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PHOTO. BY LEMMON.
....HISTORY....
-OF-
WETZEL COUNTY,
WEST VIRGINIA.
.0
-BY-
JOHN C. McELDOWNEY, JR.
1901.
JL i IS O i
PREFACE.
The History of Wetzel County runs from the year of 1772 to
the present time. The author has used great pains in securing
the most important events during that time, and has succeeded
as far as the interesting matter is concerned, though there may
be a few incidents left out for the want of data. The most im-
portant ones liave been secured. There may be incidents in
the history of the county that would not only speak bad of the
morality of the county, but would bring back remembrances of
unhappy da^'s, and things that would sadden the pages of Wet-
zel's History. Wetzel county for years has been suffering with
a name that she does not deserve, and she is gradually blotting
it out. In the history of the county there are a great many men
whose lives should have been mentioned in the book but were
not, from the fact that the author could not secure anything
concerning them. The author has put in four mouths in se-
curing information and in writing this history. It does not
require very much of an education to write a book of this kind.
You can see that when glancing over the pages.
THE AUTHOR.
CONTENTS.
Prehistoric Races of Wetzel 5,6
Indians 7
Lewis Wetzel 9, 20
Simon Girty 21, 22
Fort Henry 23, 27
David Morgan's Adventure 28, 30
Levi Morgan 3 1 , 34
Edward Doolin 35, 36
Morgan Morgan 37, 38
The Story of Crow's Run 39, 40
The Drygoos or the Two Half Indians 4f , 42
Massacre of Handsucker Family ■ 43
Harman Blennerhasset 44
French Traveler 45
Notes on the Death of Logan's Family 46, 48
Battle of Captina 49, 5 1
George Bartrug 52
Pressley Martin 53
Old Hundred 54
Abraham Hanes 55
Sampson Thistle 56
R. W. Cox 57
John Moore 58
John F. Lacey 59, 77
J. P. Dolliver 78
Dr. T. M. Haskins 79, 80
Friend Cox 81, 83
Ebenezer Clark 84, 85
Isaac Smith, 109 Years Old 86, 87
Wm. Little 88
Jeremiah Williams 89
Robert McEldowney , Sr 90
Judgs Thos. I. Stealey 91, 92
Formation of Wetzel County 93, 94, 95
Officers of Wetzel County 95
Col, Robert McEldowney 96
Capt. John McCaskey _ 97
Elijah Morgan 98
Basil T. Bowers 99
Capt. Friend C. Cox 100, loi
Judge M. H. Willis 102, T03
Ex-Judge T. P. Jacobs 104
Banks of Wetzel 105, 106
Churches of New Martinsville 107, 108
Newspapers of Wetzel 109
Jennings Gang no, 127
The Ghost of Gamble's Run 128, 130
Towns of Wetzel County 131,158
Education of Wetzel County 159, 162
An Indian Massacre near the Borders of Wetzel County . . 163, 165
The Heroism of Mrs. Bozarth 166
An Indian Massacre in T3ler County .■ 167
Adam Foe's Famous Fight With Big Foot 168, 169
Sad Death of Captain Van Buskirk 170, 171
Murder of the Two Misses Crow 172, 173
Fourth Judicial Circuit 174, 186
Philip G. Bier G. A. R. Post 181
Wetzel Lodge No. 39, A. F. & A. M 182, 183
PREHISTORIC RACES OF WETZEL
COUNTY.
The known history of this valley covers but a short period of
time, probably 125 years, since the advent of the present race.
The Indian at that time was its only inhabitant. He was not
at all an industrious being, but a free man, whose home was
wherever he chanced to place his wigwam. It is plain to be
seen that a race more civilized and industrious inhabited
this valley and the whole United States. Whether they were
of the same race as the Indian, will never be known, but we do
know that they were more thriving and industrious. The
earth works that are found, in so many parts of this valley,
are, no doubt, the works of a previous race. The stone imple-
ments, that are found in so many parts of this valley, are con-
structed out of a material that man at this genius world, deem
not pliable. There was a mound, at one time, situated on the
shore of the Ohio river, on the farm now owned by John G.
McEldowney, a mound which was possessed of a rare an-
tiquity. The following is a sketch taken from the January 19,
1901, edition of the Wheeling Register:
"The river bank below the fair grounds, opposite the amphi-
theatre, was possessed at one time of a mound, that was very
antique. The mound, which is now part of the Ohio river, was
at that time as high as the bank is to-day, it being very much
isolated from the shore. It was often used as a place of re-
sort, to boys from the years of 1840 to 1850. Samuel Mc-
Eldowney at that time lived near the spot, where the mound
was situated. Many stone hatchets, tomahawks, spears, neck-
laces, earrings, arrow heads and many other curiosities were
6 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
taken from the mound. But one of the things that was of so
vast importance, and no doubt was greatly admired in prehisto-
ric times, was a golden image of an unknown god, moulded out
of pure gold, without a mixture of any other metalic elements.
It was about ten inches high, having a base, as though it were
an ornament, and moulded on it was a statue of an unknown
god. If the image could have talked it could tell a history of
itself, that no doubt would unravel the mystery of the pre-his-
toric races. It was found by the late Gapt. Robert McEldow-
ney. Willis De Haas, an antiquarian and agent for the Smith-
sonian institute, was then writing a history of the border wars
of Western Virginia, and borrowed the curiosity. Comments
of all kinds were passed on it by all of the leading newspapers
of that day. The president of the Smithsonian institute au-
thorized De Haas to purchase the image at any price, if pos-
sible, but the prices offered were refused. The image was
then borrowed by one Phenton McCabe, who disappeared from
this place as soon as he had the image in his possession. A
half moon moulded of copper was found near the same mound
and about the same time by Mrs. Geo. Martin. Gopper wrist-
bands were found in a rock mound situated near the water
tanks at New Martinsville. Are these the works of the In-
dian? If it be answered by ones who have lived with the In-
dians all their life, they would say no, for they have never
seen them constructing such articles as we have just men-
tioned.
THE INDIANS.
The Indian race is the most peculiar of the living races; their
origin is not known, and ideas of all kinds have been expressed
on their origin by noted historians. We can speak nothing of
the Indian but that which he was when this country was dis-
covered and following. The Indian was made up of rare ge-
nius; they were capable of working material that men at this
time cannot work; their whole mind was based upon the hunt-
ing of game or fighting with the white man ; they were divided
into different nations and tribes, which were very distinct from
each other; there was a general resemblance among them,
their faces being of a copper color. The language of the differ-
ent nations was different, though being very much alike. They
lived in huts, which they called wigwams; they were very
light, and could easily be carried from one place to another.
The Indian used great pride in adorning himself in gay colors.
They believed in a supreme being, but not as we do. There
are numbers of Indians in the west, being the descendants of
the western tribes; they are kept and protected by the United
State government.
LOUIS WETZEL, THE BOONE OF WEST
VIRGINIA,
And His Adventures Among the Indians.
In the year of 1772 the four Zane brothers settled at the
mouth of Wheeling creek; with them came an honest, brave,
but rough old German, by the name of John Wetzel, the father
of Louis, the bold, wary and tireless Indian hunter of West
Virginia, whose name was a household word throughout the
State. He was also the father of four more sons and two
daughters. His sons were Martin, George, John and Jacob,
The two daughters were Susan and Christina. The latter
books of Indian wars which contain the story of John Wetzel,
say he was killed up Wheeling creek, but the old Border
Books, whose authors have talked with the notorious Louis
Wetzel, say that his father was killed near Captina in 1787.
"On his return from Middle Island, Creek, himself and compan-
ion," says the author of the Western Border, ''were in a canoe
paddling slowly near the shore of the Ohio river, when they
were hailed by a party of Indians, and ordered to land; this
they of course refused, when immediately they were fired upon
and Wetzel was shot through the body. Feeling himself mor-
tally wounded, he directed his companion to lie down in the
canoe, while he (Wetzel) so long as strength remained, would
paddle the frail vessel beyond the reach of the savages ; in this
way he saved the life of his friend, while his own was ebbing
away fast. He died soon after reaching the shore at Baker's
Station, a few miles north from where he was shot." The
author (McEldowney) claims that the foregoing is a true state-
ment as to the death of John Wetzel, from the fact that a hum-
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 9
ble grave can be seen near the scene of the old fortress, and a
rough stone marks the spot, bearing the inscription in rough
and rude, but plain, letters:
J. W. 1787.
No man of the western border was more dreaded by an ene-
my than was Louis Wetzel. By many he was regarded as
nothing more than a semi-savage, a man whose disposition was
that of an enraged panther, whose whole mind was upon the
blood of a human being. "But it was not true," says De-
haas, in his Border Wars of Western Virginia, who says: ''He
was never known to inflict any cruelty upon women and chil-
dren, and he was never known to torture his victim as he has
been charged." He had often heard his mother read these
lines in the Bible: ''Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord." He
had received unwonted torture from the hands of the Indians;
his father had been killed by them, and he was revengful for
those things. When he swore to have vengeance against the
whole Indian race, in the presence of his mother, brothers and
Zanes at the mouth of Wheeling creek, he was joined by all of
his brothers, even Jacob, who was then a mere lad, who said:
"Louis, your oath is mine." He was possessed of a remarka-
ble degree of intuitive knowledge, which constitutes an effi-
cient hunter. He was as bold as a lion, cunning as a fox, and
as quick as a squirrel. The name of Wetzel sent a thrill of
horror through the breasts of the heartless savages.
The first event in the life of our hero occurred when he was
but sixteen years of age. The Indians had not been very trou-
blesome in the vicinity in which his father lived, and one day
while he and Jacob, his younger brother, were out playing, he
was amazed to find a gun pointed at him, and started to run
towards the house, upon which he was shot in the breast,
which wounded him severely, but not dangerously. In an in-
stant two warriors sprung upon him and his brother and made
them prisoners, and they were taken about twenty miles from
10 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
home. During the marcli, Louis suffered very much with the
wound he had received from their hands^ but bore it with cour-
age, knowing that if he complained he would immediately be
tomahawked and scalped. When night came they built a fire
and laid down to rest, but did not tie their prisoners, as was
the usual custom. When the Indians were asleep, Louis hav-
ing cautioned his brother in the meantime, not to sleep, they
arose and pushed into the woods, where they instanly paused,
Louis finding that they could go no further without moccasius;
he returne to camp and secured the moccasins, and after fit-
ting them on his brother returned to get his father's gun,
which the Indians had stolen from his house, aud returning,
went onward till they were again among friends, having es-
caped from the Indians without detection.
The following are incidents in the life of Louis Wetzel, taken
from the "Mirror of Olden Time Border Life."
"The first I recollect of seeing this distinguished warrior
was when he attached himself to a scouting party, about the
year 1787. My father then lived on the bank of the Ohio in
Virginia, at a place known as the Mingo Bottom, three miles
below Steubenville. A party of Indians had crossed the Ohio
not far from where we lived, killed a family and then made
their escape with impunity. As the Indians had not crossed
the Ohio in that neighborhood for a year or two previous the
settlers began to think that they could live with safety in their
cabins. This unexpected murder spread great alarm through
the sparse settlement and revenge was determined upon.
Some of the settlers, who were in very easy circumstances, in
order to stimulate the young and active to take vengeance on
the enemy, proposed to draw up a subscription, and give a
handsome reward to the man who would bring the first Indian
scalp. Upwards of one hundred dollars was subscribed. Major
McMahon, who frequently led the hardy frontiersmen in those
perilous times, soon raised a company of about twenty men,
among whom was Louis Wetzel. They crossed the Ohio and
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. H
pursued the Indians' trail with unerring tact, till they came to
the Muskingum river. There the advance, or spies, discovered
a party of Indians far superior to their own in number, camped
on the bank of the river. As the Indians had not yet discov-
ered the white men, Major McMahon retreated with his party
to the top of the hill, where they might consult about their
future operations. The conclusion of the conference was,
'that discretion was the better part of valor,' and a hasty re-
treat was prudently resolved on. While the party were con-
sulting on the propriety of attacking the Indians, Louis Wetzel
sat on a log, with his gun laid across his lap, and his tomahawk
in his hand; he took no part in the council. As soon as the
resolution was adopted to retreat, it was without delay put
into execution, and the party set off, leaving Louis sitting on
the log. Major McMahon called to him, and inquired if he was
going with them. Louis answered, "that he was not; that he
came out to hunt Indians; that he was not going home like a
fool with his finger in his mouth. He would take an Indian
scalp, or lose his own before he went home." All their argu-
ments were without avail. The stubborn, unyielding disposi-
tion was such, that he never submitted himself to the control
or advice of others; they were compelled to leave him, a soli-
tary being in the midst of the thick forest, surrounder by vig-
ilant enemies. Notwithstanding this solitary individual ap-
peared to rush into danger with the fury of a mad man, in his
disposition was displayed the cunning of a fox, as well as the
boldness of the lion.
As soon as his friends had left him, he picked up his blanket,
shouldered his rifle, and struck off into a different part of the
country, in hope that fortune would place in his way some lone
Indian. He kept aloof from the large streams, where large
parties of the enemy generally encamped. He travelled
through the woods with a noiseless tread, and the keen glance
of the eagle, that day and the next, till evening, when he dis-
covered a smoke curling up above the bushes. He crept softly
12 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
to the fire and found two blankets and a small copper kettle
in the camp. He instantly concluded that this was the camp
of only two Indians, and he could kill them both. He con-
cealed himself in the thick brush, but in such position that he
could see the number and motions of the enemy. About sun-
set one of the Indians came in, made up the fire, and went to
cooking his supper. Shortly after the other came in; they ate
their suppers, after which they began to sing and amuse them-
selves by telling comic stories, at which they would burst into
a roar of laughter. Singing and telling stories was the com-
mon practice of the white and red men when lying in their
hunting camps. These poor fellows, when enjoying them-
selves in the utmost glee, little dreamed that the grim mon-
ster, death, in the shape of Louis Wetzel, was about stealing
a march on them, Louis kept a keen watch on their maneu-
vers. About nine or ten o'clock at night, one of the Indians
wrapped his blanket around him, shouldered his rifle, took a
chunk of fire in his hands, and left the camp, doubtless with
the intention of going to watch a deer lick. The fire and
smoke would serve to keep off the gnats and mosquitoes. It
is a remarkable fact, that deer are not alarmed at seeing fire,
from the circumstance of seeing it' s© frequently in the fall
and winter season, when the leaves and grass are dry. The
absence of the Indian was the cause of vexation and disap-
pointment to our hero, whose trap was so happily set, and he
considered his game secure. He still indulged the hope that
the Indians might return to camp before day. In this he was
disappointed. There were birds in the woods who chirped and
gave notice to the woodsman that the day would soon appear.
Louis heard the wooded songsters begin to chatter, and deter-
mined to delay no longer the work of death for the return of
the Indian. He walked to the camp with a noiseless step,
and found his victim buried in profound sleep, lying upon his
side. He drew his butcher knife, and with all his force, im-
pelled by revenge, he thrust the blade through his heart: He
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
13
said the Indian gave a short quiver and repulsive motion, and
faded away in death's eternal sleep. He then scalped him,
and set off for home. He arrived at Mingo Bottom only one
day after his unsuccessful companions. He claimed, and as he
should, received his reward.
Some time after, General Harmer had erected a fort at the
mouth of Muskingum river. He prevailed upon some white
men to go with a flag among the nearest Indian tribes, and
endeavor to prevail with them to come to the fort, and there
to conclude a treaty of peace. A large number of Indians
came on general invitation, and camped on the Muskingum
river, a few miles above its mouth. General Harmer issued a
proclamation, giving notice that a cessation of arms was mu-
tually agreed upon, between the white and the red men, till
an effort for a treaty of peace was made. As treaties of peace
with the Indians had been so frequently violated, but llrtle
faith was placed in the stability of such treaties by the front-
iersmen, notwithstanding they were as frequently the ag-
gressors, as were the Indians. Half of the frontier men of
that day had been born in a fort and grew to manhood, as it
were, in a siege. The Indian war had continued so long and
was so bloody that they believed war with them was to con-
tinue as long as one lived to make fight. With these oppres-
sions, as they considered the Indian truthless, it was difficult
to inspire confidence in the stability of such treaties. While
General Harmer was diligently engaged in making peace with
the Indians, Wetzel concluded to go to Fort Harmer, and as
the Indians would be passing and repassing between their
camp and the Fort, would offer a fair opportunity for killing
one. He associated himself in this enterprise with Veich Dick-
inson, who was only a small grade below himself in restless-
ness and daring. As soon as the enterprise was resolved upon,
the desired point, and set themselves down in ambush near the
14 HISTORY OF AYETZEL COUNTY.
path leading from the fort and the Indian camp. Shortly af-
ter thej had concealed themselves by the wayside, they saw an
Indian approaching on horse-back, running his horse at full
speed. They called to him, but owing to the clatter of the
horse's feet, he did not heed or hear their call, but kept on at
a sweeping gallop. When the Indian had nearly passed they
concluded to give him a fire as he rode. They fired, but as the
Indian did not fall they thought they had missed him. As the
alarm would soon be spread that an Indian had been shot at,
and as large numbers of them were at hand, they commenced
an immediate retreat to their home. As their neighbors well
knew their object, as soon as they returned they were asked
what luck. Wetzel answered that they had bad luck; that
they shot at an Indian on horseback and missed him; but the
truth was, that they had shot him in the lower part of his body
on which he rode to camp, and expired that night of his wound.
It was soon rumored that Lewis Wetzel was the murderer.
General Harmer sent a Captain Kingsbury with a company of
men to the Mingo Bottom, with orders to take Wetzel, dead or
alive, a useless and impotent order. A company of men could
as easily have taken Old Horny out of the bottomless pit as
to take Lewis Wetzel by force from the neighborhood of Mingo
Bottom. On the day Captain Kingsbury arrived, there was a
shooting match at my father's, and Lewis was there. As soon
as the object of Captain Kingsbury was ascertained, it was re-
solved to ambush the Captain's barge and kill him and his
men. Happily, Major McMahon was present to prevent this
catastrophe, and prevailed upon Wetzel and his friends to sus-
pend the attack until he could pay Captain Kingsbury a visit,
and perhaps he would prevail with them to return without
making an attempt to take Wetzel. With a great deal of re-
luctance they agreed to suspend the attack until Major McMa-
hon returned. The resentment and fury of Wetzel and his
men were boiling and blowing like the steam from a steam-
boat. ^'A pretty affair is this," they said, "to hang a man for
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 15
killing an Indian, when they are killing some of our people
every day-' Major McMahon informed Captain Kingsbury of
the force and fury of the people, and assured them if they per-
sisted in the attempt to seize Wetzel that he would have all
of the settlers in the country upon him; that nothing could
save them from being massacred, but a speedy return. The
Captain took his advice and forthwith returned to Fort Har-
mer. Wetzel now considered the affair as finally settled. As
Lewis was never long stationary, but ranged at will along the
river from Ft. Pitt to the falls of the Ohio, and was a welcome
guest and perfectly at home wherever he went, shortly after
the attempt to seize him by Captain Kingsbury and his men,
he got into a canoe with the intention of proceeding down the
Ohio river to Kentucky. He had a friend by the name of
Hamilton Carr, who had lately settled on an island near Ft.
Harmer. Here he stopped, with the intention of stopping for
the night. By some means, which never was explained. Gen-
eral Harmer was advised of his being on the island. A guard
was sent who crossed to the island, surrounded Mr. Carr's
house, went in, and as Wetzel lay asleep he was seized by num-
bers, his hands and feet were securely bound, and he was hur-
ried to a boat, and from thence placed in a guard room, where
he was loaded with irons. The ignominy of wearing iron hand
cuffs and hobbles, and being chained down, to a man of his in-
dependent and resolute spirit was more than he could bear; it
was to him more painful than death; shortly after he was con-
fined, he sent for General Harmer, and requested a visit. The
General went. Wetzel admitted without hesitation, "that he
had shot an Indian." As he did not wish to be hung like a
dog, he requested the Genera] to give him up to the Indiaus,
as there was a large number present. "He might place them
all in a circle, with their scalping knives and tomahawks, and
give him a tomahawk, and place him in the midst of the circle,
and then let him and the Indians fight it out in the best way
they could." The General told him, "That he was an officer
16 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
appointed by the law, by which he must be governed. As the
law did not authorize him to make such a compromise, he
could not grant his request." After a few days longer con-
finement, he again sent for the General to come and see him;
and he did so. Wetzel said, he "had never been confined, and
could not live much longer if he was not permitted to walk
about." The General ordered the officer on guard to knock off
his iron fetters but to leave on his handcuffs, and permit him
to walk about on the point at the mouth of the Muskingum;
but to be sure and keep a close watch upon him. As soon as
they were outside of the fort gate, Lewis began to caper about
like a wild colt broke loose from the stall. He would start
and run a few yards as if he was about making an escape, then
turn round and join the guard. The next start he would run
farther, and then stop. In this way he amused the guard for
some time, at every start running a little farther. At length,
he called forth all his strength, resolution and activity, and de-
termined on freedom or an early grave. He gave a sudden
spring forward, and. bounded off at the top of his speed for the
shelter of his beloved woods. His movement was so quick,
and so unexpected, that the guard were taken by surprise, and
he got nearly a hundred yards before they recovered their as-
tonishment. They fired, but all missed; they followed in pur-
suit, but he soon left them out of sight. As he was well ac-
quainted with the country, he made for a dense thicket, two
or three miles from the fort. In the midst of this thicket he
found a tree which had fallen across a log, where the brush
were very close. Under the tree he squeezed his body. The
brush were so thick that he could not be discovered unless his
pursuers examined very closely. As soon as his escape was
announced. General Harmer started the soldiers and Indians
in pursuit. After he had laid about two hours in his place of
concealment, two Indians came into the thicket and stood on
the log, under which he lay concealed. His heart beat so vio-
lently he was afraid they would hear it thumping. He could
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. IT
hear them hallooing in every direction, as they hunted through
the brush. At length, the evening wore away the day, he
found himself alone in the friendly thicket. But what could
he do? His hands were fastened with iron cuffs and bolts,
and he knew of no friend on the same side of the Ohio to whom
he could apply for assistance. He had a friend who had re-
cently put up a cabin on the Virginia side of the Ohio, who^ he
had no doubt, would lend him any assistance in his power.
With the most gloomy foreboding of the future, a little after
night-fall he left the thicket and made his way to the Ohio.
He came to the river about three or four miles below the fort.
He took this circuit, as he expected guards would be set at
every point where he could find a canoe. How to get across
the river was the all-important question. He could not make
a raft with his hands bound. He was an excellent swimmer,
but he was fearful he could not swim the Ohio with his heavy
iron handcuffs. After pausing some time, he determined to
make the attempt. Nothing worse than death could happen;
and he would prefer drowning to again falling into the hands
of Harmer and his Indians. Like the illustrious Caesar in the
storm, he would trust the event to fortune; and he plunged
into the river. He swam the greatest part of the distance on
his back, and reached the Virginia shore in safety; but so
much exhausted that he had to lay on the beach some time be-
fore he was able to rise. He went to the cabin of his friend,
where he was received with rapture. A file and hammer soon
released him from his iron handcuffs. His friend (I have forgot-
ten his name) furnished him with a gun, ammunition and blan-
ket, and he was again free, and prepared to engage in any new
enterprise that would strike his fancy. He got into a canoe,
and went to Kentucky, where he considered himself safe fram
the grasp of General Harmer.
After this unfortunate happening he went south, where he
staid for about five years_, and his friends and relatives were
wondering as to his whereabouts, and upon inquiry learned of
18 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
his close confinement at Natches, having been convicted of a
felony; some say counterfeiting, and some say being intimate
with the wife of a Spaniard; the latter probably being the
cause. His friends immediately received a pardon for him,
upon which he returned home (Wheeling), where he resided
with a near relative, Mrs. Greotfge Crookis, and upon being
joked by her, she asked him if it was not about time for him to
choose a wife, upon which he replied that '^there is no one in
this world for him, but in Heaven." He returned south after
being at the Crookis homestead for a number of years, vowing
to avenge himself against the Spaniard, who had put him in
jail for something he said he had never done. Whether he did
or not was never known. ''The appearance of Louis Wetzel,"
Bays Judge Foster, "looked to be about twenty-six years of age,
about five feet ten inches high, being full breasted and very
broad across the shoulders, his face being heavily pitted from
the effects of smallpox; his hair reached to the calves of his
legs." David Mclntire, of the county of Belmont, Ohio, was
the last man known to have seen Louis Wetzel. He saw him
at Natches, where he was on a visit to a friend, one Phillip
Sykes. He died in 1808. The number of scalps taken by him
is unestimable; the best authorities estimate it at something
near one hundred.
STOUT HEARTED LOUIS WETZEL.
Stout hearted Louis Wetzel
Rides down the river shore,
The wilderness behind him,
The wilderness before.
He rides in the cool of morning,
Humming the dear old tune,
"Into the heart of the greenwood,
Into the heart of June."
He needs no guide in th^e forest
More than the honey bees;
His guides are the cool green mosses
To the northward of the trees.
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 19
Nor fears him the foe whose footstep
Is light as the summer air;
His tomahawk hangs in his shirt belt,
The scalp knife glitters there.
The stealthy Wyandottes tremble
And speak his name with fear,
For his aim is sharp and deadly,
And his rifle's ring is clear.
So pleasantly rides he onward,
Pausing to hear the stroke
Of the settler's ax in the forest,
Or the crack of a falling oak.
The partridge drums on the dry oak.
The croaking croby crows.
The black bird sings in the spice bush,
The robin in the haws.
And as they chatter and twitter,
The wild 'bird seems to say:
"Do not harm us, good Louis,
And you shall have luck to-day."
A sharp clear ring through the greenwood.
And with mightier leap and bound.
The pride of the western forest
Lies bleeding on the ground.
Then out from the leafy shadows
A stalwart hunter springs,
And his unsheathed scalp knife glittering,
Against his rifle rings.
"And who art thou," quoth Louis,
"That comest twixt me and mine?"
And his cheek is flushed with anger.
As a bacchant's flushed with wine.
"What boots that to thy purpose?"
The stranger hot replies;
"My rifle marked it living.
And mine, when dead, the prize."
20 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
Then with sinewy arms they grapple,.
Like giants fierce in brawls,
Till stretched along greensward
The humble hunter falls.
"Now take this rod of alder.
Set it by yonder tree
A hundred yards beyond me,
And wait you there and see."
"For he who dares such peril
But lightly holds his breath.
May his unshrieved soul be ready
To welcome sudden death."
So the stranger takes the alder.
And wandering stands in view.
While Wetzel's aim grows steady
And he cuts the rod in two.
"By heavens," exclaims the stranger,
"One only, far and nigh,
Hath arms like the lithe young ash tree
Or half so keen an eye,"
"And that is Louis Wetzel,"
Quoth Louis. "Here he stands."
So they speak in gentle manner
And clasp their friendly hands.
Ride out of the leafy greenwood.
As rises the yellow moon.
And the purple hills lie pleasantly
In the softened air of June.
— FLOHUS B. PIMPTON.
SIMON GIRTY.
The notorious Simon Girty once led a band of savages
through Wetzel county. We here give a sketch of him, taken
from McDonald's History of Ohio.
Simon Girty was from Pennsylvania, to which his father
had emigrated from Ireland. The old man was beastly intem-
perate, and nothing ranked higher in his estimation than a jug
of whisky. Grog was his song, and grog he would have. His
Bottishnesr, turned his wife's affection. Ready for seduction,
she yielded her heart to a neighboring rustic, who, to
remove all obstacles to their wishes, knocked Girty on the
head and bore off the trophy of his prowess. Four sons of this
interesting couple were left, Thomas, Simon, George and
James. The three latter were taken prisoners in Braddock's
war by the Indians. George was adopted by the Delawares,
became a ferocious savage, and died in a drunken fit. James
was adopted by the Swanees, and became as depraved as his
other brothers. It is said that he often visited Kentucky at
the time of its first settlement, and inflicted most barbarous
tortures upon all captive women who came within his reach.
Traders who were acquainted with him say so ferocious was he
that he would not have turned on his heel to save a prisoner
from the flames. To this monster are to be attributed many of
the cruelties charged upon his brother Simon, yet he was
caressed by Proctor and Elliott. Simon was adopted by the
Senecas, and became an expert hunter; in Kentucky and Ohio
he sustained the character of an unrelenting barbarian. One
hundred years ago his name was associated with everything
that was cruel and fiendlike; to the women and children par-
ticularly, nothing was more terrifying than the name of Simon
22 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
Girty. At that time it was believed by many that he had fled
from justice and was seeking refuge among the Indians, deter-
mined to do his countrymen all the harm in his power. This
impression was as erroneous one; being adopted by the In-
dians, he joined them in their wars and conformed to their
usages. This was the education he had received, and their foes
were his. Although trained in all his pursuits as an Indian, it
is said to be a fact susceptible of proof that through his im-
portance many prisoners were saved from death. His influ-
ence was great, and when he chose to be merciful it was gener-
ally in his power to protect the imploring captive. His repu-
tation was that of an honest man^ and be fulfilled his engage-
ments to the last cent. It is said he once sold his horse, rather
than to incur the odium of violating his promise. He was in-
temperate, and when intoxicated ferocious and abusive to
friends. Although much disabled the last ten years of his life
by rheumatism, he rode to his hunting ground in pursuit of
game, suffering the most excruciating pains. He often boast-
ed of his warlike spirit. It was his constant wish, one that
was gratified, that he might die in battle. He was at Proctor's
defeat, and cut to pieces by Colonel Johnson's men. Girty led
the first attack against Fort Henry in 1777; he also led an at-
tack against Baker's fort the same year, but without efifect.
