the new con-
stitution of 1872.
This Constitution provided that all persons residing in the State born or nat-
uralized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof shall be citizens
of the State.
Manv of the members of this Convention had been soldiers in the Confederate
army and others had sympathized with and aided the South in the War between the
States, and they succeeded in having inserted in the new Constitution certain pro-
visions which were intended to prevent a recurrence of the conditions which existed
during the years immediately following the war. This accounts for sections 11 and
12 of the bill of rights, which are as follows:
"11. Political tests, requiring persons, as a prerequisite to the enjoyment of
their civil and political rights, to purge themselves by their own oaths, of past
alleged offenses, are repugnant to the principles of free Government, and are cruel
and oppressive. No religious or political test oath shall be required as a pre-
requisite or qualification to vote serve as a juror, sue. plead, appeal, or pursue any
profession or employment. Nor shall any person be deprived by law, of any right,
or privilege, because of any act done prior to the passage of such law.
"12. Standing armies in time of peace, should be avoided, as dangerous to
liberty. The military shall be subordinate to the civil power; and no citizen, unless
engaged in the military service of the State, shall be tried or punished by any
military court for any offence that is cognizable by the civil courts of the State.
No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of
the owner; nor in time of war except in the manner to be prescribed by law."
These provisions of section 12 above quoted were invoked forty years later on
behalf of some of the striking miners in the Cabin Creek and Paint Creek coal fields,
who were arrested under martial law proclaimed by the Governor and held and tried
by a Military Court. But the right of the Governor to proclaim martial law and
the power of the Military Court to detain and imprison persons charged with
offenses within the martial law zone was upheld by a majority of the Court of
Appeals notwithstanding these Constitutional provisions, on the ground of necessity.
This constitution also contained the following provision:
"No citizen of this State who aided or participated in the late war between
the government of the United States and a part of the people thereof, on either
side, shall be liable in any proceeding civil or criminal; nor shall his property be
seized or sold under final process issued upon judgments or decrees heretofore ren-
dered, or otherwise, because of any act done in accordance with the usages of
civilized warfare in the prosecution of said war. The Legislature shall provide,
by general laws, for giving full force and effect to this section." Article 8, Sec-
tion 20.
The validity of this provision was sustained by the Supreme Court of the
United States in the case of Freeland v. Williams, 131 U. S. 405.
Many of the members of this Convention had been deprived of the right to
vote by the registrars under the registration law, which was in force after the
war, because in many instances they were not able to take the test oaths, and in
other instances the power of the registrars was exercised more or less arbitrarily,
as it was claimed by them. They sought to prevent such a thing occurring again
by a Constitutional provision, and they inserted in the Constitution the following:
"No citizen shall ever be denied nor refused the right and privilege of voting
at an election because his name is not or has not been registered or listed as a
qualified voter. ' ' 2
2 The unwisdom of such a constitutional provision became manifest especially
to the members of the Democratic party in after years, when the population of the
State had become largely increased by great numbers of negroes from Virginia and
the other Southern States coming into the mining regions of the State especially
in the southern part, and by a large floating population of miners, lumbermen and
others engaged in developing the great resources of the State. This class of popula-
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 553
At the first election held under the new Constitution, there was a
split in the Democratic party. The regular Democratic Convention
nominated Johnson N. Camden for Governor. There was dissatisfac-
tion and charges of improper practice in the control of the convention,
and Governor John J. Jacob ran as an independent candidate and was
supported by the Republican party. Governor Jacob was elected, re-
ceiving 42,888 votes, Mr. Camden receiving 40,305. The other candidates
on the regular Democratic ticket for State offices were elected, namely:
B. W. Byrne, Superintendent of Free Schools; Edward A. Bennett,
Auditor; John S. Burdett, Treasurer, and Henry M. Mathews, At-
torney-General.
The first legislature under the new Constitution assembled at Charles-
ton November 16, 1872. William M. Miller, of Ohio county, was elected
Speaker, receiving 44 votes over William Price, of Monongalia, who re-
ceived 17 votes. D. D. Johnson, of Tyler county, was elected president
of the Senate. The chief work of the session was the modification of
the laws to conform to the new constitution which became effective
January 1, 1873. A prominent task was the reorganization of the county
government. The establishing of the county court system required a
revision of nearly all the laws relating to the matters of probate, ap-
pointment of guardians, committees, settlements of accounts, recording
of deeds and also the laws relating to holding elections.
In 1873, the governor came into serious conflict with the legislature
in regard to the appointing power of the executive department and the
power of the legislative department to pass the act of January 14, 1873,
creating the board of public works with appointive powers. At one
time the conflict threatened serious public disturbance. It specifically
arose from the action of the board in appointing (under act of April
1, 1873), Mr. William L. Bridges as superintendent of the penitentiary
to succeed Thomas P. Shallcross who held the place by appointment of
the governor.
Having been duly qualified, the new superintendent in company with the board
of directors presented himself at the penitentiary on May 1, the day fixed by law,
and formally demanded possession of the place. He and the directors were met
at the gate by Mr. Shallcross who refused to admit them; and on being asked the
reason of his refusal, he produced a written document signed by the governor
"directing him to act as superintendent until further orders." He added that
"he had received verbal orders to exclude all persons." Upon the board of directors
offering to make their entrance notwithstanding his refusal, Mr. Shallcross warned
them by declaring that if they attempted to enter forcibly, he was prepared and
resolved to use force on his part to prevent it and to keep them nut. At this they
retired. A suit was soon instituted before the supreme court of the state on com-
plaint of Mr. Bridges vs. Mr. Shallcross to compel the latter to surrender the
penitentiary to the complainant, etc. The design of this action was not so much to
decide the contest between the parties in the litigation as to determine whether the
acts of the legislature out of which this contest arose were constitutional and valid
or unconstitutional and void. The matter came before the court in the July term
of 1873. By the judgment rendered, Mr. Shallcross was ousted and by instruction
of the governor obeyed the judgment in order to avoid conflict of authority.
During Jacob's administration, prosperity was restricted by lack of
a permanent location of the seat of government. To secure greater
convenience of access, the capital, which on April 1, 1870, had been
removed from Wheeling to Charleston, returned to Wheeling by act of
February 20, 1875, which became a law without the signature of the
governor.
At the session of the legislature of 1875, Allen T. Caperton was
elected United States Senator, after a contest lasting from January
26 to February 17. On the final vote he received 68 votes, R. L. Berk
tion being more or less migratory, and there being no registration law, it was found
that there was no way to prevent them from voting before they had attained
ritizenship and of repeating at the elections, especially if the election officers were
careless or corrupt or intensely partisan in their actions. All good citizens of the
State recognized the importance of repealing this Constitutional provision in order
to have fair elections, and it was repealed by an amendment submitted by the
legislature of 1901, in the following language:
' ' The legislature shall enact proper laws for the registration of all qualified
voters in this State."
554
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
shire 14 votes, George M. Thompson 1 vote and C. P. T. Moore 1 vote.
During the contest the voting was general and very much scattered,
the leading candidates besides Mr. Caperton being Henry S. Walker,
Samuel Price and Johnson N. Camden.
In the exciting election of 1876, the Democratic state ticket of eight
persons, seven of whom had been in the Confederate army, was elected
by a majority of from 1,200 to 16,000. H. M. Mathews, who defeated
General Nathan Goff, the popular Republican candidate for governor,
was a patriotic, broad and liberal minded ex-Confederate who had fully
accepted the results of the Civil war and was well-fitted to lead in
meeting living issues. His administration had been characterized as an
era of good feeling in which the state began to show new signs of
awakening life — especially in industrial development. He adopted a
liberal and sensible policy of appointing on administrative boards mem-
bers from both political parties — a wise policy which unfortunately
was abandoned by some of his immediate successors.
Third State Capitol Building, Erected by City op Wheeling, 1875-76
Senator Allen T. Caperton having died, and the term of office of
Hon. Henry G. Davis as United States Senator having expired, two
Senators were elected at the session of the legislature of 1877. Henry
G. Davis was re-elected, receiving 60 votes, Charles J. Faulkner 19
votes, G. D. Camden 3, and John Brannon, B. W. Byrne, John J. Davis
and Daniel Lamb 1 vote each. Frank Hereford, of Monroe county,
was elected to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Camden. He receiving 70
votes. The chief contest in this Senatorial election was between Hon.
Henry G. Davis and Charles J. Faulkner for the long term, and Samuel
Price, Frank Hereford and Henry S. Walker for the short term.
The question of West Virginia's portion of the Virginia debt had
received more or less attention from time to time since the formation of
the state.3 Virginia, declining to enter into negotiations for settlement
of the debt question, issued for one third of her debt certain "West
Virginia certificates" which she traded on public exchanges. At the
legislative session of 1879, Governor Mathews complained of this
arbitrary action of Virginia and urged that any debt due should be
recognized and promptly paid.
^ During the legislative session of 1869, the Virginia Debt, which had been
previously debated, again arose, but a consideration of the question was postponed,
because of the pending suit of the State of Virginia to recover from West Virginia
the counties of Jefferson and Berkeley. It was then claimed that no intelligent
conclusion could be reached until the question of sovereignty over these two counties
liad been determined by the supreme court of the United States.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 555
During Mathews' administration a committee of inquiry investigated
the question of discriminating freight rates of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad and reported (January 15, 1879), that the Camden Consoli-
dated Oil Company had received especial advantages by a system of
rebates.
At the session of 1879, the question of excessive railroad freights and tariff
and discrimination against the State of West Virginia and its citizens by the Balti-
more & Ohio Bailroad was the subject of an elaborate report both to the Senate
and the House of Delegates, and a resolution was adopted providing for a joint
committee of the two houses to confer with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad on this
question and the Attorney-General was directed to institute legal proceedings by
quo warranto or otherwise against the Baltimore & Ohio Bailroad Company for
forfeiture of its charter because of these alleged excessive charges and discrimina-
tions. This matter became a burning issue in the politics of the State during the
years that followed; one of the most active men in the matter of correcting the
alleged abuses by the Bailroad Companies being the Hon. E. Willis Wilson, then
of Jefferson County.
In 1880 there was an e'ection for State officers. The contest for the
Democratic nomination for Governor was mainly between Hon. Jacob B.
Jackson of Parkersburg and Hon. Charles J. Faulkner of Martinsburg,
Mr. Jackson receiving the nomination after a very spirited contest. Mr.
Faulkner had been quite prominent in public affairs, being then a mem-
ber of the House of Representatives, and having been the minister of the
United States to France under President Buchanan. Mr. Jackson was
a prominent lawyer, a brother of Hon. John J. Jackson, who had been
appointed Judge of the United Slates District Court for West Virginia
by President Lincoln, and also of Judge James Monroe Jackson. The
Republican nominee for Governor was George C. Sturgiss, of Morgan-
town. Tbe Greenback party also had a ticket in the field, Napoleon B.
French being its candidate for Governor. The Democratic ticket was
elected. The vote was as follows: for Governor, Jacob B. Jackson,
60,991 votes ; George C. Sturgiss, 44,855 votes, and N. B. French, 13,027
votes. The other state officers e'ected were Joseph S. Miller, Auditor;
Thomas O'Brien, Treasurer; B. L. Butcher, Superintendent of Free
Schools, and C. C. Watts, Attorney-General.
Governor Jackson, who succeeded Governor Mathews in 1881, was
an honest but partisan Democrat of the old school. He favored the
enactment of laws that wou'd encourage immigration, manufactures, and
the development of the material resources of the state. He also at-
tempted to secure reforms in taxation and state finance by directing
that all property net exempted by the constitution should be listed
for taxation, and by the appointment of a tax commission (1883).
During his administration, a period of general prosperity and happiness
(excepting the calamitous results of the great floods of February, 1884) ,
steps were also taken to revise the laws, some of which were indefinite
and inconsistent.
The legislature of 18S1 was an important one. The Constitutional amendment
changing the judicial system, increasing the Supreme Court of Appeals to four
judges, and abolishing County Courts as trial Courts had been submitted by the
legislature of 1879 and adopted by the people, and the legislature of 1881 went
into an extensive revision of the statutes of the State, and the Acts of 1881 and
1882, Extra Session, constitute almost a complete revision of the statute law of the
State, adapting it to the changes in the Constitution and making other important
changes.
This legislature extended its session by joint resolution, and met in January,
1882, to consider the report of its revision committee, which sat during the recess.
A new phase of the "old sentiment" of our law-makers became apparent in the
opposition to the position of president of the University and also to the creation
of a law school and a medical school at the University. The session of 1881 created
a State board of health to regulate the practice of medicine and surgery, and to
require practicing physicians to register, but it provided no funds for the regulation
of public health. It also passed a law regulating the practice of pharmacy, but
failed to provide funds for this purpose. A conference was held with a "West
Virginia Committee" of London, England, which represented holders of West Vir-
ginia certificates in Europe. The sentiment of the senate committee of December,
'73, was re-affirmed that "West Virginia owes no debt, has no bonds for sale, and
asks no credit."
The legislature of 1883 was confronted with important problems. Capital had
been pouring in to develop the resources of the state; railroads were being built
556 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
through the interior mineral producing counties; new farms were being opened up;
mining outputs were greatly increased; the lumber industry had made hitherto
valueless lauds valuable, and the population had increased, during the past census
period, 40%, yet the assessed valuation of personal property in 1871 was greater
than that of 1881 by $3,000,000. The total net gain in real and personal property
only showed an increase of 5% for this period of ten years. This aroused a tre-
mendous protest against the method of assessing taxable property and showed the
necessity for new laws on taxation. The legislature did nothing, however, and the
old spirit of class favoritism prevailed and dereliction of revenue officials continued.
The callousness of long tenure had become too deeply rooted to be thrown off.
Gross land frauds were being perpetuated. Many large bodies of land were offered
for sale in eastern cities for ten cents an acre. The deeds, plats, abstracts, seats,
etc., for West Virginia lands were being manufactured in New York City. It was
urged that laws should be passed prohibiting clerks of courts from certifying titles
to forfeited and delinquent lands or giving abstracts of such titles to lands, and
that the legislature should investigate, by commissioners, the large tracts of land
held under grant from Virginia, determine if they exist and settle the titles, etc.,
in order to protect legitimate investors. This, however, was not done.
At the sessions of the legislature of 1883 and 1885, there was no very im-
portant legislation, but about this time the Supreme Court of Appeals had held in
the ease of Miller, Auditor, against the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Company that
the legislature had no power to exempt the property of the Railroad Company, or
any other kind of property, from taxation, interpreting strictly the provision of the
Constitution of 1872, which provided that taxation should be equal and uniform
throughout the State, and Governor Jackson called attention to this decision and
the provision of the Constitution and recommended that the laws be amended for
the equalization of taxes in accordance with this decision of the Supreme Court,
and a commission was appointed to take this whole matter into consideration, the
result of which was that the assessment laws were changed and property that had
been exempted from assessment was brought upon the tax lists.
An amendment to the Constitution was submitted and adopted about this time,
changing the time of the State election from October to November at the date of
the national election.
The State election of 1884 was rather a notable one. Hon. E. Willis
Wilson made a campaign for the Democratic nomination for Governor,
chiefly as an advocate of the correction of the abuses of the railroads
of the State in the matters of excessive charges and discriminations
against the State of West Virginia and its citizens. His chief opponent
for the nomination was Hon. E. Boyd Faulkner, of Martinsburg. Mr.
Wilson was nominated ; Edwin Maxwell, of Harrison county, being the
Republican nominee. The Republican party was gradually gaining in
strength throughout the State. The lumber, mining and manufacturing
interests of the State were largely in favor of a protective tariff advocated
by the Republican party, and there was a large increase of population
from adjacent States of Pennsylvania, Ohio and other Northern States,
who were engaged in these industries as well as a large number of
negroes from the South, who almost uniformly voted the Republican
ticket. Mr. Wilson was elected Governor, receiving 71,438 votes to
Mr. Maxwell's 66,149.
At the session of 1885, John E. Kenna was elected to the United States
Senate to succeed Henry G. Davis, whose term had expired and who
declined to stand for re-election. Mr. Kenna had been a member of the
House of Representatives and had attained a high position in that body.
His principal opponents in the Democratic caucus for the office of United
States Senator were William A. Quarrier, of Kanawha, and Henry M.
Mathews, of Greenbrier.
Soon after the inauguration of Governor Wilson the capital was re-
moved from Wheeling to Charleston, which became the permanent
capital from May 1, 1885 (as determined by popular election of August,
1877). Under Wilson's administration, there was a continuation of
the agitation for the revision of the tax laws in order to secure equality
of taxation, and the governor also proposed legislation to reform the
election laws, to prohibit oppressive trusts and combinations, and to
prevent the distribution of railway passes to officers of the state and
delegates to political conventions. The administration waged a fierce
and relentless war against the trunk line railroads which, the governor
said, had discriminated against the people of West Virginia in freight
and passenger rates. To secure regulation of railway rates the governor
called a special session of the legislature which, after heated debates and
a close vote of 19 to 19 in the house (27 absent and not voting), dropped
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 557
the further consideration of the subject had decided to await the re-
sult of the operation of the new national interstate-commerce law which
had just passed Congress and was approved by a joint resolution of
both houses of the legislature, and which soon proved beneficial to West
Virginia shippers.
Governor Atkinson, writing of that period, over a quarter century later, said:
"A resolution offered in the State senate of 1885 proposed a constitutional
amendment to permit the same exemptions from taxation that had been provided
by the statutes of former years, but which were now admitted to be clearly uncon-
stitutional. The amendment relating to farm products, salt wells, etc., as herein
before stated, had for a bait the further exemption of household and kitchen fur-
niture to the amount of $50. In the case of the Auditor vs. Chesapeake & Ohio
Railroad the exemptions heretofore made by the legislature were declared to be
unconstitutional by the supreme court of the State; but the legislature of 1883
defeated a proposed law to make this decision effective. This left these uncon-
stitutional laws on the statute books. The governor directed that assessors disregard
the illegal exemptions. Many of the assessors refused to obey the order, and a
mandamus proceeding was instituted in the supreme court of appeals against the
assessor of Brooke county for his refusal to comply therewith, and a peremptory
writ of mandamus was issued requiring compliance with the requirements of the
constitution. Discussion among the people and the general condemnation of the
alleged legalized favoritism shown to classes, served to bring out a large amount of
concealed property for taxation, which theretofore had never paid its proper share
of taxes. The assessed valuation of real and personal property thereafter increased
over twenty million dollars from 1882 to 1883. Such favoritism was appalling, yet
in the face of these disclosures, there were members of the legislature of 1885 who
proposed to continue such conditions by an amendment to the constitution.
"The results of the aroused sentiment against class legislation, made manifest
during the session of 1885, found echo in a similar awakening that greeted the
legislature of 1887. The railroads of the state, grown lusty under lax legislative
restrictions, were using their franchise privileges to favor or to destroy the shipping
classes. For years these public carriers from alleged ulterior motives, had withheld
the material development of the state. Freight rates to natural markets were from
25% to 50% higher to the West Virginia shippers than those from far western
states. 'Our geographical position should make us a wealthy community but prog-
ress had been stifled by exorbitant freight rates and discrimination. ' The policy
of trunk lines to restrict the building' of lateral branches into the wealthy mineral
and lumber sections was made possible by applying the 'modern rule of cunning
cupidity,' the fixing of rates at 'what the traffic will bear.'
"The new national interstate commerce act was plead in defense of the legis-
lature's fnihire to act. It was cited that the supreme court of the United States
had decided that the 6tates had power to regulate charges within their boundaries,
but they could not regulate such charges from within to without. ' '
The session of the legislature of 1887, met in the City of Charleston.
John M. Rowan was elected Speaker of the House of Delegates, and
George E. Price, President of the Senate.
The most notable matter of this session was a deadlock in the election
of a United States Senator. The Democratic members had a safe
majority on joint ballot, but twelve of their number refused to go into
the Democratic caucus, and in the open session refused to vote for J. N.
Camden, whom the Democratic caucus had nominated in their absence,
basing their refusal upon allegations of improper and corrupt political
methods and manipulation on the part of Mr. Camden. The session
was marked by great bitterness on account of this contest, and ended
without electing a United States Senator and without passing the gen-
eral appropriation bill.
The term of Johnson N. Camden as United States Senator expired
on March 4. 1887, and as there had been no election of his successor,
Governor Wilson, considering that there was a vacancy, which he as
governor had the right to fill by appointment, appointed Daniel B. Lucas,
who had been one of the twelve members who refused to vote for Mr.
Camden, to fill the supposed vacancy.
Governor Wilson, whose administration was crippled and embarrassed
by lack of funds resulting from the failure of the general appropriation
bill, convened the legislature in extra session on April 20, 1887, specify-
ing the matters to be considered at such extra session, but not naminqr the
election of a United States Senator among the matter so specified. When
the extra session convened, the proposition was made to proceed with the
election of a United States Senator, but it was opposed on the ground
that the legislature at an extra session had no power to enter into any
558 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
business except such as was specified in the proclamation of the Governor
calling the session. The majority decided by a vote of May 3, that
election of a United States Senator is governed and regulated by the
Constitution and statutes of the United States and not by the state
constitution. After seven ballots without a choice, beginning with Cam-
den and Flick in the lead, Charles J. Faulkner was finally elected on May
5. He received 48 votes, William II. II. Flick, Republican, received
23 votes and there were 10 scattering votes. The senate of the United
States afterwards refused to seat Mr. Lucas, but seated Mr. Faulkner,
holding that his election was legal and regular although Governor Wil-
son refused to sign his certificate of e'ection. The extra session passed
acts prohibiting the use of free railway passes by public officers and
providing for the punishment of corruption and bribery at emotions.
At the election in the fall of 1888, A. B. F'eming, of Marion county,
was the Democratic nominee for Governor, and Nathan Goff, Jr., of Har-
rison county, the Republican candidate. The result of the contest was
long in doubt.
Among the duties of the legislature which met on January 9, 1889,
was the counting of the election returns for governor, transmitted
through the secretary of state from every county except Kanawha in
which they were held back by an injunction issued by the circuit court
on application of the Democratic candidate who thereby wouM have
received a small majority. The injunction having been declared invalid
by the supreme court on January 12, the secretary of state on January
14, submitted the Kanawha returns, resulting in a majoritv of 110 for
Goff (Goff, 78,904; Fleming, 78,798). Judge Fleming fi'ed his petition
and notice contesting the e'ection of General Goff. and specifying a large
number of votes which had been counted for Goff as being illega'. Gen-
eral Goff presented his counter-notice denying the charges of il'egal
votes contained in Fleming's notice and specifying a larcre number of
votes that were cast for Fleming claimed to be illegal. The Democrats
had a small majority on joint ballot, and against the vigorous protest
of the Republicans but in accord with the code were ab'e to secure a
reference of the complete returns of the gubernatorial e'ection to a
joint legislative committee (of two members from the Senate and throe
from the House), which was authorized to take testimony and report
at a special session. The legis'ature on joint ballot resolved to post-
pone the publication and declaration of the result of the vote for the
office of Governor until the contest could be decided. Tt adjourned, sub-
ject to the call of the Governor after the completion of the Committee's
investigation and the preparation of its report upon the evidence.
On February 21, the day preceding the date set for adjournment,
the legislature which had a Democrat majoritv of only one on joint
ballot, re-elected John E. Kenna to the United States Senate. This re-
election was postponed by C. P. Dorr of Webster county, who. until
February 21, refused to enter the Democrat caucus or to agree to
vote for Kenna in open session.
Meantime there was a deadlock in the senate which was unable to
choose a presiding officer until January 21. After 126 ba^ots, 'Robert
S. Carr,4 the Union-Labor senator, aided by the support of one Repub-
lican, Senator Minear, held the ba^nce of power in the dead'ock,5 and
on the final ballot was elected president.
The legislature having adjourned on February 21, without anv
declaration of the results. Governor Wilson at the expiration of his
term on March 4, claimed the right to retain the office until his suc-
cessor could be determined and refused to retire at the demand of Gen-
eral Goff who had promptly qualified by taking the oath, or at the
* R. S. Carr, of Kanawha county, had he°n elected as a bind of indenendent
Republican. There were 13 Democratic members and 15 Republican members, in-
cluding Senator Carr, and Senator Minear (from Tucker Countv). Both Carr and
Minear refused to go into the Republican caucus. The Senate balloted from January
9, until January 21, and on the last day elected R. S. Carr President of the Senate.
s Such deadlocks resulted from the failure of the Constitution to provide for a
lieutenant-governor.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 559
demand of Robert S. Carr, the president of the senate, who also claimed
the office and demanded to enter upon its duties.
Mandamus proceedings in the state supreme court were at once be-
gun against Governor Wilson by the other two claimants. The case
of General Goff was decided on March 12, the court holding that the
joint legislative convention of the legislature alone had power to deter-
mine the result of an election, and that General Goff was not the legal
governor. The case of President Carr was decided on March 14, the court
declaring that there existed in the office no such vacancy as under the
constitution would authorize the president of the senate to succeed to
the duties of the governor.
The legislature was re-convened in extra session January 15, 1890,
for the purpose of determining the contested election and other pur-
poses mentioned in the proclamation of the governor. The committee
presented both a majority and a minority report — the majority report
being signed by the members of the committee elected by the House of
Delegates (who were Democrats), and the minority by the members
elected by the Senate (who were Republicans). The majority reported
in favor of declaring Fleming elected and the minority in favor of Goff.6
Ten hours was allowed to the contestants or their counsel on each side
to argue their case before the joint assembly. Then, six hours each
was allowed to the majority and minority members of the contest to
discuss the matters involved in the report. After these arguments had
been presented, the members of the legislature discussed the matter at
some length. Although many votes from different counties were attacked
as illegal the main allegations of fraudulent voting related to McDowell
and Mercer counties. It was claimed on behalf of Fleming, the con-
testant, that several hundred votes were cast by negroes in the counties
of McDowell and Mercer, who had not resided in the State a sufficient
length of time to give them the right to vote ; that the evidence showed
that the Norfolk & Western Railroad had been quite recently built into
that section and coal mines opened there, and that these negroes, who
were charged to have voted illegally, had come into those counties from
Virginia and the Southern States, within the year before the election,
and that many of them were mere migratory transitory miners with no
fixed habitation. The pay-rolls of the coal companies and other kinds of
evidence were used to show when these men were first employed in that
section. On behalf of the contestee it was claimed that the evidence of
these facts was insufficient ; that there was no direct and positive evi-
dence as to the illegality of these votes and as to the time of their
residence in the State sufficient to justify throwing them out. Upon
the final vote in the joint assembly upon the resolution declaring A. B.
Fleming duly elected to the office of Governor, there were 43 ayes, and
40 noes, and so A. B. Fleming was declared elected Governor for the term
beginning March 4, 1889.
There was much of feeling and bitterness in this contest. The Re-
publicans claimed that General Goff had been improperly deprived of
the office to which he was elected. The Democrats tried to justify their
action, charging gross frauds on the part of the Republicans in the
election, maintaining that the evidence was abundant as to these frauds,
and that by the most liberal count Fleming had a substantial majority
of the legal votes cast.
Nearly a whole year of the term of Governor Fleming had expired
before this contest was decided. Meantime Governor Wilson continued
to occupy and exercise the duties of the office of Governor.
The governor in his biennial message of 1889 emphasized the need
of a registration law to remedy the fraudulent and corrupt voting
o The joint committee completed its work in December. The majority report
declared, by counting out 300 votes, a plurality of 237 for Fleming. This was
signed by the three Democratic members. The minority report found no such frauds
as charged by the majority, and gave a plurality of 140 to Goff. On December 18,
Governor Wilson issued his proclamation calling an extra session for January 15.
At this session the majority report, by a strictly party vote, was accepted and
Fleming was declared elected.
560 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
which had been common in almost every county in the state.7 In 1890,
following the charges of bribery and fraud made by each party in the
contested gubernatorial election, the special session of the legislature
(called to consider thirty-seven specified subjects) enacted a law designed
to prevent the purchase of votes, or other forms of bribery at elections,
and to prevent ballot box frauds. The Senate voted for an Australian
ballot bill, which failed in the house (Democratic).
Governor Atkinson, over two decades later, in writing of the conditions of this
period, said:
The theory of our government was being undermined by election frauds and
the corrupting influences of money. Influenced by conditions, pertinent to the time,
the constitutional convention of 1872 provided that no citizen should ever be denied
the right to vote because he had not been registered. It prohibited the legislature
from ever authorizing any registration board of any character. Under the new
system gross wrongs were perpetrated and election crimes consummated. It practi-
cally meant no restriction as to who should vote in districts which were under con-
trol of the political corruptionists. Public sentiment, being quickened by the
palpableness of the wrongs about them, demanded a constitutional amendment
authorizing registration of those justly entitled to the elective franchise — an amend-
ment not secured until 1901. The demand for various reforms became increasingly
insistent. The legislature at a special session in 1890 was asked to pass laws fixing
maximum rates on railroads in the state; to correct abuses; to enact "no pass"
laws; to fix liability for wrongful acts; to limit railroad labor; to restrict real
estate to be owned by corporations in the state; to pass a corrupt practice act and
to regulate nominations and elections; to punish frauds at elections; to secure the
registration of legal voters; to enact anti-trust laws; to prevent fraudulent entry
of lands on land books; to purify the jury system; to revise text-book laws, and
regulate many other undesirable conditions then existing. For a considerable period
most of these demands fell upon apparently deaf ears.
Governor Fleming continued the policy of his predecessor, who as
a result of the contest had continued to act as executive for nearly
a year beyond the term for which he was elected. He urged the taxation
of the property of the Pullman company and other foreign car com-
panies, and the business of foreign telegraph companies originating
in the state. He also recommended a general policy of legislation to
preserve the resources of the state from monopoly, to foster agricultural
interests and to diversify the various industries of the state. The Demo-
crats still retained a considerable majority in the House of Delegates,
although the Senate was Republican, and Democratic majorities at the
state elections were decreasing.
At the election held in November, 1892, for State officers, William A.
MacCorkle, of Kanawha county, received for the office of Governor 84,585
votes ; Thomas E. Davis, the Republican candidate, receiving 80,663. The
Democratic candidates for the other State offices were elected as follows :
Auditor, Isaac B. Johnson ; Treasurer, J. M. Rowan ; Superintendent of
Free Schools, Virgil A. Lewis, and Attorney-General, Thomas S. Riley.
The legislature of 1893 at its regular session elected to the United
States Senate two Democrats — Charles J. Faulkner to succeed himself,
and Johnson N. Camden to fill out the unexpired term of Senator John
E. Kenna who had died in office. It adjourned without passing the gen-
eral appropriation bill, thus necessitating the immediate call of a special
session.
Governor MacCorkle who defeated the Republican candidate by a
plurality of about 4,000 was a liberal progressive young man who urged
legislation for the adjustment of state taxation, liberal appropriations
to support the growing institutions of the state, and proper regulative
machinery to meet the changing conditions. He cordially cooperated
with the spirit of the Republican legislature in favoring reorganizing
the old partisan boards of state institutions and securing needed reforms
"to give to the institutions the greatest degree of efficiency free from
the influence of politics."
7 "The capitations of 1884 were 133,522; and the entire vote after the most
active political campaign ever made in the state was 137,527. The capitations of
1888 were 147.408, and the vote 159,440. The difference in the capitations and
the vote in 1884 was 4.065. In 1888 it was 12,032. This shows an increase (in
four years) of 21,853 votes — which, if legitimate, would indicate a population of
900.000, and an increase in four years of much more than 100,000. It is certain
that no such increase had taken place."
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 561
To the legislature of 1895, Governor MaeCorkle submitted a special message
accompanied by communication from the Governor of Virginia announcing the
appointment of a Commission of six under a joint resolution of the General As-
sembly of Virginia to take into consideration the settlement of West Virginia's
poition of the Virginia debt, and in connection with this communication the House
of Delegates ordered to be printed the report of the Virginia Debt Commission of
1871. The resolution providing for the appointment of a Commission to take into
consideration all matters pertaining to the Virginia debt was not acted upon, but
a resolution was adopted to the effect that the legislature declined to enter into
any negotiation with the Debt Commissioners or Commission appointed under a
joint resolution of the General Assembly of Virginia looking to a settlement of the
Virginia debt question on the basis set forth in said joint resolution. This resolu-
tion was unanimously adopted by the House and was also adopted by the Senate.
3. Later Republican Ascendency. The Democratic majority which
had reached its highest point in 1880, had steadily declined after that
date until it became the minority at the close of MacCorkle's administra-
tion. By 1895, the Republicans had a majority in both branches of the
legislature, and thereby elected Stephen B. Elkins to the United States
Senate. In the election of 1896, the entire Republican state ticket was
elected. George W. Atkinson defeated Cornelius C. Watts for governor
by a plurality of 12,070 votes (Atkinson, 105,629; Watts, 93,559).
At the legis'ative session of 1899, although the Democrats had a
majority in the House of Delegates, the Republicans had a majority in
the Senate, and by unseating temporarily one of the Democratic Senators
secured a majority on joint ballot in the Joint Assembly which resulted
in the election of Nathan B. Scott, of Ohio county to the United States
Senate. Scott received 48 votes; John T. McGraw, the Democratic
caucus nominee, received 46 votes; and Nathan Goff one vote.
Governor Atkinson advocated policies for the improvement of the
public schools, the improvement of roads by some system of permanent
road building, the improvement of conditions of labor by state regula-
tions, a radical amendment of the election laws, the encouragement of
immigration, and other measures to meet the new and phenomenal in-
dustrial expansion in the state which continued to influence political
problems and policies in subsequent administration.
In the election of 1900 Albert B. White, Republican, defeated John
Homer Holt for governor by a plurality of 19,516 (White 118,798 ; Holt,
100,228).
The Republicans had a majority in the legislature in both houses
and elected to the United States Senate Stephen B. Elkins, by a vote
of 61 against 23 votes cast for John T. McGraw, the Democratic candi-
date.
In 1904 William M. O. Dawson, Republican, defeated J. J. Cornwell
by a plurality of 9,083 (Dawson, 121,540; Cornwell, 112,457). At
the same time the plurality for President was nearly 32,000 and for
other state officers was nearly 25,000. The legislature, which had a con-
siderable Republican majority in each house, re-elected Senator N. B.
Scott to the United States Senate bv a vote of 58 against 23 votes cast
for John T. McGraw.
Under both White and Dawson the extension of state regulation and
the reform of tax laws furnished the largest questions in politics.
In 1901 the legislature submitted to the people for ratification five proposed
amendments to the constitution all of which were approved. The first was to make
the office of the secretary of state elective; the second to fix the salaries of governor,
secretary of state state superintendent of free schools, treasurer, auditor and
attorney-general, and provided that all fees of these offices should go into the state
treasury; 3rd, to increase the number of judges of the supreme court of appeals
from four to five; 4th, to limit the accumulation of the permanent and invested
school fund to one million dollars, all excesses to go to the general school fund,
and 5th, to authorize the registration of voters.
At the session of the legislature of 1901, Governor White was authorized to
appoint a Commission to draft bills for the revision of the tax assessment and
revenue laws. Under this bill the Governor appointed J. K. Thompson. L. J. Wil-
liams, W. P. Hubbard, H. G. Davis and John H. Holt. This Commission made an
elaborate report and recommendations to the legislature of 1903, but no action was
taken at the regular session on the report. Governor White convened the legislature
in extra session on July 26, 1904, for the purpose, among other things, of con-
sidering the bills prepared by this Commission, and at this extra session bills were
passed revising the manner of assessment for taxes.
Vol. 1—36
562 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
For a quarter of a century, although the constitution provided that
taxation should be equal and uniform throughout the state, there was
much complaint of the inequalities and injustice of the tax laws. A
tax commission created by the legislature of 1883 had scathingly crit-
icized and condemned the laws, but without practical results. Although
in 1885 the legislature, which had never before exercised its powers
under the constitution of 1872 to tax privileges and franchises, finally
enacted a law taxing corporations, little was realized from it. In 1887
it provided for an inheritance tax (2%%), but a defect in the law
rendered it of little value. The first substantial reform in the old laws
was made by the legislature of 1901 which largely increased the revenue
from license taxes in charters of corporations (regulating the rate ac-
cording to the amount of authorized capital) and created a tax com-
mission to submit plans for further reforms. In 1904 the legislature at
a special session created the office of state tax commissioner and
enacted a system of twenty-one tax laws which greatly lessened in-
equalities and practically provided for the extinguishment of direct
taxes for the support of the state government after 1906.
In the message of Governor Dawson to the legislature of 1907, he
urged a revision of the tax laws so that all property would be taxed at
its true and actual value, and that all kinds of property would be
brought upon the tax books. These views which entered largely into
the political campaigns about this time, were finally enacted into laws
and the valuation of property was largely increased, but it was found
necessary to pass stringent restrictions upon the levying bodies such as
the county courts, boards of education and city governments, to prevent
excessive burdens. Although these reforms were strongly opposed, it
is generally recognized that with some modifications the reform policy
will eventually be sustained and continued.
An extra session of the legislature was called by Governor Dawson, January,
1908, mainly to revise the assessments and license laws, and also to limit the levying
bodies in the amount and rate of levies for taxation, and to amend the election laws.
The legislature of 1908 submitted two amendments of the constitution to the
people, and both failed of ratification. One was intended to increase the compen-
sation of members of the county courts, and the other to grant the right to women
to hold appointive offices. This legislature also cured certain defects in the new
tax laws. Under these modern laws the assessed valuation of property continued
to increase.
Among other laws proposed in the legislature of 1909 was one authorizing the
Governor to remove subordinate officials for neglect of duty. Some direct control
over such officials, who under the law could be removed only by impeachment for
gross misconduct, seemed absolutely necessary in order to secure efficiency and
proper enforcement of the law. In some counties the neglect of county officials in
regard to the enforcement of the law was regarded as serious. The constitution
required the Governor to see that all laws of the state are properly enforced, and
yet no statute had ever been enacted by the legislature to make this constitutional
provision effective.
The Republicans steadily increased in number and influence with the
great industrial development of the State, which was accompanied by
a rather large and continuous immigration from North and Northwest,
the fading of old traditions and the rise of new issues. In the face of
their increasing strength, however, they endangered their prospect of
success at the polls in 1908 by party dissensions which resulted in two
opposing state organizations of the party and two gubernatorial tickets.8
On the other hand it is stated that the Democratic state convention on
July 30, 1908, weakened the chances of the Democratic state ticket by
committing the party (by a vote of 712 against 411) to negro dis-
franchisement and "Jim Crow1' cars. Within a month of the election,
the Republicans, by agreeing to tbe withdrawal of rival gubernatorial
candidates and the selection of W. E. Glasscock as the new head for
their ticket, succeeded in electing their entire state ticket. Glasscock's
s There had been serious charges of gross frauds in the primary conventions
and primary elections in connection with the nominations of the Republican party
for State officers, and when the Republican State Convention met in 1908 to nominate
a State ticket there was a split in the convention. The regular convention nominated
Charles W. Swisher for Governor, and a large number of delegates, who withdrew
from that convention into another hall, nominated Arnold C. Seherr for Governor.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 563
plurality over Louis Bennett, the Democratic candidate, was nearly
12,000 (Glasscock, 130,807; Bennett, 118,674). The Prohibition candi-
date received 4,967 votes and the Socialist candidate, 3,308. For Presi-
dential electors the Republican plurality over the Democratic electors
was over 26,000.
Republican strength was for some time considerably affected by the
dissension. In 1911 the Democrats had a majority in the house of dele-
pates, and were able to elect two United States Senators. In the joint
assembly the Republican members absented themselves and refused to
vote. On the vote in joint assembly for the long term, "William E.
Chilton received 71 votes, 4 votes scattering. For the short term Clar-
ence W. Watson received 70 votes, 7 votes scattering.
In 1913 the Republicans had control of the legislature, but could not
agree upon either of the three candidates — Davis Elkins, Isaac T. Mann
and Seymour Edwards. To break the deadlock they finally agreed upon
Judge Nathan Goff, who was not a candidate, and who was elected
without any attempt to secure the place.
The beginning of Glasscock's administration was marked by a more
centralized management of the finances of state institutions through
the agency of a newly created board of control which, by liberal prin-
ciples of economy, reduced much waste of expenditure. In the latter
part of his term the most prominent public question was the prohibition
amendment which was submitted by the legislature and ratified by
popular vote in the elections of 1912. Near its close, his administration
was called to face difficult problems connected with the strike precipi-
tated by general mining conditions on Paint creek and Cabin creek in
Kanawha county — resulting in the first declaration of martial law in
the State and the appointment of a commission of investigation which
recommended various legislative remedial reforms for the conservation
of life, health and happiness, and for the general welfare. The difficul-
ties of the serious situation indicated that the executive should be vested
with definite authority to compel local peace officers in disturbed dis-
tricts to perform their duties under the law and with power to remove
or suspend officers who refuse to fail to execute the law. In his last
message, characterized by many progressive recommendations and sug-
gestions to secure popular government and the proper conservation of
resources and control of public utilities, to prevent lobbying and cor-
ruption in politics, to give labor its just compensation and to abolish
the iniquitous fee system by a suitable county salary law, he emphasized
the need of a constitutional convention to meet new conditions of rapid
industrial development and especially mentioned the need of a provision
for the initiative and referendum and propriety of a provision for
woman's suffrage.
Although time for deliberation on important public business was
much abbreviated by a critical deadlock in the senate delaying the
choice of a presiding officer, and by the attention given to the all ab-
sorbing contest between candidates for United States senatorship, the
legislature of 1913 enacted several very important laws — including a
law for the creation of a public service commission, a workman's com-
pensation law, a law for regulation and supervision of investment com-
panies, and provision for State regulation and control of the water power
of the State. A bill to regulate weights and measures passed the House
but died in the Senate. It was revived at the next session and became
a law.
Among the factors contributing- to the improvement of legislative conditions,
and preparing the way for progressive legislation, was the prompt conviction of five
members of the legislature for soliciting and receiving bribes of money in con-
nection with the lavish expenditures of senatorial condidates seeking to capture
votes in the election of a United States senator. In consigning to the penitentiary
a group of political exploiters and mercenaries who, against the repute of the state,
plotted a revival or a continuance of corrupt practices no longer condoned by an
awakened public conscience (and generally condemned by a better code of political
morals), the court at Webster Springs performed a wholesome service to the state.
Fortunately for the welfare of West Virginia, which recently has achieved more
than its share of distasteful notoriety, the machinery for exposing this disgraceful
plot, the officials with courage to prosecute the offenders, and discerning juries and
564 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
a fearless and determined judge, were not lacking. The result was a necessary
duty well done, and a notice served in the most salutary manner that bribe takers
at the state capitol cannot safely expect to escape justice. The incident probably
had a decided influence for the improvement of political methods.
In the election of 1912, although the Democrats carried the State for
presidential electors, the Progressive-Republican combination elected the
entire state ticket led by Dr. H. D. Hatfield. In his inaugural address
Governor Hatfield indicated that his administration would promote a
program of progressive principles, and this purpose was reflected in
various laws proposed and enacted.
The legislature of 1915 enacted a new blue sky law, a primary elec-
tion law, and amended the law relating to the registration of voters.
It also provided for the enforcement of prohibition, the enlargement
of the powers of the public service commission, the administration of
workmen's compensation. It created a state department of health, a
state bureau of labor, and also a new Virginia debt commission.
Among the most important measures enacted by the legislature of
1917 were a law providing for better protection of judges against per-
sonal violence, an amended election law, a plan for double election
boards (one to receive the votes, another to count them), a law authoriz-
ing the department of mines to make regulations necessary to secure
safe and sanitary working conditions in the mines, a mechanics' lien
law, a law prohibiting "bucket shops" and a law creating a bureau of
markets. The legislation in February failed to make provisions for the
payment of the portion of the Virginia debt for which it became re-
sponsible by the decision of the United States Supreme Court. It re-
solved not to pay the money until the court had heard the testimony
of the late legislators on Virginia's motion of a writ of mandamus to
compel payment of the amount ($12,393,029).
Meantime, the election of November, 1916, had resulted in a victory
for John J. Comwell, the Democratic candidate for Governor. The
failure of the Republican party to elect its gubernatorial candidate was
due to factional differences within the party, the outgrowth of the
primary, at which Attorney-General A. A. Lilly was defeated for the
nomination by Judge Ira E. Robinson, who had retired from the state
supreme court to become the nominee. The other Republican candidates
for state offices were elected, and Howard Sutherland (who had been Re-
publican congressman-at-large) was elected to the United States Senate
as the successor of William E. Chilton. The legislature was divided
against itself, the Senate being Republican by a majority of 10, and
the House Democratic by a majority of 10.
Apparently Governor Hatfield assumed that his successor as soon as
inducted into office "would embark upon a reign of ruthless decapita-
tions." Immediately after the election he called a special session of
the legislature. In his call he explained that the special session was
necessary to block efforts of the Democratic party to have their success-
ful candidate for Governor unseat all Republicans elected to state office.
Although Governor-elect Cornwell denied the existence of such a plot,
the legislature passed measures restricting any executive power which
might jeopardize the position of the officers appointed by his predecessor,
or chosen by the people. These measures prescribed the manner in
which members of state boards, chiefs of state departments, or other
officers with terms fixed by law, might be removed from office by the
Governor; but made removal almost impossible by requiring the Governor
to file written charges and prosecute the case before himself and by
allowing the defendant to appeal to the supreme court of appeal to set
aside any decision for removal.9 It was rumored that this session would
take away the next Governor's appointive powers, but the proposed bill
was never presented.
Governor Cornwell, feeling that even if the court should sustain the executive
"through statutory interference with a purely executive matter" the appointee
» Before adjournment the special session amsnded the state election law so that
in the future no man could vote unless he had registered at least two days before
the election.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 565
might still appeal to the state senate, concluded that the Governor would "prob-
ably be out of office if not dead" before he could complete the removal of a faith-
less or inefficient official. At the close of his administration, in his last official
message to the legislature, he said :
"I recommend the repeal of the statute. It has served its purpose. It was
conceived in political hate, and passed by a Legislature whose members failed to
understand my aims. It is of doubtful constitutionality, and does violence to the
decent amenities that should exist between the several departments of the State
Government, as it attempts to drag the judiciary and legislative branches into a
purely exeeuti%'e function. It seeks to rob the Governor of the right to correct his
own mistakes. It is a disgrace to the State, standing upon the statute books, a
relic of a political period in West Virginia which is gone, let us hope, never to
return, and which it is well to forget — a period when partisanship was above patriot-
ism. I have sought to aid in ushering in a new era, one in which service will be
paramount. In furtherance of that I strongly advise the repeal of the act, firm in
the belief that my successor will not need the restraint of such an odious law."
Immediately following this recommendation the legislature on April 8, 1921,
enacted a law authorizing the governor to remove from office at his pleasure without
the necessity of a statement of the case, and whether tenure was fixed by law or
not, all officers or employes serving under executive appointment.
Governor CornweH's administration was largely devoted to the prob-
lems of the period of the World war and the period of reconstruction.
In State affairs its most prominent achievements were the elimination
of partisanship from the conduct of State affairs and the adoption of a
budget amendment to the State constitution. The making of the budget
was imposed upon the Board of Public Works instead of upon the
Governor as originally and logically proposed. The most important
legislation of his administration included a general school law (1919),
an annual privilege tax on the transportation of crude oil and natural
gas by pipe lines (extra session, 1919), provision for payment of West
Virginia's part of the Virginia debt before 1861 (1919), creation of
the department of public safety (1919), creation of a child welfare
commission and a sinking fund commission (extra session of 1920),
establishment of a new state board of education with enlarged powers
(1921), creation of a state road commission, provision for an issue
of road bonds, and a gross sales tax.
In September, 1919, Governor Cornwell was successful in preventing
an attempted march of armed miners (from the Kanawha to Logan
county) and thus probably prevented a conflict of arms in Logan.
In the election of 1920 the Republican strength was again weakened
by division. Judge Ephraim Franklin Morgan was recognized as the
regular nominee of the party. Although, according to the official count
of the vote in the primary election, he defeated Samuel B. Montgomery
for the nomination, Montgomery, claiming irregularities in several coun-
ties, became an independent candidate and was especially favored by
a large labor element. Arthur B. Koontz was candidate of the Dem-
ocrat party. Morgan was elected by a safe majority.
In the first year of his administration Governor Morgan was con-
fronted by three difficult problems which required the larger part of
his attention. One, arising from attempts of the United Mine Workers
to unionize the Logan county mines, and the subsequent danger of a
conflict of arms between rival forces, was finally adjusted by the efforts
of a body of Federal troops sent by order of President Harding after
repeated requests of the Governor. Another, the selection of a site for
the new capitol building to replace the old one which was destroyed
by fire in January, 1921, was settled by January, 1922, by a decision
of a special committee to locate the new building at a higher point on
the Kanawha about two miles above the site of the old one. The third
was the problem of securing sufficient revenues from the new tax law
enacted largely through the personal efforts of the Governor and con-
taining a gross sales feature which, in the period of reduced coal pro-
duction in 1921, disappointed the expectations of its advocates. The
Governor early in 1922 expressed confidence in the ultimate success of
the measure, after the return of normal business conditions, and evi-
dently expected to borrow money for immediate needs in order to avoid
the necessity of a special session of the legislature.
CHAPTER XXXIII
SOCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY
The rapidly expanding industrial development greatly changed the
social life and institutions of the State, and necessitated the expansion
of the functions of government to solve the new problems resulting
from immigration, methods of exploitation of resources, growth of
towns and improvements in communication.
Growth of population, larger organization of business, new condi-
tions of labor, and closer community life awakened new responses —
expressed in expanding schools and churches, and in new regulatory
and protective legislation to promote the general social welfare.
Population
The character of the population has greatly changed since the Civil
war. The original settlers, whose ancestors were generally English or
Scotch Irish or perhaps Pennsylvania German, were contented with a
life of rural simplicity and hospitality whose economy was in many
cases mere subsistence. Their descendants usually lived amiably with
their neighbors, maintained their urbanity and self possession in the
presence of strangers and, beyond the efforts necessary to secure the
necessaries of life, were often disposed to leave improvement of things
to time and chance. Always possessing intellect and sagacity capable
of high development under favorable conditions, they have gradually
responded to the progressive spirit of enterprise and of the strenuous
life which received its greatest impulse from immigration from other
states and from the increased opportunities for communication and
intermingling of the people. The development of the vast resources,
especially in coal and oil, has caused a large influx of population, at
first largely average American citizens from Pennsylvania, Maryland,
Virginia and Ohio, and later an increasing number of foreigners from
Europe.
According to the census of 1880, a considerable number of residents
of the State were of foreign parents : 42,770 had both father and mother
foreign; 11,776 had foreign fathers but native mothers; 3,740 had
foreign mothers but native fathers. A tendency, especially of the
Irish, to marry with the natives was indicated. While there were 9,474
persons who had both an Irish father and an Irish mother, there were
4,320 who had an Irish father and an American mother.
The steady increase of foreign bom population of West Virginia
by five-year periods for two decades after 1890 is indicated as follows :
1891-95 2,408
1896-1900 3,432
1901-05 10,882
1906-April, 1910 22,652
Of the total native population of the State in 1880 (600,192),
397,267 were born in West Virginia, 135,509 in Virginia, 27,535 in
Ohio, 18,841 in Pennsylvania, 8,114 in Maryland, 4,360 in Kentucky,
and 1,565 in New York. Of those living in the State in 1890 but born
in other states, 100,650 were born in Virginia, 31,601 in Ohio, 17,143
in Pennsylvania, 7,425 in Maryland, and 15,100 in other states. Of
those born in West Virginia but resident elsewhere, 18,719 resided in
567
568 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Ohio, 9,969 in Pennsylvania, 6,627 in Kansas, 5,134 in Missouri, 4,375
in Maryland, 3,807 in Illinois, 3,034 in Virginia, nearly 3,000 in Iowa,
nearly 3,000 in Nebraska, and a slightly smaller number in Indiana
and Kentucky.
Of the population of the State in 1900, 61,508 were born in Virginia,
40,301 were in Ohio, 28,927 in Pennsylvania, 10,867 in Kentucky, 9,608
in Maryland, and 3,964, in North Carolina. Of those born in West Vir-
ginia and residing in other states in 1900, 30,524 were born in Ohio,
19,329 in Pennsylvania, 9,694 in Maryland, 7,162 in Virginia, 6,568 in
Kansas, 6,153 in Missouri, 5,862 in Illinois, 4,658 in Indiana, 4,383 in
Kentucky, 3,922 in Iowa and 2,419 in Nebraska.
Of those living in the State in 1910 but born in other states, 83.532
were born in Virginia, 46,814 in Ohio, 38,744 in Pennsylvania, 19,263
in Kentucky, 11,467 in Maryland, 9,174 in North Carolina, 3,501 in
New York, 2,241 in Tennessee, and 2,550 in Indiana. Of those born in
West Virginia living in other states, 50,547 resided in Ohio, 26,665 in
Pennsylvania, 12,958 in Maryland, 12,957 in Virginia, 7,580 in Illinois,
7,136 in Kentucky, 6,607 in Kansas, 6,330 in Missouri, 5,940 in Okla-
homa, and 5,194 in Indiana.
The population far more than trebled in the fifty years from 1860-
1910. It increased from 376,688 in 1860 to 422,014 in 1870, to 618,457
in 1880, to 762,794 in 1890, to 958,800 (499,242 males and 459,558
females) in 1900, and to 1,221,119 (644,044 males and 577,075 females)
in 1910. In 1869 and early in 1870 erroneous reports represented that
the population and wealth of the State was decreasing. The census of
1870 showed that while there was a general increase of over 20 per
cent in the population of the state, there was a slight decrease in a few
counties. There was a decrease of 794 in Greenbrier, 752 in Hampshire
and Hardy combined, 615 in Marion, 169 in Nicholas, and 30 in Brooke.
All the other counties showed an increase and every county at each cen-
sus after 1870 until 1910 continued to show an increase. In the decade
from 1890 to 1900 the population increased over 24 per cent. The
counties in which it increased most rapidly were McDowell (156.8 per
cent), Tucker (108 per cent), Webster (85 per cent), Clay (77 per
cent), Marion (56.5 per cent), Payette (55.7 per cent), Tyler (52.6 per
cent) and Randolph (51.9 per cent). The counties in which the popula-
tion increased most slowly were Jefferson (2.5 per cent), Hampshire (3.4
per cent), Berkeley (4.1 per cent), Pendleton (5.2 per cent), Monroe
(5.6 per cent), Mineral (6.6 per cent), Lewis (6.8 per cent) and Grant
(7 per cent).
Of the population in 1900 the colored numbered 43,567 (including
56 Chinese and 12 Indians). The negroes were located principally in
Berkeley, Cabell, Fayette, Greenbrier, Harrison, Jefferson, Kanawha,
McDowell, Mineral, Ohio and Summers. Of the 247,970 males of voting
age, only 14,786 were negroes. Of the illiterate voters 23,577 (11 per
cent) were white and 5,583 (38 per cent) were black. The foreign born
numbered 22,451 (principally Germans, Irish, Italians, English and
Scotch), located principally in Marion, Marshall, Ohio, Tucker and Wood
counties. Excluding foreigners, the larger number of immigrants came
from Virginia (61,508), Ohio (40,301) and Pennsylvania (28,927).
After 1900 the immigration greatly increased, especially in the min-
ing and manufacturing regions of the northern and southern parts of
the state. The rapidity of the growth of towns may be illustrated by
Morgantown, whose population increased from less than 2,000 in 1900
to 10,000 within the city limits in 1910. In the decade from 1900 to
1910, the population of the state increased over 27 per cent. It increased
most rapidly in the following counties: McDowell (155.3 per cent),
Logan (108.1 per cent), Raleigh (106.1 per cent), Harrison (74.7 per
cent), Pocahontas (72 per cent), Mingo (71.1 per cent), Mercer (66.7
per cent), Fayette (62.3 per cent), Cabell (59.6 per cent), Hancock
(56.4 per cent), Nicholas (55.2 per cent), Brooke (53.7 per cent),
Kanawha (48.9 per cent), Randolph (47.3 per cent), Tucker (39 per
cent), Lincoln (32.8 per cent). In the following counties there was a
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 569
decrease: Pleasants (13.6 per cent), Wirt (12 per cent), Tyler (11.2
per cent), Jackson (8.8 per cent), Doddridge (7.4 per cent), Ritchie
(5.4 per cent), Mason (4.7 per cent), Gilmer (3.3 per cent,) Hampshire
(.9 per cent), Monroe (.6 per cent), Jefferson (.3 per cent).
It will be observed that the area of decreasing population includes
some of the best agricultural counties of the state — indicating the
demand for better roads and other improvements of rural conditions
which will stimulate increased local production of the food materials
now too largely imported for consumption within the cities and towns
of the state.
The composition and characteristics of the population, as shown by
the statistics of the census of 1910, present some interesting features:
Color and nativity. — Of the total population of West Virginia,
1,156,817, or 94.7 per cent, were whites, and 64,173, or 5.3 per cent,
negroes. The corresponding percentages in 1900 were 95.5 and 4.5. In
42 of the 55 counties less than 5 per cent of the population were negroes ;
in only 4 counties did the proportion of negroes exceed 12.5 per cent,
the maximum percentage (30.6), being that for McDowell county.
Native whites of native parentage constituted 85.3 per cent of the
total population of the state, and 90.1 per cent of the white population.
Native whites of foreign or mixed parentage and foreign-born whites
each constituted only 4.7 per cent of the total population.
Of the urban 1 population, 74.8 per cent were native whites of native
parentage; of the rural, 87.8 per cent. The corresponding proportions
for native whites of foreign or mixed parentage were 11.6 and 31 per
cent respectively. The percentage of foreign-born whites was 6.9 in
the urban population and 4.2 in the rural; the percentage of negroes
was 6.7 in the urban and 4.9 in the rural.
Sex. — In the total population of the state there were 644,044 males
and 577,075 females, or 111.6 males to every 100 females. In 1900 the
ratio was 108.6 to 100. Among the whites there were 110.5 males to 100
females; among the negroes, 132.8. Among native whites the ratio was
106.1 to 100, as compared with 261.8 to 100 for the foreign-born whites.
In the urban population there were 104.2 males to 100 females, and in
the rural, 113.4.
State of birth. — Of the native popidation — population born in the
United States — 80 per cent were born in West Virginia and 20 per
cent outside the state; of the native white population, 17.8 per cent were
born outside the state, and of the native negro, 57.6 per cent. Persous
born outside the state constitute a larger proportion of the native popula-
tion in urban than in rural communities.
Foreign nationalities. — Of the foreign-born white population of West
Virginia, persons born in Italy represent 30.3 per cent; Austria, 14.6;
Germany, 11.1 ; Hungary, 10.4 ; Russia, 9 ; England, 6.1 ; Ireland, 4 ; Scot-
land, 1.9 ; all other countries, 12.5. Of the total white stock of foreign
origin, which included persons born abroad and also natives having one
or both parents born abroad, Germany contributed 21.7 per cent; Italy,
18.5; Ireland, 11.5; Austria, 9.5; England, 9; Hungary, 6.6; Russia,
6.4; Scotland, 2.9.
Voting and militia ages. — The total number of males 21 years of age
and over was 338,349, representing 27.7 per cent of the population. Of
such males 93.2 per cent were white and 6.7 per cent negroes. Native
whites represented 83 per cent of the total number and foreign-born
whites 10.3 per cent. Of the 34,687 foreign-born white males of voting
age, 7,263, or 20.9 per cent, were naturalized. Males of militia age —
18 to 44— numbered 275,048.
Age. — Of the total population, 13.8 per cent were under 5 years of
age, 22.8 per cent from 5 to 14 years, inclusive, 20.2 per cent from 15
to 24, 27.4 per cent from 25 to 44, and 15.5 per cent 45 years of age and
over. The foreign-born white population comprised comparatively few
i Urban population, as denned by the Bureau of the Census, includes that of
all incorporated places of 2,500 inhabitants or more, the remainder being classified
as rural.
570 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
children, only 6.9 per cent being under 15 years of age, while 69.9 per
cent were 25 years of age and over. Of the native whites of native
parentage 40.9 per cent were 25 and over, and of the negroes 46.5 per
cent. The negro population comprised a somewhat smaller proportion
of children under 5 than the native white of native parentage. The
proportion under 5 was greatest among native whites of foreign or
mixed parentage.
