USA > Virginia > Historical collections of Virginia : containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c. relating to its history and antiquities ; together with geographical and statistical descriptions ; to which is appended, an historical and descriptive sketch of the District of Columbia. > Part 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
Every one who sincerely believes the testimony which God gave of Jesus of Nazareth saying. "The Is my Son, the beloved, in whom I delight" or. in other words, believes what the evangelists and apos- des have testified concerning bun, from his conception to his coronatios in heaven as bort of all. and
2
190
BROOKE COUNTY.
who is willing to obey him in every thing, they regard as a proper subject of immersion, and no one else. They consider immersion into the name of the Father. Son, and Holy Spirit, after a public, sincere, and intelligent confession of the faith in Jesus, as necessary to admission to the privileges of the kingdom of the Messiah, and as a solemn pledge, on the part of Heaven, of the actual remission of all past sins, and of adoption into the family of God.
The Holy Spirit is promised only to those who believe and obey the Saviour. No one is taught to ex- peut the reception of that heavenly Monitor and Comforter, as a resident in his heart, till he obeys the gospel.
Thus, while they proclaim faith and repentance. or faith and a change of heart, as preparatory to im- mersion, remission, and the Holy Spirit, they say to all penitente, or all those who believe and repent of their sins, as Peter said to the first audience addressed after the Holy Spirit was bestowed, after the clori- fication of Jesus. " Be immersed, every one of your in the name of the Land Jeste, for the session of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." They teach sinners that God commands all men, everywhere, to reform, or turn to God; that the Holy Spirit sinves with them, so to do, by the apostles and prophets ; that God besecches them to be reconciled, through Jesus Christ ; and that it is the duty of all men to believe the gospel, and turn to God.
The immersed believers are congregated into societies, according to their propinquity to each other, and taught to meet every first day of the week, in honor and commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus, and to break the loaf, which commemorates the death of the Son of God, to read and hear the living oracles, to teach and admonish one another, to unite in all prayer and praise, to contribute to the necessities of saints, and to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord.
Tvery congregation chooses its own overseers and deacons, who preside over and administer the affairs of the congregations ; and every church, either from itself, or in cooperation with others, sends out. as opportunity offers, one or more evangelists, or proclaimers of the word, to preach the word, and to immerse those who believe, to gather congregations, and to extend the knowledge of salvation where it is necessary, As far as their means allow. But every church regards these evangelist as its servants; and, therefore. they have no control over any congregation, each congregation bring subject to its own choice of prosi dents or ehlers, whom they have appointed. Perseverance in all the work of filth, labor of love, and pa- lience of hope, is inculcated, In all the disciples, as essentad to admission into the he men's kingdom.
Such are the prominent outlines of the faith and practices of those who wish to be known as the Disci- ples of Christ : but no society among them would agree to make the preceding items either a confession of falch ora standard of practice, but, for the information of those who wish an promaintanen with them are willing to give, at any time, a reason for their faith, hope, and practice.
View of Wellsburg, Brooke County.
Wellsburg, the seat of justice for the county, is beautifully situated on the Ohio River, 337 miles from Richmondand 16 above Wheeling. It is a thriving. business place, and contains 9 mercantile stores, 2 academies, ! Presbyterian, ! Methodist. 1 Christian Baptist, and 1 Episcopal church. 1 white flint-glass works. 1 glass-cutting establish- ment, I paper-mill. I large cotton factory. 2 extensive potterics, 1 steam saw-mill, 5 large warehouses, I newspaper printing office, 6 extensive flouring-mills in it and the vicinity. I woollen factory. a branch of the N. W. Va. Bank, and a population of over 2,000. Inexhaustible beds of stone-coal abound on all sides of the place, which is furnished at a few cents per bushel to the numerous manu
197
BROOKE COUNTY.
factories located here. About 50,000 barrels of flour are annually exported from here to New Orleans, in steam and flat boats.
Wellsburg was laid out in 1789, by Charles Perthen the original proprietor, from whom it was named Charleston. There Leing two other towns in the state of a similar name. it was afterwards changed to its present name from Alexander Wells, who built a flour warehouse at the point, the first ever erected on the Ohio. The first settlers came before the revolution: they were three brothers, Isaac, George, and Friend Cox, who built a forty as a protection against the Indians, about a mile above the village. Most of the carly settlers were from New England. The inhabit- ants in the town and vicinity, at an early date, whose names are recollected, were Wm. M'Farland, Capt. Oliver Browo, Capt. Sam- vel Brown. Dr. Joseph and Philip Dodridge, James and Thomas Marshall. Major M'Mahon, who was killed in Wayne's catepaign, Samuel Brady, the famous Indian hunter, James and Hezekiah Griffeth, Isaac Reeves, and James Perry. About a mile below town, on the river, at a place now called Indian Side. a Mrs. Buskirk was killed and scalped by the Indians. The Mingo tribe of Indians had a settlement three miles above Wellsburg, on the opposite side of the river.