FORT HENRY, AT WHEELING, W. VA.
Wetzel county was at one time a part of Ohio county, and
was during the sieges of Fort Henry, and a slietch of the sieges
would be appropriate. We have selected a sketch written by
G. L. Cranmer.
Originally called Fort Fincastle in honor of Lord Dunmore,
who, at the time of its erection, was Governor of the Colony, in
the year 1776 its name was changed to Fort Henry, in honor of
Patrick Henry, the first Governor of the Commonwealth. It
was erected in the year 1774, the immediate cause of its erec-
tion being found in the fact that an apprehended attack from
the savages during that year was anticipated, and a place of
defence for the protection of the infant settlement, of which
they were destitute, was demanded. It was planned by Gen-
eral Gorge Rogers Clark, Commandant of the Western Military
Department, and was built by the settlers.
In shape it was a parallelogram, being about three hundred
and fifty-six feet in length and about one hundred and fifty
feet in width, and was surrounded by pickets about twelve feet
high with bastions at each corner. Inside of the stockade
cabins were erected for the shelter of such as sought protec-
tion, a magazine for military stores, a block house, the second
story of which projected over the lower, filled with port holes^
through which the trusty rifle of the pioneer sent its death-
dealing missile. On the top of the block house was a mounteji
swivel, a four pounder, which did effective work in an emer-
gency. Wells were also sunk in the inclosure, so that a supply
of water was secured at all times.
To the southeast, and about fifty yards distant from the
Fort, stood the residence of Col. Ebenezer Zane— a cabin built
24 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
of rough -hewn logs, with a kitchen or outbuilding in the rear,
which also had attached to it a magazine for military stores.
This house served as an outpost during the last siege of the
Fort, which occurred on the 11th day of September, 1782, and
contributed greatly to the defeat of the Indians and their Bri-
tish allies on that memorable occasion. There were two regu-
lar sieges of the Fort— the one in the year 1777 and the other in
the year 1782, both of which were successfully repulsed. At
the last siege the Indians were commanded by James Girty,
and the British troops by Captain Pratt. Many writers name
Simon Girty as the one in command on this occasion, but this
is a mistake, as at this time he was with an Indian army which
had invaded the territory of Kentucky, and he was present
with that force at its attack on Bryant's Station, which oc-
curred but a short time prior to the attack on Fort Henry.
James Girty was even more vindictive and bloodthirsty than
his brother Simon Girty, but was not so conspicuous a charac-
ter as the latter. There is reason to believe, however, that
many of the atrocious deeds attributed to Simon Girty, the re-
cital of which even at this late date makes the blood to run
cold with horror, were perpetrated by James.
On the happening of the last siege the settlers on short and
sudden notice had barely time to escape to the shelter of the
Fort, so unexpected was the appearance of the savages. Con-
Bequently their homes, together with their furniture, were left
exposed to the rapacity and cupidity of their assailants. It
was towards evening that the Indian force with their allies
appeared, and from that time until midnight repeated and fu-
rious assaults were made by them on the Fort and its inmates,,
which were as often repulsed.
Awaiting the dawn of day, the attacks were renewed, but
with as little success as during the preceding night. In the af-
ternoon of the second day the besieged, finding their stock of
powder had almost given out, it became with them a serious
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 25
question as to how they were to obtain a supply. There waa
plenty of it in the magazine at the house of Col. Zane, but ap-
parently for all practical purposes it might have been a hun-
dred miles distant. In this juncture Silas Zane, who was in
command of the Fort, called atention to the critical state of af-
fairs, and asked for volunteers to undertake the perilous feat of
going to Col. Zane's house for the purpose of obtaining the
needed supply. Several young men fleet of foot as well as bold
and intrepid, offered their services, and each clamored to have
the preference in an enterprise which, humanly speaking,
boded almost certain death.
At this crisis a young lady seventeen years of age, who had
been engaged in moulding bullets and loading the guns of the
men during the siege, stepped forward and besought her bro-
ther, Silas Zane, to permit her to undertake the arduous task,
accompanying her arguments with representations to the ef-
fect that she, being a woman, could be more easily spared than
a man ; that each man was needed for the defence, and that the
loss of her life as compared with one of the sterner sex would
be a small matter. Her arguments prevailed and she was per-
mitted to essay the effort.
Divesting herself of superfluous clothing, the gates were
thrown open for her egress, when, bounding forth with the
fleetness of a deer, her long black hair streaming like a banner
on the air, she rapidly sped in the direction of her brother's
house, which she reached in security. Not a rifle had been
raised nor a shot fired at her, the Indians, when they saw her,
contemptuously exclaiming, "A squaw," ''A squaw."
Hastily communicating her errand. Col. Zane snatched a ta-
ble-cloth at hand, which he securely bound around her waist,
and emptying into it the coveted powder, she set out on her re-
turn. She had covered about half the distance between the
house and the Fort, when the savages, apprehending her pur-
pose, fired a storm of bullets at her person, which happily
26 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY,
proved harmless. In recounting her adventures subsequently,
and especially this stirring incident, she would relate that the
bullets whistled around her so thick and came so fast that her
eyes were blinded with the dust so that she could scarcely dis-
tinguish her way to the fort. As the gates were thrown open
for her entrance, the Indians made an unavailing effort to
reach them by rushing towards them and securing an ingress.
This act of heroism upon the part of Elizabeth Zane saved
the lives of the inmates of the Fort and enabled them to suc-
cessfully withstand the siege.
In the meantime the besiegers had been greatly harrassed
and embarrassed by the continual firing from Col. Zane's
house, which as an outpost contributed largely to the protec-
tion of the stockade. On the second night it was therefore re-
solved by the Indians to attempt its destruction. About mid-
night the savages became quiet and they had suffered their
tires to die out, while a hush of silence rested on the scene
around. The vigilance of the occupants of the house, however,
was not deceived by appearances.
Old Sam, a Guinea negro who belonged to and was strongly
attached to his master, Col. Zane, was on the alert with his
trusty rifle in hand. He perceived a dark object with a lighted
brand wriggling along on the ground, which ever and anon
would wave to and fro in the air and blow upon it to rekindle.
Allowing the Indian, for such it was, to approach within sure
range, Sam fired, when the savage jumped to his feet, but fell
back again yelling with rage and pain, until he either made his
own way off or was aided to do so by others. Twice during the
night did Sam frustrate two similar attempts on the part of
the Indians.
Old Sam and his wife were cared for assiduously until their
death. They lived for many years after in a cabin which was
erected for them on the upper portion of the Island, and died
HISTORY OP WETZEL COUNTY. 27
in peace and contentment, honored and respected by all who
knew them, whose name was legion.
On the morning of the third day the Indians held a powwow
or council and determined to raise the siege^ greatly to the re-
lief of the inmates of the house and Fort. With demonstra-
tions of disgust and contempt they turned their backs upon the
besieged, the greater portion of them recrossing the river,
while a smaller portion went on a raid against some of the
smaller forts back of Wheeling in the vicinity of the Pennsyl-
vania line.
W^hile peace between Great Britain and the Colonies had not
yet been proclaimed, and was not for some months subsequent,
yet virtually it did prevail and continued until its formal decla-
ration, so that this siege of Port Henry was the last battle of
the Eevolution, and the capstone of the war was laid on the
soil of Western Virginia.
Elizabeth Zane, the heroine of Fort Henry, was twice mar-
ried — the first time to a man by the name of Clark, and all her
life was spent in the immediate vicinity of the scene of her ex-
ploits. Her immediate descendants have all deceased, but
her heroism will ever remain as a monument to perpetuate her
name and fame.
Unless speedily rescued, the past with all its splendid
achievements, its incidents and its memories, will be swal-
lowed up in oblivion. To the youth of our land we therefore
appeal not to let these things die. Let them become the guar-
dians of our pioneer history, and by frequent recurrence to the
scenes of the past restore their loyalty and revive their patri-
otism.
DAVID MORGAN'S ADVENTURE.
In the neighborhood of what was once Prickett's Fort, Mo-
nangalia county, then Virginia, a sanguinary contest took
place between Capt. David Morgan and two Indians. Mor-
gan was at that time over sixty years of age. In the early
part of April, feeling himself unwell, he sent his two children^
Stephen, a youth of sixteen, and Sara, a girl of fourteen, to
feed the cattle at his farm, about a mile off. The children,
thinking to remain all day, and spend the time in preparing
ground to plant watermelons, unknown to their father took
with them some bread and meat. Having fed the stock, Ste-
phen set himself to work, and while he was engaged in grub-
bing his sister would remove the brush, and otherwise aid him
in the labor of clearing the ground, occasionally going to the
house to wet some linen which she had spread out to bleach.
Morgan, after the children had been gone some time, betook
himself to bed, and soon falling asleep, dreamed that he saw
Stephen and Sara walking about the fortyard, scalped.
Aroused from slumber by the harrowing spectacle presented to
his sleeping view, he inquired if the children had returned, and
was informed that they had not. He then set out to see what
detained them, taking with him his gun. As he approached
the house, still impressed with the horrible fear that he should
find his dream true, he ascended an eminence from which he
could distinctly see over his plantation, and descrying from
thence the objects of his anxious solicitude, he went near where
the children were working, and seated himself on a log. He
had been there but a few minutes, when he saw two Indians
come out from the house and start toward the children, on
which he told them in a careful manner to make for the fort at
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 29
once, as they were in great danger. They started to run and
the Indians took after them, but the old gentleman showing
himself at this instant, caused them to forbear the chase and
shelter themselves behind treees. The old man then tried to
escape by flight, and the Indians took after him. His age and
his health prevented him from keeping out of their reach, and
finding that they were gaining on him, he turned around to
shoot, on which the savages took shelter behind trees, Morgan
doing the same thing. The one that the Indian got behind was
too small to shelter him, and Morgan seeing that a part of his
body was in view, shot and killed him. Having succeeded in
killing one of the savages he again took to flight, and the re-
maining Indian again took after him. The race continued for
about sixty yards; Morgan was fast giving out. He looked
over his shoulder and saw the Indian not ten steps behind him,
with his gun raised as if he was going to fire. Morgan then
dodged to one side and the bullet went whizzing past him.
The odds now were not so great as before, and Morgan stopped
running and made at the savage with his gun, on which the
Indian hurled a tomahawk at him, cutting two of his fingers off
and injuring another severely. They then grabbed holds, and
Morgan, being a good wrestler, threw his adversary, but found
himself turned. The savage was now on top of him, feeling for
his knife and sending forth a most terrific yell, as is their cus-
tom when thinking a victory secure. A woman's apron, which
the Indian had taken from the house and fastened around him
above his knife, hindered him from getting at it quickly, and
Morgan, getting one of his fingers in his mouth, deprived him
of the use of one hand. The Indian at last got hold of his
knife, catching it on the lower part of the blade. Morgan, too,
got a small hold on the extremity of the handle, and as the In-
dian drew it from the scabbard Morgan bit his finger so hard
that he relaxed his hold, thus giving Morgan a chance to draw
it through his hand, cutting it severely. By this time both had
■30 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
gained their feet, and the savage, seeing the advantage that
Morgan was gaining over him. tried to disengage himself, but
Morgan held fast to him and succeeded in giving him a fatal
blow that made the almost lifeless body sink in his arms. He
then loosened his hold and departed for the fort. On his way
he met his daughter, who not being able to keep pace with her
brother, was following his footsteps. Assured thus far of the
safety of his children, he accompanied his daughter to the fort
and then returned with a company of men to see if there were
any more Indians about. On arriving at the spot where the
battle took place, the wounded Indian was not to be seen, but
they trailed him by the blood to the branches of a fallen tree,
and as they approached him he saluted them familiarly: ''How
•do do, broder; how do do, broder." Alas, poor fellow, but
their brotherhood extended no farther than to the gratification
of a vengeful feeling. He was tomahawked and scalped. He
and his companion were flayed, their skins tanned and convert-
ed into saddle seats, shot pouches and belts. On the day of the
unveiling of the monument that was erected in his memory on
the site of the combat in Monongalia county, there was on ex-
hibition at the spot a shot pouch and saddle girth made from
the skins of the same Indians he killed. The shot pouch is now
in the possession of , of this county. The knife
that the Indians were killed with is owned by some of Mor-
gan's descendants in Marion county.
LEVI MORGAN.
The people of Wetzel county are interested in the life and
deeds of Levi Morgan, from the fact that Hon. Aaron Morgan,
at the recent session of the Legislature, obtained an appropria-
tion from that body of |3;,500, for the erection of a monument
in the court house yard at New Martinsville in his honor. The
author has used great pains in securing the deeds of him more
than anything else, his place of birth, for the year is not
known by the author, and is unable to find out, neither can he
obtain the year of his death. All that we can find out is that
he moved on a farm near Louisville, Kentucky, after Wayne's
treaty. In 1878 the Indians visited the settlement on Buffalo,
in Pennsylvania, and Levi Morgan was there, skinning a wolf,
which he had just taken from a trap. He saw three Indians,
one riding a horse which belonged to a neighbor of his, and
one that he knew very well, having rode it number of times
previous. The other two were walking close behind, coming
toward him. On looking in the direction they were coming,
he recognized the horse and supposed the rider to be its owner,
and on looking again discovered his mistake, and quickly
seized his gun, sprang behind a large boulder^ the Indians tak-
ing shelter behind trees as soon as he was from their view.
He turned and glanced around the rock and found that the
Indians were looking for him at the other end of the rock, and
seeing one peep out, immediately pulled his gun and fired, on
which the Indian fell dead. But on turning to reload his gun,
found that he had left his powder horn where he was skinning
the wolf. He then darted from behind the rock with all of his
speed, and one of the savages took after him. For some time
he held his own in the race, but the savage, being used to such
32 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
work, began to gain on him. The chances were very slim now
for Morgan, and seeing this he threw his gun down, thinlving
that the Indian would be amazed at the idea, and pick up the
gun, but the Indian did nothing of the kind and passed by it
as though it had never been dropped. He then threw his shot
pouch and coat in the way, but his schemes were in vain.
They ran on until they reached the top of the hill. Here he
stopped, and as though some one was on the other side of the
hill, called out: "Come on, come on; here's one, make haste."
The Indian^ thinking that he was calling upon some one on the
other side of the hill, immediately beat a hasty retreat. Mor-
gan then exclaimed: "Shoot quick, or he will be out of reach."
The Indian seemed to double the thought, aud hastened his
speed. Morgan then turned and went home, being pleased
with his success, leaving his gun, shot pouch and coat to re-
ward the savage for the deception practiced upon him.
At the treaty of Augliaxe he met the Indian who had given
him such a chase, and he still had the gun that Morgan had
thrown down. After talking over the circumstance, they de-
cided to test the ownership of it by a friendly race. The In-
dian being beaten, rubbed his hands and said: "Stiff, stiff; too
old, too old." "Well," said Morgan, "you got the gun by out-
running me then, and I should have it for outrunning you
now," and accordingly took it.
In the year of 1790 Levi Morgan was made captain of a
company of nineteen men who were stationed at the mouth of
Big Fishing creek, where he had erected a fort. They built
two sixty-foot canoes and descended downward on their way to
the mouth of the Muskingum, where they were going to attack
an Indian camp seven miles up the river. When they arrived
at the desired point they hid their canoes in the bushes and sta-
tioned two men to watch them until they returned^ and if they
did not return in three days to make their way as fast as possi-
ble to the fort. Captain Morgan, with the remaining seven-
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 33
teen men, struck cautiously through the woods westward and
traveled several miles, until they struck a large cove at the
head of a stream which ran into the Ohio. They heard a bell
jingle at the head of the cove, on which Morgan exclaimed:
"Boys, get your guns ready and see that your powder is handy."
He had a boy in his company who was but sixteen years of age.
His name was Hays (see the story of the two half Indians.)
He put his men in two's taking the boy with him, and gave or-
ders that when the first gun was fired that they were to run
into the camp with a knife in one hand and a gun in another.
One was to run around one way and one another, and run the
Indians out of their wigwams, if possible, without their guns,
and if not, to shoot the first Indian seen with a gun. Morgan
and Hays were the first ones to see the Indians, who saw one
salting some ponies. Morgan said to Hays: ''I will split that
Indian's nose, right between his eyes," on which he shot and
killed the Indian. They then raised a yell and rushed into
camp and found no one there but a few Indian squaws and
some young men. There were about five hundred wigwams in
the village and about six hundred bushels of corn. One of the
old Indian squaws asked Morgan if they had killed a young In-
dian, and he told her they had not, and she said there was one
missing. They then knew that one had gotten away. After
catching all the horses they needed, they burned the village
and told the old Indian squaw that they wanted to go to the
Muskingum river, and if she would take them there that they
would not harm her, but if she didn't, they would kill all of
them. She took them straight through, traveling both night
and day, until they reached the place where they had hid their
canoes. It was the fourth day, but the men were still there.
They then tied the two canoes together and put the ponies into
them, putting the hind feet in one and the front feet in the
other. A couple of men rowed the boats to the mouth of the
Muskingum, and after crossing over to the Virginia side they
34 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
Bank the boats and went by land to Pricket's Fort, in Monon-
galia county. They kept the prisoners until Wayne's treaty,
when they were given up, and it was at that place that the
Drygoo boys were obtained. Morgan was at the defeat of
St. Clair and shot at the white renegade, Simon Girty.
OUR EARLY SETTLER.
The earliest white settler along the Ohio river, in Wetzel
county, was Edward Doolin, who came here about the year
1780, and made a settlement near Doolin's spring, one mile
from the mouth of Fishing creek, on lands now owned by the
heirs of Phillip Witten. He there built two cabins, one for
himself and wife and the other for his negro slave. He owned
a large survey of lands lying on both sides of the stream which
still bears his name; lines of his survey are well established,
and have been familiar to the courts of Wetzel in divers suits
of ejectments.
He had hardly broken the solitude of the vast wilderness,
when he was visited by a tribe of Delaware Indians, who came
at night and took away his negro slave into captivity, and re-
turning at daybreak, and finding Doolin in his front door yard,
shot and scalped him. His wife, who was still in the cabin
lying abed with a newborn babe beside her, was not molested.
Mrs. Doolin was a woman of remarkable beauty, and the sav-
ages, fearing it might prove fatal to compel her to accompany
them while in her delicate state of health, urged her to remain
there for a few days, until she entirely recovered, pi'omising to
rturn and take her with them to be the wife of their great
chief. This alluring prospect, however, did not seem to have
charmed the white beauty into lingering there.
At that time a blockhouse stood near the present residence
of Mrs. Eliza Martin, in the limits of the present town of New
Martinsville. Its solitary inmate, when these occurrences took
place, was a man named Martin, who heard the report of the
firing in the early morning, in the direction of Doolin's clear-
ing. He made a reconnaissance and found the body of Doolin
36 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
lying in front of Ms cabin. Entering the house he wrapped
Mrs. Doolin in blankets and;, taking the infant in his arms, as-
sisted her to the blockhouse, where he placed the widow and
orphan in a canoe and transported them up the Ohio to the
mouth of Captina creek. He then returned with comrades,
and they buried the body of Doolin in the spot known as Wit-
ten's garden, where his grave is still to be seen. And every
spring the Easter flowers bloomed over the dust of Edward
Doolin — the first white settler of Wetzel, and one of the few
white men killed by the Indians within her borders.
Mrs. Doolin lived near the settlement until her daughter had
grown to be a girl of ten. She then married and went to Ken-
tucky, where her daughter, after she had grown to be a young
lady, married one Daniel Boone, a descendant of ihe noted In-
dian scout, Daniel Boone. Mrs. Doolin sold this land to the
Martins, McEldowneys and Wittens, and from her or her an-
cestors have never been heard of since.
MORGAN MORGAN,
Morgan Morgan was commonly known as Spymod. It was
to distinguish him from his cousin, Morgan Morgan, who Avas
known as Paddymod. The former came to what is now Pine
Grove in 1805, and erected a mill on the ground now -occupied
by Hennen's livery barn; he also owned land where Reader
now stands.
We give here the following incidents in the life of Morgan:
While he was at Morgantown, or what is now known as ihat
place, he went on a spying expedition, and it was from that he-
got the nickname of ISpymod. The expedition wandered into
what is now known as the "Jug," on Middle Island creek, and
above the first run Morgan shot a turkey. They then left a
man at the mouth of the first run as a guard, and told him not
to shoot unless it was at an Indian. The other members of the
crowd, including Morgan, went up the run a short distance to
cook the turkey Morgan had just shot, and just as they got the
turkey ready to cook they heard a shot in the direction one of
their men was stationed, on which they dropped the turkey,
picked up their guns and made in the direction of the firing.
On reaching there they found that he had shot a wolf, whicli
was done by compulsion. The wolf had come toward him aud
he had tried to scare it away, but in vain. The wolf kept com-
ing toward him and was six inches from the muzzle of his gun
when he shot.
The creek makes a small bend above the "Jug," and while
talking the matter over about the killing of the wolf they saw
two Indians dart out from behind trees and run down the
creek. Morgan took after them, but was stopped by two of his
comjanions who told him that there was liable to be a band
38 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
somewhere near that neighborhood, and they supposed the In-
dians were sent out to see what the first firing was. They then
followed the Indian trail to the "Jug," which was but a short
distance, and it was found that the two Indians had gone
around the "Jug," on which it was decided that it would be
best for them to go through the "Jug." On arriving at the
head of it, they found that a band of Indians had been there
but a short time previous. It was then decided to make for
the fort, which was situated at New Martinsville and owned
by Morgan's brother, Levi Morgan.
Another incident in his life worthy of mention is one of his
narrow escapes on one of his spying expeditions. Himself and
another man were appointed to spy around the old Indian trail
from Morgantown to the mouth of Big Fishing creek, to see if
there were Indians about. On one occasion his pardner was
sick and it was prevailed on him to go alone. He started one
rainy day and before he stopped he had reached what is now
Pine Grove. It was still raining, the rain pouring down in tor-
rents, and wishing to strike a dry spot, crawled into a hollow
sycamore tree, which was known by him and his pardner on
their expeditons as a resting place. It was getting about dusk;
he had been there but a few minutes when an Indian came
running to the tree and looked inside. Morgan seeing this,
drew his butcher knife ready for action, but he did not use it,
the hole being so dark the Indian could see nothing, and turned
and darted onward at the same speed he had come up. This
aroused Morgan's suspicion, and he immediately began to hunt
for new quarters, going direct to the mouth of Big Fishing
creek.
THE STORY OF CROWS RUN.
In the early spring of 1782, a squad of men started out from
Fort Henry on a hunting expedition. Among them was a man
by the name of Crow, of whom our story relates. They trav-
eled onward until they reached the mouth of what is now Big
Fishing creek, which empties into the Ohio at New Martins-
ville. They followed the creek until they reached the mouth of
a run putting into Big Fishing creek, twelve miles from New
Martinsville. Here they camped on the east side of the creek
on the ground now owned by John Lantz. After camping for
the night, the next day they went in search of game, which was
then plentiful in that neighborhood, with three men in one
company and two in another, Crow being in the company of
two. After hunting all day, at sunset the two came toward
camp carrying the game they had shot, and on reaching the
camp Crow's companion started out to get some wood to build
a fire to cook a part of the game they had shot, and was hardly
gone when a band of Indians surrounded the camp, and Crow,
realizing that he was menaced by a terrible danger, started to
run, on which a volley of shots were poured upon him, and one
hit him in the head and killed him instantly. His companion,
on hearing the shots, started toward camp, and seemg the In-
dians began to run as Crow did, but was not so unfortunate,
though shot in the hip, which did not hinder him from running
on until he reached the company of three, who were running
toward the camp in full speed, having heard the shots that
were fired at Crow, and suspicioned that which was correct.
The Indians, on the other hand, thinking that a superior force
of men were somewhere in the neighborhood, immediately re-
treated. The remaining members of the company returned to
40 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
camp, and found Crow lying dead near the creek, with his head
partially in the water. They picked him up and placed him in
a hollow sycamore tree and covered him up to keep the wolves
from carrying the body off until they returned to the fort to se-
cure reinforcements, and bury him. They went to Wheeling
and secured the reinforcements and returned in four days and
buried him under a sycamore tree, using walnut logs for his
coffin, and inscribed on the tree, ''J. J. Crow, 1782." The tree
stood until about the year of 1875, when it was blown down by
the wind, and it was from this unfortunate being that the name
of Crow's run was obtained.
THE DRYGOOS, OR THE TWO HALF
INDIANS.
John Hays came to what is known as Lot in the year of 1805,
and with him he brought his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Hays, who
was born the same day as her husband, which was in the year
of 1748, in Pricket's Fort, Monongalia county. They were but
eleven years old when the latter's mother, Mrs. Drygoo, was
killed by the Indians.
The following is an incident which fell from the lips of Mrs,
Hays, told to her daughter, Mrs. Malinda Anderson: It was in
a fort situated on Clinton's run, Monongalia county, known as
Prickett's fort. The Drygoo family were some of its occu-
pants. There was a garden about half a mile from the fort,
and Mrs. Drygoo and her son, Charles, who was but four years
of age, went to the garden to pick beans, when the Indians
came upon them unawares and made them prisoners before
giving them time to call for help. They tied Mrs. Drygoo to a
tree near the fort, but not in sight, and returned to the garden
to see if they could catch some more in the same way. In a
little while Mrs. Hays and her sister came out of the fort and
started toward the garden to help their mother (Mrs. Drygoo)
pick beans, and as they neared the garden stai'ted to call for
their mother, but she did not answer. Fortunately they got
scared at something (not the Indians) and started toward the
fort at full speed, and on reaching it informed the occupants
that their mother, Mrs. Drygoo, and their brother, Charles Dry-
goo, started out in the garden some time ago to pick beans and
that they were not in the garden now. The men immediately
suspicioned that which was correct and soon raised a company
42 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
under Captain David Morjian and went in pursuit. The In-
dians, seeing tliat they liad been discovered, beat a hasty re-
treat. They untied Mrs. Drygoo and put her on a pony, which
was very wild, and made off with great speed. After traveling
for about ten miles the pony she was on jumped a run. The
calf of one of her legs was torn open, having caught on a sharp
limb of a tree. They stopped and bandaged the wound up the
best way they could, after which they continued their journey,
but the bandage did no good, and she became very weak from
loss of blood. The Indians, seeing that it was delaying their
journey, decided to kill her. When they began to untie her
from the pony Charles began to cry and a big Indian picked
him up and said ''Don't cry," that they wouldn't kill his mo-
ther, but she couldn't travel and that he could be his boy after
this. They killed and scalped her near the place known as
Betsy's run, which was named from her, and made off with
Charles into Ohio, where he lived with them until he was twen-
ty-seven years old. While with them he was one of them, and
when very young married an Indian squaw, and from her had
four children, two boys and two girls. At the Morgan treaty
at the mouth of the Little Muskingum, James Hays was one of
the men under Levi Morgan, and inquired of the Indians as to
the whereabouts of his brother, Charles Drygoo, on which he
was informed that he was dead, but that he had some children.
He asked for them and he was given the two boys. He
brought them to where the town of Lot stands, where they
lived and died in the cabin built by James Hays in 1805. There
are a number of people in Wetzel county who are proud to say
that the blood of Charles Drygoo and his Indian squaw floats
in their veins.
MASSACRE OF THE HANDSUCKER
FAMILY.
In the latter part of Jime, 1790, a party of Indians invaded a
settlement on Dunkards creek, in Monongalia county, early in
the morning. Mr. Clegg and Mr. Handsucker and his two sons
were engaged at work near a house, when a band of Indians,
concealed in bushes, shot at them and wounded Handsucker
severely, and he w^as soon overtaken. Clegg and Handsucker's
tw^o sons began to run toward the house and Clegg entered it
and defended it for a while. But confident that he would soon
be driven out by fire he surrendered on condition that they
would spare his life and that of his little daughter with him.
The boys passed the house, but were overtaken by some of the
savages, who were concealed in the direction they ran^ and
who had just taken Mrs. Handsucker and her infant captive.
They then burnt the house, caught all the horses they needed,
and made off with the prisoners, leaving one of their company
as usual to watch after their retreat. When Mrs. Clegg heard
the firing of a gun in the corn field, she was some distance
from the house, and on hearing the shot immediately went to-
ward the creek and concealed herself among the bushes and
stayed until everything became quiet. She then crept out, and
perceiving the Indian, began to run; he having seen her at the
same time, took after her, but had to give up in despair. He
shot at her, knowing that he would never catch her, but did not
hit her, and she kept on running until she got safely oft". Mr.
Handsucker and his wife and child were killed on what is now
known as Handsucker Knob, Wetzel coiiuty, at the forks of
Dunkard and Fish creeks. Mr. Clegg, after remaining a cap-
tive among the Indians for some time, was released, on which
he ransomed his two daughters.
HARMAN BLENNERHASSETT.
Harman Blennerhassett, whose connection witli the ill-fated
project of Aaron Burr, has given his name a wide notoriety,
passed down the Ohio river, in Wetzel county, on his way to
Marietta, in 1796. About the year of 1798 he commenced his
improvements on the beautiful island since known by his name,
embosomed on the Ohio near the end of Washington county,
Ohio, and resided upon it for a number of years, surrounded
with all that made life dear, when the tempter entered this
Eden and forever blighted his earthly prospects. After years
of wandering he finally died in 1822, on the island of Guernsey.