The urban population showed a smaller proportion of children than
the rural and a larger proportion of persons in the prime of life.
Migration to the city explains this at least in part. Of the urban popu-
lation, 32.2 per cent were from 25 to 44 years of age, inclusive, and of
the rural population, 26.1 per cent.
School attendance. — The total number of persons of school age —
that is, from 6 to 20 years inclusive — was 393,818, of whom 259,971, or
65.5 per cent attended school. In addition to these, 3,544 children under
6 and 3,896 persons 21 and over attended school. For boys from 6 to
20, inclusive, the percentage attending school was 64.9; for girls, 66.2.
For children from 6 to 14 years, inclusive, the percentage attending
school was 82.5. The percentage for children of this age among native
whites of native parentage was 83; among native whites of foreign or
mixed parentage, 82.9 ; among foreign-born whites, 66.1 ; and among
negroes, 76.2. The percentage attending school for children of that age
was 85.1 in the urban population, and 82.1 in the rural.
Illiteracy.2 — There were 74,866 illiterates in the state, representing
8.3 per cent of the total population 10 years of age and over, as com-
pared with 11.4 per cent in 1900. The percentage of illiteracy was 6.4
among native whites, 23.9 among foreign-born whites, and 20.3 among
negroes. Among native whites of native parentage it was 6.7 and
among native whites of foreign or mixed parentage, 2.
Illiterates were relatively fewer in urban than in rural communities,
the percentage being 4 in the urban population and 9.4 in the rural.
For each class of the population separately, also, the rural percentage
was higher than the urban — decidedly higher for the foreign-born whites
and for the negroes.
For persons from 10 to 20 years of age, inclusive, whose literacy
depends largely upon present school facilities and school attendance,
the percentage of illiteracy was 4.1.
Marital.— In the population 15 years of age and over, 38.9 per cent
of the males were single and 28 per cent of the females. The percentage
married was 56.4 for males and 63.3 for females, and the percentage
widowed 3.7 and 7.9 respectively. The percentages of those reported as
divorced, 0.3 and 0.5, respectively, are believed to be too small, because
of the probability that many divorced persons classed themselves as
single or widowed.
That the percentage single was so much smaller for women than for
men is due partly to the excess of males in the total population, but
mainly to the fact that women marry younger. Thus 15.5 per cent
of the females from 15 to 19 years of age were married, as compared
with 1.3 per cent of the males; and 57.9 per cent of the females from
20 to 24 years were married, as compared with 25.8 per cent of the males.
In the next age group, 25 to 34 years, the difference is less marked, the
percentage being 80.4 and 66.7, respectively, and it is inconsiderable in
the age group 35 to 44. Among those 45 and over the percentage married
is higher among the males. That there is a larger proportion of widows
than widowers may indicate that men more often remarry than women,
but, since husbands are generally older than their wives, the marriage
relationship is more often broken by death of the husband than by death
of the wife.
For the main elements of the population the percentages married
among those 15 years of age and over are as follows: Native whites
of native parentage, 58 for males, 63.1 for females; native whites of
2 The Census Bureau classifies as illiterate any person 10 years of age or over
who is unable to write, regardless of ability to read.
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572 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
f oreigu or mixed parentage, 56.6 both for males and for females ; foreign-
born whites, 53.6 and 76.6 ; negroes, 45.7 and 62.2.
These percentages by no means indicate the relative tendency of the
several classes as regards marriage. To determine that, the comparison
should be made by age periods, since the proportion married in any
class is determined largely by the proportion who have reached the
marrying age. Similarly, the proportion widowed depends largely on
the proportion past middle life. The percentage married, both for males
and females, is higher in rural than in urban communities.
Dwellings and families. — The total number of dwellings in 1910 in
West Virginia was 239,128, and the total number of families 248,480,
indicating that in comparatively few cases does more than one family
occupy a dwelling. The average number of persons per dwelling was
5.1, and the average number per family was 4.9.
In the decade from 1910 to 1920 the largest increase was in Logan
(over 183%), Hancock (nearly 91%), Raleigh (nearly 70%), Harrison
(over 54%), Boone (over 48%), Brooke (nearly 48%), Wyoming (over
46%), McDowell (over 43%), Cabell (over 40%), Mingo (over 35%),
Kanawha (over 34%), Mercer (nearly 30%), and Marion (over 27%).
For the same decade there was a marked decrease along the Ohio south
of the upper panhandle, especially in areas of declining oil develop-
ment (Wetzel, Tyler, Pleasant, Doddridge, Ritchie, Wirt, Gilmer, Cal-
houn, Roane, Jackson, Mason, Putnam and Lincoln) and also in Tucker
county. There was also a slight decrease in Jefferson county.
Of the ten largest cities, Wheeling still stood first, Huntington second
and Charleston third, but for the decade Clarksburg had far the largest
percentage of increase (nearly 203%), and Fairmont stood next
(83.8%). Charleston increased 72%, Huntington 61%, Bluefield
36.6%, Wheeling 34.9%, Martinsburg 17% and Parkersburg 12.4%.
Of the total population in 1920 the percentage of native white was
89.9; of foreign born white, 4.2; of negro, 5.9. Of the native white,
673,959 were male and 641,370 were female. Of the foreign born white,
41,910 were male and 19,996 female. Of the negro, 41,120 were male
and 39,216 female.
In 1920 there were 99,413 illiterates (6.4% of the entire population
of the state). The proportion of illiterates was 4.6 among the native
white, 24% among the foreign born white, and 15.3 among the negroes.
The proportion of illiterate males was larger than that of illiterate
females.
The proportion of negro population to the whole population is
greatest in McDowell county (over 25%), and is from 12^% to 25%
in Mercer, Raleigh, Fayette and Jefferson. The only county without
negro population is Webster.
The total number of dwellings in 1920 was 293,002 and the total
number of families was 310,098.
Of the total population 13.4% were under 5 years of age, 12.6%
were from 5 to 9, 11.2% were from 10 to 14, 9.7% were from 15 to 19,
35.9% were from 20 to 44 and 17.1% were 45 and over. Over half
(51.4%) of the population was 21 years or over.
The total urban population was 369,007, of which 155,001 (42%)
were 20 to 44 years of age. 33.8% of the rural population was 20 to
44 years of age.
Of the total school population, the number in attendance was 89.1%
of those from 7 to 14 years inclusive, 82.3% of those 14 to 15 years,
42.3% of those of 16 and 17 years, and 13.6% of those from 18 to 20
years inclusive.
The statistical tables (on population) appended to this chapter pre-
sent the following subjects for study :
1. Growth of Population (by counties), 1860-1920.
2. Growth of Towns and Cities since 1860.
3. Population of western Virginia by color and condition (by counties), 1860.
4. Colored (Negro) Population (by counties), 1870-1920.
5. Negro Population, Male and Female (by counties), 1890-1920.
6. Native and foreign born and foreign parentage (by counties), 1870.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
573
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
State or Country of Birth of Native and Foreign Population of West Vir-
ginia (by counties), 1870.
Foreign-born Population of West Virginia (by counties), 1860-1920.
Foreign-born Population of West Virginia by country of birth, 1870-1910.
Nationality of foreign born (by counties), 1870-1910.
Country of birth of foreign-born white (by counties and for larger cities),
1920.
Distribution of Church members by Principal Denominations, 1916.
Statistics of Keligious Bodies in West Virginia by Denominations, 1916.
1. GROWTH OF POPULATION (BY COUNTIES) 1860-1920
The growth of population since 1860 is indicated by decades and by counties in the following table:
1860
1870
1880
1890
1900
1910
1920
County
Formed
13,913
7,613
10,336
11,419
11,806
11,694
11,713
Hampshire
1754
12,525
14.900
17,380
18,702
19,469
21,999
24,554
Berkeley
1772
13,048
13,547
14,985
15,705
19,049
24,334
33,618
Monongalia
1776
22,422
28,831
37,457
41,557
48,024
57,574
62,892
Ohio
1776
12,211
11,417
15,060
18,034
20,683
24,833
26,242
1777
13,790
16,714
20,181
21,919
27,690
48,381
74,793
1784
9.864
5,518
6,794
7,567
8,449
9,163
9,601
Hardy
1786
4,990
5,563
8,102
11,633
17,670
26,028
26,804
Randolph
1787
6,164
6,455
8,022
8,711
9,167
9,349
9,652
Pendleton
1788
16,151
22,349
32,466
42,756
54,696
81,457
119,650
Kanawha
1789
5,494
5,464
6,013
6,660
7,219
11,098
16,527
1797
11,046
19,000
11,124
13,219
15,978
6,429
25,006
11,501
15,005
22,296
13,744
28,612
12,429
15,553
22,863
23,595
34,452
13,130
15,935
24,142
29,252
38,001
13,055
15,889
23,019
46,685
42,306
13,141
15,729
21,459
65,746
Wood
1799
10,757
1799
14,535
1801
9,173
1804
8,020
Cabell
1809
6,517
7,832
10,175
4,458
14,555
4,315
11,073
13,269
7,223
19,091
5,777
11,962
15,895
9,307
20,335
6,744
18,252
16,980
11,403
22,727
7,292
16,211
18,281
17,699
26,341
7. sis
14,186
20,455
20,717
27,996
8,357
Tyler
1814
7,999
1816
4,627
1818
13,312
1818
3,732
Morgan
1820
3,958
4,069
5,591
6,814
8,572
14,740
15.002
Pocahontas
1821
4,938
5,124
7,329
11,101
6,995
14,476
41,006
Logan
1824
8,306
10,300
6,647
16,312
11,560
19,021
20,542
22,987
31,987
20,956
51,903
18,658
60,377
1831
5,997
Favette
1831
12,937
14,941
18,840
20,735
26,444
32,388
33,681
Marshall
1835
4,992
6,480
7,064
12,107
9,787
7,467
17,198
13,928
16,002
20,721
18,904
23,023
32,430
23,023
38,371
42,794
23,973
49,558
54,571
1836
6,819
1837
12,722
Marion
1842
6,747
7,852
10,312
14,739
11,870
18,652
12,702
23,619
1 1.19S
24,081
15,858
26,012
18,028
8,958
Barbour
1843
6,847
9,055
13,474
16,621
18,901
17,875
16,506
Ritchie
1843
8,463
9,367
11,455
12,147
14,978
16,554
18,742
Taylor
1844
5,203
7,076
10,552
12,183
13,689
12,672
11,976
Doddridge
1845
3,759
4,338
7,108
9,746
11,762
11,379
10,668
Gilmer
1845
6.703
8,559
13,896
16,841
22,880
23,855
26,069
Wetzel
1846
4,840
4,553
5,824
6,885
8,194
10,331
15,319
Boone
1847
6,301
7,794
11,375
14,342
17,330
18,587
17,531
Putnam
1848
3,751
4,804
7,104
9,411
10,284
9,047
7,536
Wirt
1848
4,445
4,363
4,882
6,414
6,693
10,465
19,975
Hancock
1848
3,367
3,673
3,171
7,367
4,322
9,597
6,247
12,436
8,380
25,633
10,392
42,482
15.180
1850
2,861
Wyoming
1850
2,945
3,012
6,256
7,539
9,345
8,074
7,379
Pleasants
1851
7,292
8,023
10,249
12,714
14,696
16,629
17,851
Upshur
1851
2,502
2,930
6,072
8,155
10,266
11,258
10,268
Calhoun
1855
1,787
2,196
3,460
4,659
8,248
10,233
11,486
Clay
1856
5,381
7,232
12,184
15,303
19,852
21,543
20,129
Roane
1856
1,428
1,907
3,151
6,459
13,433
18,675
16,791
Tucker
1856
1,535
1,952
3,074
7,300
18,747
47,856
68,571
McDowell
1858
1,555
1,730
3,207
4,783
8,862
9,680
11,562
Webster
1860
6,332
4,467
8,630
5,542
12,085
6,802
12,883
7,275
16,674
7,838
19,849
8,993
1866
Grant .
1866
5,053
8,739
11,246
15,434
20,491
19,378
Lincoln
1867
9,033
13,117
16,265
18,420
19,092
Summers
1871
11,359
19,431
26,364
Mingo
1895
376,888
442,014
618,457
762,794
958,800
1,221,119
1,463.701
Total
574
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
2. GROWTH OF TOWNS AND CITIES SINCE 1860
The growth of population in chief towns (of 2,000 or more) since 1860 is indicated in the followin
table:
1920
1910
1900
1890
1880
1870
1860
56,208
50,177
39,608
20,050
15,282
12,515
17,851
27,869
12,127
10,669
8,517
6,788
4,773
4,918
6,003
3,912
6,819
3,283
4,331
6,224
3,356
3,673
3,238
2,527
2,491
2,099
3,785
5,701
2,341
2,920
41,640
31,161
22,996
17,842
11,188
10,698
9,711
9,201
9,150
8,918
7,563
5,260
4.973
4,189
3,705
3,656
3,561
3,184
3,061
3,027
2,921
2,672
2,684
2,662
2,615
2,615
2,225
2,212
2,176
2.169
2.161
2,157
2,089
2,054
2,045
2,047
2,031
1,807
38,874
11,923
11,099
11,703
4,644
7,564
5,655
4.508
2.300
5,362
5,650
2,016
4,511
2,588
2,536
3.763
34,522
10,108
6,742
8,408
30,737
3,174
4,182
6,528
19,280
13,986
Huntington
3,162 . .
Parkersburg. . , .
5,546
2,433
Martinsburg
Fairmont
7,226
6,335
4,863
3,014
2,802
2,517
Elkins
Wellsburg
Keyser
Hinton
Williamson. ...
Chester
Richwood
Princeton
McMechen.
Mannington
Sistersville
Charlestown
2,688
3,159
3,030
2,934
2,235
2,165
2,570
2,979
2,392
2,391
2,126
2,287
2,016
New Martinsville
2,560
2,143
Ronceverte
Monongah
Piedmont
2,319
2,031
2,835
3,059
1,839
3,135
1,816
2,115
New Cumberland
2,198
2.305
*The population of Wheeling for the earlier decades was as follows:
5,221 in 1830; 7,885 in 1840; 11,179 in 1850.
914 in 1810; 1,567 in 182C
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
575
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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
4. COLORED (NEGRO) POPULATION (BY COUNTIES) 1870-1920
County
Barbour
Berkeley . . .
Boone
Braxton . . .
Brooke ....
Cabell
Calhoun. . .
Clay
Doddridge .
Fayette
Gilmer ....
Grant
Greenbrier .
Hampshire.
Hancock . . .
Hardy
Harrison. . .
Jackson. . .
Jefferson. . .
Kanawha. .
Lewis
Lincoln. . . .
Logan
McDowell.
Marion. . . .
Marshall . .
Mason. . . .
Mercer ....
Mineral. . .
Mingo
Monongalia
Monroe . . .
Morgan. . .
Nicholas. . .
Ohio
Pendleton.
Pleasants . .
Pocahontas
Preston
Putnam. . .
Raleigh
Randolph . .
Ritchie. . . .
Roane
Summers. .
Taylor
Tucker. . . .
Tyler
Upshur. . . .
Wayne ....
Webster. . .
Wetzel
Wirt
Wood.
Wyoming. .
Total....
1870
386
1,672
153
87
97
123
8
4
35
118
24
331
1,103
640
27
616
655
58
3,488
2,238
196
36
162
""78
120
"'394
378
"231
1,003
116
31
444
94
16
259
118
260
16
103
63
23
"343
27
10
172
153
ii
29
713
41
17,980
18S0
457
1,928
189
104
85
902
74
""54
1,122
47
503
1,981
652
24
752
889
103
4,045
2,870
323
52
109
3
155
223
859
366
489
3i7
1,129
197
58
870
99
26
334
206
355
71
112
64
39
771
399
26
6
201
220
2
22
13
925
64
25,486
1890
498
1,694
170
134
114
1,493
81
' ' i.si
3,054
50
379
1,993
567
21
590
760
87
4,116
3,402
261
211
685
1,591
104
236
759
2,022
481
"227
979
275
21
1,098
126
9
353
134
237
79
262
36
29
1,127
362
183
2
256
160
11
36
24
910
70
32,690
1900
808
1,765
135
187
139
1,537
83
18
25
5,857
36
252
1,829
461
46
457
1,252
115
3,941
3,983
178
63
61
5,969
482
499
537
2,902
665
309
299
830
220
19
1,251
123
6
625
162
378
360
519
26
32
1,115
423
353
94
221
321
12
439
64
922
94
43,499
1910
920
1,801
164
221
151
2,447
80
5
8
9,311
17
253
1,779
303
37
387
1,359
26
3,499
6,476
239
30
532
14,667
851
575
349
5,960
601
1,236
294
673
177
48
1,389
132
9
445
151
435
2,052
376
26
18
1,130
527
344
115
226
169
8
57
40
943
105
64,173
1920
820
1,816
759
273
494
3,011
36
147
1
9,636
38
232
1,726
196
573
298
2,549
12
3,016
8,929
291
61
4,737
18,157
2,454
502
227
6,427
641
2,191
638
559
159
68
1,663
112
7
638
147
397
6,393
431
13
12
1,120
641
210
52
196
142
""89
35
783
1,590
86,345
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
577
5. NIXJRO POPULATION, MALE AND FEMALE (BY COUNTIES) 1890-1920
County
1890
1900
1910
1920
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male Female
261
808
79
65
53
820
46
68
1,887
23
211
985
300
13
30!
372
46
2,058
1,706
139
115
623
1,263
61
162
387
1,326
248
237
889
91
69
62
674
35
63
1,167
27
168
1,008
267
9
289
389
41
2,058
1,696
129
96
62
328
43
74
372
697
233
463
840
68
90
64
801
46
12
15
3,691
20
137
882
232
28
240
800
57
1,995
2,063
93
41
39
4,087
304
419
284
1,684
336
213
157
398
112
10
619
62
4
464
112
217
278
382
9
19
557
228
222
57
104
177
6
400
38
441
50
345
925
67
97
75
736
37
6
10
2,166
16
115
947
229
18
217
452
58
1,946
1,920
85
22
22
1,882
178
80
253
1,218
329
96
142
432
108
9
632
61
2
161
50
161
82
137
17
13
558
195
131
37
117
144
6
39
26
481
44
508
932
91
117
81
1,351
44
5
6
5,540
10
135
901
152
24
221
720
17
1,724
3,438
127
17
363
9,120
468
494
186
3,268
304
867
146
328
95
17
712
72
4
250
101
226
1,280
200
11
11
577
300
202
61
99
94
4
33
27
466
60
412
869
73
104
70
1,096
36
2
3,771
7
118
878
151
13
166
639
9
1,775
3,038
112
13
169
5,547
383
81
163
2,692
297
369
148
345
82
31
677
60
5
195
50
209
772
176
15
7
553
227
142
54
127
75
4
24
13
477
45
436
902
420
147
284
1,516
16
84
1
5,397
21
123
878
97
404
158
1,331
6
1,482
4,655
161
34
2,794
10,213
1,339
406
113
3,314
350
1,268
341
259
90
31
857
56
3
345
86
186
3,650
220
5
10
574
359
113
27
94
79
384
914
339
126
210
Cabell
1,495
20
Clay
63
4,239
17
109
848
99
169
140
1,218
6
1,534
4 274
130
27
1,943
7,944
1,115
96
114
3,113
291
923
118
469
154
15
568
58
5
183
82
125
43
135
23
18
563
177
106
110
510
121
7
537
68
4
170
52
112
36
127
13
11
564
185
77
2
116
64
8
15
9
481
30
297
300
69
37
806
56
4
293
61
211
2,743
211
8
2
546
282
97
25
140
97
3
21
15
431
40
102
63
Wetzel
Wirt
44
20
373
955
45
15
409
635
Total
18,015
14,702
25,167
18,332
36,607
127,506
47,129
39,216
Vol. 1—3 7
578
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
6. NATIVITY AND FOREIGN PARENTAGE
1860
1870
Counties
Native
Born
Foreign
Born
Native
Born
Foreign
Born
One or
both
Parents
Foreign
Father
Foreign
Mother
Foreign
Father
and
Mother
Foreign
360,143
13,462
11,895
12,888
16,911
11,720
13,489
9,728
4,890
6,159
15,778
5,044
10,338
10,670
14,174
7,974
7,863
6,409
7,450
4,551
12,542
3,647
3,889
4,925
8,119
5,968
12,040
4,925
6,787
12,414
6,720
8,857
6,589
7,072
4.930
3,714
6,449
4,697
6,231
3,730
4,109
3,357
2,860
2,890
7,182
2,486
1,787
5,355
1,394
1.531
1,554
16,545
451
630
160
5,511
491
301
136
100
5
372
450
708
87
361
1,199
157
110
549
76
770
85
69
13
187
29
957
67
32
308
27
101
258
391
273
45
254
143
70
21
336
10
1
55
108
16
424,923
7,568
14,261
13,455
22,811
11,178
16,292
5,477
5,426
6,449
21,662
5,066
17,713
11,022
12,958
15,025
6,260
7.724
9,653
4,415
13,838
4.208
4,035
5,117
10,177
6,615
14,032
6,430
7,047
11,917
7,824
10,231
8,747
8,883
6,831
4,313
8,281
4,502
7,655
4,733
4,132
3,655
3,168
2,968
7,938
2,926
2,196
7,220
1,887
1,949
1,726
5,906
4,382
5.039
17,091
75
639
92
6,020
239
422
41
137
6
687
398
1,287
102
261
953
169
108
522
43
717
107
34
7
123
32
909
50
17
190
28
81
308
484
245.
25
314
51
139
71
231
18
3
44
85
13
46,204
256
1,764
432
15,802
628
1,091
129
391
29
1,492
1,044
3,314
313
771
2,188
466
372
1,652
106
1,727
326
108
16
430
115
2,759
126
55
544
68
257
886
1,178
738
80
930
159
353
220
841
46
10
151
229
45
43,917
229
1,712
381
15,187
609
1,060
110
391
22
1,420
990
3,151
294
743
2,125
442
321
1,587
94
1,643
311
95
9
372
105
2,528
123
54
525
63
229
857
1,128
721
78
844
156
328
196
713
46
10
142
221
3S
39,077
173
1,466
221
14,624
452
918
80
326
16
1,233
855
2,868
210
548
1,929
333
242
1,397
66
1,522
220
74
13
272
84
2,295
88
32
418
52
203
705
9S3
619
48
758
92
276
146
626
39
9
111
184
26
36,790
1,414
Ohio
14,009
887
61
326
9
1,161
801
Wood
2,705
191
520
l.SHli
Cabell
309
Tyler
191
1,332
54
1,438
205
61
6
214
74
2,064
85
31
399
47
175
676
933
602
46
Wetzel
672
89
251
Wirt
122
498
39
9
102
176
Clay
19
26
34
4
1
12
20
3
4
426
85
14
52
56
3
25
1,108
260
63
52
50
3
24
1,078
244
63
17
46
3
10
952
179
18
17
Tucker
40
3
9
922
163
IS
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
579
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580
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
8. FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION OF WEST VIRGINIA (BY COUNTIES) 1860-1910
County
1860
1870
1880
1890
1900
1910
Barbour
101
81
96
65
230
527
Berkeley
630
639
469
349
237
344
Boone
143
51
34
12
7
9
Braxton
67
50
50
150
53
195
Brooke
450
398
403
390
336
1,417
Cabell
157
169
278
392
380
558
Calhoun
16
13
16
20
26
20
Clay
1
48
58
Doddridge. . . .
273
245
219
155
129
76
Fayette
29
32
406
864
976
4,466
Gilmer
45
25
45
27
18
32
Grant
85
72
72
95
360
Greenbrier. . . .
491
239
213
200
121
455
Hampshire. . . .
451
75
74
51
52
36
Hancock
336
231
167
319
381
1,324
Hardy
136
41
40
23
23
49
Harrison
301
422
335
291
824
5,064
Jackson
187
123
120
108
91
36
Jefferson
361
261
189
170
96
109
Kanawha
372
687
857
947
753
2,512
Lewis
549
522
464
437
268
288
Lincoln
14
16
16
7
29
Logan
13
7
5
103
8
927
McDowell ....
4
3
4
306
672
6,260
Marion
308
190
146
168
1,774
4,695
Marshall
957
909
913
929
1,271
3,055
Mason
1,199
953
839
527
318
219
Mercer
32
17
22
398
271
1,148
Mineral
426
459
746
451
825
Mingo
65
1,197
Monongalia. . .
160
92
71
74
303
1,549
Monroe
87
102
56
41
32
10
Morgan
85
107
96
87
68
172
Nicholas
76
43
68
60
245
705
Ohio
5,511
6,020
6,746
6,956
6,151
6,637
Pendleton. . . .
5
6
20
8
6
6
55
44
56
65
83
40
Pocahontas. . .
69
34
21
30
347
808
Preston
770
717
673
460
382
1,361
Putnam
70
139
187
215
107
73
Raleigh
10
18
43
29
33
1,525
Randolph
100
137
470
307
701
2,061
Ritchie
258
308
238
180
120
77
Roane
26
12
26
18
52
44
Summers
71
71
65
140
Taylor
391
484
391
254
386
869
Tucker
34
20
12
90
1,511
3,010
Tyler
110
108
85
60
298
254
Upshur
108
85
127
138
107
141
Wayne
27
28
41
88
51
51
Webster
1
4
20
51
74
97
Wetzel
254
314
408
288
394
274
Wirt
21
71
46
27
19
16
Wood
708
1,287
1,263
1,048
930
845
Wyoming
1
3
4
3
5
17
Total
16,545
17,091
18,265
18,883
22,451
57,072
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
581
9. FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION BY COUNTRY OF BIRTH, 1870-1910
Country of Birth
England
Scotland
Wales
Ireland
Germany
Norway
Sweden
Denmark
Netherlands
Belgium
Luxemburg
France
Switzerland
Portugal
Spain
Italy
Russia
Finland
Austria
Hungary
Roumania
Bulgaria, Servia, Monte
negro
Greece
Turkey in Europe
Turkey in Asia
China
Canada (French)
Canada (Other)
Cuba and West Indies . . .
Mexico
Central & South America .
1910
3,511
1,088
880
2,292
6,327
38
279
67
60
800
1
535
600
3
464
17,292
5,143
127
8,360
5,939
259
100
787
420
726
62
88
784
46
10
13
1900
2,622
855
482
3,342
6,670
19
132
60
22
79
"298
696
5
2,921
1,038
6
1,143
810
i
108
20
"47
72
639
12
7
33
1890
2,700
914
398
4,799
7,292
7
72
44
22
36
213
610
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632
126
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236
23
25
349
10
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2,051
622
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6,459
7,029
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21
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19
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295
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321
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6,231
1
5
21
174
21
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325
i
34
11
59
5
173
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582
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
585
12.
DISTRIBUTION OF CHURCH MEMBERS BY PRINCIPAL DENOMINATIONS, 1916,
1906, 1890
1916
1906
1890
Number
Per
Cent
of
Total
Number
Per
Cent
of
Total
Number
Per
Cent
of
Total
427,865
100
308,626
100
192,679
100
82,551
62,459
60,337
53,030
29,426
19,227
18,948
16,238
15,705
11,644
10,342
6.831
4,179
36,958
19.3
14.6
14.1
12.4
6.9
4.5
4.4
3.8
3.7
2.7
2.4
1.6
1.0
8.6
61,641
48,636
47,072
36,632
19,993
10,729
16,004
10,057
10,047
8,514
2,594
5,230
3,457
28,020
20
15.8
15.3
11.9
6.5
3.5
5.2
3.3
3.3
2.8
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1.7
1.1
9.1
48,925
34,154
18,415
25,064
12,242
5,807
10,652
4,233
5,995
4,275
2,906
2,710
17,301
25.4
17.7
9.6
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6.4
3.0
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Church of the Brethren (conservative)
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588 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Moral and Religious Life
The social and moral needs of the people have been met by schools
and churches which have adjusted their work to the new conditions
resulting from the industrial revolution in the State. The churches
have made organized efforts to extend their influence to the new indus-
trial communities often composed of large numbers of foreigners. From
1906 to 1916 the number of church organizations (congregations') in-
creased from 4,042 to 4,639; the number of members from 308,626 to
427,865 ; the value of church property from $9,733,585 to $15,472,996 ;
and the value of parsonages from $1,622,566 to $2,353,522. For 3,767
organizations reporting in 1916, the number of male members was
155,968 and the number of female members was 202,300.
A valuable aid of the churches in the work of religious and moral training is
The West Virginia Sunday School Association, which held its first annual conven-
tion at Clarksburg on June 22-24, 1880. Annual conventions, the records show,
have been held since 1880, with the exception of the years 1888, 1889 and 1890.
The Association is an inter-denominational voluntary association of all Sunday
School workers in West Virginia, numbering in 1921, twenty-seven thousand. It is
the only organization in West Virginia which represents all Protestant churches
co-operating in an effort to promote religious education. It is the only place where
all the churches are represented in assemblies regularly held, covering the entire
state and engaged in a program of active co-operative effort. It is represented in
each county by a county association, similarly organized, and is affiliated with the
International Sunday School Association which is affiliated with the World's Asso-
ciation, a voluntary association of the various national associations.
The work of the Association in the state is to promote the organization of new
Sunday Schools in needy communities, and conventions, institutes, conferences, train-
ing schools, and other assemblies, held in state, county and district to discuss better
methods of Sunday School work. Annually it distributes thousands of pages of
leaflets circular letters, and helpful information. To do this work it has a paid
staff of specialists in Sunday School work and an adequate office force of ten
directors and clerks is maintained.
The Association has no constitution or by-laws, no creed, and no requirements
for the Sunday Schools which compose its membership. In annual conventions it
elects its officers and names its committees. It has no dues or assessments. An
apportionment of five cents per Sunday School member is asked. Forty of the fifty-
five counties paid their apportionment last year in full, giving a total of $11,431.33.
There were personal contributions of $10,216.77. Other miscellaneous receipts
brought the total to $30,956.34.
Every Sunday School in West Virginia is a member of the Association, either
active or inactive. In 1920 there were in the state 3,532 Sunday Schools with a
total enrollment of more than 335,000 members. From 1906 to 1916 the number
of denominational Sunday Schools increased from 3,699 to 4,321; the number of
scholars from 223,777 to 352,752 (an increase of 57.6%) ; and the number of offi-
cers and teachers from 29,037 to 36,633.
Educational Development
In 1863 West Virginia had no state institutions, no social organs to
secure general welfare, no common school system, no normal schools and
no university. Before 1863 the few schools which were maintained at
public expense were primarily for indigent children.3 The people who
had so long agitated the question of free schools for all,4 influenced by
a Mr. Johnson, of Taylor County, speaking in the House of Delegates in 1850,
cast the blame for the ignorance of the youth of the state on the East which he
said had fastened on the people of Virginia a system of education which "may be
very properly called a system of education for the poor and also properly a poor
system, one calculated to create and keep up distinctions in society, one so abhor-
rent to the feelings of the poorer class of people that the children of poor dread
to come within the pall of its provisions."
* In the constitutional convention of 1829-30 resolutions submitted by western
members for the encouragment of public education were opposed by eastern men,
some of whom feared the adoption of a system by which the people of the East
would be taxed for the education of the children of the West. Morgan, of Monon-
galia, submitted a resolution that a tax of 25 cents per annum, levied on every free
white man of twenty-one, together with an equal amount set aside by the legis-
lature should constitute a fund, the interest of which should be used for elementary
education. Mr. Henderson remarked that at that time Virginia made provision
for the education of one-eighth of the children annually educated by the small
state of Connecticut. Alexander Campbell also introduced a resolution for the
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 589
Battelle who said that people were leaving the State because there were
no public schools, and consistent with the policy of the West, in 1863
inserted a clause in their constitution providing for their establish-
ment, and promptly secured from their first legislature a law for effi-
cient free schools supported by the interest of an invested school fund,
etc. In 1865 the state superintendent reported that there were 431
schools and 387 teachers in the State. In 1866 and 1867 provision was
made for colored schools where the number of colored children was
sufficient. The constitution provided that white and colored children
should not be educated in the same schools.
The new school system encountered many obstacles. The law was
opposed by many of the ultra-conservatives who urged the people to
disregard it and refused to cooperate with the authorities. In some
thinly settled counties of the interior, and along the southern border
the people were not able to build schoolhouses. In several counties the
superintendents were too ignorant to examine the incompetent teachers.
In order to supply the great need for trained teachers, the legislature,
in 1867, established normal schools at Huntington, at Fairmont and at
West Libert}'. In 1872 three additional schools were established at
Shepherdstown, Athens and Glenville. By 1869 the school system was
better organized, but as late as 1872 over half of the county superin-
tendents failed to submit reports and the state superintendent reported
that in many districts there had been no schools for two years. In
many others the attendance continued to be poor. In many instances
progress was hindered by misuse of funds by the school boards who
voted themselves a liberal compensation for their services. The sheriff
often postponed the payment of the salary of teachers until they were
compelled to sell their orders at great sacrifice to the curbstone broker,
often a confederate of the sheriff. In spite of laws to prevent, this abuse
continued for more than a quarter of a century. Examinations in many
counties continued to be conducted so loosely and so dishonestly that
incompetent teachers found little difficulty in securing certificates until
finally the widespread jobbery in teachers' certificates was almost ter-
minated in 1903 by the adoption of the uniform examination system.
Supervision of schools by the county superintendent in many coun-
ties remained a fraud and a farce for decades. An effort to secure more
efficient supervision was made in 1901 by forbidding the county super-
intendent to teach, and in 1907 by increasing the salary of the office.
To secure better attendance the legislature in 1901 passed a com-
pulsory school law which was made more effective in 1908. The opposi-
tion to these laws, which was very strong at first,5 has gradually de-
clined, although in many instances it is still disregarded or evaded.
encouragement of free schools and seminaries. But with all these resolutions not
one word on the subject of education was admitted in the constitution.
The Kanawha Banner, commenting on the general mortification which the West
felt in securing none of her desired reforms, named three things which in its opinion
would not greatly postpone a renewal of the contest hetween the two sections, and
the first of these three things mentioned was "a good system of education."
By 1840 the subject of popular education was much agitated in the West. A
remarkable educational convention met at Clarksburg, September 8-9, 1840, and
was attended by 130 delegates from the northwest. Its object was to have the gen-
eral assembly establish a system of free district schools to be supported by the
literary fund and a tax on property.
By the time of the election for members of the constitutional convention of
1850. throughout the West, newspapers and candidates pledged themselves for a
constitutional system of education where rich and poor should meet on an equality
— for the establishment of some form of an equitable system of common school
education. But despite this fact and the resolutions of Martin, Faulkner and Carlisle
in favor of a constitutional provision, the new constitution was adopted without
mention of education.
» In 1897 when the subject was strongly agitated the Logan County Banner
published editorials such as this: "We are so confident that the parent is the proper
guardian for his child, that we hope never to see the day when the state shall assume
such guardianship except in extreme cases" and "Professor Lewis (who knows
nothing about privations of parents in country districts) recommends that the schools
be filled up by force, that the sacred precincts of an humble home be entered by the
officers of the law and children, half-clad, torn from their mothers. This is_ what
compulsory school law means and we are heartily opposed to compulsory education ! ' '
590 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Although progress was slow for so many years, it has been more
rapid in recent years. High schools have increased in number and im-
proved in character. The normal schools, whose work until recently
was largely that of the high school, have begun to give more attention
to the purpose for which they were formed. A state board of education,
created by the revised school law of 1908, was empowered to prepare a
course of study for the public schools of the State, and to unify and
increase the efficiency of the school system by defining the relations of
the different kinds of schools, and by securing better articulation of
the school work. Teachers' institutes, summer schools, school libraries,
better wages and better teachers contributed to the progress of educa-
tion in West Virginia.
In 1918 the state superintendent of schools appointed a school code
commission which proposed a revised code, later adopted by the legis-
lature of 1919, and providing better facilities for new educational
movements.
West Virginia University, since its foundation in 1867, has exerted
a gradually increasing influence in the development of the education
and other activities of the State. At first it was little more than a
classical high school. For many years the growth of the new institu-
tion was very slow and uncertain. This retarded growth was due to
many causes. Among these causes may be enumerated the partially
local foundation, the sectional jealousies, the post-bellum political ques-
tions and partisanships, the lack of satisfactory system of secondary
schools, the divided responsibility and laissez faire policy, and the lack
of means of communication with Morgantown, the seat of the institution.
Gradually the power and importance of these causes were reduced by
changing conditions. Industrial progress has been a prominent factor
in the transformation of the earlier school into a real college or uni-
versity. One may smile now at the earlier bickerings and driftings.
The admission of women to the collegiate departments in 1889 and to
other departments in 1897 marked a great advance in the educational
history of the State.
Although many in the State did not realize it, the University by
1910 was an institution of high rank — ranked by the Carnegie Founda-
tion as better than the University of Virginia.
The growth of the University has been greatly aided by the de-
velopment of better secondary schools. The normal schools have par-
tially solved the problem of suitable preparatory schools. A preparatory
school at Montgomery, opened January, 1897, was established by an
act of February 16, 1895. Another was established at Keyser by an
act of 1901.
To supply the demand for State institutions where colored people
could receive special or more advanced academic training, the colored
institute at Farm (Kanawha county) was established in 1891, and the
Bluefield colored institute (in Mercer county) was established in 1895.
The State and County Government
The work of the state government has greatly increased by problems
resulting from economic and social changes. It seems strange now that
William E. Stevenson (later governor) in 1862 would have the idea that
the executive would probably not be needed at the capital for more than
one month of each year and that he would be absolutely free to spend the
remainder of his time upon his farm.6 The small amount of adminis-
trative work done by the governor of that day also seems strange to the
younger generation, which has seen only the increasing problems of ad-
ministrative work of the latest two decades. Necessity has gradually
driven out the earlier idea of reducing the work and expense of the
government to the lowest minimum.
The executive department consists of the governor, secretary of state,
o Stevenson, in reply to the proposal to pay the governor $2,000, stated that
$1,600 would surely be enough.
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592 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
treasurer, auditor, attorney-general and superintendent of free schools
and after 1912, the commissioner of agriculture.7 All of these are elected
at the time of the presidential election for the term of four years begin-
ning March 4, following. All, except the attorney-general, must reside at
the capital. Together, the governor presiding, they act as the Board of
Public Works which assesses the value of railroad property, designates
banks in which the state money shall be kept and has charge of internal
improvements. The governor is ineligible for reelection for the four years
next succeeding the term for which he was elected. In case of his dis-
ability in the fourth year of his term, the president of the Senate acts as
governor, and after him the speaker of the House — and if both fail, the
legislature on joint ballot elects an acting governor. Although he may
veto the separate items of an appropriation bill, any bill may be passed
over his veto by a majority of the total membership of each House. He
has no pocket veto. He appoints, subject to the consent of the majority
of the members of the Senate, all officers for whose election no other
method is provided.
Other state officials (appointed by the governor) are the three mem-
bers of the state board of control, members of the public service commis-
sion, compensation commissioner, librarian, state tax commissioner, ad-
jutant-general, commissioner of banking, state geologist (who serves with-
out pay), chief of the department of mines, health commissioner, state
road commission, commissioner of labor, state historian and archivists,
chief of department of public safety and hotel inspector.
Among the administrative boards that of first importance is the rotary
board of control (created in 1909), consisting of three persons appointed
by the governor for terms of six years. At the discretion and upon its
approval the appropriations to state institutions (of education, charities
and correction) , and to various boards and bureaus, are expended.8 Its
creation illustrates the recent tendency toward centralization of admin-
istration both for efficiency and for economy. A public service commis-
sion was created in 1913.
Among the other important permanent boards, bureaus or commis-
sions are the geological and economic survey, state board of agriculture
(superseded by the new department of agriculture after 1912), the de-
partment of mines, the state board of health, the bureau of labor, the
state road commission, the department of history and archives, state
board of education and the state board of regents for the university and
normal schools. A state school book commission was established in 1911
to perform the service which was done by the legislature itself until 1897,
by county school book boards from 1897 to 1912. Its work after 1919
was performed by the new board of education.
Considering the intimate relation of geological knowledge to the vast
resources of the state it is surprising that the geological and economic
survey — although urged by Governor Boreman in 1864, by Governor
Stevenson in 1870,9 by Governor Jacob in 1875, and by successive gov-
ernors— was not created until 1897, and that the first appropriation was
only $3,000 and that Dr. I. C. White, the state geologist, a man of
national and even international reputation, has continued to do the im-
portant work of the office without compensation from the state.
Largely through the need of historical data for use in the Virginia
i By law of 1911 a state department of agriculture was created with a commis-
sioner who took the place of the old state board of agriculture which ceased to
exist in 1912.
8 The State Board of Control has full power in the management and control
of all State institutions for defectives, delinquents, and dependents, and it controls
the financial and business affairs of various State educational institutions, and also
supervises the financial transactions of the newly created department of public safety.
By act of 1919, the legislature established the State Board of Children's Guar-
dians (to take the place of the West Virginia Humane Society), and also created the
Department of Public Safety whose financial transactions are also supervised by
the State Board of Control.
» Stevenson urged that at least a partial survey should be made to correct
erroneous reports in regard to the decrease of the population and wealth of the
state.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 593
debt case, the Department of Archives and History at Charleston was
created by act of 1905, and considerable documentary materials were col-
lected in subsequent years — resulting in the stimulation of the historical
spirit and possibly preparing the way for the future creation of a library
reference bureau and other means of utilizing the past to aid in the
practical solution of present legislative and administrative problems.
In 1864, a commissioner of immigration was provided for but with-
out adequate compensation ; and in 1871, the legislature, which was un-
friendly to immigration, refused to make an appropriation for the com-
missioner and transferred the work of the bureau to the board of public
works, without satisfactory provisions for its continuance as an active
agency.
The first commissioner of immigration (appointed by Governor Boreman) was
J. H. DissDebar who before the war had brought a Swiss colony to Santa Clara in
Doddridge county. Among the earliest immigrants who came in colonies after the
war were the Swiss.
In 1869, a real estate company of New York induced a number of Swiss immi-
grants to establish a settlement on a branch of the Buckhannon river. In honor of
their native village, the colony was called Helvetia. In June, 1879, Carl Lutz,
agent for the company that owned a large boundary of land arrived. He was a
man of practical qualities of mind and his services were invaluable to the colonists.
In 1872, a Sunday School was organized in Mr. Senhauser's store with store
boxes for seats. A little later, Rev. Andreas Kern, from Zurich, Switzerland, organ-
ized a German Reformed Church to which about twenty members subscribed. Rev.
Kern is still affectionately remembered by his former congregation.
Dr. Carl Stuckey, of Berne, Switzerland, the first physician to locate in Helvetia,
was much interested in religions matters and was instrumental in organizing churches
and Sunday Schools in the community. The first public school was opened in 1873-4.
The first trustees were Gustav Senhauser, John Dever, and Jesse Sharp. The first
teacher was a Mr. Wilson.
By frugality and industry these pioneers succeeded in converting the forests
into farms, producing various grains and cereals, but they did not swerve from
their original purpose of engaging in the dairy business. Accordingly, John Kellen-
berger of Appenzell, Switzerland, imported, at the instance of the settlers, a herd
of brown Swiss cattle, and a company was organized to manufacture Sweitzer
cheese. The business lasted several years but was abandoned because of the distance
from the railroad and the limitations of local markets. John Teuscher, a member
of the company, remained in the business and was recently still making Swiss cheese
on his own account.
After nearly half a century, the lumber industry invaded the community, and
modern frame houses supplanted the round log structures that had so long sheltered
the settlers. The first to engage in the lumber business in Helvetia was Floyd
Brown, who later gained the sobriquet of Cherry Brown.
A few years subsequent to the coming of the Swiss to Helvetia, a colony was
located nine miles southwest of that town on Turkey Bone mountain. Among the
colonists were: Mark Egglison, John Zender, Casper Winkler, John Hartman, Sr.,
and John Hartman, Jr., Horles Zimmerly, John Lazzy, Peter Swint and a Mr.
Stadler, who for a number of years operated a tannery. Although undergoing many
privations, this colony did not suffer the inconveniences and hardships experienced
by the older colony. However, no preparation was made for their arrival and many
lived in tents and houses without windows until better ones could be afforded. Heads
of families, in many instances, were compelled to leave home to obtain work in
order to maintain their families and pay for their lands.
In April, 1879, a colony of about one hundred Swiss emigrants settled at Alpena,
on the eastern slope of the Shaver mountain. In a strange environment, unaccus-
tomed to the tillage of the crops suitable to this soil and climate, they became dis-
couraged and all but about a half dozen families abandoned the country within the
first year. About a half dozen families remained and prospered and constitute a
valuable acquisition to our population. Those who became permanent residents of
the county are Emiel Knutti, Jacob Ratzer, Christian Herdig, Godfrey Herdig and
John Herdig.
Although somewhat embittered for a time by the unsatisfactory conditions of
their new environment the Swiss colonists of Randolph by industry and intelligence
triumphed over obstacles, cemented their friendships, developed a cooperative com-
munity spirit, became prosperous and contented in their homes and developed a
patriotic attachment to their adopted country.
The governor reported in 1880, that foreign immigration into "West
Virginia for permanent settlement had "already commenced," and sev-
veral prosperous colonies were already founded. The first organized effort
to promote immigration to the state, launched through the efforts of the
Wheeling Chamber of Commerce, was begun on February 29, 1888, by
the organization of the West Virginia Immigration and Development
Vol. 1—8 8
594 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Association with plans for the organization of an auxiliary in every
county. Mr. John Nugent who about 1912 — without compensation from
the state — held a commission to foster immigration of miners, found
his efforts blocked.
The chief state institutions are the University, six normal schools, the
penitentiary (self supporting), a reform school for boys, an industrial
home for girls, a school for the deaf and blind, two hospitals for the
insane, an asylum for incurables, three miners' hospitals and a tuber-
culosis sanitarium.
The legislature (thirty senators and ninety-four members 10 of the
House of Delegates) meets in January of odd years. Its membership can-
not include persons holding lucrative office under the state or United
States government, nor an officer of any court of record, nor salaried
officers of railroad companies. Its sessions of forty-five days may be ex-
tended by a vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house.
After its adjournment an appropriation bill cannot be vetoed. No act
takes effect until ninety days after its passage unless especially otherwise
provided by vote of two-thirds of the members of each house.
An amendment to the Constitution, ratified in November, 1918, pro-
vided that a budget should be submitted to the legislature by the Board
of Public Works, consisting of the elective executive officers. This
amendment provided that the bill for the proposed appropriations for
the budgets, clearly itemized and classified, should be delivered to the
presiding officer of each house by the Board of Public Works. The
legislature could not amend the bills so as to create a deficit and was
otherwise restricted in regard to amendments. Neither house could con-
sider other appropriations until the budget bill had been finally acted
upon.
In case the budget bill had not been acted upon within three days of
the expiration of the regular session, the governor was given power to
extend the session for a reasonable period during which no other matter
except the bill could be considered.
In November, 1920, the people ratified an amendment providing that
all regular sessions of the legislature shall have two periods, the first not
exceeding 15 days during which no bills shall be passed or rejected ex-
cept under special recommendation of the governor to provide for public
emergency, and then only by vote of 4/5 the members elected to each
house. In the second period, beginning on Wednesday after the second
Monday in March, no bill shall be introduced in either house without
a yea and nay 3/4 vote of all the members elected to each house. The
latter period shall not continue longer than 45 days without concurrence
of 2/3 of the house.
The purposes of the amendment were to give more time for careful
consideration of bills, and to furnish an opportunity for the people to
become familiar with the proposed legislation.
The judiciary is composed of a supreme court of appeals (five judges
elected for terms of twelve years) ; twenty-two circuit courts ; several
courts of limited (generally criminal) jurisdiction created to meet the
needs resulting from rapid industrial development in some parts of the
state ; the county court of three commissioners whose judicial powers are
confined to such business as probate, guardians and administrators ; jus-
tices of the peace (at least one elected for each magisterial district of
the county), and city courts. There are no chancery courts, but courts
of record have equity jurisdiction. Notary publics are appointed by the
governor without limit as to number. The judicial system cannot be
changed more frequently than eight years.
Salaries of state officers and judges, which were extremely small in
1863 and remained low for half a century, were greatly increased by
1922. -
In 1913, the salary of the State Superintendent was increased to
io The House of Delegates which by provisions of Acts of 1901 consisted of
86 members, was increased to 94 members after the election of 1916 (Acts of 1915).
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 595
$4,000, the Treasurer to $3,500, and later the salary of the Attorney-
General $4,000. By Act of January, 1919, the salary of the Governor
was increased to $10,000, to take effect with the inauguration of the new
Governor in 1921. In January, 1921, the salaries of the other elective
state officers were increased to $5,000.
In 1909, the salaries of the Supreme Court Judges were increased to
$5,500. By Act of February, 1919, their salaries were increased to
$8,000, effective from July 1, 1919.
By Act of March, 1919, the Circuit Judges were allowed an annual
salary of $5,000 with provision for $5,500 in circuits of over 60,000
population.
By the two-period legislative session amendment, ratified in 1920, the
salaries of members of the legislature were increased to $500 a year.
County Government. The county is a unit of local government. The
sheriff (who also acts as tax collector and treasurer), the prosecuting at-
torney, the surveyor, the assessor, and the county superintendent of
schools are elected by the voters for terms of four years. No person is
eligible for election as sheriff for two full consecutive terms. Three
commissioners (constituting the county court) and the clerk of the
county court (who also has custody of all deeds and other papers pre-
sented for record), are elected for six years. The county court is not
composed of trial justices (since 1881) but is largely an administrative
board for county business affairs, chiefly police and fiscal. It appoints
coroners, overseers of the poor and surveyors of the road. It nominates
members of the local board of health (who, however, receive their ap-
pointment from the state board of health). The board of jury commis-
sioners (two) are appointed by the judge of the circuit court. Each
county is divided (by the old Virginia system adopted by the constitu-
tion of 1851), into magisterial districts (varying from three to ten) cor-
responding to the township which was adopted in 1863 and abolished in
1872. Each district elects magistrates (justices of the peace) and con-
stables, and a board of education (a president and two other members)
which has power to establish and alter sub-districts, etc.
Recent Political Problems. After 1900 the reform of the tax laws
and the extension of state regulation or supervision, as applied to prob-
lems of public health and safety or economic and industrial interests,
the increase of administrative organization, methods of party control,
and the proposals for a primary election law furnished the largest ques-
tions in politics. Recent legislation included a much needed pure food
law (1907), an act abolishing the sale of cocaine except on prescription
of a licensed physician (1911), an act establishing medical inspection in
the public school (1911), the appointment of a commission to provide a
uniform system for the government of cities and towns (1911), a work-
men's compensation law, and the establishment of a public service com-
mission and a bureau of roads (1913) . A proposed constitutional amend-
ment prohibiting traffic in intoxicating liquors was submitted to the
people at the election of 1912 and ratified by a majority of 90,000 votes.
The West Virginia debt question, concerning which Virginia brought a
suit before the United States supreme court in 1906, and recently ob-
tained a decision in her favor, had an influence in politics.
The first substantial reform in taxation was made by the legislature
of 1901 which increased taxes from corporations and created a tax com-
mission which resulted in additional reforms. The office of tax com-
missioner was created in 1904. In 1909 Governor Glasscock urged a tax
on coal, oil and gas production but the legislation could not be secured.
A later pipe-line transportation tax was declared unconstitutional.
The destruction of the capitol building by fire early in January, 1921,
precipitated an active but brief agitation for removal of the capital to
Clarksburg. The legislature opposed removal, and authorized the ap-
pointment of a commission to select a site at Charleston. The decision
produced at Charleston a friendlier feeling toward the northern part of
the state.
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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 597
Institutions fob Dependents, Defectives and Delinquents
West Virginia at the beginning of her statehood had no charitable
or reformatory institutions within her boundaries — all such state institu-
tions having been built east of the mountains. The new state, without
any permanent home or suitable buildings in which to conduct the work
of its government, and in the face of so many other difficulties, was com-
pelled to make temporary arrangements until she could provide some-
thing permanent. Many of the insane, who were already at Staunton,
remained there until an asylum could be completed, but the county jails
were filled with all kinds of unfortunates, the insane, convicts, and juve-
nile offenders of both sexes. For seven years arrangements were made
with other states for the care of the blind.
The hospital for the insane at Weston was opened in 1866, but it did
not furnish sufficient accommodation, and some of the insane were con-
fined in the jails until the second hospital was opened at Spencer in 1893.
There is still need of additional room for the colored insane. A school
for the deaf and the blind was opened at Romney at the close of 1870.
Since 1901 efforts have been made to induce the legislature to provide
a separate school for the blind in some larger city of the state. In 1897
an asylum was established at Huntington for such incurables as epilep-
tics, idiots, insane and others whose disorders affected their minds.
In 1899, the legislature provided for the construction and mainte-
nance of three miners' hospitals (at Welch, McKendree and Fairmont) to
which any person injured in a coal-mine or on a railroad is admitted free
of charge.
The legislature of 1911 created a tuberculosis sanitarium, located near
Terra Alta on the top of the great Cheat Mountain range. It was opened
for the reception of patients in January, 1913. By act of February, 1917,
the legislature appropriated $40,000 for the establishment of the state
tuberculosis sanitarium for colored people, which was opened for the
reception of patients on January 15, 1919.
The necessity of establishing a state prison was urged by Governor
Boreman, but the legislature first authorized negotiation with other states
for the use of their prisons, and (when this proved unsuccessful) then
authorized the governor to use the county jails, until in 1866, it was
finally induced, by the escape of prisoners, to provide for a state peni-
tentiary constructed in part by convict labor. The penitentiary was for
years not only self-supporting, but earned quite a large surplus which
was turned into the state school fund several years ago, instead of
being expended in keeping up the property and preventing it from run-
ning down. In the last half of 1918. the expenditures were greater than
the income. The population of the penitentiary decreased from 1,237
in 1914, to 892 in 1919 and 849 in 1920.
In 1899, the unpleasant notoriety given to the state by exaggerated
reports of the sickly details of a public hanging in Jackson county, which
appeared in the yellow dailies of New York and other cities, caused the
legislature to enact a law against public executions, requiring that all
hanging should be conducted within the penitentiary and in the presence
of a limited number of witnesses.
In 1890, twenty years after Governor Stevenson first protested against
the necessity of confining youthful offenders (of both sexes) with per-
sons whose lives had been given over to crime, the legislature established
at Pruntytown a reform school for boys, the name of which was changed
to The West Virginia Industrial School for Boys, by act of the legis-
lature in 1913. In 1897, after further urging, it provided for a similar
industrial home for girls at Salem. The usefulness of this home is
greatly lessened, however, by the great number of feeble minded girls
who are kept there. Two years later, it established the West Virginia
Humane Society, one aim of which is to improve the condition of chil-
dren under fourteen years of age who are abandoned, neglected, or
cruelly treated. In 1901, it passed an additional act increasing the
powers of the society.
598 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
The growing feeling that there should be some means provided to
prevent the imprisonment of youthful offenders in jails with other
prisoners was recently expressed by Governor Glasscock, who also sug-
gested the need, in some West Virginia cities, of juvenile courts with
large discretionary powers. In response to an urgent need for a place
of temporary shelter or home for children such as came into the custody
of the West Virginia Humane Society, the legislature of 1909 established
"The West Virginia Children's Home" to be conducted in buildings to
be provided by the directors of the humane society, which was author-
ized to select and purchase the site, and cause the buildings to be erected
for a temporary home for children committed to the custody of the
society. The home was located at the city of Elkins, and was open for
the reception of children on May 9, 1911. By an act of the legislature
of 1917 the home was placed under the management of the state board
of control.
The Board of Children's Guardians, created in 1919, consists of three
members appointed by the governor. It supplanted the former humane
society and was designed to look after the general welfare of dependent,
neglected, homeless and physically deficient children. It is also inter-
ested in the study of the problems and proper care of all other classes
of children needing attention. It is required to assist in the enforcement
of the Child Labor Law.
Before West Virginia separated from Virginia, the care of her poor
was directed by a board of overseers appointed from various districts
by the county court. Prom 1863 to 1873, the overseers, though really
agents of the county board of supervisors, were elected by the people
of each township. Following the constitution of 1872, the Virginia plan
was revived. In 1881 the county court was authorized to provide a
county infirmary, workhouse, farm, and other things necessary for the
use and benefit of the poor. Since 1903, the messages of the governors
have recommended measures to prevent abuses connected with the care of
the poor, such as the assignment of their maintenance to the lowest
bidder — a practice which still exists in some counties, and was strongly
criticised in the last biennial message of Governor Glasscock (1913) who
also said that in many instances the jails and almshouses of the state
are a disgrace, referring especially to the unsanitary conditions which
endanger the health and lives of the inmates.
Inspection and Regulation
Executive agencies for inspection and regulation were developed
rather slowly. In 1863 there was only a board of public works, con-
sisting of the executive officials of the state, whose principal duties then
related to state turn-pikes and taxation of railroads, but whose work has
continued to grow with the development of the state. To relieve this
overworked board, Governor White in 1905 recommended a railroad
commission, and in 1907 Governor Dawson recommended a commission
of corporations to act with the state tax commissioner as a state board of
assessors.
An act of 1913 created a public service commission, intended as a
court of the people to consider complaints against public service corpora-
tions. The act creating the commission provided for a bi-partisan body
of four members — two from each of the leading political parties of the
state — and committed to it the administration of the Workmen's Com-
pensation Fund. An act of 1915 reduced the membership of the com-
mission from four to three, and removed from its jurisdiction the admin-
istration of the Workmen's Compensation Fund.
In February, 1920, the commission established a new department,
the telephone department, the duties of which are to investigate and
report on telephone facilities and service whenever such investigation
may be needed.
The West Virginia Compensation Law was passed by the Legislature
of 1913. It was amended at the regular and the first extraordinary ses-
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 599
sions of 1915, and became effective, as amended, May 21, 1915. It was
later amended at the regular session of 1919, to become effective, as
amended, July 1, 1919. The law as passed in 1913 was faulty in that
the maximum and minimum amount of compensation payable per week
was too low. The original law was really a compromise act, as the
friends and advocates of a compensation law concluded that to accept
a law which they did not wholly approve would be wiser than to fail
entirely in the passage of any legislation in this direction. The compen-
sation fund is administered by the state compensation commissioner.
Although from 1863 there was a vaccine agent, and beginning with
1873 the law provided for three vaccine agents who were required to
furnish vaccine matter to all who desired it, there was no provision for
state control or regulation of health until 1881, when the legislature
created the board of health to regulate the practice of medicine and
surgery and to enforce general sanitary measures for preventing, check-
ing and confining epidemics and contagious diseases. The wisdom of
this delegation of power has been proven often — notably at Mason City
in 1892, in successfully dealing with what threatened to be an epidemic
of smallpox. Although this board has sufficient authority, its efficiency
has often been impaired by lack of sufficient funds. An act of March
15, 1882, made additional provision regulating the practice of medicine
and surgery, by requiring genuine evidence of graduation from a rep-
utable medical college or a regular examination before the state board
of health, or an affidavit that the applicant has practiced in the state
for ten years. Its enforcement was later contested on the ground that it
violated the bill of rights and was unconstitutional so far as it interfered
with the vested rights in relation to the practice of medicine. A prac-
titioner at Newburg (in Preston), failing to procure the certificate re-
quired under the law, was arested on an indictment of the grand jury
and found guilty in the circuit court (April, 1883). On a writ of error
he carried the case to the supreme court of appeals which affirmed (No-
vember, 1884) the judgment of the lower court on grounds of police
regulation, asserting that ' ' The doctor equally with the lawyer requires
a special education to qualify him to practice his profession, and that
the community is no more competent to judge of the qualifications of a
doctor than of a lawyer, and is liable to be imposed upon by imposters
and quacks professing to practice medicine." Later he appealed to the
United States supreme court which in January, 1889, decided against
him on the ground that "the law of West Virginia was intended to se-
cure such skill and learning in the profession of medicine, that the com-
munity might trust with confidence those receiving a license under
authority of the state."
For three decades after its establishment, the state health board with
a secretary who was paid a very meager salary, was little more than
an examining board for physicians seeking license to practice medicine.
It gave little attention to public health and sanitation.
By an act of 1913 the new state health department received an
annual appropriation of $15,000 which enabled it to begin in the state a
new era of preventative medicine. In January, 1914, it began the publi-
cation of a quarterly health bulletin.