PHILIP DODRIDGE, who died at Washington. in 1832, while a member of Congress, was from Wellsburg. He was scarcely ks celebrated in western Virginia, for his eloquence and splendid talents, than was Patrick Henry, In his day, in the oldest portions of the state. Dr. S. P. Hildreth, in the American Pioneer, has given the subjoined sketch :
Mr Dodridge, as is well known to the early inhabitants of western Pennsylvania and Virginia, was for many years one of the most noted men in that region, for his splendid talents at the bar; and has probably never been execled, if he has been equalled, for his discrimination in fathoming the depths of an intricate case, or his powerful and logical reasoning in unfolding it. His father was among the earliest set. lers of northwestern Virginia, in the vicinity of what was then called Charleston, but now Wellsburg. His constitution being not very robust, at the age of sixteen of fighters years he was taken from the plough, put to school, and commenced the study of Martin. This vigorous mind drank in knowledge with the rapidity of thought, or as a day sponge absorbe water. It soon became a habit with him to exercise his memory, in changing the com- mon conversation around him into the indian of his sto tes; and following his father is his evening aud morning devotions, he soon learned to render his prayers into very good Latin, and to converse with his teacher fluently. This clos- application to his books, although it invigorated his montal powers, yet entrebied the body, and it became neces. sary for a while to suspend his studies. At this period, the region in which he lived had become so much improved as to afford considerable ansplus produce beyond the wants of the inhabitants, the only market for which was to be found on the Misissigne River or at New Orleans. Some of his cousine, young men of his own age, having loaded a boat with flour, invited him to go with them, and recruit bis enfeebled frame by a voyage to the south. Nothing very interesting occurred unth they reached Natchez. at that time in the possession of the Spaniards. They were very strict in their police, forbidding any strangers or boatmen to go up into the town, seuted on a high blunif. without a written permission from the commandant or governor of the place. Yoong Dodridge feeling the ill effects of confinement to the narrow fiants of the beat, and th !! he needed exercise, determined to take a walk and visit the four on the hill the fat ascended about half way, when he was met hy a well-dressed man, who accosted him in the Spanish language. Dodredge did not fully understand ben but the right it singhat to the Latin, and answered bim in that tongue. It sy happened that the individual who
- .
198
BROOKE COUNTY.
addressed him was no less a personage than the governor of Natchez, and was went versed in the Latin, having been liberally educated in Spain. They soon fell into a very familiar and animated discourse, without Philip's once suspecting the station of his new acquaintance. Learning that be had visited the Mississippi country on account of his delicate health, and that he was now walking for exercise. after long confinement to the boat, and withal astonished and delighted to have discovered so learned a man in as up-country beatman, he invited him to his house. The sprightly it and uncomune intellect of the young stranger soon won his whole heart, and interested the Spanish commandant deeply in his welfare. His admiration was not the less excited, from having pointed out to him on a large map of the western country, which hung against the. wall, the spot near the head of the Ohio River, where he was born, and from whence he deparied on the present voyage. While thas agreeably engaged, a black servant drove up to the door with a neat Spanish carriage and pair of horses, accompanied with an invitation from the governor to step in and ride as far as he pleased. With many thanks, not the less acceptable to his benefactor from their being clothed in the Latin tongue, Philip accepted the offered kindness, and extended his ride to some distance around the suburbs of Natchez. When about to depart, he was invited to call every day as long as he re- mained, and the carriage and servant should be ready for his service. This pleasing in- tercourse was continued for about a week ; and when he finally took his leave, the governor gave him letters of introduction to several of the first men in New Orleans, accompanied with many flattering expressions of his admiration for his uncommon ae- quirements, and the pleasure his acquaintance bad afforded him ; thus demonstrating the homage that is ever paid by the wise and sand to learning and worth, even when accompanied with poverty and among strangers. His companions looked with wonder and astonishment at the gracious reception and attention paid to their cousin by the governor, While they were barely allowed to step on shore, and not suffered to leave the vicinity of the landing. Philip laughingly told them it was all owing to his good looks, which they could hardly byheve, as in this particular they were decidedly superior to their cousin. On reaching New Orleans, his letters procured bim ready admission to the tables and the society of the most prominent men in the city ; and the few weeks he staid there were passed in a round of amuseansats, freely bestowed by the hospitable Spen- iards. At his departure they loaded him with their good wishes and assurances, that they should never forget his name, or the pleasure they had received from the brilliant sallies of his humor and wit.