His beautiful and accomplished wife subsequently returned to
this country and preferred charges against the United States
and asked for claims, but without success. She died in New
York in 1842. She was possessed of a rare ingenuity in the
literary line and wrote that beautiful poem, "The Deserted
Isle." The island will ever remain a memento of the fate of
this unfortunate family, around whose melancholy fortunes
the genius of Wirt his weaved a tribute of eloquence alike im-
perishable.
VOLNEY'S TRAVELS IN WETZEL.
In the latter part of the eighteenth century the celebrated
French traveler, Volney, traveled through Virginia and crossed
the river into Monroe county, Ohio, near New Martinsville.
He was under the guidance of two Virginia bear hunters
through the wilderness. The weather was very cold and severe
in crossing the dry ridge on the Virginia side. The learned in-
fidel became weak from cold and fatigue. He was in the midst
of an almost boundless wilderness, deep snow under his feet,
and both rain and snow were falling upon his head. He fre-
quently insisted on giving up the enterprise and dying where
he was, but his comrades^ more accustomed to the backwoods
fare, urged him on until he at length gave out, exclaiming:
"Oh, wretched and foolish man that I am, to leave my comfort-
able home and fireside, and come to this unfrequented place,
where the lion and tiger refuse to dwell and the rain hurries
olf. Go on, my friends; better that one man should perish than
three." Then they stopped and struck a fire, built a camp of
bark a" 3 limbs, shot a buck, broiled the ham, which, with the
salt bread and other necessaries they had, made a good sup-
per, and everything being soon comfortable and cheery, the
learned Frenchman was dilatin% largely and eloquently upon
the ingenuity of man.
NOTES ON THE DEATH OF LOGAN'S
FAMILY.
The following is taken from Jefferson's "Notes on Virginia:"'
In April, 1774, a number of people being engaged in looking
out for settlements on the Ohio, information was spread among
them that the Indians had robbed some of the land jobbers, as
those adventurers were then called. Alarmed for their safety,
they collected together at Wheeling creek. Hearing that there
were two Indians and some traders a little above Wheeling,
Captain Michael Cresap, one of the party, proposed to way-lay
and kill them. The proposition, though opposed, was adopted.
A party went up the river with Cresap at their head, and killed
the two Indians. The same afternoon it was reported that
there was a party of Indians on the Ohio, a litle below W^heel-
ing. Cresap and his party immediately proceeded down the
river and encamped on the bank. The Indians passed them
peaceably, and encamped at the mouth of Grave creek, a little
below. Cresap and his party attacked them and killed several.
The Indians returned the fire and wounded one of Cresap's
men. Among the slain of the Indians were some of Logan's-
family. Zane expressed a doubt of it, but Smith, one of the
murderers, said they were known and acknowledged that Lo-
gan's friends and the party themselves generally said so, and
boasted of it in the presence of Captain Cresap, and pretended
no provocation, and expressed their expectations that Logan
would probably avenge their death. Pursuing these examples,
Daniel Greathouse and one Tomlinson, who lived on the oppo-
site side of the river from the Indians, and were in the habit of
friendship with them, collected at the house of Polke, on Cross
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 47
run, about sixteen miles fromBaker's fort bottom, a party of
thirtj-two men. Their object was to reach a hunting camp of
the Indians, consisting of men, women and children, at the
mouth of Yellow creek, some distance above Wheeling. They
proceeded, and when they arrived at Baker's station they con-
cealed themselves among the bushes, and Greathouse crossed
the river to the Indian camp. Baker tells us, being among
them as a friend, he counted them and found them too
strong for an open attack with his force. While here he was
cautioned by one of the women not to stay, for the Indian men
were drinking, and having heard of Cresap's murder of their
relations at Grave creek, were angry and she pressed him in a
friendly manner to go home, whereupon, after inviting them to
come over and drink, he returned to Baker's inn, and desired
that whenever any of them should come to his house he would
give them as much rum as they would drink. When his plot
was rii)e, and a sufficient number were gathered at Baker's
and intoxicated, he and his party fell upon them and massa-
cred the whole, except one little girl, whom they preserved as a
prisoner. Among these was the very woman who saved his
life by urging him to retire from the drunken wrath of her
friends, when he was spying their camp at Yellow creek. Ei-
ther she or some other murdered woman was the sister of Lo-
gan. The party on the other side of the river, alarmed for
their friends at Baker's, on hearing the report of the guns,
made two canoes and sent them over. They were received as
they appeared on the shore by a well-directed fire from Great-
house's party, which killed some and wounded others and
obliged the rest to retreat. Baker tells us there were twelve
killed and eight wounded. It was after this that Logan made
his famous speech, which is as follows:
"I appeal to any white man to say if ever he entered Logan's
cabin hungry, and I gave him not meat; it he came cold or
naked, and I clothed him not. During the course of the iast
48 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
long and bloody war Logan ren^iained in his cabin, an advocate
of peace. I had such affection fc.r the white people that I was
pointed at by the rest of my nation. I should have ever lived
with them had it not been for Col. Cresap, who last year cut
ofT in cold blood all the relations of Logan, not sparing my
women and children. There runs not a drop of my blood in
the veins of any living creature. This called upon me for ven-
geance. I have sought it. I have killed many and fully glut-
ted my revenge. I am glad there is a prospect of peace on
account of the nation, but I beg you will not entertain a
thought that anything I have said proceeds from fear. Logan
•disdains the thought. He will not turn on his heel to save
his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan? Not one." Lo-
gan gave all the blame to Colonel Cresap. Whether he was
all to blame or not, it was one of the most inhuman massacres
that ever occurred in the border life. Creathouse was after-
wards killed by the Indians, but he deserved a greater punish-
ment than that.
THE BATTLE OF CAPTINA.
Jefferson, in his "Notes on Virginia, says the battle of Cap-
tina was fought on the Virginia side in 1794, and it is probable
that he is wrong, for Martin Baker told the author of the his
tory of Ohio (McDonald) the following: He was twelve years of
age when the battle of Captina was fought. Now Oaptina is a
considerable stream entering the Ohio at Powhatan, on the
Ohio side, and on its banks, says Martin Baker, the battle of
Captina was fought. The following is the incident which fell
from the lips of Martin Baker: One mile below the mouth of
Captina, on the Virginia shore, was Baker's fort, so named
from my father. One morning in May, 1794, four men were
sent over, according to the custom, to the Ohio side
to reconnoitre. They were Adam Miller, John Daniels,
Isaac McCowan and John Shoptaw. Miller and Daniels took
up stream and the other two down. The upper scouts were
soon attacked by Indians, and Miller was killed. Daniels run
up Captina about three miles, but being weak from loss of
blood ensuing from a wound in his arm, was taken prisoner,
carried into captivity, and subsequently released, at the treaty
of Greenville. The lower scouts having discovered signs of
the enemy^ Shoptaw swam across the river and escaped, but
McGowen, going up toward the canoe, was shot by Indians in
ambush. Upon this he ran down toward the bank and sprang
into the water, pursued by the enemy, who overtook and
scalped him. The firing being heard at the fort they beat up
the volunteers. There were about fifty men in the fort. There
being much reluctance among them to volunteer, my sister
exclaimed that she wouldn't be a coward. This aroused the
50 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
pride of my brother, John Baker, who before had determined
not to go. He joined the others, fourteen in number, includ-
ing Captain Enochs. They soon crossed the river and went np
Captina in single file a distance of about a mile and a half, fol-
lowing the Indian trail. The enemy had conceded that they
were on their trail and were in ambush on the hillside awaiting
their approach. When sufficiently near they ^r^d upon them,
but being on an elevated position their balls passed over them.
The whites then treed some of the Indians, who then shot
again and hit Captan Enochs and Mr. Hoffman. The whites
then retreated and the Indians pursued but a short distance.
On their retreat my brother was shot in the hip. Determined
to sell his life as dearly as possible, he drew off to one side and
secreted himself in a hollow with a rock at his back, offering no
chance for the enemy to approach but in front. Shortly after
two guns were heard in quick succession. Doubtless one of
them was fired by my brother and from the signs afterwards it
was supposed he had killed an Indian. The next day the men
turned out and visited the spot. Enochs, Hoffman and my
brother were found dead and scalped. Enoch's bowels were
torn out, and his eyes and those of Hoffman screwed out with
a wiping stick. The dead were wrapped in white hickory bark
and buried in their bark coffins. There were about thirty In-
dians engaged in this, and seven skeletons were found of their
slain, long after, secreted in the crevices of the rocks. McAu-
thor, after the death of Captain Enochs, was called on to lead
the company. The Swaney chief, Charley Wilkey, lead the In-
dians.
David Prunty was the first man to open up a road in Wetzel
county. He opened one from Middlebourne, Tyler county, to
Reader, Wetzel county , in the year of 1815. The road is now
known as eight mile ridge road.
In the vear of 1790, a man bv the name of Turbal erected a
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. • 51
grist mill near the present sight of the Wetzel county poor
farm.
The first mail carried to Wetzel county was carried in the
year of 1800, from Fairmont, now Marion county, to New Mar-
tinsville.
The first two-story log house along Big Fishing creek was
erected bv James Lowe, in the rear of 1791.
In the year of 1790, George Wade erected a grist mill in
what is now Clay district, and run it by water power; it was
built of logs in the old style and for a long time did all the
grinding that was to be done for miles around. A two log saw
mill was erected by John Leaf in the year of 1835 in Proctor
district. In the year of 1846 John Sole erected a grist and
saw mill combined and lun it by water power; the burrs were
made of native stone, but did good work.
The pioneer of Grant district was John Wyatt, who came
there in the year of 1790. He was followed by James Lowe,
Ui'iah Morgan, James Jolliffe, and a man by the name of
Wilson.
The first in Green district was James Troy, who settled on
what is now known as the nergo quarters about the year of
1791. The property was transferred by him to Benjamin Rea-
der, and from him to Morgan Morgan, who erected a house on
the ground in the year of 1804, which stood until the year of
1897. Other settlers of Green district were James Hays, Wil-
liam Snodgrass, Benjamin Hays, Z. Cochran, Aiden Bales, Jas-
per Strait and many others.
The pioneer of Center district was Benjamin Bond, who set-
tled there in the year of 1805.
The first settler in Clay district was William Little, who
settled where the town of Littleton now stands in the year of
1810.
The first settler in Church district was Henry Church, who
came there in the year of 1782 and settled where the town of
Hundred now stands.
GEORGE BARTRUG.
George Bartriig, from whom Burton should have been
named^ was born in what was then known as Croach Back,
Pennsylvania, in the year of 1790. He came with his parents
to what is now known as Cottontown in the year of 1806. Af-
ter living with them but a short time he married and erected a
cabin near the present site of the B. & O. R. R. station at Bur-
ton, and lived there until the year of 1850, when the railroad
company purchased the land. He erected another house on
the land now owned by his son, Moses Bartrug, and the house
stood until latelv, when it burned down.
PRESSLEY MARTIN.
Pressley Martin was born in Martin's Fort, in Monongalia
county, in which his father at that time was commander. He
came to what is now New Martinsville in the year of 1808, and
boarded at the house on the south of the forks of the creek and
the Ohio river, which was then owned by Abraham Hanes. In
1810 he purchased the land on which is now situated the town
of New Martinsville from Mrs. Dulin, the widow of Edward
Dulin, and erected a house on the north forks of Big Fishing
creek and the Ohio river, which was commonly known as the
Point House, on which is now situated the Grand Opera House,
and the place of business of Handron & Dulin. He carried the
nails that he put in the house from Morgantown to New Mar-
tinsville in pack saddles, they having been made at that place
by a blacksmith. A short time after purchasing the laud, he
married Miss Margaret Clinton. While living at that place he
farmed the land on which is now situated the prosperous town
of New Martinsville, and often made trips to the Kanawha
river for salt. In 183G he laid out the town of New Martins-
ville and named it Martinsville, and in the incorporating of the
town the Assembly of Mrgiuia prefixed the word New before
the Martinsville, making it New Martinsville, from the fact
htat there was a town in Henry county, Va., by that name.
He died in the year of His name will always be remem
bered as the originator of the town of New Martinsville.
HENRY CHURCH.
Henry Church, better known as "Old Hundred," was born in
Suffox county, Enoland, in 1750. He came to this coun-
try a British soldier of the 63rd Light Infantry, and served un-
der Lord Cornwallis in the memorable campaign of 1791. He
was captured by the troops under Lafaj-ette and sent a pris-
oner to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He remained there until
peace was declared at that place. He fell in love with a Qua-
ker maiden. Miss Hannah Kiene. She was born in the year of
1755. Henry Church lived to be one hundred and nine, and
his wife one hundred and seven. When the first excursion
train ran over the B. & O. K. E. in 1852, it made a stop at the
home of "Old Hundred," and among the passengers was an at-
tache to the British legation at Washington City, who was in-
troduced to the old man as one of his countrymen, who sound-
ed one of the martial airs of England. "Old Hundred" stood
up as though his blood had been warmed with wine, and said:
"I know it, I know it !" He was loyal to his king for more than
a hundred years, about which time he took allegiance to the
ITnited States. The home of "Old Hundred" stood near Main
street, at Hundred, and was constructed from logs. They had
eight children, the youngest dying at sixty-eight, on which
"Old Hundred" made the remark that they never did expect
to raise her; that she never was a healthy child. It seemed
that every family of the Churches honored one by naming it
Henry, until there was Henry Church, Henry Church, Sr., who
was not "Old Hundred," Henry, Jr., who was not the youngest,
Henry of Henry, Henry of Sam, Long Henry and Short Henry.
They both are buried at Hundred.
ABRAHAM HANES.
Abraham Hanes was born in Louden county, Virginia, in
the year of 1784. He came from that place to Middle Island
creek, Tyler county, in the year of 1804, where he married Su-
Sana Martin, a natiye of New Jersey. In 1807 they came to
what was then the mouth of Big Fishing creek, and erected a
house on the South Side, and kept hotel during the war of
1812 in the same house that was known to the citizens of the
county as the Robert Cox homestead. The ground is noy/
owned by Dr. Underwood. In 1814 he moved with his family
one mile below Proctor, and built a house on a run which now
bears his name.
SAMPSON THISTLE.
Sampson Thistle was born in Allegheny conntv, Maryland,
in the year of 1781, June 27th. He came to Tyler county, Vir-
ginia, now Wetzel county, West Virginia, in the year of 1805.
In the year of 1806 he vsas married to Susana Tomlinson, at
the home of the bride in Cumberland, Maryland, in a brick
house, which is still standing, and in excellent condition. Af-
ter the close of the usual festivities incident to such occasions
in those days^ they started on horseback to their future home
near New Martinsville, where they maintained a comfortable
and hospitable home the remainder of their days. He was a
proininent and prosperous citizen, being deferred to by his
neighbors and becoming the owner of much land. This wor-
thy couple raised a family of eleven children, six sons and five
daughters, all of whom attained maturity, were married and
left the parental roof before their parents died. Sampson
Thistle lived to the age of seventy-five years, and was buried in
the family burying-ground on his farm, whither the body of his
faithful wife was borne a few years later at nearly the same
age. Of their large family only one is now living. He was a
"Whig" in politics, in religion a Methodist. The land upon
which he lived is situated ten miles north of the town of New
Martinsville, comprising nearly 900 acres, and is now owned
by his grandchildren.
R. W. COX.
Robert Woods Cox was born in the year of 1820 at the Old
Robert Woods homestead six miles above Wheeling. He was
six years old when his mother died, and shortly afterward the
family removed to New ]\lartinsville, Tyler county, now Wetzel
county. He attended law college at Meadville, Pennsylvania,
but never was admitted to the bar, for the reason that he had
to assume the care of his real estate. He assisted his father in
the mercantile business. He was interested in the welfare and
development of Wetzel county and was a great factor in poli-
tics. He was married in 1845 to Miss Jane Cresap, who was
from one of the oldest settlers in the Ohio Valley, her father
settling in Tyler county in the year of 1805. He sold his inter-
est in Wetzel county in 18G0, and went to Marshall county,
where he died ten years later. His widow still survives liim, at
the age of seventy-nine. He had three children who are all
dead with the exception of Friend Cox, who is still living.
JOHN MOORE.
John Moore was born August 24^ 1818, at Clarington, Monroe
county, then known as Suniish, in the year of 1818. In the
year of 1834 he came with his father, Jacob Moore, to Proctor,
where he settled at the mouth of Proctor creek. At that time
Proctor was a vast wilderness. He was justice in his district
for twenty-five years and was also president of the county court
for two terms. He is still living and is good for a number of
years, and is recognized as one of the oldest living settlers in
Wetzel county.
HON. JOHN M. LACEY,
Congressman from Iowa.
HON. JOHN F. LACEY.
Jolm F. Lacev, representative in Congress from the Sixth
Iowa district, was born May 30, 1841, on the Williams farm,
just above New Martinsville, Va. (now West Virginia). In 1855
he moved to Iowa, and has made his home in Mahaska county
ever since. At the beginning of the Civil War, in May, 1861,
he enlisted as a private in Company "H," Third Iowa Infantry;
afterward made a corporal. He was taken prisoner at the bat-
tle of Blue Mills, Mo., in September, 1861, and was paroled with
General Mulligan's command at Lexington, Mo., soon after.
The President issued an order for the discharge of all paroled
prisoners, not then deeming it proper to recognize the Confed-
erates by exchange. Mr. Lacey was discharged under this or-
der. In 1862 an exchange of prisoners was agreed on, which re-
leased all discharged men from their parole, and Mr. Lacey at
once re-enlisted as a private in Company "D," Thirty-third Iowa
Infantry. He was soon promoted to the rank of sergeant-major
of the regiment, and in May, 1863, was appointed first lieuten-
ant of Company ''C." Colonel Samuel A. Eice, of the Thirty-
third Iowa, was made a brigadier-general, and Mr. Lacey was^
appointed by President Lincoln as assistant adjutant-general
of volunteers on his staff. General Rice was killed at the bat-
tle of Jenkins Ferry, Ark., and Mr. Lacey was then assigned to
the same position on the stalf of Maj. Gen. Frederick Steele, in
which capacity he served until his muster-out in September,
1865. He participated in the following battles: Blue Mills, He-
lena, Little Rock, Terre Noir, Elkin's Ford, Prairie d'Anne, Poi-
son Springs, Jenkins Ferry, Siege of Mobile and storming of
Blakeley. He was struck with a minie ball in the battle of
Jenkins F'erry, but his ponche turned the ball aside and pre-
GO HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
vented any injury. His horse Ayas killed under him by a shell
in the battle of Prairie d'Anne.
Major Laeey's adyaneement was continuous, and although he
was only twenty -four years of age at his discharge, he had in
nearly four years' service done duty as a private, corporal, ser-
geant-major, first lieutenant, adjutant-general of a brigade, ad-
jutant general of a division, adjutant general of a corps, adju-
tant general of General Steele's command (1.5,000 strong) in the
Mobile campaign, and finally as adjutant general of Steele's
Army of Observation (of 42,000 men) on the Rio Grande.
Mr. Lacej's education was obtained in the public schools and
private academies. He was admitted to the bar in 1865, and
has continually practiced law ever since, having enjoyed a very
extensive practice in the State and Federal courts. He is the
author of "Laeey's Railway Digest," which includes all the rail
way cases in the English language up to 1885; also author of
"Laeey's Iowa Digest." He served in the Iowa Legislature in
1870, and afterward as alderman and city solicitor of Oskaloo-
sa for a term each.
Notwithstanding his long service in Congress, he has retained
his love for his profession, and kept up his connection with his
law practice. He represented the sixth Iowa district in the
Fifty-first, Fifty-third, Fifty-fourth, Fifty-fifth and Fifty-sixth
Congresses. He is now a member of the Fifty-niuth Congress.
This district has long been a political battle ground, and Mr.
Lacey has had a hard contest in each of the campaigns in
which he has been engaged. His opponents were General
Weaver, Mr. White, Mr. Taylor and Mr. Steck, in these various
campaigns. Though active in political affairs, Mr. Lacey has
always preferred to be known through his chosen profession,
rather than as a politician.
^An old and eminent member of the State bar and one of
Mr. Laeey's most intimate professional associates, submits this
estimate of his character:
"As a lawyer, Mr. Lacey easily ranks among the leading law-
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. fil
jers of the State. His greatest success in life has been at the
bar, and he still holds a good practice, although for ten years
a member of Congress. His success has been attained largely
by his indomitable energy and industry. He is particularly
strong as a trial lawyer, being full of resources. When driven
from one position he will seize another so quickly and support
it by such ready reference to authorities, that he frequently be-
wilders his opponents and wins out on a new line, which seems
to come to him by intuition as the trial progresses. As an ad-
vocate to the jury, he is not severely logical, not confining him-
self strictly to a mere reference to the evidence, but takes a
wider range, and by illustrations drawn from literature or his-
tory, he retains the interest of the jury^ while at the same time
emphasizing some feature of the case."
Major Lacey is one of the Wetzel county boys who went wesr
to grow up with the country. His father, John M. Lacey, was
one of the first settlers of New Martinsville. He came to the
town when it became the county seat and built the house now
owned by Mr. McCaskey, immediately east of the court house.
Major Lacey and Thilip G. Bier both filled positions as assist-
ant adjutant generals of volunteers. They were in the same
class at school at New Martinsville when little boys.. Dr. John
Thomas Booth, now of Concinnati, Ohio, was one of this same
class. Dr. Booth was a surgeon in the Spanish war. and a Un-
ion soldier in the Civil War.
Mr. Lacey's mother was Eleanor Patten, daughter of Isaac
Patten, of Captine creek, Belmont county, Ohio. She is held in
pleasant memory by the old settlers. Major Lacey's parents
both died in Iowa.
Robert W. Lacey, an uncle of John F., formerly lived in New
Martinsville. He died in I'asadena, California, a few years ago.
His widow is the sister of Mrs. Dr. Young, of New Martinsville.
Rev. J. J. Dolliver, father of ScMiator J. P. Dolliver, of Iowa,
used to spend much of his time when a bachelor, at the home of
62 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
John M. Lace}', who was an active leader in the Methodist
church.
Williams R. Lacey, the youngest son of John M. Lacey. was
born in New Martinsville, and was named after the Williams
familv, who lived north of the town, and who were ardent
friends of the Laceys. Williams R. is now the law partner of
his brother, and is one of the most prosperous and successful
business men in Iowa.
«
Mr. Lacey, in 1865, married Miss Martha Newell, of Oska-
loosa. They have two daughters living, Eleanor, who is the
wife of James B. Brewster, of San Francisco^ and Berenice,
who is now a young lady. Raymond, their only son, and Kate,
another daughter, died in childhood.
We here give an address delivered b}^ John F. Lace}', at Des
Moines, Iowa, May 31, 1897 :
FROM BULL RUN TO APPOMATTOX.
Comrades and Fellow Citizens:
I have come a long distance in com])liance with the courteous
invitation of my comrades of Kinsman and Crocker Posts to ad-
dress you on this memorial day. To-day is a flower festival for
the dead designed by General Logan, when he was the Com-
mander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Kinsman's and Crocker's names suggest memories of the past
which bring pride and pleasure to every citizen of Des Moines,
and of our whole State as well. Kinsman fell in battle, leading
the 23d Iowa, but Crocker, though he died young, still lived to
see victory crown our national cause.
We meet on this day with no political purpose, but lay aside
all partisanship and forget for the time all matters of difference
upon which we may be divided.
We assemble each year on this sad but pleasing memorial to
pass the old story down the line to another generation, and to
keep alive the spirit of fraternity, charity and loyalty.
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 63
The new corn comes out of the old fields, and new lessons
may always be learned by turning our e^'es again upon the
past. Let us again revive
''The memory of what has been
But never more will be."
Every institution is the lengthened shadow of some great
man who has passed away. Our people have been led to great-
ness by the hand of liberty.
The war was the penalty of a great wrong. Individuals
sometimes escape punishment in this world;, because death
claims them before the day of retribution comes. But not so
with nations — they cannot escape. The wrong of slavery re-
quired atonement, and severe, indeed, was the punishment that
was meted out.
The men who fought against us recognized their first alle-
giance as due to their States, and the soldier of the Union with
a broader view felt that his country was the whole Union. The
war destroyed slavery and again restored the old sentiment of
Patrick Henry when he said : "I am no longer a mere Virginian,
I am an American."
We could not partition this Union. We could not divide the
Mississippi. Bunker Hill and Yorktown were the heritage of
the whole people.
We could not divide Yankee Doodle, nor could we distribute
among the dismembered States the tiag of our forefathers.
When the war began in 1861 we were twenty-six millions of
freemen and four millions of slaves. In 1897 we are seventy-
millions, and all freemen.
When the body of Jefferson Davis was disinterred and re-
moved to Richmond, the funeral train was witnessed by thou-
sands as it passed through many States upon its long and final
journey, but no slave looked upon that procession.
As I glance over this splendid audience here to-day I cannot
^4 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
help but feel that a country filled with such people is worth
fighting: for, and. if need be, worth djing for.
Kinsman died thirty-four years ago, but his name lingers
upon all our tongues. Crocker passed to the great beyond
later, but his name is still upon all our lips. The preservation
of such a country is worth all that it cost in treasure, blood and
tears.
There must be an appearance of right in everything to keep
wrong in countenance, and our brothers of the Sontl: fought for
their opinions with a zeal and earnestness that no men could
have shown had they not felt that their cause was just. It is
to-day the most pleasing of all things to hear on.? of tliese meii
say, "I now see that the result was for the best. I am glad
that slavery has disappeared." Even Jefferson Davis in his
history attempts to prove that the cause of the war was not
slavery but the tariff. The day of peace and reconciliatioa has
come^ and no heart to-day in all this throng be.its with any-
thing but love for all who live under our flag. It is not mere
emotional and meaningless sentimentalism, but brotherly kind-
ness between the sections that were. There are no sections
now.
Two ships may sail in opposite directions, moved by the same
wind. But the course of all our people has now been directed
to the same common goal. We meet in an era of reconciliation.
The Grand Army has no vindictiveness. I will recall the war
to-day, but will not seek to revive any of its bitterness. We
should not forget it, but we should seek to keep alive none of its
animosities.
If I bring back any of its horrors it is to the end that we may
better appreciate peace. We renew the past to shun its errors.
The body of our great commander. Grant, has recently been
enshrined in a new tomb erected by the free will offering of the
people in the greatest city of our land, upon the beautiful Riv-
erside Drive on the banks of the Hudson.
Napoleon lies in state under the gilded dome of the Invalides
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 65
and his mausoleum is full of the inscriptions of his victories
from Lodi to Marengo, from Austerlitz to Pena and Wagram,
and even the abominable carnage of Essling is there commem-
orated.
But the silent commander of the Union army has a more no-
ble inscription than if the names of all his battles had been
there recorded. Over the door are his simple and touching
words,
"Let us have peace."
Grant's victories made peace not only possible but permanent
upon the only sure basis of union. The Potomac joins friendly
States instead of separating hostile nations. It does not form a
bloody boundary as the Tweed so long separated the land of our
ancestors.
Grant should have been buried near Sheridan at Arlington
with no sentinel but the stars, surrounded by the soldiers who
had died under his command. Amid the stir and living bustle
of the great metropolis his solitary grave seems lonely.
His example will live; obstinacy is the sister of constancy,
and he never despaired of the Republic.
On a day like this we all recall such names as Lincoln, Grant,
Sherman and Sheridan, but these names often all embrace our
collective idea of the men whom they led. Their names typify
their private soldiers. Thomas was the "Rock of Chickamau-
gua," because he knew how to command men who were brave
enough to be led.
Buckner complained at Donelson of the demand for "uncondi-
tional surrender" as ungenerous terms. But he found that no
terms were needed in surendering to so generous a foe. Grant
was dangerous in fight, but he was kindness itself in victory.
When Lincoln's dead face was covered by Stanton, the great
war secretary said, "He belongs to the ages." So with all the
dead whom we commemorate to-day. Time mitigates sorrow
and adds to the glory of events.
66 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
Michael Angelo buried his Cupid so that it might pass for an
antique. Now a work of Michael Angelo is as precious as if
made by Phidias himself.
The time of was is now sufficiently remote to be reviewed
without prejudice. Who cares now for the assaults of Junius
upon Lord Mansfield? Dennis made a burden of the life of
Alexander Pope. All we know of him now is that he fretted
Pope, and that his name was Dennis.
Who now heeds the abuse that was heaped upon the head of
the mighty and patient Lincoln?
Eancor is dead with the dead, and malice does not go beyond
the four edges of the grave.
We speak of these men because it is more interesting and pro-
fitable to study the example of an illustrious man than an ab-
stract principle.
When Lord Nelson was signaled to retreat at Copenhagen he
turned the blind eye, that he lost at Calvi, towards the signal
and said that he was unable to make it out, and justified his
disobedience by a great victory.