The Hatfield administration, in 1914, began a campaign to prevent
pollution of streams by waste matter from various industrial plants such
as tanneries, pulp mills and coal mines. It found considerable difficulty
because of the laxity of local officials who favored the large industries
rather than the fish and the public health, and also because the statute
was regarded as inadequate. Among the encouraging responses was the
plan of the Parsons Pulp and Paper Company to construct a by-product
plant for utilization of the waste material which hitherto had been al-
lowed to flow into the Cheat river.
In November, 1914, a hygienic laboratory was established at Morgan-
town, by authority of the new law, in connection with the University,
with skilled chemists and bacteriologists in charge, and with Dr. John N.
Simpson, dean of the Medical School, as director in chief. In 1918,
600 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
it was removed to Charleston which it occupied rooms in the city library
building, corner of Kanawha and McFarland streets.
Under a new law of 1915, the state health department was placed
under direction of an executive officer, the commissioner of health, who
is required to maintain his office at the capital. Through a sanitary
engineer, it examined water supplies ; investigated the flow of streams,
with a view to improvement of drinking water.
Many outbreaks of typhoid fever were investigated, the cause found
and the epidemic checked. A large number of nuisances were inves-
tigated. Many conditions that have long been known as sources of
danger to the health of communities, such as sewers discharging into
public water supplies, were remedied and many water supplies that
were potentially dangerous were rendered uniformly safe for drinking
purposes. The department caused several towns, that never had water
supplies, to make installations and also aided greatly in the engineering
work.
The Public Health Council has the authority under the new law to
adopt regulations controlling the production and sale of milk, the sani-
tation of public halls, schools, railroads, street cars, barber shops, etc.
The work of public health education was conducted to considerable
extent in the form of lectures, health exhibits, posters and newspaper
notices.
The methods of preparing and handling foods were investigated in
fifty-five cities and towns. This necessitated the inspection of grocery
stores, markets and many other food establishments.
The Legislature of 1919 added to the work of the department the
division of vital statistics, and division of child welfare and public
health nursing.
In 1881, a commission of pharmacy was established (without pro-
vision for expenses), and the governor was authorized to appoint a
board of dentistry (which by an act of 1907 is required to make a
report to the governor). A state board of embalmers was created in
1899.
In 1885, the legislature passed an act to prevent the manufacture
and sale of mixed and impure butter and cheese, and in 1907 an in-
adequate law to protect the people against impure foods, which for
years had been shipped into the state and sold. Although the law in
itself is good it is rendered ineffective by the failure to appoint an
inspector.
A proposition to submit to the people a prohibition amendment
passed in the house by a vote of 59 to 14, in 1883, but was rejected in
the senate by a vote of 15 to 11. In 1885 a similar proposition passed
in the senate but failed in the house by two votes. Finally, in response
to the popular demand for elimination of the liquor interests from
pernicious lobby politics, the legislature in 1912 submitted to the
people at the regular state and presidential election a prohibition amend-
ment which they ratified by a majority vote of nearly 100,000.
In 1882, an inadequate weights and measures law was put on the
statute book providing for execution through the county courts, fixing
the legal weight of certain commodities and establishing "Scribner's
rule." In 1897 the section which provided that the Adjutant-General
should be ex-officio superintendent of weights and measures was repealed,
and since that time there has been no provision for a superintendent.
Except in a few instances no attempt was ever made to enforce the
law and the outfit furnished by the National government after a long
residence at the state house has recently been deposited with the de-
partment of physics at the state university where it has been tested
for accuracy and mounted for use. A bill for more efficient state regu-
lation of weights and measures received the approval of the house at
the session of the legislature in February, 1913, but failed to reach the
calendar for consideration in the senate. There was much need of an
efficient law providing for inspectors having not only power of super-
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 601
vision, but power to enforce the law whenever local authorities fail
to act.
Experience indicated that the officer of sealer of weights and meas-
ures should be one of the most important in the public service, affording
a protection alike to the honest dealer and to the purchasing public;
that to secure efficiency in whatever law is passed, there should be
some system of administration with reports of inspectors to prevent the
chief office from degenerating into a sinecure whose holder is paid a
salary to see that no one runs away with the standards; that these
inspectors should visit every part of the State to test the official weights
and measures and to instruct the local authorities; and that these offi-
cials should have power both to work in cooperation with the local
authorities or in case of emergencies which demand promptness of
action to enter the field of the local officials and to make inspections and
arrests without waiting for local action.
At its regular session of 1915 the legislature enacted a more efficient
law on weights and measures and entrusted its enforcement to the
State Commissioner of Labor. This law was amended by the legislature
of 1919. Under it the commissioner is authorized to appoint two
deputies or inspectors. Tests, calibrations, and determinations neces-
sary for the execution of the law are made by the director of the
physical laboratory, who by appointment of the Board of Regents be-
comes assistant commissioner of weights and measures.
Beginning with 1879, as a result of industrial development the legis-
lature passed several important laws providing for regulation and
inspection. In that year it passed an act providing regulations for the
transportation of petroleum or other oils and liquids by railroad com-
panies or transportation companies.
In the same year it enacted a law for regulating coal mines and for
the protection of miners. In 1883 it passed acts to prohibit timber ob-
structions in streams, to suppress prize fighting, to provide for fire
escapes and other safety devices on hotels, and to provide for a mine
inspector. In 1887 legislation was enacted to provide for the removal
of dams from the lower part of the Elk and Guyandotte rivers, to pre-
vent the employment in factories, manufactories, or mines of minors
under twelve who cannot read or write, to regulate working, ventila-
tion and drainage of coal mines and for the appointment of two mine
inspectors, and to secure to laborers in mines and manufactories fort-
nightly payment of wages in lawful money. In 1889 it provided for
a commissioner of statistics and labor, who as a result of his inspection
of industrial establishments has continued to urge additional legislation
providing for arbitration, an efficient child labor law, an eight-hour day,
payment of wages in lawful money, efficient factory inspection and
regulation, safety appliances and other improvements or reforms in the
general interest of labor.
An act of 1890 created the office of chief mine inspector, who later
had five assistants to aid in visiting the mines of the State. At the
session of 1907, the legislature created the department of mines under
a chief with twelve district inspectors. At the session of 1919 it re-
enacted the mining law, providing for a chief of the department and
nineteen district mine inspectors.
An act of 1891 created the office of state bank examiner (now state
commissioner of banking) to inspect and supervise the banks which h;id
been increasing rapidly in number and in amount of business and had
been entirely free from state regulation. A later act of 1907 authorized
the commissioner of banking to extend his duties to the building
and loan associations, the incorporation of which had been first provided
for by act of 1887, the supervision of which had been urged by the
governors and auditors since 1891 and which virtually had operated
without inspection before 1907. Inspection of hotels was provided in
1913. The legislature of 1879 enacted a statute imposing a heavy pen-
alty on persons transacting the business of insurance without authority.
In 1882 Governor Jackson urged the legislature to protect the people
602 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
against criminal life insurance companies, known as "graveyard" or
"death rattle" companies which took unusual risks.
In 1897 Governor MacCorkle recommended a provision for an in-
surance commissioner to secure better control of the operations of in-
surance companies, which, following the inefficient laws of 1872 and
1879, obtained their certificates from the state auditor; but the legis-
lature neglected to act. Subsequent executives offered similar recom-
mendations.
An act of 1875 providing for inspection of tobacco was repealed
in 1879. The legislature which met in January, 1879, enacted a law
to protect farmers against spurious and adulterated fertilizers and
provided for analysis of samples by the professor of chemistry at the
University.
The creation of the state board of agriculture in 1891 proved bene-
ficial to the development of the agricultural interests of the State.
Although a fish commission had been created in 1877 and a hatchery
had been established at Romney and the game law revised in 1887, the
first practical steps toward the preservation of the fish and game of the
State was taken by the legislature of 1897, when it provided for a
state fish and game warden and subordinate local wardens.
Two important offices created in the first decade of the twentieth
century were those of state tax commissioner (1904) and highway in-
spector (1907). The former inspects the work of the assessors, justices,
prosecuting attorneys, clerks of courts, sheriffs, constables and collect-
ing officers, and has power to remove them from office for failure to
do their duty.
The legislature of 1909 passed an act authorizing the state tax com-
missioner to collect license taxes from persons engaged in a business
requiring the payment of a license tax, and in certain cases issue licenses
to them. Under the provisions of the act of 1909, the state tax com-
missioner's office, up to the end of the fiscal year June 30, 1920, col-
lected total gross amount of $231,063.73. An act of 1915 provides
that the tax commissioner, ex-ofjicio chief inspector, shall cause to be
published and printed in pamphlet or book form a report showing the
financial transactions of the State covering all state departments, offi-
cers and boards. This act also requires all the state officers, boards and
commissions to keep their financial accounts in records and use forms
approved or prescribed by the chief inspector.
The appointment of the state highway inspector was the first prac-
tical step taken by the State to improve West Virginia roads, which
have so long been repaired by the wasteful system of employing men
who know nothing of the principles of road building.11 The office was
abolished in 1911 ; but several counties have taken a step toward better
roads by the employment of a trained road engineer. The legislature
of 1913 created a bureau of roads, consisting of chief road engineer
employed at the University, the director of the state agricultural ex-
periment station, and two other members appointed by the Governor.
The law provides that the services of the chief engineer may be ob-
tained by county courts which make application.12 In 1879 an act
ii In 1869, the commissioner of immigration said that the roads of the state
were the most powerful incentive to emigration from the state. In 1896, the gov-
ernor stated that the few good roads in the state were located in only five counties.
12 The bureau has general supervision of all public roads, prescribes regulations
as to duties of county engineers, enforces all laws and regulations relating to public
roads and bridges, and especially their enforcement by road officials, aids and advises
county engineers, collects, compiles statistics and disseminates information and
analyzes road materials. It may require monthly reports of local road authorities
and it may prepare maps showing location of roads. It is required to give instruc-
tion at least 10 days each year to county road engineers who are required to visit
the office of the bureau to receive the instruction, at the expense of their respective
counties. It has authority to establish and maintain stone quarries, crushers and
brick kilns and to employ state convict road force.
The chief engineer, appointed by the Governor, receives $3,500 a year for giving
instruction in road building and for the performance of other duties assigned by
the bureau; and his services are available to all county courts which request them.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 603
was passed authorizing the use of convicts on works of public improve-
ment, including railways; and an act of 1913 provided for the employ-
ment of convicts to construct roads in the counties of the State. The
legislature of 1913 created the state, road bureau, which was directed
by a chairman (who was chief road engineer of the State to May 23,
1917). After 1917 the state road commission replaced the entire road
bureau. . .
In November, 1920, the people ratified an amendment authorizing
the legislature to provide for a system of state roads and highways
connecting at least the various county seats of the State, under the
control and supervision of state officers. Under this amendment, the
legislature was vested with authority to bond the State to a maximum
of $50,000,000, if necessary, to secure a permanent highway. The public
sentiment in favor of the amendment was due in part to the publicity
campaign of the West Virginia Good Roads Federation which was or-
ganized at Farkersburg in June, 1919.
The Bureau of Markets in the State Department of Agriculture was
created by an act of the legislature in 1917.
In 1919 the legislature prohibited (with exceptions) employment ot
children under fourteen in gainful occupation; and under sixteen in
dangerous occupations and in night work. It also established for
miners under sixteen an eight-hour day and a forty-eight hour week.
The need of a more efficient organization of the militia of the State
was felt long before the militia law of 1889. Soon after the close of
the war the law requiring muster and drill was abolished. In 1872
the legislature prohibited enrollment. In 1872 the duties of the
adjutant-general were assigned to the state superintendent of education,
who refused to exercise them. In 1877 the duties were transferred to
the state librarian. In the summer of that year the condition of in-
efficiency was forcibly illustrated in connection with the strike at
Martinsburg resulting from a reduction of ten per cent in wages by
the railroad' companies. The brakemen and firemen of freight trams
stopped work and drove off the men sent to replace them. The police
were powerless to cope with the situation. Of the three militia com-
panies in the State, the company at Martinsburg was in sympathy with
the rioters one from Wheeling arrived but was fired upon and driven
back and one at Moorefield (38 miles distant from Martinsburg) was
armed with a type of musket for which the State had no ammunition.
The Governor seeing the hopelessness of controlling the situation with
his slender militia forces, and the impossibility of assembling a legis-
lature in time to take any action in the emergency, requested the aid
of the National government, which was promptly given. Though several
volunteer companies were organized after this disturbance, the state
librarian and the Governor urged that no efficient organization was
possible without more adequate State provision for uniforms, target
practice and encampment. Under the act of 1889, complying with an
act of Congress of 1887, a brigade organization of the National Guard
was effected in 1890.
By act of March 29, 1919, a state police was created; to relieve the
military arm of the State of burdens arising from calamities and dis-
orders to supplement the work of local police officers in detection and
apprehension of criminals and to supplant the system of private em-
ployment of men endowed with the power of peace officers Ihe de-
partment has motorcycles and horses sufficient to mount all its mem-
bers During the first year it made 1,100 arrests, including thirty-one
charged with homicide, five for sending black hand letters, two tor
rape, one for horse stealing. , .
In January, 1921, Governor Cornwell, in presenting to the legislature
the need of legislation to prevent the danger of violence and bloodshed
In addition to his salary he receives no fees except expenses when called to consult
with county courts or to aid county road engineers. By approval of the bureau he
may select such assistants as may be necessary. Their compensation is fixed by
the bureau.
604 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
in connection with trouble between employers and employees in the
mining regions, said, "The first thing necessary is to eliminate the
private guards and the company-paid deputy sheriff, and substitute real
public officers in their stead."
In January, 1921, Governor Cornwell urged upon the legislature
the importance of a stricter state depository law than the present law
which was copied from the Virginia statutes over a half century ago.
He said: "The lack of centralization of authority over the deposits
of State funds renders it impossible to keep the State's money dis-
tributed in an equitable manner in the various sections of the State.
* * * Every dollar of money paid to the State should be deposited
to the credit of the State and every dollar disbursed should be done
in the regular manner through the state treasury."
The Governor's recommendation was partly based upon the report of the state
treasurer, W". S. Johnson, who said: "West Virginia is still plodding along ham-
pered and fettered by antiquated laws that make it impossible to apply modern
business methods and devices in handling the State's business.
"Most of our depository banks execute to the State a bond as such depository,
the minimum of which is $50,000. Under our law they are permitted to have de-
posits of State money to three-fourths of the amount of bond given. As a result
of this method of depositing funds, I often find that banks have amounts deposited
with them far in excess of their bonded liability, while other banks with good and
sufficient bonds and whose needs are perhaps as great as any, receive no deposits
of State funds at all.
"No bank with a bad record or one the solvency of which is questioned, should
receive any State funds. It is impossible to prevent this under our law. The
treasurer may be convinced that a certain bank is doomed, but can not prevent some
State, county or district official, or some taxpayer, from depositing large sums of
money in it on the eve of its failure.
"The failure of the Day ami Night Bank, of Charleston, in 1919, demonstrated
in a striking manner the weakness of our depository system. The cause for the
discrepancy between the records of the bank and the treasury department, was due
to outstanding checks and to the fact that $19,129.21 had been deposited in this
insolvent bank, by someone, without the knowledge of the treasurer, and for which
the receipt or certificate of deposit did not reach his office for ten days after the
failure of the bank. The State, however, lost nothing by this failure."
Before the stern logic of experience and hard business facts Amer-
icans in West Virginia, as elsewhere, have given up the old doctrine and
theories of division of powers, checks and balances. As an inevitable
result of surroundings and necessities resulting in demands for speed,
they have gradually become convinced in favor of quick government.
They succumbed to a new political idea born of new business and social
conditions for which responsibility rests with the men who invented
the steam engine, the trolley motor and the passenger elevator, or with
the men who discovered the germ theory of diseases. They have ac-
cepted a new political philosophy created gradually by mechanical and
industrial growth without the eloquence of orators or the blare of
trumpets. They no longer regard government as a necessary evil, but
now consider it as a convenient positive good through which the people
can obtain efficient public service in the conservation of wealth and
health. Their public policy has been largely determined by a series of
inventions and scientific discoveries. Their social problems have been
created by mechanical inventions. Their conversion to the idea of a
preventative policy of public health has resulted from the political in-
fluence of new discoveries of medicine. Through the influence of va-
rious changes of factory and city life, of conditions of health and of
education — changes achieved by inventions— they demand that the state
shall make itself more useful by extending its functions to new regulatory
duties which formerly would have been regarded as paternalistic or
socialistic.
CHAPTER XXXIV
DEVELOPMENT OF' TAXATION AND FINANCE »
(By W. P. Hubbard,2 of Wheeling)
The development of taxation and finance in West Virginia may be
taken to mean the progress made by the State in its legislation and prac-
tice, respecting the sources of revenue, the methods of taxation, the
regulation of expenditure, and the public accounting. A discussion of it
might naturally extend to the financial administration of counties and
other local subdivisions, but that important subject can receive only
incidental mention here, because any discussion of it would transcend
the limits imposed on the present paper, and because the data needed
for accurate discussion are not available.
It is only since West Virginia had a tax commissioner, and especially
since he was given supervision of public accounting, that statistics of
much value have been assembled concerning county and other local
taxes. Even as to State matters, the statistics for the earlier years of
the State's history are not very full or accurate. As the population,
wealth, revenues and expenditures of the State increased, statistics re-
specting them necessarily received more attntion until now they have
become fairly full, although there should be a still better record of the
facts with respect to these important branches of the State's activity.
The value of statistics lies largely in the comparisons which they make
possible, and for the reason that has been suggested, it is not easy to
make accurate comparisons as to State finances, and not possible to do
so as to the financial affairs of counties and municipalities.
The courtesy of the Auditor has made it possible to show here some of
the facts marking the State's progress which appear upon the records
of his office. Under his direction the statistics for fifty years so far as
available from those records have been gathered with great care and
labor. In order to save space, the figures so supplied have been re-
arranged and somewhat abbreviated in the following tables.
1 In the preparation of this article, acknowledgments are due to the Auditor
and the Tax Commissioner of the State and to the Director of the United States
Census Bureau for statistics and other information promptly and courteously fur-
nished by them, and especially to Dr. Callahan for the use of valuable compilations
made hy him in his studies of the financial history of the State.
2 The first part of this chapter was written by the late Hon. W. P. Hubbard.
The latter part, covering the period after 1912, was written by B. H. Vickers, pro-
fessor of economics at West Virginia University.
605
606
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
RECEIPTS BY STATE TREASURY, 1863-1912
(In Thousands of Dollars.)
PJ3
K a
o ^
so
■e
*o
a
O
o o
«3
°TJ
<n"3
<u "C
O1^
fe
PQ
396
403
409
416
422
429
435
442
460
477
495
513
530
548
566
583
601
618
633
647
662
676
691
705
719
734
748
763
782
802
822
841
861
880
900
920
939
959
985
1,012
1,038
1,065
1,092
1,118
1,145
1,171
1,198
1,221
1,251
1,278
1863
18644
1865*
1S66<
18675
1S686
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
302
118
361
316
232
225
267
288
265
258
245
259
266
273
284
243
245
275
289
331
266
343
322
347
337
419
380
359
497
468
363
423
493
475
434
451
493
564
529
547
581
437
354
299
650
570
639
338
79
214
153
172
161
163
170
227
240
230
214
219
195
257
224
243
229
299
246
227
186
406
398
371
314
364
340
346
328
394
406
407
376
436
366
443
437
493
555
566
774
821
722
615
713
780
748
797
17
23
23
21
18
29
13
16
22
9
15
16
25
20
24
18
33
32
30
35
23
18
44
27
29
114
39
134
142
40
65
83
107
179
83
79
88
63
12
40
50
57
10
72
59
18
60
6
55
40
40
27
41
70
57
49
38
40
32
56
36
43
49
31
28
49
38
75
112
81
157
106
148
135
227
135
284
132
238
189
202
219
306
202
415
251
677
579
597
534
1,051
798
802
800
879
3
2
4
2
2
9
8
10
10
27
40
52
59
101
99
190
209
213
222
237
298
280
292
367
369
379
38
393
412
415
420
448
490
547
604
617
1,448
1,811
1,821
1,881
1,984
2,139
36
41
48
51
52
55
HI
112
116
126
133
1
15
12
16
32
49
64
69
67
56
80
104
125
131
140
381
376
391
333
342
372
389
400
429
445
446
442
5
7
1
1
2
3
16
4
3
6
1
6
11
26
95
88
116
92
108
168
17
53
57
52
58
67
61
66
293
412
43
73
63
82
12
3023
273
115
103
9
41
32
214'
1578
47
21
69
35
68
39
95
60
72
104
69
104
152
165
123
165
130
160
125
86
19
23
34
93
71
63
38
60
97
96
51
70
79
62
46
69
61
71
88
21
42
52
77
302
273
381
396
624
765
611
567
574
742
680
696
547
637
577
693
678
649
685
852
819
861
789
1,168
1,316
1,205
1,159
1,206
1,352
1,258
1,645
1,651
1,582
1,525
1,743
1,825
1,839
1,806
2,189
2,292
2,547
2,356
3,166
3,068
3,845
4,008
5,043
4,965
5,380
5,441
(*No report made by the Auditor in 1S64.)
Notes to Receipts
These figures are based on the records of the United States Census bureau, which show exact returns for
Census years and official estimates for other years.
3 The greater part of this was distributed to counties, etc., as shown under the appropriate head of ex-
penditures.
These figures include capitation taxes which, until recent years, do not appear separately on the
Auditor's books.
8 $175,000 from the State of Virginia.
4 Fiscal year began January 1st.
5 Fiscal year ended September 30th.
* From 1868 until 1913 fiscal year began October 1st.
7 Including $175,000 received from United States.
8 Including $127,679 received from United States.
Received from B. & O. R. R. Co.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
607
EXPENDITURES FROM STATE TREASURY, 1863-1912
(In Thousands of Dollars)
= ~
.53
«
o
o
as
a
CO
a
C.J3
o
a
a
I
'3
O
o
*u
"3
as
£
a
0
«
t*
DQ
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1S6S
1869
1870
1S71
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1S78
1879
1S80
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
18S9
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
IS!).",
1896
1S97
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
16
62
51
66
cii
59
til
til)
63
71
60
59
58
60
61
61
60
65
68
68
77
79
7'
79
84
85
87
95
104
111
111
117
116
124
137
145
144
15S
163
208
222
270
268
308
402
372
416
455
396
45
19
21
23
45
21
22
27
29
75
32
29
34
33
35
38
45
28
28
46
30
32
40
43
ii
'48
54
62
66
32
83
1
100
55
87
69
6
12
13
L2
14
13
31
22
29
27
12
1!)
21
11
25
19
30
43
39
22
34
28
41
29
36
29
68
41
48
36
38
27
64
20
41
30
41
18
60
22
48
31
54
41
49
42
52
43
14i
6
12
10
IS
1!)
15
34
16
46
24
32
35
62
35
52
45
48
54
57
57
59
50
68
107
155
202
139
57
247
178
250
240
231
220
212
200
258
225
269
271
265
268
211
244
418
402
353
313
312
375
364
335
375
424
382
385
405
384
458
456
500
604
580
729
770
762
705
874
747
764
7
5
27
36
22
34
6
43
46
16
1
44
5
18
33
66
27
35
26
18
40
29
1
19
11
52
95
7
120
119
55
io
151
148
367
89
47
45
62
7
56
79
11
40
1
16
Hi
23
13
17
3
26
18
26
12
10
14
10
12
15
14
17
16
16
24
20
29
34
35
40
57
25
12
31
48
44
77
106
126
164
197
148
154
155
161
146
127
179
166
181
5
11
Iti
2.")
8
15
"2
13
6
9
14
12
1
7
10
9
10
12
15
20
24
22
23
27
61
57
61
52
84
79
74
92
101
112
124
120
128
138
170
122
127
141
148
184
216
22
54
132
93
78
78
112
88
67
73
118
110
94
89
124
140
98
110
113
120
118
121
142
161
161
155
179
221
206
220
250
276
235
240
271
348
394
386
424
441
446
437
494
483
428
441
459
270
34
44
67
60
59
52
56
55
38
49
29
62
55
50
85
82
45
56
51
44
40
74
145
71
88
82
68
76
97
81
86
86
168
115
111
107
129
105
157
141
114
105
77
71
96
84
75
65
40
68
38
97
28
144
151
30
107
15
151
368
210
16
1
6
4
6
6
6
16
34
22
48
35
13
140
198
161
198
248
218
242
324
314
326
327
350
326
381
369
391
424
483
531
573
1,323
1,695
1,821
1,876
1,985
2,137
13
232
55
33
1272
1123
100<
67
70
IIIs
104
80
66
96
76
130
1076
67
84
112
203
248
224
2037
152
170
216
86
2148
108
27P
187'°
111
76
143
108
214
150
184
157
27311
290i2
43913
541 u
286i5
409!«
534"
615i8
560i9
73920
96
232
417
478
619
751
553
420
658
5S7
720
657
576
683
592
572
771
615
683
798
878
ssi
832
980
1,324
1,227
1,211
1,041
1,311
1,267
1,558
1,497
1,422
1,581
1,771
1,544
1,782
1,790
2,216
2,147
2,858
2,635
2,902
3,099
3,805
4,352
4,473
4,811
5,183
5,486
(No report made by the Auditor in 1864.)
Notes to Expenditures
1 Includes $11,963 for arms.
1 1ncludes $79,000 paid on penitentiary.
1 Includes $65,819 paid on penitentiary.
4 Includes $50,000 paid on penitentiary.
5 Includes $64,000 expense of constitutional convention.
* Includes payments on public buildings, $50,000.
' Includes payment on Capitol building, $53,232.
8 Includes payment to the School fund, $83,541.
• Includes payment to the School fund, $100,970.
10 Includes payment to the School fund, $100,000.
" Transferred from State to General School Fund, $330,500, and from the School Fund to General Schoo
Fund, $36,767.
" Transferred from the School Fund to General School Fund, $36,767, and invested for the School Fund,
$52,000.
'» Transferred from State to General School Fund, $230,944, and from the School Fund to General Schoo 1
Fund, $36,767.
14 Transferred from State to General School Fund, $280,195.
"Transferred from State to General School Fund, $58,977.
'« Transferred from State to General School Fund, $297,016.
" Transferred from State to General School Fund, $317,254.
■* Transferred from State to General School Fund, $405,716.
■• Transferred from State to General School Fund, $412,716.
K Transferred from State to General School Fund, $474,285.
608
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Tota
Re-
ceipts 3
tOCDCMOS-#CN~*0
CM OS iH M_i0 01B0_Olr
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Total of
Items
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Work-
men's
Compen-
sation
CO CM CO tO ■**< CO t^
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and
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5hH
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
609
Rates of State and State School Levies for the Years from
1863 to 1912, Inclusive (Upon Each $100 Value)
State. State School.
1S63 $ .40 $ .00
1864 30 .00
1865 30 .10
1866 30 .10
1867 30 .10
1868 20 .10
1869 20 .10
1870 25 .10
1871 25 .10
1872 25 .10
1873 .25 .10
1874-1882,' inclusive .'.'!! 20 .10
1883 25 .10
1884 20 .10
1885-1904, inclusive 25 .10
1905 16 .06
1906 06 .02^
1907 05 .00
1908 05 .00
1909 06 .00 (lc of which is Road Tax.)
1910 0514 -00 (lc of which is Road Tax.)
1911 02K -00
1912 01 .00
1913 06 .00
Growth of Population, Revenue and Taxes
A few years for which the figures are at hand may be compared, so as
to show the recent growth of the state in population; in taxable wealth,
gross and per capita ; the amount of state taxes ; the amount of all taxes ;
the amount per capita of state revenue, of state property taxes, and of all
taxes; and the total average rate of levy.
The comparative growth by decennial periods of population and tax-
able property in West Virginia may be stated as follows, all the valu-
ations except that for 1910 being from statistics compiled by the United
States Census:
[That for 1910 is taken from the State assessment, the census valuation for that year not having been
compiled yet. The resulting estimate of per capita wealth for that year is therefore on a different basis
from the others, and for purposes of comparison is probably too large. ]
Population Taxable Wealth
1870 442,014 $ 190,651,491
1880 618,457 340,000,000
1890 762,794 426,887,358
1900 958,800 635,607,830
1904 1,065,055 814,340,202
1910 1,221,119 1,119,828,000
a. Includes public utilities taxes distributed to counties.
Approximate
Wealth
State Revenue
per capita
per
capita, (a)
$430
$1.28
550
1.05
560
1.58
660
1.47
760
2.21
925
4.06
The following table shows, in separate columns, state taxes, county
and local taxes on property, and the per capita amount of each for 1904
and the years 1909 to 1912, inclusive :
(Stated in Thousands)
Population
1904 1,065
1909 1,198
1910 1,224
1911 1,251
1912 1,277
Vol. 1—3 9
State
Taxes
976
638
611
287
116
AH Other
Taxes
5,033
8,664
8,846
9,453
9,909
Per capita
State
$
.91
.53
.50
.23
.09
All Other Total
$4.72
7.23
7.22
7.56
7.76
$5.63
7.76
7.72
7.79
7.85
610 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
The total average rate of levy throughout the State on each $100.00
of assessed value was for: —
1904 $2.15^
1905 1.84^
1906 76^
1907 83J4
1908 84J^
1909 86V2
1910 84V2
1911 84%
1912 85»/6
The following table will show for 1904 and for the years 1909 to
1912, inclusive, the amount of taxes levied on property by the several
taxing authorities. The amounts are stated in thousands of dollars to
save space:
Roads and
State Counties Schools Bridges Municipal Total
1904 967a 1,701 2,095 502 735 6,009
1909 638b 2,752 3,688 729 1,395 9,302
1910 611b 2,716 3,931 795 1,404 9,457
1911 287 2,727 4,284 952 1,490 9,740
1912 116 2,624 4,583 1,132 1,570 10,025
a. Including State school tax. b. Including State road tax.
The facts shown by the foregoing tables afford the principal basis
for the conclusions here stated and by them the reader may test the
accuracy of those conclusions, or be guided to others. They will enable
him to measure the growth of the State's revenue and expenditures, to
classify them, to note the comparative importance of the different
classes, to trace the changes in method from time to time, and to test
the efficiency and economy of the State's administration.
Of course, comparisons based on these figures may not be absolutely
accurate, because changes in the assessment day or in the fiscal year,
in the sources of revenue and objects of expenditure, or in methods
of bookkeeping and administration, may well make it difficult to apply
the same classification throughout the table, and because the growth of
treasury transactions tends to complicate the accounts.
A state may be moved, as some individuals are, by the desire to be
efficient. When it has clear purposes and ideals, its activity may be
thoughtful and logical and definite, and it comes to have a controlling
policy. It has been said that the more conscious a state is of having
such a policy, the higher is its place in civilization. There are various
phases of government activity, though, and a state may have and be
conscious of a definite policy as to one of them and not as to another.
For example, West Virginia's efforts for good schools have been more
persistent and efficient than its efforts for good roads ; and the State
would naturally seem more civilized to a teacher than to an automobilist.
Taking her whole history together, West Virginia cannot boast a
definite, traditional and controlling policy as to taxation and finance.
The steps she has taken have for the most part been rather to meet
some immediate need for revenue than to heed the calls of justice. This
may be due in part to the rapidly changing composition of legislative
bodies. At present legislators rarely serve more than one term and can-
not be expected to study seriously or understand thoroughly State
finances, and the lessons of experience fail of their proper effect. Under
a recent wise amendment to the constitution of the United States, pro-
viding for the election of senators by the people, members of the legis-
lature will be chosen upon other considerations, and it is to be hoped that
capable men may there find creditable careers in aiding the normal,
harmonious and logical development of the financial system of the State.
On the single occasion when a fairly complete financial plan was
presented, the people of the State came to its understanding and ap-
proval with reasonable promptness and vigor, but political controversy
and private interest made such breaches in it that what the legislature
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 611
enacted was rather a collection of beneficial amendments than a com-
pact, correlated financial system.
Naturally, the purposes, tendencies and results of State taxation
have differed from time to time, as differing motives and interests gained
or lost influence. These changes of purpose and result may fairly be as-
signed to five periods of the State's history, and these periods coincide
nearly enough with the decennial periods denned by the taking of the
United States Census to justify us in using the latter, especially as
that will open a wider range in making comparisons.
The Period from 1861 to 1870
The first of these periods extends from the formation of the State,
or, indeed, from the reorganization of Virginia in 1861, until 1870.
The story of taxation and finance in West Virginia really began when
the Government of Virginia was reorganized and had its seat at Wheel-
ing. The men and influences behind that movement were the same
which brought the new State into being two years later. The assets
of the restored government at first were the laws of Virginia and the
recognition of the United States government, for it had no organized
body of officers, not even an auditor or treasurer; it had no money and
no credit; it could not pay the members of the Convention of June, 1861.
Rut the ways of those men and those times were practical and direct.
Governor Pierpont and Peter G. Van Winkle, afterwards United States
Senator, called on the cashiers of the two principal banks at Wheeling.
The governor told them that a State without money was of no account
and that he wanted $10,000 to pay the expenses of the convention, say-
ing that he did not ask a loan to the State, but wanted a bank loan to
himself on his individual note, endorsed by Mr. Van Winkle. On that
paper he got $5,000 from each bank, with which he paid the expenses
of the convention. The seed of the finances of West Virginia was then
sown.
Neither then nor afterward, when West Virginia was formed, was
there any effort or, indeed, any opportunity to consider and plan finan-
cial organization or methods of taxation and the men who were then
at work had not been trained in the investigation of such questions.
The restored government of Virginia in February, 1863, in contempla-
tion of the formation of the new state, re-enacted in substance the tax
laws of Virginia, except as to slaves.
The West Virginia constitution of 1863 kept in force the common
law and statutes of Virginia not repugnant to that constitution. So
West Virginia, at its formation, was provided with a fully developed
financial system. This had its advantages and its drawbacks. Every
other new State was formed in time of peace and had an opportunity to
establish its finances in accordance with the needs and spirit of its
own people, unembarrassed by any existing system and undisturbed by
violence. Every one of them came into being with the good will of
all its own people and of the other states. West Virginia, in the midst
of war, scarcely assured of its own existence or of that of the Union to
which it had been admitted, had problems which were more important
even than those of finance and which demanded all its powers. Its men
had left productive industry to engage in war. Some were fighting for the
State's existence, and it had to contribute to their support as well as
bear its ordinary charges. Others of its own citizens were fighting to
destroy the State. In nearly half its territory its taxes could not be
collected. Railroads were largely exempted from taxation for some time
by their Virginia charters.3 Under such conditions, West Virginia's
3 Note (By J. M. C) — In connection with the development of the taxation of
railroad companies in West Virginia, there were two early controversies, both of
which resulted in an appeal to the United States supreme court.
A controversy with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company in regard to the
assessment and collection of taxes (both by the state and by the local authorities)
on its property within the state was a source of considerable friction from the be-
ginning of the commonwealth, and the first of a series of controversies over the
612 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
financial history in that early period was as creditable as its political
history.
With an old system in operation, familiar to the people, strength-
ened by many interests, influences and prejudices to say nothing of
inertia, if West Virginia, even after the war, had desired an ideal system,
it would have had the double task of getting rid of the old and forming
the new and better one. Therefore, it is not remarkable that the progress
that has been made in financial methods in fifty years has been some-
what slow, halting and irregular, with an occasional backward step, or
that there is still lack of a thorough and symmetrical system.
The changes in the old system from the time the State was formed
until the present, although some of them are important, have for the
most part been gradually made, as the need of funds and the appear-
ance of taxable subjects suggested them, and have been rather practical
and amendatory than logical and fundamental in their nature. While
old taxes have been increased, or in some instances disused, and new
taxes have been added, while new methods of assessment and collection
have been adopted and new checks on expenditures have been provided,
and while, as the State grew, the public undertakings of the State have
collection of railroad taxes which finally resulted in the enactment of a law requiring
all taxes (state county, district and municipal) to be paid into the state treasury
for equitable distribution by the state treasurer — thus placing the state in a position
to enforce the collection of all railroad taxes and relieving the local authorities from
the expense and trouble of separate suits.
The Act of March 6, 1847, incorporating the B. and O., contained a clause
providing that the taxing power of Virginia should not be exercised against the
road until its net income should exceed six per cent per annum upon the capital
invested. In 1864 the company was charged by the assessors with both state and
county taxes, and Marshall county heard the case in April, 1867, and dissolved the
injunction. The company, not satisfied with the decree, and desiring to have the
case reviewed, assigned six different causes of error and appealed to the supreme
court of appeals which affirmed the judgment of the lower court partly on the ground
that the net income of the entire road for 1863-64 had exceeded the six per centum
on capital invested. (3 W. Va.) The B. and 0. then appealed on a writ of error
to the United States circuit court for West Virginia, and on a certificate of division
of opinion between the judges of the circuit court (Chief Justice Chase and Judge
J. J. Jackson) on the question of jurisdiction, the case finally reached the United
States supreme court which (December 13, 1869) denied a motion to advance it on
the docket. (131 U. S.) Pending a decision of the suit the company compromised
for $25 000 — a sum which the county greatly needed to pay for the construction of
a court house.
The other early controversy resulted from the conditions of incorporation and
the later reorganization of the railroad constructed in 1872 along the New and
Kannwha rivers and via Teay's valley to Huntington. West Virginia incorporated
the Covington and Ohio Railroad Company by an act of March 1, 1866, providing
that "no taxation upon the property of said company shall be imposed by the state
until the profits of said company shall amount to ten per cent on the capital of said
company." Later, by acts of February 26, 1867, and January 26, 1870, the same
provision was extended to the reorganized company known as the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad Company, which after July, 1878, was reorganized as the Chesapeake
and Ohio Railroad Company. Finally, to meet popular demand, the West Virginia
legislature, by act of January 21, 1879, and without consent of the railway com-
panies, repealed the exemption from taxation granted by the earlier acts, and the
state auditor (Joseph S. Miller) in the following December presented to the com-
pany a detailed statement of taxes claimed for the year 1879, for state, state-school,
county and district purposes, amounting to $27 927.40, payable before January 20,
1880. The company, declaring that the act of 1879 was unconstitutional on the
ground that it impaired the obligation of a contract, declined to pay the taxes
assessed. The auditor threatened to certify the taxes for collection by officers in
counties through which the road was located. The railway company, desiring to
avoid a multiplicity of suits for restraining sheriffs, asked the circuit court of Ohio
county for an injunction (February, 1880) which was granted. The auditor de-
murred on the ground that the act of exemption (1866) was unconstitutional and
that anyhow it could not apply to the reorganized company. The court, in June,
1881, overruled the motion to dissolve the injunction. The auditor then appealed
to the supreme court of appeals which on April 22, 1882, reversed the decision of
the lower court and dissolved the injunction, agreeing with the auditor that the
exemption clause of the act of 1866 was unconstitutional. (19 W. Va., 408.) The
railway company on a writ of error appealed to the United States supreme court
which in April, 1885, affirmed the decree of the West Virginia court of appeals,
holding that the exemption granted to the Covington and Ohio Railroad Company
did not inhere in the property bo as to pass by transfer of it, and that immunity
from taxation conferred on a corporation by legislation is not a franchise.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 613
widened, yet most of the changes have been more in method than in
substance. Notable exceptions to this are to be mentioned later.
State Indebtedness
The formation of West Virginia brought into being a new and
specific problem — the apportionment of the debt of Virginia.
West Virginia has no public debt of its own, its constitution for-
bidding that such debt should be contracted, except to meet casual
deficits in the revenue, to redeem a previous liability of the State, to
suppress insurrections, to repel invasions, or defend the State in time
of war. Fortunately, none of these conditions, unless that which men-
tions a previous liability of the State was intended to refer to some
portion of the debt of Virginia, has ever existed to an extent which
caused an indebtedness of any considerable size or for any considerable
time.
The sums of money borrowed by the State of West Virginia, as shown
by the reports of the State auditor, on account of deficits in the State
revenue, are as follows:
1876 Borrowed from The School Fund $ 46,000
1876 Borrowed from Banks 24,000 $70,000
1877 Borrowed from Banks 40,541
1878 Borrowed from Banks 55,000
1879 Borrowed — Not shown from whom 64,000
1880 Borrowed from The School Fund $ 5,000
1880 Borrowed from Banks 40,000 45,000
1881 Borrowed — Not shown from whom 80,000
1882 Borrowed — Not shown from whom 1 10,000
1883 Borrowed — Not shown from whom 153,000
1884 Borrowed — Not shown from whom 113,000
1885 Borrowed from The School Fund $ 34,000
1885 Borrowed from Banks 110,000 144,000
1886 Borrowed from The School Fund $ 25,000
1886 Borrowed from Banks 10,000 35,000
1887 Borrowed from The School Fund $ 18,000
1887 Borrowed from Banks 50,000 68,000
1888 Borrowed from Banks 75,000
1889 Borrowed from The School Fund $ 15,000
1889 Borrowed from Banks 40,000 55,000
1890, 1891 and 1892, nothing borrowed.
1893 Borrowed from The School Fund 50,000
Reports do not show any further loans to the State, up to 1912.
Those mentioned above were paid long ago.
In December, 1863, the State of West Virginia passed its first gen-
eral tax law. At first the expenses of the State, outside of the war ex-
penses, were very light, providing the bare necessities of civil government
on a modest scale. By the end of the first period, the war with its
harassing problems and extraordinary expenses was over, and the State
was fairly launched upon its normal career. Throughout this period
State revenues were derived almost entirely from taxes on property and
on licenses. From these and without any resort to unusual methods,
the expenses of government were met. That could have been done only
by the exercise of remarkable economy and efficiency in every branch
of the government. It is without parallel in the subsequent history of
the State, and indicates a business ability in the fathers worthy of
mention with their statesmanship in creating a commonwealth.
The Period 1870 to 1880
At the beginning of the second period, that from 1870 to 1880, there
was some recurrence to the institutions and methods of Virginia, and
614 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
a disposition to disturb the legislation of the preceding period. Shortly
after 1870 the State came under the control of those who were attached
to the sentiments and methods of the old State and were not entirely
satisfied with the changes which had been made in form and substance
by the legislation of the new State. A new constitution was adopted in
1872. In terms it permitted the taxation of privileges and licenses.
This, perhaps, was unnecessary in view of the well-settled rule that all
the legislative power of the State may be exercised by its legislature
without any special grant thereof. Indeed, the power of taxation had
been widely exercised in Virginia, under the constitution of 1830, which
contained no grant of taxing power. This expression in the constitu-
tion of 1872 may be taken, however, as an indication of willingness that
the field of taxation might be widened. If, however, the legislature
could only exercise such powers as were especially granted to it by the
constitution, as a majority of the constitutional convention seem to have
thought, if we may judge from the many grants of power made in the
constitution to the legislature, this provision would have been retrogres-
sive, rather than progressive. It would have hampered the taxation
of public utilities and prevented the taxation of inheritances.
During this period taxes on railroads (included in the table under
the caption of "Public Utilities") were collected in small amounts, and
in the years 1871 to 1874, inclusive, temporary taxes were collected for
the construction of public buildings aggregating for the four years
nearly $250,000. The averages of revenues and disbursements in this
period were almost identical with those in the first period.
The Period from 1880 to 1890
In the third period, from 1880 to 1890, the features of interest were
the so-called supplemental order of Governor Jackson against certain
exemptions, and the report of the first State Tax Commission. Although
the constitution of West Virginia of 1863 definitely provided that all
property should be taxed in proportion to its value, but that property
used for certain specified purposes might be exempted from taxation,
the first legislature undertook to exempt other property than that
which the constitution said might be exempted. It provided that the
products of agriculture, mining and manufacturing remaining on hand
unsold on the assessment day should be exempt. These had been ex-
empted by the Virginia legislature under the constitution of 1851, which
permitted the legislature to exempt any property it chose. The exemp-
tion was repeated in every revision of the West Virginia statute up to
1882. The State being in need of money, the Governor, in 1883, di-
rected the assessors to disregard the exemptions thus provided by the
legislature and to assess the property covered by them. Some assessors
refused to do this, insisting that the exemption was legal, or at least that
the question was one for the legislature and the courts and not for the
Governor. The question was taken to the Supreme Court of Appeals,
and it upheld the action of the Governor. The assessments were osten-
sibly made accordingly, but the addition to the taxable property thereby
was very inconsiderable, increasing the total about four per cent. The
exemptions, which were more considerable, and which wrought the
greatest injustice, were not those which had been expressed in legislation,
but others which had grown up gradually in practice, and under which
the larger portion of intangible personalty escaped assessment, and a
large part of the value of real estate escaped taxation because of its
under-valuation. The principal revenue of the State was derived from
taxation on property assessed by the assessors of counties or of districts
within counties. The rate of State levy being the same in all counties
and districts, it was to the interest of each of them to have its property
assessed as low as possible, because the lower its assessment, the less
was the percentage of the State tax which it must pay and the greater
the percentage which other counties or districts must pay. The assess-
ors of the various counties and districts were impelled by local sentiment
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 615
to reduce their assessments as low as possible, and an assessor was hardly
deemed patriotic who would let himself be outdone by another in this
competition. In counties in which there was more than one assessment
district a like condition existed between the assessments in the several
districts, the assessor of each endeavoring to protect it against an undue
share of the county levy.
Before 1904 re-assessments of real estate were made when ordered
by the legislature, at intervals of about ten years, usually when more
revenue was needed. These re-assessments were made by commissioners
appointed for the purpose in the several counties and assessment dis-
tricts, and the commissioners were men of standing and ability. It was
always necessary, the State property tax then being a matter of im-
portance, to have the assessments made by the several commissioners
equalized as between the counties and districts. This was ordinarily
done by the Board of Public Works, until the re-assessment of 1899,
when a special board of equalization composed of five of the most capable
men of the State did the work. That Board asked each commissioner
"what per cent of the actual appraised value of the real estate was
adopted as the valuation" by him. The replies of the commissioners
varied all the way from 33%% to the full actual value, the percentages
stated ranging through 33%, 50, 55, 60, 65, 66, 66%, 70, 72, 75, 80, 85.
In some cases improved lands and wild lands, or lands and buildings,
in the same district were valued at different percentages of their actual
value. The injustice of such a state of affairs demonstrated the necessity
for an assessment of property at its full, "true and actual value."
The exemption of agricultural or manufactured products was, in its
amount and nature, inconsiderable in comparison with these other hin-
drances to just taxation. The best result of the Governor's order and
of the litigation which followed was that attention was directed to ques-
tions of taxation and finance, and the public mind was to some extent
prepared for the consideration of more important questions of that kind
which were later to be brought to its attention.
Further interest in questions of this sort attended the appointment,
and report of a tax commission of three members appointed by the
Governor in 1883 under authority of a resolution of the legislature.
This commission made several reports in which some of the wrongs of
taxation as it was administered were exposed in vigorous terms. Un-
fortunately, the commission was small in number and so could not be
very representative, and, still more unfortunately, the three failed to
agree in their recommendations. One dissented in all respects from the
views of the other two, and the two differed with one another in some
important particulars. The Governor was not in sympathy with the
suggestions of the commission, and in laying its report before the Legis-
lature declared that the additions to the i*evenue growing out of the
assessment of personalty theretofore exempted would meet the require-
ments of the State. Perhaps the serious defect in the report of the com-
mission from a practical point of view was that it did not formulate
any bills to carry out its views. Under such circumstances, it could
hardly be expected that legislation would follow or that anything of
practical value would immediately result. So it proved, and the reports
of the commission served only as food for thought for those whose
tastes or occupations gave them an interest in such questions. The re-
port, however, contained one suggestion of great value, and that was
the recommendation that there should be one State head to the ad-
ministration of the tax system. Later, through legislation based on
the recommendation of the second tax commission hereafter to be men-
tioned, this idea was realized in the appointment of the State Tax Com-
missioner, the existence of whose office made possible the success of
some of the tax reforms advocated by the last-mentioned commission.
During this period, in 1885, license taxes on corporation charters
were first imposed. These taxes being then nominal in amount, the
proceeds from them remained inconsiderable during this period. Later
they were so developed as to produce large revenues.
616 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
The Period prom 1890 to 1900
During the fourth period, from 1890 to 1900, there was but little
movement with respect to State taxation or finance. In 1887 an act
was passed taxing collateral inheritances. Returns from this, however,
did not appear until 1893, and for years were insignificant. The statute
was not very thorough, and its enforcement was still less so. It, how-
ever, was in the line of progress and suggested later legislation under
which a large revenue for the State was obtained. The Legislature in
1897 appointed a joint special committee to propose amendments of the
State Constitution. The committee gave little attention to taxation and
finance, but did propose to limit the State levy to 25 cents and the State
school levy to 12% cents and to deduct mortgages from the valuation
of real estate. The first of these suggestions was not of much value in
the absence of any provision regulating the valuation of property. The
second suggestion was made ostensibly for the benefit of the farming
classes. It would have afforded more relief, however, to railroad, mining
and manufacturing corporations. In the case of a railroad mortgaged
almost to its full value, the mortgage bonds being held outside of the
State, it would have left nothing for the State to tax. Indeed, this
proposition might have opened the way to much fictitious exemption.
These suggestions not only failed of enactment, but failed to attract
public attention.
The Period prom 1900 to 1910
It was in the fifth period, from 1900 to 1910, that public attention
was turned strongly to taxation and finance, and that in all branches of
the subject decided progress was made by the State.
This was due largely to the need of revenues to meet the growing ex-
penditures of the State, but also to a sense of the injustice which had
existed for many years in the administration of the taxing power.
The second tax commission was appointed under a resolution of the
Legislature in 1901. It consisted of five members fairly representative
of different localities, interests and politics. Through good fortune, or
good management, its report was unanimous. It presented bills carry-
ing out in detail the suggestions in its report. These bills together
constituted a comprehensive plan. The commission's suggestions re-
ceived the approval of the Governor. They were, however, opposed by
strong influences in the dominant party of the State, which led to con-
ferences in which it was necessary to make some changes in the bill
proposed by the commission in order to facilitate their passage. Still
there was opposition before the legislature from strong political and
business interests in both great political parties. No action was had
at the regular session and it was only at a special session of the legis-
lature, called for the purpose of considering the report and bills, that
action on them was had somewhat in accord with the strong popular
demand.
While the symmetry of the proposition of the commission was some-
what marred by the changes which were made, so much as was enacted
into law constituted the most important and significant advance ever
made in West Virginia finances.
Some of the important matters recommended by the commission
were: the separation of the sources of revenue for State and local pur-
poses, and to that end the abolition of the State property tax and the
increase and extension of license taxes to go to the State ; the assessment
of all property at its true and actual value and the collection of taxes
on so much as is taxable, and thereby the reduction of the rate levied
on the property ; one assessor in each county with the requisite number
of assistants; an annual assessment of realty as well as personalty; a
graduated tax on inheritances; the assessment of all public service
corporations by the board of public works ; limitations on local taxation ;
the repeal of unconstitutional exemptions; the transfer from the State
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 617
to the counties of expenses which are in their control; a tax commis-
sioner.
The commission recommended several measures of economy, the en-
actment of which has brought about considerable saving. In the re-
ports of the commission, too, are other suggestions which ripened into
legislation later during the same period, such as a system of public
accounting and the establishment of a central board to control the
operation and expenses of the State institutions.
In the special session of 1904 many of the acts recommended by the
tax commission were passed, and at the regular session of 1905 these were
somewhat amended as to phraseology.
The response in the revenues of the State to the amendments relating
to the subjects of taxation was prompt. In 1904 the revenue from li-
censes was $250,496; in 1907, $597,564, and in 1912, $779,508. In 1904
the taxes on inheritances amounted to $6,443; in 1907, to $95,013, and
in 1912 to $168,233. The taxes on public utilities in 1904 were $547,448 ;
in 1907, $1,447,659, and in 1912, $2,138,874.
By an act passed in 1904 the fees collected by the auditor and sec-
retary of state were directed to be paid into the treasury. In 1907
these amounted to $56,877 and in 1912 to $65,734.
While the State expenditures for salaries of officers and clerks, and
their contingent expenses, increased from $62,000 in 1865 to $396,000
in 1912, the percentage of the revenues going to that purpose has
steadily decreased, having been 16 per cent in 1865, 11 in 1875, 10 in
1885, 7 in 1895, 8 in 1905 and 7 in 1912.
The marked increase in State expenditures has been in those for
education. Aggregating under that head the payments to the General
School Fund, the School Fund, the University and the Normal Schools,
they amounted in 1865 to $75,000; in 1875 to $262,000; in 1885 to
$273,000; in 1895 to $445,000; in 1905 to $918,000 and in 1912 to
$1,674,000, the amount in the latter year being twenty-two times as much
as in 1865 and nearly four times as much as in 1895.
Expenditures upon hospitals and charitable institutions have in-
creased from $78,000 in 1870 to $470,000 in 1912.
The disbursement of funds on account of State institutions, educa-
tional, charitable and penal, has been since July, 1909, under the di-
rection of a State Board of Control, whose administration has resulted
in large saving to the State.
The State taxes on licenses have produced more revenue than any
other class of State taxes. While the abolition of liquor licenses will
reduce this very much, the consequent financial benefits in the reduction
of expenses and otherwise, which may be hoped for, will inure mainly
to the counties and municipalities. It will be wiser to develop new
sources of revenue to make good this loss than to yield to the tempta-
tion to increase the State property tax. While the latter seems the
easy way, it will be found in its consequences to be expensive and un-
wise, for it leads back to the objectionable financial methods which were
largely discarded in 1904.
Conditions, Tendencies and Needs (In 1912)
This consideration and the more serious one of the possible liability
of the state for part of the Virginia debt call for a careful and con-
servative course on the part of the legislature, with regard to expenses
of the state, and with regard to the powers of the local taxing author-
ities, and for a like course on the part of those authorities in the admin-
istration of their powers.
The public welfare is largely in the hands of local officers, and their
zeal in enforcing the law against their neighbors often needs the spur of
public opinion. There is an unceasing conflict between private and
public interests, and the latter will yield unless supported by a settled
public policy continually and vigilantly asserted. As the State enters
its sixth decade, there are some indications that popular interest has
618 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
shifted from matters of taxation to other questions. The legislature
is not making progress in State finance; indeed, it is not holding at
every point the advanced financial position already won.
While the population is increasing the capitation taxes are decreas-
ing. The auditor's records show these separately only since 1906, the
figures being for 1907, 165,896 ; for 1908, 166,976 ; for 1909, 227,509 ;
for 1910, 213,926; for 1911, 208,086; for 1912, 195,939.
Provision has now been made for the increase of the State property
tax, which had nearly disappeared and should be abolished.
The wholesome limits imposed by legislation on the taxing powers
of local bodies and on the creation of municipal indebtedness have been
broken down in part.
The Tax Commissioner's office, hitherto always efficiently conducted,
and always at variance with some private interests, has lately been
charged with duties foreign to its nature and original purpose. Some
time ago it was given supervision of public accounting, thus bringing
it into controversy with local officers throughout the State, who some-
times organize not merely to defeat the enactment of a law in the public
interest, but to nullify its execution. Recently the enforcement of the
prohibition law, producing a new set of active adversaries, have been
assigned to the Tax Commissioner. Overloading this officer with these
new and foreign duties, merely because he has been efficient in those
which properly belong to him, and to which his office is adapted, is
unwise, and is unjust to the administration of the tax system.
While the finances of the State, therefore, now invite serious study
and also amendment at various points, State taxation has not up to this
time pressed excessively or even seriously on the industry or resources
of the people, and the most urgent problems for the reformer lie in the
field of local finance and taxation.
All this under the control of the legislature, which may relieve
the taxpayer even more by improving his local situation than by direct
dealing with the State taxes and expenditures, important as those sub-
jects are.
The Period Since 1912
(By E. H. Vickers)*
The period since 1912 is distinctly marked by a huge expansion of
expenditures ; by fiscal deficits and difficulty in obtaining the necessary
additional revenues; and by consequent compromises which violate the
principles underlying the reforms imperfectly achieved in the preceding
period and which threaten, if uncorrected, to bring about ultimate
financial disorganization.
The total expenditure of the State increased from $5,486,000 in 1912
to $19,570,000 in 1920. But this increase cannot be regarded wholly
as net expenditure. Still less does it all represent burdens imposed on
taxpayers for the support of the State Government. In 1920 over
$3,000,000 of the additional sums were tax revenues collected from
public utilities and distributed among counties and districts for local
government uses. Another $3,900,000 were disbursed for workmen's
compensation — an item newly appearing in 1914 — out of funds almost
wholly paid into the treasury by the employers of the recipient work-
men. These seven million dollars are State expenditures only in a
nominal sense. Another new and large item in the 1920 total is the
cost of the Virginia debt service, which, including allocation from sink-
ing fund, would presumably be about one million dollars. (Interest
and incidental expenses were $446,000.) Approximately eight million
dollars, out of the total fourteen million dollars of increase, are accounted
for by these three uses. Still other large items of expenditure added
during this period appear as the result of accounting methods and
* The receipts and the expenditures by the State Treasury during the period
1913-1920, as supplied by courtesy of the State Auditor, are appended to the tables
of the original article by Mr. Hubbard.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 619
are not real outlays defrayed from taxes and other ordinary revenues
of the State.
But there has actually been a large increase in the normal net ex-
penditure of the State. This increase has resulted partly from the
great rise in wages, salaries and prices of materials, and in greater part
from the enlargement of personnel, from the expansion of existing serv-
ices and especially from the creation of new services. Thus in the pe-
riod 1912 to 1920, the expenditure for salaries of officials rose from
$396,000 to $862,000 ; that for buildings rose from $368,000 to $1,111,-
000; and the funds devoted to education, including the University and
the normal schools, swelled from $1,201,000 to $1,756,000. Even the
cost of printing and binding grew from $43,000 to $118,000.
Among the services newly created and those reorganized on a much
more costly scale during this period, the more noteworthy, as causing
enlarged expenditure, are these. Tuberculosis sanitaria (white and
colored), $123,000; Department of Agriculture, $84,000; Depai-tment
of Health, $45,000; Humane Society and Children's Home, $33,000;
Public Service and Compensation Commissions, of which salaries are
paid by the State, $24,000; Department of Archives and History,
$12,000; Department of Public Safety, $95,000 (in lieu of militia which
cost $50,000 in 1912) ; Department of Mines, greatly expanded, $108,000;
State Road Commission and various other services of which only a part
of the large expenditures are net.
The existing sources of revenue were inadequate to meet the rapidly
expanding expenditures of the State. An audit of the State finances,
completed in 1914, revealed an actual deficit in the General Fund, as
of July 1, 1913, amounting to $480,000. This deficit originated primarily
in the extraordinary expenditure of about $350,000 in connection with
the industrial disorders of 1912-13 in the Kanawha valley. Meanwhile,
further appropriations had been made greatly in excess of the current
revenue. Finally, the advent of prohibition, July 1, 1914, wiped out a
source of revenue that yielded yearly more than $600,000.
Various methods have been used in order to obtain the additional
revenue required to meet the unusual and the growing needs. Anticipat-
ing the loss of revenue derived from licenses to sell alcoholic beverages,
the legislature in 1913 authorized an increase in the levy of the so-called
direct taxes. The rate, which had been only 1 cent on the hundred
dollars of valuation in 1912, was made 6 cents for 1913 and 10 cents in
1914. But the deficiency of revenue persisted. Controversy about the
method of obtaining the necessary additional revenue became prolonged
and embittered. A compromise measure, significantly designated the
"Omnibus Bill," resulted. It was enacted May, 1915, by the legislature
in the second special session that year called to provide the needed
revenues, after the regular session had been adjourned without making
such provision. By this compromise measure the direct state tax levy
was raised to 15 cents, a new "excise" tax of y2 of 1 per cent was im-
posed on the net earnings of corporations doing business within the
State, and the state charter tax was doubled. The additional revenue
thereby secured was sufficient to restore the balance in the State's
finances — but only temporarily.
The entrance of the United States into the World war in 1917 oc-
casioned extraordinary expenditures on the part of the State. In order
to meet them, special additional war levies were authorized in the form
of 2 cents in the general levy (which had after 1915 dropped to 9 cents)
and Yi of 1 per cent (making % of 1 per cent) excise tax on the net
earnings of corporations.