The people, young and old, are gracious to the soldiers of
every war. Early in the present century a veteran who fought
at Stony Point was indicted for some violation of law. His at-
torney succeeded in getting the fact in evidence that the de-
fendant had distinguished himself in that battle and made good
use of it in his address to the jury. The verdict announced that
"We, the jury, find the defendant not guilty because he fought
at Stony Point." The court refused to receive the verdict in
such a form, and the jury again retired and brought in another
verdict of simple acquittal. But as they were about to retire
the foreman said to the court, ''Your honor, I am directed to say
that it was lucky for the defendant that he fought at Stony
Point.'" The same spirit has always actuated a free people,
When Aaschj^lus was being tried and his life hung in the bal-
ance, his brother stepped forward and drew aside the prisoner's
cloak and showed the stump of the arm that he had lost in the
HISTORY OP WETZEL COUNTY. 67
defence of liis country. The mute appeal was stronger than
any spoken words, and the prisoner went free.
At this time the period we commemorate seems as remote to
the new generation as the battles of ancient Greece and Rome.
We think of the men who fought in the Revolution and the war
of the Rebellion as old. It is hard to realize how young these
men were.
I occasionally go into the museum of the dead letter office at
Washington and look over the album of war photographs which
were taken from the unclaimed letters of that day. The young
features of those soldiers look out from the past as a revelation.
The sight of the kind and boyish faces from the school and farm,
the shop or the store, and the new readj-made, misfit uniforms
in which they were clad carried me back to the days when as a
boy I went to the front with comrades such as these. Two
brothers sitting side by side in their army clothing, sent their
picture to their friends, but in vain.
A young sergeant standing by the side of his little sister is
among these lost photographs, and the fresh young face and
curls of the girl of thirty-five years ago would make us think
that one of our own daughters had sat for the picture, were it
not for the fact that she is clad in the fashions of another gen-
eration.
Another young private and a lady who is evidently his wife
look out from the dead past in this album in the museum ; and
for hours you may gaze and find the youthful eyes of the boys
of 1861 again looking at you. But we glance in the glass as we
pass out and may well say :
"Time has stolen a march on me.
And made me old unawares."
We may take an invoice of our gains and losses but our years
never decrease.
When invited by Kinsman and Crocker Posts to address you
on this occasion I was about to take a few days' journey
68 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
througli the battle fields of Virginia. These once horrid scenes
are now as placid as the prairies of our own loved and beauti-
ful Iowa, save where the earthworks remain as monuments of
the past. Peace covers over the field with living green, and
seeks to obliterate even the memories of blood.
In all ages a lion and a mound have thought to be a proper
memorial for one of these historic battlefields.
The Greeks at Cheronea twenty-two hundred years ago mark-
ed that fatal scene with a mound over the graves of their dead
and surmounted it with a lion, the broken remains of which are
there at this day.
Where Napoleon's old guard died at Waterloo is a gigantic
mound two hundred feet high and surmounted by the great Bel-
gian lion, cast from captured cannon.
When I visited that spot a few years ago the straw of a dove's
nest hung from the lips of the lion and peace had taken posses-
sion of the very symbol of war. At Cheronea a traveler says he
found the honey of a wild bee in the mouth of the broken statue,
as Sampson found the honey in the carcass of a dead lion in
days of old.
We are strong enough to preach and practice the gospel of
peace and arbitration. Speed the day when the prophesy of
Isaiah may be fulfilled:
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard
shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and
the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
''And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall
lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
"And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp; and
the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den.
"They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for
the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the wa-
ters cover the sea."
So in the once hostile and bloodv fields of Virginia all now is
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 69
peace, but the scarred bosom of the earth still tells the story of
1861 to 1865.
Perhaps it would interest the young people as well as the old
soldiers to hear some brief description of these well known
scenes.
The soldier of the west by such a visit will better realize the
heroism of his comrade in arms in the eastern armies. No one
can look over the scene of the conflicts in Virginia without ac-
cording to our comrades of that anny the full mead of praise
which brothers should always award to the achievements of
each other.
As a crow flies it is only ]20 miles from Bull Run to Appo-
mattox. Measured in time it was a. journey of nearly four
years.
Measured in blood and tears it was a thousand years.
The journey was by various and devious routes; through mud
and mire, through sunshine and through storm, through sum-
mer heats and winter snows, through dangers by flood and flre,
through dangers by stream and wood, through sickness and sor-
row; and by the wayside death always stalked grimly and
claimed his own.
Twice did Bull Run witness the defeat of the cause of the
National Union. It was indeed a fatal field to the federal
army. When we approached that historic spot from Manassas
Junction we met a large number of negro children on the road
in holiday attire going to the "breaking up of school."
Had Appomattox not closed what Bull Run so disastrously
began there would have been no school for these colored boys
and girls. They were the living evidences of the changes that
were brought about by the fearful journey which the Union
troops traveled before the humiliation of Bull Run was atoned
for by ''peace with honor" at Appomattox. The two hundred
years of enforced ignorance must now be compensated by the
privileges of education.
70 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
President Lincoln came into the Nation's capital in the night
to take the oath of his high office.
Sumter was the scene of the first encounter, but it was at
Bull Run that the greatness of the contest upon which we had
entered first was realized.
The confederates gave this battle the more euphonious name
of Manassas. It was their victory, and they had a right to
name it, but yet in history it will no doubt remain as Bull Run
until the end of time.
In the open field at Henry's farm we were reminded of the
struggle that here tenninated in defeat to the national cause.
Here General Bee was killed, and before he fell he pointed to
General Jackson's brigade and said: "There stands Jackson
like a stone wall,'' and ever after the brigade was called by the
name suggested, and its gallant commander was known as
"Stonewall Jackson."
It is not far to Chancellorsville, where two years later this
confederate fell upon the battle field, and as his life ebbed
aw^ay, munnured, "Let us cross over the river and rest under
the shade of the trees." The spot at Chancellorsville is marked
with a granite monument, and the confederate soldier, Captain
Talioferro, who pointed it out to me with tears in his eyes: "I
loved that man. I was wounded four times while I w^as under
his command. I mourned his death then, but I see it all now.
It is all for the best. If he had lived the Union could not have
been restored. It is better as it is.'' Whilst I do not believe
that one man, however great, could have made the success of
the rebellion sure, 3'et it is true, not excepting Lee himself,
there w^as no man whose life was so vital to the rebel cause as
that of Stonewall Jackson.
But to return to Bull Run battle field. Standing where Jack-
son was wounded, the Henry house is near by. An old lady,
Mrs. Henry, was in that house when the first battle began.
She was bed-ridden, and eighth-five years of age. No one
thought there would be a battle there, but supposed it would
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. ' <0
At Richmond the marks of war abound, and the approaches
and defences are still shown b}^ trenches and parapets.
In all these Yirjiinia battle-grounds the pits showing the
empty graves of soldiers whose remains had been transferred to
some national cemetery are to be seen on every hand as a hor-
rid reminder of the past.
Petersburg, with its ten months siege, invited our careful at-
tention, and the remains of the ghastly crater where so many
men, white and black, were slaughtered as Ihcy huddled to
gether in the deep hole, from which they could neither advance
nor retreat.
At Spottsylvania we met a party of Virginia school girls who
had come twenty-five or thirty miles to see the famous region,
and they were looking at the fine monument built by the Sixth
Corps to commemorate the death of Segwick, their commander
general. We told them that we were going on to Appomattox,
and they said they were glad the war was over, but that they
could not bear to think of looking at Appomattox.
Staying over night at a hospitable home near the Wilderness,
we were entertained with accounts of dark days of the war.
One lady told us with some of the old tone of remonstrance how
the Yankees drove away her cattle against her indignant pro-
test.
An old confederate who joined in the conversation said their
soldiers were much more considerate and honest, for when they
went to Gett^^sburg they paid or offered to pay for everything —
in confederate money.
But let us hasten on to the end where peace spreads her
wings again^ where Grant gave back to Lee's army their cav-
alry and artillery horses to use in plowing the neglected fields
of the South. He treated them as our countrymen and then
and there laid deep the foundation of respect and confidence
that, let us fondly hope, will grow stronger and more cemented
with the coming years.
76 ' HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
Now and then some discordant bray is heard in the general
peace, and some one not particularly noted in the war seems
ready to fight it all over again now after it has passed into his-
tory. But fortunately this sentiment is small and growiiigless
and less.
In the last congress a fire eating congressman wanted to try
it on again, and announced that he was ready to renew the con-
test on a moment's notice, when one of my confederate friends
came over to me and, rolling up his sleeve, said: "Do you see
that saber cut?" Turning his face he then showed me a bullet
scar near his ear and said: "I have two more of these memen-
toes on my left leg, and I have got through with my part of it,
and the gentleman now speaking may fight it out alone next
time, as he did not do much of it when he had the chance."
The Appomattox field is marked with tablets, so that in a
visit there you may know when you are standing upon the exact
spot where one of the great events of that memorable scene oc-
curred.
Speculative vandalism has done its work and the Surrender
House has been torn down and the brick and lumber mariced
and piled up ready for removal to some other place, there to be
again set up as a show house to be exhibited for gain.
But the memories of Appomattox cannot thus be removed.
The house at some distant city would be out of place. Appo-
mattox Mountain could not be seen from its doors. Here a
marker shows where Grant and Lee met; there another where
the famous apple tree once stood; another where Grant set up
his headquarters for the last time in the presence of an armed
foe; here Lee read his last orders to his troops as they massed
around him; and most interesting of all, here is marked the
place where the hostile arms were stacked to be used no more
against brethren forever.
Best of all there is no great charn^' house at Appomattox.
Nineteen graves show that the confederate armies gathered
their dead together there, and in doing so they found one skele-
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 77
ton in blue that by oversight had not been removed to a distant
national cemetery, and this Union soldier now lies buried side
by side in the little cemetery of the confederate dead, and his
grave is annually decorated with those of the men with whom
he died on this historic field.
As we turn from the scene where the curtain rang down thir-
ty-two years ago upon the final act of the greatest drama, the
world has ever seen, the full moon rose and soon
"The woods were asleep and the stars were awake,"
and only the note of the whip-poor-will dusturbed the solemn
silence.
In looking around to-day over this assembly we mourn more
and more the friends of our youth. Where are our comrades of
1861? Where are those who broke ranks with us in 1865? W^e
meet some of them here today, grizzled and gray^, and with
young hearts yet, but alas, how many have fallen out by the
way!
We miss and mourn them,
"And the stately ships go on
To their haven under the hill.
But, O for the touch of a vanished hand.
And the sound of a voice that is still.
Break, break, break.
At the foot of thy crags, oh Sea —
But the tender grace of a day that is dead
Will never come back to me."
JONATHAN P. DOLLIVER.
J. p. Dolliver was born near Kingwood, Preston county, Va.,
now West Virginia, February 6, 1858. In 1875 he graduated
from the West Virginia University at Morgantown. Tn 185-4 he
came to New Martinsville, Wetzel county, West Vir-
ginia, with his father, who was the first preacher
that ever preached in a church at New Martinsville,
and to his work and energy the building of the old
M. E. church i*^. due. His name will ever live to riie members
of that church. Mr. Dol^iier was admitted to the bar in 1878,
but never held any political office until elected as a Republican
to the Fifty-first Congress as a representative from the Tenth
Congressional district, and was elected again to the Fifty-sec-
ond, Fifty-third, Fifty-fourth, Fifty-fifth and Fifty-sixth Con-
gress. On July 22, 1900, he was appointed Senator to fill the
unexpired term of Hon. J. H. Gear, deceased, and took his seat
in the United States Senate December 3, 1900, which office he
still holds. He is living in Iowa near the same locality as
Hon. J. F. Lacey^ another Wetzel county boy.
SENATOR J. P. DOLLIVER,
Senator from Iowa.
THE
NEW YORK ^,
.PUBLIC LIBRARY,.]
Astor, Lenox and Tiiden
Foun ■'■■ s.
c~ 1903
l\
'i
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 83
Ms own interests to serve a friend, and disliked to distress
those who became indebted to him; so that, where others
would have become wealthy, he remained comparatively poor.
His family^ however, have a far richer legacy in the unsullied
character he sustained, and in the blessing of those ''who had
reaped his fields and whose wages he kept not back."
Coming here when this county was a wilderneiss, he lived
to see a radical change in the character and appearance of the
Ohio Valley, and in the manners and character of the popu-
lation.
The judgment of the world in regard to a man's character,
while he is living, is apt to be too harsh — his faults are magni-
fied and his virtues overlooked; but when he is dead, the re-
verse is the case, and it is his faults which are forgotten and
his virtues that are magnified. ''The good we do lives after,"
and "the grave covers every fault and extinguishes every re-
sentment." The verdict in the latter case may be much too
mild and in the former it is too harsh; but of the subject of this
sketch it can truthfully be said that he was a good citizen, an
accommodating neighbor, an honest officer, a warm, faithiul
friend, a kind and affectionate husband and father; and if this
does not include all his virtues, they are comprised in that
other term to which he was so justly entitled, that of a "true
Christian gentleman," and the world is better and happier be-
cause of his life.
EBENEZER CLARK.
Ebenezer Clark was born on Wheeling Creek, in Washing-
ton county, Pennsylvania, May 4th, 1802, and died at his home
in the county of W^etzel, August 30th, 1878.
Perhaps no man was so long and so prominently identified
with the history of the county with which we deal in this vol-
ume as the subject of the present sketch. When but an infant
his father removed to the Scioto Valley, Ohio, afterwards go-
ing further West; but the boy, Ebenezer, then thirteen years of
age, came to West Virginia, living with his mother's people in
Marshall county. In early manhood he married and settled
near Fanlight, in Wetzel (then Tyler) county^ on what is now
known as Clark's Ridge. Here the remainder of his life was
passed.
Mr. Clark was one of the largest land owners in the county,
and managed extensive business affairs with rare good judg-
ment; but he was a public spirited man who was never so busy
that he could not find time to devote to public affairs. For a
generation, perhaps, he officiated as Justice of the Peace, under
the old regime, when men served faithfully for honor and not
for profit. Nature had given him a legal mind, and he easily
grasped complicated cases, going unerringly to the heart of the
controvers3\ In addition to this, few men in similar positions
have attained as honorable distinction as a peacemaker. Count-
less controversies were brought to an end without litigation
through his discreet advice and counsel, the universal confi-
dence of the community in his integrity and sound judgment
enabling him to make this most enviable record.
Pefore Wetzel county had come into being, Mr. Clark served
as a member of the County Court of Tyler county; and for four
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 85
years he was Sheriff of Wetzel, also serving his constituency
faithfully at Richmond as a member of the Legislature of Vir-
ginia. Through his influence in that body a bill was passed
providing for a turnpike road from New Martinsville to Bur-
ton. If carried through, this would have largely influenced the
development of the county; but the project was defeated,
through the jealousy of local politicians.
Mr. Clark's first wife was Harriet Anderson, and among
their children are Josephus Clark, C. E. Clark, and Friend E.
Clark, prominent citizens of Wetzel at the present time. His
second wife was Mary Richmond, who, with their children, now
resides in the State of Missouri.
The following was written of Mr. Clark at the time of his
death by Robert MpEldowney: 'Tor almost fifty years he has
been a prominent and influential citizen, and has left during
all this period of public life not a blot on his fair name. In
politics Mr. Clark was a Democrat of the old school, and in
religion an old fashioned Methodist, Avho believed in experi-
mental religion and was not afraid to say so. He was a promi-
nent member of the Church for a half century and was for a
generation a local preacher. He was a man hospitable and
generous, fond of the truth and fearless in its defense and in
the support of what he believed to be right. He was such a
man as, take him all in all, we may not look upon his like
again."
He was a strong man and a sincere Christian, whose memory
is a benediction. His life brings to mind the lesson enforced
by the greatest preacher of the nineteenth century : "Value the
ends of life more than its means; watch ever for the soul of
good in things evil, and the soul of truth in things false, and
beside the richer influence that will flow out from your life on
all to whom you minister, you will do something to help the
solution of that unsolved problem of the human mind and
heart, the reconciliation of hearty tolerance with strong posi-
tive belief." ,
ISAAC SMITH.
One of the most remarkable men in the history of West
Virginia is Isaac Smith. At his death he was the oldest man
in West Virginia, and probably the Southern States. He was
born at Williamsport, Washington county, Pennsylvania, in
the year of 1789, and lived to be 109 years old, which was but a
few years back. He was a man of simple nature, kind, strong
and always industrious. He lived until his death in Proctor
Hollow, a ravine of five miles in length, running east and west
through Wetzel county, in a small log cabin^ about two miles
from Proctor Station, on the Ohio River R. R. He erected the
building with his own hands when he came to West Virginia
with his family, sixty-nine years before his death. Then the
country was a wide forest, with only a few families scattered
here and there over the country. His nearest neighbor was a
man by the name of Hogan, who resided with his family five
miles further up the run.
Some of the older residents who remember him when he was
forty to fifty years of age, say he could lift a barrel of whisky
and drink out of the bunghole, and that he has often picked up
two barrels of salt set one upon the other at a single lift. But
of these things Mr. Smith never boasted. He had a smile for
everyone and enjoyed a good joke as well as any person. He
followed the occupation of keel boating on the. Monongahela
river until he was forty years of age, when he sold out his pro-
perty and moved to West Virginia. When he settled at Proc-
tor there were few if any Indians remaining, and the only thing
to be feared was from wild animals, catamounts, wild cats and
a few wolves. There was also plenty of wild game. Mr.
Smith's father settled at Elizabeth, Pa., in the latter part of
ISAAC SMITH.
109 Years Old.
I
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 87
the last century. His name was Samuel Smith, and he mar-
ried Sallie Watt, the result of which union was several sons,
among them being the subject of this sketch. Isaac Smith re-
ceived very little education, but learned the trade of keel boat-
ing at an early age, which he followed many years. He mar-
ried Sarah Hutson, and to them were born five sons, Robert,
Charles, Thomas, Samuel and John. Mr. Smith made his home
with his grandson, Albert Anderson, who lives on the old
homestead, where his mother was born and raised.
WILLIAM LITTLE.
William Little settled where Littleton now stands, on Fisli
creek, in tlie year of 1838, when it was a vast wilderness with-
out a solitary being for miles around except that of his wife.
He was born in Fayette county, this State, and for some time
lived in Green county, Pennsylvania. He was justice of the
Peace when this countv was Tvler countv, for sixteen years.
There are only three of the family now living, H. H. Little,
who has been in the ministry for the past thirtj'-five years;
Ruth Lancaster and James K. Little. William Little's bro
ther, Josiah, was captain of artillerv in the Mexican war.
JEREMIAH WILLIAMS.
Jeremiah Williams was one of earliest settlers in this county.
He came to New Martinsville about the year of 1800, and set-
tled on the land now owned by his heirs and situated about two
miles above the town of New Martinsville. He was born in the
year of 1766 and for a while was a Fort Henry soldier. He ob-
tained the title for the land from a man in Monongalia county
(for boot) on a horse trade, he having obtained it from a man
wlio was driven out by the Indians. Mr. Williams witnessed
the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
ROBERT McELDOWNEY, SR.
Robert McEldowne}' was born in Ireland and emigi'ated with
his brother (John) to this country about the rear of 1782^ and
settled on the land about one and a half miles north of the
town of New Martinsville, and now owned by ^h: B. F. Bridge-
man, in the year of 1804, having lived for a while at Buckhill
Bottom, Ohio. His brother settled in Maryland, where his de-
scendants still live. Mr. McEldowney died in a carriage. He
was very feeble at the presidential election of 1844, and desir-
ing to vote for Jamese K. Polk, a carriage was sent after him,
and after getting in the carriage he suddenly died and w'as
buried in Williams' Cemetery, w^here his wife, Hannah Yanda-
ver McEldownev was buried.
H. K. THOMPSON,
Clerk of the County Court.
I PUBLIC
V ^stor, Lenox ard Tiiden//
Forr ■ '
1903
JUDGE THOMAS I. STEALEY.
In the History of Wetzel county, Judge Stealey should not be
forgotten for the part which he took in the proceedings prelimi-
nary to the formation of the county by the act of the legislature
of Virginia. The continued agitation of the re-location of the
county seat of Tyler county from Middlebourne to Sistersville.
caused the citizens of Middlebourne to take such a course as
would put at rest the vexatious question and to that end the
father of Judge Stealey, James Stealey, long since deceased^ in
connection with other citizens of Tyler county, held a meeting
in the law office of J. M. Stevenson (then residing at Middle
bourne), but subsequently an honored citizen of the city of
Parkersburg, who at the election for president in 1844 was an
elector on the Whig ticket, bearing the name at its head of the
distinguished American Statesman, Henry Clay, the author of
the protection tariff of 1845 and the compromise bill
of 1853. This is not wholly a digression, for strange as it
may seem, it was a wise act of strategy politically to hold
a meeting in the office of a leading Whig such as was James M.
Stevenson. It was intended at that time to nominate a Demo-
crat as a candidate for the election to the Virginia Leg-
islature. I\ W. Martin, according to the Democratic
party usage, was entitled at that time to the nomination
for the office, but there had been local dissentions in the ranks
of the party which made it unwise to select a man from that
part of Tyler county in the person of P. M. Martin, a staunch
Democrat of the Jetfersonian style, to be the candidate, and
the friends of the measure, to divide Tyler county by making a
new county (Wetzel), by a line striking off all of the northern
92 HISTORY OF WETZEL COL'NTY.
portion of Tyler county for that purpose, and thus get rid of
that part of the territory of the county that was in favor of the
re-location of the county seat, it became necessary to secure a
delegate who would advocate the new county in the legislature,
and James G. West, of the northern portion of the county, was
selected by James Stealey, James M. Stevenson, and Joseph
McCoy, two Whigs, and the last named a Democrat. A com-
mittee appointed to select a delegate by the Democratic meet-
ing held in the law office of a leading Whig, after the nomina-
tion of James G. West by James M. Stevenson and James
Stealey, two Whigs, and Joseph McCoy, a Democrat. Judge
Stealey, then only fifteen years of age, was directed by said
nominating committee to prepare the notice required by law to
secure the formation of a new county, which was promptly
prepared and posted by him at many prominent places in the
county as required by law. After years the people of Wetzel
county remembered favorably the part taken by him in the
formation of the county by giving him a majority of 1,200 votes
over his opponent, the late distinguished Judge C. J. Stewart,
for the office of Judge in the Fourth Judicial Circuit, com-
posed of the counties of Wetzel, Tyler, Doddridge and Kitchie,
which position Judge Stealey held for a term of eight years,
discharging the duties thereof faithfully and with ability and
honor. Judge Stealey moved from New Martinsville in the
year 1889 to the city of Parkersburg, where he has since re-
sided, engaging in the practice of law with great success, and
having accumulated a sufficient competency to live a quiet
life, he retired from the practice of his profession in 1898 and
is yet living at the age of 72, the picture of health and content-
ment, devoting much of his time to the study of the advanced
problems of science, history and economies.
OLD WETZEL COUNTY COURT HOUSE,
New Martinsville.
FORMATION OF WETZEL COUNTY.
Wetzel count}' was formed in 1840 from Tyler, by an act of
the Assembly of Virginia; was named from Louis Wetzel^ a
distinguished frontiersman and Indian scout (see Louis Wet-
zelj. The first session of court was held in April, 1840, in the
house then owned by Sampson Thistle, which was designated
for the place by the legislature. It was situated on the corner
of Main and Jefferson streets, and is now the property of Otto
Soland. The officers of the court were Joseph L. Fry, judge;
Friend Cox, clerk of the Circuit Court; Pressley Martin, clerk
of the County Court; Edward Moore, crier of the court; James
Snodgrass, attorney for commonwealth; Lewis Williams, sur
veyor. The justices were P. M. Martin, P. Martin, B. F. Mar
tin, Wm. Anderson, P. Witten, F. E. Williams, Owen Witten
Andrew McEldowney, Samuel McEldowney, Hezekiah Alley
E. W. Cox. James Paden^ Daniel xVnderson, James Morgan
Henry Garner, J. V. Camp, Wm. Sharpneck and Stephen Car
ney. Wm. Sharpneck, being the oldest justice, was made
sheriff. At each term of the County Court, three justices
acted as commissioners of the County Court. The first to act
were B. F. Martin, P. M. Martin, P. Martin, Wm. Anderson and
P. Witten, with P. Martin as president. The deputy sheriffs
were Charles McCoy and Archibald Thistle; the commissioners
of revenue were Thomas Snodgrass, Sampson Thistle, Wm.
Little, Ebenezer Payne, James G, W^est, Ebenezer Clark, Heze-
kiah Joliff'e, James Kuckman, Isaac E, Haskinson^ Wm. An-
derson, John Alley, John Klepstein and Jacob Talkingtou, On
April 7th, 184G, J. W. Stephens, C. W. Clark, W. J. Boreman,
K. W. Lock, J. R. Morris, F. W. McConaughy, I. W. Horner,
James Snodgrass, G. W. Thompson and Thomas Jones were
94 HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY.
permitted to practice law in the courts. On May 4tli of the
same year, Isaac Hoge, J. Morris and Abraham Samuels were
permitted to practice law before the court. The house of
Sampson Thistle was bought for |400, and R. W. Cox and B. F.
Martin appointed to see that the court house was properly re-
paired, and to superintend the building of a jail. In 1848 the
county had sufficient funds in the treasury to build a new
court house, which they did, but it was not completed until
the year of 1852. The ground where the court house and jail
were built was donated by Sampson Thistle and Pressley Mar-
tin, and when the court house was completed it was pro-
nounced one of the best houses of its kind in the State.
Court was held in the building until 1900. The building was
beginning to look shabby', it was behind the times, and was
very inconvenient, and the county court, which consisted of
-James Joliffe, John De Bolt and Abe Fair gave the contract
for the erection of a new building, which will cost about |100,-
000 when completed. The first grand jury appointed by Sheriff
Sharpneck were John M. Lacey, foreman; Absalom Postlewait,
Frances Hindman, Archiles Morgan, Hiram J. Morgan, James
Cochran, Caleb Headlee, J. Van Camp, Jeremiah Williams,
Thomas Stiel, Richard Postlethwait, Joseph Wood, Robert
Leap, Zadoc L. Springer, Andrew Workman, John Roberts, Ja-
cob Rice, Jacob McCloud, and Wm. Little. The first indict-
ment brought against a person was the commonwealth against
Elisha McCormick, for assault and battery. Vtm. McDonald,
a native of Cork^ was the first man to be naturalized. The
first trial before the County Court was the Commonwealth vs.
Holden Cooper, upon his recognizance for a felony. The first
estate settled in this county was the estate of C. B. Pitcher, of
which J. C. Pitcher was administrator, and Friend Cox, Press-
ley Martin and B. F. Martin were appraisers. The estate
amounted to |207.05.
On May 31, 1861, delegates from twenty-five counties in
Virginin assembled at Wheeling and determined That they
W. F. SHUMAN,
Commissioner of the Countv Court.
HISTORY OP WETZEL COUNTY. 95
would not take part in the war against the ( 'iiiou with<iut the
will of the people. The delegates from Wetzel «;oiiiit.y were
Elijah Morgan, T. E. Williams, Josephus Mui^)hy, Wm. J3 ar-
rows, B. T. Bowers, J. K. Read, J. M. Bell, Jacob Young,
Reuben Martin, R. Read, R. S. Sayre, W. D. Walker, Geo. W.
Bier, Thos. McQuown, John Alley, S. Stephens, R. W. Laiick.
John McCaskey, Richard Cook, Andrew McEldowney and B.
Van Camp. The next convention was held June 11 of the
same year. The members of this convention being elected, the
others being appointed. The State was represented by thirty
counties this time. At this convention Wetzel county sent
James G. West, Reuben Martin and B. J. Ferrell. At this
convention Francis H. Pierpoint was elected the first governor
of the State. The third convention was held November 20 of
the same jear, for the purpose of reorganizing the goverument.
The delegate from Wetzel county was R. W. Lauck, Another
convention was held two years later, in 1863, at Charleston. It
was under the new constitution. Septimius Hall was elected.
Officers of Wetzel county from the formation down to the
present time:
Sheriffs — Wm. Sharpneck, Edwin Moore, Wm. Anderson,
Josephus Clark, Levi Shuman, A. P. Brookover, W. M. Brook-
over, John Stender, B. B. Postlethwait, John Stender, J. N.
Wyatt, James Pyles and Alex Hart.
Clerks of the County Court — Pressley Martin, J. W. New-
man, Friend Cox, Z. S. Springer, J. D. Ewing, Z. S. Springer,
H. E. Robinson, John C. McEldowney, the latter serving twen-
ty-six years, having been appointed for two years, and Henry
Thompson.
Clerks of the Circuit Court — Friend Cox, John C. McEl-
downey, J. W. Neewman and John Kauft'man, Mr. Newman
having served eighteen years.
Prosecuting Attorney — James Snodgrass, L. S. Hall, R. W.
Leuck, W^m. Guthrie, George Boyd, L. S. Hall, M. R. Crouse,
W. S. Wiley, M. R. Morris and E. L. Robinson.
COL. ROBERT McELDOWNEY.
Eobert McEldowney, of whom we present a fair likeness,
was one of the most widely known editors in the State. He
was editor of the Wetzel Democrat and his writings were often
quoted by some of the leading journals of the State. He was
often referred to as the Bill Nye of West Virginia. He was
born in 1837, at New Martinsville, and atended the schools at
that place, later going to the Moundsville Academy and the
Marietta College, but before graduating at Marietta he enlisted
as a private in the Southern army and was later commissioned
captain, commanding the Twenty-seventh Stonewall Brigade,
being twice wounded. He served until the close of the war.
At the battle of Gettysburg he took charge of the wing of the
army in which a general was killed, and led a part of the whole
army at that place. He was the first teacher appointed by the
board of education in Magnolia district. He was a member
of the Legislature and was one of the delegates to the National
convention that nominated Hancock for president. The last
years of his life were passed in sufferings that were untold,
and on he diedwith cancer of the tongue.
Thus ended a life of usefulness, which was shortened by that
dread affliction.
COL. ROBERT McELDOWNEY.
..' YORK \>
CAPT. JOHN McCASKEY.
Captain McCaskey was born in Steubenville, Ohio, February
19, 1834. When a boy he came with his parents to New Mar-
tinsville and continued to reside there until the war, when he
enlisted in the army, and was electd first lieutenant in Com-
I>auy C, Fifteenth West Virginia. He was afterwards pro-
moted to captain and commanded Company C in some of the
hardest fought battles of the war. After he returned from the
war in 18G2, he was appointed Justice of the Peace, which of-
fice he held until his death. He was also receiver of both
county and circuit courts. At one time he held the office of
mayor of New Martinsville for a number of terms. While in
the army he contracted pulmonary consumption, which caused
his death, dying September 22, 1882.
ELIJAH MORGAN.
Elijah Morgan was born in Green district, Wetzel county,
in the rear of 1840. He was a delegate to the constitutional
convention that determined that they would not take ;i.ims
against the Union. He then enlisted in 1861 in Company H,
First West Virginia Infantry, and remained in the army until
the close of the war, taking part in some of the most important
battles, and the last battle of Bull Run. He was not in the
regiment long until he was commissioned sergeant. He was a
grandson of Morgan Morgan, whose name has been frequently
mentioned in this book.
/ NEW v
PUBLie.UBRARY,y|
ALEX. HART,
Sheriff of Wetzel County.
CAPT. BASIL T. BOWERS.
Basil T. Bowers was born in Cuyahoga countj, O., in the year
of 1837. In the year of 18G1 he came to Wetzel county with the
intention of studying law at that place. At this time the civil
war was coming on and there was very little business for law-
vers. Earlv in May of the same year he obtained authority to
enlist volunteers for service in the United States army, and
enlisted the first volunteers from Wetzel and Tyler counties,
then Virginia. In Wetzel he enlisted George Dillon. Sam ^Ic-
Collough, Wm. Branford, C. Frankhouser, John Fouler, Henry
Gehring^ Felix Hill, David Kirkland, Leonard Koberts, James
A. Robinson, and others. In Tyler he enlisted J. B. Smith,
Fred Garrison, Samuel Spencer, Wm. Gorrell, James Fardyce,
(who was probably the first Union soldier enlisted in Tyler
county), Jackson Jounkins, R. D. Kelch, Marion Moore, Hiram
White, James M. Kay, Peter D. Moore, Jacob Ritchie and oth-
ers. These volunteers formed a part of Company E, Second
regiment of Virginia volunteers, and were mustered into the
United States service June, 1861, at Camp Carlisle, at Wheel-
ing. Captain Bowers served in the United States army from
1861 until 1865, when he was mustered out at Brazos Santiago^
Texas. After the war he returned to Wetzel county, where he
has made his home ever since, engaged in his profession.
CAPT. FRIEND CLAY COX.
Wetzel county has produced no more knightly son or finer
gentleman than Friend C. Oox, and this volume would be in-
complete without a loving tribute to his memory.
Friend C. Cox was the son of Friend Cox, a sketch of whose
life we publish^ and Susan Thistle Cox, his wife, and was born
April 21st, 1844, The stirring events leading to the civil war
between the States, which so profoundly stirred men's souls,
made a man out of the boy of sixteen or seventeen, whose un-
usually handsome face and person and brilliant mind had al-
ready made him a leading figure in the life of both New Mar-
tinsville and the county. His influence had been felt in local
politics, and the campaign of 1860 found him making ringing
speeches for Breckenridge & Lane. Those were stirring days
in Wetzel, and the outspoken sympathizer with the Southern
cause soon heard rumors that his arrest had been planned by
zealous Federal partisans, whose active efforts sent many em-
bryo Confederates to Camp Chase and similar safe retreats.
But the activities of young Friend Cox were not to thus be
confied. He promptly left home, telling his mother he intend-
ed to embark on the lower river, with a relative who owned a
steamer; and, with Robert McEldowney and other brave spir-
its, he made his way to the Confederate lines. He enlisted as
a member of the Shriver Grays, a company organized at Wheel-
ing, and served through the war as a member of the immortal
Stonewall Brigade.
Of Friend Cox, the soldier, we need not speak at length, for
his record is one with that of the invincible battalion, whose
achievements will be studied and analyzed as long as men learn
the art and science of war and find inspiration in the record of
JOHN W. KAUFFMAN,
Clerk of Circuit Court.
THE
NEW YORK \\
PUBLIC LIBRARV
' ^tp^ Lenox and Tilden '/
1903
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 101
heroic deeds. He knew not fear, and one who fought by his
side has said that amid the whistle of bullets and the shriek
of shells he was the genius of battle incarnate; and General
James A. Walker, the last commander of the Brigade, in a re-
cent letter to a personal friend, says of Captain Cox : "He was
as brave as any knight who ever drew sword, and I loved him."
Although the youngest of them all, he attained the highest
rank of any of the sons of New Martinsville who served in the
war. For gallant conduct on the field of battle he, by success-
ive promotions, reached the position of Captain and Adjutant-
General of the Stonewall Brigade, which rank he held at the
time of the surrender. His war record is well epitomized in
the sentence uttered at the time of his death by a leading news-
paper man of West Virginia: ''He bore the reputation of a gal-
lant soldier and a valued officer."
Subsequent to the civil war Captain Cox engaged in business
in Baltimore, St. Louis, and New York City. From the last
named city he returned to his native town to die, having con-
tracted consumption while in the army. His death occurred
on the 26th day of January, 1870.
Handsome, courtly, knightly, loved and admired by his
friends, both men and women, old Wetzel may well be proud
that she produced him, and her younger sons may well emulate
the vigor and intensity with which he met life's problems. This
inadequate tribute can best be classed in the language of one of
his dearest friends: "It is difficult for one who feels his loss as
a personal bereavement, to write fittingly of the dead, much
less to offer consolation to the living; but if gentleness and
kindness^ and courage and generosity, and all the virtues which
make men esteem and love each other, are reckoned in the final
settlement, our Friend will have a part in the first resurrec-
tion."
JUDGE M. H. WILLIS.
Judge M. H. Willis, present Judge of the 4tli Judicial Cir-
cuit, was born near Mole Hill, Ritchie county, W. Va., January
31, 1862. He received a sound English education, and at the
age of sixteen began teaching school, during vacation being
engaged in ordinary farm work. Later he attended the Har-
risville High school, and subsequently the State University at
Morgantown. His education was finished at the Northern In-
diana Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana, where he took a
collegiate course, and was valedictorian of his class of seventy-
six graduates. From this school Mr. Willis was graduated in
1886 with the degree of B. S. Having completed his studies
he resumed teaching in Dakota, and later taught in Wisconsin.
Having chosen law as a profession he in the meantime applied
himself diligently to its study. In 1889 he came to West Un-
ion, and was for three years principal of the WesflUnion gra-
ded schools. For two years he was principle of Fl. Wesley
Academy at Berkeley Springs, W. Va., retaining, however, his
residence in West Union.
Mr. Willis was admitted to the bar in 1890, and since the spring
of 1893 has been actively engaged in the practice of law with
success. His court papers are models of neatness and accu-
racy. As a counselor and adviser he is safe, reliable and con.
servative. He is a clear, thinker, a logical reasoner, and is
regarded as one of the ablest advocates of the Doddridge coun-^
ty bar. Possessing thorough scholarship and an analytical
mind, he closely investigates his cases and rarely forms a
wrong conclusion. As showing the high regard in which he is
held in his profession, it might be mentioned that at a recent
temi of the circuit court of Ritchie countv in the absence of
- ■ ■., „^ . ,^,„. .. 1,;,M ,, ., „ ■■■,-^, -jy.'g-.V.-^ -'
y^^
JUDGE M. H. WILLIS,
Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit of West Virginia.
nbLui ) Lriiu
Foun '
1 903 y
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 103
Judge Freer, he was chosen Special Judge of that court. His
work as such commended itself to the bar and he was highly
complimented by both press and bar for the fairness and accu-
racy of his decisions. In 1900 he was elected Judge of the
Fourth Judicial Circuit, which position he still holds, perform-
ing the duties of said office with ability.
EX-JUDGE T. P. JACOBS.
No man of public life in Wetzel county is better known
throughout the State of West Virginia than is Ex-Judge T. P.
Jacobs, of New Martinsville. As a lawyer, judge and politi-
cian^ he has won distinction and success. He was born near
Cumberland, Allegheny county, Maryland, in 1852, and his
parents came to West Virginia when he was quite young. He
secured his early education in the public and private schools
of the State and graduated from the West Virginia University
at Morgantown . Mr. Jacobs was elected Judge of the Fourth
Judicial Circuit in 1888 as a Republican, which position he held
until 1896. He is still living at New Martinsville, where he
enjoys one of the finest residences in the county, devoting much
of his time to the practice of his profession.
E. L. ROBINSON,
Prosecuting Attorney of Wetzel County.
BANKS OF WETZEL.
THE WETZEL COUNTY BANK.
It commenced business Januar}' 1st, 1890. W. S. Wiley is
president; S. J. Elliott is vice president, and J. E. Bartlett is
cashier. The bank has a capital of 135^,000.00, and surplus of
128,929.30. W. E. Maple is assistant cashier. The directors
are J. E. Bartlett, J. W. Leap, Henry Koontz, R. C. Standiford,
S. J. Elliott, W. S. Wiley and C. C. Eisenbarth.
THE NEW MARTINSVILLE BANK.
It was opened June 1, 1897, with S. R. Martin as president,
and J. W. Alderson as cashier. It has a stock of |25,000.00,
surplus of 112,000.01. S. R. Martin is president; D. H. Cox is
vice president; John A. Mandi is cashier; J. M. Schmied is as-
sistant cashier. The directors are S. R. Martin, D. H. Cox, E.
S. Duerr, F. W. Clark, J. W. Lentz, Wm. Ankrom and Charles
J. Beck.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
Began business the 21st day of March, 1900, with S. B. Hall
as president; F. P. Lowther as vice president and J. Lee Harne
as cashier, who are the present officers. The capital is $50,000.
The directors are S. B. Hall, J. W. Kauffman, H. R. Thompson,
A. E. McCaskey, A. C. Ruby, Robert Morris, R. C. Leap, .F P.
Lowther^ F. F. Morgan, A. T. Fair, Amos Jolilfe, W. M. Garner,
J. R. Parr, Felix Abersold and T. M. Jackson.
SMITHFIELD BANK.
Is located at Smithfield. I. D. Morgan is president and W.
A. Lewis is cashier. The capital stock is |25,000.00.
106 HISTORY OF WEZTEL COUNTY.
BANK OF LITTLETON
Opened June 1st, 1901, with J. A. Connelly as president, and
B. A. Pyles as cashier, and has a capital stock of $25,000.
CHURCHES OF NEW MARTINSVILLE.
METHODIST EnSCOPAL CHURCH.
Meetings of this cliiircli were held many years prior to the
building of the meeting house in the old court house and old
school house. The old building was erected in 1854, under the
pastorate of Rev. J. J. UoHiver, who was succeeded by Rev.
Wm, Williamson. Rev. G. D. Smith is the present incumbent.
A very beautiful church building was erected in 1901 by the
members of the church under the supervision of Rev. Smith,
who is constituted an efficient worker.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH (SOUTH.)
Rev. Gr. B. Page was the pioneer Methodist preacher, who
came here in the year of 1856, and was followed by Rev. C. M.
Sullivan, of the Parkersburg district, who preached occasion-
ally, when he could get off from his other work. After the
meeting of the general conference in New Orleans in the year
of 186G, Rev. R. A. Claughton re-established the church here.
He was succeeded by Rev. E. Kendal. Rev. Gosling is the pre-
sent incumbent.
ST. ANNE'S EPISCOPulL CHURCRH.
This church was organized at New Martinsville in the vear
of 1881, when Rev. A. Buchanan was appointed minister. He
was succeeded by Rev. I. Brittingham. The present minister
is Rev. Burkhardt.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
This church was organized in the year of . . . ., and has con-
108 HISTORY OF WEZTEL COUNTY.
tinued to grow from its organization. Tlie present minister is
Kev. Light.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The Catholic Church was organized in the jear of 1865,
NEWSPAPERS OF WETZEL.
The first paper issued in Wetzel county was issued by Daniel
Lonji^, in 1870, under tlie name of the "Wetzel Independent,"
and published at New Martinsville. In 1872 Mr. Long changed
its name to the Labor Vindicator, and continued its publica-
tion until 1876, when it was suspended. After a short time
the name of the paper was taken up by W. W. Roberts and
published at Hundred, with W. W. Roberts as editor, until
1900, when he died, and the paper is now owned and edited by
his son, C. W. Roberts.
The Wetzel Democrat was issued in 1877 with W. S. Wiley
and Robert McEldowney as editors, and Dan Long as pub-
lisher. The editorial management remained the same until
1900, when Colonel McEldowney died. The paper then came
into the hands of C. C. Westerman, who is the present editor
and publisher.
The Messenger was published at New Martinsville in 1876 by
J. E. Hart. It was afterwards purchased by E. E. Eisenbarth,
with T. P. Jacobs as editor. It was then transferred back to
Hart, who published it under the name of the Wetzel Repub-
lican. The present publishers are Smith & Fitch. The pre-
sent editor is Robert Smith.
The Smithfield Derrick is published at Smithfield. It was
not issued until 1901. Mrs. R. C. Walker is publisher and R. C.
Walker is editor.
The New Martinsville News is a new paper published by a
number of Wetzel county citizens.
THE JENNINGS GANG.
A book was written in 1874 on the Jennings gang, but of
course contains a great deal of fiction, to nialce a boolv of its
size, although it was based on facts; and the writer by many
has been accused of being one of the gang, and it is a fact that
he served two terms in the penitentiary for forgery. Whether
John Jennnigs was the chief of the Jennings gang, as has been
stated, I will leave it to the reader to decide. It is said that he
at one time ordered Jack away from the house, upon which he
was shot upon by him, and merely escaped with his life. They
often had long combats, in which he would beat his father up
wonderfully, and when the old man would get on top of him,
he would hallow that he was killing him. That shows what
an inhuman creature he was, and we shall describe him later
as one of the gang and the most treacherous of their number.
JOHN JENNINGS.
We will first give the life of John Jennings. He was a native
of Monongalia county, W. Va., and at the time of his death
was fifty-two years of age. He bore the reputation of being
an honest man, up to the time of the civil war. When the war
broke out he took very ardent sides with the Union cause,
and denounced with bitterness the principles of secession. He
enlisted in the 15th W. Va. infantry^ and remained in the ser-
vice but six months, when his devotion for his wife and chil-
dren, made him desert his regiment and come home. But he
had no more than got home, when he found that he had been
followed by a military officer, with a company of soldiers. He
succeeded in escaping them. Squads of men were sent, from
time to time, with instructions to arrest him, but he always
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. Ill
succeeded in escaping. He knew the hills of Wetzel county as
well as he knew the hills around the old homestead, and could
easily escape hundreds of men. He also had so many rela-
tions throughout the locality which was searched, that it
was almost impossible to secure his arrest. Owing to the de-
termination of the military authorities to capture him, he was
compelled to abandon the comforts of home, and become a
wanderer, and sleep in the woods, or at the home of a near rel-
ative. Hunted from one place to another by squads of sol-
diery, he began to be looked on by many as an outlaw. When
he was about to be driven into desperation by the home guards
President Lincoln came to his rescue, and issued a pardon to
all deserters, who would come back to their respective regi-
ments. He at once rejoined his regiment, and, it is said, was
treated like a dog by his comrades. They would not speak to
him, only in a commandmg way^ and would make him set his
tent off by itself, when in camp. On the way home, after the
disbandment of the army, he was forcibly seized, and thrown
overboard of the steamer that was carrying them home. He
was then ccm])elled to walk to his destination. He was twice
married, both of his wives being good, respectable women, and
devoted to their husband. His first wife died, it is alleged,
from exposure and fatigue, incurred by her in carrying him
food and clothing while he was a fugitive. After he had been
discharged from the service of the government, he married one
Mrs. Sallie Huff, a woman of good reputation, and of consider-
able intelligence, who was devoted to him during his long and
weary trials. He had by his first wife nine children, five sons
and four daughters. x\ll his sons, except one, who was called
little John, and AMlliam, who was drowned accidentally long
before the gang broke out, were members of the gang, and on
or before that John Jennings was one of our best citizens and
was often selected as a juryman. One of the girls married Al-
fred Spicer, a respectable farmer and good citizen, living in
this county. One of the other girls was less fortunate, eloping
112 HISTORY OF WEZTEL COUNTY.
with a married man. Jennings was a man of energy, courage
and indomitable will, and a man who would sacrifice anything
necessary for a friend, but who would shoot down whom he
considered his enemy as he would a dog. His residence, which
was the headquarters of the gang, was situated in a quiet
place between two streams, Dulin and Big Fishing creek. It
was situated on an isolated piece of ground some distance from
the main road, surrounded with heavy timber and dense under-
brush. The woods contained secret paths, known only to the
members of the gang. If John Jennings was not the chief of
the Jennings gang he harbored them, as most fathers would
have done, when it came to the time of driving them away from
home. It will be impossible to give a life of all of the mem-
bers of the gang, but of those whom were known to be mem-
bers of the gang, we will first give a sketch of Frank Jennings.
FRANK JENNINGS.
One of the most desperate and reckless criminals the State
has ever been cursed with, says Stienmetz, in his sketch of
him. He was a young man not more than twenty-four years
of age. No less than a half dozen, if not more, have been spent
in criminal pursuits. He had little intelligence, and a com-
mon school education. Tall, strong and athletic, of a pleasant
expression; he was as straight as an Indian, and was the most
feared of the gang when a boy. He bore the reputation of a
dare devil, but nothing criminal was imputed by him un-
til the years of 1864-65. He did more criminal business than
did any other member of the gang, with the exception of
Benjamin Barcus. He was in all of the deeds committed by
the gang, but was charged of but one, on which he was sen-
tenced to five years in the penitentiary at Moundsville, but
succeeded in escaping before more than one-half of his term
was out. His daring recklessness was shown on that occasion.
The building of the penitentiary was not completed yet, and
the walls of the same were inclosed by a stockade of two-inch
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 113
plank, sixteen feet high. A sentry box was erected on each
side of the stockade; in each of these a guard was placed, who
was armed with a seven shooter. This stockade, having been
exposed for a number of years, was beginning to decay. On
one occasion a severe rain storm, followed by a violent wind,
was seen approaching, and the guards were beginning to fear
that the stockade would fall down, and that was all that stood
between over one hundred convicts, and many of them fearl(>S!^
desperadoes. These convicts knew that they were to face the
seven shooters, and freedom was their own. As the storm
neared them they gathered in groups discussing plans of es-
cape. All eyes were turned toward Frank Jennings, as their
leader. Not since the death of Woodford L. Crews had the
penitentiary received a more daring criminal than Frank Jen-
nings. He willingly consented, but they must swear to follow
him. He knew that many would, when the trying moment
came, fail. He knew that he could rely upon but a few, if any.
But he told them that as soon as the stockade fell that a rush
must be made, and that no regard must be paid for orders, and
not to pay any attention to their seven-shooters. All consented
and professed eagerness to follow, and congregated under one
of the large sheds in the yard, anxiously waiting the coming
storm. The officers saw the movements of the men and knew
what those movements meant, and stationed all of the men
they could spare at that place. The storm came on and raged
with terrible fury, the rain falling in torrents, and the wind
blowing a perfect gale. The decaying stockade trembled and
swung back and forth, eagerly watched by guards and oftictus
without and by a band of excited convicts within. Yielding to
the force of the tornado, it at last fell with a crash, and the
barrier between them and liberty was down. With a shout, a
rush was made, Frank Jennings at the head of the column.
They were valiently met by the little squad of guards armed
with carbines and ordered to halt and d-esist. Not heeding
their admonitions, they continued to advance and the guards
114 HISTORY OF WEZTEL COUNTY.
were compelled to fire. Every man halted and turned back
save one, and that was Frank Jennings. Running at the top
of his speed, he cleared the fallen timbers at a bound, regard-
less of the shouts and threats of the guards, and though half
a dozen shots were fired at him, he succeeded in effecting his
escape, and in forty-eight hours was received with open arms
at the headquarters of the gang, but he did not remain there,
for he knew that officers would be after him in a few hours.
His confederates had a score of hiding places for him, and he
well knew where he would be safe. In the course of a few-
days two of the officers of the penitentiary came to New Mar-
tinsville and engaged the services of several citizens to aid
them in their efforts to capture Frank Jennings. They waited
patiently until after dark before they made known the nature
of their visit, or before they undertook to solicit the services of
others, thinking that they would succeed in locating his retreat
and capture him without difficulty. Foolish men! Their ar-
rival had been expected long before they left the county seat.
Frank had been informed of the fact, and of their plans and in-
tentions. The spies of the gang were near them, conversing
with them, denouncing the course of Frank Jennings and all
who bore the name, and then they told tales of how much dan-
ger there was in seeking such men; that Coal Run was espe-
cially unsafe; that the villains would be within four feet of the
road, shoot down the officers in the darkness and effect their
escape. So misled, deceived and terrified were they, that they
actuallj^ returned to Moundsville without having accomplished
their object; in fact, without attempting it. So this ended the
chase after Frank Jennings. He remained in the county un-
molested until the death of his father. He did not at all times
keep himself concealed. He was frequently seen oij the Uoolin
road and scores of times escaped from his father's house by se-
cret paths, to the opposite side of the hills, among his friends.
The next thing would be news of his robbing a house or suuu;
other crime. A portion of the time his retreat was in a sm.'iil
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 115
cabin, from which he had an outlook in every direction, with a
subterranean passage of nearly two hundred yards, ending in a
ravine, from which he could escape in any direction. The en-
trance to the underground channel was elTected by raising a
board or plank in the floor, which, after descending, he could
draw after him and securely fasten it to its original position.
Should his foes even succeed in forcing their way into his
cabin, which was impossible without loss of life, for he always
was armed, he could be in the ravine long before they could
discover his way of escape or explore the passage when once
found. He could well adapt himself to his surroundings, and
when necessary could easily put on the mask of hypocrisy iiud
profess religion. None could be more devout than he; none
could shout louder, sing more vigorously, or pray more 'Ear-
nestly, and such feeling addresses — how ungrateful he had
been; but thank God, the scales have fallen from his eyes; he
could now see how good God had been to him, and an liour
later he could have been indulging in quite a ditlerent stx'ain.
He was no doubt the leadei' of the gang, and was always on
the alert.
THOMAS JENNINGS.
There is another of that family in the gang worthy of men-
tion. It is Frank's brother, Thomas Jennings. He was older
than his brother Frank. He became about as notorious as the
other members, but probably his notoriety was to be attri-
buted largely to his connection to the Jennings family, more
than his criminal exploits. Like his father, he was not natu-
rally a criminal, as were his other brothers. He was engaged
in fewer criminal transactions than any other member of the
gang. He was young, not being more than twenty-seven years
of age at the time of his death, which occurred at the peniten-
tiary hospital in 1872. Like his father, he entered the military
service of the United States and deserted therefrom, but un-
like his father, did not return to his regiment at the time of
116 HISTORY OF WEZTEL COUNTY.
Lincoln's proclamation. His most prominent action was in
the shooting of Geo. Forbes, of Wheeling. He had been ar-
rested and tried for grand larceny and sentenced to an impris-
onment in the penitentiary, which term he served. He was
not out of the prison twenty-four hours until he was among his
old confederates in crime, and roamed the country with disrep-
utable females, such as Beck Craig and Mollie Vanhorn, in-
dulging in conduct so disgraceful as to be unfit for publica-
tion. He was again indicted with Rebecca J. Craig upon the
charge of grand larceny, breaking into the house of one George
Alter. For this he was sentenced to five years in the peniten-
tiary. This sentence was terminated by his death, which oc-
curred while there. A fearful epidemic was raging in the pen-
itentiary, to which he fell a victim.
Thomas Jennings was so much like his brother Frank that
there is no use to rewrite his history.
JACKSON JENNINGS.
There is another who was one of the most cruel and inhuman
men that ever stood upon the soil of Wetzel county. His
name is Jackson Jennings, commonly known as Jack Jennings.
He was a brother to Thomas and Frank, and younger than
either. He was the most unscrupulous member of that fam-
ily. Like his brothers, he was ready at any time to commit a
robbery. He was less intelligent than the others, and ecpially
illiterate, without a redeeming trait about him. He was not
capable of planning or carrying out any plan, as was Frank,
without a leader, and it was necessary that he should act in a
secondary capacity. Jack could not play the part of a hypo-
crit, as could Frank. While Frank would never betray a
friend, Jack would for the sake of money, or for the purpose of
escaping punishment. He would betray his best friend. For
female virtue he had no respect whatever. The language that
he has used in the presence of his own sisters and mother dare
not be repeated here. He did not know what the sacred words
HISTORY OP "WETZEL COUNTY. 117
of mother or sister meant. In this respect he was the opposite
of his brother Thomas, and it is pleasant to the writer to bear
this testimony in behalf of the latter. Jack Jennings was hos-
tile toward his father, disliked to acknowledge his authority.
On several occasions he threatened to take his father's life, and
made an assault on him, and it was some time before the
breach between the two was healed. So depraved was he
that his father stood in fear of his personal safety, and on iwo
occasions sought the aid and advice of the authorities, taking
the necessary steps to have him arrested. It was at these times
that people were beginning to think that the old man had
nothing to do with the gang. He frequently stated that lUt
had no control over him ; that he would pay no attention to his
orders or requests; that he would, contrary to parental wishes,
bring to the house disreputable persons for him to lodge and
feed, and that when he ventured to remonstrate the son would
seize a revolver or ritle and threaten to terminate the old man's
existence. He complained bitterly of the conduct of his son
and frequently remarked that he was being accused of harbo"
ing bad men under his roof, when in fact, he was opposed to
such proceedings, and would often warn his son not tt; rej)eat
these offenses, but that he was only threatened with his life.
He comi)lained that it was hard that he should have the enmity
and ill will of his neighbors for acts done by his son. But
enough has been said of the ill-fated family, so I will give a
sketch of the next member of the gang.
BENJAMIN B A ECUS.
Benjamin Barcus was a native of Marshall county. It is
extremely difficult to give the reader a correct and full sketch
of him, says Steinmetz. In his life he managed to make him-
self notorious as a criminal. In early life he was attiicted wirh
klei)tomania, with an equine tendency. He frequently en-
gaged in horse dealing of a ])eculiar nature. He would some-
times be seen traveling through the country as a jieddlcr, sell-
118 HISTORY OF WEZTEL COUNTY.
ing dry goods at rates that wouid havt^ l)t?en ruinous to oidi-
nar.y retail dealers in dry goods, but nor ruinous to him, hav-
ing the good fortune to obtain his stock of goods without giving
any consideration. This was a slow wav to nialvo inoncv in
Ben's eyes, and besides, it required labor io carry his pack
from one house to another. Dealing in counterfeit national
currency was an easy and genteel business, but where could he
get his material? To Ben this was a great difficully. At last
he became acquainted with Frank, and Jack Jeuuings, and
they told him glowing tales of Wetzel, and how many families
were there who had money in their possession, and then the
country stores, filled with dry goods, with no person remain-
ing in the building during the night; how easy to enter and
carry away with them the entire stock. 8uch glowing ac-
counts did he receive of the many golden opportunities Wetzel
afforded such men that he concluded as soon as his time of im-
prisonment expired, to report for duty at the Jennings head-
quarters.
''Upon a warm summer day in the year of 187L', a rather tall
man, with brown hair and beard, gray eyes and an awkward
gait, passed the residence of Nelson Garner and inquired the
way of him to the residence of John Jennings, and received the
desired information." That man was Benjamin Barcus, just
discharged from prison, and then on his way to the headquar-
ters of the Jennings gang. In less than thirty days thereafter
the breaking into of the house of and brutal assault upon John
Burrows, an old disabled citizen, by himself and Jack Jen-
nings, proved how ready he was to begin his inramous work.
Like Frank Jennings he was possessed of a rare line of human
nature and could act the hypocrite to perfection, and was a
power at a meeting. He could shout, sing, pray and exort to
anything that was required in that line, except to the shedding
of tears. He could not quite adapt himself to that. He
served a term out in the Ohio penitentiary^ upon which he was
convicted of a felonv. He has also served two terms out in
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. HO
the West Virginia penitentiary and was pardoned the first
term by Governor Boreman, who was deceived by the repre-
sentations made to him.
MOLLIE VANHOKN.
Mollie Vanhorn, another member of the Jennings gang, has
quite a history, and if published would create quite a sensa-
tion. Her history is still imperfectly known to the people at
large. She was a woman of remarkable beauty and more than
an ordinary share of intelligence, and her connection and acts
with them must be deeply regretted. She was in point of in-
telligence and education the superior of many in the county,
who would not tolerate her presence socially among them.
She was capable of adapting herself to their surroundings.
Her physical beauty was eijualled by few in Wetzel county.