Final adjudication of the Virginia Debt Case imposed on the State
an interest bearing obligation in excess of 13^ million dollars. The
necessity to provide for the service of this debt, as well as to meet a
great expansion of normal expenditure, obliged the legislature in 19 I'D
again to seek new sources of revenue. Accordingly the special addi-
tional tax of % of 1 per cent on the net earnings of corporations, a tax
then about to terminate automatically, was re-enacted. Another measure
620 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
(abortive) sought to impose a tax of 2 cents per barrel on oil and % of
1 cent per 1,000 cubic feet on natural gas when transported by pipe
line for any distance exceeding 10 miles within the State. For the
special service of the Virginia Debt obligations, a levy of 10 cents in
direct state tax (making the whole levy 14 cents for 1919) was author-
ized. Provision was also made for increasing the levy, if necessary, for
other State purposes.
Suits at law were promptly instituted to contest the validity of the
transportation tax on oil and natural gas. Fending the process of ad-
judicating this contest the collection of the tax was prevented by means
of court injunction. Finally, the State Supreme Court decided that
the tax was invalid in so far as applied to oil and gas transported
across the State boundary. Failure of this source of revenue again re-
sulted in a deficit and in a consequently embarrassed condition of the
State's finances.
The legislature in 1921 enlarged the powers of the Tax Commissioner
with a view to effect an assessment of property at its "true and actual
value." At a special session, it revised the inheritance tax law with a
view to secure an increased yield. But main reliance for the needed
addition to revenue was reposed in the enactment of a Gross Sales Tax.
This is an annual "privilege" tax to be levied on the gross sales of
every business of which the gross sales exceed $10,000. The rate is
% of 1 per cent of the values in the production of minerals and % of
1 per cent of the values in the case of all other kinds of industry, trade
and gainful business or profession. The Gross Sales Tax is a new ex-
periment in taxation. It is likely to be difficult and costly of administra-
tion, slow, irregular and uncertain of yield. Meanwhile, the levy of the
direct state tax for 1921 was raised to 20 cents on the hundred dollars
of valuation — 10 cents for the Virginia Debt Service and 10 cents for
other State purposes.
In sum, the State has during the period under review had to meet
large unusual demands created by industrial disorders, by the "World
war and by adjudication of liability for a large amount of the Virginia
Debt. It has also been forced to meet rapidly growing normal expendi-
tures for the welfare of the people. It has in the exigency unfortunately
yielded to the temptation to resort increasingly to the use of the direct
taxes for securing the needed revenues. It is even now (January, 1922)
seeking greater uniformity of tax burdens and an increase of yield from
the direct taxes by a strong effort to raise the assessment valuations
throughout the State. This is a grave departure from the fundamental
principle of the tax reforms in the preceding period, which principle
was that the State would leave the direct tax to the local divisions of
government. The use of that tax for State purposes inevitably tends
to a competition between counties and districts in order to keep down
their assessment valuations, thereby to create inequalities of tax burdens
and insuperable difficulties of tax administration. Such was the earlier
experience of West Virginia that necessitated the tax reforms of sixteen
years ago. Such has been the experience cf every State that has sought
large revenue for State purposes from that source.
The present necessity for extraordinary effort to secure uniformity
at a higher level of the assessed valuation of property is in itself renewed
evidence of the impracticability of securing large sums of revenue for
State purposes from the direct tax. It signifies the reversal of tend-
encies initiated by the tax reforms and a return movement towards
the financial impotence and inequity which those reforms were designed
to correct.
CHAPTER XXXV
INTERSTATE RELATIONS
Between West Virginia and her neighbors, since 1863, there have
arisen several questions, two of the oldest and most prominent of
which were recently settled by the United States supreme court.
Minor Questions
Among those of minor importance were: (1) the boundary ques-
tion with Pennsylvania which was settled by a joint boundary com-
mission in 1885-86; (2) the trouble along the Big Sandy boundary
between West Virginia and Kentucky resulting from the Hatfield-
McCoy feud which, after periodically disturbing the peace for several
years, was terminated by the action of Governor Fleming in with-
drawing the rewards which had been offered by West Virginia for the
arrest of some of the McCoys; and (3) the question of transferring
from Virginia to West Virginia the records of original grants of land
in West Virginia — a question which was satisfactorily settled by negotia-
tions of Governor Fleming. Among the later sources of friction along
the boundaries of the State, the most recent is that resulting from the
winding flow of the upper Bluestone along the southern border of
Mercer, turning southward into Tazewell county, Virginia, before it
resumes its flow northward through West Virginia territory into the
New river. The passage of the sewage of Bluefield into the waters of
this stream was offensive to the town of Graham, Virginia, which at
first resorted to litigation, but later agreed upon a more peaceful
method of settlement by granting permission for Bluefield 's sewers to
pass through her streets to a lower point on the stream.
Among several cases involving the question of extradition, the most prominent
was that of Mahon in 1887-88. In September, 1887, the Governor of Kentucky
made a requisition on Governor Wilson of West Virginia for Plyant Mahon who
was indicted in 1882 for murder in Pike county, Kentucky, and had fled to West
Virginia to escape arrest. At the same time he appointed Frank Phillips as agent
of Kentucky to receive Mahon and convey him from West Virginia. About January
12, 1888, pending the correspondence on legal questions involved, a body of armed
men from Kentucky led by Frank Phillips forcibly arrested Mr. Mahon without
warrant or legal process and against his will conveyed him into Pike county, Ken-
tucky, where he was arrested by the sheriff of that county on February 12 and
confined in the Pike county jail in obedience to various writs issued after 1882 at
each term of court. On February 1, 1888, Governor Wilson of Virginia made a
requisition on the Governor of Kentucky for his release and safe conduct back to
West Virginia. His request was refused on the ground that the questions involved
were judicial and not executive.
Governor Wilson then, on February 9, on behalf of West Virginia, applied to
the United States district court for a writ of habeas corpus for release of the
prisoner. At the same time John A. Sheppard of West Virginia presented a similar
petition for Mr. Mahon. The court issued a writ requiring the jailer, Abner Justice,
on February 20, to produce the prisoner before the district court, sitting at Louis-
ville, and on March 3, after hearing the case, denied the motion for discharge of
the prisoner, and ordered the United States marshal to return him to the jailer of
Pike county. From this order an appeal was carried to the United States circuit
court. Governor Wilson in his application proceeded upon the theory that the
United States should secure the inviolability of the territory of the state from law-
less invasion from other states, and should secure the return of persons forcibly
taken from the state.
The case was argued on April 23 and 24, and decided on May 4, 1888. Justice
Field in delivering the opinion of the court against the contention of West Virginia,
said that no legal way had been provided for compulsory restoration of parties
wrongfully abducted from territory of a state by parties from another state.
From this judgment Justice Bradley and Justice Harlan dissented, stating that
621
622 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
the writ of habeas corpus, issued to the jailer holding Mahon in custody was the
constitutional legal remedy for settlement of the case by peaceful judicial means,
and that the prisoner should have been discharged and allowed to return. "It is
not the surrender of the fugitive from justice which is sought," said Justice Brad-
ley, "but the surrender of a citizen unconstitutionally abducted and held in custody
for such a wrong. It cannot be that the states in surrendering their right of
obtaining redress by military force and reprisals, have no remedy whatever." (U 8
Reports 127, pp. 700-718.)
In 1918 Governor McCall of Massachusetts refused to honor a requisition from
the Governor of West Virginia on the ground that the negro criminal for whom
the extradition was asked would not receive a fair trial. West Virginia, although it
issued a violent protest, was obliged to acquiesce in Governor McCall 's decision.
The two large and most important interstate questions, finally settled
by the supreme court, were the boundary dispute with Maryland and
the debt dispute with Virginia resulting from the separation from the
mother state in 1861.
Boundary Dispute with Maryland
The boundary question with Maryland was an old one in regard to
the meaning of the "first source of the Potomac," which in Lord
Baltimore's charter was mentioned as a point from which to determine
the western boundaiy between Maryland and Virginia. This was marked
by the Fairfax stone at the head of Fairfax run of the North Branch in
1746 in accordance with the decision of the line in council, after a
careful survey by a boundary commission. The North Branch had
practically been accepted as the boundary several years before the
revolution, and again in 1785 and even later when Maryland claimed
that her western boundary should be located a mile west of Fairfax
stone, on the meridian of Potomac Spring, the most western spring
of the North Branch.
Although in 1852 Maryland finally accepted the Fairfax stone as
a point marking the meridian of her western boundary, in 1859 she
secured a new survey of the meridian line northward which terminated
at the Pennsylvania boundary about three-fourths of a mile west of
the old line (surveyed in 1788) thus laying the basis of later con-
troversies with West Virginia in regard to conflicting land claims and
jurisdiction in the triangular strip between the two lines — some of
which culminated in personal encounters and breaches of the peace
which each State treated as a crime within its jurisdiction and attempted
to punish.
Although West Virginia, wearied with the resulting "border war."
in 1887 was willing to yield her claims to jurisdiction, Maryland ignored
the terms of the proposition and three years later authorized a boundary
suit before the supreme court. Into this suit the attorney-general of
Maryland injected the old claim to the South Branch as the farthest
source of the Potomac — a claim which, if sustained, would have extended
the southwest corner of Maryland southward to the southern border
of Pendleton county, thus completely dividing West Virginia into two
non-contiguous parts. Governor Fleming, with the sanction of the legis-
lature, employed counsel to defend the interests of the State against the
claims of Maryland for territory which had been embraced within the
limits of Virginia until 1863, and which had been in the undisturbed
and exclusive possession of West Virginia and under her jurisdiction
and control since 1863. After the suit was brought Maryland proposed
arbitration ; but West Virginia preferred to leave the settlement to the
court.
Although her counsel in the recent suit submitted much documentary
evidence bearing upon her title to the South Branch as her southern
boundary, Maryland had repeatedly and in many ways recognized the
North Branch as the boundary since her abandonment of her claim to
the head spring of the South Branch in 1818 and had not really in-
tended to raise the old question when she authorized the suit. Although
the old claim was injected into the case, it was not pressed in the briefs
and arguments submitted to the court in 1910 by the counsel for Mary-
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 623
land — probably because they saw that, even if the court should recog-
nize her original right under the charter of 1632, she had little chance
to recover the territory between the North Branch and the South
Branch, against estoppel and the doctrine of laches and adverse posses-
sion. Admitting that the North Pork was "clearly marked by irresist-
ible evidence as the main stream of the Potomac" they urged that its
source was at Potomac Spring (over a mile west of the meridian of
Fairfax stone) which should mark the western boundary of Maryland —
although no line had ever been run from it before 1897, and the ter-
ritory between it and the Deakin line was covered by Virginia patents,
settled by Virginia citizens, and never under the jurisdiction of Mary-
land in any way.
Although the location of the Fairfax stone at the head of Fairfax
run as the first fountain of the Potomac may have been against the
plain provisions of the charter of Lord Baltimore, on February 21,
1910, the supreme court (Justice Day) rendered a decision recognizing
the old Deakin line as the boundary between Maryland and West
Virginia, beginning at a point where the north and south line from
the Fairfax stone crosses the Potomac and "running thence northerly"
to the Pennsylvania border. This decision was based on the pre-
scriptive right arising from long continued possession of people claim-
ing rights on the West Virginia side of the line, and the failure of all
steps taken to delimitate the boundary established by the running of
this line in 1788. (Md. vs. W. Va., 217 U. S. p. 1-47.) It was held that
even if a meridian boundary line is not astronomically correct it should
not be ovei-thrown after it has been recognized for many years and
become the basis for public and private rights of property.
On the basis of a previous decision (Morris vs. U. S., 174 U. S.
p. 196) that the rights of Lord Baltimore included the Potomac to the
high water mark of the southern or Virginia shore, the court held that
West Virginia is not entitled to the Potomac river to the north bank.
This still left a difference of opinion as to whether the Potomac boun-
dary should be located at low-water or high-water mark. Arbitrators
appointed in 1877 to settle the boundary between Maryland and Vir-
ginia had agreed that the boundary contemplated by Lord Baltimore's
charter was the right bank of the Potomac at high-water mark but in
the light of subsequent events showing that Virginia had always used
the south bank as though the soil to low-water mark had always been
her own — a condition to which Maryland had assented in the compact
of 1785 — they decided to fix the boundary at low-water mark. On
May 31, 1910, the court (Justice Day), agreeing with the opinion thus
reached in the arbitration between Virginia and Maryland, decided that,
consistent with the continued previous exercise of political jurisdiction,
the uniform southern boundary of Maryland was at low-water mark on
the south bank of the Potomac to the intersection of the north and
south line between Maryland and West Virginia — thus establishing the
proprietary right of West Virginia on the south shore to low-water
mark (Maryland vs. West Virginia, 217 U. S. 577-585).
The survey and marking of the boundary in accord with the court
decision was accomplished in 1912 by a joint commission.
The Virginia Debt Question
The Virginia debt question arose with the formation of West Vir-
ginia, and has been a prominent factor or issue in state politics at
various times. At the time of the separation, it was agreed that the
new State would assume a just proportion of the public debt of Vir-
ginia prior to 1861 "to be ascertained by charging to it all the ex-
penditures within the limits thereof and a just proportion of the
ordinary expenses of the state government, since any part of said debt
was contracted, and deducting therefrom all moneys paid into the
treasury of the commonwealth from the counties included within the
said new State, during the same period."
624
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
In 1866 Virginia appointed commissioners who, in case of failure to
secure reunion of West Virginia to Virginia, were authorized to negotiate
for the adjustment of the public debt and a fair division of the public
property. The West Virginia legislature, expressing a willingness for a
prompt and equitable settlement, authorized the Governor to appoint
three commissioners to consider the adjustment of the debt question
after the announcement of the decision of the supreme court in the
case brought by Virginia for the recovery of Berkeley and Jefferson
counties. In February, 1870. Virginia appointed a commission which
went to Wheeling and induced the West Virginia legislature to appoint
a similar commission to treat for the purpose of adjusting the question.
The West Virginia commission, without any appropriation for expenses,
failed to act ; and, a year later when an appropriation was made by the
Settlement op Virginia Debt
succeeding legislature of 1871, Virginia, having changed her policy on
the mode of adjustment, proposed arbitration by commissioners who
should not be citizens of either State — a proposal which West Virginia
declined.
The West Virginia commission, acting alone, went to Richmond,
examined such documents as were accessible, and reported that of the
$31,778,877.62, which had been spent on internal improvements, $2,784,-
329.29 had been spent in West Virginia. To the latter was added an
additional $559,600 from other sources; and from the sum was sub-
tracted a credit of $2,390,369.06, exclusive of taxes paid to the Virginia
government, leaving a remainder of $953,360.23 in favor of Virginia.
On the ground that the commission had been unable to secure complete
data, and for other reasons, the legislature did not accept the conclusions.
In 1873, the subject was considered by the finance committee of
the senate. On December 22 the chairman, J. M. Bennett, who had
been auditor of Virginia for eight years, submitted a report showing
that from 1822 to 1861 the State expenditures in counties in West
Virginia was $3,366,929.29, that the counties of West Virginia had
paid into the treasury of Virginia at least $3,892,000 besides an equitable
portion of the ordinary expenses of the government, and that after
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
625
subtracting: from this sum the amount expended for internal improve-
ments in West Virginia there was a remainder of over $525,000 in
favor of West Virginia. This view was adopted by the people of West
Virginia, who believing that they owed no debt, urged the basis of
settlement which was persistently refused by Virginia.
In the meantime, in 1871, Virginia passed a funding bill, giving in
exchange for the old bonds, new bonds for two-thirds the amount sur-
rendered and certificates for the remaining third. These certificates
identified the holders of the unfunded part of the debt and were to
be paid only as should be provided in accordance with the future settle-
ment between Virginia and West Virginia. Thus Virginia became liable
for these certificates as soon as she settled with West Virginia. In
the later certificates of 1879, 1882 and 1892, however, there was a clause
W. S. Johnson— Delivering Bonds to J. L. Dickinson
releasing Virginia from all liability. These Virginia certificates thrown
on the market under the misleading name of "West Virginia certifi-
cates" greatly injured the financial standing of West Virginia and
prevented immigration and investment of capital at a time when they
were much needed.
In March, 1894, after Virginia had compromised and settled with
her creditors and had been released from all liability, the legislature
of Virginia adopted a resolution providing for the appointment of a
commission of seven members to negotiate with West Virginia for the
payment of the certificates and on the basis that Virginia was bound
for only two-thirds of the old debt. In 1895 and in 1896, when the
negotiations were proposed, West Virginia refused to accept the con-
dition that Virginia should be held liable for only two-thirds of the
old debt. Again in 1900, Virginia, as trustee of the certificate holders,
tried to secure an adjustment, but again on conditions which West Vir-
ginia could not accept. She then instituted a suit to secure an account-
ing and settlement under the supervision and direction of the United
States supreme court. On various grounds, including lack of authority
of the attorney general to bring the suit, the plaintiff's action as trustee
for private individuals, lack of jurisdiction by the court, and lack of
Vol. 1—4 0
626 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
power to render or enforce any final judgment or decree in the case,
the attorneys for West Virginia entered a demurrer which the court in
March, 1907, through Chief Justice Puller overruled ' ' without prejudice
to any question." The court in May, 1908, appointed a special master
of accounts under whom the representatives of both parties to the suit
collected data on the following subjects for presentation to the court :
(1) The amount and nature of the public debt of Virginia on
January 1, 1861;
(2) the extent and assessed value of the territory of Virginia and
West Virginia on June 20, 1863, and the population;
(3) expenditures made in the territory of West Virginia from the
beginning of items constituting the debt;
(4) proportion of the ordinary expenses of government properly
assignable to the counties of West Virginia for the same period, based
upon the population and upon estimated valuation of property;
(5) all money paid into the treasury of Virginia, for the period
prior to admission of West Virginia into the Union, from counties in-
cluded within the new state ;
(6) the amount and value of all money, property, stocks and credits
which West Virginia received from Virginia, not included in preceding
items and not acquired by Virginia after the date of the organization
of the Restored Government of Virginia.
Evidence was presented to the special master at various meetings
from November, 1908, until July, 1909, and the arguments were con-
cluded on January 1, 1910. The final arguments before the supreme
court were presented in January, 1911; and, on March 6, the court
rendered its decision, tentatively finding that West Virginia's share of
the ante-bellum debt of Virginia amounted to $7,182,507.48, and leaving
the question of interest for later adjustment. Later, on October 10,
the court was asked by Virginia to determine all questions left open
by the opinion rendered; but, on October 30, the court refused to pro-
ceed further in the case until West Virginia should have an opportunity
to take further action through regularly constituted authorities (at
the next session of the legislature).
West Virginia then created a "Virginia Debt Commission" to reduce
the amount, if possible, preparatory to contingent arrangements for
payment.
On June 14, 1915, the court rendered a formal judgment in favor
of Virginia against West Virginia for $4,215,622.28, and interest on
same at 4% from January 1, 1861, to 1891, and at 3% from January,
1891, to July 1, 1915, making a total interest charge of $8,178,307.22
and a total (interest and principal) of $12,393,929.50 on that date.
The court further decreed that this amount should draw interest at
5% until paid.
In June, 1916, Virginia asked the Supreme Court for a writ of
execution by levy upon public property of West Virginia. This the court
denied for the time in order first to give the West Virginia legislature
a "reasonable opportunity to provide for the payment of the judg-
ment." In February, 1917, Virginia filed application for a writ of
mandamus against the legislature of West Virginia to compel the levy
of a tax to pay the judgment. The court, although (in April, 1918), it
deferred action, indicated that appropriate remedies for enforcement
could be found, both in the power of Congress and in the power of the
judiciary under existing legislation, in case West Virginia should fail
to do her duty. On January 1, 1919, the amount of the debt including
accrued interest to July 1, 1915, was $14,562,867.16. Of this amount,
West Virginia, by act of March 31, 1919, arranged to pay $1,062,867.16
in cash and the balance by an issue of "listable" 3% per cent bonds
(coupon and registered) payable in 1939 (or earlier).
The West Virginia legislature at its regular 1919 session passed a
law providing for the payment of this judgment as follows : $13,500,000
in 20-year 3%% bonds" in favor of the Commonwealth of Virginia,
and a cash payment of $1,062,867.16.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 627
On July 3, 1919, Secretary of State Houston G. Young, Auditor
J. S. Darst and Treasurer "W. S. Johnson delivered to the Virginia
Debt Commission at Richmond, $12,366,500 in bonds. The remainder
of the $13,000,000 of bonds amounting to $1,133,500 was held in escrow
pending the filing of any remaining outstanding Virginia debt certifi-
cates.
The history of this debt question shows that the State of West Virginia was
not at fault in the postponement of the settlement of the debt; that for the first
fifteen or twenty years after the separation she endeavored to bring about an ad-
justment, but her efforts in this direction were not met by the State of Virginia,
and that the State of Virginia never showed any interest in the settlement of the
debt until she, herself, had re-adjusted her debt and been released absolutely from
one-third of it without reference to whether West Virginia owed that amount or not.
CHAPTER XXXVI
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
In the preparation of this chapter, the author of this volume acknowledges the
courtesy of Supt. M. P. Shawkey in contributing the survey of public school de-
velopment, of J. F. Marsh in permitting the use of extracts from his address of
November 3, 1921, to the Educational Association at Huntington, and of President
Joseph Eosier who contributed the sketch of normal school development.
1. Development of the Public School System
Supt. M. P. Shawkey
The public school system of West Virginia began with the election
of Doctor White as State Superintendent in 1864, in accordance with
the educational provisions of the first constitution of the state. To be
sure Ohio, Kanawha and Jefferson counties had made a beginning be-
fore that date, acting under authority of the first general school law
of the Old Dominion. This law was enacted in 1846 and gave to any
county the authority to establish a system of free schools within certain
prescribed limitations. To Jefferson county belongs the honor of being
first to establish such schools in the present state of West Virginia.
This was done in 1847. Ohio and Kanawha counties followed Jeffer-
son's lead by launching a single school each in 1848. Thus we have
before us the simple beginnings of the present state-wide school system
of West Virginia. Compared with what we have today they were,
indeed, as the grain of mustard seed compared to the full grown tree.
While the free school idea met with much favor among most of the
people west of the mountains, the growth of schools was slow, owing to
a number of things, but more especially to the sparseness of the popula-
tion and the straitened circumstances of the people. All this was pre-
liminary to the real development of our present school system. Tt
represents a period of uncertainty, a groping in the dark, a searching
after light.
When Doctor White was chosen State Superintendent and entered
upon the duties of that office, immediately ideas began to crystallize,
the features of a system began to shine forth out of the cloudy doubt
and uncertainty.
The report of Doctor White's first year's work sets out with some
definiteness the number and kind of schools in the state at the begin-
ning. By that report we find that of the fifty counties then composing
the state twenty-two had established a system of free schools, while
eleven others had taken some steps toward the establishment of such a
system. There were 133 schools with 431 i-ooms and an enrollment of
17,972 pupils. The enumeration showed 63,458 children of school age.
It was a great good fortune to this state that the direction of her
educational interests was at the very first committed to so wise a leader
as Doctor William Ryland White.
Laying the foundations. — Doctor White had been a student of
Horace Mann, America's greatest educational statesman, and a co-
laborer with him. While admitting some discouragement on account
of the hard conditions of the early life of the settlers and because of
the lack of interest on the part of a large proportion of the people,
he nevertheless faced the future hopefully and planned even more wisely
than he himself knew. Acting on Doctor White's recommendation, the
legislature established the West Virginia University at Morgantown in
628
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 629
1867. Between this great university and the humble elementary schools
first established a great gap existed. How that gap has been closed
will appear later. It was all in the first far-seeing plan of the first
State Superintendent. Doctor White also saw that the first need wf
these new schools as of all schools was trained teachers. He accordingly
recommended the establishment of a series of teacher training schools.
The legislature was quick to respond to this suggestion also. In 1867
under its provisions the state acquired the property of Marshall Col-
lege at Huntington and converted that institution into a state normal
school for the training of teachers. Later five other ("branch") normal
schools were established, viz.: one at Fairmont in 1868; one at West
Liberty in 1870; one at Glenville in 1872; one at Shepherdstown in
1872 ; one at Athens in 1872.
To call these institutions normal schools was more a declaration of
faith than a statement of facts, for they were not professional schools
in any sense of the word, yet it would be difficult to overestimate their
value in the educational development of the state. They were at first
little more than good, strong elementary schools for more mature
pupils. Later they took the lead in secondary work ; and finally, during
the present day, they assumed the character of real normal schools.
We get a better conception of the important part they have played in
the state's educational development when we recall that they have en-
rolled and instructed, during these years of growth, something like
sixty thousand of the best young men and women of the state. That
conception is further quickened when we glance at the roster of men
who have served as principals of these schools and note the character
of the men and their prominence in the educational affairs of the state.
Such men as Doctor William Ryland White, Doctor J. G. Blair, Profes-
sor U. S. Fleming, Doctor R. A. Armstrong, Doctor J. N. Deahl, Profes-
sor S. B. Brown and Honorable Thos. C. Miller tell the story of the
normal school mission in such terms that any comment I might add
would simply be trifling with words.
It will be found upon investigation that these normal schools for
which Doctor White made such a vigorous fight, declaring that "it
would be better to suspend the schools of the state for two years and
donate the entire school revenue for that time to the establishment and
endowment of a state normal school than to have none at all," with
their ups and downs, with their meager equipment and still more meager
support, oftentimes fighting for their very existence, have nevertheless
reached a larger number of people in the state than any other state
school and have done more for the elementary and secondary educa-
tion of the state than any other institution. They have touched a
larger number of teachers in the elementary schools and have been in
closer touch with the masses, leading, encouraging and instructing them,
than any other of our state institutions. This was their province, and
while the work they did through all these years of struggle was very
imperfect, the present harvest of results gives additional evidence of the
importance of the service which they rendered.
Other agencies. — While recognizing the large amount and the im-
portance of the work the University and the normal schools have done
in the development of education in the state, we must not overlook the
service rendered by the numerous other educational agencies that have
been at work from time to time, serving in one capacity or another, with
ideas very much at variance at times but all working toward the final
important end. Among the important agencies in the early years es-
pecially, the old time academies must not be overlooked. Of these
Virgil A. Lewis in his "Handbook of West Virginia" gives a list of
sixty -five and calls it a "partial" list. All of these have now disap-
peared or have been converted into other institutions, but their vital
influence may be seen in the educational sentiment and the more mo-
dern schools that have grown out of that sentiment in many localities
of the state such as Buckhannon, West Liberty, Clarksburg, Charles
Town, French Creek and numerous other places. While these academies
630 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
were of a local and rather temporary character, they gave rise in the
latter part of the half century of our history to a number of larger
and more permanent private and denominational institutions which are
at the present time playing a significant part in the educational work
of the state. No present day view of educational matters in West Vir-
ginia would be complete that did not take in the West Virginia Wesleyan
College at Buckhannon, Bethany College at Bethany, Salem College at
Salem, Broaddus Institute at Philippi, Powhatan College at Charles
Town, Morris Harvey College at Barboursville, Beckley Institute at
Beckley, Allegheny Collegiate Institute at Alderson, Alderson Academy
at Alderson, Davis and Elkins College at Elkins, Lewisburg Seminary
at Lewisburg, Greenbrier Presbyterian Military School at Lewisburg,
Mount De Chantal Academy at Wheeling and Stephenson Seminary
at Charles Town.
The legislature of 1909 recognized the value of the services that some
of these institutions were rendering to the state and provided that
graduates of their normal departments should be given state certificates
without examination the same as the graduates of our state normal
schools. The reports for 1912 showed that the private institutions of
the state furnished 22 per cent of the graduate teachers to whom cer-
tificates were granted without examination.
The other institutions that should be mentioned as contributing
materially to the educational development of the state are the West
Virginia Colored Institute at Institute, which was established in 1891
and is now equipped with a farm and a splendid group of buildings
and enrolls nearly three hundred students annually, and the Bluefield
Colored Institute at Bluefield, which was established in 1895 and is
rendering much excellent service to the large colored population in the
southern section of the state. This school enrolls more than two hun-
dred pupils a year and is crowded to the limit of its capacity. Another
institution belonging to this class is Storer College at Harper's Ferry,
which was established by John Storer of Maine during the Civil war,
but which for many years has been partially supported by state appro-
priations and has been closely identified with the general educational
work of the state.
The schools for the deaf and blind at Romney were established in
1870 on a small scale, but gradually the state has provided more liberal-
ly for the education of these two classes and the value of the particular
service which these institutions have rendered is very great.
Effectually re-enforcing the work of the public schools and the other
educational institutions are the Girls' Industrial School at Salem and
the Boys' Industrial School at Prnntytown near Grafton. These in-
stitutions have been peculiarly successful in the work which they have
undertaken to do.
When we glance back over the record of the state we are likely to
evince some enthusiasm over the continuous, substantial and rapid
educational advancement. We must not ovei'look the fact, however,
that there have been failures and disappointments along the way, that
mistakes have been made here and there, that stubborn obstacles have
obstructed the path of progress, and that every advance has meant a
fight to overcome opposition of one sort or another.
The vanishing factor. — "Pioneering" in West Virginia has become
a matter of history only. The pioneer settler, the pioneer statesman,
the pioneer institution and the pioneer teacher have alike disappeared.
A picture of that early life which held so much of depi-ivation, hardship
and suffering softens in the distance and shows up other character-
istics that appeal to the heart more favorably. The faith, zeal, earnest-
ness and patriotism of the early mountaineers were of as genuine quality
as that found among the Spartans of old Greece or the patriots of the
Swiss Alps.
The log schoolhouse was crude, but the ideals of life which it up-
held were noble in their simplicity, and the passing of that old institu-
tion stirs us with mingled feelings of gladness and sorrow. While we
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 631
rejoice at the day of more modern architecture, the old log house will ever
have a place in memory dear. Its gradual disappearance during the
past generation is an accurate index of the thorough revolution that
has been going on in the educational work of West Virginia. The
figures are striking. In 1890, for instance, there were 1,007 such school
buildings in the state out of a total of 4,814 of all classes. In 1900,
just ten years later, the total number of school houses had increased
from 4,814 to 5,916 but the number of log houses had decreased from
1,007 to 345. In the next decade to 1910 the total number of school
buildings increased from 5,916 to 6,674 but the number of log houses
had decreased to a mere handful of 75. Our reports for 1912 showed
that the use of the log house was gone forever, there being but a
scattered half dozen in temporary service as a kind of makeshift, pend-
ing the construction of newer buildings.
We have even gone beyond what was once considered a modern frame
structure and the average community now demands that the public
school shall be of such architectural design as to comply with the latest
developments of science. It is built for both health and beauty and
stands as an emblem of progress in the community.
Higher standards for teachers. — As the school system of the state
developed, the demand for trained teachers became more insistent
year by year. For a decade or two the public press and the teachers'
institute resolutions kept calling for a reform in the method of issuing
teachers' certificates. Accordingly the legislature of 1903 passed a
sweeping uniform examination law, placing "the general regulation,
direction and control of all matters relating to the examination of ap-
plicants for teachers' certificates" in the hands of the State Super-
intendent of Schools. This sudden change worked some hardship and
probably had some temporary ill effects, but on the other hand it re-
moved the certificate-granting authority from the sphere of local con-
trol, fixed a wider horizon for the teacher, made him in fact a state-
wide institution. As a consequence of this open market a rivalry set
in among the various districts for securing the best teachers, which was
followed naturally by a distinct advance in teachers' salaries. More-
over, the new law gave the state and county superintendents a better
means of supervising the work of teaching and afforded the opportunity
for a successful organization of reading circles and district institutes.
The important outcome of all of this is a marked and gratifying improve-
ment in the personnel of the teaching body of the state which is show-
ing itself in the general improvement of the schools.
A better day for rural schools.— With the revolution of the industrial
life of West Virginia there came a crisis in the elementary school work.
Abundant opportunities and the remunerative wages lured from the
profession of teaching hundreds and hundreds of the older and even
younger men and women who formerly found teaching the best busi-
ness in the community, because it paid a fair cash salary and kept them
in touch with the world of active thought. This sudden change was
especially hard on the rural schools. At the same time it was discovered
that while the towns and cities were developing hundreds of features
for the enriching of life, there had been little change m rural life.
Consequently those progressive teachers who were disposed to remain
in the profession naturally drifted toward the towns and cities. This
state in harmony with what was being done elsewhere turned its atten-
tion to the rural school problem. Among the first things to be done
was to provide a supplementary school fund which would enable even
the remotest and poorest rural sections to maintain a six months' term,
paying at least the minimum salaries which have been fixed by law.
The first supplementary fund of this kind was appropriated by the legis-
lature of 1908 and amounted to $50,000 for teachers' fund purposes.
That amount later was increased to $75,000 and $15,000 additional was
appropriated for building fund purposes. This form of state aid in-
creased to $483,000 by 1921. At the same time our teachers' institutes
and normal schools began to give special attention to the peculiar
632 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
problems of the rural school. This was followed in 1910 by the appoint-
ment of a State Rural School Supervisor who has especially cooperated
with the district supervisors of whom there are now 58 in service. The
legislature of 1913 showed its interest in the rural problem by providing
the State University with ample funds for agricultural extension work.
The development of farm interests of the state will be a potent factor
in strengthening and vitalizing the rural schools.
The high school era. — During the first quarter of a century of our
existence as a state, the University, which we have seen was established
in the very infancy of our state's existence, found it extremely difficult
to win large numbers of students for college work. Indeed, it found it
necessary to maintain a preparatory department to train boys and girls
for college, and this preparatory department became the larger part of
the University. The University, together with the other educational
agencies, kept on preaching the crusade of higher education, and a dec-
ade ago our people began to be aroused to the need of high schools. The
high school era may be considered to have begun, however, in 1909,
when the State Superintendent organized the division of high schools
in the State Department and appointed a State Supervisor of High
Schools. The slogan adopted was, "One Hundred High Schools for
West Virginia within four years." The crusade was organized, litera-
ture published and sent broadcast, and wherever the people manifested
an interest in the high school project, information and assistance were
given in working out the problem. Meanwhile, legislation was shaped
up, and in 1911 the legislature passed a bill providing for state aid
to high schools, on a basis of a standard classification which was to be
made by the State Superintendent. As a result of this movement and
the various influences at work, we have today one hundred and fifteen
standard high schools in West Virginia, with something like a score more
in process of organization and construction. The value of high school
work shows in both directions. It is first reflected in the improved op-
portunities for intellectual life in the various communities and in the
greater interest shown in educational work in these communities, and
second in the large increase of enrollment in the freshman class of the
University, practically all of whose recruits at the present time are
coming from the various high schools of the state. For instance, the
freshman class of 1912 of the University was 20 per cent larger than any
former freshman class, and not only is the class so much increased in
size, but the general average of preparation shown by the students is
much better.
We have seen that at the end of the first year's existence of her
public school system we had 113 schools only, with 431 teachers, with
an enrollment of 17,972 and a total school enumeration of 63,458 chil-
dren of school age. In a half century the 133 schools increased to 6,866 ;
the 431 teachers to 9,312 ; the 17,972 pupils to 284,757 ; and the 63,458
children of school age to 382,938.
The diversified interests of the state afford a great variety of
opportunities for industrial life but these things have not occupied the
minds of the people to the exclusion of things intellectual. It is gratify-
ing to note that a large number of single-room rural schools even are
supplied with libraries for the use of the children and the patrons of
the community. In one county in 1913 every single school had a library,
and in numerous other counties the larger number of the schools are
thus equipped. In 1913 there were 314,430 volumes in our school libra-
ries. In 1912 the state spent for elementary and secondary schools
'$5,081,603 and for all of our educational institutions including the
University $5,691,076. The school property was valued at $14,342,688.
Two of the leading cities of the state, Charleston and Parkersburg, bj
1913, found a demand for greater high school facilities, and Charleston
voted $300,000 bonds for the equipment of a thoroughly modern city
high school. . ...
Partly by the use of state funds and mostly by private subscriptions
libraries have been placed in nearly all of the rural schools. The num-
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
633
ber of volumes reported in 1920 was 500,000. The consolidation of
schools, in spite of difficulties, has proceeded at a good rate, more than
500 one-room schools having been abandoned within recent years.
Under the state elementary test for promotion to high school, diplomas
were issued to about 10,000 young folks iu 1920. With all of the central-
ization and unification, our laws have been so made and administered
as to provide for freedom in local initiative and adaptation.
The compulsory school law passed in 1919 increased the average
daily attendance nearly 50,000 in one year.
We now (1920) have 172 classified high schools with 1,129 teachers
most of whom hold college degrees, with high school property valued
at $10,000,000 these schools have an enrollment of about 20,000 students
and graduate about 3,000 each year. State aid for high schools in 1920
amounted to $118,000.
Our state normal schools have advanced into teacher-training in-
stitutions offering standard professional courses; one, Marshall College,
has grown to collegiate rank.
The new school code enacted in 1919 placed all educational affairs
of the state from the kindergarten to the State University in a State
Board of Education made up of the State Superintendent as executive
officer and six members appointed by the Governor, with an advisory
council of three colored citizens.
There was a time not so very long ago when West Virginia perhaps
might have offered some apology for her meager school facilities bui that
day has passed. Let any prospective citizen of the state be assured
that if he bring his family to the Mountain State, there will not only
be abundant facilities for thorough and liberal education of his chil-
dren, but he will find such interest and public spirit in matters of
education as to afford the greatest possible encouragement for their
highest moral and intellectual development.
SUMMARY OF SCHOOL STATISTICS
(For the Years 1918-19, 1919-20 and 1920-21)
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
A— 21.
A— 22.
A— 23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
B— 28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
Number of schools
Number of schools with libraries
Number of volumes in libraries
Number of elementary teachers (male)
Number of elementary teachers (female)
Number of high school teachers (male)
Number of high school teachers (female)
Total number of teachers
Average annual salary paid teachers (including high school
teachers)
Average length of term in days
Enumeration of school youth
Total enrollment in schools
Average daily attendance
Annual increase in average daily attendance
Per cent of attendance based on enumeration
Per cent of attendance based on enrollment
Per cent of enrollment based on enumeration
Per capita cost of education based on enumeration
Per capita cost of education based on enrollment
Per capita cost of education based on average daily attend
Total disbursements Teacher's Fund
Total disbursements Maintenance Fund
Total disbursements for public schools
Total for state educational institutions
Total school expenditures
Value of public school property
Value of state educational institutions
Total value of all school property
Number of high schools
Enrollment in public high schools
High school graduates
Total number of first grade (elementary, normal, renewa
certificates issued
1918-19
6,908
4,570
505,273
2,508
7,375
334
681
10,898
$ 453
137
*446,922
311,695
212,699
7,132
48
68
70
S18.63
26.70
39.14
$ 5,596,071
2,729,699
8,325,769
1,710,840
10,036,610
21,033,942
2,720,000
23,753,94:
160
16,168
2,368
1,62!
1919-20
6,956
4,629
498,297
2,972
7,305
430
699
11,406
$ 581
137
**448,670
341,670
253,395
40,696
57
74
76
$25.18
35.90
44.57
7,448,394
3,843,170
11,291,563
1.850,906
13,1 l_'.17(i
25,639,697
2,775,000
28,414,697
172
18,512
2,911
1,521
1920-21
7,489
4,378
488,640
2,936
7,693
468
769
11,866
$ 706
149
**449,663
317. Ml
267,710
14,315
59.5
77
77.4
$28.45
36.78
47.79
( 9,345,119
3,449,733
12,794,852
2.843,532
I5,63S,384
27,318,823
4,066,650
31,491,473
190
20,236
3,191
4,016
♦From 6 to 21 years.
**From 6 to 20 years.
A — Numbers 21, 22 and 23 contain report from McDowell County for year 1919-20 instead of 1920-21.
B — Contains 1919-20 report from McDowell County instead of 1920-21.
634 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
Discards and Gains of the Half-Century
(extracts from an address by j. f. marsh)
Changes in state boards. — "With respect to state boards, the devel-
opment of the fifty years shows a strong tendency toward consolida-
tion, centralization and simplification of power. Without giving tire-
some details of dates, personnel and duties regarding the various boards,
the list below will show in graphic form a summary of this movement:
Boaeds Abolished Boards as Now Organized (1921)
The University Board of Eegents. State Board of Education composed of
The Begents of the Normal Schools. six members appointed by Governor
The Begents of the Preparatory Branch and State Superintendent of Schools.
at Montgomery. State Board of Control composed of
The Begents of the Preparatory Branch three members appointed by the Gov-
at Keyser. ernor.
The Begents for West Virginia Colored An Advisory Council (advises State
Institute. Board of Education relating to negro
The Begents for the Bluefield Colored schools).
Institute.
The Begents for the Schools for the Deaf
and Blind.
The Begents for the Eeform School for
Boys.
The Begents for the West Virginia In-
dustrial Home for Girls.
State Board of Examiners.
State Book Commission.
Ten Local Boards for Institutions.
Local boards and trustees. — The sound doctrine of putting the schools
of a district or township under the general charge of a small board
elected by the people has held through all of these fifty years, but the old
trusteeship (three local trustees for each school) has been bombarded,
submarined, and gassed from every direction. The following is a
sample of the shots fired at this office by the State Superintendents of
the earlier and later days :
"The trusteeship is an incumbrance on our school system. * # * It is an
incubus — an immense mass of cumbrous, ill-adjusted machinery requiring more
force effectively to move it than to work the system successfully without it."
In 1921 the 25,000 or more trustees were largely routed by a pro-
vision making their appointment optional, and placing in their stead
one local custodian for each school. Now, let us add to that scrap heap
of 150 State Board members, 10,000 to 15,000 trustees.
School buildings. — At the beginning of the fifty-year period we had
2,059 school buildings — 1,127 frame, 859 log, 63 brick, and 10 stone.
With the rapid increase in population, the erection of new school
buildings went on at a lively pace, with a steady and almost uniform
increase in number from year to year until we now have some 7,000
buildings, with fully 97 per cent wood and frame structures, and less
than 3 per cent brick.
Apparatus. — The high schools which were few, and without special
apparatus, a half century ago, now number about 185, all with standard
apparatus specifically required by State regulations. In these "Uni-
versities of common people ' ' you will find good libraries, all kinds of maps
and charts and laboratories to aid in the discovery of the mysteries of a
wide range of sciences. This special apparatus of the high schools of the
State, to say nothing of the growing equipment of the numerous junior
high schools, is now valued in round numbers at one million dollars.
Growth measured in money. — In 1870, we spent a total of $470,000.00
for education in the entire state of West Virginia. According to the
State Superintendent's report, Cabell county spent about the same
amount last year. Indeed, this good city of Huntington is now spending
annually for education almost as much as the entire Commonwealth of
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 635
"West Virginia was spending for the same purpose fifty years ago. In
this connection, it is interesting to note, that in the same period the
amount spent per capita based upon enumeration of school youth has
increased from $3.35 to $25.26, which represents a growth in our gifts
to each child for its education of 654%. While our population has in-
creased 230% our school expenditures, now more than $12,000,000.00
annually, have increased 2,300%.
Progress measured by the course of study. — In 1870, the elementary
course of study consisted of reading, writing, arithmetic, some formal
grammar, with history and geography recognized as new and doubtful
subjects. Ten or fifteen years later a strange feature called "composi-
tion" was added to the study of grammar; and about the same time
anatomy and physiology, then as horrible to the conservative com-
munities as the Ku Klux Klan, was added while the women blushed and
the men wagged their heads, as the children looked at the pictures of
the skeletons and the stomachs of drunkards. Then came hygiene giv-
ing the technical names of all of the diseases. Later the law required us
to teach the evil effects of "alcohol and narcotics" which resulted in a
90,000 majority for the Prohibition Amendment; and, now we have
health and sanitation which is causing the children to fight whole armies
of germs and to follow every mosquito that whizzes by to his lair, there
to engage him in mortal combat. We are training the young army of
sanitary experts to make this country so clean that disease will starve
for the want of nourishment. A far-visioned legislature of 1911 re-
quired the teaching of agriculture in all of our schools. This subject
has withstood all of the jibes at "book farming" and is now pursued
by some 50,000 youth in our elementary schools and 2,000 in our high
schools. In addition to the search for the scientific facts relating to
farming in the school, the 100,000 fanners of the State with their wives
and families are being constantly instructed through the Press, the
State and National Departments of Education, and the extension divi-
sion of our University which is sending the results of the latest agricul-
tural discoveries to every nook and corner of the State. Then came
civil government near the beginning of the present century, and within
recent years the elementary schools have been given the subjects of
drawing, music, physical education, and general science, thrift, com-
mercial work, and for any time that may drag on the teacher's hands
she is supposed to add to her daily work, Americanism, manners and
morals, fire prevention and safety first.
The course of study of our high schools which are partly relieved
from the hum-drum necessity of laying the common foundations for
our citizenship has expressed with finer sensitiveness the changing de-
mands of the times and the growing conception of public education.
The high school of 50 years ago represented by the old academies con-
fined their efforts almost entirely to English, history, mathematics and
the languages. The many different subjects added to the curriculum,
since that day, will show us the distance we have travelled in the half
century.
We have added to the educational scrap heap about half of the old
spelling books which contained such words as, "Chef d'oeuvre," "Tin-
tinnabulation," and "Ticdouloureux," the old blue-backed grammar,
with its cases, genders, numbers, parsings, and sprawled-out diagrams;
the old-fashioned geography that pictured the earth as a smooth ball
with ten thousand black spots on it for pupils to name and locate.
Much of the intricate formulae of the old mathematics, many Latin
endings and Greek roots, and the good old stories of the readers that
always wound up with a moral. On the other hand, we add to the
bulging pile of new things the little spelling book with only the words
of everyday use, the language book that deals with language as "she is,"
the geography that teaches about a world peopled with business partners
and neighbors, and the great mass of new and strange subjects listed
636 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
above bristling at all corners with suggestions for the work-a-day world
and the 1921-model citizen.
Changes in teaching force.— When the first Education Association
meeting was held 50 years ago, we had a teaching force of approximately
2,500. Today it requires 12,000 teachers to lead our army of 350,000
pupils. In the same time the amount of the payroll has increased from
$328,000.00 to $7,500,000.00; and the monthly pay from an average
of $33.50 to approximately $90.00.
When the trembling youngster of 50 years ago entered the school
house door, the chances were live to one that he would meet a grim-
visaged male teacher, as 80% of us were then of the less deadly of the
species. The proportionate number of lady teachers grew a pace but
the men kept the lead for more than 30 years of the period under dis-
cussion. * * * Now, the situation is reversed. Of the 12,000
teachers in the State, only a little more than 3,000 of us are classified as
male. * * *
High schools. — In 1870, the records indicate that we had one high
school, in 1871 three, in 1883, six, and ten years later than that, twenty,
although many schools so listed were not to be compared with the high
schools of the modern day. The real high school era began in 1909 when
State Superintendent Shawkey, organized a State division of high schools,
with L. L. Friend in charge, and adopted the slogan, ' ' One hundred
high schools in West Virginia in four years."
Now, we have 185 classified high schools employing 1,200 highly
trained teachers, and enrolling approximately 20,000 students. These
serviceable institutions opening wide their doors to the youth of all the
cities, towns, camps, valleys, hills, and mountains are sifting out and
preparing the leaders that will insure the better day for our great Moun-
tain State.
Our great leaders. — The State Superintendents of the first decade
of the half century deserve great credit for preaching the gospel to
a half convinced citizenship, and of bringing school officers everywhere
to a sense of their responsibilities and opportunities. B. L. Butcher in
spite of his youth, became a national leader and brought our State
into helpful contact with the sister-states. B. S. Morgan insisted upon
a better professional spirit, and a better preparation on the part of
teachers. The venerable Virgil A. Lewis, taught and lived the love of
the West Virginia hills, while J. R. Trotter insisted upon a better co-
ordinated effort for education throughout the entire school system. To
Thomas C. Miller belongs the glory trailed by the bold crusader for a
great cause. His enthusiasm was caught up by all of the educational
leaders and agencies of the State and brought public sentiment for
better schools to a high tide. M. P. Shawkey as State Superintendent,
brought to our schools a master mind for organization and for twelve
years directed our educational energies with a certainty and spirit that
inspired confidence and forward looking eveiywhere.
2. Normal Schools
President Joseph Rosier
The first State Normal School was established at Lexington, Massa-
chusetts in 1839, twenty-four years before West Virginia was created
as a result of the Civil war. The first Normal School in Pennsylvania
was started at Philadelphia in 1848. The Normal School located at
Ypsilanti, Michigan, in 1850, was the first state supported institution for
the training of teachers established west of the Allegheny Mountains.
These institutions were founded as a result of several years of study and
agitation for the special training of teachers for the elementary schools
of our country. To James G. Carter has usually been given the honor
of the title of "Father of Normal Schools in America." As early as
1825, he published articles and made appeals to the public in the interest
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 637
of teacher training, and in 1827 he opened a school for the special
training of teachers at Lancaster, Massachusetts. Henry Barnard, in
his Annals of Education, did much to create sentiment for the profes-
sional training of teachers, and to secure public support and approval.
Horace, Mann, in his Fifth Annual Report, issued in 1842, discusses the
teacher, Normal Schools and pedagogical books. Other educational
leaders of that period emphasized the value and the importance of special
training for teachers.
When the State of West Virginia was formed, in 1863, the move-
ment for the establishment of state supported Normal Schools was al-
ready under way in many states of the Union. The first Governor
of the State, Arthur I. Boreman, in a message to the First Session of
the Legislature, called the attention of that body to its obligation to pro-
vide as soon as practicable for the establishment of a thorough and
efficient system of free schools. State Superintendent of Schools Wil-
liam R. White, in his report for 1866 discussed the importance of the
Administration Building, State Normal School, West Liberty
training of teachers for the public schools, and urgently recommended
the establishment of Normal Schools for this purpose. At the session
of the legislature convened in 1867, provision was made by law for the
establishment of State Normal Schools at Huntington, Fairmont, and
West Liberty. At the session of the legislature held in 1872, provisions
were made for the establishment of Normal Schools at Glenville, Athens
and Shepherdstown. Realizing the need of the colored schools of the
State, the legislature of 1891 established an institution for the higher
education of colored people at Institute, known as the West Virginia
Colored Institute, a large part of whose work should be the training of
teachers for the colored schools, and in 1895, a second normal training
school for colored teachers was established at Bluefield. In 1915, the
legislature provided for the support of ten Normal Training high schools,
to be located in different parts of the State, and to receive state aid for
teacher training. The legislature of 1921 increased the number of state
aided normal training high schools to twenty. These various institutions
have been established and are supported by the State for the purpose
of securing a better qualified and more efficient body of teachers in the
public schools. A history of teacher training in the State would not
be complete without a recognition of the service rendered by the va-
rious denominational and private educational institutions that have
provided courses of teacher training similar to those offered by the State
Schools. These private institutions have trained many men and women
for service in the schools of the State.
638 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
The early history of the Normal Schools of West Virginia like the
history of most institutions is intimately associated with the personalities
of men and women who gave their best services and built up the ideals
that have guided the institutions in all of their development. In search-
ing through the records of the first decades of the Normal Schools of
the State, and in the traditions as handed down in the different institu-
tions, certain persons stand out in leadership and in influence. The first
State Superintendent of Schools, Dr. William R. White, who in his
official position had much to do with establishment of the State Normal
Schools, was the first principal of the Fairmont State Normal School.
Among the outstanding personalities in the early history of the school
at Fairmont, were : Dr. J. G. Blair, who became principal in 1872, and
continued in this position until his death in 1878. Dr. Blair lives in
the traditions of the school as a rare teacher, a ripe scholar, and an
inspiring leader. Another personality that lives in the memories of the
first generation of students is Miss M. L. Dickey, who was for many
years an assistant teacher in the Normal School. As a student she had
received instruction under Dr. Edward Brooks in the State Normal
School at Millersville, Pennsylvania, where she graduated before coming
to Fairmont in 1873.
The first principal of the West Liberty Normal School was Mr. F. H.
Crago. He resigned in 1873 and for many years held different educa-
tional positions in that part of the State.
The first principal at Glenville was Mr. Lewis Bennett, who held
the position but two years, afterwards becoming prominent as a lawyer
and business man in the interior part of the State. He was succeeded
by T. Marcellus Marshall, who held the position for a term of six years.
Mr. Marshall rendered valuable service to the school in its formative
years.
The first principal of the Normal School at Athens, was Captain
James Harvey French, who received his education at Georgetown, D. C,
and at the University of Virginia. He occupied this position from
May 10, 1875, until his death on December 11, 1891. His life and serv-
ices form a large part of the traditions and the history of the institution
with which he was so long connected. His body lies buried on the school
grounds, where a beautiful monument has been erected to the honor
of his memory by the Alumni Association of the school.
Mr. Joseph McMurran was the first principal of the Normal School
at Shepherdstown, and continued in this position for nine years. His
spirit and ideals were stamped upon the institution, and he is affection-
ately remembered by all who came under his instruction.
The outstanding personalities in the early history of the State Normal
School at Huntington were : A. D. Chesterman, who was principal from
1874 to 1881 (one of the most profitable periods of the institution) and
Mr. A. L. Purinton, who was for a number of years assistant principal,
and was later Superintendent of Schools of the City of Parkersburg.
Among the more conspicuous leaders in the later development of these
institutions were Dr. Thomas E. Hodges, who served for ten years as
principal of the Marshall College State Normal School, and of Mr.
L. J. Corbly, who occupied the same position for a period of nineteen
years ; T. J. Woofter, A. C. Kimler and John G. Knuttie at Shepherds-
town ; John D. Sweenet at Athens ; Robert A. Armstrong, J. N. Deahl
and John C. Shaw at West Liberty; Mrs. N. R. C. Morrow and J.
Walter Barnes at Fairmont ; Miss Verona Maple and William J. Holden
at Glenville.
For a period of forty years the Normal Schools of West Virginia,
in organization and work, were quite similar to the academies maintained
in other parts of the country. There were few or no high schools in
the State during this period and the Normal Schools served very largely
as preparatory schools for the university and college. The students en-
rolled in these institutions were adults who had completed such courses
of study as were offered in the common schools of their neighborhoods.
Many of them had secured teachers' certificates by examination, and
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came to the normal school to secure instruction in more advanced aca-
demic subjects. For many years these institutions provided two courses
of study, one known as the academic course, which was practically a
preparatory course, and Normal Course, which, in addition to the sub-
jects prescribed in the academic course, included such subjects as
Methods of Teaching, School Management, and Pedagogy. Because
these Normal Schools were well distributed over the State, and provided
the chief means of instruction for the young men and women of their
localities, most of the educational leadership of the State, and much of
the leadership in all public affairs was trained in these institutions.
Strange to say, in face of the very evident service which was rendered
by the Normal Schools to the young men and women of the State, they
had a most precarious existence throughout all of this period. There
was a great deal of opposition to the Normal Schools, and this mani-
fested itself in the legislature, where appropriations were opposed. In
fact, one or two sessions of the legislature failed to make any appropria-
tions at all for these institutions. The Normal Schools, however, con-
tinued to grow in influence and favor and their value in the educational
system of the State was gradually recognized by a majority of the
people. In recent years their usefulness has been such that legislatures
have granted more liberal appropriations for buildings and for the
salaries of teachers.
The Normal Schools have been very largely affected in their devel-
opment by the high school movement which began in the State about
1900. Up to that time, there had been very few public high schools
maintained. In a period of twenty years nearly two hundred high
schools were established in the State. This development necessarily
lead to a reorganization of the state normal schools. With the estab-
lishment of high schools in all sections of the State, there ceased to
be any need for the preparatory training which had been provided in
the State Normal Schools for so many years. Those communities that
maintained their own secondary schools by public taxation, grew more
insistent in demanding that they should not be taxed by the State for
this support of what was practically a public preparatory school. The
tendency in the last twenty years has been to minimize or eliminate
purely preparatory work from the Normal School courses of study, and
to increase the number of courses having a direct bearing upon prep-
aration for teaching.
The evolution of the teaching vocation in the State has been a most
interesting one. In the early days of the free school system there were
few persons qualified to teach in these schools. A system of certificating
teachers was provided at the time the free school system was created.
Owing to the meagre educational advantages of that day the require-
ments for teachers' certificates were very simple. For many years
simple examinations were conducted by the county superintendents in
the different counties, and certificates were issued to teachers by this
official, without any supervision. Later, a county board of examiners
was created which held more formal examinations for applicants to
teach, and issued such certificates. These certificates were usually
issued for a term of one year. The unsatisfactory standards for
teaching were such that there was agitation throughout the State for
a different plan of teacher certification. As a result of this agitation,
the State Legislature, in February, 1903, passed a law providing for
uniform examinations for the teachers of West Virginia. This may
probably be regarded as the close of the first period of educational
development in the State, as far as it was affected by the standards of
teaching. During this first period, preparation for teaching depended
upon the ability of the applicant to pass examinations.
The academic and professional requirements were quite moderate
and the examinations were conducted and the certificates issued by
local authority. By the act of 1903, the examination of all applicants
for teaching was removed from local authorities and placed in the
hands of the State Department of Schools, which prepared the examina-
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642 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
tion questions for teachers, inspected and graded the manuscripts, and
issued these certificates. This change was accepted with misgivings in
many sections of the State, because it was felt that it would lead to
excessive^ centralization of power over the certification of teachers.
The system, however, gradually won its way, and has overcome the op-
position which at first existed. There is no doubt that the enactment
of this law brought about a distinct advancement in the teaching pro-
fession of the State.
The history of the State Normal Schools is necessarily connected
with the development of the teaching profession. For a brief period
in the eighties, a law was enforced providing for the issuance of certifi-
cates to teach to those persons who had completed courses of training
in the Normal School. The sentiment in favor of certificating teachers
by means of examinations was so strong that the legislature was com-
pelled to repeal this provision, and it was not until 1908 that the legis-
lature of the State, as a result of the educational advancement which
had been made, enacted a law providing for the recognition of the
Normal Schools through the granting of teachers' certificates to those
who have completed conscribed courses of training. While this con-
cession to the Normal School graduates was considered a special priv-
ilege in some localities, the law has gradually been accepted and the
right of those, who take special courses in preparation for teaching, to
certificates without examination has been quite generally accepted.
In the qualification of teachers, we have passed from the simple exam-
ination and certification of the early days to the county board of exam-
iners, with its more formal examination, to the provisions for a State
uniform system examination and certification of all teachers. This is
now being followed by the substitution and acceptance of special courses
of training, as a basis for certification. Since the full recognition of
teacher training courses for certification was provided for in 1908, the
number of persons securing certificates by examination has gradually
decreased, and the number receiving such certificates by the completion
of Normal courses of study has rapidly increased. There are still those
who believe that the chief qualification of the teacher is the ability to
pass a set examination, but the great majority of the people are begin-
ning to realize that the preparation for the vocation of teaching in the
future must be in the direction of broader education and special train-
ing for teaching.
The evolution in the standards of teaching have brought about a
reorganization in the work of the State Normal Schools. All of these
institutions now maintain what is known throughout the country as the
standard normal course, which includes two years of special instruction
and training in preparation for teaching beyond the four year high
school course. By a recent order of the State Board of Education, all
of the Normal Schools will eliminate their secondary courses of study,
so that their entire time and resources may be given to the advanced
courses of study for the training of teachers. In 1919 the State Board
of Education authorized the Marshall College State Normal School, at
Huntington, to offer a four year course of training for teachers and to
grant degrees to those who complete this course. At a recent meeting
of representatives of all the teacher training institutions in the State,
held in Fairmont, a resolution was passed asking the State Board of
Education to increase the courses in all of the State Normal Schools to
four years, and to give all of these institutions the power to grant
degrees, as soon as the State Boards and the heads of the institutions
consider such action advisable. This is in line with the development of
the teacher training institutions in many other states.
In this brief review, it is seen that the Normal Schools have shared
in the hardships and the successes of all of the State's educational in-
stitutions. In a little more than fifty years, the people of our State
have built up an educational system that compares favorably in efficiency
and scope of work with that of other states. In this development, the
State Normal Schools have rendered distinct service. A majority of
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the men and women who have exerted a formative influence in the de-
velopment of the State school system have either been graduates of the
Normal Schools or have taken partial courses in these institutions. The
feeling of antagonism to the Normal Schools in the teaching ranks,
among the people, and- in the legislature, has been overcome and there
is now a disposition to place a premium upon professional preparation
for teaching, and to give the State Normal Schools such equipment and
such financial support as will enable them to offer the most thorough
kind of training for the teachers of the children of the State.