Immorality was her first offense, and, of course, the down-
ward path speedily followed. She was a niece of John .Jen-
nings, being an illegitimate daughter of his sister, Ortha, who
afterward married one Nicholas Cross, a harmless and inof-
fensive man. Most people knew her reputed father, but it
dare not be put in print. She was married to a man by the
name of Vanhorn, who after their marriage entered the mili-
tary service of the United States, and during his absence it
was reported that she was guilty of adultery. Her mother-in-
law witnessing these proceedings, wrote to her son and told
him of her actions, and he immediately disowned her as a wife.
There are people now who are thought to be respectable, and
who have large families, who have spent whole nights with
Mollie Vanhorn. She herself declared that there were those
who claimed to be respectable and deemed themselves aristo-
cratic, who were nevertheless, on very intimate terms with
her, having traveled together in different localities as man and
wife, and afterwards endeavored to effect her capture. At
one time fifty dollars was ottered for her arrest, but she always
escaped the hunting parties. She was arrested with Thomas
120 HISTORY OF WEZTEL COUNTY.
Jennings at the time he was sent for a year to the penitentiary,
but escaped trial. One of the things that always enabled her
to escape trial is that she has been intimate with so many re-
spectable men in Wetzel county, that if she once got on trial
would disgrace them as well as their families. She kept going
downward from time to time. She became as notorious as
her cousins, the Jennings boys. After the breaking up of the
Jennings gang she joined a house of ill fame at Pittsburg.
She W'as married to one Frances Sheppard, a discharged sol-
dier of the Union army. He was so unfortunate as to become
involved in a fight with a German at Hannibal, O., in which
the latter lost his life, and Sheppard was indicted and found
guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to the Ohio penitentiary
for ten years. He was pardoned, and notwithstanding Mollie's
infamous actions, he went back to her and became reconciled,
and lived with her for a long time. The last account the au-
thor had of her whereabouts, was at Sistersville, where she ap-
plied for a place of employment in a respectable family, in
which she was hired, and upon being asked her name, she re-
plied Mollie Vanhorn, She was immediately discharged. Thus
is a life which could have been passed in happiness. ^Yith her
beaut}' and refinement she could have been surrounded with
everything that made life dear, and it was spent in misery and
disgrace. Her last husband^ Frank Sheppard, was not a man
of bad reputation. He was not a member of the Jennings
gang, but a hard working man, whose trouble originated from
intoxication.
CHARLES CANNON.
But little is kpf^vn nf thp next member of the gang, more
than that he was known by the name of Charles Cannon, and
was introduced to different parties by John Jennings as his
nephew. He was convicted in one of the counties of West
Virginia as Charles Willard, of grand larceny. He had a pe-
culiar expression of countenance. He was readv at anv time
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 121
to do anything that was criminal. There was not a crime
known that he was not read}' at any time to commit. He
claimed to have been a soldier in the federal army, and was at
the battle of Pittsburg Landing, but was unable to give his or-
ganization. He was lame in walking, which he claimed was
caused by a bullet shot which he received at the battle of Shi-
loh. He was fortunate enough at an early age to acquire a
common school education, of which he frequently engaged in
reading stories of noted highwaymen, such as Dick Turpin,
Jack Sheppard and others. But little is known of his connec-
tion with the Jennings gang, more than that he was a mem-
ber.
JIM PAKKER.
There is still another member of the gang ^^ho is worthy of
mention. That man was Jim I'arker. This man is more
noted in his connection with the shooting of Mr. Forbes, of
Wheeling. He was j)leasant and agreeable and one whose so-
ciable manner would win the confidence of most anyone.
Even in prison he was cheerful and obeyed prison orders, en-
deavoring to yield a pleasant and implicit obedience to the dis-
cipline of the prison. While serving his second term lie openly
denounced the Jennings boys, and claimed that he was now
sutlering for a crime that was committed by the Jennings
boys, and both Frank and Tom said that he was not guilty.
While the great revival was in progress, the officers were sur-
prised to see such depraved as wretches as Frank Jennings and
Luther Cremeens suddenly become converted. Parker was
strongly urged to join in the movement by those who were
making professions, for the i)urpose of fraud, but he bitterly
denounced thoi>e whom he knew to be hypocrits. Among the
number was Frank Jennings. He accused him of making
those piofessicns for the purpose of making the officers believe
that he was going to do better, and thus escape the {)unish-
meui. he too oiten deserved. These actions on the j.art of Par-
122 HISTORY OF WEZTEL COUNTY.
ker made him lionoiable in the minds of the otTirers and he
gained the sympathr of those wlio came in contact with him.
It was believed bv a number of people throughout ^Yetzel and
adjoining counties that he was innocent of the shooting of
Mr. Forbes, of Wheeling, and Parker said that he believed that
Forbes was honest in making his statement that he was the
man that shot him, and that he could not in the excitement of
such a thing identify his attempted murderer. It is believed
that his connection v,ilh the Jennings gang had more to do
with securing his conviction than Mr. Forbes' testimony.
LUTHER CREMEENS.
The next member of the gang is Luther Cremeens. Cre-
meens was a native of Kanawha county. He was one of the
worst dare-devils that West Virginia has ever ])roduced. Ready
at any time to commit a crime (no matter how bad it was) for
the sake of money. He formed the acquaintance of the Jen-
nings in the West Virginia penitentiary, as did most of the
members of the Jennings. He was convicted in Kanawha
county of manslaughter and sentenced to a term of ten years
in the State penitentiary. His first object when reaching
prison was to discover what opportunities were afforded for
escape, and watched closely, but he had not long to wait. On
the 22nd day of August, 1867, the inmates at that time being
allowed to purchase any luxuries that they were able (o pay
for, and on the morning of that day groups of men were scat-
tered here and there discussing plans of escape. At their
head were J. L. Graham, Chester Crawford and Luther Cre-
meens, and on that morning Graham arose as he had done
numbers of times before and started toward the gate with a
small tin bucket. Knocking on the gate it was opened by the
keeper. Graham then told him that he wanted some milk, on
which the keeper took the bucket and started after it, holding
the bucket in one hand and trying to shut the gate in the other.
At that moment Graham suddenly swung back the gate and
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 123
shouted: "Come on, boys, if you want your liberty!" Out
marched twenty-seven men, who seized the arms of the guards
and compelled them to surrender, and marched in good order
toward the hills, with Liitlnn- Cremeens at their head. For a
long time Cremeens remained at large and what crimes ho
committed during that time are not known. He was again cap-
tured and taken back to prison and succeeded in affecting his
escape in 1808, and it was while he was in the second time that
he became acquainted with the Jennings boys, but he was with
them but a short time when he was again captured and taken
back to prison. He was captured the last time by Thomas H.
Snodgrass.
FRAXK OODDARD.
We will not introduce a new character, well known to the
people, Frank Goddard. None of the Jennings gang was more
despised than he by the ])eople of Wetzel county. He was not
a thief or robber, but a spy, and gave the necessary evidence in
court needed bv the defence in the trials of the Jennings bovs.
He w^ould visit the prosecuting attorney's office and try to find
out the mode of proceedure in tlie capturing of the Jennings
gang, and would often denounce the Jennings boys for the
purpose of securing something that might prove useful to
them. There was a difficulty in proving his connection \Aith
the Jennings gang, but it was evident that he was a member.
It is also evident that he received money for his services, for he
had a family to keep, who were provided for. Yet he never
worked.
REAi^OX OODDARD.
We will now introduce to the reader Frank Goddard's son,
Reason Goddard. This man did little actual service for them.
He was too cowardly and worthless, says Steinmetz, who, if all
reports were true, ought to know. He was one who bore dis-
patches, and, like his father, a spy. His stealing, if any was
124 HISTORY OF WEZTEL COUNTY.
done, was ou his own responsibility, and of a petty order.
There is no use taking np the space in this book speaking of
such a worthless character.
JAMES BEERY.
There is another who should not be overlooked, James Berry.
His house was often visited by the Jennings gang, and was
used by them as one of their headquarters. His home was the
stopping place for disreputable women. It was the headquar-
ters of the notorious Susan Hopkinson. She was the most in-
famous of her sex in the country, and it is to be regretted that
the term of woman can be applied to such a creature. She
was so abandoned and so utterly lost to every sense of the word
that symi>athy was beyond her reach. Among the Jennings
gang she was the almost constant companion of Cannon, and
the whole house of Berry was a rendezvous of a lot of women
whose honor had gone beyond recall, and those who were in-
timate with the members of the Jennings gang, such as Beck
Craig and Mollie Vanhorn. The latter cannot by any ways
be compared with Susan Hopkinson. Though Mollie could
have been respected, it is doubtful if the former could ever
have been. Had it not been for the aid that Berry received
from the gang, he would have hardly been able to support his
family.
REBECCA J. CRAIG.
Another disreputable female who was connected with the
gang was Rebecca J. Craig, familiarly known as Beck Craig.
She was as abandoned as was Susan Hopkinson, but while the
latter escaped indictment for a felony, Beck did not, there being
for a long time on file at the clerk's office an indictment for
grand larceny. She was for a while the constant companion
of Thomas Jennings, and roamed with him night and day,
camping in the woods and preying upon peaceable and unof-
fending citzens and committing crimes more annoying than
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 125
erimiual. Not being; satisfied with operating on so small a
scale they committed a crime more serious, on which both
were indicted, and Thomas convicted and sent to the peniten-
tiary. After his conviction he was succeeded by Frank and
Jack Jennings, while after their conviction, Reason Goddard,
abandoning his wife and children, would accompany her; but
we will now leave her to give a sketch of one who was thought
to be one of the gang.
FREEMAN WHIPKY.
Freeman Whipky, was a brother-in-law to John Jennings.
His principal offense in the eyes of the people was harboring
the gang and securing such information as they might need
He was not recognized by the people as a good citizen. Ho
was addicted to drinking and gambling, harboring women of ill
fame and occasionally made a visit to a near neighbor's smoke
house.
HENRY GODDARD.
There is still another member of the gang of considerable
importance. This was Henry Goddard; whether a relative of
Frank it is not known by the author, but it is probable that he
was. He was a natural born thief, and a man without honor
or conscience. He would steal the last cent from those who
had gained it by charity. His wife was equally as bad. They
would often steal from those who had done them a favor.
They richly deserved the fate so nearly meted out from the
hands of the red men.
There is another member of the gang, who if a description
were given, it would be a repetition of the sketch just given of
Henry Goddard. Jerry Bondine was a neighbor of Henry
Goddard, and between the families, in their low and petty
crimes, it is difficult to find a difference.
There is still another member, and the last we shall mention,
126 HISTORY OF WEZTKL COUNTY,
as there are a number of families through the county who were
rnnnected with the ganjij through f ar, and probably some we
liaA'e mentioned were connected with them with the same ex-
cuse. It may be we have spoken too harshly of them, but we
will now take up the sketch of the last man we shall mention,
FRANK JA(JKSON.
Frank Jackson, alias Burns. Tt is not probable that Burns,
or Jackson, ever had the opportunity of participating in any of
the serious offences committed by the gang. lie was a native
of Virginia (not West Virginia). He was convicted of larceny
and sent to the penitentiary, where he served his time, and was
again sent to the same place and made his escape with Luther
Cremeens. Like the latter, was captured by Thos. H. Shep-
pard and James Sheppard and taken back to prison, where he
remained until not long ago, after which it is thought that he
concluded to seek an honest livelihood.
CRIMES COMMITTED BY THE GANG.
We will not dwell largely upon the crimes committed by the
gang more than to mention them. The first crime known was
the robbing of one Nicholas Hitch, who owned a store in the
place knowm as Stender's. Another outrage committed by the
gang was the shooting of one George Forbes, a cattle dealer,
of Wheeling, in which he was wounded severely and laid for a
long time with the wound he had received. The robbing of
Stephen Howell was ai.other outrage committed by the gang.
The robbing of Lemaster's store, in Tyler county, also the rob-
bing of John Burrows, John Clark, Mr. Grossenbaucher, Mr.
Bucherm, and others too numerous to mention. Nearly all of
the members of the gang had served terms in the penitentiary,
and at one time very ntar all of the gang, yet outrages were
still committed. The people by this time were trying every
way to find means of breaking up the gang, but could accom-
plish nothing. At last a secret organization was formed un-
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 127
der the name of the Redmen, and these men determined to stop
what the law so far had failed to do. Jennings was warned of
the storm that was near by a piece published in the Labor Vin-
dicator, and it was Jennings' own obstinate ways that short-
ened his life. On the night of June 12th, 1S73, while lying in
bed at his home in slumber, and little dreaming that that night
would be his last on earth, he was awakened by a shot, doubt-
less fired at the faithful watch dog, and on looking out beheld
the members of the Redmen, who were more than a score in
number, and their faces painted with red paint. He at once
knew what it meant. He was no coward, but when he thought
of his past life and of the widow and the youngest son, his
limbs began to tremble, but he was going to face death like a
man. He was ordered to surrender. This, of course, he re-
fused to do. He was then commanded to follow them, and
again he refused. An attempt was then made to fasten a rope
around his neck. His wife seeing this, and knowing the mean-
ing, handed him an axe, on which Jennings was shot by one of
the Redmen and fell lifeless to the floor. His wife also receiv-
ed two bullet wounds, though testifying before the coroner's
jury that she did not believe the shots were intended for her.
She afterward remarked that she believed they were. It is the
opinion of the writer that they were not thus intended. The
Jennings gang, Jack and Frank, were in the South the last
time they were heard of, but the other members of the gang
disappeared;, as did the Jennings boys, and not since then, with
but one exception, has there ever been a person unlawfully
hung or shot by a mob.
THE GHOST OF GAMBLE'S RUN.
This article is not based upon superstition, but it is written
to show one of the peculiar cases that has been in the courts,
since the formation of the county. The following sketch was
written bj' D. W. Gamble, who was then but ten years old, but
who remembers the incident very well_, it being revised and cor-
rected by the author.
John Gamble, of whom our story relates, was born in Beaver
county, Pennsylvania, in the year of 1814. He was a house
carpenter by trade, and helped build the second house built in
New Cumberland. In the year of 1850, he moved on the farm
now owned by the D. \V. Skinner heirs, near Sardis Station, on
the West Virginia side. He often engaged in buying up
staves, tanbark and wagon spokes, and carried them down the
Ohio river in flat boats to Cincinnati. The same year he
moved to this county there was a very large crop of apples,
there being two large orchards on the farm he moved on, and
one of the orchards contained crab apples. He went to work,
and with hired help, made a number of barrels of cider, and on
the afternoon of November 12th, same year, it being the thirty-
sixth anniversary of his birth, he started from home in a hurry
for New Martinsville, with a skitf, after barrels to put the rest
of his cider in, but he never returned, for that very night he
was murdered by one Leb Mercer. Now to bring about the
facts of the deed. The writer was about ten years old, at the
time, and well remembers the incident. John Gamble had a
wagon, and sold it to the Whiteman Brothers, who then lived
on what was then the Cox farm, and now the property of the
Short Line Eailroad Company and the heirs of John K. Brown,
and took their note for twenty dollars, and after going to New
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 129
Martinsville, on his return lie stopped at the home of the
Whiteman Brothers, where he asked the boys if they wanted
to cash the note, on which they remarked that they did not.
He put it back in his pocket. John Gamble also dealt in cat-
tle, and some time previous to this occasion, had purchased a
calf from Mercer, on which he paid him all but two dollars.
On meeting him at the home of the Whiteman Brothers, Mer-
cer asked him for the niouey^ upon which Gamble drew from
his pocket a live dollar bill, and asked him if he had change for
that, and Mercer replied that he had not. Mercer then asked
him if that was all he had, and he said no. That he had some-
thing near two hundred dollars. It was now beginning to get
dark, and Gamble started for home, and told Mercer to come to
his house in a few days and he would pay him. Mercer then
stood watching him, and after Gamble had got in his skiff and
pushed it out into the river, Mercer started toward him. That
night he came home about two o'clock, wet and muddy. The
evidence was sorely against him, though he presented the note
that the Whiteman brothers had given to Gamble for pajnuent.
The thing now laid over for a year, and in the fall of 1851 there
was a cornhusking near Point Pleasant ridge, and a number of
people from New Martinsville attended. Among them was
one John Hindman. On their return home they decided to all
go different routes and see who got there first. Hindman
took over the hill, coming over what is now known as Gamble's
run (so named from Gamble), and as he was walking along a
path which was then on the river bank, he saw the form of a
man, who remarked: "I am John Gamble; Leb Mercer killed
me. Take him up and have justice done," and suddenly disap-
peared from view. Hindman being very badly scared, walked
rapidly toward town, and the next morning told what he had
seen. It was not believed by many people. Though he had
never seen Gamble, he described his walk, clothes, etc. Mer-
cer was arrested for murder in the first degree, which under
the old law meant death or freedom, and he was released on the
130 HISTORY OF WEZTEL COUNTY.
grounds that ghost evidence would not go in court. It was be-
lieved by many that he was guilty of the crime, and it is said
that his lawyer had a very hard time to keep him from con-
fessing the crime. He is now living back of St. Marys, W. Va.,
where it is said he acts very strangely, often muttering to him-
self.
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A HISTORY OF NEW MARTINSVILLE.
Edward Doolin, Its First Settler, Killed by the Indians on the Present
Site of the Town— Some Interesting Facts Not Generally Known
by the Present Generation.
About the year 1780, Edward Doolin patented and made en-
try upon 800 acres of (.Jliio river hill and bottom land, which
included in its boundaries the present site of the town of New
Martinsvjjie. The pi'^te of land was a little more than n mile
square, and lay in the angle formed by Fishing creek and the
Ohio river. He cleared some land and built a small cabin near
where now stands the Witten dwelling, selecting that spot on
account of its nearness to a spring, it being the source of little
Doolin, which runs through town. He farmed and improved
on his land until 1784.
In September of that year a small band of Indians came
down the river from the village of Wheeling, where they had
been driven oft" by Colonel Zane, attacked his home unawaies,
and killed him. His wife and one child escaped. She retained
ownership of the property for a time, selling it piece by piece.
The portion upon which the town is situated, was purchased
by Presly Martin, the man for whom New Martinsville was
named. Mr. Martin came here in 1811. He built a part of
what is now the Point House, and planted an orchard of five
acres between Washington street and the creek; a few trees
are yet standing. Five years later he was followed by Friend
Cox, who took up a farm and erected a house below the creek,
132 HISTORY OF WEZTEL COUNTY.
opposite the Point House. This house has recently burned
down.
From this time until 1S38 the settlement grew slowly. On
March 28th of that year an act establishing the town of "Mar-
tinsville," in the county of Tyler, was passed by the Assembly
of Virginia, and in the same act Henry McCabe, Samuel Mc-
Eldowney, Lewis Williams, John Buchanon and Benjamin F.
Martin were appointed trustees to administer the affairs of the
town. The surveying and platting was done by Lewis Wil-
liams and three others. It extended from one lot below^ Wash-
ington street to North street, and from Union street to the
river. The streets included in these boundaries remain the
same now as then, except Water street. This street was lo-
cated on the river bank and was the widest and principal street
in town, being 80 feet wide. It is evident that it was the pur-
pose of the founders of this town to have a broad street on the
river front, where thev could have the benefit of the cool
breezes from the west, and an open view of the river. I im-
agine that trees had been left along the bank for the purpose
of shade, and that the residents had placed benches under
there, where the gentry were accustomed to loaf and discuss
the issues of the day. I am informed that in 1842 there were
twelve houses in town.
An incident occurred in 1845 that must have aroused dreams
of wealth. A man presented himself to the community and
remained awhile without any apparent means of support.
Having no occupation, he was arrested under the vagrancy
law, and to obtain his liberty was compelled to state his busi-
ness to the town officers. Thereupon he showed papers from
the French Government. By this it was ascertained that he
was an accredited agent of that government sent to this com-
munity to search for |87,000.00 supposed to have been buried
below the creek during the French and Indian war. It is
thought that he did not find the money. Shortly after this,
another incident occurred in the same line. A Mr. Watkins
THE EAKIN HOUSE,
Better Known as the old Wetzel House,
Justus Eakin, Proprietor.
BRAST HOUSE,
At New Martinsville,
Mike, Amos and Jacob Brast, Props.
HISTOKY OF YsETZKL COUNTY. 133
of Monongalia county sold his farm there for 1,000 silver dol-
lars, and eame to this settlement; the silver, which weighed
over GO pounds, was too heav}' to carry about his person, so he
set aside .'^40.00 for his immediate use, and buried the remain-
dor at the foot of a paw paw bush, 00 steps from the river
bank, midway between the mouth of the creek and a point op-
posite Texas run; when he returned for his money, it could not
be found.
An act prescribing- the mode of electing trustees of New Mar-
Martinsville in the county of Wetzel, and investing them with,
certain corporate powers was passed March 13th, 1848, by the
Assembly of Virginia.
These trustees were elected annually by the people. They
chose out of their own number to preside at their meetings.
The subordinate officers were: Commissioner of Kevenue, Ser-
geant or Town Collector and Police.
At this time also, the town was extended to the creek, and
the McCIure addition on High street taken in. The new part
of the town was surveyed and marked out by Thomas Tucker,
who died several years ago.
Observe that the town was called "Martinsville in Tyler
county." XoAv il is called, '-Xt-w ^'.lartinsville in Wetzel
county," Wetzel having been carved out of the North end of
Tyler county in 184G.
The first County Court of Wetzel county was held April Gth,
184G. The justices present were Sampson Thistle, Friend Cox.
William Little and Ebenezer Payne. Presley Martin was
elected first Clerk, and James Snodgrass first Prosecuting At-
torney.
During the last decade, quite a number of well known names
of the })ast and present moved to the burg: Houblers, the Vil-
lers, the Biers, the Wises, the Halls, Snodgrasses, the Pottses.
the Livelys, the Tuckers, the Coulters, the Moores, the Pitchers
and the A'ances.
As the town was increasing in size and business, some of the
134 HISTORY OF WEZTEL COUNTY.
more active spirits desired to make a better connection with
the outside world, and accordingly, on the 21st day of Febru-
ary, 1853, the Mannington and New Martinsville railroad was
incorporated. The Directors were: Jas. G. West, Friend Cox,
Presley Martin, Joseph C. Moore, Robert Cox, Samuel McEl-
downey, George W. Bier, Joseph Vance, Edmund Moore, David
Cunningham, William P. Snodgrass, Elias Blackshire and
John Michael. If this railroad had been built, New Martins-
ville would probably be now where Wheeling is, or at least
much better off than she is.
The brick church that stood on Main street was built by the
Methodists in 1854. About the same time an Episcopal church
was built near this. It was sold and used for a school under
the name of the New Martinsville Academy. When the Free
School System was adopted bj' the State the building was used
for a public school. It was finally sold to Standiford Bros.,
who have erected a three story building on the old site.
The town was divided on the Civil War question, and during
that time many serious disturbances occurred and some of
them were amusing. There was one incident that caused con-
sternation in the minds of many. A United States flag was
hung across Washington street for the i)urpose of proving the
loyalty of the citizens, by compelling them to walk under it.
One night was given to think over it, and all who would refuse
would do so at the peril of their lives. It was seen on the
morning of the fateful day, that the flag had disappeared, hav-
ing been stolen during the night. The person who took it has
kept his secret.
After the war, the town made very little progress until 1871.
February 13th of that year, the Charter was amended and re-
enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia. From this time
onward, the town grew and improved more rapidly.
The Pittsburgh Stave Company came in 1873, and gave em-
ployment to 125 men.
In 1801 the Wetzel Countv Fair Association was organized
BIRDSEYE VIEW OF NEW MARTINSVILLE,
From the Ohio Side in 1894.
1
NEW YORK
: LI BR'
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 135
at that place and leased the ground here in the town where the
Fair was and is now held. The next year Burlington sprang
up, Eseec, John and Thomas Burlingame being the settlers.
Springertown started up five years later. The school house was
built in 1880. In 1882 a church boom struck the town, and the
M. E. church South, P. E., Baptist, and Catholic churches were
erected. The Ohio River Railroad was built in 1883., In 1884
a flood came and was very destructive. The Clark and Mar-
tin's additions came later. The latest additions are Martin
Burlingame, Clark, Stender and McEldowney. A boom struck
the town in the last five years, on which the Short Line Rail-
road was built and the contracts for the erection of a new
Court House and the new M. E. church let. The town has
been booming for the past five years, and since that time a
great many business houses and manufactories and fine resi-
dences have been built. The town has six churches, the two
M. E. churches, the Catholic, Christian, Presbyterian and Epis-
copal; two school houses, one magnificent building which is
being built by Contractor Burhart, six ladies' and gents'
furnishing goods and shoe houses. They are Economy, Clar-
ence Buhlingame, the Baltimore bargain house, Duerr Bros.,
John F. Loehr and J. M. Bender, and one in Brooklyn, The
town has eight dry goods and notion stores, owned by Jose-
phus Clark, Welch and Koontz, Mont Francis, Williams and
Ankrom, X. Baudi, Levi Oblinger, Jacob Blair, Mont Burrows,
Mr. Clark & Oblinger also have a hardware department to
their store. Mr. Friend Wells and Bridgemen & Sons also
have a hardware store. Seven groceries, Neff Bros, the Up-to-
Date grocery, Geo. Rankin, who also keeps a full line of gro-
ceries and green goods. Mrs. Newton, who also deals in ice
cream. Gorbey Bros., who keep a full line of groceries. Ja-
cob Dennis, who also has a bakery, Mrs. G. Snodgrass and
Smittle and Dunn. Three tailor shops owned by Geo. Grail,
Duerr Bros, and D. C. Weatherhead. There are three druf
stores, owned by R. T. Richardson, Dr. P. F. Lowther and P. D.
136 HISTORY OF WEZTEL COUNTY.
Leap; one laundry, owned by R. Dayton; two bakeries, owned
by Irven Ober and Jacob Dennis; three millinery stores, owned
by Mrs. S. M. Snodgrass, L. Pemberton, H. Hatliaway, and four
barber shops owned by Jacob Koontz, M. L. Kendal, Geo.
Houdenshilt and Soland and Van Camp. Two jewelry stores,
owned by Duerr Bros, and C. M. Powers. One harness shop
owned by Dave Mangold; one tin shop owned by M. B. Potts
and Mr. Owens; two plumber shops owned by Dewey Potts
and M. F. Powers; two flour mills owned by Stender & Stamm,
and John Nusum; four hotels^ the Eakin, Brast, Elk and Wells;
three restaurants, owned by Thompson, Patsey Finerty and
Martin F. Williamson. The town is supplied with gas and
water. Mack Snodgrass tends to the pump station. Wm.
Fitch is superintendent of the gas office. There are two ice
plants, one owned by the citizens of the town and the other by
Schmulbach Brewing Company, of Wheeling. The glass house
is another large concern, owned chiefly by the citizens. The
wholesale grocery is a large business house, situated on Maple
avenue. Robert Morvis is manager. The town has two stor-
age houses, owned by the Reymann and Schmulbach Brewing
Companies, of Wheeling; two large livery barns, owned by A.
C. Ruby and J. H. Boweu; three blacksmith shops, owned by
Frank McEldowney, Glen Barrick and Geo. Harmau. The
town has six doctors, Drs. Schmied, Boone, Browse, Downing,
Lowther and Grim. Sixteen lawyers, J. W. and L. V. Mclntire,
Bruice, Wm. McG. and Charles Hall, P. D. and Thomas Morris,
S. B. McEldowney, Thos. H. Cornet, J. W. Newman, Mr. Mor-
ris, W. T. Sidel, T. P. Jacobs, E. B. Snodgrass, E. L. Robinson,
R. E. L. Snodgrass, Thos. Mills, Bud Snodgrass and Frank
Wells Clark. The present officers of the town are: Mayor, G. C.
Westerman; Recorder, Jas. Bishop; Assessor, L. V. Mclntire;
Tax Collector, A. B. Morrison; Street Commissioner, vacant;
Chief of Police, Ed. Luikhart. The councilmen for the First,
Second and Third wards are Irven Ober, Jacob Koontz, A. C.
Ruby, Wm. Gulp, W. R. Rine and John Stender. Amono- the
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
New Martinsville.
\ ..,„.
y/
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 137
prosperous farmers around the town are John Stender, John
G. McEldowue.v, Duerr Brothers, Owen and John Witten, Ben
Bridgeman, Josephus Clark, Evan Williams, John Cochran,
Isaac Black, John Stephens, Mr. Linager, Brown Brothers,
Mr. Bowman, Samuel Martin, Felix Abersold, Cris Anthony,
Gaberial Leap and Geo. Walker.
MORGANTOWN OR PORTER FALLS.
It was settled in 1818 by Morgan Morgan, better known as
Paddy Mod; it was to distinguish liim from his cousin by the
same name who went by the name of Spy Mod. The town is sit-
uated in Green district, ten miles east of the county seat, on
Big Fishing Creek, and the Short Line Railroad. It has about
fifty inhabitants. The places of business in the town are: one
store owned by Elsworth Sneider; one blacksmith shop, owned
by George Midcap; and one saw mill owned by Morgan Bros.,
sons of Elisha Morgan. Morgan Morgan is postmaster.
Among the prosperous farmers amound the town are Morgan
Morgan, Mrs. Jerry Long, Morgan Brothers, Lewis Kocher,
Samuel Headlee, Z. Cochran, Aaron Morgan, William and
Leonard Morgan.
OHIO RIVER RAILROAD DEPOT,
New Martinsville.
MINNIE.