3. Historical Sketch of West Virginia University
(By J. M. Callahan)
Foundation. — West Virginia University originated from the national
land grant act of July 2, 1862, and the subsequent action of the State
legislature in accepting and carrying out the provisions of the act, and
the foundations of an educational institution which had already been
laid at Morgantown for half a century.
To each State the act of 1862 granted lands or land scrip (in propor-
tion to the number senators and representatives in congress) the pro-
ceeds of the sale of which were to be invested in safe stocks yielding
not less than five per cent upon the par value of the stocks, and this
interest inviolably appropriated, by each State which may take and
claim the benefit of this act, to the endowment, support and main-
tenance of at least one college where the leading objects shall be, without
excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military
tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture
and mechanic arts, in such manner as the legislatures of the states may
respectively prescribe, in order to promote the liberal and practical
education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and profes-
sions of life.
On October 3, 1863, the West Virginia legislature, empowered by
the constitution to foster education and organize institutions of learn-
ing, in the interest of the people of the State accepted the conditions
of the act of Congress and appropriated $500.00 to defray the expenses
of procuring and selling the land scrip and of investing the proceeds.
Congress by act of April 14, 1864, extended the preceding act to West
Virginia, and the latter received land scrip for 150,000 acres. By joint
resolution of January 24, 1867, the legislature submitted to Congress
strong reasons for an additional appropriation, but the appeal was
without success. Meantime, steps were soon taken to select a location
for the college. Several towns — Point Pleasant, Bethany, Frankford,
Greenwood, Harrisville and Morgantown — made substantial offers to
secure it. Morgantown was already the seat of Monongalia Academy,
Woodburn Female Seminary and Morgantown Female Academy.
Monongalia Academy, after Bethany College, had been the leading educational
institution in western Virginia for several years. It had been incorporated by
the Virginia legislature November 29, 1814, and endowed with one-sixth of the
fees received by the surveyor of Monongalia county. Its first building, completed
in 1816 on the site of the residence later owned by Thomas B. Evans, could no
longer accommodate its students a dozen years later, and was sold in 1828. A new
building was then constructed on the grounds at present occupied by the Morgan-
town School building. To increase the endowment fund the legislature of Virginia
authorized the trustees to raise $20,000 by a lottery the drawings of which were
conducted on January 26, 1832.
In 1850 an unsuccessful attempt was made to merge the Academy into a col-
lege. At that time, it was prepared to give instruction in all branches usually
taught in a college; but soon thereafter steps were taken to extend the course of
study and to elevate the standard of scholarship. After 1852, when Eev. J. B.
Moore, a graduate of Washington College,! was placed in charge, the school entered
1 James Bobertson Moore was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, August 20,
1823. He received his early education at Grove Academy, Steubenville, Ohio. At
Washington College, he graduated in the class with James G. Blaine. He entered
Princeton Theological Seminary in 1849 but was obliged to give up the idea of
studying for the ministry. He taught in the Lindsly Institute at Wheeling for a
brief time before he was called to Morgantown.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 645
upon a new era, and Morgantown became widely known as an educational center
to which students came from several states, including even distant Louisiana. In
one year, 176 students representing 14 states were in attendance. Among the most
prominent who attended were two sons of Jeremiah Black of Pennsylvania. Mr.
Moore (ably assisted by A. W. Lorentz and others) remained principal of the
school until 1864 and was succeeded by Dr. John W. Scott who remained in charge
until the property of the school was donated for the foundation of the State
University.
On March 23, 1831, the Virginia legislature passed an act authorizing the
trustees of Monongalia Academy to establish a school for females. In the following
September a site was chosen where Henry S. Hayes later lived. The building
(begun in 1832) was completed in 1833 and opened for instruction at once. On
January 30, 1839, the school was incorporated as the "Morgantown Female Acad-
emy" by the legislature. (W. T. Willey was one of the first trustees.) In 1852,
after the school had had twelve years of varying success, the trustees, at a cost of
$3,500 erected a new building at the corner of High and Foundry streets. Six
years later they constructed an addition. The school had more than local support.
There were four graduates in 1861, ten in 1862, four in 1863 and eight in 1864.
In the spring of 1869 the property was sold for $5,000 to Mrs. E. I. Moore who
made considerable outlay for repairs and devoted herself to the growth and success
of the school. In 1872-3, the catalogue showed an attendance of eighty-one and a
faculty of a principal and eight assistants. From that date until the destruction
of the building by fire, in May, 1889, about twenty-five young ladies were gradu-
ated from the school, but the yearly decrease in attendance indicated that the
normal schools and the public schools were supplanting the private seminaries. The
building had already been suggested as a suitable place for the accommodation of
girls whenever the university should open its doors to them, but it was destroyed
one month before coeducation was established in the collegiate department of the
university.
The Woodburn Female Seminary, founded by several gentlemen of commends
ble liberality, and incorporated by the legislature on January 4, 1858, was the gen-
erous rival of the Morgantown Female Academy for several years. The property
and improvements cost about $21,000. The school, located where Woodburn Hall
now stands 2 was conducted by Rev. J. R. Moore (superintendent), Mrs. E. I. Moore
(principal) and three or four lady teachers. During its short career of eight years,
it graduated thirty-five young ladies, and gave instruction to several hundred. The
attendance was 85 in 1S61 and 1862, and 68 in 1864. Supt. Moore, at his death
in 1864, was succeeded by Dr. John W. Scott who remained in charge until 1866,
when the property was donated to aid the foundation of the State University. (The
seminary buildings were burned in 1873.)
On January 9, 1866, board of trustees of the Monongalia Academy-
tendered to the legislature for the use of the college all its property
(including Woodburn Female Seminary), estimated at $51,000, on
condition that the college should be located at Morgantown. On Janu-
ary 30, 1867, the legislature, by vote of 17 to 5 in the senate, and 32
to 21 in the house, accepted, and on February 7 passed an act per-
manently establishing the "Agricultural College of West Virginia,"
and authorizing the Governor to appoint eleven suitable persons (one
from each senatorial district) to constitute a board of visitors whose
powers and duties were clearly defined by the act (and were largely
the same as the subsequent powers and duties of the regents, except that
the board of visitors was a close corporation filling any vacancies pro-
duced by death of members of the board and each year electing two
new members to fill the places made vacant by lot).
The eleven visitors were soon appointed and on April 3, 1867, held
their first meeting at Woodburn Seminary. After the election of a
president, they proceeded to discuss what style and character the col-
lege should assume — whether it should be for the exclusive purpose
of training farmers and soldiers, or whether it should offer instruction
in all the subjects that were generally understood to belong to the
curriculum of a "college," comprising every essential department of
education from the foundation upwards. They decided upon the latter ;
and, in addition to the preparatory department at the academy building,
they established ' ' three distinct and separate departments of instruction
in the college building: (1) collegiate; (2) scientific, and (3) agri-
cultural. They also provided for instruction in military tactics. They
primarily intended to establish a college that would meet the needs of
2 The location was known as "Beech Hill" which was purchased from Hon.
Thomas P. Reay. The school was opened in the original mansion house of Mr.
Reay, to which an addition was promptly built.
646
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
general education in West Virginia and eventually by expansion be
able to educate liberally young men in all the professions and pursuits
of life." It was not their purpose to give any preference to any ex-
tensive operations in experimental farming nor to emphasize the de-
partment of agriculture while there were other things more desirable
to meet the educational needs of the State.
In his inaugural address, on June 27, 1867, President Martin, in justification
of this policy, said: "In West Virginia the cultivation of the soil is certainly,
as everywhere, a commanding interest; but so also are its grazing, mineral and
manufacturing interests; while the greatest of all — the proper education of its
youth, and the means and appliances thereto — is perhaps the most backward of all.
"Notwithstanding past experience and contributions of long ages," said he,
"it is the humiliating truth that unhappy and liberal legislatures across the moun-
tains have left us here in West Virginia — an inheritance of hundreds and thousands
and tens of thousands of our fellow citizens in such a state of brutish and besotted
ignorance as to be absolutely unable either to read or write their names or read
God's word.
"Until this reproach is wiped out it would be folly to restrict the course of
instruction in the state college to the cultivation of the earth, or the profession of
Oglebay Hall, West Virginia University, Mokgantown
arms — especially as both the congressional and state acts relating thereto contem-
plate more than this."
By an act of March 3, 1868, the legislature appropriated $6,000 for
the general use of the college (to be spent as the board might direct),
and $10,000 to supplement the permanent endowment. A subsequent
act (June 25, 1868), in order to provide better facilities, authorized the
sale of Monongalia Academy and dwelling and the application of the
proceeds to the construction of another building on the main college
grounds. In the following July the academy building was sold to the
board of education of Morgantown for $13,500, and later the adjoining
house and lot was sold for $1,500. Soon thereafter, in the presence
of a large assemblage, the corner stone of Martin Hall was laid.
Salaries of the faculty were small, judged by the standards of a half century
later. The salary of President Martin was $1,600, and the salary of Vice-President
Scott and other professors was $1,200 or $1,000 for ten months.
Dwellings for the president and professors were authorized by the original act,
but were not erected because of a lack of funds.
In 1886, the board asked the legislature for an appropriation sufficient for this
purpose, and also contemplated the erection of a cadet dormitory, whose rentals
were expected to be a source of revenue.
Beginnings were slow and feeble. In the first term, of the forty
who reported for instruction only six were qualified for regular college
studies. In the second year, of the 100 who presented themselves, only
fourteen were qualified; but the number increased to forty-three in
the third year and to sixty-two in 1872-73. Among the obstacles and
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 647
hindrances of this period were charges of undue denominational in-
fluence and control, objections to the preparatory department.
The Government.— -By the act of December 4, 1868, which changed
the name of the college to "West Virginia University," the name of
the "board of visitors" was changed to the "board of regents" with
duties and powers defined, and provision was made that vacancies in
the board should be filled by the Governor.
On April 12, 1873, an act amending the school law contained a pro-
vision that the board of regents should consist of one person from each
judicial circuit (of which there were nine), but by an act of February
17, 1877, the power of appointment was conferred upon the Governor
with the advice and consent of the senate. By act of March 2, 1877, it
was provided that the board should consist of one person from each
senatorial district, to be appointed by the Governor as provided by
law ; and that the board should be changed regularly by the retirement
of two members each year (after June 30, 1877). Vacancies on the
board were to be filled by the Governor as before. From 1877 to 1882,
under this law, there were twelve regents. From 1883 to June 1, 1895,
there were thirteen.3
The new board of nine members (the first bipartisan board) which
began its term on June 1, 1895, and its successor whose term began
June 1, 1897, was divided into three groups, one of which was replaced
every second year.
The act of 1901 provided for the appointment of a new board of
nine members, "who shall be residents and voters of the State," and
"who shall be divided into two classes, consisting of four and five
regents respectively." The term of office of the first class continued
for two years, and the term of the second class for four years; and
thereafter the term of office of each class was to be four years (and
until their successors are appointed and qualified). It was also pro-
vided that not more than six regents shall be of the same political party
and that "not more than one shall be appointed from the same senatorial
district or county." From 1909 to 1921 the board consisted of five
members : the state superintendent of free schools, elected by the people ;
and four other members appointed by the Governor and responsible to
him for the proper conduct of their duties and receiving a salary of
$1,000 per year for their services. Under the act of 1909, the financial
and purely business affairs of the university (and all other state educa-
tional institutions) are controlled by a state board of control consisting
of three members appointed by the Governor.
Under an act of 1919 the control of all educational affairs of the
State, from the lowest school to the normal schools and the university
was vested in a state board of education composed of the state super-
intendent (as executive officer) and six members appointed by the
Governor. This board also has an advisory council of three colored
citizens.
From 1867 to 1896 there was a standing executive committee which
assisted in the administration of the university and reported to the
board. Until 1886 its membership was local, and did not include the
president except front 1868 till 1873. After 1886 its members were also
members of the board of regents, except in 1894-5, when the secretary
of the committee was a professor in the university. The number of
members varied. From five in 1867 it increased to six and then (1873-4)
to eight (including the superintendent of buildings and grounds and
the janitor). It was reduced to five in 1875 and to four in 1877. It
was increased to eight in 1878 and to nine in 1880, but was again de-
creased to five in 1882 and to four in 1883. It was raised to five again
in 1884 and to six in 1894, but it was reduced to three in 1895-6.
s For many years the Board seldom met more than once each year. The trip
to Morgantown was a long one. The meetings were often long and tedious. On
June 8, 1882, the Board directed the janitor to purchase one-half dozen spittoons
for use during the session of the Board. At some meetings a considerable sum
was spent for carriages which were provided by the secretary of the Board for the
use of members during the time of the meeting.
648 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
The university has had nine presidents. Before the close of the
year 1874-5 Dr. Alexander Martin, who had directed the solid founda-
tions of the university, laid down the cares of the office to accept a
position at Indiana Asbury (DePauw). In August, 1875, John W.
Scott was made acting president. John Rhey Thompson was elected
president on January 12, 1877, and relieved Scott at the opening of
the following spring term. Pour years later he resigned, March 12,
1881, to accept the pastorate of a church in Jersey City. After more
than a year, during which D. B. Purinton was acting president, the
board, in June, 1882, chose for the presidency Win. L. Wilson, who was
elected to congress a few weeks later, but did not entirely sever his re-
lation with the university until the following June. Then for two
years the Virginia plan was tested with R. C. Berkeley as chairman of
the faculty. In June, 1885, the presidency was restored. E. M. Turner,
who was elected president at that time, continued for eight years to
give direction for the future growth of the university, and to suggest
the plans from which the future development aud better administration
of the university have proceeded. Under him, and under Professor
P. B. Reynolds, who was acting president from July, 1893, to June,
1895, many features of the modern university were emerging. James
L. Goodknight was president from June, 1895, to June, 1897. He was
succeeded by Dr. Jerome Hall Raymond who served until 1901. After
Dr. Raymond resigned President D. B. Purinton was called from Deni-
son to fill the vacancy. He was the first president selected from the
alumni of the institution. In 1911 he was succeeded by Professor
Thomas E. Hodges, the predecessor of President Prank Butler, who
served as acting president in 1914-16 and was elected president in 1916.
The office of vice-president was held by J. W. Scott (1867-8), F. S. Lyon (1868-
70), S. G. Stevens (1870-73), J. W. Scott (1873-77), F. S. Lyon (1877-80), D. B.
Purinton (1880-83 and 1885-90), P. B. Reynolds (1890-96) and Robert A. Arm-
strong (1897-9). The office was abolished August 15, 1899. In 1897, the office
of assistant to the president was established. Professor Barbe was elected to the
place and held it until 1910.
The principalship of the preparatory department was held by Lyon (1867-70),
McMechan (1870), Solomon (1870-73), Lyon (1873-77), Lorentz (1877-82 and
1883-93), Miller (1893-1901) and Hare (1901-1912).
The position of superintendent of buildings and grouuds was filled by Geo.
M. Hagans (1867-73), E. Shisler (1873-79), W. O. Ison (1879-80), J. McM. Lee
(1880-84), Lieutenant Wilson (18S4-8S), A. W. Lorentz (1888-89), Jno. A. Myers
(1889-1897), F. L. Emory (1901-1911), and C. L. Brooks (1917- ).
The powers and responsibilities of the president have been greatly
increased in recent years. The administrative duties, at first shared by
the faculty and the local committee, and after 1899 by twenty-three or
more efficient but inharmonious committees, was in 1901 wisely and
satisfactorily unified and placed under the control of the president
acting with the aid of a council of advisors, several standing committees,
and heads of departments, a registrar, and a financial officer. In 1911,
the powers of internal administration previously exercised by the coun-
cil were distributed, partly to a smaller council consisting of the presi-
dent and the five deans representing the four colleges and the medical
school and partly to the faculty acting as a legislative body. The presi-
dent and council, aided by standing committees, appointed by the
president and responsible to him, have charge of all matters of a purely
administrative or executive nature.
The President of the University has so much to do in recent years that, one
finds it difficult to enumerate all his duties in detail. He has more numerous duties
than any other member of the faculty, and in number of hours devoted to _ daily
office work he has few close competitors and possibly no equal except the Registrar.
He gives unusual attention to detail and is unusually accessible to students.
His chief duties may be summarized as follows:
1. General direction of University administration and policies including ad-
justments of entrance requirements, changes in curriculum, standards of work,
regulation and control of examinations and instructors reports of work and grades,
management of discipline, and presentation of the needs and problems of the Uni-
versity to state boards — the Board of Education, the Board of Control.
2. Examination and approval of all expenditures of the various colleges and
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 649
departments, including approval of appropriations for various agricultural projects
conducted by the experiment station staff.
3. Chairman of the Entrance Committee and ex officio of all other committees.
4. Judge or arbiter in cases arising between the colleges or departments.
5. Representative of the University at educational meetings and in educational
relations with high schools, normal schools and other institutions within the state —
and also representative of the University in maintenance of friendly relations with
higher institutions of neighboring states, and in conferences with them upon ques-
tions of mutual interests.
Among his important executive duties is his work of general management to
secure co-operation and co-ordination of the various colleges and departments. He
is a sort of balance wheel to keep movement steady. One of the most important
duties, perhaps, is to keep in touch with the advances in higher education elsewhere
and to keep the University well equipped in faculty and tools to enable it to do
efficiently the work for which it was created by the state.
For the decade before 1910, the President's labors were considerably lessened
by an "Assistant to the President" in addition to secretarial help. In the decade
since 1910, he has directed the work of the office without any assistant (except the
secretary), and in the same period his work has increased both in amount and in
scope as a result of the increased attendance and the enlargement of University
departments.
It seems strange that the University once adopted for a year the old Virginia
idea of a University without a president, substituting for him a chairman of the
faculty who was subject only to duties which might be delegated to him by the
various independent and sovereign departments.
The faculty is the general legislative body. It fixes the require-
ments for entrance and for graduation, and assists in directing the
general educational policy of the university. In practice it approves
the orders of the Council of Administration. It also approves or dis-
approves recommendations and other acts of the faculties of the various
colleges. Any motion to change the established policy of the university
in any respect must be submitted to the faculty in -writing at a regulat-
or special meeting and must lie over for not less than three weeks for
consideration at a subsequent meeting, a copy of the proposed change
being furnished to each member of the faculty.
The faculty, as a legislative body, includes the president, the deans
of colleges, professors, associate professors, assistant professors, the
dean of women, the commandant of cadets, the director of the School
of Music and the librarian.
The Council of Administration is now composed of the president,
the deans of the four colleges (Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Law
and Agriculture), and the dean of the School of Medicine.
A committee on students' courses (varying in size) in each college
considers all cases of proposed changes, substitutions or applications for
irregular work.
The committee of classification and grades (of six members) is the
most important committee. It receives, approves or disapproves, and
records the action of the "committee on course of study" of each col-
lege. In addition, it has a large amount of routine work, the nature of
which is indicated by the name of the committee.
Discipline is in the hands of the president. But his decisions are
made after advising with the dean of the college and the head of the
department in which the student has his major work, and he may also
call in any professor or instructor to whom the offense may have a
relation.
The story of the evolution of administrative plans and policies is
interesting and instructive. The strict rules and discipline of the earlier
years became unnecessary as the embryo-college expanded from the local
and traditional conditions and developed a more efficient and less clumsy
system of administration and co-operation. The strict curriculum of the
earlier years, and the loose separate school elective system (Virginia
plan) which replaced it in June, 1882, both gave way to a partially
elastic system in which, since 1895, the choice of studies by the student
is under the oversight and direction of a "class officer" whose duty it is
to require that prescribed courses shall be taken in order and to super-
vise the selection of elective courses (both as to kind and sequence).
The control of the entrance requirements, of advanced standing, and
650 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
of the character and amount of the student's work, as developed by
experience, is based upon the best interests of the whole student body,
and is efficient enough to maintain a high standard without causing
unnecessary hardship to any student.
The budget is in part determined by the recommendations of the
heads of departments and deans of the colleges submitted in writing to
the President, who thus obtains the data for his own recommendations
which he presents to the Board of Control, through the Board of Educa-
tion, for its approval.
Evolution of College Departments. — After the original college (Arts and Sci-
ences), other colleges and schools were established as follows: the College of Law,
1878; the College of Engineering, 1S87; the Agricultural Experiment Station, 1888,
and the College of Agriculture, 1897; the School of Music, 1897; the School of
Medicine, 1902. The five departments of the original college increased to more
than twenty-five by 1907. From the chair of mental and moral philosophy, of which
President Martin was the first professor, four departments have developed; phil-
osophy, history and political science, education, and economics and sociology. The
two departments of history begun under F. W. Sanders and R. E. Fast in 1897
I
Commencement Hall, West Virginia University, Morgantown
were united under J. M. Callahan in 1902-03. The department of economics and
sociology was established in 1897 and its work has been conducted successfully, by
President Raymond (1897-1901), P. B. Reynolds (1901-1910), and E. H. Vickers
(since 1910). The school of pedagogy, organized under T. C. Miller in 1895, became
the department of education under J. N. Deahl in 1902. The original department
of languages developed into four departments. In 1871 it bifurcated into the
departments of ancient languages and literatures and of modern languages and
literatures. In 1897, by another bifurcation, the department of ancient languages
became the two departments of Greek and of Latin (under R. W. Douthat and
A. J. Hare). E. E. Bishop succeeded to the Greek in 1911, and C. B. Cannaday
to the head of the Latin department after 1916. At the same time the department
of modern languages was divided into the two departments of Germanic languages
(under F. W. Truscott) and Romance languages and literatures (under J. I. Har-
vey). Madison Stathers became head of the latter department in 1910. From the
department of English literature successively under eleven heads from F. S. Lyon
to R. A. Armstrong, a new department of public speaking was formed in 1910 under
C. E. Neil (succeeded in 1919 by W. J. Kay). Of the original departments or
"chairs" none has undergone more differentiation than that of "natural sciences."
In 1868 the physiology and hygiene were detached, and in 1869 chemistry and
natural history, to which was added the agriculture under Win. M. Fontaine in
1872. The physics, which with astronomy went begging in 1875-76, was also trans-
ferred to Fontaine in 1877. At the same time the natural history was transferred
to I. C. White whose chair became ' ' geology and natural history ' ' in 1881, and
simply "geology" in 1887 when the natural history was transferred to J. W.
Hartigan. Dr. White resigned in 1893 and was succeeded by S. B. Brown. Fon-
taine's subjects, after distribution among the faculty in 1879-80, were taken in
1880 by Woodville Latham, Jr., who was succeeded by A. R. Whitehill in 1885.
Later the chair was divided into three departments by the assignment of the agri-
culture to T. C. Atkeson in 1891, and physics to T. E. Hodges in 1896. In 1909,
Hodges was succeeded by C. W. Waggoner. Whitehill was succeeded by F. E.
Clark in 1919.
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 651
In 1897 the agriculture was reorganized with Atkeson as dean, and soon a new
scries of differentiations were begun.
The department of biology had its origin in 1888 in the reorganization of the
chair of "anatomy, physiology and hygiene'' which had been established under II.
W. Brock in 1878 and was held by J. W. Hartigan after 1887. Its creation was
due to the criticism of the anomalous status of the school of anatomy. In 1899 it
was divided into the two departments of zoology (under J. B. Johnson) and botany
(under E. B. Copeland) which, after reunion for the year 1901-02, became perma-
nently separate in 1902. In 1907 the botany was merged with the department of
bacteriology under J. L. Sheldon, who in 1920 was succeeded by H. H. York. At
the same time J. B. Johnson resigned from the department of zoology and was
succeeded by A. M. Reese.
The professorship of mathematics was held by the commandant of cadets from
1867 to 1879, and again from 1884 to 1891, after which the position was held by
J. S. Stewart who was succeeded by J. A. Eiesland in 1907.
Buildings and Equipment. — The problem of securing suitable buildings to meet
the needs of expansion has been a continuous one. The supply has never exceeded
the demand. The following buildings have been constructed: Martin Hall, 1870;
central part of Experiment Station (the first armory), 1873-74; the south wing of
the Experiment Station, 1889, and the north wing, 1890; central part of Woodburn
Hall, 1874-76 (to replace Woodburn Seminary building which burned in February,
1873), north wing of Woodburn, 1S98-1900, and the south wing, 1910-11; Com-
mencement Hall (with basement Gymnasium), 1889-92; old Mechanical building,
1892 and 1894 (burned 1899); Science Hall, 1893; Astronomical Observatory, 1900;
Armory, 1902; new Mechanical Hall, 1900-02; Library, 1902; President's House,
1905; Central Heating Plant, 1906-07; Medical Building, 1915-16; Mechanical
Annex, 1915-16; Oglebay Hall, 1917-18; Woman's Hall, begun in 1917 and com-
pleted in 1919.
The University needs some good modern buildings constructed with a view to
permanent use. ' Appropriations for buildings have never been adequate.
The total cost of all University buildings constructed between 1867 and 1894,
including also their equipment, was only $250,000 — considerably less than the cost
of one high school building recently constructed at Huntington. In three of these
buildings, each of which is partly occupied by general administrative offices of the
University and one shared by the College of Law, the College of Arts and Sciences
is still housed. One of these, Martin Hall, constructed in 1870, is now occupied by
a single department. Physics. Another, Science Hall, constructed in 1893, is occu-
pied by another single department, Chemistry. A third, Woodburn Hall, constructed
in 1874-76, and enlarged by an inexpensive wing in 1910, contains ten departments
of this college in addition to the entire College of Law, the Pharmacy department
of the School of Medicine, the Woman's Parlor, the President's offices, the Regis-
trar 's office and three or four other offices, and also two stock rooms and a car-
penter shop. Since the completion of the latest of these buildings (Science Hall),
in 1893, every college or school, except the College of Arts and Sciences, has had
an appropriation for a new building. New buildings were constructed for the Col-
lege of Engineering in 1900-02 and 1915-16, for the School of Medicine in 1915-16,
and for Agriculture in 1917-18. An appropriation of 1918 provided for a building
for the College of Law. The Music School, in 1919, was moved into a private build-
ing which had been rented previously for the Extension division of the College of
Agriculture. An appropriation of 1921 provided for modern Chemistry building
and a new Gymnasium.
The state can afford to build for its highest educational institution several
modern buildings equal to the best high school buildings of its chief cities. For
the satisfactory development of the University, the question of the construction of
new buildings deserves most serious consideration.
Equipment, which in the earlier years was scarce and poor, in recent years has
been provided more liberally. Laboratories are now well provided for conducting
modern scientific work.
Evolution of the Library. — It was only in recent years that the library became
properly organized in suitable quarters and with satisfactory facilities to encourage
its use.
By 1872 the estimated number of books was 4,000. By 1878, this was in-
creased to 5,000 where it remained until after 1892. In 1896-7 the catalogue also
announced that there were special libraries in most of the departments. In 1897-8,
when organization of the library was properly begun, the number of volumes was
estimated at 13,000. The number was increased to 17,500 by 1901, to 20,000 by
1902. By 1904 it reached 22,000, with an annual addition of 1,300, and a special
law library of 2,000 volumes. The private library of Senator Willey was donated
in 1903.
From 1877 to 1893 a deposit of $2.00 or the security of some professor was
required of all who used the books. Since 1893 the library has been free to all
students.
Until 1889 the librarian was always some professor, who opened the library
only at such time as suited his own convenience when he was free from his regular
duties. The place was held in this way by Col. Weaver (1867-8), Captain Pierce
(1868-75), and Harvey (1877-89). By 1885-6, the catalogue announced that the
library was open on Friday of each week and in 1887-8, on Tuesdays and Thurs-
days from 8:30 to 9:00 A. M., and on Friday from 1:30 to 3:00 P. M. Not until
652 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
1890, when Margaret E. Morrow became librarian, was the library kept open during
the day. Finally, in 1900, it was opened from 7:45 A. M. to 10:00 P. M., and on
Sundays from 2:00 to 5:00 P. M.
In 1877-78, complaint was made that there were no shelves and that books
were piled on the floor. Under such conditions there could be no classification or
proper care of books. In 1SS6 an attempt was made to get money to rebind old
books and to buy new ones, but there was yet no suitable room adapted to library
purposes.
In 1888 Turner wrote, ' ' The library is a disgrace to the University. ' ' Two
years later the books were moved to the larger room in Martin Hall which had
formerly been used for chapel. Then Turner urged the need of furniture (chairs,
tables, and cases) , and wrote ' ' There ought to be a competent librarian so the
library can be kept open." In 1890, Miss Clara Hough was engaged to succeed
Miss Morrow who had been employed temporarily. In 1897 she was succeeded by
Miss Eliza J. Skinner, who organized the library, increased the staff and gave
courses in library science. Miss Wiggin succeeded Miss Skinner in 1902, super-
intended the removal to the new permanent and suitable building, and has con-
tinued the policy of enlargement — aided by a library committee (which was first
recommended by acting-president Eeynolds in 1S94).
The library, although not properly organized until 1897, has steadily increased
in usefulness, and in satisfactory facilities to encourage its use, in the new home
provided for it in 1902, but now needs additional room and additional attendants.
The number of books, which was "estimated" at 4,000 in 1872, and 22,000 in
1904, and is now over 60,000, including 8,600 in the law library and 6,400 in the
experiment station collection. The usefulness of the library has recently increased
in many ways. Each year courses in library methods are offered by Dr. L. D.
Arnett, head librarian, in order to qualify students to take charge of high school
libraries which have recently developed so rapidly.
Policies and Politics. — For many years the growth of the new institu-
tion was very slow and uncertain. This was due to niany causes: (1)
the partially local foundation; (2) sectional questions which had divided
Virginia long before the war, and new sectional jealousies; (3) post-
bellum political questions and partisanship; (4) lack of a satisfactory
system of secondary schools; (5) divided responsibility and laissez faire
policy; (6) lack of communication; (7) discrimination against women.
Gradually these obstacles to growth were reduced or removed by chang-
ing conditions. Industrial progress, stimulating better communication,
has been a prominent factor in the transformation of the earlier poorly
equipped school into a real college which may now claim to university
rank. Recently the university has been greatly aided by the develop-
ment of better secondary schools.
The early policies in the administration reflected the general educa-
tional and political conditions of the post-bellum period, and were
largely influenced by the fact that the preparatory department had a
larger attendance than the college. Much of the dissension in the
university and the opposition from the outside for the first quarter
century was probably due to the policy of submitting the details of
administration — including even cases of discipline — to general faculty
meetings whose proceedings, in the absence of more attractive diversions,
furnished one of the chief sources of town topics of conversation.
At the beginning, and for many years thereafter, discipline was
very strict. Among the earliest regulations (1868) was one prohibiting
any member of the faculty from being connected with any secret college
fraternity, and requiring every professor to exert his influence for
suppression of such secret organizations, and another enumerating
various prohibitions including profanity, betting, the carrying of con-
cealed weapons, and smoking within the college enclosure. All students
were required to be present at daily religious exercises and to attend
regularly on Sabbath some place of religious worship.
All students on entrance were required to sign an agreement to
obey the rules to conduct themselves with propriety, to be respectful to
the faculty and to deport themselves as gentlemen. This rule was en-
forced until finally abrogated by an action of the Board of Regents on
June 13, 1893.
The faculty met often and a large part of its deliberations were de-
voted to investigations and trials of students for disobeying the rules.
Some of these trials — reported rather fully by the secretary, Professor
Solomon — are full of human interest.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 653
On September 19, 1871, President Martin called a special meeting
of the faculty to try the cases of several students who had attended the
theatre on the previous evening to hear "East Lynne" and to obtain
from them an expression of regret for the past and a promise to obey
the rules in the future. Student J. T. Harris and two others who
apologized were "discharged from further censure by the faculty."
Students W. G. Brown, J. M. Crane and others, who signed a paper of
regret and promise drawn up by the president, were reinstated. Stu-
dents Wm. LeRoy Boughner, D. C. Hoffman, A. E. McLane and Plum-
mer Fitch, who refused to sign, were regarded as "in rebellion against
the lawful authority of the faculty" and were promptly suspended by
a unanimous vote. McLane, Boughner and Fitch later met the require-
ments and were readmitted. According to tradition, Philander C. Knox,
of later fame, was one of the delinquents who was not reinstated, but
his name does not appear on the records of the faculty. Hoffman's
father, early in 1872, brought a suit against the Board of Regents
for reinstatement of his son.
In his report of June, 1877, President Thompson, after a campaign
to remove misapprehensions in regard to the university, reported that
the task of removing suspicion, apathy and opposition was a difficult
one which would require time and energy. To aid in the success of
the university, he suggested that each regent should co-operate in his
district in removing ignorance and unfounded prejudices and proposed
for the government of students the gradual introduction of personal
moral influences instead of methods resembling the regulation for re-
form schools and inebriate asylums.
Later (in his report of 1880) President Thompson, referring to the
emphasis placed by the faculty upon moral character, said: "We dare
not scatter fire brands in society by sending forth from these halls
young men with trained intellects and depraved hearts. A madman is
less dangerous without a sword than with one."
Under Thompson's successor larger emphasis was placed upon
scholarship, and discipline was somewhat further diminished. In 1882,
immediately preceding the election of W. L. Wilson, the board abol-
ished the prescribed and compulsory curriculum and adopted substitute
a department plan of independent and elective schools, the Virginia
system. The year 1882-83 was a period of transition resulting in con-
siderable confusion and dissatisfaction. Many students left and some
went to colleges elsewhere. The dissatisfaction led to a widespread and
bitter attack on the university and a considerable exodus of students,
which Wilson explained was greater in the preparatory department.
In 1884 the president of the board stated that in 1883 the number of
students was reduced from 159 to 97 — largely as a result of partisan
opposition and of assaults by the partisan press. To induce a larger
attendance reductions were made in the tuition, free tuition was pro-
posed and the establishment of a medical school was recommended. In
May, 1884, Professor Berkeley as chairman of the faculty, in his report
after referring to the smaller number of students, said: "The change
that was made two years ago from the old-fashioned curriculum to the
new, more progressive and elective system is rapidly producing the
good results that were anticipated." Professor Berkeley was greatly
troubled over an interpretation of the rule concerning church attend-
ance by which every student was required to obtain his permission
before attending any public religious service on Sabbath. The question
as to who constituted the faculty, which arose while Professor Berkeley
was chairman, remained a question at issue under the administration
of President Turner, who was unwilling to restrict voting to members
of the faculty above the rank of instructor.
Among the letters discussing the conditions in the institution, which appeared
in the Wheeling Intelligencer in the summer of 1884, was the following from Dr.
S. S. Adams, of Washington, D. C, written June 3, 1884, to James M. Lee, of Mor-
gantown :
654 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Dear Sir: — I am in receipt of a postal card from you notifying me that
you had mailed me a pamphlet on Coeducation in the "West Virginia University
and requesting my vote and opinion on the subject. The pamphlet has been re-
ceived and carefully examined, and in this letter I propose not only to respond to
its main idea, but to offer some comments on the cause which gives rise to its sug-
gestion, the present deplorable state of my alma mater. As a graduate and alumnus
of the University, who began his studies there the year it was endowed as a Uni-
versity, and continued his attendance for six consecutive years, I am familiar with
its early history and subsequent misfortunes, and I therefore claim the right to
speak in its defense.
I do not intend to attack individuals as such, but as public servants, supported
by public funds and subject to public criticism. Recalling the good days of the
venerable Scott and Harmon it is a lamentable sight to see members of a Faculty
without a head, asserting that the West Virginia University "is not fulfilling its
mission to the State;" that it "never has been the institution it should be," "and
that it is not now. ' ' The second of these assertions I deny. The first and third
are unfortunately at the present time too true.
President Martin's Regime. — Just before I entered the college, the West Vir-
ginia College was converted into a University, with Alex. Martin, D.D., as President.
He was a thoroughly educated and Christian gentleman, and as well a strict dis-
ciplinarian. The Faculty was composed of industrious and educated men, who
worked harmoniously for the good of the institution. The Board of Eegents con-
sisted of representative gentlemen of the State, whose aim was to elevate the school,
and not to use it to subserve party ends. The students were from different States.
They were mostly domiciled in ' ' Woodburn, ' ' a building dear to the hearts of
many alumni. They realized the fact that they must either work or be dismissed.
The' Executive Committee had the best interests of the institution at heart and
were not influenced by party feelings.
What was accomplished during the years 1869 and 1875 inclusive?
First, the building on the southside of the Campus, which fully met the require-
ments of the day, was constructed. Then came the reorganization of the cadet
corps, with the late lamented Captain Pierce at its head. Through his untiring
devotion and energy the armory was built, and the corps put upon a better military
basis than that of any other State school. Morgantown was made a signal station,
and a competent man gave instructions in signaling and telegraphy. The burning
of "Woodburn" in 1872, caused grave apprehensions at first, but through the
prompt action of the President and the Executive committee the ruins had hardly
cooled before steps were taken to make good the loss, which resulted in the hand-
some structure that now adorns the grounds.
The Discipline. — During this period there were but few changes in the Faculty
and these always bore good fruit. I confess that at that time I considered the
discipline too strict, but in looking back and comparing it with the consequences
of the liberty displayed of late I am .inclined to favor strict discipline. In 1873,
the Faculty, aiming to raise the standard of education, instituted the written exam-
inations, a system severe, exacting and impartial. With this state of affairs every-
thing moved along smoothly, the University prospered, and the number of students
and graduates increased annually. The curriculum was as good as that of Harvard
or Yale, and students who left our school to attend those institutions afterwards
confessed that the examinations at our college were the most severe.
What can be said of her Alumni? Certainly their alma mater has no reason
to be ashamed of most of them. They are scattered over the country engaged in
various professions and employments. Some of them are today holding positions
of importance in other educational institutions of the land, while two of them fill
important chairs in her own Faculty, and two are among its corps of instructors.
The Wrecking Begun. — In 1873 the political complexion of the State changed
and then hot-house politicians who were scarcely known outside of their own town
came forward and claimed a share in the management of the institution, thus
prostituting what should have been the pride of the State, to the base level of a
political machine. Soon the axe of the Board of Eegents fell, carrying to the
basket the heads of such men as Dt. T. H. Logan, of Wheeling; men whose fault
was not that they loved Caesar less, but they loved Borne more, that they thought
their first duty was to the cause of education instead of to party.
Well do I remember the pitiable sight which this new Board of Eegents pre-
sented at its first meeting. They were besieged by local politicians, who were better
qualified to kill time on the boxes in front of a town shop, to play poker or to
discuss local option than to manage the affairs of an educational institution clam-
oring for places on the Executive Committee. They had been of great service
to their party in spite of the fact that the other party invariably carried the county,
and they wanted their reward. They squabbled over positions the salaries of
which would not pay for the cloth they wasted in riding store counters and legal
chairs.
The Damaging Stroke. — But the damaging stroke was in June, 1875, when the
wholesale onslaught was made on the Faculty. This Bourbon Board of Eegents had
not the courage to dismiss the worthy President, but preferred to seek shelter under
a failure to re-elect. This piece of cowardice was promptly met and its force
broken by his prompt call to one of the leading institutions in the West as its
President, so that today Alexander Martin is at the head of an institution far
above the one for which he fought so hard. Thanks to the ingratitude of these
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 65.')
politicians it proved a lucky turning point in Rev. Martin 's life, and he can today
laugh at this decapitated institution, whose downfall began with his departure.
Other changes of doubtful benefit followed. At this time the tenure of office was
made one year.
The session of '75 and '76 opened without a President. During the two suc-
ceeding years many changes took place. The school decreased in number and gen-
eral disorder prevailed. Finally the Regents elected Rev. J. R. Thompson President.
But instead of letting him fulfil the duties of the office they imposed the additional
tax of an educational drummer, requiring him to travel about the State the most
of the year hunting for students. They had found a competent man who was
familiar with boys and knew what they wanted. He was not so strict a disciplin-
arian as his predecessor, rather preferring to govern by love than by severe pun-
ishments. He was almost worshipped by the students and the school prospered.
But alas! he had the misfortune to be a young man, which to the sapient committee
was a crime for which he was denounced in spite of his successful administration.
Ere long this ill-feeling became unbearable and the genial and cultivated Thompson
was forced to resign rather than submit to the vituperations of gamblers, horse
jockeys and shysters.
Again the school was headless. Competent men were unwilling to accept an
office without some guarantee of a reasonably permanent tenure. A man was at
hand, though young, who could have managed the school in a becoming manner,
X'
Science Hall, West Virginia University, Morgantown
but through jealousies he was decorated with the empty honor of Acting President.
If D. B. Purinton had been put in power when Thompson resigned I venture to
assert that there would have been no necessity for this memorial. He had been
teaching in the institution since its beginning and was fully acquainted with its
wants.
Another Change. — But another change was wrought and Mr. Wilson of the
eastern part of the State was elected President. He was reported to be a qualified
man and his success was predicted. His reform seems to have been as much of a
fizzle as Mahoneisin in Virginia. He was at the time of the election a candidate
for Congress, and soon resigned the Presidency to fulfil the onerous duties of that
' ' Cave of the Winds, ' ' to which he was presently elected. He seems to have been
ruled by two or three ambitious members of the Faculty and the most unmitigated
and dastardly strokes the University ever received were dealt while he was at its
head. A curriculum second to none in the land were abolished and schools after
the pattern of the University of Virginia were established, a system antiquated and
impracticable in these pushing days. Discipline was disregarded and the boys were
allowed to run riot over the town. What was the effect?
The first term of this man's rule fifty students were taken home because no
supervision was exercised over their moral education. They were allowed to gamble,
drink and absent themselves from recitations, and the older members of the Faculty
were powerless. The end was inevitable, and today the once prosperous college is
clamoring for co-education as a means of rehabilitation, while there is scarcely more
than a baker's dozen of students to greet their friends at the coming meeting.
Co-education. — At present there are too many other and more vital points re-
quiring the attention of the Regents to justify them in undertaking to solve the
problem of co-education.
"We think the institution demands prompt, vigorous and courageous treat-
ment," say the Faculty. So do I. But are experiments in education of this class?
I do not think so.
The Wants of the Institution. — What then do we want?
1. Let the Regents cut loose from politics and reorganize the personnel of
the University for its good, on an efficient educational basis.
656 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
2. Reorganize the Executive Committee by appointing upon it educated men
whose aim will be for the elevation of the institution and not merely to benefit
themselves. If they are of different political convictions, what matters it, so long
as they discharge their duties without fear or favor?
3. Restore the former curriculum, and give young men the hope of receiving
a thorough collegiate education in at least six years.
4. Look to the moral education of the youth.
5. Offer salaries commensurate with the duties and thus attract successful
professors of talent from other schools.
6. Abolish the impracticable method of re-electing the professors annually.
Competent men cannot be attracted to an institution with a tenure of office de-
pendent upon caprice and favor.
7. Elect a President and let him look after the interests at home. If he is
young and competent so mvch the better. Do not despise him on account of his
age. There are men among the alumni acknowledged to be competent. Why not
give one of them a chance? But above all, stand by him, whoever he may be, and
do not let the ignorant and disgruntled politicians rule or ruin as has been their
wont.
8. Thoroughly overhaul the Faculty. Here is where the greatest trouble lies.
As to each member consider and act upon the one point: Is he the best man that
can be had to fill the chair? If not, ask him to step down and out and put in his
place a man selected for the qualifications he lacks. Drunkards and men of bad
morals should be promptly removed. There are such in the Faculty, as is well
known, and if self respect does not force them to retire other means should be taken
to make them do so. When an alumnus is found competent retain him. If other
alumni of capacity and promise can be found to seek places give them a chance.
Select no man because he taught ' ' bef o de war. ' ' This is no guarantee that he
is competent now, but on the contrary, "quite the reverse."
9. Make attendance at recitations and divine service obligatory.
Some causes of the trouble at the University may be inferred from
the following extract from a letter addressed to Professor W. P. Willey
(who was then secretary of the Faculty) and written at Wheeling on
February 20, 1885, by a distinguished member of the Board of Regents
who was at that time attending the sessions of the legislature :
Tour letter in regard to the professional school was read by me (without
names) to the Committee on Education, and it had the effect to squelch completely
poor Dean * in that branch of his reorganization. I only wish you had co-operated
as thoroughly upon his other contemplated reforms. There is something wrong
about Dean, but I am not just able to define it. How did he get out of the Faculty
of Alleghany College and how did he get into this legislature? The truth is his
whole ardor upon co-education is only explicable upon the hypothesis of a desire
to create an opening into which an ex-professor of Alleghany may become a pro-
fessor in our University. And so, when sifted to the bottom, the enthusiasm on
this subject has generally a very practical incentive and soHtion. I received a
number of the Educational Journal, which is an admirable paper. Mr. Morgan,
being indebted to the Democratic party for his position, should respect its voice
upon topics which have taken a political turn — or at all events he should present
both sides. We desire some exposition for the sentiments of the large tax-paying
regions which support our free schools, and to whoso efforts alone, or nearly so,
Mr. Morgan owes his position.
I hope you and Prof. Brooke will be able to increase the law class largely next
session. Mr. Edwards of Marshall (a wolf in sheep 's clothing) moved in Com-
mittee to drop two professors aiming at law and medicine. I stated the case thus:
13 students at $25 each = $325 each in tuition fees; $400x13 equals $5,200 in money
retained in state; deduet salaries of two professors, $3,200, leaves net balance of
$2,325. When the vote was taken his proposition commanded two votes in a com-
mittee of 12 — 10 being in negative and so voting. I hope when the Board meets
we shall have a quiet and harmonious meeting without being vexed by any factional
questions. "Let us have peace."
If any more wars on professors are inaugurated it will tend to injure the
institution. Mr. F , I am told has married Prof. L 's daughter. I hope he
has learned to attend to his own business and I think it would be well to intimate
that if any more assaults are made on the professors, there will be several vacan-
cies created in the Faculty before we adjourn. I have made up my mind to this
and I hope you concur in the propriety of such action. Wishing you great success
in your classes, especially in the law, I am
Yrs. truly,
Dan'l B. Lucas.
I have several letters from Prof. Berkeley which I have not time to answer,
as we are having three sessions a day. Please show him this and it will do for
replies to him.
Yrs.,
L.
4 J. S. W. Dean, a member of the legislature.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 657
The administration of President Turner, which began in 1885 and
brought to the university new men such as Dr. P. B. Reynolds and
Dr. A. R. Whitehill, introduced a period of larger development and
prepared the way for better organization and better plans for ad-
ministration. At the close of the first year of his administration the
board announced a considerable increase in attendance — especially from
the southern part of the State — and reported a cessation of unfavorable
criticism in regard to the unit management. President Turner, with
the insight and foresight of a real executive, was prompt in recommend-
ing a number of changes in laissez faire policies and customs. He
believed that the time had come to adopt some settled policy in the
affairs of the university, looking toward the growth and develop-
ment of the institution as well as to its immediate needs. "All educa-
tional institutions are a matter of growth," said he; "and they can
grow only by adopting and acting upon some line of policy carefully
matured and suited to the conditions of their environment." In order
to remove several causes of friction he proposed (1) to abolish the
senior vacations (of the last four weeks of the year) which has origi-
nated under the old curriculum plan; (2) to abolish the hdssez-faire
lack of system in examinations, which had interfered with recitations
and adopt a system of examinations held at a definite time to be de-
termined by the entire faculty (thus reducing the independent sov-
ereignty of each individual instructor) ; (3) to remedy certain
anomalous situations arising from the fact that students in the
preparatory school were allowed to take studies in the university
departments.
He recommended facilities for enlargement of the work of the in-
stitution, preparation for the creation of new departments needed in
science, the abolition or complete reorganization and change of loca-
tion of the medical department. He believed that the establishment
of the medical department in 1879 was a mistake.
President Turner "set his face like flint" against intemperance of
students. He was furious in dealing promptly and summarily with
such cases.
In 1887 in accord with his recommendation a legislative bill was
proposed, prohibiting the sale of spirituous liquors to university
students.
By June, 1887, the President was able to report that there was little
need of discipline except in individual eases. The most serious trouble
was an incipient rebellion arising in the spring of 1887 from a spirit of
insubordination among a number of students following an investigation
of cheating on examinations and. a suspension of students who were
found guilty. The general sentiment of the students, however, was
in accord with the action of the faculty. The President wisely settled
minor cases of disorder by private admonition, believing that action by
the faculty in cases of discipline should be the last resort.
In 1887 the faculty proposed to modify the rule requiring each
candidate for a degree to deliver two orations and two essays in chapel
so that each candidate could chose between an oration or an essay for
chapel but would be required to prepare either an oration or an essay
for commencement.
Confronted by new problems resulting from increase of students
and addition of new features he urged the need of a better library and
a competent librarian, better equipment, better business methods in
the university, new departments, new buildings planned and constructed
for definite purposes and a suitably planned experiment farm, and
station with scientific work probably co-ordinated and correlated. Among
other needs, he proposed (in 1800) a "chair of pedagogics" in order to
establish a closer relation with other schools and especially to aid in
the encouragement of high schools upon which the university should
largely depend for its supply of students. After trying the inde-
pendent department-election system for three years, he favored a return
to the curriculum system, at least for the first two years of the college
Vol. 1—4 2
658 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
course. By 1890, embarrassed by differences of opinion in the faculty,
he accepted responsibility in a final determination which could not
satisfactorily be distributed, and arranged a plan of a four-year course
to which he proposed to adhere thereafter as far as practicable. At the
same time he suggested that the board should clearly define his powers
and duties to enable him properly to plan and execute in adjusting
the problems of a growing institution under changing conditions.
Two years later he reported that the work of revising the course of
study was not completed because several members of the faculty could
not agree upon the adjustment of subjects required for degrees. Ap-
parently some members insisted that all work offered in their depart-
ments should be required of every candidate for the degree.
On, June 10, 1891, following a report of a special investigating com-
mittee upon the organization and discords of the faculty, the board by
a formal vote recognized the President as the executive head whose
authority should be recognized by his subordinates, indicated its ex-
pectation that all subordinates would show proper respect and courtesy
to the President and to each other, and intimated that further discord
and contention would be remedied by more vigorous measures.
By a resolution of June 10, 1892, it disapproved violations of the
rule requiring that all discussions and proceedings of the faculty should
be secret and confidential, declared removal from the faculty as the
penalty for any future violation and ordered that this resolution and
the rule should be read in full faculty meeting. The order was promptly
obeyed on June 11, the rule and the resolution being read to the faculty
by the secretary, W. P. Willey.
Regent Smith offered the following motion: "The board learns with
regret that Professor Atkeson has declined to teach the class in English
Grammar assigned him by President Turner under the direction of the
Executive Committee ; and the board insisting that said work must be
done, it is ordered that Professor Atkeson be informed that he is ex-
pected to teach said class, and if he still declines the boai'd will expect
his resignation as Professor of Agriculture." The motion, amended by
omission of the resignation clause, was approved.
In the earlier years, instructors frequently taught some branch
(such as astronomy), which did not belong to their department. In
1875-76, while Scott was acting president, nearly every professor taught
subjects outside his own department.
Dr. Turner urged that the policy of the board in promoting to pro-
fessorship instructors who had served only a year or two should be
radically changed considering the unequal distribution of work which
caused some dissatisfaction in the faculty, he recommended fewer
teachers and better salaries. In urging the necessity of a change in
the board's method of conducting the business management of the
university be suggested that the board which met only once each year
should leave some discretion to the officers of the administration. Hav-
ing been insulted by an "unsatisfactory and disobedient" janitor, who
by appointment of the board had held the position since the early
seventies and whom under the law he could not dismiss, he especially
concurred with the superintendent of grounds in urging that the janitor
should not be appointed by the board.
By 1893 the President felt that the difficulties and disagreements in
the faculty — which had their origin in the period before the beginning
of his administration and which were largely the result of antagonistic
notions and views of organization and government — threatened to break
down all authority and subordination, and could terminate only by
changing the personnel of the faculty. "The faculty must be re-
organized," he wrote in his report, "and only such men allowed to
remain in it as are willing to give a cheerful, loyal and hearty support
to the administration, no matter who is President, and no matter
whether they agree with his policy or not. Under no other condition
can any man make the institution what it ought to be."
In June, 1893, he submitted statements indicating the unfitness of
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 659
several members of the faculty — one of whom had treated with con-
tempt the President's request for a report of his department (as re-
quired by a rule of the board).
On July 21, Regent J. H. Stewart, in view of the unhappy feeling
in the faculty resulting in trials, and investigations, with a view to
harmonizing all differences in a reorganization proposed to request the
immediate resignation of every employee of the university except the
janitor who after the adoption of the resolution was directed to serve
it upon each member of the faculty. The janitor doubtless took especial
delight in delivering the message to several who had sought to increase
his labors and to change his habits. According to tradition he met the
president on the steps in front of his office and said with mock courtesy:
' ' Mr. President it is my pleasure to present to you your walkin ' papers
and may the Lord have mercy on .your soul."
The janitor who boasted that ho had "seen presidents come and go"
retained his connection with the university practically until his death
in June, 1902.
Dr. P. B. Reynolds, as acting president, repeated and elaborated Dr.
Turner's recommendations of a better organization of the University
and a better business system. He proposed that in order to secure co-
ordination and co-operation the different schools or departments pre-
viously under control of the faculty should be subject only to the super-
vision and approval of the president and the state school systems should
be unified. Among the leading features of this reorganization he recom-
mended (1) a business assistant to the president; (2) a committee (the
president, professors from each of three groups) to determine such ques-
tions as the scope of work for each chair, curriculum, admission require-
ments and schedules of recitations and examination; (3) a clear state-
ment of the special duties of professors in admitting students to their
classes, in making reports; in conforming to schedules etc.; (4) a clear
statement of the president's duties; (5) abolition of useless junior and
sophomore public performances; (6) appointment of a library committee.
He also recommended the abridgement of rales, the abolition of all
money prizes and diplomas printed in English.
In the disappointing administration of President J. L. Goodknight,
these recommendations were largely ignored.5 The continued increase
in attendance, however, emphasized the necessity for some early reor-
ganization both for convenience and efficiency.
In 1896, following a year of phenomenal increase of attendance, the
treasurer of the Board announced that the University required more
room and especially needed the M. E. graveyard (upon which the new
library was later built).
The Board, recognized the need of a stronger executive for the new
problems of the growing institution. After requesting the resignation
of President J. L. Goodknight, on June 10, 1897, Regent Brown made a
motion to elect Dr. Turner as his successor but the motion was laid on
the table by a vote of 7 to 2. On the following day, the office of presi-
dent was declared vacant, effective after sixty days, and Professor R. A.
Armstrong was elected vice-president for one year. On August 6th,
after a series of ballots Dr. Jerome II. Raymond was elected president,
and on the same day President Goodknight and John A. Myers, director
of the Experiment Station, were directed to surrender and vacate the
rooms occupied by them.
Under Raymond's active administration, several steps were taken in
reorganization especially with a view to increased efficiency. On June
2, 1898, Regent Brown proposed that the faculty should consist only of
5 On June 14, 1894, on recommendation of the president, the Board requested
each professor to make to the president a weekly report of absences from his
classes.
On June 13, 1895, the new board recognized the power of the president as
executive of the University to suspend any member of the Faculty subject to final
action of the Board and to suspend other employees of the Board subject to final
action of the executive committee.
660 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
the president and the professors, and that assistant professors and in-
structors, although allowed to attend open meetings, could not vote, but
the motion was lost by a vote of 4 to 4. At the same meeting the official
faculty was defined to consist of professors and assistant professors. On
August 10, 1899, the faculty after considerable discussion adopted the
proposal of President Raymond "to grant A. B. to all who satisfies
entrance, satisfactorily completes 42 courses, of which at least 9 are
in some department selected by the student as his major" and the re-
mainder to include such minor subjects in other departments as the
professor of the major subject might consider necessary or advisable
as collateral work. On August 14, 1899, the president was authorized
to appoint annually three standing committees each of which were given
power to act in his own field and in other matters referred to it by the
president or faculty of the University.
Unfortunately, the energetic president, with increasing enthusiasm
for further change, soon stimulated an opposition which terminated his
possibilities for usefulness. He induced the Board to abolish the office
*'>'"*■»*€&— *3SSfc»
Women's Hall, West Virginia University, Morgantown
of vice-president (on August 15, 1899). On April 6, 1900, following
the decision of the board by a vote of 7 to 5 to postpone further considera-
tion of his recommendations for the removal of five professors for gross
deficiency either in morals or in scholarship or in co-operation, he sub-
mitted through the president of the board his resignation, asking to be
relieved of his responsibility on June 21. By a vote of 6 to 2 the Board
laid the resignation on the table, and proceeded to dismiss from the
University a student named Thomas R. Horner who had written and
published articles reflecting on the management of the University and
had circulated among the students certain petitions asking for the re-
moval of the president. Later, on June 22, President Raymond, with-
drawing his earlier letter of resignation, submitted a new one, brief
in form, asking to be relieved on October 1, but the Board by a vote
of 5 to 4 requested him to withdraw it and proceeded by a vote of 7 to
1 to censure professors and students who had been guilty of conduct
regarded as disloyal to properly constituted authority and to declare
its determination to terminate such conduct in the future by summary
dismissal of the guilty parties.
President Raymond's opportunity for further usefulness was prob-
ably terminated by his activity against Professor Armstrong whom the
Board on December 18, 1900, at a meeting at Parkersburg, on motion
of Mr. Sturgiss, by a vote of 6 to 2, removed from his position on grounds
of frequent absences from his work (to speak at teacher's institutes,
etc.).6 This action, resented by Professor Armstrong's many friends
15 Professor Armstrong was given a short leave of absence which was later ex-
tended by the new Board to enable him to pursue graduate studies. He returned
to the University in 1903.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 661
created a feeling in the legislature which threatened to withhold ap-
propriations for the University (by a rider on the appropriation bill
preventing the use of any of the appropriation until the Board had
accepted President Raymond's resignation). On March 20, 1901, Presi-
lent Sturgiss presented to the Board President Raymond's fourth letter
of resignation (dated January 1, 1901) stating that he had from another
University an attractive offer which he could not properly refuse, and
expressing a desire for an early acceptance. This resignation was prop-
erly accepted, effective at the close of the spring quarter, aud with a
leave of absence from the end of the winter term. The board by unan-
imous vote expressed its "high appreciation of the zealous, tireless
industry, and great ability that have characterized President Raymond's
administration of his office."
Dr. P. B. Reynolds was appointed as acting president with powers
and duties of the president to be exercised by him only in the absence
of the president, and subject to the approval of the Regents at their
next meeting — which proved to be a meeting of a new board (in May,
1901). 7
President D. B. Puriuton who was elected president in the summer
of 1901, promptly obtained (September 5), from the Board authority
"to make such changes in the internal government and control of the
University" as he considered proper. On December 1, he put into
effect a new system of administration designed to secure unity, harmony
and consistency. The faculty ceased to be a legislative or administrative
body but might be called together by the president for conference,
exchange of views, discussions, and might also pass resolutions. A
smaller body — a council of seven members appointed by the president —
one from each of seven groups of departments (English, foreign lan-
guages, natural sciences, philosophy-pedagogy-economics, law-history-
politics, engineering, mathematics and agriculture) — was the new legis-
lative body with well denned powers but restricted in its action by the
president's veto. It proved an excellent feature of the uew system,
but was not regarded as entirely representative. The work of admin-
istration was facilitated by five standing committees : Classification and
grades; ways and means (to arrange schedules, examinations, etc.);
publication; athletics; and library.
Under President Hodges an attempt was made to revive the activity
of the faculty in the initiation of policies, but the attempt proved un-
satisfactory under the new conditions and was soon abandoned. The
smaller council of deans, which supplanted the older University council
was found more convenient.
Under the changed methods of administration and with the widening
of interests and the increase of real college work the dissensions and
antagonisms largely disappeared and the University greatly multiplied
its usefulness to the state.
Co-education. — The most remarkable increase in the attendance of
the University was coincident with the admission of women. The story
of their knockings for admission, and of the conservative opposition that
so long delayed it, forms one of the most interesting and dramatic
chapters in the history of the University. The irresistible tide of col-
lege co-education, after spreading over the West and pushing eastward
from Texas across the South finally reached West Virginia.
Co-education in America is largely a contribution of the young and growing
West. It won by struggle against the traditions of the older and more conserva-
tive East. Two fortunate and almost accidental factors determined the higher
education of American women. (1) In the sparsely settled West there were not
enough pupils for separate schools. Girls were admitted to the free elementary
and secondary schools; and later, during the great school revival of 1830-45 and
thereafter they were admitted to colleges of the West. The reorganization of educa-
tion after 1865 introduced the system of coeducation of the sexes into the South.
(2) The occurrence of the Civil war at the formative period of the American public
' One of the first actions of the new Board was to authorize dancing under
supervision of the commandant of cadets (May 22, 1901) — Eegents Babb and Trot-
ter voting in the negative.
662 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
schools put elementary and secondary education into the hands of women teachers,
and this arrangement became permanent. Thus it became necessary that women
should have the opportunities for higher education, even if only for the sake of
the boys whom they taught.
Co-education was regarded as an innovation in the East where the colleges
(there were no state universities in the East) had developed before the question
of higher education for women had been agitated. The traditions of the West were
different. There, where girls were already admitted to the high schools, it did not
seem any great innovation to admit them to the new, undeveloped state univer-
sities, most of which were really little more than preparatory schools.
It was natural that co-education (and the college education of women) should
begin in Ohio. Oberlin Collegiate Institute, opened to both sexes on the same
terms in 1833, was the first institution where large bodies of women and men were
educated together. The testimony of the faculty favored a continuation of the
system. The example was followed by Antioeh College in 1853. New western uni-
versities adopted the system from the beginning: Utah, 1850; Iowa, 1856; Wash-
ington, 1862; Kansas, 1856; Minnesota, 1868; and Nebraska in 1871. In 1868,
Indiana University extended its privilege to women. The University of Michigan,
which has grown to an institution of high college grade, admitted women in 1870 —
against the will of the faculty and in harmony with public sentiment and the re-
quests of the legislature. This example was quickly followed by all the other western
state universities: Illinois and California, 1870; Ohio, 1873; and Wisconsin (which
had received the entering wedge in 1860), 1874. The University of Maine, the
single eastern state university north of Virginia, opened its doors to women in 1870 ;
and two years later Cornell led the way for co-education in the private institutions
of the conservative East. All western state universities founded after 1871 admitted
women from the beginning.
From the West, college co-education pushed eastward across the South from
1870 to 1897, until in all Southern state universities except three (Virginia, Georgia
and Louisiana) women were admitted: Missouri, 1870; Texas, 1883; Mississippi,
1882; Kentucky, 1889; Alabama, 1893; South Carolina, 1894; and North Caro-
lina, 1897.
Finally, in 1897, West Virginia, balanced on the border of North and South,
the belated child of the storm and long held by traditional strings to the conserva-
tive Virginia-East, but with face toward the West, was reached by the rising, spread-
ing tide and opened wide to women the university doors which had been partially
opened in 1889 in response to long repeated knockings.
A fitting introduction to the story is found in the report of Acting-
President J. W. Scott to the board of regents, dated June 20, 1876, in
which he said :
"I am so thoroughly convinced of the propriety and justice of opening the
doors of the state university to the daughters as well as to the sons of the state,
that I trust you will excuse a reference to the subject in the close of this report.
It is believed by many that this measure is only a question of time. It is not
intended to argue the question here, but simply to ask you to consider it now in
the light of its own merits, and not in the darkness of prejudices supposed to exist
against it. I am convinced that such prejudices are neither so decided nor so
extended as many imagine. During the year one parent applied for the admission
of a daughter. I had to inform him that our doors are closed against one-half of
the youth of the state at present, but that I had good hope for the future.
The subject of the co-education of the sexes in our colleges and universities
demands the profoundest consideration of all who have the control of such insti-
tutions. The question runs too deep for arbitrary or superficial treatment. It
requires the study of the different stages of civilization from the savage upward,
and the employments required of both men and women in these different stages.
It will be found that the highest type of civilization upon which the advanced
nations of the world are now entering requires more than the mere fine lady with
her elegant, but superficial accomplishments. The great social changes, brought
about in the progress of society both indoors and out, by the division of labor and
the invention of labor saving machinery, require a readjustment of ' woman 's sphere, '
and corresponding changes in our systems of education. This has been seen and
put into practice by the enterprising young states of the West, whose state univer-
sities are now imparting their advantages to the youth of both sexes alike. Might
not the still younger state of West Virginia safely and economically follow their
successful example? After all, is it not strange that any argument is required
to show that God's method of education, as seen in the family, is the best?"
The resignation of President Martin, who had recently been called
to Indiana Asbury, had left the school in a declining condition. It was
evident that something was needed to revive it. In January, 1877,
there were only forty-two students in actual attendance and fifty-one
on the roll. J. R. Thompson, who soon succeeded to the presidency,
favored co-education, but he saw that his first duty was to increase the
male attendance. By June, 1878, his strenuous efforts raised the at-
tendance to one hundred and eighteen. Then, in order to compete with
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 663
other schools, he recommended the encouragement of hoarding clubs 'to
reduce the expenses of the students, the abolition of tuition fees for
West Virginia students, and the employment of the newspapers for a
liberal system of advertising, and the establishment of departments of
law and medicine. Crowded out by these and other problems, co-educa-
tion found no place in President Thompson's reports, but it appears
that a proposition in its favor was presented to the board of regents
as early as 1880 by Professor J. S. W. Dean, who later became its
champion in the legislature.
Though a bill for co-education at the university was defeated in
the legislature in the session of 1881, the subject was more and more
agitated in the course of subsequent events. The attendance, which had
increased as a result of the activities of President Thompson, and con-
tinued to increase under the adminstration of Acting-President Purin-
ton, again began to decline after June, 1882, when the regents at the
request of the faculty abolished the prescribed curriculum and adopted
the separate-schools plan of the University of Virginia. The confusion
which arose from the change of system caused much opposition
to the university. In the year 1882-3, while William L. Wilson was
nominally at the head of the institution, the number of students fell from
one hundred and seventy-seven to one hundred and fifty-nine.
After the resignation of Congressman Wilson, the regents who
favored the admission of women and voted for Professor William T.
Willey for president, were in the minority by one vote. The majority
decided to postpone the election of a president, and chose for chairman
of the faculty Professor Robert C. Berkeley, the most conservative
member of the faculty and a strong opponent of co-education. At the
beginning of the fall term of 1883, the Virginia members of the faculty
resolved to take a firm stand against the agitation for the admission of
women. On September sixth, the following resolution was presented
to the faculty and adopted :
"Resolved, that the admission of young ladies to the several classes of the
West Virginia University is contrary to the intention of the West Virginia legis-
lature, as shown by the defeat, at the session of 1881, of the bill to allow co-edu-
eation of the sexes in this institution;
"Resolved, that this faculty has not the right, whatever may be its wishes, to
allow that which is contrary to the intention of the legislature; and co-education
is contrary to the intention of the legislature."
"In spite of this solemn resolution, three or four Morgantown girls
firmly resolved to continue the agitation by the most effective method —
by actually entering the university. (In one or two instances the daugh-
ters of professors already had been allowed to attend classes.) They
were admitted to Professor Willey 's class in history. As they passed
Martin Hall they were greeted by the boys with a song entitled, "Baby
Mine." The boys were furious, called them "parrots" because they
recited the lesson so well. "You will fail on examination," they said.
"You cannot retain 'it.' " The boys were surprised at the end of the
term — for, on the oral examination, the girls were able to recite chapter
after chapter of Anderson's History of the United States! Professor
Willey was denounced by resolutions of the faculty for violating the
law. He was also reported to Governor Jackson, who proceeded to de-
mand why he had admitted the girls to his classes. (Governor Jackson,
before the close of his term, however, favored co-education.)
In 1884 the agitation increased, and the administration of the uni-
versity was severely criticized in the newspapers. In the spring an
effort was made to ascertain the sentiment of the alumni. One case
deserves special mention. Major James M. Lee sent to Doctor S. S.
Adams a pamphlet on coeducation and asked his vote and opinion on
the subject. Adams in his reply of June 5, 1884, traced somewhat in
detail the causes of decline of his alma mater and proceeded to describe
the means of cure. It seemed to him that there were too many other
and more vital points requiring the attention of the regents to justify
them in undertaking to solve the problem of coeducation. "There are
664 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
as many objections to the system," said he, "as there are arguments
in favor of it. * * * Until the university is thoroughly reorganized
I am of the opinion that it will prove only another experiment of which
we have had enough."
It was proposed that, in case co-education should be established, the
university should "buy the Morgantown Female Seminary building and
place Mrs. Moore at its portals as matron." Referring to this subject,
Doctor Adams wrote. "Why relegate this intelligent lady to the post
of watchdog? By years of hard work she has fitted herself to fill the
place which she holds among the educators of high rank. Why not
then put her in the faculty? Why attempt to subordinate her to men,
her inferiors in intellectual ability as well as in the ranks of educators?"
As a result of the publication- of Doctor Adams' letter in the Wheeling
Intelligencer, Major Lee lost his position — though he protested that he
had not furnished the copy for the publication.
In the meantime the attendance of students continued to decrease.
For the year 1883-84 it fell from one hundred and fifty-nine to ninety-
six. It was seen that the uncertainty of appropriations would become
more uncertain. The board, believing that the university ought to have
an attendance of five hundred, took prompt action to induce young
men to attend and to prevent them from leaving the State to attend
other schools. In June, 1884, it ordered charges for tuition to be
abolished, and recommended the extension of the number of cadets.
Mr. J. A. Robinson, in the biennial report of 1884, after referring to
the fact that young men were not availing themselves of the educational
privileges and advantages offered to them within their own State, sig-
nificantly added:
"It is also a question winch has seriously occupied the regents
whether the young ladies of the State should not also be invited to
come in — a cpiestion that will receive the attention of the next meeting
of the board."
Early in 1885, the agitation for co-education which had been waxing
warmer in the newspapers, resulted in the preparation of a bill in the
legislature at Wheeling, for amending and reienacting section 79,
chapter 45, of the code concerning education so that it should read as
follows: "The board of regents shall from time to time establish
* * * departments * * *, but there shall be no discrimination
on account of sex in the admission or instruction of students, and every
department of the university, except that of military tactics, shall here-
after be open to females upon the same terms and in the same manner
as to males. ' ' On January 15, this bill was introduced in the Senate by
Mr. N. B. Scott and referred to the committee on education. On Jan-
uary 21 it was favorably reported by the committee, and on January 31
it passed the Senate by a vote of fourteen to twelve.
On January 30, the House committee on education reported favor-
ably on the bill. There was also a minority report signed by Daniel
B. Lucas, II. B. Gilkeson and Ira C. Post (House Journal 1885, p. 133),
who gave the following reasons for their opposition :
(1) At present there has been no provision made for a dormitory
or dormitories for reception of young ladies, and for the employment
of a matron.
(2) No appropriation has been made to effect and carry out this
organic change in the laws of the institution, and it is doubtful if one
can be obtained at the present session.
(3) The matter is now under the consideration of the board of
regents, and they have appointed a committee to see what sum and
changes will be necessary to obtain dormitories and a matron for the
ladies' department.
H. B. Gilkeson and D. B. Lucas then signed the following additional
statement: "The undersigned are opposed to co-education under any
circumstances." (lb. p. 134).
The bill was ably defended by J. S. W. Dean, and as strongly
opposed by Lucas at every step. On motion of Dean (February 17),
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 665
it was made a special order for February 19. Oxley moved to strike out,
"except that of military tactics." Lucas moved, as an amendment to
Oxley 's amendment, to strike out all the clause beginning with "but
there shall be no discrimination." The debate continued through the
day and was resumed in the evening. On the next morning a motion to
limit speeches to twenty minutes was rejected. In the afternoon, after
a brief time for considering a report on reducing the number of hours
for convict labor and the needed enlargement of the penitentiary to
accommodate the increasing number of convicts, the discussion of the
co-education bill was again resumed. In the meantime the committee
on judiciary had been asked to report whether the co-educational bill,
if enacted, would not "violate the faith of the State and endanger the
endowment fund of the university." Mr. Haymond now reported that
his committee had referred the question to a sub-committee composed of
Lucas, Gilkeson and McWhorter, and had adopted the majority report
of Lucas and Gilkeson, which was as follows:
"We think the act did not contemplate the education of females, because it
says that the leading purpose is to give a practical education in agriculture and
the mechanic arts, and strictly enjoins the teaching of military tactics. For this
state to change and amend the act of the legislature by which she accepted the gift,
in such a manner as to divert a portion of the interest to the education of a class
of persons who are not to be instructed in agriculture and mechanics, and who by
the very terms of the proposed amendment are prohibited from learning, or being
taught, military tactics, is clearly in violation of the spirit of the act of Congress."
The minority report of McWhorter was as follows:
' ' The act of Congress contemplates education of females. * * * Section 2
provides for and requires the teaching of 'such branches of learning as are related
to agriculture and the mechanic arts.' * * * The industrial classes include
all industrial classes of the country; and if the act of the legislature of West Vir-
ginia accepting the grant be so construed as to exclude any one of the industrial
classes, then it violates the terms of the grant." * * *
After these reports were read, Oxley accepted the amendment of
Lucas. The roll was called, but on motion of Stapleton, the announce-
ment of the yeas and nays was postponed till the following day. On
February 21, Gilkeson was called to preside as speaker pro tempore, in
place of Speaker Dennis who was excused from attendance on account
of illness. At eleven o'clock the vote on the Lucas amendment was
announced: Yeas, thirty-three; nays, thirty. On motion of Mr. Hay-
mond, the bill was then laid on the table. Mr. Lucas immediately tele-
graphed the result to Professor Berkeley, chairman of the university
faculty, with whom he had been in correspondence.
A letter written by Lucas at that time is full of psychological interest. The
following is an extract from a copy that has been preserved:
"House of Delegates,
Wheeling, February 20th, 1885.
"Dear Sir: S '
We today defeated the co-education bill after a severe fight. Mr. Dean looks
quite disconsolate. He came here with a plan to reorganize the whole educational
system of the state, after the German plan, forgetting (as all such specialists do)
that we can only have the German system when we have also the empire. So like-
wise in regard to co-education; when we are prepared to substitute the half -civil-
ization of the north-west for the culture of the Atlantic seaboard, we shall be
prepared for co-education. I hopo that its advocates, having now been defeated
twice in the legislature, will give us a rest. If they do not, I have made up my
mind what to do. I will get up a memorial to establish a college east of the
Alleghanies and petition the legislature that one-half the endowment and the annual
appropriations may be accorded us. The Third District will support me in it, and
I think such a proposition could have been carried this session without difficulty.
The Democratic party, by an overwhelming and almost unanimous vote, have de-
clared against co-education, and the continued local agitation of the subject will
render it well nigh impossible to get out appropriations. The finance committee
cut us down seven thousand dollars below our estimates, and only by dint of per-
sonal and unrelenting work did I with Colonel Robinson's aid get them to restore
four thousand dollars of the amount estimated for. When the appropriation bill
comes into the House, the attempt will be made to reduce our estimated allowance.
If I find that I need assistance in this matter, I may telegraph you to come on
here, but I will not do so unless it is conceded that the co-education business is to
be kept in abeyance. So far as I am concerned, I am determined that our state
666 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
university shall not clothe herself in the cast off rags of north-western civilization.
The Democratic party supports the institution and their voice should control its
organization. If it is to be Republicanized, then I for one will demand a division
of funds for a democratic college, either in the Second District or the Third."
Though co-education was defeated, the university in 1885-86 en-
tered upon a new era. Definite policies for its future were taking shape.
It was ceasing to be a local institution. Railway communication was
opened between Fairmont and Morgantown in 1886. From 1884-5 there
was a steady increase in the attendance at the university, which, with
the exception of one year, has continued until the present.
The faculty, by changes and additions, was becoming more and more
in favor of co-education. Doctor Turner was elected president in June,
1885. Professor Whitehill was elected to the position which had been
held by Professor Latham. Though Professor Lyon resigned, he was
succeeded by Professor Reynolds.
The campaign for co-education was resumed. The State had made
an appropriation for Storer College where a boarding hall for colored
girls had been dedicated in May, 1876. Why should not the State
provide higher education for its white girls?
The college societies joined in the discussion. In April, 1886, Thomas
G. Rector, Robert A. Armstrong, and others of the Parthenon Society
publicly delivered orations for a gold medal offered by Doctor Henshaw
of Martinsburg. Rector's subject was: "Out of Ruins; Decay of Old
Institutions and the Growth of New." Armstrong spoke in favor of
"Co-education in West Virginia." He produced good, logical argu-
ment based on statistics and expediency, and closed with a fine perora-
tion that won the applause of the large audience. By the unanimous
decision of the judges he was awarded a gold medal which bore the
inscription (in Greek) "The orator is the guardian of liberty." After
that oration the settlement of the question in favor of the women was
only a matter of time ; and he wore the medal until the time came. Young
Samuel B. Brown, not yet married, was another champion on the forum.
From 1885 to 1889 he spoke at teacher's institutes in fifteen or twenty
counties. Several professors enlisted in the new sort of extension work.
Professor Willey with his lecture, ' ' There 's a woman in it, ' ' emphasized
the statement that woman has stood at the beginning of every great
advance of civilization from the days of Eve till the day on which he
spoke. One of his arguments was that the non-admission of women to
the university was unjust to the man whose children were all girls.
In view of the continued discussion of higher education for women
President Turner suggested to the board that it was necessary to con-
sider the relation of the university to the question. He saw that the
State should make some provision for the education of women equal
to that for men, and that it would do it. In view of the hostile attitude
of a large part of the population toward co-education, he proposed (in
his report of June 8, 1889 ) that the regents should determine upon some
conservative policy that would not excite the active hostility of any
considerable number of people. In view of the fact that it would be
necessary to erect a dormitory, employ a matron, and arrange for other
matters of detail, and that the subject would certainly be agitated in
the next legislature, he suggested that a committee should be appointed
to investigate the question in all its aspects, and to make a full report
so that any future action might be based upon a knowledge of the facts.
a matriculation fee — in order to avoid the tendency to make things too
(At the same time he recommended that all students should be charged
cheap.)
At the meeting of the board of regents in June, 1889, the collegiate
department of the university was opened to female students. In order
that those desiring to avail themselves of this action might be properly
advised as to the conditions of admission, the faculty adopted the fol-
lowing order :
"Any young woman who presents evidence of having completed, in
other schools, the studies required in the preparatory department of the
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 667
university or their equivalent shall be allowed to enter the collegiate
classes upon passing the required examinations. If not presenting such
testimonials and passing such examinations in all these studies, she shall
be admitted to such college classes as she may be prepared to enter;
provided there are at least two such classes occupying in the aggregate
not less than ten recitation hours per week; and provided further, that
she shall be conditioned to pass examinations in all preparatory studies
(including Latin) of the first preparatory year within two years from
the date of entrance. But if such applicant is a candidate for a degree,
she shall, upon entrance, pass successfully the examination in a majority
of the studies required for admission to the collegiate department.
"Under these regulations the following collegiate classes are open to
young women who are not prepared to enter the collegiate classes in
Latin, Greek or mathematics, namely, history, physics, chemistry, junior
English, anatomy, zoology; and in the spring term, held botany.
"But, in order to enter the class in history, the applicant must have
sufficient age and general culture to pursue the study profitably. To
enter the class in physics or chemistry, the applicant must have com-
pleted arithmetic, including the metric system of weights and measures,
and elementary algebra; and in physics, also three books of geometry;
provided, that if the applicant has not studied geometry, she may enter
the class in physics by taking up the study of geometiy at the same
time. To enter the class in junior English, the applicant must have
completed the English studies of the preparatory department or their
equivalent."
In 1889-90, in a total attendance of two hundred and eight, there
were ten women ; three in the regular A. B. course and three prospective
A. B. students, two preparing to teach, and one who withdrew before
the end of the term. Of the ten, there were seven who lived in Morgan-
town, and three who had been Professor Brown's Glenville Normal
students, one of whom became his wife. It was believed that the at-
tendance of women could not be large until special boarding house
accommodations could be prepared for them. Nevertheless, President
Turner (in his report of June 4, 1890) wrote: "The admission of ladies
seems to be a successful experiment as far as it has gone. * * *
They have demonstrated their ability to do as thorough work as the
young men. Their influence has been wholesome on the young men. I
see no reason for making any change in the present regulations."
In 1890-91, in a total attendance of two hundred and five, there
were only six women (one of whom had not attended the year before),
but President Turner again said: "They have maintained their ability
to cope with the young men in the same classes and there is no reason
for change in the present status. One is a member of the graduating
class. ' '
The catalogue of 1892-93 shows that fourteen women were admitted
to the collegiate department on the same tenns and regulations as men.
In 1893-94 (when the old traditional pledge to obey the rules was
omitted and the catalogue began to assume its present aspect) there
were twenty women. In 1894-95 there were twenty again. In 1895-96
there were thirty-five. The catalogue of 1895-96 contained a full page
cut entitled "A Bevy of Coeds." It also announced that ladies were
admitted to the law school on the same terms as gentlemen.
Coincident with the increase in the number of women students there
was a remarkable increase in the total attendance for each year as in-
dicated by the following:
244 in 1893-94. 398 in 1895-96.
283 in 1894-95. 465 in 1896-97.
The phenomenal increase for 1895-96 was largely due to the per-
sonal work of Professor Barbe who was selected to fill the newly-created
office of field-agent of the university.
In the meantime, though opposition to co-education was decreasing,
a few members of the board stood firmly by their conservative prin-
668 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
ciples. James F. Brown was violently opposed to the system and fought
it at every meeting of the board; but he belonged to a minority that
grew smaller with each yearly vote upon the subject. On June 10, 1897,
still unconvinced by arguments either of experience and expediency or
of nature and principles, he offered to the board his last resolution, as
follows :
"Resolved, that co-education be discontinued at the university after June 15,
1898, save and except that all the young ladies now in attendance at the university
and all who may matriculate through the coming school year be permitted to com-
plete their respective courses of study.
All resolutions and orders of the board in any wise in conflict herewith are
hereby repealed. ' '
On roll call his motion was lost by a vote of three ayes and six nays.
When Doctor Raymond was elected to the presidency he proposed
that co-education should be extended to the preparatory school. His
proposal was favorably received by the board, which proceeded to place
on its record book (October 13, 1897) an order "that the preparatory
school, and the schools of music and fine arts be opened to all students
without distinction as to sex." On October 14, when, in his inaugural
address, he announced that all the bars of sex had been removed, the
audience stood and shouted. The long strife was ended. "Time had
brought its revenge." Again could women freely study on the site of
the old "Woodburn Seminary," from which the girls had gone as exiles
over thirty years before when their building had passed into the hands
of the West Virginia College to which boys only were admitted.
They quickly took advantage of their new opportunity. The enroll-
ment of women students for 1897-98 reached one hundred and twelve,
and since that year it has steadily increased.
Many good results followed. In his report of 1898, the president said: "It
is gratifying to report that during the year that has elapsed since all discrimina-
tion against women in the University has been abolished, no evil results from this
action have been manifest, but, on the contrary, the admission of women to all
departments of the University has been productive of great good in many ways.
The women students have, as a body, maintained a high grade of scholarship; they
have stimulated the young men to better scholarship; their presence has been a
restraining influence upon the few students who are inclined to be disorderly; and
upon the entire student body their mere presence has acted as an elevating and
refining influence. On the other hand, the presence of the men has stimulated the
young women to better work and greater endeavors. The good influences, therefore,
are reciprocal, and both sexes are undoubtedly benefited by the social and intel-
lectual intercourse which co-education provides."
Many who were reared under the old regime have been surprised
that co-education has been so successful. It is generally believed, where
it has been tried, that all the arguments against it have been met and
answered by experience, the best of teachers:
1. It has not lowered the standard of scholarship. Unanimous ex-
perience shows that the average standing of women is slightly higher
than that of men.
2. The health of the women has been kept as well as that of men
under the same tests.
3. The question of conduct has been satisfactorily answered. None
of the difficulties or dangers feared have ever arisen.
4. The women have been satisfied with the system wherever it has
been tried. The number of co-educational institutions has been in-
creasing, and in them the increase of the number of women has been
relatively greater than the increase in the number of men. From 1890
to 1898, while the number of men increased seventy per cent, the num-
ber of women increased one hundred and five per cent. It is reasonable
to believe that this increase will continue. At West Virginia University
the increase would have been far greater if comfortable and suitably
matroned girls' homes had been provided by the State.
5. Statistics prove that the men do not prefer separate education
where co-education has been tried. The number of men has increased
more rapidly in co-educational institutions than in colleges for men
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 66!)
only. It is only in the East that any preference for separate education
is shown by either sex.
The struggles for social advance are never-ending. The solution of one prob-
lem often creates another. Though the women were at last admitted to the institu-
tion which had been erected on the picturesque grounds of old "Woodburn
Seminary," the girls' "home-school" building was no longer there. It had burned
in 1S73, and no dormitory had been built to replace it. With the admission of
women to all departments of the University, the need of a woman's home under the
control of a refined, cultured matron was felt at once. To encourage the feeling
of unity among the girls, and to supply in part the social attractions which were
not furnished in home-like halls, the Woman's League was organized in November,
1897. At the end of the year, the president recommended that strong efforts should
be made to induce the legislature to appropriate money for a dormitory so that
the girls could be provided with home comforts and have a cultivated woman to
direct and advise them, provide proper social diversion, and exercise a judicious
restraint over their work and their pleasures. "With proper accommodations for
young lady students," said he, "and a cultured and able dean of women, to have
oversight of them, there is no reason why we should not have as many lady
students as men in the University. We could double the attendance at the
university within two years if a woman 's hall and a dean of women were secured.
If we are to be a co-educational institution, as we seem destined to be, we
ought to make a success of co-education, and do thoroughly and well what we
attempt to do. Even those who oppose co-education will agree in saying that if
we are to have co-education, we should do everything possible to make proper pro-
vision for the young lady students. It would be difficult to name a co-educational
institution, the size of ours, where there is so slight provision made for young
women. * * * The state has never made anything like proper provision for the
education of women. It is now time that this provision should be made. Fifty
thousand dollars would build and equip a hall that would be complete in every way,
and that would attract women from every part, of West Virginia to our state uni-
versity. ' '
Though the regents soon chose a dean of women (in 1901-02), their recom-
mendation to the legislature did not bear any appropriation fruit for over a decade.
In June, 1903, the regents leased a building for use as a woman 's hall until an
appropriation could be secured for a larger building which after various delays
was begun in 1917.
Clvapel Exercises. — Perhaps no other feature of the University has had such a
unique interesting history as that of the chapel exercises.
Until the years 1895-6, attendance at chapel exercises was compulsory. Those
who were students during that period take pleasure in relating the many pleasant
happenings and unpleasant hardships which characterized the exercises at that time.
Nothing clings more tenaciously to the memory of an alumnus who attended school
during that period nor pictures to him more vividly his college life than the familiar
roll-call each morning at chapel, the "Presents" as they resounded from various
parts of the room, and the deafening yells which burst forth from the students
assembled in the expression of their fervent college spirit, that adjunct to college
life so perceptibly absent in these days.
In the early days, the roll was called at the chapel exercises. On Mondays,
the students answered either ' ' At Church, " or " Not at Church. ' ' On the other
school days of the week, they answered "Present." The students were then re-
quired to attend church at least once on Sunday, and the responses on Monday
indicated not only their presence at chapel exercises on that morning but also their
absence from church services or presence at church services on the previous day.
The absentees were reported regularly to the president, but seldom was any action
taken. Later, the calling of the roll was abandoned and each student was assigned
to a seat which was numbered. At the end of each row of seats a censor was
stationed whose duty it was to note any absentees in his row of seats and report
them to the secretary of the faculty. Each censor was designated by a letter of the
alphabet and, when his letter was called by the secretary he arose and reported the
numbers of the seats of those absent. This system was not as satisfactory as the
calling of the roll, but it saved a great deal of time.
The order of the services at that time was singing, scripture reading, prayer,
and sometimes a short talk by the president, the chaplain, or some member of the
faculty. The services were held at eight o 'clock or earlier and were very brief,
rarely consuming more than fifteen or twenty minutes.
Although students had participated in the services as required, they did not do
so very cheerfully and some did not regard them with much favor. In 1895 a great
agitation arose, especially among the law students, against compulsory chapel. It
was claimed, and Judge Johnson, who was Dean of the Law School at that time,
upheld the contention, that, constitutionally, a student could not be required to
attend. The Board of Regents in April, 1896, acting on a petition of the students,
modified the services by requiring all students to attend assembly at 10 o'clock at
which the roll was called, announcements were made, etc., after which any student
who desired to withdraw was permitted to do so quietly. For some time practically
no one withdrew. Later, however, on a certain occasion when a student had been
disciplined by the faculty for disorder in chapel, the entire student body, with but
670 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
few exceptions, availed themselves of the privilege of marching out after the an-
nouncements had been made, leaving the astonished faculty and about six students
to participate in the devotional exercises. The occurrence hastened the necessity
of a change.
With the coming of President Raymond in 1897, chapel was made an entirely
voluntary exercise, and as was to be expected, its attendance was not as large as
in the days of the roll call. President Raymond, in order to stimulate attendance,
introduced what he called a "Special Feature," consisting of musical numbers,
elocutionary exercises, addresses, etc. But this kind of service soon became tire-
some to the students, and the "Monticola" for the following year chronicled in
caricature the burial of the "Special Feature" in front of Commencement Hall.
In 1898, at the suggestion of Chaplain P. B. Reynolds, a new system was in-
augurated. It provided for voluntary chapel exercises each morning beginning
promptly at eight o'clock and concluding at eight thirty o'clock. These services
were conducted by Doctor Reynolds and consisted of singing, scripture reading,
prayer and a series of brief lectures upon subjects of interest to Bible students.
A credit of one-third course was given to students who submitted to the Chaplain
satisfactory notes of the lectures.
At first, these services were fairly well attended and much good was derived
from them, but, as the years passed, the attendance grew smaller and smaller until
barely a ' ' corporal 's guard ' ' remained. Indeed, less than four per cent of the
student body attended chapel. This alarming condition demonstrated to those in
charge that the services were falling short of their purpose and that it was neces-
sary to make some change that would stimulate a greater interest.
Accordingly, the faculty of the University, after discussing the problem, recom-
mended to the University Council that a weekly chapel service be substituted for
the daily chapel services; that the chapel begin at eight-fifteen on Tuesday morning
and continue for thirty minutes; and that the service consist of singing, prayer,
responsive reading, special music by the University School of Music, and perhaps
a short address; that the series of short academic lectures be discontinued; and
that no credit be allowed for attendance.
At a subsequent meeting of the University Council, the recommendation of the
faculty was presented and adopted and on January 22, 1910, the new plan became
effective. Later, the hour was changed to ten o'clock on Wednesdays with satis-
factory results. The service gained in popularity and proved useful in unifying
the student body and in producing a better esprit de corps.
Recent Conditions and Extension op Service
The university passed through the earlier experiences which have
been common to most state universities. Even in its most difficult and
critical periods, as in all its history, noble and scholarly men were con-
nected with its faculty and did efficient work notwithstanding inadequate
facilities. Finally it overcame the obstacles and opposition of its time
of trial, outgrew political and sectional influences and established itself
in the confidence and affections of the people. In the last decade it has
had phenomenal growth and is worthy of recognition as one of the
leading state institutions, much in advance of many older institutions
which had a wide reputation before West Virginia University had passed
beyond the Monongalia Academy stage. Fifty years ago its students
numbered only 124. In 1916-17 the total enrollment, including 1,609
enrolled in the "schools," was 2,788 of whom 1,150 were candidates for
degrees. The total enrollment in the year 1918-1919 in the Colleges and
School of Medicine (and excluding the School of Music and various short
courses) was 1,305 of which 1,281 were candidates for degrees and 379
were women. The total enrollment in the College of Arts and Sciences
was 681 of which 314 were women. That of the College of Engineering
was 428 ; of the College of Agriculture, 130 (of which 59 were women) ;
of the College of Law, 21, and of the School of Medicine, 45 (5 women).
In 1919-20 the total collegiate enrollment at the university was 1,596,
and the total enrollment exclusive of short courses was 1,992. In 1867
the faculty numbered five. In 1919-20 the total number of the faculty
(exclusive of 25 assistants, 5 library staff, 23 experiment station staff,
and 19 extension department) was 136, of whom 56 were full professors,
17 associate professors, 27 assistant professors and 41 instructors.
Throughout the earlier decades few professors had training beyond
that required for the ordinary degree of A. B. Now there are few who
have not had research or other graduate work in the best equipped uni-
versities— usually for at least two years, and in some cases for four or
five years.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 671
In the instructional staff of the College of Arts and Sciences, num-
bering 81 members (exclusive of 11 student assistants), of those above
the rank of instructors who have obtained higher degrees for graduate
work done in residence at higher institutions equipped for such work,
34 have the degree of Ph. D. and 20 the degree of A. M. Of the in-
structors who have studied for advanced degrees, 2 have the doctorate
and 13 have the degree of A. M. Several members of the faculty are
widely known through their publications based on research.
From the primitive high school stage the university has grown to
be a real college which may rightly lay claim to university rank. Some
of its alumni are found in all the useful vocations of life and in many
states and countries. Supported by a liberal minded and progressive
people it will continue its useful development, heeding the experience
and free from the difficulties of the past.
In recent years the curriculum and many of the courses have been
readjusted to the new needs resulting from rapidly changing conditions
of life. Entrance requirements are fifteen units (four years of high
school work) ; seven of these units are elective. The time required for
graduation is four years. Ancient language requirements for graduation
in the A. B. course were recently abolished. By a combination of
academic and professional work a student may earn the regular uni-
versit.y degree and the professional degree in six years.
Each college maintains a high standard of scholarship and is in live
touch with recent progressive movements and methods in higher educa-
tion. Since 1900 and especially in the last decade there has been a
higher standard of professional and technical education in accord with
the development of public opinion. Since 1913 the College of Law has
greatly increased the requirements for graduation, raised the standards
of work and improved the methods of instruction ; and in 1914, after
thorough inspection and investigation, it was admitted to membership
in the Association of American Law Colleges. The number of can-
didates for the law degree increased from seventeen in 1907-08 to sixty
(one-third of whom were college graduates) in 1916-17.
The type of instruction in the law school after 1913 was the case
system. Instruction and class discussion are based upon selected ad-
judicated cases which are made available to the students in the form of
carefully prepared casebooks. This system is a really scientific method
of treatment since it takes the student through substantially the same
process of analysis and reasoning by which the courts have arrived at
their conclusions. The instructors are men who have themselves been
trained in the leading law schools of the country and who give their
full time to the work. This also is in accord with the practice of the
better law schools, it being now recognized that the task of training
law students is one which demands the entire time and interest of the
teacher. Dean H. C. Jones, under whose skillful management the case
method and other high standards were established, was succeeded by
Joseph Warren Madden in 1921. A requirement of two years of college
credit (chiefly in English, history and economics) for admission to the
College of Law was approved by the faculty in December, 1921, effective
in September, 1922. The completion of the new law building will add
considerably to the efficiency of the school in permitting the library
materials to be made more available and in avoiding the confusion in-
evitably caused by the housing of a professional school along with
students who are pursuing non-professional college work.
- The School of Medicine has been standardized. In 1916, after official
inspection, it was given classification "A" and obtained membership
in the Association of American Medical Colleges. The College of
Agriculture shows remarkable improvement both in quality and quantity
of work done, and its increased standards for entrance and for gradua-
tion have resulted in a steady increase of students, checked only by
the war.
Research is encouraged and is steadily developing in all the colleges.
Increased attention will be given to the development of graduate in-
672 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
struction to meet the needs of the state as soon as necessary facilities
of equipment and additional instructors are provided.
The recent official reports of the university show a marked widening
of the work of the institution and an increasing practical activity in
co-operative efforts to solve the social, industrial and financial problems
of the state. Various extension departments have been organized to
carry the work of practical instruction to the people in their home com-
munities and to co-operate in public service by bringing expert knowl-
edge to bear productively upon many state enterprises.
The College of Agriculture, besides the work of teaching, conducts
various experimental projects in research and the results are published
in a series of bulletins which are distributed to the farmers of the state.
It is co-operating with county courts and local organizations in a wide
range of activities. Recently it has successfully reached the people of
the state by various forms of extension. The short course in agriculture
has had much influence in aiding farmers and in winning public con-
fidence and support. The agriculture extension division, organized in
1912, has charge of all itinerant educational work in agriculture and
directs the work of county agricultural agents. Under the division
there are now twenty administrative officers and specialists, thirty-nine
agricultural agents and fifteen assistants, thirty district club agents,
thirteen regular (and fifteen emergency) home demonstration agents
and ten clerks and stenographers. Extension work in home economics
is conducted through farmer's institutes, extension schools, farm
women's clubs, publications and correspondence concerning courses in
rural schools.
The College of Engineering co-operates with the State Road Com-
mission and the State Department of Mines. The mining department
of the College of Engineering conducts well organized extension work.
The School of Medicine through its close relation to the State
Hygienic Laboratory at the university has extended its services to the
people of the state in the interest of public health.
Members of the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences in addi-
tion to their regular class room duties render active service to the state
in various ways. University extension work begun in education courses
in 1916-17 was continued in history and economics in 1917-20.
A special feature since 1902 — the summer school under the imme-
diate direction of Waitman Barbe — is meeting the needs of many stu-
dents who cannot attend during the regular semester. The educational
conference, first suggested by Professor J. H. Cox, and held at the
university each summer beginning with 1903, serves as a valuable means
of further proper co-operation of different educational institutions of
the state in solving problems in which all have a common interest.
It is gratifying that the university is extending the sphere of its
usefulness (or service) through a variety of practical services rendered
by its staff to the people of the state. Notable among these activities
are extension courses, assistance in promoting the organization and
effectiveness of the State Conference of Charities and Correction, the
preparation of a summary of state laws concerning child welfare, con-
tribution of articles to professional and other publications, preparation
of references and lists of books for high schools or in response to requests
from various other sources, response to calls for public addresses and
for counsel concerning educational or industrial or other public ques-
tions, and co-operation and assistance in several kinds of voluntary
unpaid service in connection with the problems of the war.
The recent increase in the attendance indicates a continued increase
which will necessitate the employment of additional instructors, pro-
vision for additional space for class rooms and additional facilities in
laboratories and library. New buildings are much needed to secure
unity and proper co-ordination of work in related departments which
have sometimes suffered from isolation. Money should be available for
increasing the salaries of men as fast as they increase in effectiveness.
With the increase in the cost of living, the rise of salaries in other
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
673
occupations, and the increased prosperity of other institutions, the
university will be subjected to serious embarrassment in securing or
retaining the kind of men that the institution needs most in order to
serve its purpose. The need of larger permanent development in the
work of various university departments is one of the most important
lessons of the present war. To accomplish the larger and more effective
university work demanded by this age of industrial and social develop-
ment, with its many new problems, requires better equipment and
facilities for investigation and larger appropriations.
Many interesting points in the growth of the university may be
obtained by a study of the following tables:
1. WEST VIRGINIA STUDENT REGISTRATION BY COUNTIES, 1912-20
Barbour... .
Berkeley . . .
Boone
Braxton
Brooke
Cabell
Calhoun. . . .
Clay
Doddridge .
Fayette . .
Gilmer ...
Grant
Greenbrier . .
Hampshire .
Hancock . .
Hardy
Harrison. . .
Jackson ....
Jefferson . . .
Kanawha . . .
Lewis
Lincoln ....
Logan
McDowell
Marion
Marshall . . .
Mason
Mercer
Mineral ...
Mingo
Monongalia .
Monroe. . . .
Morgan. . . .
Nicholas . . .
Ohio
Pendleton . .
Pleasants . . .
Pocahontas .
Preston ....
Putnam. . . .
Raleigh ....
Randolph . . .
Ritchie
Roane
Summers. . . .
Taylor
Tucker
Tyler
Upshur
Wayne
Webster
Wetzel
Wirt
Wood
Wyoming
1912-13
12
12
1
10
14
16
2
o'
7
13
1
14
28
10
9
41
23
1
1
1
52
43
5
9
14
1
242
8
S
14
41
2
5
14
45
1
3
6
15
7
27'
10
21
9
3
4
19
2
31
1913-14
15
10
11
12
1
16
17
7
10
28
23
2
4
3
6
11
7
1
15
4
8
3
36
11
14
54
22
2
1
1
51
36
5
23
13
1
269
7
4
15
33
1
10
5
42
1
5
13
23
15
10
31
21
27
13
2
4
27
2
44
2
3
2
16
2
8
3
50
ii'
38
25
8
59
29
2
35
25
6
307
6
5
12
47
3
7
5
22
2
5
15
13
17
6
32
17
18
3
24
2
1917-18
15
20
24
20
11
1
6
7
18
6
6
14
6
6
4
47
23
" i'
7
69
32
4
31
18
2
330
8
5
13
46
9
7
10
50
2
8
23
22
26
9
39
17
22
19
2
11
22
2
45
2
1918-19
22
16
19
8
24
2
6
5
23
4
1
7
5
8
6
105
19
12
59
33
4
5
110
36
4
23
32
8
286
4
5
14
51
4
4
2
43
"4'
21
19
13
11
39
25
27
5
4
10
32
1
30
Nov.
1919
20
18
2
18
13
26
1
4
11
21
7
6
20
8
7
6
89
32
8
55
31
2
5
15
110
35
15
37
21
12
295
6
5
20
57
6
10
10
37
1
8
25
17
15
15
29
26
23
9
1
6
27
1
33
1
Nov.
1920
25
24
2
33
16
1
1
6
11
27
7
10
32
11
16
8
106
33
18
74
40
6
7
18
139
50
17
40
32
13
384
16
12
37
76
6
14
14
56
3
10
33
26
23
19
36
35
36
12
1
12
36
1
41
2
Summer
1917
11
5
6
...
1
5
5
1
7
1
6
3
17
11
5
18
8
. „.
4
21
9
2
10
4
ii3'
6
"i3'
11
3
4
3
23
2
2
6
9
4
2
10
2
2
8
1
9
1
Summer Summer
1918 1919
5
11
7
1
16
5
100
3
2
11
17
1
2
4
11
1
5
3
9
9
5
5
7
2
5
. . .„
9
5
11
1
10
4
2
1
6
3
4
12
3
9
o
25
8
10
19
11
4
1
4
35
19
1
150
12
5
26
20
2
4
4
20
1
2
7
7
7
3
9
12
14
14
1
1921-22
43
22
3
42
30
39
2
3
17
48
8
5
43
17
34
10
147
27
19
119
51
3
12
29
150
60
23
31
36
9
481
25
9
46
125
8
20
21
87
1
16
39
37
24
11
46
31
34
22
5
26
51
2
57
7
Vol. 1—4 3
674
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
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HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
6. SUMMARY OF ENROLLMENT IN THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE,
1907-1921
Year
College Courses
B. S. Agriculture
Graduate
Special
Totals
Fresh-
men
Sopho-
more
Junior
Senior
Farmers'
Week
1907-08....
3
5
4
4
15
16
29
45
53
47
56
61
123
109
2
2
4
4
8
13
11
23
37
30
40
22
55
93
2
1
2
2
2
7
11
13
17
36
43
68
102
131
129
160
130
322
347
39
1908-09....
1909-10....
1910-11
1911-12
1912-13
1
2
4
5
7
11
12
18
30
21
21
37
37
1
2
3
6
7
13
11
12
18
32
21
35
39
52
28
61
40
31
1913-H....
1914-15....
1915-16....
1916-17....
1917-18....
1918-19....
1919-20....
1920-21 ....
2
5
1
6
3
4
4
5
9
6
4
5
2
68
65
78
263
807
914
714
634
500
UNIVERSITY APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1920-21
1920 1921
For salaries of officers, teachers and employes $200,000 $210,000
For current general expenses 80,000 80,000
For repairs and improvements 40,000 25,000
For agricultural, horticultural and home economic extension
work 60,000 65,000
For expenses of athletic board 5,000 5,000
For mining and industrial extension work 10,000 10,000
For building and land, (law building) 62,500 62,500
To purchase for the University the I. C. White property
at Morgantown 65,000 65,000
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION APPROPRIATIONS, 1920-21
1920 1921
For current general expenses $45,000 $45,000
For farm buildings and improvements 15,000 15,000
For buildings on farm known as the "Reyman Farm" 7,500 7,500
The work of higher education has been aided by several denomina-
tional and private institutions. The oldest denominational institution
is Bethany College founded by Alexander Campbell in 1841 and recently
improved in equipment for better work. West Virginia Wesleyan Col-
lege, which was first founded as the West Virginia Conference Seminary
and was opened for work in September, 1890, was raised to a college
grade in June, 1903, and graduated its first college class in 1905. The
number of students in October, 1921, was 410. Davis and Elkins College
was opened at Elkins in a suitable building constructed in 1903. Salem
Morris-Harvey College, incorporated as Barboursville Seminary in 1888,
College was incorporated as a Seventh Day Baptist institution in 1889.
gradually improved the character of its work after 1901. Of these five
institutions, Wesleyan and Bethany rank highest, although they still
maintain a preparatory department. Broaddus Scientific and Classical
Institute removed from Winchester to Clarksburg in 1876, and about
thirty years later removed from Clarksburg to Philippi, is largely a
preparatory school for entrance to college, but also undertakes to give
beginning coUege courses.
CHAPTER XXXVII
WEST VIRGINIA LITERATURE AND LITERARY WRITERS »
By Mary Meek Atkeson, Ph. D.
The state of West Virginia lias not been generally recognized as
a center of literature of a distinctive quality — as have Virginia, Indiana,
and some other states in the Union — largely because so few writers of
popular novels have lived within its borders. To the general reading
public West Virginia is still almost an unknown land, classed roughly
with eastern Virginia, with the Kentucky and Tennessee mountain re-
gions, or with the coal mining regions of western Pennsylvania. Only
those who have followed the development of letters in the state realize
that it has produced a considerable body of literature which is both
creditable and distinctive.
The people of the state differ from those of the commonwealths
around them, both in the admixture of races and in the environment
under which they have developed. The first settlers were chiefly
eastern Virginians of English descent, Welsh, Irish, Scotch-Irish and
French, with a few Germans from Pennsylvania along the northern
border, and a few descendants of the Pilgrims along the Ohio. As the
rich plains of the great West opened up, the narrow valleys of the hill
country held few charms for the later emigrants and they passed them
by to settle farther westward. Thus, most of the natives of the state
can trace their ancestry back to that early and very hardy stock which
crossed the ocean before the Revolution.
In environment the citizens of the state have been peculiarly for-
tunate. The two natural gaps through the mountains — one to the
north and the other to the south — provided two great thoroughfares for
travel to the West, and the people who lived near were touched by the
full current of the western movement of immigration. Later these
natural entrances gave passageway to the two great railway systems
which serve the state — the Baltimore and Ohio on the north and the
Chesapeake and Ohio on the south. The varying topography of the
state tends to bring into contact many different kinds of people. The
wildest mountain lands frequently ajoin fertile glades on which agri-
culture flourishes, in the limestone sections the rich bluegrass pastures
lead the cattlemen and horsemen into the very heart of the hills, and
the orchardist sets his thousands of trees along all the slopes and ridges.
Other wild lands are pierced by the fertile valleys of the numerous
streams, and a love of beauty and picturesque surroundings as well as
the well-known medicinal power of the mountain springs lead many
citizens to carry all the comfort and culture of the cities into fastnesses
that would otherwise be given up to the lumberman and the moonshiner.
New fields opening up for coal or oil or gas production bring many
new people among the hills — not all desirable citizens, it is true — and
encourage the building of short-line railroads which serve the local
people as well as transport the coal from the mines.
Thus the mountain people of West Virginia have never become so
isolated as have those of Kentucky and Tennessee and the chance visitor
is often surprised to find real culture among those he had formerly
thought of as "ignorant mountaineers." Books and papers are held
1 This account of West Virginia literature includes only the writers of fiction,
essays, popular historical tales, plays and verse.
679
680 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
in high esteem and everywhere among the mountains and hills there
are writers of local reputation trying to set down life as they know it
in West Virginia.
Early Writers, 1820-1861
Prose
After the very early journals of travelers, which were written,
naturally, by non-residents, the first literature to be produced west of
the mountains was the local history of Indian warfare. The Great
Wilderness just beyond the Alleghanies was the western emigrant's first
experience with the real wilds. Along the fertile valleys the early
settlers built their cabins long before the military outposts were suffi-
ciently strong to give them protection, and there marauding bands of
Indians fell upon them, burned the cabins, carried off women and chil-
dren into captivity, and massacred whole families, times without num-
ber. Probably in no other section of the country was the Indian warfare
so brutal or so bloody as in this small territory between the mountains
and the Ohio river.
The settlers were the vanguard of the western movement and the
Indian tribes were quick to resent their penetration into the wilds
beyond the mountains which had so long proved an effective barrier
against the white men. Although there were few permanent Indian
settlements within the state, many tribes used it as a favorite hunting
ground and especially secured their winter's supply of bear-meat —
much prized because of its juicy fatness — among the mountains. Thus
it was impossible for the white settlers to secure peace by treaties be-
cause the territory was not held by any one tribe. The attacking parties
were usually small bands of hunters passing through the valleys and
the settlers never knew at what moment they might be set upon for
plunder and murder. For this reason the Indian warfare stories of
this region are particularly poignant because the attacks were usually
against helpless women and children.
No doubt the stories of these local raids were the chief theme of
conversation around the firesides in those early years. They were told
and retold to the eager, though horrified, listeners, and many a back-
woods raconteur could tell them by hundreds. So great was the local
interests in these tales that as the years went by the people began to
realize that they would have a literary value if they were set down in
books. Collections of the tales were made and published and were
widely popular. Indeed it is a remarkable fact that the most authentic
and complete collections of such tales in all the border were made
within the territory which is now West Virginia. To these early collec-
tions the historians still turn for information concerning the westward
movement and the manners and customs of the backwoods people.
The first and best of these books was ' ' Notes on the Settlement and
Indian Wars of the Western Parts of Virginia and Pennsylvania, ' '
published in 1824 by Dr. Joseph Doddridge, an Episcopal minister and
physician, who gathered his material from the local people. Theodore
Roosevelt said of this collection, "It is the most valuable book we have
on old-time frontier ways and customs." Another comprehensive col-
lection, "Chronicles of Border Warfare," was published by Alexander
Scott Withers in 1831. Later and less important volumes were Foote's
"Sketches of Virginia" and the "History of Early Settlements and
Indian Wars of Western Virginia, ' ' by Wills De Hass.
Naturally enough, since these folk-tales had secured such a firm hold
upon the imagination of the western Virginians, their first attempts at
fiction and the drama used the same materials. Volumes began to be
written
"Of Boone and Kenton and the pioneers,
Of Pontiac and Ellinipsico,
Of Logan, the heart-broken chief, of bold
Teeumseh and the Prophet."
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 681
Dr. Joseph Doddridge sought to immortalize a heroic Indian char-
acter in "Logan, the Last of the Race of Shikelleinus, Chief of the
Cayuga Nation" (1823), a drama in which Captain Purioso, Captain
Pacificus, and other classic figures rubbed shoulders with wild Indians.
In the preface he expresses a fear that the dialogue may seem "rough
and uncouth — perhaps even objectionable" — a fear not well founded,
however, as in fact both Indians and backwoodsmen speak excellent
English ! The play is of special interest because in the dialogue various
types of backwoodsmen are set forth with their varying views of the
Indian question as they knew it. Thus the reader learns much of the
temper of the times. Needless to say the climax of the drama is Logan 's
famous speech which was popular with all the pioneers.
A typical novel of the time is "New Hope, or the Rescue: A Tale
of the Great Kanawha" (1845?) — sometimes known as "Young Kate,
or The Rescue," and "The Aliens." This tale is little more than a
running together of the folk tales and anecdotes current among the
Great Kanawha settlers. It is full of picturesquely contrasting char-
acters of the backwoods, of the dangers by Indians, floods and rattle-
snakes, interspersed with humorous anecdotes and folk stories.
Another early writer, who did not, however, use local material, was
Anne (Newport) Royall, who lived near Sweet Springs, Monroe countv,
for about thirty years— 1785 M815 ? Her first book, ' ' The Ten-
nessean," was published in 1827. Later she went to Washington, D. C,
where she established the ' ' Washington Paul Pry ' ' aud ' ' The Huntress ' '
and was said to be the first woman journalist in the United States. For
many years she was a well-known figure about the national Capitol and
wrote innumerable pen portraits of prominent men, and sketches of
the life and manners of her time.
Just before the Civil War, David Hunter Strother of Martinsburg,
following the suggestion of the early travel literature of the state, wrote
a delightful series of travels illustrated by pen sketches of unusual
merit. These appeared first in Harper's Magazine and were later pub-
lished in book form under the titles, "The Blackwater Chronicle"
(1853) and "Virginia Illustrated" (1871). Like nearly all the other
writing of this region these stories are full of unusual characters, quaint
bits of humor, folk-lore tales, and elaborate descriptions of the scenery
along the way. The hardships which the gay travelers encountered may
be judged by the following "bill of necessities" which was prepared by
a member of the party. ' ' I would recommend to you to procure the fol-
lowing equipments : a water-proof knapsack, fishing tackle and a gun ; a
belt with pistols — a revolver woidd be preferable in case of a conflict with
a panther ; a hunting knife for general purpose — a good ten-inch blade,
sharp and reliable ; it will be useful for cleaning fish, dressing game, and
may serve you a good turn when a bear gets you down in a laurel-brake.
Store your knapsack with an extra pair of shoes, a change of raiment,
such as will resist water and dirt to the last extremity, a pair of leggins
to guard against rattlesnakes, and the following eatables: one dozen
biscuits, one pound of ham, etc."
Verse
The early immigrants coming over the mountains brought with them
many folk-songs which had long before been brought across the ocean
by their forbears. Everyone sang about the big hearth-fire in the winter
nights and nearly every settlement had at least one expert singer of
ballads. Probably the singers often composed new songs on local events,
Indian outrages and border battles, but only one of these, so far as
the writer knows, has been preserved. The local ballad, "The Battle
of Point Pleasant," was well-known for many years after the battle,
and no doubt is still sung occasionally at mountain firesides. It begins :
Let us mind the tenth day of October,
Seventy-four, which caused woe;
The Indian savages they did cover
The pleasant banks of the Ohio.
682 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
The battle beginning in the morning —
Throughout the day it lasted sore,
Till the shades of evening were a-falling
Upon the banks of the Ohio shore.
Even the very early settlers were much impressed with the beauty
of the land in which they lived and often "dropped into verse" in an
attempt to describe their mountains and rivers adequately. Margaret
Agnew Blennerhassett, wife of Harman Blennerhassett of "the un-
happy isle," wrote many verses about her home in western Virginia,
which were published long afterwards in Montreal as "The Widow of
the Rock and Other Poems" (1823). Dr. Joseph Doddridge used back-
woods material again in classic form when he wrote an "Elegy on His
Family Vault," imitating Gray's "Elegy." He thus describes his
pioneer father:
In hunting frock, and Indian sandals trim,
O 'er lengthening wastes, with nimble steps he ran
Nor was Apollo's dart more sure in aim;
Than in his skillful hand, the deadly gun.
Think not ye lettered men with all your claims,
Ye rich in all the spoils of fields, and floods,
That solid sense, and virtue's fairest gems,
Dwell not with huntsmen, in their native woods.
Thomas J. Lees, a resident of Wheeling, published in 1831 "Musings
of Carol," a group of philosophical poems, many of them celebrating
the beauties of the Ohio river and of the country near Wheeling.
"Musings on the Ohio" is his best known poem.
Ohio — brightest of Columbia's streams;
Thy crystal waters, in their silent course,
Glide ever beauteous through these valleys green;
Thy winding shores are decked with verdant meads
And proud majestic hills, that lift their heads
With waving forest crowned, and massy rocks
Exalt their awful clifts amid the storms
Of heaven. We ask no flatt'ring fancy here —
No fairy dreams — nor the enchanter's wand,
To fling new lustre on the gaudy scene;
For beauteous nature walks abroad, array 'd
In gayest grandeur and sublimity!
******
Time was, when sovereign nature held her reign
In wild luxuriance and lonely pride;
While these bright waters rolled on silently,
And swept their tribute to the mighty deep;
When art broke not upon the solitude,
And commerce knew not, heard not of these vast,
These rude and lonely wilds! — Then freely roamed
The surly bear, the nimble footed deer,
The antlered elk, the lordly buffaloe,
The lofty eagle — freedom 's favorite bird,
Sat on his native rock; and from the bough
Of hoary sycamore, the red-bird poured
His softest, sweetest note, —
Then changed the scene!
Along the stream the swarthy Indian sped
His fragile bark canoe, or trunk of tree,
Carved out by artist rude, that lightly skimmed
The liquid way, the fairy of the flood;
With cheerful heart he spread the snare — and oft
He drew the finny race for his repast;
His noble soul was light and free as air;
He thirsted not for wealth — nor did he know
The curse of poverty — but on his brow,
Stern independence sat.
Another change —
The sordid sons of Europe came — they brought
Their gew-gaws, wares and merchandise — a thirst
For wealth — new laws — new customs — and new crimes!
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 683
They brought their liquid poison, and they bade
The Indian drink; he took the eup, he drank,
It fired his brain — while mutual jealousy
Roused up the stormy passions of the soul ;
And many a bosom burned with deadly wrath.
Loud pealed the warnote through the dreary wilds —
They flew to battle; and the crimson flowed —
The fires of death lit up the forest gloom,
While horrid screams rung on the midnight gale,
Which chilled the white men's blood.
Another change.
The Indian's hopes are withered, and he turned
Away — he cursed the day the white man set
His foot upon the shore. With heartfelt grief,
He left his native land, and of the hills,
His grots, his woods and waterfalls he took
A long, a last farewell. Now gentle peace
Waves her mild scepter o'er these happy realms.
Philip Pendleton Cooke, of Martinsburg, published in "Proissart
Ballads" (1847) a number of graceful descriptive poems celebrating
local scenery. He also wrote a long narrative poem on "The Murder
of Cornstalk," using the stories of the early settlers as his material.
It is, however, chiefly by the charming lyric poem, "Florence Vane,"
that this poet is remembered. Another resident, Thomas Dunn English,
wrote much verse celebrating Logan county and retelling pioneer stories.
During the five years which he lived in the state he wrote, or collected
the material for : ' ' Rafting on the Guyandotte, " " Gauley River, " " The
Logan Grazier," "Guyandotte Musings," "Boone Wagoner," "The
Fight of John Lewis," "Betty Zane," "The Charge by the Ford" and
others later published in his "American Ballads" (1882) and "Boy's
Book of Battle Lyrics" (1885). The following stanzas show his easy
and careless ballad style:
Gauley River
The waters of Gauley,
Wild waters and brown,
Through the hill-bounded valley,
Sweep onward and down;
Over rocks, over shallows,
Through shaded ravines,
Where the beautiful hallows
Wild, varying scenes;
Where the tulip tree scatters
Its blossoms in Spring,
And the bank-swallow spatters
With foam its sweet wing;
Where the dun deer is stooping
To drink from the spray,
And the fish-eagle swooping
Bears down on his prey —
Brown waters of Gauley,
That sweep past the shore —
Dark waters of Gauley
That move evermore.
Brown waters of Gauley,
My fingers I lave
In the foam that lies scattered
"Upon your brown wave.
From sunlight to shadow,
To shadow more dark,
'Neath the low-bending birches
I guide my rude barque;
Through the shallows whose brawling
Palls full on my ear,
Through the sharp mossy masses,
My vessel I steer.
What care I for honors,
The world might bestow,
What care I for gold,
684 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
With its glare and its glow?
The world and its troubles
I leave on the shore
Of the waters of Gauley
That move evermore.
The Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1885
Prose
Just why there should have been so great a virtue in the crossing
of a range of mountains the historians have never decided conclusively,
but the fact remains that the former residents of the tidewater colonies
who had emigrated to the great West soon felt a new spirit stirring
within them. It was a strange consequence that people who had will-
ingly submitted to all the old English customs and traditions in eastern
Virginia should have had so little regard for such things in the wilds
of Augusta county. They felt they had entered upon a new life, with
new responsibilities, new dangers, new duties, and new privileges — for
which a new code of laws was necessary.