Was settled in 1815 by Aaron Morgan, cousin of the noted
Indian scout, Levi Morgan, and brother of Paddy Mod, the first
settler in Porter's Falls. It is situated in Green district, six
miles east of New Martinsville, the county seat, on the short
line railroad and Big Fishing creek. The only place of busi-
ness is a store owned by Reuben Yoho, who is also postmaster.
Among the prosperous farmers around the postofiflce are Ru-
ben Yoho, Joe Wells, S. L. Morgan, Mrs. Aaron Clepstein,
Friend Wells, Richard Morgan, Jacob Sliamp, John Shainp,
Walter and Fred Shamp.
MONEY POSTOFFICE.
Is a post office situated on a small luu by the same name,
which enters into Big Fishing creek one mile west of Reader.
It took its name from Money Bates, who located the land near
the stream at an early date. Part of the survey is now owned
by Ed. Winning, Charles Kiger, Ruben Price, Fred Grocen-
baucher, John King, Wm. Mayhall, Geo. Brown, Isaac Smith,
Albert Koch, Thomas McCalaster, John Stealey, James
Windland, Charles Hudson, Wm. Gadd, Rosella Fiece, Wilson
Furbee, Jason Furbee, John and James Furbee, Geo. Worth,
J. L. Higgins, Elisha Barker, Geo. Garrett, R. Wright, Wm.
Workman, Isaac Wright, John, David and Wm. Lancaster, N.
Strait, Susan Blackbridge, Dr. John Garrett, Jake Haught,
Alex, Strait, Dr. Parks, Andrew McHenry, Milton, Hiram and
George Strait, James Kerby, Jackson Strait, Jenkins Miller,
William, Ulesses and Mack Miller.
^i, \
\
OLD M. E. CHURCH.— NORTH.
LOT.
Is a town situated twenty-three miles east of the county
seat. It has a population of about 340, and is rapidly growing,
having the prospect of making one of the best towns along thc»
Short Line Railroad. It was settled in the year of 1805 by
James Hajs, who came to that place and erected a cabin on
the ground now owned by his grandson, G. T. Anderson. Other
early settlers around the town were Jasper Wyatt, James Wi-
ley, Alexander Lantz, H. King, Abraham lee, and Aiden Bales.
The town is favored with one of the best hotels along the
Short Line Railroad between New Martinsville and Clarksburg.
It is owned by W. A. Dye. There is one restaurant, owned by
Mr. West; one drug store, owned by Dr's. McGriven and Clel-
lan; three dry goods and notions stores, owned by Smith &
Fitcher; L. E. Lantz and Lee Schrachfleld; one confectionery
store, owned by Mr. Harness; one bakery owned by Wm. Lau-
denslyn; one meat market, H. Taylor, proprietor; one black-
smith shop, owned by The. Y. Earrick; and one planing mill,
owned by Curby & Mansfield. It has one church and one
schoolhouse. Among the prosperous farmers around the town
are Levi, John, Amos and Polk Lowe, Sam. Lantz, Alex Bluty,
J. M. Anderson, Catherine Satterfield, Mary Cunningham,
Thomas Gorby, J. R. Davis, Milton Anderson, J. M. Loveall,
John Wiley, A. Wyatt, H. H. King, J. Markindle, Wm. Batson,
Y. T. Frances, M. Wiley, Ed. Cain, Wm. Henthorn, Ezra Hays,
Geo. Hickmon, Geo. Wetzel, L. and D. Mclntire Elizabeth Mor-
gan, Lot King and William Watson.
KODOL.
Is a postofiSce situated in Wetzel coiintv, lately organ-
ized. It was settled in the year 1854 by Silas J. Park, who
came to that place and erected a house near the present
site of the town of Kodol. It has three churches^, Bap-
tist, Methodist and Christian; and one school house. The
postoffice was not organized until October, 1900, by J. J. Craw-
ford, bodnsman and postmaster, and Stephen Park and 1. N.
Crawford. The town has two attorneys, F. Keller and E. Mor-
ris, and two doctors, Lemley and Cox. It has one store. The
prosperous farmers around the town are Wm. Leaganden, I. C.
Brookover, S. C. and S. W. Park and I. N. Crawford.
i I
MAGNOLIA HIGH SCHOOL, OLD BUILDING.
SILVER HILL.
Is a village situated in Center district, It was settled in the
year of 1825, by James A. Wood. The town has two churches,
Christian and Methodist; one school house, two stores, owned
by Rulong & Son, and C. E. Yeater; one blacksmith shop,
owned by Geho & Harlan ; one hotel, proprietor, W. J. Derrow.
Among the prosperous farmers around the town are Wm, Car-
ney, Solomon Carney, C. L. Yoho and S. C. Lowe.
L. Yoho and S. C. Lowe.
HAZEL
Is a postoflfice in Grant district, on Crow's run, twenty
miles east of the county seat, and five miles south of Keader.
Charles Fluharty is postmaster. The postoffice has one slore
and grist mill, both owned by Aaron Bassett. Among the
prosperous farmers around the postoffice are Aaron Basset,
James Martin, Lot Martin, Pleasance Myres, William Wright,
Abraham Hiley, Charles Hiley, Friend Tracey, John Strait,
Chas. Strait, E. M. Strait, Foster Higgins and Isaac Pitman.
j;y^r^;T^"x7r'
';^P
F. W. PARSONS,
County Superintendent of Schools.
PINEY FORK.
Is neither a village nor a postofflce, but a stopping place for
a great many strangers. It is situated in Green district, on
the Short Line Railroad, and twelve miles east of the county
seat. It has one store and a hotel, both owned by Frank
Stender.
MAUD.
Is a postoffice situated in Proctor district, ten miles
from the county seat. It was settled in the year of 1801 by
Gabrdel Leap, who came there and erected a cabin on the pro-
perty now owned by Geo. W. Cook. The postoffice has one
school house, one churchy United Brethren, with W. W. Bur-
gess as pastor; one lawyer, A. T. Morris. It has two stores,
owned by F. P. Cook, who is also postmaster, and F. R. Suter.
M .W. Burgess owns a sawmill. Joseph Burgess also owns a
store and a blacksmith shop, Alexander Dulaney owns a gun-
smith. Among the prosperous farmers around the postoffice
are J. A. Kocher, A. T. Morris, J. C. Briggs, M. J. and J. I.
Cook, I. N. Smith, J. M. Daran, L. Schrader, G. W. Brown and
A. E. Koch.
CHILDS.
Is a postoffiee situated in Green District, ten miles from the
county seat, and three miles from the Short Line Kailroad. It
has one school house, and one M. E. church, the latter being sit-
uated on Laurel Point near the postoffiee.
COBURN.
Is a postoffiice situated in Grant district. There is no
town nor village there more than a postoffiee. U. B. Ice is
postmaster.
DEAN.
Is a postoffice situated ten miles from the county seat in
Green district. It was settled in the year of 1S31 by John
Strasinder and Thomas Bartlett, who came to that i^lace and
erected a cabin near the present site of the John Clark pro-
perty. The town has one Christian church, one school house
and one store. The store is owned by John Culiinan. Patrick
Clark is the postmaster. Among the prosperous farmers
around the town are J. J. Morris, T. P. Horner, Patrick Clark,
B. B. Postlethwait, J. A. Cumberledge, Wm. Sapp, Alex. Sapp,
Isaac Kirkpatrick, Morgan Wright and A. T. Cain.
JOHN DEBOLT,
Commissioner of the County Court.
!HE- ^
OX and Ti-
■^'
HON. AARON MORGAN,
Present Member of Legislature from Wetzel County.
HUNDRED.
Is a town situated on the B. and O. R. R. and Fish creek, and
has a population of 300. The first settlement was made by
Old Hundred (see Henry Church) who patented the land on and
around the town in 1819. The town has one church and one
school house; four dry goods and notion stores, owned by D
Franklin & Sons, who also have a millinery department, Ar
nold & Allen, and A. D. Ayres, Martin Windle, Mrs. L. D. Rob
erts and Mr. Wiley; one millinery store, owned by Mrs. A. E
Lahew; two drug stores, owned by John McComas and Dr
Kerns; one barber shop, owned by W. W. Carpenter; one
blacksmith shop, owned by F. Shultz ;and one hotel. Commer-
cial house, W. H. Lee, proprietor. The town is furnished with
gas. F. B. Hamilton now owns a large potrion of the Church
patent. The first store in Hundred was opened by F. M. Kel-
lar in 1886, and associated wiwth him was W. E. Hamilton.
This store was located opposite the present postofiice, and is
now under the management of D. Franklin & Sons. In 1894
T. B. Hamilton had a series of lot sales, in which a number
were sold, and added a great deal to the prosperity of the
town.
PADEN'S VALLEY.
Paden's Valley was settled in the year of 1790, by Obadiah
Paden. He was among the first settlers of the Ohio Valley.
He patented about two thousand acres of land, which at pre-
sent bear his name. The extension of the Valley out in the
country is known as Paden's Fork. The island in the Ohio
river, lying in front of the Valley, containing about one hun-
dred acres of land, is known as Paden's Island. He was of
Dutch descent, and was originally from New York, later set-
tling on the Susquehanna river, and was driven from there to
the Valley. He erected a log house on a bank overlooking the
beautiful Ohio, and taking up his large tract of land, he went
to work with energy and determination, the chief characteris-
tics of the old Dutch settlers. He was the father of about
twelve children, the four sons chiefly inheriting the land of
their father, and are knoAvn as Jesse, James, Joseph, and Sam-
uel, who remain, and one daughter lies buried in the Paden
cemetery. The remains of Obadiah Paden and his wife are
both buried in the Paden cemetery and their grave is marked
by a rough sandstone, the inscription being almost erased by
time. There are two Indian mounds in the valley, one in the
lower part, on the old Richard Ankrom farm. Many relics
have been taken from these mounds. The town has one store,
owned by Frank Boston. Annie Stephens is postmistress.
Among the prosperous farmers around the town are Richard
Ankrom, Mrs. Henry Ankrom. E. A. Pollack, James Stephens,
J. N. Van Camp, A. J. Van Camp, L. Cook, Geo. Kiefer, Mr.
Farmer, Ceo. Smith and I'riah Kimble.
■■'■'^''yj'^ w ^
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
New Martinsville
/ '■-\1''J YORK
I 1 p, -- A P V
! , LBIiOX a
Foi;p •
y
ARCHER'S FORK.
It was named from Archibald Woods, who patented a sur-
vey of land, which consisted of 0,000 acres in the year of 1790.
The first permanent settler was William Ice, who took up
about one hundred acres of land and erected a long cabin on it
in the year of 1815, (the land is now owned by Emilia Shrew)
and later his son, Abraham Ice, took up a tract of land ^\hich
consisted of one hundred and twenty acres, where the present
towns of Arches is now situated, and the farm :i new owned
by his grandson, J. H. Dawson. Near the town the first oil
well that was drilled in the county was located, being the well
known as the Robinson No. 2, and was drilled by David Mc-
Cain for the South I'enn Oil Co., in 1893, and is still producing
oil. The largest well in the county is also situated there,
known as the Kobinson No. 33. The town has two school
houses, two churches (Methodist and Christian), and one store
owned by Carlin Brothers. Among the prosperous farmers
around the town are L. G. Robinson, J. H. Dawson, Carlin
Brothers, William Springer^ Isaac Shreves, and J. A. Edgel.
The town is situated on the Short Line Railroad.
Note — The author is indebted to William Carlin for infor-
mation concerning the earlv settlement of Arches.
PINE GROVE.
Is a town situated on Big Fishing creelc and the Short Line
Railroad. It has a population of about 500. The first set-
tlement was made by Morgan Morgan (Spy Mod), who came to
that place about the year of 1804, and erected a cabin on the
present site of the livery stable, owned by Hennen. He also
erected a grist mill near the saw and flour mill of Joliffe Bros,
Other early settlers about Pine Grove were James Jolifl'e,
Uriah Morgan and Mr. Wilson. The town took its name from
a beautiful grove that at one time stood near the town; it has
one school house, one church (Baptist), one clothing store,
owned by Gooldfoos Brothers, one dry goods store, owned by
J. ^^^ Brookfield; one meat market, owned by W. J. AVharton
& Sons; one barber shop, owned by Frank Myers; two black-
smith shops, owned by Cook Brothers, and Halbert & Co.; one
hardware store, owned by Thomas Bucher; one general store,
owned by \'\'illiam Long; one harness shop, owned by Dave
Renner; two bakerys, owned by J. G. Wallace and ]Meck Pi-
azzro; three grocery stores, owned by J. Brookfield, McQuain
and Stone Brothers; three hotels, owned by Roome & Garvey,
Mrs. Garvey and Mrs. Burley. The place has three doctors,
Dr/s Stone, Depew and McCluskey.
READER.
Reader is a town situated fifteen miles east of the county
seat. It has a population of about one hundred. The first
settlement was made in the year of 1788, by James Troy, who
erected a cabin on what is now known as the negro quarters.
He afterward sold his title to Benjamin Reader tor a ten gal-
lon copper kettle and a bay mare. The title consisted of six
hundred acres. He afterwards sold his title to Morgan Mor-
gan (Spy Mod) for a flint lock gun, and erected a cabin on what
is known as the negro quarters, which got its name from him.
He had negro slaves and had them stay on the place while he
was living at what is now Pine Grove. The cabin was erected
in 1804 and stood until 1896, when John Lantz, who owned the
property, had it taken down. Several other men came to that
neighborhood; among them were Jasper Strait, who moved in
the same house with Morgan Morgan; William Snodgrass,
Benjamin Hays, Thomas Bowl and James Booth, and eTacob
Swisher. The pioneer school teacher of that neighborhood
was Caleb Headlee, who taught in a six by ten log house.
Morgan Morgan was lawed from the land by Jeremiah Wil-
liams, who was surveyor at the time, who sold it to Alexander
Lantz, who transferred the land to John, the present owner.
The land west of the negro quarters was patented by Zachwell
Cochran in 1792. It consisted of 500 acres of the best farming
land in the county and he lived upon this land until 1814, when
he died, and the land became the property of his son, James
Cochran, who died in 1898. When the land became the pro-
perty of his heirs, who consisted of Jacob, A. S., Zachwell, Oli-
ver, J. C, B. F., and Irvin Cochran, Druzela Hart, Margaret
154 HISTORY OF WEZTEL COUNTY.
Cook, Emiline Millburn and Frances T. Long. John Millbuin
patented 200 acres south of the Cochran patent, lying on the
waters of Brush run, in 1800. The land is now owned by W.
M. Milburn and Martha Britton, who are living in the cabin
that he erected in 1800. Among the prosperous farmers
around Reader are Joseph Fair^, George Sturge, Z. J. Morgan,
John Springer, Stephen Brown, Samuel Springer, Oliver Coch-
ran, Wm. Burgess, Rev. J. W. Gadd, W. A. Headlee, H. D.
King, Benjamin Fox. J. D. Wayne, Wm. Kennedy, Wm. Kirk-
man, Louis Connely, Solomon Workman, Wm. and John Con-
nely, C. Kidder, John McCalaster, N. Harris, James Harris, J.
Springer, Chas. McCalaster, J. and R. Crosgrj^, Sam'l Harrison,
Sam Leap, Foster Clark, also hotel man and merchant, James
Cochran, Presley Q. Martin and Harvey King.
SMITHFIELD.
Is a town situated thirty-one miles east of New Martinsville.
It has a population of about 1,200. The first settlement was
made by Aiden Bales in the year of 179(5. It has three ho-
tels, Brown Front, J. A. Davis, proprietor; the Shuman, M. D.
Shunian, proprietor; and the Wilson, D. W. Wilson, proprietor.
It has four dry goods and notion stores, owned by D. Carini-
chael, Howard and Calvert^ L. G. Kobinson, and W. A. Smith;
one confectionery and news stand owned by T. J. Connely, and
one barber shop, owned by Morris Sheon; the South Penn Oil
Company has an office here; one blacksmith shop, owned by
Geo. Beechman, and one meat market, owned by B. C. Bug-
gies. Among the prosperous farmers around the town are A.
J. Slider, James Gump, F. C. Hays, H. S. Hays, L. Johnson,
Henry Johnson, O. B. Mclntire, C. A. Headlee, William Bar-
ker, Sr., William Barker, Jr., Charles Gilbert, J. J. Jackson^
William Brewer, L. F. Cain, I. D. Morgan, Jas. A. Edgel, C. W.
Ezra, and Grant Edgel, E. E. Ice, T. V. Ice, Dave Shuman,
Henry and Levi Shuman, P. Minor, W. A. Wade, James A.
Wade, H. J. Miller, C. S. Lowe, J. W., J. T., and 11. Headlee,
Cus and ^^'illianl ^\\yatt, Mrs. W. 1'. Morris, Louis and L. Mor-
ris, Morris L. Wyatt, Kichard, J. M., and Johnson Anderson,
I. Ice, F. I*rice, Oliver Bates, Curtis and Dawson Lemastera,
L. G. Kobinson, H. L. Smith, Geo. Hannan, Marion Shrieves,
John and J. L. Welch, Jasper, George and Jackson Shrieves,
David Ice, Albert, Sam and Dulin Edgel L. E. and S. R. Cain,
William Taylor, James Lively, John Leach, John Francis,
John Showalter, William Carlin, Nelson Myres, John and
Wash Carroll.
BURTON.
Burton is a town situated twenty-five miles east of New Mar-
tinsville, the county seat; it is situa'ted on Fish creek and the B.
& O. R. R. It has a population of about 250. It was settled by
George Bartrug', whose father came to what is now known as
Cottontown in the year of 1810, and erected a cabin on the land
now owned by his heirs, Geo. Bartrug. After living with his
parents for a short time, in 1812 erected a cabii. on the site of
the B. & O. R. R. The name of Burton should have been Bar-
trug, and it is presumed that when the name of what was then
a landing place was given to the railroad company, that they
took the name to be Burton. Peter Bartrug's patent consist-
ed of 250 acres, which took in both Burton and Cottontown.
Other settlements were made around Burton, of whom were
Daniel Bartrug^ brother of George, Peter Colwell and John
Soles. Thomas Dawson was also a very early settler.
It has two dry goods and notion stores, of whom are Hennen
& White, W. W. Robinson and John A. Hoge; one millinery
store, Mrs. Dr. Lemley, proprietor; one blacksmith shop, W.
S. Barrick, proprietor; one barber shop, owned by John Mal-
lery; one flour mill, owned by John A. Hoge; one livery barn,
owned by T. V. Ross; it has two hotels, the Central, owned by
T. V. Ross, the Commercial, owned by Mrs. A. Homer. E. E.
Cunningham is postmaster.
M. E. CHURCH.— SOUTH.
VINCEN.
Was settled in the year of 1865 by Levi Merrett, who is still
living on a part of the land where he made the settlement. The
place has one store, owned by Andrew Rice. Among the pros-
perous farmers around the town are A. J. Rice, David Founds,
Vincent, Amos and Levi Merett, J. T. Blair, Thomas Burgess,
Ned Carroll, Henry Egan, E. W. Lemasters^ J. S. Cross. L J.
Workman is the postmaster.
PROCTOR.
Is a town situated on the Ohio river and the Ohio River Rail-
road. It was settled at an early date by Jacob Moore, a car-
penter and cabinet maker, who came to that place and erected
a cabin near the present site of the steamboat landing place.
The town, like the district, was named from a man by the
name of Proctor, who was the first to own the land where Proc-
tor now stands. The town has two churches, Methodist and
Christian; one school house^ three dry goods and notion stores,
owned by Todd & Whipkey, Monroe and Miller, and J. A. Dop-
ier; one hotel owned by Fleming Brothers; one barber shop,
owned by John Young; one blacksmith shop, owned by Charles
Oblinger, who also owns a hardware store; one harness shop,
owned by K. Gates, two livery and feed stables, owned by Jas.
Fitzsimmons and A. C. Ruby; one machine shop, owned by
William Lee, and one flour mill, owned by Watson Brothers.
J. F. Watson is postmaster. The town has one doctor, Dr.
Haught. Among the prosperous farmers around the town are
John Price, W. F. Moore, John Newman, William Lowrey, A.
H. Haught, Friend Parsons, Israel Parsons, John Moore, Jacob
Yoho, M. and A. J. Moore.
EDUCATION OF WETZEL COUNTY, OF THE
PIONEERS AND THE PRESENT DAY.
The childien of the pioneers had very few educational ad-
vantages. The settlers were so poor that they could scarcely
afford the small tuition. As soon as the children w^ere able to
travel the long distance usually required they were able to as-
sist the father in clearing the land or the mother in her arduous
tasks. Occasionally an itinerant schoolmaster found his way
into a neighborhood, and for a few dollars he was engaged to
instruct the youths for a period of two or three months. If an
unoccupied dwelling house could be secured, it was furnished
with a few long benches, made by splitting a small sapling
and after smoothing one side slightly, holes were bored in the
ends and pins inserted. Boards were placed on pins in the
walls for writing desks. A three legged stool or block of wood
was prepared for the teacher. The room was heated by a large
fireplace, usually occupying the greater part of one end of the
house.
The bo3s cut and carried the wood during the noon hour.
Quite frequently the boys who attended these schools had to
walk a distance of five miles and before starting for school in
the morning two or three hours of work had to be done at
home and a like number on his return. Those were days wnen
"Jack" found no time for play. From such surroundings
sprang the founders of our government.
The teachers of those days deserve much credit^ for they cer-
tainly engaged in the work for the love they had for it. The
remuneration was very meager. They "boarded around,'' that
is, a week or two with one of their patrons and then with an-
100 HISTORY OF WEZTEL COUNTY.
other. It did not take long for the teacher at that time to pack
his belongings and change his boarding place. Besides assist-
ing the children with their work at night the ^'master" was ex-
pected to help do the chores in the evening and on Saturdays
take the ax or grubbing hoe and make a hand with the farmer.
By reason of this method of boarding the pioneer teacher un-
derstood his patrons and pupils better than do the teachers of
to-day.
The school boy of that day was not made "bandy legged" by
carrying a load of books. Instruction was given only in the
three K's, Readin", Ritin\ and Rithmetic; that was just about
all the ''master" could teach; but that served to lay the
foundation of the men who conducted the business of the coun-
ty for many years.
In 1804 the Free School System was inaugurated in Wetel
county. At that time no school houses were found, but the
majority of the people were alive to their best interest and
buildings began to be located. These were built of hewed logs.
The fire place gave place to the wood stove and the long-slab-
backless benches were replaced by the straight-backed seats.
The demand for better equipped teachers was made. Teach-
ers were scarce. The schools were generally supplied from
Ohio and Pennsylvania. It was soon found that there was tal-
ent at home, and the young men and women of Wetzel county
birth began to ''wield the birch."
The last log school house has disappeared. It was burned
down in 1900. Every community is furnished with a compara-
tively comfortable building, furnished with the patent seats.
Kot a child in the county is beyond reach of a school house.
In 1000 there were 1.35 buildings, employing 154 teachers. The
enumeration of the school youth that year was 0,982; enroll-
ment, 0.010; average attendance, 3,047.
The teachers are paid according to the grade of certificate.
The average wages for No. 1 in 1900 was |31 1-7; No. 2, |27 2-7;
No. 3, |18 4-7. The average school tei-m was 5 1-0 months. Can
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 161
we look at these figures calmly and considerately without say-
ing that something must be done for the young men and womeu
who are devoting their best energies to the noble work of
teaching? Is it any wonder the teacher is using the profession
as a stepping stone?
The finnancial condition of the schools is good. In 1900, the
teachers' fund had a balance in the hands of the sheriff of
|2,9G8.52 ; the building fund, |2,7.31.16.
The county superintendents have been among our leading
educators; such as U. G. Morgan, Dr. Thos. Haskins, C. A. Mc-
Allister, John S. Wade, W. T. Sidell, L. W. Dulaney, and the
present incumbent, F. W. Parsons, who is serving his second
term.
The Magnolia Hig School is the only high school in the coun-
ty. It was established under the general law for the estab-
lishment of high schools in 1880. The school is a district high
school; that is, persons living anywhere in Magnolia District
may send children entitled to enter the Intermediate Grammar
or High schools.
The high school course of study was prepared by E. E. Um
stead and adopted by the Board of Education October, 1887.
It has been several times revised, and at present is as follows:
JUNIOR CLASS.
Algebra — Ray's Elementary completed.
Arithmetic — Ray's Higher completed.
Grammar — Hai"vey's.
Civics — First and second terms.
Book-keeping — Last term.
Physiology — Cutter's Comprehensive.
Spelling — Reed and Kellogg's completed to page 113.
MIDDLE CLASS.
Spelling — Reed and Kellogg's to page 153.
Algebra — Ray's Higher completed to Ratio and Proportion.
162 HISTORY OF WEZTEL COUNTY.
Rhetoric — HilFs completed.
Physical Geography — Houston's first and second terms.
Mental Arithmetic — Completed.
General History — Myer's completed.
Latin — Chase and Stuart.
SEKIOR CLASS.
Spelling— Reed and Kellogg completed.
Geometry — Wentsv^orth's Plane completed.
Latin — Four books of Caesar's Gallic War,
Physics — Avery.
English and American Literature.
The following persons have been principal of the school: A.
F. Wilmoth, S. B. Hall, S. W. Martin, Frank Burley, E. E. Urn-
stead. J. N. Van Camp, W. W. Cline, J. M. Skinner, D. W.
Shields, W. E. Maple, B. H. Hall and W. J. Postlethwait.
The high school library is composed of 005 well selected vol-
umes. The school is supplied with |250 of laboratory appa-
ratus.
AN INDIAN MASSACRE NEAR THE BOR-
DERS OF WETZEL COUNTY.
On the 5th of December, 1787;, a party of Indians and one
white man, Leonard Schoolcraft, came into the settlement on
Hoker's creek, and meeting with the daughter of Jesse Hughes,
took her prisoner; passing on they came upon an old man by
the name of West. He was carrying some fodder to the stable,
and they likewise took him captive and carried him to where
Hughes' daughter had been left in charge of some of the party.
Here the old man got down on his knees and prayed fervently
that they would not deal harshly with him, on which he was
answered by a stroke of a tomahawk, which sent him to
death's eternal sleep.
They then went to the house of the old man's son, Edmund
West, where were Mrs. West and her sister, who was but
eleven years old. daughter of John Hoker and a brother of
West, a lad of twelve years. They forced open the door,
Schoolcraft and two of the savages entered and one of them
immediately tomahawked Mrs. West. The boy was taking
some corn from under the bed and was drawn out by his feet
and tomabawked. The girl was standing behind the door and
one of the savages made toward her and aimed a blow at her
head. She tried to evade it, but it struck her on the side of
the neck, though not with sufficient force to knock her down.
She fell, however, and lay as if killed. Thinking their work of
death accomplished here, they took from a press some milk,
butter and bread and placed it on the table and sat down to
eat. The little girl observed all that was happening in silent
stillness. When they had satisfied their hunger they arose,
scalped the woman and boy, plundered the house, and depart-
164 HISTORY OP WEZTEL COUNTY.
ed, dragging the little girl by the hair about fifty yards from
the house. They then threw her over a fence and scalped her,
but as she evinced symptoms of life, Schoolcraft exclaimed,
"That is not enough," when immediately a savage thrust a
knife into her side, and they left her. Fortunately the point
of the knife came in contact with a rib and did not injure her
much.
Old Mrs. West and her two daughters were alone when the
old gentleman was taken. They became uneasy that he did
not return, and fearing that he had fallen into the hands of
the savages, they left the house and went to the house of one
Alexander West, who was then on a hunting expedition with
his brother Edmund. They told them of the absence of the
old man and their fears of his fate, and as there was no man
here they went over to the house of Jesse Hughes^ who was
also uneasy as to the absence of his daughter, and on hearing
that West, too, was missing, he did not doubt Mrs. West's
predictions, and knowing of the absence of the younger West
he deemed it advisable to apprize his wife of danger and re-
move her to his house. On which he started toward the house,
accompanied by Mrs. West and her two daughters. On en-
tering the door a horrible spectacle was presented to^their
view. Mrs. West and the lad lay upon the floor welting in
their blood, but not yet dead. The sight overpowered the girls,
and Hughes had to carry them off. Seeing that the savages
had just left them, and aware of the danger that they would
be menaced with if the alarm be given to the Indians, Hughes
guarded his own house that night and in the morning spread
the sorrowful news of the massacre, and organized a company
of men who went in pursuit of the Indians and to try to find
the missing ones. Young West was found, standing in the
creek about a mile from home, where he had been toma-
hawked. The brains were oozing from his head, yet he sur-
vived in extreme suttering for three days. Old Mr. West waii
found in the field where he had been tomahawked. Mrs. West
HISTORY OP WETZEL COUNTY. 165
probably lived but a few minutes after Hughes and her sisters-
in-law had left there. The little girl (Hoker's daughter) was
found in bed at the home of old Mr. West. She related th-^
story to Edmund West, and said that she went to sleep, when
she was thrown over the fence and was awakened by the scalp-
ing. After she had been stabbed, at the suggestion of School-
craft, and left, she tried to re-cross the fence to the house, but
as she was climbing up she again went to sleep and fell back.
After awakening she walked into the woods and sheltered her-
self as good as she could in the top of a tree and remained until
morning.
Kemembering that there was no person left alive at her sis-
ter's house, she proceeded to go to the house of old man West.