The center of government was far away in Richmond and except
for some general laws concerning land grants, its legislation was not
much enforced west of the mountains. Little of the soil of the state
was suited to the kind of cultivation used in the East — slaves in most
parts of the territory were not economically profitable — so that the
whole life was upon a different basis. Practically all the early writers
recognized this new spirit and made mention of it in their writings,
several of them foretelling the separation of the state long before the
Civil war excitement brought about that result.
When war was finally declared the state was widely divided upon
the question of secession. The northern and western counties were
strong for the Union, while the southern and eastern counties were as
strongly for. secession. Again West Virginia was a border land — be-
tween Ohio, solidly Unionist, and Virginia, solidly for secession, and
was herself torn between the opposing forces. Indeed the real Mason
and Dixon's line of the war ran diagonally across the state.
The real bitterness of the war seemed to be an outgrowth of the
old sectional quarrels between the North and the South as represented
in the state's population. It was not so much the freeing of the slaves
the western Virginians resented as the fact that the Yankees were doing
it — and the old feeling ran very high. Needless to say so great a force
in the lives of the people had a great influence upon their writing. The
change is well illustrated in the life of David Hunter Strother. When
war was declared he was no longer the artistic dilettante — but a man
of action, at the head of a daring Union regiment. With but few ex-
ceptions the writers of this period were in the heat of the conflict, so
each gives a one-sided view, yet taken altogether they present a true
and vivid picture of the time.
The first story of the war was written by Rebecca Harding (Blaine)
Davis, a young resident of Wheeling. Although but a young girl she
had already attracted attention by her story, "Life in the Iron Mills,"
published in the Atlantic Monthly in 1861. "David Gaunt," her story
of the war, published first in the Atlantic Monthly in September and
October, 1862, and later in book form, is one of the sanest war stories
of all the borderland. It abounds in descriptions of local scenery and
in character studies of the people. She says: "I write from the border
of the battle-field, and I find in it no theme for shallow argument or
flimsy rhymes. The shadow of death has fallen on us ; it chills the very
heaven. No child laughs in my face as I pass down the street. Men
have forgotten to hope, forgotten to pray; only in the bitterness of
endurance they say in the morning, ' Would God it were evening ! ' and in
the evening, 'Would God it were morning!' "
She describes the West Virginian small farmer who "sowed the fields
and truck patch," — and "sold the crops down in Wheeling." "You
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 685
could see that it need not take Prospero's Ariel forty minutes to put a
girdle round this man's world; ten would do it, tie up the farm and
the dead and live Scofields and the Democratic party, with an ideal
reverence for 'Firginya' under all. As for the Otherwhere, outside of
Virginia, he heeded it as much as a Hindoo does the turtle on which the
earth rests * * * Yankeedom was a mean-soiled country, whence
came clocks, teachers, peddlers, and infidelity." She probably gives a
true picture of the division of sentiment over war issues among the
small farmers near Wheeling when she makes one of her characters say
they are, " 'Beut half on 'em Secesh — it depends on who burned the
barns fust." . . ,.
"Margaret Howth" (1861), is a realistic picture of life in Wheeling
just prior to the war, contrasting the sordid life of the mills with the
beauty of the surrounding landscape. The following description of a
West 'Virginia dawn seems worth quoting: "The bars of sunlight tell
on the brown earth from the steep hills like pointed swords ; the foggy
swamp of wet vapour trembled and broke, so touched, rose at last,
leaving patches of damp brilliance on the fields, and floated majestically
up in radiant victor clouds, led by the conquering wind. Victory ! It
was in the cold, pure ether filling the heavens, in the solemn gladness
of the hills." , . , _
The first war-time chronicle was "Nine Months in the Quarter-
master's Department: or The Chances for Making a Million" (1862),
by Charles Leib, a Union soldier. He wrote in the heat of resentment
over the loss of his position, and was chiefly concerned with his accusers,
yet he felt himself in the midst of great affairs. He often tells in
dialogue the troubles of the Quartermaster, and other first-hand stones
of the war.
Two other autobiographical narratives of the war were published
some years later; one by a Union soldier and one by a Confederate—
"The Flying Gray-Haired Yank" (1888), by Michael Egan of Parkers-
bnrg, and "Four Years a Soldier" (1887), by David E. Johnston of
Monroe county. Both are readable chronicles of the soldier's life and
of the suffering undergone in prison camps, one in the North, the other
in the South. "The Gray-Haired Yank" especially has many hair's-
breadth escapes from capture — but his ready wit and tongue often save
him from embarrassing circumstances, and he never fails to appreciate
the humor even of a dangerous situation.
Mary Tucker Magill, a native of Jefferson county, wrote "Women:
or Chronicles of the Late War," and several other war stories, but she
had long been resident in Virginia, so belongs rather to that state than
to West Virginia. Sarah J. Jones, of Buffalo, began writing Sunday
school stories in the years following the war. Some of her books are :
"Rest or Unrest," "A Story of the Parisian Sabbath in America"
(1888), "Words and Ways" (1885), "None Other Name" (1893).
They have been very popular in Sunday school libraries.
Verse
The emotional excitement of the war often found an outlet in verse
and every corner of the county papers, not required for the publication
of war news, was filled with war poems. Every incident of the war
in West Virginia was told by somebody in some kind of verse, and
every skirmish was thought worthy to be sung "by the poets of the
nation for unending ages to come."
Daniel Bedinger Lucas, of Charles Town, was one of the most im-
portant of the many war poets of the South. Although living within
the present state of West Virginia his heart was with the Old Com-
monwealth in her struggle, and his verse all goes back to the "old
regime." His verse has about it that glamour which always hangs
over those who have fought bravely and lost in a cause they loved. His
poems have been published in book form in the following volumes:
"The Land Where We Were Dreaming" (1865), "The Wreath of
686 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Eglantine, and Other Poems" (1S69), — containing several poems writ-
ten by his sister, Virginia Bedinger Lucas, — -"Ballads and Madrigals"
(1884), "The Maid of Northumberland, a. Dramatic Poem" (1879),
"The Land Where We Were Dreaming, and Other Poems" (1913), a
complete collection of his shorter verse, and "Dramatic Works" (1913),
a collection of his poetic dramas.
It is chiefly by the war poem, of which two stanzas are quoted, that
Daniel Bedinger Lucas is known to the general public. Probably it
expresses, better than any other poem has expressed, the beauty and
heroism and tragedy of the Southern cause.
The Land Where We Were Dreaming
Fair were our nation's visions, and as grand
As ever floated out of fancy-land;
Children were we in simple faith,
But god-like children, whom nor death,
Nor threat of danger' drove from honor 's path —
In the land where we were dreaming!
Proud were our men as pride of birth could render,
As violets our women pure and tender;
And when they spoke, their voices' thrill,
At evening hushed the whip-poor-will,
At morn the mocking-bird was mute and still,
In the land where we were dreaming!
And we had graves that covered more of glory,
Than ever taxed the lips of ancient story;
And in our dream we wove the thread
Of principles for which had bled,
And suffered long our own immortal dead,
In the land where we were dreaming!
"The Maid of Northumberland" (1879), also by Daniel Bedinger
Lucas, is a dramatic poem of the war — probably the first use of such
material in the drama. Among the characters are General Henry A.
Wise of Virginia and the typical loyal negro servant. Much of the
humor arises from the absurd forms of court-martial in vogue during
the war. The old sectional spirit is shown in the discussion of Con-
science :
Ralph. "Where did he come from?
From New England?"
Randal. "Born there they claim, if so,
He emigrated early and for good. ' '
And again before a battle:
"The odds are such as we're accustomed to.
For on each Southern horse there rides the equal
Of Federal horsemen, three at least, or more ! ' '
The critic, C. F. T. Brooke, says of Judge Lucas's plays, "The
lights they throw are side-lights, discovering isolated groups of men
and women whose individual lives and characters are not obscured, but
rather the more strikingly silhouetted against the cloud of distant
war. ' '
Another Confederate poet, Col. Beuhring H. Jones, lived at Lewis-
burg. His verse was written in the Federal prison on Johnson's Island
and later published in a collection of soldier poems, "The Sunny Land:
or Prison Prose and Poetry" (1868). These prison verses are written
in a quiet pensive vein, recalling the loved ones at home, and pathetic
scenes in battle and camp.
In 1868 William Leighton, Jr., a graduate of Harvard University,
moved to Wheeling. He had already written verse for the Boston
papers and after coming to the state published a number of volumes of
excellent poetry. "The Sons of Godwin" (1877), and "At the Court
of King Edwin" (1878), are dramas of the Shakespearean form. At
the time of its publication, ' ' The Sons of Godwin ' ' was often compared
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 687
to Tennyson's "Harold," a play similar in form and subject, which
appeared a few weeks later. At least, according to the American press,
the West Virginia poet's production lost little by the comparison.
"Shakespeare's Dream" (1881) is a classic masque, written with much
of the Elizabethan spirit. "Change: The Whisper of the Sphinx"
(1879), an epic poem of nearly three thousand lines, is Mr. Leighton's
most ambitious work and was received with great acclaim by the critics
of that day. The only poem in which Mr. Leighton makes use of local
material is "The Price of the Present Paid by the Past," read at the
dedication of the Soldiers Monument at Wheeling in 1881. In this
he speaks of the recent war, when the state's people, almost evenly
divided upon the great issue, fought valiantly for what they believed
the right — when the hills reeled with the sound of cannon, and in
Northern and Southern prisons lay brave soldiers dreaming of their
West Virginia homes.
Statehood and the Development op Resources, 1885-1921
Prose
In the early days, before the separation of the state, the people west
of the mountains had been referred to in the Virginia legislature as the
"peasantry of the West," but now the peasants had become rulers in
their own right. They began to see that in the people of varied an-
cestry who had settled among the hills and mountains there was a
picturesque variety. Local tales of the Dutchman, the Yankee trader,
the Virginia colonel, the Scotch-Irishman, and the Englishman, had
always been popular about the firesides even from pioneer days and
now "these tales led to a new form of literature — stories of types of
West Virginians. Moreover the schools of the new state were imme-
diately improved and more young men and women received a higher
education. Indeed most of the men and women writing today have been
trained in the public schools and colleges established since the formation
of the state. While they may be no better writers than those trained
in the private schools of Virginia or the colleges of New England, they
have usually a broader view of life, wider sympathies and fewer
prejudices.
"Among the Moonshiners" (1881) by George W. Atkinson, then a
young Internal Revenue agent, but later Governor of the state, is one
of the first books dealing with local types. It is composed of sketches
of the mountain people, especially of the moonshiners, and gives some
interesting glimpses of these hardy folk as they appeared in the local
courts or fought in the mountains for their moonshine stills.
Perhaps it was the inequalities of the laws of the new and rapidly
developing commonwealth that suggested to Melville Davisson Post of
Harrison county the underlying idea of "Strange Schemes of Randolph
Mason" (1896). The dominating character is Randolph Mason, "a
rather mysterious legal misanthrope, having no sense of moral obliga-
tion, but learned in the law, who by virtue of the strange tilt of his
mind is pleased to strive with the difficulties of his clients as though
they were problems involving no matter of right or equity or common
justice." Story after story shows how, "The law, being of human de-
vice, is imperfect, and in this fag end of the nineteenth century, the
evil genius thrusts through and despoils the citizen, and the robbery
is all the more easy because the victim sleeps in a consciousness of
perfect security." The stories deal chiefly with courtroom scenes and
with officers of the law, yet there is much local color. The coal mines,
the stock farms, and oil fields of the state form the background, and
local characters are introduced as clients, witnesses and officers. The
book became immediately popular because of its new point of view and
the clever construction of the stories. Not long after it appeared the
Leutgert murder case — closely resembling one of the stories in the
1*™»k and turning upon the same technical point of law — brought the
688 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
stories to the public attention in a very striking way and the young
lawyer-author suddenly found himself famous. People were panic
stricken when they realized how easily the protection of the law around
life and property could be broken down by a clever villain and a great
storm of protest rose against the stories. As the author explains, how-
ever, in a later volume, ' ' No change in the law can be properly or safely
brought about except through the pressure of public sentiment." And
it is this public sentiment which he hopes his stories will develop.
Later Mr. Post wrote many other stories of similar purpose, published
in "The Man of Last Resort" (1897), and "The Corrector of Destinies"
(1909), in which, however, the lawyer's skill is used always to save the
innocent.
Mr. Post's first long story deals exclusively with his home people.
"Dwellers in the Hills" (1902) is a fresh and vigorous tale of the
cattle country of Harrison county, interwoven with local traditions.
With the cattleman's love for his horse, the author gives as much care
to the description of horses as of men, and even the cattle are shown
as individuals. The picture of "El Mahdi," the horse "genius," lingers
long in the reader's memory: "He was almost seventeen hands high,
with deep shoulders, and flat legs trim at the pastern as a woman's
ankle, and a coat of dark gray, giving one the idea of good blue steel.
He was entirely, I may say he was abominably, indifferent, except when
it came into his broad head to wipe out my swaggering arrogance or
when he stood as now, staring at the far-off smoky wall of the hills,
as though he hoped to find there, some day farther on, a wonderful
message awaiting him, or some friend whom he had lost when he swam
Lethe, or some ancient enemy. ' ' The story turns upon the form of con-
tract common with West Virginia cattle-buyers, requiring that the herds
be delivered on a certain day or the contract become null and void. The
efforts of the buyer to prevent the carrying out of this contract and
the overcoming of all obstacles by the determined cattlemen forms the
action of the story.
In another book of short stories, "Uncle Abner" (1918), Mr. Post
has taken a West Virginian as the central character and nearly all the
scenes and characters of the group of stories are those well known in
the state. Uncle Abner is described as "a big broad-shouldered, deep-
chested Saxon, with all those marked characteristics of a race living out
of doors and hardened by wind and sun. His powerful frame carried
no ounce of surplus weight. It was the frame of the empire builder on
the frontier of the empire. The face reminded one of Cromwell, the
craggy features in repose seemed molded over iron, but the fine gray
eyes had a calm serenity, like remote spaces in the summer sky. The
man 's clothes were plain and somber. And he gave one the impression
of things big and vast." Uncle Abner believes firmly in the "ultimate
justice behind the moving of events" and that even blind chance is
more often on the side of the good than of the bad. Under his acute
observation and simple logic even the slight clues left by clever crim-
inals tell a definite story and through this knowledge he secures justice
for the living if not vengeance for the dead.
The following picture of a West Virginia twilight will show the
author's skill in making local scenes live for the reader: "There is a
long twilight in these hills. The sun departs, but the day remains. A
sort of weird, elfin day, that dawns at sunset, and envelops and possesses
the world. The land is full of light, but it is the light of no heavenly
sun. It is a light equal everywhere, as though the earth strove to
illumine itself, and succeeded with that labor.
"The stars are not yet out. Now and then a pale moon rides in the
sky, but it has no power, and the light is not from it. The wind is
usually gone; the air is soft and the fragrance of the fields fills it like
a perfume. The noises of the day and of the creatures that go about
by day cease, and the noises of the night and the creatures that haunt
the night begin. The bat swoops and circles in the maddest action, but
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 689
without a sound. The eye sees him, but the ear hears nothing. The
whippoorwill begins his plaintive cry, and one hears, but does not see.
"It is a world that we do not understand, for we are creatures of
the sun, and we are fearful lest we come upon things at work here,
of which we have no experience, and that may be able to justify them-
selves against our reason. And so a man falls into silence when he
travels in the twilight, and he looks and listens with his senses out on
guard. ' '
Other books by Mr. Post are "The Nameless Thing" (1912), "The
Mystery of Blue Villa" (1919), and "The Sleuth of St. James Square"
(1920). Although the scenes of these stories are, for the most part,
far removed from the hills of West Virginia, local characters often
appear, for the author continually makes use of material from his native
state.
Margaret Prescott Montague, of White Sulphur Springs, has made
much use of the local material of her native mountains. "The Poet,
Miss Kate and I" (1905) is written in journal form — always a favorite
form with West Virginia writers. And perhaps it is an indication of
the changed temper of the times that a New England man is now the
hero of the story! The heroine is a West Virginia girl of delightful per-
sonality. The pleasing love story, however, is at times somewhat ob-
scured by descriptions of local scenery and anecdotes of queer char-
acters among the mountain people.
"The Sowing of Alderson Cree" (1907) is another story of the
mountains, dealing exclusively with mountain people. Alderson Cree
is shot by a "saw-mill hand" and, dying, makes his twelve-year-old son
promise to kill the murderer. The influence of this promise upon the
boy and upon other characters of the story, makes a compelling char-
acter study which is worked out to a natural conclusion. "In Calvert's
Valley" (1909) is a similar literary development of a real story of
mountaineer life. Both these books show a great advance beyond her
earlier work, especially in plot construction.
"Linda" (1912) also shows rapidly developing power. Linda Still-
water, a mountain girl, with a personality of spirit and fire and almost
elemental simplicity, is contrasted with the conventional society people
of the Back Bay district in Boston. Rugged mountain scenes are also
contrasted with city scenes, and the delightful Linda serves to interpret
them both to the reader with her simple-hearted freshness of view. In
fact the whole book has about it the freshness of a spring morning in
the Alleghenies.
Later stories by Miss Montague which tell of the blind and deaf
children in the Romney institution, have been published in book form
as, "Closed Doors" (1915), and "Home to Him's Muwer" (1916).
These have had a wide appeal because of their sympathetic understand-
ing of the blind and deaf children and of their problems.
With the coming of the World War, Miss Montague became intensely
interested in the underlying issues and most of her recent work deals
more or less directly with these. She is particularly concerned with
the establishment of a better order after the war — an entente of good
feeling between England and America and a league of nations or other
agency which will make peace permanent throughout the world. These
ideas are expressed in "Of Water and the Spirit" (1916), "The Great
Expectancy" (1918), "England to America" (1920), and "Uncle Sam
of Freedom Ridge" (1920). Other books by Miss Montague are, "The
Gift" (1919), and "Twenty Minutes of Reality" (1917). A remark-
able fact about Miss Montague's work has been her development in
power and depth of understanding as well as in skill in construction
and in literary style. Each new story has been consistently better than
the last, until today she is regarded by many critics as one of the fore-
most American writers.
Dr. Waitman Barbe's book of short stories, "In the Virginias"
(1896), is also full of local color. The stories are brief and poetic in
Vol. 1—4 4
690 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
spirit, at times almost allegorical. The author shows his wide knowledge
of West Virginia by stories of the extreme eastern counties, the interior
mountain counties, the Ohio River valley, the hills along the Monon-
gahela, and Blennerhassett's Island. A broad human interest is shown
in the variety of chai*acters, including little mountain children, a
preacher violinist, timber dealers, oil speculators, typical eastern Vir-
ginians, and struggling young artists and lawyers.
Granville Davisson Hall, in "The Daughter of the Elm" (1899)
writes of life on the West Fork of the Monongahela. The story is
founded on facts and tells of the crimes of a band of horse-thieves and
robbers, committed just prior to the Civil war. Many of the incidents
of the love story take place under an immense elm tree, known through
all the countryside as the "Big Elm." Mr. Hall has also written "Old
Gold" (1907), a book of sketches, and two books of history, "The
Rending of Virginia" (1902), and "The Two Virginias" (1915). Oren
F. Morton of Kingwood has written two romantic tales of life in
northern West Virginia, "Winning or Losing?" (1901), and "The
Land of the Laurel: A Story of the Alleghenies" (1903). The scenes
of both stories are in the mountain country near Kingwood, varying to
Bruceton, Morgantown, etc. Duncan McRa of Charleston is the author
of a naive chronicle of "A Quaint Family of Three" (1902), a Penn-
sylvania Dutch family who were friends and neighbors of the author
on Booth's Creek, a tributary of the Monongahela. The stories are very
like those of personal eccentricities which were popular at log-cabin
firesides. Hu Maxwell of Tucker county has published a similar group
of stories called, "Jonathan Fish and His Neighbors" (1900).
Albert Benjamin Cunningham is the author of two excellent realistic
studies of life on Elk river. "The Manse at Barren Rocks" (1918)
and "Singing Mountains" (1919). They tell the story of a Baptist
minister's family and are probably autobiographic, since the author's
father and mother were both ministers in the Baptist church. Although
the stories are slight in plot their accurate descriptions of local scenes,
their well-told bits of West Virginia folk-lore, and their general truth
to life and feeling in the state, render them of very great interest to
local readers especiallv. Mr. Cunningham is also the author of "The
Chronicle of an Old Town" (1919).
"The Cross Roads Meetin' House," a play of country community
life in the state, dealing with the problems of the country church, was
written by Mary Meek Atkeson of Buffalo and Morgantown. The local
dialect of the Great Kanawha valley is used throughout. It was first
published in 1918 by the Ohio State College of Agriculture, but a re-
vised edition was put out in 1920 by the Interchurch World Movement.
This writer has also published "A Study of the Local Literature of the
Upper Ohio Valley, 1820-1840" (1921), including the early literature
of western Virginia.
Although this period is more concerned with modern phases of life
in the state than with its history, there have appeared a number of
historical or semi-historical books. "Malinda" (1907), by William W.
Wertz of Charleston, is a novel of life in the frontier settlements on
the Elk and Great Kanawha rivers. Daniel Boone and Anne Bailey
appear as heroic figures, and it shows clearly the influence of Chateau-
briand and other sentimental writers on Indian life. Warren Wood of
Parkersburg is the author of "The Tragedy of the Deserted Isle"
(1909), a readable account of the old days on Blennerhassett's Island,
and "When Virginia was Rent in Twain" (1913), a historical novel of
the stirring Civil war days in the state. A collection of Indian tales,
similar in purpose to the earlier collections of Doddridge and Withers
is L. V. McWhorter's "The Border Settlers of Northwestern Virginia
from 1768 to 1795" (1915). It includes many incidents of border
warfare as handed down by oral tradition, as well as a complete
biography of Jesse Hughes, one of the most noted scouts and Indian
haters of the frontier. "Moccasin Tracks and Other Imprints" (1915),
by W. C. Doddrill of Webster Springs, is also a collection of local
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 691
traditions concerning the Indian wars, place names and early settlers
of Webster country.
Many of the local tales revert to the days "befo' de \va'." Among
these are "Down South in Dixie," by Callie Bruce Oldham of Mounds-
ville, and "A Little Court of Yesterday" (1900), by Minnie Ried
French of Bluefield.
Mrs. Alexander McVeigh Miller of Alderson published her first story,
"The Bride of the Tomb," in 1881. Her emotional novels, about
seventy-five in all, were for many years popular as serials in the current
story papers and are still read in book form. Frank Lee Benedict, for
several years a resident of St. Albans, is the author of many similar
novels. William Perry Brown of Glenville has written many books for
boys including "A Sea Island Romance" (1888), "Ralph Granger's
Fortunes" (1902), etc. Since the World war he has published a new
series, "Our Sammies in the Trenches" (1918), "Our Jackies with the
Fleet" (1918), and "Our Pilots in the Air" (1918).
Henry Sydnor Harrison, for several years a resident of Charleston,
is a prominent writer of novels, but has used little local material in
his work. "Queed" (1911), with its odd story of "the little doctor
with big spectacles," and its message of personal development, at once
caught the public fancy and brought the writer into prominence. Mr.
Harrison's later book, '"'V. V.'s Eyes" (1913), and "Angela's Business"
(1915), are equally strong stories dealing vigorously with social prob-
lems. A recent volume, "When I Come Back" (1919), tells the story
of a private soldier in the World war.
Other writers, now resident in the state, but not, so far as the writer
knows, using local material are Fannv Kemble Johnson (Mrs. Vincent
Costello) of Charleston, author of ''The Beloved Son" (1916), and
Herbert Quick of Berkeley Springs, author of many books dealing with
rural social problems, among them "The Brown Mouse" (1915), and
"The Fairview Idea" (1919). Frank R. Stockton lived for three years
(1899-1902) near Charles Town, and there continued his literary work.
The setting for "John Gayther's Garden" (1900), is a description of
the garden at "Claymont," his West Virginia home. The scene of
"The Captain's Toll-Gate" (1903) is the beautiful turnpike between
Charles Town and Harper's Ferry. "Kate Bonnet" (1903) was also
written in the state, but makes no use of local material.
Katherine Pearson Woods, once a resident of Wheeling, is the
author of several novels, "Metzerott, Shoemaker" (1889), "A Web of
Gold" (1890), etc., none of them using local material. Philander Chase
Johnson, author of "Senator Sorghum's Primer of Politics" (1906)
and several other volumes of prose and verse is also a native of
Wheeling.
During the agitation of the Free Silver question William Hope
Harvey, a native of Putnam county, began writing the "Coin" series
of books on finance. "Coin's Financial School" (1894) had an im-
mense popularity, and was followed immediately by "Coin's Financial
School Up-to-Date," "A Tale of Two Nations," and several others.
All are written in popular form, but the "Tale of Two Nations" is the
only one involving a love story.
Other residents of the state who have written stories published in
book form are :
Martin Luther Fearnow, of Berkeley County, "The Modern Crusade" (1899).
Berniee MeCally Pollock, of Morgantown, "Hortense" (1902).
Will C. Whisner, of Berkeley County, "Mark Ellis, or Unsolved Problems"
(1899).
Virginia Lucas, of Charles Town, "The Captain" (1912).
James Paul Kelly, of Charleston, "The Prince of Izon. "
Lena Leota Johnston, of Monroe County, "Nonie: A Novel."
Anna Pierpont Siviter, of Fairmont, "Nehe, A Tale of the Time of Artax-
erxes" (1901).
McHenry Jones, of Institute, "Hearts of Gold" (1896).
Henrietta E. Slaughter, of Charleston, "Passion Past" (1888).
Earle Kunst, of Weston, "Justine" (1905).
Hu Maxwell, of Tucker County, "Evans and Sontag" (1891).
692 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
Verse
This period, so productive of fiction of all kinds has been scarcely
less productive of verse. The hills and mountains had always been
appreciated by local writers, but now there was a new feeling of pro-
prietorship toward these natural beauties. The mountains were not only
beautiful mountains — they were a part of the estate of the local singer,
and as such to be celebrated and warmly defended against any other
mountains whatsoever. There are innumerable local poets throughout
the state. Almost every county has its group of singers and there is
scarce a mountain or river, or creek or waterfall that has not been
the subject of some kind of verse. By far the greater part of this local
verse lies buried in the files of county newspapers, but an occasional
thin volume is issued from local printshops.
There are, however, a few poets who have won real distinction. One
of the first to be given general recognition was Danske Dandridge of
Shepherdstown. She made her first appearance before the public with
the dainty volume, "Joy and Other Poems" (1888), and was well re-
ceived by the critics. Some of her poems have the freshness and spon-
taneity of the old English ballads. Two or three of her poems are
usually included in collections of the best Southern poetry. Daniel
Bedinger Lucas, also a state poet, wrote a tribute to her as the singer
of the "golden note."
"Prom your sweet lyre there seemed to float,
As from the Muses' chorded shell,
The sounds they love so well —
The echoes of that golden note."
Another poet of prominence is Dr. Waitman Barbe, who first called
attention to his talent by "The Song of the Century," an occasional
poem written in 1885, and later established his reputation by the sub-
stantial volume of verse, "Ashes and Incense" (1891). His work has
been much praised by the critics in both England and America for its
beauty and genuine feeling and classic finish. For many years Dr.
Barbe has devoted his entire time to editorial and educational work
and has produced little poetry. In 1919, however, he published in pam-
phlet form "Stars of Gold." in commemoration of the West Virginia
University men who gave their lives in the World war. Dr. Barbe has,
more nearly than anyone else, expressed the spirit of the state in verse.
The poem quoted is chosen for its local interest.
Song of the Monongahela
Hpy-ho! I leave my haunts in the woods,
I leave the land of snow;
Hey-ho! I leave my mountain friends
And away to the south I go;
Away to run through the cotton-fields,
Away to swell the orange yields,
Away to be kissed by the sun and breeze,
Away to be mixed with the shoreless seas,
Hey-ho! to the wider world I run,
Hey-ho ! to the land o ' the sun.
I'll fill the Beautiful Eiver's heart
With joy as free as an elf;
I '11 e 'en become a very part
Of the Father of Waters himself.
With wider purpose, larger sweep,
My steadfast course I '11 run,
Like one whose aims in life reach out
Till all his work is done,
And he at last merged in the sea
Whose farther shore no man
Has ever glimpsed with earth-bound eyes
Since first the world began.
The mighty, pulsing trade I '11 serve
And yield to man's behest;
His burdens bear from land to sea
Adown the wondrous west.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 693
And just as lovers sing to me here
When the shade of the hills reach out
Across the waters' crystal bed
And the harvest moon is near,
E 'en so beneath the southland shades,
When the mocking bird sings low
And the breeze comes up from the restless sea,
They '11 sing to me there I know.
When the air is rich with the odor of May,
Swept in from the distant pines,
They-'U sing to me then and vow their love
Is measured by no confines.
But back I '11 come to my mountain home
To tell the woodland sprites
How maidens' sighs and thrushes' songs
Fill all the southern nights.
Like one who leaves his childhood home
That 's set among the hills,
And oft returns from broader fields
To feel its mystic thrills,
So I shall come from the ocean's sweep
To hear the same old song,
And leap the rocks and kiss the boughs
That have waved for me so long.
Then away to my task for the sons of men,
Away through city and plain;
The voices of comrades bid me stay,
But all their tempting is vain,
Hey-ho, to the wider world I run,
Hey-ho, to the land of the sun."
The lesser poets of the state are very numerous and their verses are
so like in subject and spirit that it is difficult to do more than to
catalogue the writers and their works. Charles Russell Christian of
Logan county, in 1885 published "The Mountain Bard" in an "honest
endeavor to sow the seeds of literature in this hitherto barren land."
Hu Maxwell, of Tucker county, appeared before the public with a
volume of verse, "Idyls of the Golden Shore," in 1887. The verses
were written during the writer's travels. in California, "frequently in
the noise and confusion of a camp full of frontiersmen and Indians
with nothing to do but sing and talk." He writes modestly of his
work, "The critics were very hostile, and I am now satisfied that they
were none too hostile * * * I withdrew it from circulation as soon
as I could, and I do not know of a dozen copies in existence now."
Miss Emma Withers of Glenville, a granddaughter of Alexander
Scott Withers, published a book of verse, "Wildwood Chimes," in 1891,
containing many graceful poems. In 1899 John J. Cornwell, of Romney,
published a collection of the poems of his brother, Marshall S. Corn-
well, under the title "Wheat and Chaff." Frances Moore Bland, of
Weston, published "Twilight Reveries" (1900), of which the title is
well suited to the quiet verses. Edward B. Kenna, of Charleston, ap-
peared with a book of lyrical poems of a flowing rhythm, "Lyrics of
the Hills" (1902). Since his death all his verses have been collected
in a larger volume, "Songs of the Open Air and Other Poems" (1912).
Ella Maxwell Haddox, for several years connected with the Charleston
Gazette, in which many of her poems were printed, has a small volume
of verses showing careful workmanship, "Poems of Sentiment" (1912).
Norah Lee Haymond, of Clarksburg, published "Verse and Worse"
in 1918. Since that time she has won recognition as a writer of songs
and dialogue for burlesques and revues.
Other West Virginians writing verse in this period are:
"The Soul in Silhouette" (1904), Edward Earle Purinton.
"Voices from the Valley" (1918), Warren Wood.
"Brier Blossoms" (1899), Howard Llewellyn Swisher.
"Gettysburg, A Battle Ode Descriptive of the Third Day," Robert William
Douthat, a captain in Pickett's brigade.
"Songs of the Age" (1891), Dudley Hughes Davis.
"The Kingdom Gained" (1896), Dudley Hughes Davis.
"Life and Song" (1900), Anna B. Henderson.
"Wayside Thoughts" (1903), Patrick Kenny.
694 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
"Potpourri," Franklin P. Jepson.
"The Sculptor and Other Poems" (1903), Anna Pierpont Siviter.
"Songs of Hope" (1906), Anna Pierpont Siviter.
"Rustic Rhymes" (1904), Winfield Scott Garner.
"Random Rhymes" (1904), Robert L. Pemberton.
"Songs in a Merry Mood," Robert L. Pemberton.
"Musings of a Quiet Hour" (1907), John S. Hall.
"Lyrics of the Hills" (1909), Herbert P. MeGinnis.
"Chips and Whetstones" (1908), Cteorge W. Atkinson.
"Wild Flowers" (1898), Virginia Lucas.
"Mountain State Gleanings" (1911), Ignatius Brennan.
' ' Gems for the Ladies, ' ' Emmet Stockton Dilworth.
"Contest of the Frogs" (1888), Daniel Boardman Purinton.
"The Visions of a Seer" (1894), Noah Coleman.
"A City's Chaplet" (1899), Alice Piersol Cain.
"West Virginia Lyrics" (1902), John G. Gittings.
"Works of David R. Hill in Song, Poetry and Prose" (1905), David R. Hill.
' ' The Children of Bethlehem, ' ' etc., Ida L. Reed.
Conclusion
Among so many and so varied writers of prose and verse it is diffi-
cult to form any very definite conclusions. Yet there are a few qualities
in all this writing which seem to belong particularly to the state.
One thing which characterizes practically all the writers is an in-
tense love for West Virginia. It is true that writers elsewhere have
loved other states, and that very deeply and intensely, and have loved
to sing their praises, but anything like the complete unanimity of en-
thusiasm of almost every writer who has lived within our borders is
unknown, so far as the writer has discovered, in any other locality.
The writers from the highest to the lowest seem to speak from a common
impulse to tell the world at large that life in West Virginia is a beautiful
and joyous thing. The average resident of the state seems to feel if
his life were set down in a book with the hills as a background it must
needs be a great masterpiece.
This attitude toward life leads to one of the chief faults of the
West Virginia stories — a general looseness of construction or continual
digressions from the story proper. It often seems that the writer is
loath to change even the details of life in the state, though he knows
that the literary form of the story would be improved thereby, and he
continually pauses in the telling of his tale to recount some local anec-
dote or some local tradition, or to describe at length the hills and
mountains about him. If this were true merely of the lesser writers
it would have little significance, but even the more skillful seem liable
to the same fault, when dealing with local material. Melville Davisson
Post, for instance, who has written so many well-knit short stories, be-
comes digressive in "Dwellers in the Hills." Margaret Prescott Mon-
tague, in her first book, "The Poet, Miss Kate and I," and to some
extent in her other mountain stories shows the same tendency, as does
also A. B. Cunningham in "The Manse at Barren Rocks" and "Singing
Mountains." The lesser writers show this tendency very much more
clearly. One cannot avoid the conclusion that literary form has often
been sacrificed to a love of local scenes and traditions and of life in
West Virginia as; it is lived from day to day.
The poets are, if possible, even more devoted to the natural beauties
of the state. Every state poet vies with every other in singing the
praises of the hills. Even before one opens a book of West Virginia
poems, one can be fairly certain of the "Table of Contents." It will
run somewhat as follows: "The Beautiful — — River," space to be
filled by Ohio, Kanawha, Greenbrier, Monongahela, etc., according to
locality of the writer. "The Evening Hills."
" Rocks," space to be filled according to locality.
"The Hills in Spring."
"To an Indian Arrow-Head."
"The Red Bird."
"My West Virginia Home," etc., etc.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 695
The poets seem to write solely from an impulse to delineate and
celebrate the scenes they love, and they feel certain if they can get
those beauties upon the page they will have great poetry. Dr. Waitman
Barbe once remarked that wherever he went in the state someone was
always pointing out some local scene and saying, "Now, won't you make
a poem out of that!" and he could never make the speaker understand
that it takes much more than beautiful scenery to make a real poem.
And yet Dr. Barbe 's own work shows him truly West Virginian in his
love of the hills and rivers, though he has in addition a depth of feeling
and understanding of life which lifts his work to general importance.
Though the local verses are somewhat related in spirit to the work
of Wordsworth, Bryant, or of Lanier, there is little close resemblance
which would suggest direct imitation, except in Dr. Doddridge's "Elegy
on His Family Vault," imitating Gray's "Elegy," some of the poems
of Thomas J. Lees, and a few others. Of course conventional figures
of speech, worn-out poetic phrases, unmeaning lines, faulty rhymes,
and all such faults of the untrained writer, are common enough in all
the local poets, but these do not indicate direct imitation. This lack
of models seems worth mentioning because in the local verse-writing of
Ohio, of which the writer has also made a study, the use of classic
models is quite the usual thing. This may be explained partly by the
fact that many Ohio poets were trained in New England colleges where
the writing of verse was taken seriously, and models held up for imita-
tion. Few of the West Virginia verse writers have been, college trained
and they do not generally regard verse-making as an art to be studied
seriously.
West Virginia poets are a happy folk. Whatever their shortcomings
in technique they are rich in the belief that life is a good and gracious
thing, they take an almost pagan joy in the manifestations of nature
about them, and they seem inclined to believe that heaven can be but
a West Virginia glorified. They are simple-hearted mystics who believe
devoutly in the potency of beauty in human life. They seldom sermon-
ize and almost never weep. When a moral is pointed at all in a poem
it is usually tacked on at the end as by an afterthought, or as a. con-
cession to some popular notion. This is in strong contrast to the de-
scendants of the Pilgrims on the Ohio side of the river, who seem to
think that the chief end of poets is to preach sermons. There "Lines
on a Tomb," "Lines on the Death of ," etc., are most common,
though, except for a few New Englanders along the river, West Vir-
ginia writers generally avoid such lachrymose subjects.
A similar attitude is shown toward the Indian mounds — those
fascinating, mysterious relics of a vanished race. Ohio verse so abounds
in "Lines to an Indian Mound," always for a moral purpose, that one
begins to suspect that the subject is so frequently chosen, not because
of the beauty of the mounds or even of their mystery, but rather be-
cause the moral lesson is so beautifully evident — -"as this race has van-
ished, so will yours also." Lines to mounds are comparatively rare in
West Virginia, though there are many relics of the mound-builders in
the state and the huge mound at Moundsville is particularly impressive.
The state poets usually picture the Indians as living rather than dead.
When musing on some Indian arrow-head they try to picture the joy
of Indian life as a hunter among the hills — with perhaps a beautiful
Indian maiden waiting at the trysting place. One obscure newspaper
poet even insists that the huge mound at Moundsville was not a tomb,
as generally believed, but a temple of worship from which to hymn
the praises of the hills! And since those vanished races were West
Virginians, too, in a way, and perhaps like those living now, caught by
the potent spell of the hills, it is quite possible that he may have the
true interpretation.
These distinctive qualities of our local writing seem to indicate a
predominant Celtic element in the people of the state. As has been
pointed out before the early settlers had a strong admixture of Welsh,
Irish, Scotch-Irish, and French blood and their descendants have main-
696 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
tained their racial characteristics. This tendency of the race, as well
as the beauty of environment, may explain the general joyousness and
the delight in natural beauty in a country in which conditions of life
are often particularly hard because of the meager areas for cultivation
and the rigorous climate. Their love of the homeland often seems ab-
surd or pathetic to the plain-dwellers of the West, but it is entirely
sincere. The poignant homesickness of the native of the hills who is
forced by circumstances to live on the plains or in the cities is men-
tioned by very many of the local writers, and "The West Virginia Hills"
is the favorite song at all state gatherings.
However amusing this may be to outsiders it is at least a pleasant
view of life and one conducive to literature. We have seen how it has
already inspired a considerable body of literature that in many respects
is both creditable and distinctive, and has given a few writers a high
rank among the writers of the nation. The possibilities for literature in
the state are infinite because of the great variety of life and people
among the hills and mountains. It is to be hoped that the local writers
will continue to present the different phases of our life to the reading
public until the world in general comes to know the ever-changing
charm and fascination of West Virginia as the hill-dwellers know it and
love it.
CHAPTER XXXVIII
WEST VIRGINIA AND THE WORLD WAR
By Dr. 0. P. Chitwood
Contribution op the State to the Military Service
The mobilization and training of the man power of the country in
the World war was the biggest and probably the most important task
before the Federal and State governments. To transform an army
numbering a little more than one hundred thousand into an armed force
greater than the host led by Xerxes when he invaded Greece was no
small undertaking for a country even as large and prosperous as our
own. In the achievement of this notable result West Virginia accorded
the Federal Government the most hearty and effective co-operation. At
the beginning many of our young men showed a willingness to do their
part of the actual fighting by offering their services to their country,
and before the war was over thousands of them had been enrolled in
the army as volunteers. At the time of our entrance into the war
West Virginia had two regiments of national guards. These were
recruited to full war strength and incorporated into the regular army.
But in West Virginia, as in every other commonwealth, the largest
additions to the fighting force were recruited by the elective draft.
Before the law providing for the draft had been enacted by Congress,
Governor Cornwell, in anticipation of the passage of the measure, had
reselected Major George S. Wallace, of Huntington, as the draft ex-
ecutive of the state. This appointment was afterward confirmed by
the Provost Marshal, General Enoch H. Crowder. Provision for regis-
tering all men of military age was made by the governor and Major
Wallace by the creation of two district boards and the selection of
registrars in every county. These registrars were as far as possible
chosen from those persons who had acted as registrars in the previous
election. In making the registration, 3,630 of these election officials
were used, usually two to each precinct. About two-thirds of them gave
their services without compensation. The registration was supervised
by local boards consisting of the sheriff, the county clerk, the county
health officer, and two citizens in each county, and the mayor and five
citizens for each city of thirty thousand inhabitants. This machinery
was organized in a very short time. One week after the selective draft
law was passed (May 19, 1917) the registrars had all been sworn and
furnished with supplies and were ready to begin work. The first regis-
tration was made on June 5, and in three weeks the registration boards
had completed their work and turned over their records to the draft
boards.
The second registration was made on June 5, 1918. By this time
the draft machinery had had time. to get into good running order and
so the enrollment was carried on with comparative ease. A supple-
mental registration was made on August 24 to include young men who
had reached the military age since the June enrollment. The third
registration took place on September 12, 1918, and included all male
persons between the ages of eighteen and forty-six. This wholesale
enrollment of men and their classification entailed a severe tax on the
energy, patience, and wisdom of the local and district boards and other
officials. Despite the difficulties, however, the task was very satisfac-
torily performed.
697
698 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
In the meantime Major Wallace had been called to Washington
(September, 1917) by the Federal authorities and had been succeeded
by Captain Breckinridge Jones as chief of the Department of Military
Census and Enrollment. He in turn was succeeded in June, 1918, by
Captain P. N. Alderson.
The total number of men registered in West Virginia was 323,383.
Of this number, 45,648 were called into service. Nearly five thousand
young men from West Virginia won for themselves a place on the
nation's roll of honor. A large proportion of these made the supreme
sacrifice in the services of their country, and all the rest, except less
than a hundred, were wounded or taken prisoners. Porty-six won their
place on the list of fame by heroic action in battle.
There was at first some opposition to the war and especially to the
draft in certain sections of the state. While this opposition was not
defiant it was strong enough to bring anxiety to those who had been
entrusted with the enforcement of the draft law. But after the people
were led to understand the situation by public discussions this opposi-
tion vanished. All classes were now united in their determination to
prosecute the war vigorously, and the draft regulations were carried
out successfully without the slightest hitch "Despite bad communication
with many interior counties, Wert Virginia was among the first to
complete and report the result of the first registration. Its per capita
cost was among the lowest of the states and out of the class of registrants
of June 5th, 1918, it developed a higher percentage of fighting men
than any other state in the Union, 64.7 per cent, North Dakota coming
next with 58.7 per cent, while Connecticut fell to 28.4 per cent."
State Councils op Defense
The Council of National Defense was created by an act of Congress,
August, 1916. It was composed of six cabinet members, and was charged
with the duty of providing in time of need for "the immediate con-
centration and utilization of the resources of the nation." Immediately
after a state of war had been declared by Congress the several states
were asked by the Washington authorities to form State Councils of
Defense and co-operate with the National Council. In prompt com-
pliance with this request, Governor Cornwell appointed (April 12) such
a Council for West Virginia. This first State Council of Defense was
an unofficial body composed of twenty-one representative men, including
the six ex-govemors. This preliminary council had one meeting with
the Governor at Charleston and advised with him as to the best means
of mobilizing the resources of the state.
When the legislature met in extra session in May, 1917, it created
a State Executive Council of Defense and made provision for an
Advisory State Council of Defense. The Board of Public Works was
to constitute the membership of the former body. The Advisory Coun-
cil was to consist of fifteen members chosen by the Governor. In select-
ing this latter body the Governor named all the members of the pre-
liminary council except the five ex-governors. The Advisory Council
was auxiliary to the Executive Council and had only such authority
as was delegated to it by that body. It made suggestions, conducted
investigations, and performed such other services as were requested by
the Executive Council.
The Executive Council of Defense was given large powers and was
entrusted with the general management of most of the war measures
carried out in the state. It had authority to "subpoena witnesses and
require their testimony" and "compel its production of account books"
and all other documents that might have a bearing on any investiga-
tions that might be conducted. Among their duties as specified by the
act may be mentioned the following:
"To adopt, publish and enforce all reasonable rules and regulations
governing the operation of railroads, mills, mines, manufacturing plants,
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 699
and other industrial works in this state, in so far as such rules and
regulations are not in conflict with the rules and regulations adopted
by the Council of National Defense.
"To cause to be taken a census and inventory of the resources of
the state in men and materials lo make investigation and report to the
Governor the location and availability of military supplies, and the
location and capacity of railroad, automobiles, and all other means of
transportation and conveyance within the state, so as to determine
their availability for military purposes of the state, and to render
possible the expeditions, mobilization and concentration of state troops
and supplies at points of defense and military advantage.
' ' And in general to take such steps as may be, in the opinion of said
councils necessary or advisable for the public defense and security,
* * * to regulate food and fuel prices; to encourage the military
training of the citizens of the state, and such other measures as may
be necessary to meet the exigencies of all situations occasioned by war,
if not in conflict with any rule promulgated by the National Council
of Defense."
The state organization was carried into every country and many
communities by the formation of county and community councils. In
Wood county there were forty of these community councils. These
local councils were not clothed with any legal authority except in so
far as it was delegated to them by the State Executive Council. But
they proved invaluable and in carrying out in every locality the meas-
ures of the State Council. The County Council was later made the
clearing-house of all war activities of the county, and the heads of
the various organizations engaged in local war work constituted the
County Council of Defense, or at least its executive committee.
Provision was also made for extending this organization to the col-
ored population. The Executive Council of Defense, acting on authority
given it by the Act of March, 1917, appointed in March, 1918, an
Auxiliary Council Advising Council of Defense. This was composed
of thirty, later thirty-two, prominent negroes many of whom were
representatives of religious and fraternal organizations. The purpose
of the Auxiliary Council as given by the resolution creating it was "to
cause a complete and thorough organization of the negroes of the state
in order that they may be a more potent factor in our national defense
in the way of conserving food, buying thrift stamps, war stamps and
Liberty Bonds, and in giving their labor in the various occupations so
essential to the successful prosecution of the war." Auxiliary county
and community councils were promptly organized in thirteen counties.
These county councils were to be auxiliary to the county councils of
defense and to co-operate with them.
The object of this elaborate organization was to conserve and mobilize
the resources of every locality of the state and to arouse its patriotism
and eidist the support of all the people in furtherance of the war
policy of the government. The work done by the Executive Council
and the advisory and subordinate bodies affiliated with it fully justified
the creation of so much machinery and the delegation to it of such large
powers. Only the first services performed by the Executive Council
was the support it gave toward the training of a dozen aviators at
Beech Bottom near Wheeling. An appropriation of $10,000 was made
by the Council for this purpose. Among the important tasks performed
by the Council the following should be mentioned:
A survey was made of the state's public institutions with a view to
finding out to what extent these institutions could be employed in
caring for tubercular and crippled soldiers. This survey was made
under the supervision of Dr. Hastings H. Hart of the Russell Sage
Foundation and Mr. Charles L. Stonaker of Newark, New Jersey, in
co-operation with the president of the Board of Control, Mr. James S.
Lakin. The report of Dr. Hart, based on the work of Mr. Stonaker,
was so valuable that it was "printed and circulated in every state of
700 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
the Union." Some of the suggestions made in this report have been
carried out.
The responsibility of seeing that the law against idleness was en-
forced was placed on the Executive Council. That this law was carried
out so effectively we are indebted in a large measure to the vigilance
of the Council.
The first Red Cross drive was initiated and the campaigns for food
production and consex-vation were waged under the auspices of this
body.
For the convenience of the soldier a legal booklet was published
by the Council giving a digest of the war risk insurance law and other
laws relating to service men and their families. More than 30,000
copies of this booklet were distributed among the men in the service.
Arrangements were made whereby all unnecessary building was
stopped. The dealers in building material had entered into an agree-
ment with the War Industries Board pledging themselves to sell build-
ing supplies only to those who had permits. The Executive Council
appointed a general committee to be assisted by a representative in
each county and imposed upon them the duty of investigating carefully
all sworn applications for building permits and of ruling out those that
were unnecessary.
The Councils of Defense in this state were especially able to co-
operate effectively with the National Pood Administration in its effort
to speed up the production of coal, oil and gasoline. West Virginia is
rich in these important products and during the war she ranked second
among the states in the output of coal. The smokeless coal used on
warships and by-products coal so valuable in the manufacture of muni-
tions and explosives are mined extensively in the state. The respon-
sibility imposed on West Virginia by this opportunity was fully realized
by the State Council of Defense and every possible effort was made to
stimulate the production of coal. Returned American soldiers who had
been wounded on the other side and two British officers were sent into
the coal fields to impress upon the miners the necessity of large pro-
duction. Speakers were also sent to several districts for the same pur-
pose by the Emergency Fleet Corporation. An appropriation was made
by the State Executive Council to aid in a more rigid enforcement of
the regulations regarding the sale of intoxicants, as the blockading of
liquor was interfering with the efficiency of the miners. As a result
of these various efforts the output of the miners was increased despite
the fact that a great many of the workers had gone into military service.
The activities already mentioned represent only a part of the war
service performed by the State Council. Much of the war-work herein
after discussed was done under the supervision and practically all of
it with the co-operation of the councils. The importance of the service
performed by them is evidenced by the fact that fifty-nine different
bulletins were submitted to the different County Councils for action
thereon.
Special attention ought to be called to the good work of the auxiliary
councils of the colored people. It ought never to be forgotten that the
colored people of the state responded to the calls for subscriptions to
war loans and gifts to Y. M. C. A., Red Cross and other philanthropic
organizations, with a generosity in comparison to their wealth and
numbers, fully equal to that of the white population.
They also did their full share in adding to the food supply by their
garden and canning clubs. But it was in the coal industry that their
patriotic energy was most important as more of them were engaged in
this kind of labor than in any other. They responded willingly to the
appeals for increased coal production. Colored miners held the record
for output in the Fairmont and Cabin Creek fields. For this good
showing on the part of the colored people in our midst we are indebted
in a large measure to the efficient efforts of the auxiliary councils, but
in still larger measure to the fine spirit of loyalty which the negroes
as a class exhibited.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 701
War Legislation
The legislature met in special session on May 14, 1917, and adjourned
on May 26 It had been called by the Governor for the double purpose
of making the usual appropriations which the regular session and the
subsequent special session had failed to vote— and to pass such laws as
were necessary to put West Virginia on an effective war-footing. Among
the important war-measures enacted by this legislature may be men-
tioned the following: (1) "An act creating the Executive and Advisory
State Councils of Defense."
(2) "An act providing for a direct levy of two cents and an excise
corporation tax of one-fourth of one per cent levied on the net earnings
of corporations to create a war defense fund."
(3) "An act to punish speculation for the purpose of cornering the
market in foodstuffs, fuel, or the necessities of life." .
(4) "An act empowering sheriffs and county courts to appoint
special deputy police for the protection of the lives and properties of
the people of West Virginia." By the provisions of this act each sheriff
must nominate and the county court appoint from ten to one hundred
persons in each county as special deputy sheriffs. These were to be
subject to the call of the Governor for service in any part of the state
The reason for this measure was that the two regiments of national
cuards all the state had, had been incorporated in the regular army
and the commonwealth was left without adequate military and police
protection. , »
(5) "A law against idleness." This was the most unique piece ot
legislation enacted by the special session. It was the first measure ot
the kind that was passed by any of the states and it caused a good
deal of comment in the press throughout the county. Seven other states
have followed the example of West Virginia by passing similar laws.
The first step toward the enactment of this law was taken when
Governor Cornwell ordered a census of idlers to be taken by the police
authorities in the cities and towns of the state. This census showed
that a large number of people in the towns and cities were idle, although
the demand for labor was greatly in excess of the supply. In his mes-
sage to the legislature the Governor took the position that idleness under
such conditions was unpatriotic and should be penalized. In the mean-
time the Governor had summoned to Charleston a few of the leaders
of the legislature before the special session was convened. He asked
these leaders to draft suitable war measures to be acted upon by the
legislature. One of these conferees Delegate W. S. John, of Monongalia
county felt that as idleness was a moral crime it ought to be made a
legal 'crime. In acting on the suggestion of Governor Cornwell he
drafted a bill requiring every able bodied man to work at least thirty-
six hours a week. The bill received the enthusiastic support of his col-
leagues and was passed.
The law was not merely a protest against industrial slackers, but it
had teeth in it. It is evident from the report of the secretary of the
Council of Defense which body assumed responsibility for its enforce-
ment that the law was carried out in real earnest. The newspaper, in
compliance with a request from the Governor, agitated strongly m
favor of the enforcement of the measure. The Council of Defense sent
out letters to every peace officer and every member of the county coun-
cils of defense urging the importance of prohibiting idleness. Accord-
ing to a ruling of the attorney-general it was the duty of "all peace
officers, such as mayors and justices of the peace, to enforce this statute
without waiting for citizens to initiate complaints." Another ruling
of the attornev-general placed the burden of proving his innocence on
the person suspected of idleness. These rulings made it easy to convict
a real loafer. In July, 1918, a resolution was adopted by the State
Council of Defense requiring all employers to report to that body the
names of their employees who failed to work the requisite thirty-six
hours a week. The secretary reports that 3,500 such persons were re-
702 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
ported to him, to each of whom he required a statement giving the
reason for the apparent delinquency. Many of these were able to make
satisfactory explanations, while others, of course, had only framed-up
excuses. Idlers to the number of 811 were arrested and 2,705 more
were frightened into employment by the possibility of arrest. The
secretary of the Council thinks that a larger number, at least 5,000,
became industrious because of the law, and that they added by their
earnings $2,500,000 to the wealth of the state in one year. In his corre-
spondence with the various municipal authorities the secretary asked
an expression of opinion from the mayors of towns and cities as to the
merits of the law. They were conscientious in considering it a wise and
important war measure.
Liberty Loan Drives
All of West Virginia, except six counties in the northwest, including
the city of Wheeling, is in the Federal Reserve District of Richmond ;
the remaining six counties are in the Cleveland District. After the law
had been passed by Congress authorizing the Liberty Loans, the bankers
belonging to the Richmond jurisdiction in West Virginia met at Charles-
ton and chose Ex-Governor William A. MacCorkle as chairman of the
State Liberty Loan Committee. The organization was extended by the
selection by the State Chairman of six group chairmen and a chairman
for each county. There were also local committees, one for each county
and usually one for each district and precinct. All the counties except
five were well organized.
The State Council of Defense, the County Councils of Defense, and
the various other organizations lent their enthusiastic assistance in
making the campaigns a success. The banks were especially obliging
and gave invaluable aid. An immense amount of clerical work was done
by them, all without compensation, although it made heavy demands
upon the time of their employees. The women, under the leadership of
Mrs. Lydia Simpson Poffenbarger, played a very important part in
raising the third, fourth and fifth loans. In the third campaign, al-
though only forty-two counties were organized by the women, they
succeeded in raising more than $10,000,000, which was forty-eight per
cent of the state's quota. This remarkable success placed West Vir-
ginia in the fourth place in the proportion of women subscriptions.
This vast total of subscriptions was secured at an expense of $733.00
making the former record of economy in the United States. In the
former campaign the women secured subscriptions amounting to more
than eighteen million dollars, being forty per cent of the state's quota.
Elaborate plans were made for the fourth campaign. A convention
was held at Charleston on September 17 and 18, composed of the Liberty
Loan chairman, the chairmen of the County Councils of Defense, the
chairmen of the Four Minute Men, and the chairmen of the Women's
Liberty Loan Committee of each county. The object of the meeting-
was to make such arrangements as would enable all the various agencies
to act energetically in harmony with a general plan. It was planned to
have community meetings, and three or four meetings at every school-
house in the state. The chairman brought into the state to assist in the
speaking campaign four allied officers and sixteen American soldiers
who had been wounded in the service. These elaborate plans for speech
making had to be cancelled owing to the influenza epidemic and a house-
to-house canvass was substituted for it. The success of this campaign
was due in large measure to the support of the churches. By October
12 only one- fourth of the state's quota had been subscribed, and the
outlook for success was gloomy. On that date the state chairman met
a delegation of leading clergymen at Charleston representing all re-
ligious denominations — Catholic, Protestant and Jewish — and revealed
the discouraging situation to them. With unanimity and enthusiasm
they agreed to ask the clergy and laymen of their respective denomina-
tions to give the next week to the loan campaign. They sent out 4,500
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
703
telegrams and by other means stirred up their parishioners with won-
derful results. The state chairman thinks that the Fourth Liberty Loan
would have failed but for this timely assistance. As it was, West Vir-
ginia exceeded her quota in this loan as she did in all the rest. Charles-
ton had an especially high per capita rate of subscription, one of the
highest in the country.
The campaign for the Victory Loan came at a time when subscrip-
tions were most difficult to secure. The people had been and were still
being asked to give to Belgium and Armenian relief and benevolent
organizations and many felt that the limit for making money pledges
had been reached. Besides, there was a feeling that, the war now being
over, there was no necessity for further sacrifices. Undismayed by
those unfavorable signs, Ex-Governor MacCorkle and his subordinates
went ahead with the determination to uphold the fine reputation that
POSTOFPIC'E, MORGANTOWN
West Virginia had already made. The organization was keyed up, the
newspapers, the Four Minute Men and other publicity agencies were
set to work, and fifty returned wounded soldiers were used as speakers
in the campaign. Again the women came to the rescue, and under 1 lie
tactful and brilliant leadership of Mrs. Poffenbarger, they lent in-
valuable assistance. It is needless to say that our quota was subscribed.
The Production and Conservation op Food
When the United States entered the war it was felt that one of the
most important services we could perform would be to furnish in as
large amounts as possible the food supplies for our allies. To do this
we would have to speed up the production and curtail the wasteful
consumption of food. In order to cany out these purposes the National
Food Administration was organized in August, 1917, and Herbert.
Hoover was appointed National Food Administrator. He was assisted
by an administrator for each state. The position of State Food Ad-
ministrator was one of great responsibility and called for a man of
ability who was conversant with farming and business conditions in the
commonwealth. Mr. Hoover thought he bad found just such a man
for West Virginia in Mr. Earl W. Oglebay. His large experience as
iron manufacturer and his recent experience as a scientific farmer
qualified him especially for this work. Mr. Oglebay at first hesitated
704 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
to assume the responsibility, but finally accepted it after having been
urged to do so by a convention of men representing the various occupa-
tions and professions held at "Waddington Farm, the home of Mr.
Oglebay.
The machinery for carrying on the work was perfected by the
selection of a food director for each county, twenty-five price-interpret-
ing committees, and a staff of executive, advisory and clerical assistants,
with headquarters at "Wheeling. Every county in the state was or-
ganized as a result of the effective efforts of Mr. William Hill, director
of organization, with the assistance of Mr. J. P. Marsh, Secretary of the
State Board of Regents, and Mr. C. R, Titlow, of the Agricultural Ex-
tension Department of the University.
The campaign for increasing the production of food in West Vir-
ginia had started before either a State or Federal Food Administrator
had been appointed. The leaders in this campaign were the governor,
commissioner of agriculture, the College of Agriculture and the Agri-
cultural Extension Department of the University. The slogan of the
movement was, "Help West Virginia feed herself." Mr. C. R. Titlow
met with wonderful success in his efforts to stimulate the production of
food throughout the state. In most sections of the state boys and girls
were organized into farming clubs and were furnished with plans and
instructions by the Agricultural Extension Department of the Univer-
sity. About 27,000 young people followed these instructions and pro-
duced food in one year to the value of about $300,000. Mr. Titlow 's
work has also been a great aid to the regular farmer, by inducing him
to farm more intensively and to use more scientific principles in the
cultivation of his crops. The amount of food was considerably increased
by the use of vacant town lots for war-gardens which were universal
in West Virginia. It is gratifying to know that as a result of these and
other efforts the amount of food produced increased in spite of the
fact that a great many farmers had gone into service and war in-
dustries. In 1917 the increase in acreage for potatoes was 9,000 acres;
for wheat, 63,000 acres; and for corn 235,000 acres.