She found no person at home^ the fire nearly out, but the hearth
warm. She laid down on it, but the ashes produced a sicken-
ing odor which caused her to get up and go to bed, where she
was found. She recovered, grew up and was married, and
gave birth to ten children. She died, as was believed by many,
from an atfection of the head, caused by the wound she re-
ceived that night. Hughes' daughter was ransomed by her
father the next year, and for a long time lived in sight of the
theatre of those savage enormities.
THE HEROISM OF MRS. BOZARTH.
An Incident of Border Warfare in Monongalia County.
After the combat of Capt. David Morgan and the two sav-
ages the alarm caused the settlers of the neighborhood of
Prickett's Fort to gather at the house of Mrs. Bozarth for
safety, and on the 1st of April. 1778, when only Mrs. Bozarth
and two men were in the house, the children, who were out at
play, came running toward the house in full speed, exclaiming
that there were "ugly red men coming." I'pon hearing Uu^,
one of the two men in the house went to the door to see if
Indians really were coming, and received a glancing shot on
his breast, which caused him to fall back. The Indian who
had shot him sprang in immediately after, and grapjiled with
the other white man, and w^as quickly thrown on the bed. His
antagonist having no weapon with which to do him any injury,
called to Mrs. Bozarth for a knife. Not finding one at hand, she
seized an axe, and at one blaw let out the brains of the pros-
trate savage. By this time another savage entered the door
and shot dead the man engaged in combat with his com-
panion. Mrs. Bozarth turned on him and with a well directed
blow knocked him in the head and caused him to call out for
help. Upon this the others who were engaged with the ciiil-
dren in the yard, came to the door, and as each one would stick
his head in the door he. would be sent to the happy hunting
grounds by the hand of Mrs. Bozarth. The children in the
yard were all killed and one of the -men, but by the coolness
and infinite self-possession of Mrs. Bozarth she succeeded in
saving her own life and that of the man who was first shot, and
keeping the savages from taking possession of the house.
AN INDIAN MASSACRE IN TYLER COUNTY.
In August, 1787, five Indians on their way to tho Indian set-
tlement on the Monongahehi river, met two men on Middle Is-
land creek, Tyler eonnty, and killed them. Takino- the dead
men's horses the continned their journey until they came to
the house of William Joiinson, on what is now known as "Ten
Mile," and made prisoners of Mrs. Johnson and some children;
plundered the house, killed part of the stock, and taking with
them one of Johnson's horses, returned toward the Ohio.
When the Indians came to the house Johnson had gone to a
Lick not far off, and on his return in the morning, seeing what
had been done, and searching until he found the trail of the
savages and their })risoners, ran to (Marksburg for assistance.
A company of nu'u repaired with him immediately to where he
had discovered the trail, and keeping it about a mile, found
four of the children lying upon the ground dead and scalped,
and their bodies laid in a form as to represent a cross. The
dead were buried and further pursuit given over.
ADAM POE'S FAMOUS FIGHT WITH BIG
FOOT.
Some time near the year of 1780, a party of Wyandotts, con-
sisting of five of the most distinguished chiefs of that nation,
came into one of the intermediate settlements between Fort
Pitt and Wheeling ajid killed an old man, who was alone in the
vast wilderness, and robbed him of all that was in the cabin.
After doing this, they commenced retreating with the plunder,
but they were soon discovered by spies, among whom were
Andrew and Adam Poe, two brothers, distinguished for their
build, physical strength and bravery, who went in pursuit of
them, coming near them not far from the Ohio river. Adam
Poe, fearing that the Indians were in ambush, left his com-
panions^ where he started toward the river under cover of the
high grass, with a few to attack them unawares, should they
be in such a position. At last he saw an Indian raft at the
edge of the water, but saw no Indians; presently he walked
cautiously through the grass, and had gone but a few steps
when he saw below him under the bank the big Wyandot t
chief, "Big Foot," and a little Indian side by side, muttering
something in a very I'ow tone, and watching the party of whites
who were lower down the bottom. Poe then raised his gun to
shoot, aiming at the big chief; the gun snapped, which betraj^ed
his presence; seeing no chance for retreat, he immediately
sprang upon the big chief, and seizing him by the breast and
at the same time putting his arm around the neck of the
smaller Indian, threw them both to the gorund, knocking the
two Indians senseless for the time being. They then struggled
for a while, on which the smaller Indian succeeded in getting
loose from the grasp of Poe, and af course,, as soon as he got
free grabbed a tomahawk and started toward Poe, but a vigor-
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. . 169
ous and well-idrected kick soon ])nt an end to tlic Indian's in-
tentions for a while; but after* recoverin"- from the shook lie
had received by tlie kick, the Indian again raised liis toma-
hawk, but this time Poe saved himself by throwino- up his
arms, as the blow was aimed at his head. Poe now realized that
he was menaced by a terrible danger, and freeing himself from
the gri]» of tlie chief, he arose, picked ud a gun and shot the
smaller Indian through the stomach. By this time the big
chief had regained his feet, and seizing l*oe by the slioulder
and leg threw him up in the air like a man would throw a small
baby. Poe, however, was soon on his feet, and engaged in a
close struggle. By this time they were both at the water's
edge; the question now was to drown the other, and the efforts
to accomplish this were continued for a long time without any
success. At last Poe grasped the long hair of the chief and
held him under the water until he thought he was dead and
relaxed his hold, but too soon; in an instant the gigantic sav-
age was again on his feet and ready for another combat. In
this they were both taken beyond their depth and had to swim
for safety; both swam for all their might toward the shore.
The Indian was a more expert swimmer and succeeded in
reaching the shore first. By this time Andrew Poe (his bro-
ther), who had just returned from a conflict with the other
members of the band, killing all but one. getting worried about
his brother, went in search of him and there appeared in the
nick of time to save liis brother. Adam, seeing that the In-
dian would reach shore first, turned and swam back into the
river, thinking that he could get beyond the reach of the gun
of the heartless savage, and some other member of the gang
taking him for an Indian, sliot and wounded him severely. He
then called upon his brother to shoot the big Indian on the
shore, whicli lie did, and immediately sprang into the river af-
ter his brother, who was so severely hurt that he could not
swim. Tlie wounded cliief then rolled into the river to save
a trophy that is so dear to everv Indian warrior.
SAD DEATH OF CAPTAIN VAN BUSKIRK.
Early in June, 1702, occurred the last conflict on the upper
Ohio, between an organized party of Virginians and Indians.
In consequence of the numerous depredations on the settle-
ments now embraced in Brooke and Hancock counties, it was
determined to summarily chastise these marauders; and, ac-
cordingly, a party of men organized under the command of
Captain Van Buskirk, an officer of tried courage and acknowl-
edged efficiency. A party of Indians had committed sundry
acts of violence, and it was believed the}" would endeavor to
cross the Ohio, on their retreat, at some point near Mingo Bot-
tom. Van Buskirk's party consisted of about forty experi-
enced frontiersmen, some of whom were veteran Indian hun-
ters. The number of the enem}^ was known to be about thirty.
The whites crossed the river below the mouth of Cross Creek,
and marched up the bottom, looking cautiously for the enemy's
trail. The}' had discovered it along the run, but missing, con-
cluded to take the ridge, hoping thus to cross it. Descending
the ridge, and just as they gained the river, the Indians fired
upon them, killing Captain Van Buskirk and wounding John
Aidy.
The enemy were concealed in a ravine amidst a dense cluster
of paw paw bushes. The whites marched in single file, headed
by their Captain, whose exposed situation will account for
the fact that he was riddled with thirteel balls. The ambush
quartered on their flank, and they were totally unsuspicious
of it. The plan of the Indians was to permit the whites to
advance in numbers along the line before firing upon them.
This was done; but instead of each selecting his man, every gun
was directed at the Captain, who fell with thirteen bullet-
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 171
lK)le3 ill his body. The ^vhites and Indians instantly treed,
and contest lasted more than an houi'. The Indians, however,
were defeated, and retreated towards the Mnskingum, with the
loss of several killed; while the Virginians, with the exception
of their Captain, had none killed, and but three wounded.
Captain Van Buskirk's wife was killed just eleven months
previous to the death of her husband. They lived about three
miles from West Libert}'. She had been taken prisoner by the
Indians, and on their march towards the river her ankle was
sprained so that she could not walk without pain. Finding
her an incumbrance, the wretches put her to death on the hill
just above where Wellsville now stands. (Jn the following day
her body was discovered by a i)arty who had gone out in
pursuit.
MURDER OF THE TWO MISSES CROW.
Next to the Tush murder, perhaps the most melancholy oc-
currence on Wheeling Creek was that of two sisters — the
Misses Crow, which occurred in 17S5. The parents of these
girls lived about one mile above the mouth of Dunkard, or
lower fork of the creek. According to the statement of a third
sister, who was an eye-witness to the horrid tragedy and her-
self almost a victim, the three left their parents' house for an
evening walk along the deeply-shaded banks of that beautiful
stream. Their walk extended over a mile and they were just
turning back, when suddenly several Indians sprang from be-
hind a ledge of rocks and seized all three of the sisters. With
scarcely a moment's interruption, the savages led the captives
a short distance up a small bank when a halt was called and
a parley took place. It seems that some of the Indians were
in favor of immediate slaughter, while others were disposed to
carry them into permanent captivity.
Unfortunately, the arm of mercy was powerless. Without
a moment's warning, a fierce-looking savage stepped from the
group, with elevated tomahawk, and commenced the work of
death. This Indian, in the language of the surviving sister,
"Began to tomahawk one of my sisters — Susan by name. Su-
san dodged her head to one side, the tomahawk taking effect
in her neck, cutting the jugular vein, the blood gushing out a
yard's length. The Indian who held her hand jumped back to
avoid the blood. The other Indian then began the work of
death on my sister Mary.
''I gave a sudden jerk and got loose from the one that held
me and ran with all speed, taking up a steep bank, but just as
I caught hold of a bush to help myself up, the Indian fired and
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 173
the ball passed through the clump of hair on my head, slightly
breaking the skin. I gained the top in safety, the Indian tak-
ing round in order to meet me as I would strike the path that
led homeward. But I ran right from home and hid myself in
the bushes near the top of the hill. Presently I saw an Indian
passing along the hill below me; I lay still until he was out of
sight; I then made for home."
FOURTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT.
The Home of Thrift, Enterprise and Industry in the State of West Virginia.
Its Wonderful Past, Its Present and Future — A Great and Progressive
Country, With Pen Pictures of the People Who Have and Are Con-
tributing to Her Industrial, Financial, Mercantile and Commercial
Importance— Some Facts About Tyler County.
Ill the study of the historv of the Fourth Judicial Civcuit it
is necessary that we understand something of the causes which
have acted in producing and advancing or retarding and de-
stroying, the various institutions, civil and otherwise, of the
Commonwealth. That we may study intelligently the history
of West Virginia — "The Little Mountain State,'' the ''Daughter
of the Old Dominion," born amid the throes of civil war — it is
important that we look to the causes which have led to its set-
tlement and organization as a State.
In 1634, twenty-seven years after the founding of Jamestown,
Virginia was divided into eight counties or shires similar to
iliose in England. These, the tirst in the New World, were
named James Cit}', Henrico, Elizabeth City, Warwick Eiver,
W^arrosquyoake — now Isle of Wight — Charles River and Aco-
mack. ^Mrgil A. Lewis, who wrote a history of West Virginia,
saj's: ''Virginia ever tried to keep civil government abreast of
her most adventurous pioneers, and to accomplish this^ her
House of Burgesses continued to make provision for the forma-
tion of new counties. After the eight original ones came oth-
ers in the order named: Northampton and Gloucester, in 1042;
Northumberland, in 1648; Surry and Lancaster, in 1652; West-
moreland, in 1653; Sussex and New Kent, in 1654; Stafford and
Middlesex, in 1675; Norfolk, Princess Anne, and King and
AN OIL DERRICK.
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 1 4 T)
Queen, iu 1691; Kielimond, in 1692; King William, in 1701;
I'l'ince George, in 1702; Spottsylvania, King George, Hanover
and Brunswick, in 1720; Goochland and Caroline, in 1727;
Amelia and Orange, in 1784; Augusta, in 1738; Albemarle, in
1744; Amherst, in 1761; and Botetourt, in 1769.
From 1732 to 1750 many pioneers found homes in the Ope-
quou, Back Creek, Little and Great Cacapon and South Branch
Valleys. These settlements were made principally within the
present limits of Jetferson, Berkeley, Morgan and Hampshire
counties and were the earliest in West Virginia. Quite a num-
ber of those who settled in Berkeley and Jefferson were Quak-
ers, and to them is due the credit of being established the fii st
religious organization, not only in West Virginia, but west of
the Blue Ridge. That they had regular meetings as early as
1738, is proven conclusively by a letter written by Thomas
Chauckley on May 21, 17;j8, and addressed to ''The Fiiends of
the Monthly Meeting at Opequon."
A century and a half have passed away since the first white
men found homes in West Mrginia. It is not a long time, yi.^1,
when they came Washington was an infant in his mother's
arms; no Englishmen had been on the banks of the Ohio; no
white man had found a home within the confines of Georgia;
New Hampshire was a part of Massachusetts, the P'reuch had
a cordon of forts extending from the St. Lawrence to the Mis-
sissippi and savage tribes roamed all over the country from
the Blue Ridge to the Tacific. It was five years before the
founding of Richmond, 23 years before the French and Indian
war, and 43 years before the Revolution. Truly this is the old
part of West Mrginia.
At the beginning of the Revolution but two of ilu* counties
of AWst \'irginia had an existence. These were Berkeley and
Hampshire. In 1775 the former extended from the Blue Ridge
to the Ohio, while the latter stretched away from the North
mountain to the western limit. South of Hampshire lay Au-
gusta county, reaching from the Blue Ridge to the Ohio, and
176 HISTORY OF WEZTEL COUNTY.
including- all territory between the Little Kanawha and Great
Kanawha rivers, while all that part of the State lying south of
the latter was included within the bounds of Fincastle county.
The district of West Augusta was all that territory west of the
mountains, the boundaries of wiiich as defined in 177C, included
all the territory west of the mountains, the boundaries of which
as defined in 177G, included all tli; territory north of Middle Is-
land Creek, and lying w^est and south of the Monongahela river
to the Ohio. During the Revolution a small rebelliou broke
out in the Augusta district, and this insurrection was knoAvu
as "Claypole's Rebellion," as John Claypole, a J^cot. was the
leader. The trouble was caused by Claypole refusing to i)ay
his taxes and getting others to join him in resisting the officers.
He was finally arrested, some of his stock appropriated, and his
band of insurgents broken up.
Concerning the Augusta district of West Virginia, of which
Tyler county was a part, ^^;ashing•ton once said during the
darkest period of the Revolution : ''Leave me but a banner to
place on the mountains of Augusta and I will rally around me
the men who will lift our bleeding country from the dust and
set her free.
Of the men who helped to free America, many of the best
were from the hills and valleys of this part of West Virginia.
Their names have been consigned to oblivion, but their memory
shall live as long as there is an American fiag to wave over the
land of the free and the home of the brave.
"When Augusta county was formed it included all of the ^ut-
most parts of Virginia' and extended from the Blue Ridge
mountains on the east to the Mississippi river on the west.
From its original limits have been carved the States of
West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan.
Its western boundary was the French possessions of Louisiana.
"Botetourt was formed from the southern part of Augusta,
from w^hich it was separated by a line drawn westward from
the point at which the James river breaks through the Blue
BURNING OF AN OIL TANK.
THE
NEW YORK \^
'public library,';
Astor, Lenox and Tiiden '
Foun'?'-""S. /J
1903
HISTORY OF WETZEL COUNTY. 177
Bidge, aud terminating near the present site of Keokuk, on the
Mis3issipi)i. In 1772, Fincastle county was formed from the
southern part of Botetourt, but its existence was of short dura-
tion, for it was extinguished in 1776, b}' an act of the General
Assembly ;, which created from its territory the counties of
Montgomery, Washington and Kentucky, the boundaries being
almost identical with those of the State now bearing its name.
*'In 1778, Virginia made her first effort to establish civil gov-
ernment west of the Ohio river. In October of that vear the
Assembly passed an act creating the county of Illinois from
Botetourt. It included all of Virginia west of the Ohio, by
which it was bounded on the south and southeast; Pennsylva-
nia lay on the east; the great lakes on the north; and the Mis-
sis^sippi washed its boundaries on the west. John Todd was
appointed county lieutenant and civil commandant of Illinois
county. He was killed at the battle of Blue Licks, in Ken
tucky, August 18, 1782, and his successor in office was Timothy
de ^lonthbrunn.
"l^ut Virginia's authority was not long to continue beyond
the Ohio. On October 20, 1783, the Assembly passed an act en-
titled 'An act to authorize the delegates of this State in Con-
gress assembled all the rights of this Commonwealth to the ter-
ritory northwestward of the river Ohio.' This offer the United
States accepted, and the deed of cession was promptly mad(;
March 22, 1784, and signed on the part of Mrginia by Thomas
Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, Arthur Lee and James Monroe, mem-
bers of Congress from Virginia. This deed may be seen in
"Henniug's General Statutes/' Vo. xi, p. 571.
Before entering upon the history of Wetzel county, it is pro-
per to notice what was for some time known as the ''District
of West Augusta.'' The boundaries, which will be best under-
stood by the reader with a map of the State before him, were
defined by act of Assembly in 1776, as follows: "Begisning on
the Alleghany mountains between the heads of the Potomac,
Cheat aiiid Greenbrier rivers; thence along the ridge of monn-
178 HISTORY OF WEZTEL COUNTY.
tains which divides the waters of Cheat river from those of
Greenbrier and that branch of the Monongahela river called
Tygart's Valley river, on the northwest of the said West Fork,
thence up the said creek to the head thereof ; thence in a direct
course to the head of Middle Island creek, a branch of the Ohio
river; and thence to the Ohio including all the waters of the
aforesaid creek in the aforesaid District of West Augusta, all
that territory lying to the northward of the aforesaid boundary
and to the westward of the States of Pennsylvania and Mary-
land, shall be deemed and is hereby declared to be within the
boundaries of West Augusta.'"
The boundaries thus defined, if delineated on a map of the
present State, would begin on the summit of the Alleghanies
at the northwest corner of Pocahontas county, and run thence
southwest between that county and Randolph to Mingo Flat in
the latter, thence north through that county, thence north-
west through Barbour and Taylor into Marion witli the mean-
derings of Tygart's A'alley river to its confluence with the Mo-
nongahela, thence ujj the West Fork of that river to the mouth
of Bingamon's creek in Harrison, and thence west with the
stream to its source. And thence southwest through the latter
county to the head of Middle Island creek in Doddridge; thence
northwest centrally through that county and Tyler to the Ohio;
thence northeast with that river to the present site of Pitts-
burg; thence with the Monongahela and Cheat rivers through
the Southwestern part of Pennsylvania and Preston and Tucker
counties to the beginning.
The tei'ritory thus embraced included two-thirds of the coun-
ty of Randolph, half of Barbour, a third of Tucker, half of Tay-
lor, a third of Preston, nearly the whole of Marion, Monroe and
Monongalia, a fourth of Harrison, half of Doddridge, two-thirds
of Tyler, and the whole of Wetzel, Marshall, Ohio, Brooke and
Hancock in "West Virginia, and the whole of Greene, Washing-
ton and parts of Allegheny and Beaver counties in Pennsyl-
vania.
SCENE ON THE OHIO RIVER.
HISTORY OF WF.TZEL OOUXTY. 17*.>
A succeeding section of the same act provided for the divi-
sion of West Augusta into three counties, to be known as Ohio,
Yohogania and Monongalia. By the westward extension of
Mason and Dixon's line in 1784, the great part of Yohogania
fell into Pennsylvania, and the remainder was by act of Assem
bly in 1785, added to Ohio county. Thus Yohogania became
extinct.
Having thus noted the efforts of Virginia to establish civil
government in her western domain, we proceed to Tyler county
in detail.
Tyler county was formed from Ohio, by act of December 3 6,
1814, by which the boundaries were defined as follows: IJegiu-
ning at the south and Pennsylvania line; thence a due west
course to the Ohio river; thence with said river to the Wood
county line; thence wath said line to the line dividing Mononga-
lia from Ohio county; thence with said line to the Pennsylvania
line, and with it to the place of beginning. The commissioners to
locate the seat of justice were Dudley Evans and Levi Morgan,
of Monongalia, Moses Congleton and Samuel Chambers, of
Brooke, and Benjamin Robinson and Davidson, Jri, (if Harri-
son. The county was named in honor of John Tyler, who w as
born in James county, Virginia, February '2S, 1747. Pie grad-
uated at \Villiams and Marys college, then studied lav>- in the
office of Robert Carter Nicholas, at Williamsburg. He was long
a member of the Assembly and commanded a body of Charles
City troops during the Revolutionary war. In 1S70 he became
a member of the Council of State, and December 1, 1808, '.vas
-elected Governor of Virginia. Before his term expired Presi-
dent ]\Iadison appointed him to the judgeship of the District
Court of the United States for Virginia, in which capacity he
served until his death January 0, 18i:i. He was the father of
John Tyler, tenth President of the United States.
Middlebourne was established a town by legislative enact-
ment January 27, 1813, on the lands of Robert (Jorrell, then in
Ohio (ounuty. and Wallace ^^'ells, Sr., Jose])li Martin, Joseph
180 HISTORY OB^ WEZTEL COUNTY.
Ardor, Thomas Grigg, Daniel Haynes, William Delasbmult,
and Abraham S. Brookhead, trustees.
The town was incorporated February 3, 1871. One of the
first pioneers of the banks of the Ohio, below Wheeling, was
Charles Wells, who settled near the present site of Sistersville
in 1776. He was residing here in 1812 when a gentleman vis
ited him and the same year published a work descriptive of the
Ohio Valley. From it we extract the following:
''Charles Wells, Sr., resident on the Ohio river, fifty miles
below W^heeling, related to me while at his house in October
12, the following circumstances: 'That he has had two wives
(the last of which still lives and is hale, smart, young looking
woman) and 22 children, 16 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 fa
ther of 22 children, 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 Muskingum, State of Ohio,
has had by his two wives 28 children. Mr. Gordon is near 80
years old, active and hale in health.' " Thus these three wor-
thy families have had born to them 72 children, a number un-
exampled perhaps in any part of the world, and such as would
make Buffon stare, when he ungenerously asserts, as do sev^^ral
other writers of Europe, that animal life degenerates in Amer-
ica.
Tyler was the only West Virginia county created during the
second war with Great Britain.
Sistersville, which was formerly only a ferry, was established
from the lands of John McCoy January 28, ISIS. The town
was incorporated February 2^ 1831).
c^- . '"
Si**"
BUILDING AN OIL TANK.
11'
THE PHILIP G. BIER G. A. R. POST.
The Philip G. r.icr (t. A. R. I'ost was organized August 21,
1883, with the foUowiug charter members:
J. E. Hart, C. L. Yager,
J. E. Baker. J. M. Francis,
R. T. Richardson, Martin Buskirk,
Wm. Schrouder, Jas. Shriver,
Elijah Morgan, W. H. McEldowney,
John Fowler, Bruce Briggs,
Harmisou Criswell, Jos. Cutshaver,
X. Martin, Basil T. Bowers,
Geo. B. Woodcock, Stephen Daugherty,
W. H. Hitchcock, E. W. Lauck,
T. B. Carothers, T. M. Higgins,
Marshall ^Vhiteman. G. H. Hitchcock,
Jas. Gardner, Frank Evans,
C. D. Dolby.
The Tasl Coninianders are as follows:
1. R. T. Richardson. 2. J. E. Hart.
:{. B. T. Bowers. 4. Jas. B>aker.
5. J. T. Rohrbaugh. (i. J. K. (iorby.
T. W. H. McEldowney. S. J. M. Francis,
t). G. B. Woodcock, 10. F. G. Harvey.
11. Robt. McGee.
The present Commander is Thomas Mills.
F. G. Harvey is .Vdjutant.
WETZEL LODGE No. 39, A., F. & A. M.
Amont the secret orders having hedges in Wetzel county, a
leading place must be given to Wetzel Lodge No. 30, Ancient.
Free and Accepted Masons, of Xew Martinsville.
The first meeting of Wetzel Lodge U. D. was held July 28,
lsr>8, the Eev. R. A. Claughton, of ]Middlebourne Lodae No. 34.
offieiating as W. M. The first officers of the Lodge U. D. were
as follows: John S. Monroe, Henry S. McCabe, Thomas Cellers.
John H. Moore, John Snodgrass and William Mc^NIunn. The
first work was done September 1, lS(i8, when John C. McEl
downey, William W. Hall, John A. Shriver and John S. Kidei-
were initiated. The first work in the third degree was October
0, 18G8, when John C. McEldowney, Robert McEldowney, and
William W. Hall were raised to the ;subl;me degree of Ma.ster
Mason. The first funeral service conducted by the Lodge was
September 18, 1868, when William M. Bartlett was laid to rest.
The charter of Wetzel Xo. 39 is dated November l(Jth, 1S6!),
and is signed by William J. Bates, Grand Master, and Thomas
H. Logan. Grand Secretary. The Lodge was constituted Jan
uary 25th, 1870, by Odell S. Long, the most eminent of West
^'irginla Free Masons, J. A\ L. Rogers officiating as Grand
Marshal. The first officers under the charter were as follows:
John S. Monroe, John S. Rider, John C. McEldowney, Jcsephus
Clark. George E. Bovd, Willijiin \V. Hall and Tlioiuas J. Hill.
The first stated' communication under the charter was held
February 1st, 1870.
The following is a complete list of the Worshipful Masters of
Wetzel Lodge No. 31): John S. Monroe, John S. Rder, B. M.
Welch (three years in all), John C. McEldowney (two years).
John Cherry, J. P. Dunlap, John McComas (two years), M. R.
FRANK WELLS CLARK,
W. M. of the Masons.
HE
YORK
/ PUBLiC LIBRAF
\
jX and Tiideny
HISTORY OF WKTZKL COTWTY. 183
('rouse, Thomas I'err}^ Jacobs (five years in allj, F. (\ Biuher
(four years iu all), F. E. McEldowney (two years), Robert Mc-
Eldowney (three years), W. IMcG. Hall (three years), Frank W.
<'lark (three years).
For many years the Lodge met in the old Court House, torn
down to make way for the new temple of justice now being-
erected by the county. About three years since the Lodge re-
nioyed to its present pleasant quarters in the third floor of the
McCaskey Building.
The Lodge membership at ])resent is about one hundred,
comprising many of the most prominent men of the town and
county. The roster of Lodge officers for the year 1901 is as
follows Frank W. Clark, W. M.; John W. Kaufman, S. W.;
A. P>. ^Morrison, J. W.; F. E. McEldowney, Tieas.; James Bish-
op, Secretary; O- !-• Haught, S. I).; L. X. Mclntire, J. D.; Wil-
liam Debolt, Tiler; John Stamm and J. U. Dayton, Stewards;
Key. W. H. Burkhardt, Chaplain.
Perhaps the "biggest day" in th(^ history of the Lodge was
August 31st, 1900, on which date the corner stones of the new
Wetzel county Court House and of the new M. E. church were
laid under ^Masonic auspices, E. M. Turner officiating as Grand
]\Iaster, and a large body of Knights Templar acting as escort
for the Grand Lodge.
Wetzel Lodge has been a most important factor in the de-
yelopment of the county, and will continue so to be as long as
^ts members cherish those bright jewels of the Order, "Friend-
ship, ^Molality and P>iotherlv Love.''
West Virginia Monumental Works.
We hcic jireseut a fair likeness of Rev. T. H. Hawkins, Man-
ager and sole owner of the West A'ir^inia Monumental works.
REV. T. H. HAWKINS,
Manager of the W. Va. Monumental Works.
The West ^'iroinia Monumental Works is situated at New
Martinsville and is one of the largest ooneerus of its kind in
the State. They work all kinds of marble and granite, having
a steam power apparatus for polishing their work, both granite
and marble. Twelve men are constantly employed at the
works. (\ W. P>eck is foreman. The workmen are: Cutters,
Holly Sayre, Koy (^orbet, James McClain, James Debolt, Harry
Hawkins and (Jeorge Huff. Other workmen are Turner
Wells, Quincy Moore, Earl Mclntire. Frank Tarter and C. M.
Mathe.^. J. A. Kramer is transfer man.
/
NEW YORK
'brary'
JACOB KOONTZ,
Of the firm of Koontz & Philips.
KOONTZ & PHILLIPS.
PLANING MILL.
The largest planing mill and lumber yard in the county is
owned by Koontz and Philips, and is situated near the Ohio
River R. R. on the Big Fishing creek bank. Charles Koontz is
General Manager. The company employs thirty-eight men, of
whom are J, Koontz and E. F. Philips, Thos. Fink, Arch Gil-
bert, Geo. Showalter, Sr., Geo. Showalter, Jr., Wm. Showalter.
Harry Showalter, Ezra Daugherty, Theo. Glegg.Wm. Hammell.
Dave Ilammell, Charles Koontz, Harry Evans, Frank ^Yait.•!,
Jere Waits, Joseph Minor, Thos. Minor, Frank Workman, O.
S. Beaver, Wm. Yager, Simon Potts, Frank Shaffer, Albert
Rist, George Snodgrass, Chas. Enslow, Chas. Waits, John Har-
igan, Basil Hill, John Harman, Elias Gilbert, Wm. Findlav,
L. Zessiger, ^^^ W. Carr, Ury Minor, Carl Kappel, Robert
Smith, Simon Brothers.