The problem of food conservation had two aspects; one was the
prevention of waste and the other was the substitution of other sub-
stances for wheat, fats and other concentrated food. The people of
Europe had not been accustomed to corn bread and they did not know
how to make as good a use of meal as we do. Besides, wheat is better
adapted to transportation than corn. For these reasons our people
were urged to use as little wheat flour and as much corn meal and other
substitutes as possible. The reasons for this self-denial were not always
clear to the American housewife, and it was deemed advisable by the
National Food Administration to conduct a campaign of education for
the purpose of winning her assent to the plan. The first campaign in
West Virginia in favor of food conservation was conducted by the State
Council of Defense before the State Food Administrator was appointed.
In this effort to co-operate with the authorities at Washington the Coun-
cil of Defense was ably supported by the Women's defense organization,
led by Mrs. Joseph G. Cochran. Eighty thousand information and
pledge cards were distributed by the women in this campaign. The
signers of these cards pledged themselves to observe the rules and regu-
lations of the Federal Food Administration as to the conservation of
food. Thousands of these cards were signed and sent to Washington.
In the second campaign conducted in November, the efforts were more
successful. The women were the main agents in this campaign also.
Mrs. Cochran's fine service was performed without compensation, even
for expenses incurred.
The schools were a most important agency in spreading the doctrine
of food conservation. Courses dealing with the principles of food con-
servation were given in a large number of the high schools, in the col-
leges, and in the University. A plan of co-operation was worked out
by the State Food Administration and the University whereby dem-
onstrations in the use of wheat flour were given to groups of women
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 705
(including colored and foreign women), such as women's clubs, church
societies, parents' and teachers' associations, and lumber and mining
camps. "These meetings were held in forty-two counties and 21,135
homes were represented. The results show a reduction of flour con-
sumption from thirty pounds per week per family attending those
special meetings to fourteen pounds per family."
An important part of the work of the State Food Administration
was the distribution of food, the consumption of which was limited, and
the prevention of profiteering on the part of wholesale and retail
grocers. The rules governing this service were made by the Federal
Food Administration, but the interpretation and adaptation of them
to local conditions was left to the state administration. This part of
the work was entrusted to the State Food Distributor, Dr. J. R. Trotter,
Professor of Law in the University. Lists of prices, wholesale and re-
tail, were published weekly in the local papers by the price interpreting
committees. In this way both buyers and sellers were kept informed
as to what were fair prices. The administration had full authority to
enforce obedience to price and other regulations. All wholesale grocers
whose sales amounted to $1,000,000 a year were licensed and were under
the direct control of the administration. Retailers were under indirect
control. If they violated the regulations they were punished by having
the wholesalers withdraw their supplies. A wholesaler could be pun-
ished by the suspension of his license or the imposition of a fine. For
hoarding, a retailer or consumer could be fined or imprisoned. In-
spectors were appointed and charged with the duty of looking out for
hoarding. They were given authority to impose light penalties, but
more serious offenses were referred to state headquarters at Wheeling
for trial. In cases involving as penalty the suspension of license appeal
could be had to the authorities at Washington. Sugar and flour were
two products the distribution of which was especially hedged about
with restrictions.
Fuel Administration
The same law that gave the President through his subordinates such
large control over food placed the management of the country's fuel
supply in his hands. This great authority was delegated to Dr. H. A.
Garfield as National Fuel Administrator. The states were then or-
ganized for the conservation of fuel very much as they were for the
discharge of other war activities. Mr. J. Walter Barnes, of Fairmont,
was appointed State Fuel Director (October, 1917) and chairmen and
committees were appointed by him for all the counties. Those officials,
like most of the war workers, gave their services without compensation.
It was the business of the state administration to carry out the
measures of the Federal administration in its effort to conserve the
fuel supply and distribute it at "the lowest possible price to the con-
sumer consistent with a reasonable profit to the operator." One plan
carried out by the State administration for economizing coal was the
observance of the celebration of "Tag the Shovel." The aim of the
movement was to get every family to save a shovelful of coal a day.
From January 21 to March 25, 1918, "Weather Days" were observed.
On these days, which were usually Mondays of each week, all business
houses were closed. As West Virginia is a great coal-producing state
the task of looking after the distribution of fuel to consumers was not
so great as it was in some other sections of the country. But owing to
poor means of transportation and communication it was difficult in cer-
tain sections to provide for the domestic supply. This was done, how-
ever, so effectively that none of our people suffered any considerable
hardship for lack of fuel.
The State administration had no power to control or regulate the
production of coal as that authority was retained by the Federal ad-
ministration. The State administration was able, however, to give
valuable assistance to the Federal authorities bv furnishing them with
Vol. 1—4 6
706 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
such information as would enable them to keep in knowing touch with
mining conditions during the war period.
The Schools and the War
Our school system comes into closer relation with all the people than
does any other institution or group of institutions. It is natural, there-
fore, that it should have been used extensively in linking up the people
with the numerous and important war activities launched by the govern-
ment. Our schools measured up completely to this fine opportunity.
As Mr. Marsh well says, "they did not wait to be drafted, but from
the beginning of the war volunteered their services." As has already
been shown, the schools were used by nearly all the other war agencies
in the prosecution of their plans. "The first food pledge campaign
was directed by a member of the State Department of Schools (Mr.
J. F. Marsh, Secretary to the State Board of Regents) and carried on
almost entirely through the teachers and pupils of the state." The
schools were important centers for campaigns for raising funds for the
Y. M. C. A., Y. W. C. A., Salvation Army, Red Cross, and other ben-
evolent societies ; for the formation of war savings societies, Junior Red
Cross, and other patriotic organizations. The schools were used by the
fuel administration in the "Tag the Shovel" movement and other
efforts to conserve coal. Both pupils and teachers bought freely thrift
stamps, war saving stamps, and Liberty Bonds. They also subscribed
generously to the Y. M. C. A., Red Cross, and other religious and
benevolent organizations. Nearly every teacher at one time owned a
Liberty Bond. In the Fourth Liberty Loan campaign a day "was set
apart for the schools on which a special program sent to all teachers
by the State Superintendent was rendered with the schoolhouse as the
center of a rally that brought the loan to the attention of all citizens."
The schools' were also especially active in the effort to increase the
production of food. Nearly all of them had school gardens and boys
and girls of school age added no little to the increased output of agri-
cultural products.
A few of the larger high schools gave night courses in mechanics to
draftees. This kind of work, however, was done mainly by the Uni-
versity and the colleges. During the year 1917-18 the College of
Engineering, assisted by the Department of Physics of the University,
gave training in war mechanics and science to 167 draftees. In the
fall of 1918, the University virtually became a military camp where
more than 1,500 members of the students army training corps were
given instruction in college or vocational subjects along with their
military training. A student army training corps was also stationed
at each of the following colleges, Bethany, Davis and Elkins, and West
Virginia Wesleyan.
The main service performed by the school, however, was their con-
tribution to the morale of the people. The teachers were universally
loyal and were able to create in all our schools a fine patriotic atmos-
phere. The subjects of the daily curriculum were also related to the
war wherever possible in a way to kindle the enthusiasm of the pupils.
Members of the students army training corps were required to take
a course of study or lectures on war aims in the University and the
courses, especially those in history and the social services, were linked
up closely with the war.
But the educational activity of the school was not confined to the
school-room. The school had a large share in the propaganda of
patriotism that was so necessary carried on in all parts of the state.
The speech-making campaigns that ushered in each of the numerous
drives were participated in very largely by teachers, principals and
superintendents of the schools and by professors and executive officials
of the normal schools, colleges, and the University. In West Virginia,
as everywhere else in the country, the young men in the institutions of
higher learning had imbibed such high ideals of patriotism that a large
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 707
proportion of those of military age enlisted in the service of their
country. Many of them made the supreme sacrifice on the soil of
France.
In one particular the school system allowed its patriotic zeal to run
ahead of its wisdom. Naturally the German language became an un-
popular study with our pupils from the beginning of the war and
nearly all the high school students failed to elect it during the first
school year after our entrance into the conflict. This attitude on the
part of the pupils was followed by official action on the part of the
school authorities and for a while the study of German was eliminated
entirely from the curriculum of our school system. "Thus in 1917-18
no pupil from the kindergarten to the University was studying the
language of our enemy." This was unfoi-tunate because it was allowing
national feeling to run too far into hatred of the enemy and if this
policy of ignorance had been persisted in for a long time it would have
handicapped us in our efforts to maintain the position in world com-
merce and international politics to which destiny has called us. Some
one has said that ignorance is no cure for anything. Certainly no
nation ever strengthens itself even in a military way by bringing up
its children in ignorance of the language and culture of a possible
enemy. Happily this tinge of narrowness to our patriotism has vanished
and German has returned to our schools.
The Four Minute Men
The people of West Virginia are not accustomed to act blindly and
usually demand reasons when urged to participate in any great move-
ment. When they were called on to give up their ease, their means,
and their sons to aid in the prosecution of a war thousands of miles
from their borders, they naturally wanted to be convinced that the
sacrifices were necessary. Of course a great many of our people were
well posted and understood the meaning of the war from the beginning.
Numbers of others, however, had to be informed as to the state of world
affairs before they were willing to give the movement their whole-
hearted support. As like conditions obtained in other states it was
necessary for the Federal government to keep going continuously, one
after the other, campaigns of education throughout the entire country.
Every effort to raise money for religious and benevolent purposes, or
to sell war savings stamps and Liberty Bonds, or to enlist the people
in movements for food and fuel conservation was preceded and accom-
panied by a campaign of enlightenment directed by the Committee of
Public Information at Washington. The aim was to keep up a propa-
ganda of patriotism that would reach every community in the country.
The publicity agencies in West Virginia gave most effective assistance
toward the attainment of this goal. To see that the war messages of
the Federal government reached every man, woman and child in West
Virginia was the work assumed by the publicity agencies of our state.
In the beginning of the war, before the Four Minute Men and other
publicity agencies organized, Governor Cornwell carried on a speaking
campaign throughout the state explaining to the people the meaning of
the war. This effort and indeed all subsequent endeavors to arouse
the people were ably seconded by the press of the state, which was
"loyal to the core." The publicity campaigns which were so success-
fully waged would have been impossible but for the cordial support
given them by the patriotic newspapers of the commonwealth. As has
already been shown, the schools, churches and fraternal organizations
also lent invaluable aid in all the efforts to reach the people with the
war messages of the government.
But the most important single agency engaged in spreading the
Gospel of patriotism and in delivering to the people the war messages
from Washington was the organization of Four Minute Men. In West
Virginia this organization numbered over 1,000 members representing
all the walks of life, including a large number of women. There was
708 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
also a Junior branch composed of boys, who did valuable service through
the schools in spreading Americanism especially among the children of
our foreign born population. In some of the counties colored speakers
were enlisted with excellent results. "No more devoted loyalty was
shown anywhere than by the speakers of that race." The state organiza-
tion was headed by Mr. William Burdette Mathews and was extended
to every county in the commonwealth.
Originally the plan of the Committee on Public Information was
to use the Four Minute Men as speakers in the theatres and moving-
picture shows. Bulletins were sent out from Washington giving in-
formation from which a four-minute speech was to be prepared by each
speaker. These brief digests of the government pamphlets were pre-
sented to large ' ' ready-made audiences ' ' in short and frequently snappy
speeches. In this way millions of people in the country were reached
who would never have taken the trouble to read the numerous and some-
times voluminous bulletins issued by the national committee.
But the Four Minute Men did not confine their activities to speaking
in moving-picture and other theatres, but took a leading part in nu-
merous public meetings held at picnics, in churches, schoolhouses,
country stores and various other places. On these occasions they were
not restrained by the four-minute rule and frequently gave lengthy
addresses. It ought also to be said that the Four Minute Men were
not the only speakers who took part in patriotic meetings. They were
participated in by professional and business men, ministers, teachers
and educators, labor leaders and public speakers of all classes.
In West Virginia the Four Minute Men carried on thirty-nine speak-
ing campaigns and the Junior four. Some idea of the number of
people reached by them can be gained from their work in the Liberty
Loan campaigns. In the Second Liberty Loan campaign it is estimated
that they made 497 speeches in 79 theatres to 84,075 people, "while in
the Third Liberty Loan 1,665 speeches were made to 498,821 people or
nearly half of the population of the state." For the Fourth Liberty
Loan drive this organization had made plans for a speaking campaign
that would reach every man, woman and child in the state. These
plans were not carried out only because the influenza epidemic made
it advisable to prohibit public meetings.
Red Cross Work in West Virginia
The work of the Red Cross among the soldiers is so well and favor-
ably known that it is not necessary to speak of it in this brief account,
which will be confined to the activities of this society within the limits
of this commonwealth.
When the first drive for $100,000,000 was on, the goal for West
Virginia was set at $500,000. At that time the state had been only
partially organized but our people gave this amount with a generous
margin of oversubscription. After the first drive completed a vigorous
effort was made to organize the state thoroughly by the formation of
chapters in all the counties. This campaign was carried out with marked
success under the leadership of Mr. David H. Brown, director of the
department of development. Fifty-six chapters, with numerous branches
and auxiliaries, were organized throughout the state. Thanks to this
effective organization in the second drive for funds West Virginia's
record was one of the highest made by any of the states. Her quota
was $695,000, and her subscriptions amounted to $1,408,503.60.
In Red Cross work the women easily held the leading place. War-
bandages, sweaters and other garments were made by them in large
numbers. They were also the principal solicitors in securing member-
ships and contributions of money. But the finest and most heroic service
performed by our women during the war was the part they played as
nurses during the influenza epidemic, both on their own initiative and
in affiliation with the Red Cross. But for the fearless and tactful
gentleness of our women nurses the toll of death exacted by this dread
scourge would have been much greater than it was.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 709
The work of the Red Cross included the looking after the needs
and problems of the families of the men in service as well as the allevia-
tion of the distress and suffering of the soldiers. Each chapter had a
home service section whose duties as defined by the assistant director
of the Potomac division, were as follows : "It is the object of home
service to assist soldiers' and sailors' families to preserve the essential
home standards of home life, to meet problems arising out of diminished
income, sickness, care, discipline and education of children, household
management, business and legal difficulties, unsatisfactory working con-
ditions, loneliness, mental depression or defect, vice or physical dis-
ability. Furnishing information about the war risk insurance law and
how to proceed to procure government allowances, compensation and
insurance, how mail should be addressed to soldiers and sailors. How
to obtain news of wounded, captured or missing relatives, is also an
important phase of home service."
In the performance of these duties the home sections had the hearty
co-operation of the Governor, the draft boards, and the Council of
Defense. Legal advice to soldiers and their families was provided to
such an extent by the home service sections that the legal committees
of the Council of Defense were placed under their jurisdiction by the
Council in order to avoid duplication of effort. The home service sec-
tions did the work of the State Tuberculosis Association and the board
of health in those counties where these organizations were not repre-
sented. An arrangement was made with the University whereby an
extension course in home service was given for one semester in thirty
localities in the state. During this time the professor of sociology spent
his entire time in lecturing at these places. Speeches on home service
were also made at all the county institutes for teachers and a syllabus
on home service was given to every teacher in the state.
The Red Cross had seven canteens in West Virginia. These were
located at such railroad centers where soldiers in transit could be
administered to. In some places where the trains made only a short
stop there was just time enough for the distribution of such things as
fruits, chewing-gum, cigarettes and magazines. At other places the
wait was long enough to permit the serving of hot biscuits, coffee and
sandwiches and sometimes whole meals. At most of these canteens a
nurse was on duty ready to render first aid to the injured.
Contributions for Allied War Relief
There were a number of other organizations that asked the American
people for financial support on the basis of improving and maintaining
the morale of the soldiers. Prominent among these organizations were
the Y. M. C. A., the Y. W. C. A, Knights of Columbus, Jewish Welfare
Board, Salvation Army, American Library Association, and the War
Camp Community Service. It was felt that the soldier when off duty
should be entertained without being tempted to immorality. The work
of these societies consisted largely in eliminating immoral influences
from the camps and substituting good wholesome entertainment that
would relive the doughboy of his homesickness. Some of them also
administered to the spiritual needs of the soldiers. At first these or-
ganizations acted independently and the funds for their support were
raised by separate financial efforts. But in the fall of 1918, at the
suggestion of President Wilson, a united effort was made to raise funds
for all of these agencies in a great national drive known as the United
War Work Council. The campaign was carried on in West Virginia
during the week of November 11-18, 1918.
In the previous efforts to raise funds for these organizations acting
separately, West Virginia contributed her share with unusual generosity.
Especially liberal were the subscriptions to the funds raised by the
Knights of Columbus in the spring cf 1918 and to those of the Lutheran
Commission for Soldiers and Sailors Welfare given in February of the
same year. In the campaigns for the Knights of Columbus and the
Lutheran Commission the amounts subscribed were respectively two
710 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
and a half and four times the state's quota. In the latter drive "West
Virginia stood at the head of all the states of the Union.
Other War Activities
In addition to the activities already discussed, West Virginia took
part in the other war measures planned by the Federal government.
Active and successful efforts to sell thrift stamps and war savings
stamps were carried on under the leadership of Mr. Robert L. Archer.
Stamps were sold to about 400,000 different persons in the common-
wealth.
Three thousand skilled and unskilled mechanics volunteered their
services in ' ' war industries " as a result of a campaign conducted by the
Public Service Reserve. The state was thoroughly organized for this
work and it was well performed under the leadership of Mr. Samuel
B. Montgomery, who was Director of the Public Service Reserve in
West Virginia.
The part played by West Virginia in the World war is the proudest
chapter in her entire history. Her young men did their share of the
fighting and showed the fine courage usually exhibited by the American
and Allied soldiery, and the civilian population held up the arms of
those in the service with a zeal and devotion that would be a credit to
any people in any age. They submitted to restraints put upon them
by the government which in other times would have been termed the
rankest paternalism. They bought and sold food at prices named by
the government, lent or gave money when asked to do so, considered
only such foods and in such amounts as they were bidden, ate corn
and potato bread in order that our soldiers and those of our Allies
might have wheat bread, and at times abstained from meat and shivered
on "heatless days" in order that at the front there might always be
in plenty nutritious food and munitions of war. Even the thirst for
strong drink, the most indocile of all appetites, had to submit to the
authority of the government. These restraints and sacrifices were
cheerfully endured without any serious complaint. Never, therefore,
in our history did we have so much complicated governmental machinery
and never did it run so smoothly. Never before did merit play so
large and partisan politics so small a part in the selection of men to
places of honor and responsibility.
For this fine showing we are largely indebted to the men and women
who were our leaders in the various war activities. Especially were we
fortunate in having as executive one of the ablest and most energetic
of the war governors. John J. Cornwell had been inaugurated governor
about one month before our Congress declared war on Germany on
April 6, 1917. From that time until the armistice was signed on
November 11, 1918, most of his time and attention were devoted to
carrying out in West Virginia the program of the Federal government
in the prosecution of the war. But more than to all other causes put
together we owe our fine record to the unselfish and devoted loyalty
exhibited by the people as a whole. Our people seem to have been
raised above the petty partisan differences and narrow selfish misunder-
standings that too often characterized ordinary times. This idealism
was a type of super-patriotism that had the intensity of nationalism
and the breadth of internationalism.
It is with pleasure that we are able to add that West Virginia did
not stand alone in her fine accord, but that her sisters states also had
the right to boast of like high achievement. We want, however, to
declare emphatically that in the great effort "to make the world safe
for democracy," West Virginia measured up fully to the opportunities
and duties of a great American Commonwealth. In no part of the
country was there shown more bravery on the part of soldiers, more
generosity on the part of contributors, more self-sacrifice on the part
of mothers, better efficiency on the part of managers, and a firmer spirit
of patriotism on the part of all the people.
CHAPTER XXXIX
THE LATEST DECADE, 1910-1921
The latest decade was one of many changes, improvements and new
achievements. Among its chief features were large increases of popula-
tion in new coal mining regions and in older industrial centers, continued
municipal development, better agricultural conditions, growth of banks,
marked improvement of schools and communication, elevation of require-
ments for the professions, settlement of interstate controversies, im-
provement in social conditions and in politics, improved legislation, and
extension of the functions of government in the regulation of health
and business. Many improvements attracted wider attention after the
"Semi-Centennial celebration" of 1913.
Population — From 1910 to 1920 the population increased from
1,221,119 to 1,463,701 (19.9%), which was considerably less than the
increases of the four preceding decades (39.9%, 23.3%, 25.7% and
27.4%). The density of population increased from 50.8% to 60.9%
per square mile.
The changes in population, especially in the mining and manu-
facturing regions, were more marked for the decade before 1910.
The increases were most marked in McDowell (155.3%), Logan
(108.1%), Raleigh (106.1%), Harrison (74.7%), Pocahontas (72%),
Mingo (71.1%), Mercer (66.7%), Fayette (62.3%), Cabell (59.6%),
Hancock (56.4%), Nicholas (55.2%), Brooks (53.7%), Kanawha
(48.9%), Randolph (47.3%), Tucker (39%), and Lincoln (32.8%).
Considerable decrease was shown in Pleasants (13.6%), Wirt (12%)
Tyler (11.2%), Jackson (8.8%), Doddridge (7.4%), Ritchie (5.4%),
Mason (4%) and Gilmer (3.3%). The proportion of negro population
was greatest in McDowell county (30.6%). In only four other counties
did it exceed 12.5%. The cities having the largest proportion of colored
were Charleston (13.4%), Martinsburg (9.3%), Huntington (6.9%)
and Bluefield (20%) and Clarksburg (9.2%). Of the total population
there were 644,044 males and 577,075 females. The proportion of
males was largest among the foreign born, and among the negroes. Of
the native population 80% were born in "West Virginia. The foreign
born white population was chiefly from Italy (30.3%), Austria (14.6%),
Germany (11.1%), Hungary (10.4%), Russia (9%), England (6.1%)
and Ireland (4%). The most marked period of arrival of foreign born
was 1906 to 1910. The total white stock of foreign origin (born abroad
or having one parent born abroad) was German (21.7%), Italian
(18.5%), Irish (11.5%), Austrian (9.5%), English (9%), Hungarian
(6.6%), Russian (6.4%), and Scotch (2.9%). Of the native popula-
tion born in other states, 7.2% came from Virginia, 4% from Ohio, and
3.3% from Pennsylvania. There were 247,970 white voters of whom
23,577 (11%) were illiterate, and 14, 786 colored voters of whom 5,583
(38%) were illiterate. There was a total of 74,866 illiterates (8.3% of
the population above ten years of age).
For the decade after 1910, of the forty counties showing an increase
the counties of most marked increase were Logan (183.3%), Hancock
(90%), Raleigh (65.7%), Harrison (54.6%), Brooke (48.9%), Boone
(48.3%), Kanawha (46.9%), Wyoming (46.1%), McDowell (43.3%),
Cabell (40.8%), Monongalia (38.2%), and Mingo (35.7%).
The fifteen counties showing a decrease were "Wirt (16.7%), Tyler
(12.5%), Jackson (11%), Tucker (10.1%), Calhoun (8.8%), Pleasants
(9.6%), Ritchie (7.7%), Mason (6.8%), Roane (6.6%), Gilmer (6.2%),
Putnam (5.7%), Doddridge (5.5%), Lincoln (5.4%), "Wetzel (3.3%),
and Jefferson (1%).
711
1900-10
1890-1900
127.2%
34.6%
71.7
452.8
107.2
64.
161.4
18.
140.9
161.6
7.1
12.6
382.S
87.4
66.3
99.5
41.4
4.7
66.3
99.5
712 HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA
The proportion of the population living in towns or cities with a
population of 2,500 or more increased from 18.7% in 1910 to 25.2%
in 1920. Of the thirty-four cities in the state, the ten largest in 1920
were Wheeling (56,208), Huntington (50,177), Charleston (39,608),
Clarksburg (27,869), Parkersburg (20,050), Fairmont (17,851), Blue-
field (15,282), Martinsburg (12,515), Morgantown (12,127), and
Moundsville (10,669). Their percentage of increase in the last decade
and in the two preceding decades is conveniently arranged for com-
parison in the following table :
1910-20
Clarksburg 202.9%
Fairmont 83.8
Charleston 72.2
Huntington 61.
Bluefield 36.6
Wheeling 35.
Morgantown 32.5
Moundsville 19.6
Martinsburg 17.
Parkersburg 12.4
Of the total population in 1920, there were 763,100 males and 700,601
females. The per cent of native white was 89.9. Of the foreign born
41,910 were males and 19,996 females. Of the negroes 47,129 were males
and 39,216 females.
The proportion of negro population was greatest in the counties of
McDowell (26.5%), Fayette (16%), Raleigh (15%) and Mercer (13%).
Webster was the only county with none. The proportion of negroes in
cities was greatest in Bluefield (17.8%), Charleston (11.4%), Martins-
burg (8.1%), Clarksburg (4.5%), Huntington (5.7%), but in each case
was less than in 1910. Of the total white population in 1920, 61,906
were born in foreign countries. Of this number 14,147 were from
Italy, 3,798 were from Germany, 3,433 were from England, 1,459 were
from Ireland, 6,260 from Hungary, 5,115 from Austria, 5,799 from
Poland, 3,911 from Russia 3,186 from Greece, 2,802 from Jugo-Slavia,
1,549 from Czecho-Slovakia, 1,540 from Spain and 1,235 from Syria.
Although the Italians outnumbered the foreign born from any other
country, the entire German group including Germany, Poland, Austria,
Czecho-Slovakia, Jugo-Slavia and Ruthenia was larger (about 40% of
all foreign born ) . Counties containing the largest number of foreign
born were Harrison (6,131), Ohio (6,290), Hancock (6,131), McDowell
(5,416), Marion (5,112), Fayette (3,203), Monongalia (3,279), Mar-
shall (3,068), Kanawha (2,735), Logan (2,710), Tucker (1,497), Ran-
dolph (1,098).
Agriculture. — Of the total land area of the state, 62.2% is in farms
and 57.7% is improved. The number of farms in West Virginia which
was 92,874 in 1900 decreased from 96,685 in 1910 to 87,289 in 1920
(9.7%). The total farm acreage decreased from 10,026,442 to 9,569,790
(4.6%). But the total value of all farm propertv increased from
$314,738,540 in 1910 to $496,439,617 in 1920 (57.7%). The value of
farm lands and buildings increased from $264,390,954 to $410,783,406 ;
implements and machinery jumped from $7,011,513 to $18,395,058 ; and
live stock from $43,336,073 to $67,261,153.
The number of farms reported as being mortgaged increased from
7,878 in 1910 to 9,031 in 1920, while the amount represented by the
mortgages increased from $5,592,533 to $11,205,953. The average debt
per farm was $1,241 in 1920 and the average rate of interest 5.9
per cent.
Of the 72,101 farms operated by their owners, 52,617 are reported
free from mortgage, 10,274 are reported mortgaged and 9,210 made
no report on the subject.
Native-born white farmers predominate in the state. Of the 87,289
farms in the state, 6,785 are operated by white farmers, of whom only
752 are foreign born, and there are only 504 colored farmers in the
-1909—
Bushels
Acres
Bushels
17,010,357
676,311
17,119,097
3,054,668
103,758
1,728,806
3,747,812
209,315
2,575,996
537,883
33,323
533,670
2,809,398
42,621
4,077,066
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 713
state, compared with 708 in 1910. Of the native white fanners 71,181
are owners, 1,071 managers and 13,781 tenants.
Farm live stock figures show the number of horses on farms in
1920 to have been 169,148, compared with 176,530 in 1910. Mules in-
creased from 11,577 to 14,891; cattle from 560,770 to 587,462; and
chickens from 3,106,907 to 4,027,510; while sheep decreased from 566,952
to 509,831 ; and hives of bees from 110,673 to 89,873.
Milk production in the state decreased from 75,694,324 gallons in
1910 to 73,690,103 gallons in 1920; wool decreased from 2,719,684
pounds to 2,442,090 pounds ; and the chickens decreased from 5,543,096
to 4,878,287. But the number of eggs produced increased from 19,159,-
008 to 21,708,279 dozen.
The value of all crops for West Virginia in 1919 was $96,537,459,
compared with $36,167,014 in 1909. The 1919 value of the corn crop
was $29,768,131, oats $3,054,668, wheat $8,395,097, hay and forage
$23,746,574, potatoes $1,461,619, tobacco $2,731,338, apples $7,540,491,
peaches $1,518,784.
As compared with 1909 the total value of the 1920 crops shows an
increase of 116.9 per cent, corn 150 per cent, oats 234.8 per cent, wheat
211.3 per cent, potatoes 183.6 per cent, and tobacco 42 per cent.
The difference of production of the chief crops in 1909 and 1919
may be seen from the following table:
—1919-
Acres
Corn 568,219
Oats 169,915
Wheat 298,036
Buckwheat 31,095
Potatoes 34,526
Agricultural extension, which was established at the West Virginia
University in 1913, has proven an important factor in the development
of modern scientific agricultural methods. The College of Agriculture
increased its activities in many ways after 1910.
Mining. — For mineral productions West Virginia ranks second
among the commonwealths of the United States. The total production
was valued at $125,111,280 for 1913 and $133,633,229 for 1914.
Oil production which, following the large increase of 1889, con-
tinued to grow steadily until 1900 when it reached 16,195,675 barrels
and then declined from 14,177,126 barrels in 1901 to 9,095,296 in 1907,
increased again from 9,523,176 barrels in 1908 to 12,128,962 barrels in
1912, but steadily declined thereafter. The production in 1916 was
8,731,184 barrels valued at $21,914,080. In 1918 it was only 7,866,628
barrels (the lowest mark reached after 1893), but in 1920 it reached
8,173,000 barrels. Dr. I. C. White, eminent geological authority on oil,
predicts a continued decrease.
In the production of natural gas West Virginia since 1906 has
ranked first among all the states. The production which had reached
.119,100,392 thousand cubic feet in 1906 steadily increased (except in
1908 and 1914) to 308,617,101 thousand cubic feet (valued at $57,-
389,161) in 1917, but in 1918 declined to 265,160,917 thousand (valued
at $41,324,365) and in 1919 to approximately 201,500,000 thousand
valued at $40,304,500. After 1910 it was largely used in the manu-
facture of carbon black in Calhoun, Lewis, Doddridge, Harrison, Ritchie,
Clay, Kanawha and other counties. Much has been transported from
the state through pipe lines by natural pressure and by pumping sta-
tions. Much has been used in the manufacture of casing-head gasoline
in which West Virginia led all the states of the Union until Oklahoma
captured first place in 1914, and compelled West Virginia to retire
to second rank.
In 1909, West Virginia, overtaking Illinois, became the second coal
producing state of the Union, but in 1920 dropped to third. Coal pro-
duction in West Virginia, which had reached 22,647,207 short (net)
tons in 1900, 51,446,010 tons in 1909, and 61,672,019 in 1910, continued
714 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
to increase steadily in the next decade, reaching 71,707,626 short tons
(valued at $71,391,408) in 1914 (and furnishing employment for 78,363
persons), and became especially active following the entrance of the
United States into the World war. In 1916 the production increased
to 86,460,127 short tons (valued at $102,366,092) and in 1918 reached
89,935,839 short tons valued at $230,508,846. In 1919 it was 75,500,000
net tons which (together with coke production of 1,404,008 short tons)
gave employment for 91,566 persons. In 1920 it was 87,500,000 tons.
The production of coke which steadily increased to 1910, reaching in
that year 14,217,380 tons valued at $7,525,922, steadily diminished
thereafter to 1,391,446 short tons in 1915 again increased to 1,957,632
in 1916 and 3,349,761 in 1917, but again decreased to 1,956,068 tons
in 1919.
The increase of coal production after 1910 was partly due to strikes
in Ohio and other middle-western states. The determination of the
United Mine Workers to unionize the mines of West Virginia led to a
bitter and prolonged labor war which began in 1912 in the Cabin creek
and Paint creek collieries of the Kanawha valley. The struggle re-
sulted in heavy losses aggregating nearly $6,000,000 (operation loss,
$2,000,000; cost to the state, $500,000; cost to United Mine Workers,
over $600,000; property destroyed, $20,000; and the time lost by the
strikers). One result of the expensive struggle was to secure for the
union a foothold in West Virginia. In September and November, 1919,
organized miners from this region threatened an armed invasion of
Logan county to force the unionization of that field. In order to pre-
vent possible disturbance, Governor Cornwell asked for a regiment of
Federal troops which responded promptly. In 1920 an attempt to
unionize the miners along the Norfolk and Western Railway finally
precipitated an armed conflict between detectives and union miners at
Matewan, in Mingo county, resulting in the death of seven detectives
and the Mayor and the terrorization of the community and necessitating
a call for Federal troops and the establishment of military control in
the county. In August, 1921, a threatened war between armed forces
in Logan county was prevented by the arrival of Federal troops.
In 1916 the quarries yielded sandstone and limestone valued at
$1,047,695, and clay working industries yielded products valued
at $6,284,527. For the same year the output of salt was 232,239 barrels.
In 1919 the production of sand and gravel was 1,183,606 short tons
valued at $1,750,201.
Manufacturing. — In manufacturing West Virginia advanced from
the twenty-ninth state in 1909 to the twenty-eighth in 1914. The num-
ber of manufacturing establishments in 1914 was 2,749, with an invested
capital of $175,995,011, and a production valued at $193,511,782. The
number of persons employed was 79,353 (11% more than 1909), earning
$51,377,760. The total number engaged included 2,559 salaried em-
ployees, 71,078 wage earners and 2,559 proprietors and firm members.
The cost of raw materials used was $110,033,165 and the value of the
output was $193,511,782. The leading manufacturing counties were
Ohio, Marshall, Wood, Kanawha, Cabell, Tucker, McDowell, Berkeley,
Fayette, Randolph, Marion, Morgan, Mineral, Jefferson and Grant. The
value of manufactures increased 63.5% in the five years before 1909
and 19.5% between 1909 and 1915. The leading industries were lumber
and timber, steel works, rolling mills, tinplate and terneplate, glass,
leather, railroad cars and shop construction, flour milling, and manu-
facturing of clay products.
The state ranked second among the states in the production of glass,
and also in the production of tin plate and terneplate, and eighth in the
value of clay products.
In 1920 the glass industry in the state enjoyed its banner year.
Forty-four of the larger manufacturers of glass and glass products
employed 9,417 workmen, paying them a total wage for the year of
$12,998,250.79, or an average" of approximately $1,363.00. The forty-
four glass companies had a capital invested in grounds, buildings and
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
715
machinery of $13,841,333.90, and the value of their product for the
year was $44,008,131,73.
Seventy-four of the larger manufacturers of lumber and lumber
products employed an average of 4,131 workmen, paying them a total
wage of $5,533,453.69, or an average of $1,340.00. The seventy-four
concerns had a capital invested of $9,219,345.33, and the value of their
product for 1920 amounted to $19,279,128.36.
Iron and steel products for 1920 show the employment of 8,180
workmen in seventy-two plants reported. The wages paid these work-
men amounted to $14,377,846.65, an average yearly wage of approxi-
mately $1,758.00. Capital invested in the seventy-two plants totals
$11,564,883.17, and the value of the product from these same plants for
the year 1920 amounted to $69,030,375.40.
The construction of two war-industries by the Federal Government
on the Kanawha in 1918 (a projectile plant at Charleston and a high
explosive plant at Nitro) at an expenditure of over $60,000,000, created
i new impetus to manufacturing and a large demand for labor.
Transportation.— Transportation facilities continued to improve after
1909. The railway mileage which by 1912 reached 3,557 miles by the
completion of the Virginia Railway (139.6 miles) and by the construc-
tion of the Coal and Coke Railway from Elkins to Charleston (196.75
miles, recently acquired by the Baltimore and Ohio Railway Company),
and by the completion of the Hampshire-Southern branch of the Balti-
more and Ohio to Moorefield and Petersburg, was further increased by
the extension of the Monongahela River Railway southward to Fairmont
in 1913, and by several shorter branches. The railway mileage was
3,868 in 1918 and 3,892 in 1919. Every county except Pendleton and
Calhoun now has railway connection. The last decade has been marked
by extension of several interurban electric lines and expansion of tele-
phone service.
Banks. — The condition of banks in West Virginia in 1919-21 was
as follows:
National
State
1919
1920
1920
1921
Number
Capital
Surplus
Loans
119
$ 11,273,000
7,093,000
85,191,000
107.862,000
122
$ 11,573,000
7,739,000
100,545,000
134.436.000
218
$ 16,087,000
9,929,000
129,066,000
159.406.000
227
$ 17,598,000
11,047,000
150,618,000
170,371,000
Churches. — In 1916 there were in the state 427,865 members of re-
ligious denominations, of whom 85.9% were Protestants. The Methodist
bodies with 156,654 communicants (36.5% of the total communicants
or members) were the strongest. There were 89,856 Baptists (of eight
varieties, including 3,565 United Baptists, 1,763 Regular Baptists, 650
Seventh Day Baptists, 673 Primitive Baptists and 296 Free Will Bap-
tists), 60,337 Roman Catholics, 29,426 United Brethren, 28,545 Pres-
byterians, 19,227 Disciples of Christ, 10,342 Church of Christ, 5,983
Lutherans, and 6,831 Protestant Episcopal. The number of denomina-
tion Sunday Schools was 4,050 with an enrollment of 337,682 and
officers and teachers numbering 34,624.
Education. — Educational facilities have steadily increased. In 1918
the total school population was 437,620; the total school enrollment,
307,381 ; the average daily attendance, 219,831. The per capita cost of
education was $17.00 based on enumeration, $24.58 based on enrollment
or $34.38 based on average daily attendance. The total number of
teachers was 10,978 (10,456 white, 522 colored), of which 3,774 were
male (3,640 white, 134 colored). The average annual salary paid
teachers (in all grades) was $408.00. The total number of school
houses was 6,897. The number of high schools was 164 with an enroll-
ment of 13,363.
The disbursements for all common schools was $7,558,208. and for
716 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
state educational institutions was $1,216,150, making a total expenditure
of $8,774,358 for the entire educational system of the state.
The value of all public school property was estimated at $20,245,822,
and the value of state educational institutions at $5,500,000, making a
total value of $25,745,822.
By 1921 the total school population increased to 449,663, the total
enrollment to 347,841, the average daily attendance to 267,710, and the
per capita cost to 28.45 based on enumeration (or to $47.79 based on
average daily attendance). The total number of teachers increased to
11,866, and the average annual salary to $706.00. The number of male
teachers was 2,936 in the elementary schools and 468 in the high school.
The number of female teachers was 7,693 in the elementary and 769
in the high schools. The total disbursements for public schools in-
creased to $12,794,852, and for higher state educational institutions to
$2,843,532.
The development of the high schools has been a prominent feature of
recent educational growth. This was partly due to the appointment of
a state high school supervisor in 1909 to direct the establishment and
standardization of the high schools. By 1921 the state had 190 classified
high schools with 1,237 teachers, and an enrollment of over 20.000
(over 3,000 graduating in the year), and high school property valued at
$10,000,000. In 1920 the high schools received state aid amounting to
$118,000.
The average daily school attendance was increased nearly 50,000 in
1920 by the compulsory school law of 1919.
The University enrollment of candidates for degrees increased from
800 in 1909-10 to"l,596 in 1919-20, and the total enrollment for the same
period increased from 1,200 to 2,800 (or 1,992 exclusive of short course
students). The members of the instructional staff increased from sixty-
two (and twelve student assistants) to 141 (and twenty-five student
assistants), of whom fifty-six were full professors, seventeen were asso-
ciate professors and twenty-seven were assistant professors. The total
number of women students increased from 619 to 975 in the same period.
In 1920-21 the total number of students enrolled for degrees increased
to 1,725.
By the revised school code adopted by the legislature, Act of 1909,
the control of financial affairs of all state educational institutions was
vested in a State Board of Control composed of three members, and
the control of educational affairs of these institutions was vested in a
Board of Regents of five members. Under an Act of 1919, the control
of all educational affairs of the state, from the lowest school to the
University, was vested in a State Board of Education composed of the
State Superintendent (as executive officer) and six members appointed
by the Governor. The Board has an advisory council of three colored
citizens.
Constitutional Amendments. — Several amendments to the state con-
stitution were ratified in the decade after 1910. Efforts to secure an
amendment providing for a lieutenant-governor failed. An amend-
ment providing for prohibition was ratified in 1912 by a majority of
92,342. Another amendment proposed in 1917 and ratified in Novem-
ber, 1918, provides that an itemized and classified budget shall be pre-
pared by the Board of Public Works, and presented to the legislature
for its guidance in determining appropriations. The governor urges the
necessity of a modification which will place upon the executive the duty
and the authority of preparing the budget, as the original draft of the
amendment (before mutilation by the legislature) had provided. A
third amendment ratified in November, 1920, provides for two periods
of every regular session of the legislature — one of fifteen days in Janu-
ary, primarily for presentation of bills, and another of forty-five days
in March-April, primarily for consideration and action on bills. The
same amendment increased the salaries of members of the legislature to
$500 a year.
A fourth, ratified in November, 1920, authorized the legislature to
HISTORY OP WEST VIRGINIA 717
provide for a system of state roads under control and supervision of
state officers, and to bond the state to a maximum of $50,000,000, if
necessary, for this purpose.
The need of a constitutional convention to secure a new constitution
suitable to new conditions of rapid industrial development was urged
by Governor Glasscock in 1913.
Other Governmental changes. — By act of 1911, a state department
of agriculture was created in 1913 and placed under the direction of
the Commissioner of Agriculture, an elective officer who is also a mem-
ber of the Board of Public Works. The office of highway inspector,
created in 1907, was abolished in 1911; and a state bureau of roads
(4 members) was created in 1913. By act of 1913 a public service com-
mission of four members (reduced to three by act of 1915) was created.
At first it had jurisdiction of the newly established workmen's com-
pensation fund, which later was administered by a state commissioner.
Under the Yost law of 1913 the state tax commissioner is ex officio state
commissioner of prohibition. By act of 1919 a department of public
safety (state police) was established to relieve the military arm of the
state and to aid in abolishing the system of private peace officers. Its
need was demonstrated by a serious condition resulting from a strike
of steel workers at Benwood and Weirton in the upper panhandle.
By act of 1915 the membership of the House of Delegates (pre-
viously 86) was increased to 94.
In 1909 and in 1919 the salaries of circuit judges were increased.
Since 1913 the salaries of elective state officers and supreme judges
have been increased. By act of 1919 the salary of the Governor was
increased to $10,000, effective March 4, 1921. In January, 1921, the
salaries of state elective officers were increased to $5,000.
Neiv protective laws. — By act of 1909 the legislature established at
Elkins a children's home, which was opened in 1911. By act of 1919
it established a state board of children's guardians (which supplanted
the old humane society). An act of 1915 provided for the temporary
care and custody of dependent, neglected or delinquent children, and
another act of 1919 provided for the care and disposition of delinquent
children.
A state tuberculosis sanitarium, established by act of 1917, was
opened for patients in 1913 at Terra Alta. A similar institution for
colored people was opened in 1919.
Revision of laws relating to medicine and health in 1913 marked
the beginning of a new era in sanitary legislation in the state. In 1914
a hygiene laboratory was established. In 1915 a state department of
health was created with a commissioner as executive officer. To it,
two new divisions, vital statistics and child welfare (and public health
nursing) were added by act of 1919. Among the important acts of
the legislature of 1913 were the Workmen's Compensation Act and
a law providing for state regulation and control of the water power of
the state. A revision of the restrictions of the water power act with a
view to co-operation with the federal water power act, and to encourage
water power development, was recommended by Governor Cornwell in
1921. Another act of 1913 provided for the inspection of hotels. By
act of 1915 the legislature made provision for more effective state regula-
tion of weights and measures and also enacted a speculative security act
known as "the blue sky" law to prevent frauds in the promotion of
stocks, bonds and other securities.
Interstate controversies. — Two prominent suits against West Vir-
ginia were recently settled before the United States Supreme Court. One,
longstanding boundary dispute with Maryland who brought suit in
1890 to sustain her claims in regard to the meaning of "the first source
of the Potomac," as used in Lord Baltimore's charter, was decided in
1910 in favor of West Virginia, and the boundary was marked accord-
ingly in 1912 by a joint commission. The other, a suit brought by
Virginia about 1900 — a dispute known as the Virginia debt question
which arose from the formation of West Virginia as a separate state
in 1863 and which at various times had been a prominent factor or issue
718
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
in state politics — was settled by a United States Supreme Court decision
of 1911 tentatively fixing West Virginia's share of the old debt at
$7,182,507.48 (and leaving the question of interest for later adjust-
ment), and by a later judgment of 1915 against West Virginia fixing
the total obligation at $12,393,929.50 ($4,215,622.28 and accrued interest
from January 1, 1861) with a decree that this total amount should
draw interest at 5 per cent until paid. In February, 1917, Virginia filed
application for a writ of mandamus against the legislature of West
Virginia to complete the levy of a tax to pay the judgment, but the
court deferred action in order to give West Virginia a reasonable op-
portunity to act without compulsion. The total amount of principal and
interest on January 1, 1919, was $14,562,867.16. Of this amount West
Virginia, by act of March 31, 1919, arranged to pay $1,062,867.16 in
cash and the balance by an issue of "listable" 3^2 per cent bonds
(coupon and registered) in favor of Virginia, payable in 1839 (or
earlier). Bonds amounting to $12,366,500 were delivered to the Vir-
ginia Debt Commission at Richmond, Virginia, on July 3, 1919. The
remaining bonds ($1,133,500) were held in escrow pending the filing
of remaining outstanding Virginia debt certificates.
Finance. — According to the biennial report of the State Treasurer,
on June 30, 1917, the balance in all funds was $5,088,976. On June 30,
1918, it was $8,672,820. On March 1, 1921, it was $9,078,739.08 ex-
clusive of investments of school fund ($999,600) and workingmen's
compensation fund ($9,090,800).
The following table shows the receipts and disbursements for the
period of July 1, 1917, to June 30, 1918, and the period from July 1,
1919, to June 30, 1920:
1917-
L918
1919-1920
Fund
Receipts
Disburse-
ments
Receipts
Disburse-
ments
General Revenue
$ 3,677,272
1,641,650
4,067,326
768,177
131,500
492,439
3,144,112
$ 3,054,466
966,294
4,044,955
792,266
170,000
68,847
3,043,055
$ 4,815,873.47
1,291,864.15
5,915,772.49
715,604.60
64,141.66
2,113,800.83
3,837,130.79
1,147,743.24
$ 5,065,918.58
1,395,944.35
Refunding Local Taxes . .
5,835,031.11
674,369.35
The School Fund
State Road Fund
Workmen's Compensation
57,541.66
2,003,230.12
3,888,425.96
649,661.35
Total
$13,922,479
$12,139,885
$19,901,931.23
$19,570,122.48
The total state fund and expenditure for the years ending June 30,
1919, and June 30, 1920, were as follows :
Balance, July 1, 1918 $3,902,171 Balance, July 1, 1919.. $ 2,218,091.17
Receipts 1918-19 .5,010,573 Receipts 1919-20 19,901,931.23
Total $8.911 ,744 Total $22,120,022.40
Disbursements 1918-19 6,693,653 Disbursements 1919-20 . . 19,570,122.48
Balance June 30, 1919 $2,218,091 Balance June 31, 1920. . . $ 2,549,899.92
The total state fund and expenditures for the year ending June 30,
1921, was as follows:
1920-1921
Balance, July 1, 1920 $ 44,071.75
Receipts, 1920-21 6,048,394.58
Total $6,092,466.33
Disbursements, 1920-21 5,894,176.00
Balance, June 30, 1921 $198,290.33
The total bonded indebtedness on January 1, 1920, was $13,500,000.
On January 1, 1921, it was $11,663,700.
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 719
In 1919 the total assessed value of real estate ($769,648,033), per-
sonal property ($371,602,428) and public utility property ($349,-
522,672) in all counties of the state, was $2,632,023,593.
The assessment of steam and railroad companies was $189,559,009;
of oil and gas companies, $118,833,820 ; of street railways, $15,986,000 ;
of electric light, water and power companies, $19,345,934; of telephone
and telegraph companies, $7,243,376 ; of bridge and ferry companies,
$1,662,000; of private car line companies, $1,077,289; and express
companies, $410,558.
In 1920 the total assessed valuation was decreased to $1,579,594,399
(real estate, $801,235,500; personal property, $424,292,082; public
utility property, $354,066,817). In 1921 the total assessed valuation
was $1,692,646,863 (real estate, $877,017,129 ; personal property, $448,-
424,079; public utility property, $367,205,655). Late in 1921 the tax
commissioner's office urged upon all assessors the importance of in-
creasing the assessment value to the actual value of the property as
required by the law. In 1920 and also in 1921 the tax rate of levy
was 10c for general state purposes and 10c for payment on the Virginian
debt. In 1920 the assessment of taxes levied for general state purposes
was $1,579,584. In 1921 the amount was $1,692,646. For each year
an equal amount was levied for payment on the Virginia debt.
In 1909 the legislature enacted a business license tax which by July,
1920, produced $231,063.73. In 1915 it placed on corporations and
companies a special excise tax which was increased by an additional
excise tax in 1919. The two acts produced for 1919-20 approximately
$600,000. In 1921, after a transportation tax on pipe lines had been
declared unconstitutional, the legislature enacted a new sales tax.
Politics. — The state has continued Republican in politics, but party
division resulted in the election of a Democrat, John J. Cornwell, to
the governor's office in 1916 to succeed Governor H. D. Hatfield. In
1920 the Republicans elected the entire state ticket headed by Ephraim
F. Morgan.
The destruction of the capitol building at Charleston by fire on
January 3, 1921, resulted in unsuccessful movements to change the
location of the capital to Clarksburg or to some other town in the
northern part of the state.
CHAPTER XL
SUGGESTIVE OUTLINE FOR STUDY OP LOCAL HISTORY
The following suggestions and questions, which can be used by
teachers as a guide in teaching local history in the grades, are sub-
mitted with the hope that they may encourage live teachers, and other
public spirited citizens who appreciate the fundamental educational
value of proper historical training, to collect historical data (supplying
dates when possible) as a basis for studies in local history. The teacher
who is properly in touch with the life of his environment, and who has
had some special training in modern historical methods, can render to
his community (town, county or geographical region) a very valuable
service by preparing in notebook form a series of lessons presenting
various phases of local history, adapted for use in the grades, as a
suitable foundation for later studies in the larger history of the state
and nation, or of other nations. In some of the most densely populated
or most highly developed communities, perhaps one may hope that such
lessons may later be published in attractive pamphlet form. Later, such
notebooks and pamphlets, collected from the representative communities,
could be utilized to supply a large part of the material necessary for
the construction of a narrative of the chief features of the history of
the entire state.
1. Oldest settlements in your vicinity or county.
2. The old name and the present name of your town or community.
Origin of the name. Its geographical environments. Relation of its
geography to its history. Natural resources.
3. What relics or other evidences are there of former Indian
occupation?
4. Present population: races and nationalities. Are there any
recent European emigrants? Explain their coming. What is their
influence? What changes in the people have resulted from local en-
vironment? Legends, traditions or incidents told by the oldest in-
habitants. Dialects and folk-lore. What persons of larger prominence
have visited your locality?
5. The earliest white settlers : races and nationalities. From whence
came they? Why? When? How? Did they find Indian trails?
What wild animals did they find? Are they now extinct? If so explain
the cause. Did the county ever give a bounty for scalps of wild ani-
mals? Does it now? Early fur bearing animals. Fur trade.
6. What did the earliest settlers bring with them? What books
did they bring? The earlier families: size and later history. From
whom did they get the title to their lands? The longest journeys of
the early days. What family papers or other records are preserved?
Make a list of some of the oldest books which belonged to these families.
Old school books.
7. Early difficulties of the settlers. Occupations. Trade, and routes
of travel and commerce. The first wagons. The first carriages.
8. The oldest grist mill and later mills. The oldest buildings. Do
any traces of them remain? The earliest blacksmith shop. The earliest
wagon or carriage shop.
9. The earliest roads and methods of travel. The earliest ferries
and bridges. The first postoffice. The earliest public conveyances. The
first improved roads. The first coach roads or hack lines. What are
the best roads in the vicinity now? When were they opened? Road
making and repair.
720
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 721
10. Where did the early settlers buy their harness, wagons, tools,
and household necessities? The beginning and development of "stores"
and the various trades. Causes and effects. Peddlers, canvassers and
traveling salesmen. Insurance agents.
11. Neighbors. Social life and culture. Early social gatherings:
log-rollings, house-raisings, quiltings, singing schools, etc. Changes in
amusements, manners and customs (dress, homes and social life). Feuds.
Early village communities and their later growth, or decay. Prepara-
tion and preservation of food. Earliest cook stoves. "The old spring
house." Earliest refrigerators.
12. The earliest chinches and preachers and religious services.
Later churches organized and subsequent changes. Circuit riders; camp
meetings; religious debates. Church societies, assemblies and conven-
tions. Basket meetings.
13. The earliest physicians. The health of the people. Diseases.
The oldest cemetery. The oldest tombstones. What can be learned
from them? Later improvements in physicians and in the science of
medicine. Druggists and drug stores.
14. How were the earliest settlers governed? The beginning of
county government. The earliest elections and taxes. The life at the
county seat. Earliest courts and trials. The earliest lawyers. Develop-
ment in county government. First boards of health and inspection of
weights and measures. Other new developments. Later improvements
in county institutions ; court house, jail, poor-farm, bridges, etc. Im-
provement in the legal profession. Improvements in elections.
15. Earliest schools and teachers. Influence of the school on social
and general progress. Early preparation of teachers. Changes in the
character of school buildings, teachers, textbooks, courses of study,
discipline, etc. Changes in teachers' salaries. Development of better
organization or consolidation of schools. Private schools and academies.
What influence has the state university exerted on your community?
The state normal schools? Educational conventions and teachers'
associations ?
16. Debating societies, theaters, newspapers and libraries. Char-
acter of news items, editorials and advertisements of the earliest news-
papers published in the vicinity.
17. The earliest inns, boarding houses or hotels. Saloons.
18. The first bank. The first building and loan association. Later
development of each.
19. Labor problems. Were any slaves held? How employed.'
How treated? Are any former slaves still living in the vicinity? Did
they wish to be free? The hired man and the hired girl problems. The
problem of the unemployed.
20. History of prices, wages, rents and interest. Changes in the
money circulation. Waste and luxury. Early barter. "Private
money," or "trade checks."
21. The earliest industries and later industrial development.
22. History of agriculture and agricultural methods. Most im-
portant products at different periods (cereals, tobacco, cotton). Earliest
agricultural societies and fairs. The first granges and farmers' insti-
tutes. Later development of each. Indicate the chief changes in agri-
cultural life in the surrounding region. Influence of the agricultural
college and the West Virginia Experiment Station of the West Vir-
ginia University. Influence of the teaching of agriculture in secondary
schools. Changes in the agricultural population by immigration or
emigration. Causes. Evolution of farm implements. Evolution of
hardware stores. Mere subsistence farming and farming for the market.
23. Fruit growing. Introduction of new varieties. Improvements
and changes. Markets. First inspection of fruit trees under state law.
Later results.
24. Cattle raising. Improvements. Markets. Dairying as a
business.
25. Sheep raising. Loss from dogs. Public regulations to en-
722 HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
courage the sheep industry. Introduction of new breeds. Wool market.
26. What forest industries have affected your community? Con-
dition of the forest when the first white settlers arrived. Earliest timber
industries. Later developments. The tan bark industry. The market.
Logging: logging camps and roads; rafting; the market. Lumbering:
earliest saw-mills ; development of lumbering interests; transportation
to the market. Destruction of timber. Forest fires. Effects of the
various forest industries. Influence upon the life of the community.
27. Earliest mines. Later changes in mining. First inspection of
mines and later results.
28. Oil and gas development.
29. The iron and glass industries.
30. Brick yards and quarries. Pottery and cement works.
31. History of other local industries, past or present. Early salt
works. Early home manufactures. Later development in manufactures.
32. Influence of inventions.
33. Does your vicinity or county produce enough agricultural
products of various kiuds to supply the home market? Does it import
anything which can be produced at home? Explain. What changes
have occurred in exports and imports?
34. Nearest river whose navigation has had some relation to your
community. Development of this navigation, and influence \ipon your
community.
35. Nearest railroads which have had a relation to your com-
munity or have exerted an influence upon it. History of their con-
struction. Difficulties. Their later development. What has been their
effect upon the industries of your county and region? Their influence
upon the various phases of the life of the people (Creation of new
wants, new articles of luxury, etc. Excursions to sea shore, etc.) ?
Their introduction of new race elements. The "Tunnel Irish," etc.
36. First telegraphs and telephones and later extension. Their
influence upon the history of your locality.
37. Most recent developments in transportation, communication and
means of travel. The first automobile. The first public garage. In-
fluence of automobiles on the community.
38. Political history of your locality or county. What party has
had the largest following. Influence of party politics on local govern-
ment and good order. Influence of the people in the nominating con-
ventions for the selection of county and state officers. History of
political debates, conventions and elections in your locality or county.
Most important leaders in politics at different periods. Political factions
and divisions.
39. Compare the cost of your town or county governments at
different periods of its history.
40. Chief difficulties or problems which have arisen in your town
or county government at different periods. How met or solved? Prob-
lems of assessment of property for taxation. The collection of taxes.
Receipts and expenditures. Debts, and bond issues to meet indebted-
ness. Conflicting land claims. What evils have threatened the good
order of the community? What factors have contributed most to good
order?
41. Public inspection and regulation. To what extent has the com-
munity protected itself by different means to prevent disease, fraud,
or dishonesty? When did it secure inspectors to test the purity of the
milk, the accuracy of the scales used in weighing or the safety of the
roads ? What steps has it taken to protect itself against medical quacks,
traveling fakers or incompetent lawyers? To secure sanitary condi-
tions of buildings or of streets? To guard the health of school children?
To aid the unfortunate? Hospitals. Organized charities.
42. What are some of the gi-eatest present public needs of your
community and county?
43. If you live in a town or city trace the chief influences in its
HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA 723
social and economical development, and outline the chief steps in the
evolution of its government, giving dates and causes.
44. Chief events affecting the life of your county. "Who has been
most prominent in county government or county affairs? In what ways
has your community been connected with the general history of the
state? In what ways has the state benefited your community? "Who
has been prominent in the state government and state affairs ? In what
ways has your community been connected with the general history of
the nation? In the revolution? In other events before the Civil war?
In the Civil war? Are there still living any old citizens who fought in
the war? In which army? In what ways has the national government
benefited your community? "What citizens of your county have been
prominent in the national government?
45. Make a list of names of historic personages who have resided
in your locality or been identified with it and state briefly the public
service of each with dates: before 1815; 1815-40; 1840-60; 1860-77; since
1877. Did any of these own valuable letters or other historical manu-
scripts which are still in existence? If so, who now has possession of
them?
46. Could you write a history of your locality or county indicating
its relation to the larger life of the region, the state and the nation?
"What old records or newspapers, or other manuscripts or printed
material which would be valuable as a means for studying the past life
of your community or county can be seen in your community? At the
county seat? "What has been written on the history of your locality
or county? Have any reminiscences of old settlers or old citizens been
published in the newspapers or in pamphlets which can now be obtained?
47. "Write a story of the growth of the nearest city, indicating the
chief phases of municipal development — industries, transportation, pav-
ing, water-works, sewers, fire department, police organization, etc.
48. Prepare a story of the peopling of your community based upon
information obtained from inquiries in regard to the nativity and
original home of each family, the reasons for the immigration to your
community, etc.
49. Briefly describe how the World war affected your community
or changed its life.
50. Recent community improvements and new opportunities.
Local organizations. Recreations.
51. Draw a county or regional map and on it indicate the drainage,
the chief towns, and the roads connecting your community with neigh-
boring towns and with nearest main routes of travel.
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