The Rev. DR. JOSEPH DODRIDGE. a brother of the above, was an Episcopal clergyman, in Wellsburg. He was the author of the work, entitled, " Notes on the settlement and Indian Wars of the western parts of Virginia and Pennsylvania, from the year 1763 until the year 1783, inclusive, together with a view of the state of society and manners of the first settlers of that country." From this interesting and graphic volume, we have, in our work, made several extracts. We here present the reader with his de scription of the weddings among the early pioneers :
For a long time after the first settlement of this country, the inhabitants in general married young. There was no distinction of rank, and very little of fortune. On these accounts the first impression of love resulted in marriage ; and a family establishment cost but a little labor, and nothing else. A description of a wedding, from the beginning to the end, will serve to show the manners of our forefathers, and mark the grade of civilization which has succeeded to their rude state of society in the course of a few years. At an early period, the practice of celebrating the marriage at the house of the bride began, and, it should seem, with great propriety. She also had the choice of the priest to perform the ceremony.
A wedding engaged the attention of a whole neighborhood ; and the frolic was an. ticipated by old and young with eager expectation. This is not to be wondered at, when it is told that a wedding was almost the only gathering which was not accompanied with the labor of raping. log-rolling, building a cabin, or planning some scout of campaign.
In the morning of the wedding-day, the groom and his attendants assembled at the house of his father, for the purpose of reaching the mansion of his bride by noon, which
1
199
BROOKE COUNTY.
was the usual time for celebrating the nuptials, which for certain must take place before dinner
Let the reader imagine an assemblage of people, without a store, tailor, or mantua- muaker, within a hundred miles ; and an assemblage of horses, without a blacksmith or saddler within an equal distance. The gentlemen dressed in shoe-packs, moccasins, feather breeches, leggins, linsey hunting-shirts, and all home-made. The ladies dressed in linsey petticoats, and linsey or linen bed-gowns, coarse shoes, stockings, handker- chiefs, and buckskin gloves, if any. If there were any buckles, rings, buttons, or ruf- fles, they were the relies of old times ; family pieces, from parents or grand-parents. The horses were caparisoned with old saddles, old bridles or halters, and pack-saddles, with a bag or blanket thrown over them ; a rope or string as often constituted the girth, as a piece of leather.
The march, in double file, was often interrupted by the narrowness and obstructions of our horse-paths, as they were called, for we had no roads; and these difficulties were often increased, sometimes by the good, and sometimes by the ill-will of neighbors, by falling trees, and tying grape vines across the way. Sometimes an arobuscade was formed by the wayside, and an unexpected discharge of several guns took place, so as to cover the wedding-party with smoke. Let the reader imagine the scene which fol- lowed this discharge ; the sudden spring of the horses, the shrieks of the girls, and the chivalric bustle of their partners to save them from falling. Sometimes, in spite of all that could be done to prevent it, some were thrown to the ground. If a wrist, elbow, or ankle happened to be sprained, it was tied with a handkerchief, and little more was thought or said about it.
Another ceremony commonly took place before the party reached the house of the bride, after the practice of making whiskey began, which was at an early period ; when the party were about a mile from the place of their destination, two young men would single out to run for the bottle ; the worse the path, the more logs, brush, and deep hollows, the better, as these obstacles afforded an opportunity for the greater display of intrepidity and horsemanship. The English fox-chase, in point of danger to the riders and their horses, is nothing to this race for the bottle. The start was announced by an Indian yell ; logs, brush, muddy hollows, hill and glen, were speedily passed by the rival ponies. The bottle was always filled for the occasion, so that there was no use for judges ; for the first who reached the door was presented with the prize, with which he returned in triumph to the company. On approaching them. he announced his victory over his rival by a shrill whoop. At the head of the troop, he gave the bottle first to the groom and his attendants, and then to each pair in succession to the rear of the line, giving each a dram ; and then putting the bottle in the bosom of his hunting-shirt, took his station in the company.
The ceremony of the marriage preceded the dinner, which was a substantial back- woods feast, of beef, pock, fowls, and sometimes venison and bear-meat, roasted and boiled, with plenty of potatoes, cabbage, and other vegetables. During the dinner the greatest hilarity always. prevailed, although the table might be a large slab of timber, hewed out with a broadaxe, supported by four sticks set in auger-holes ; and the furni- ture, some old pewter dishes and plates ; the rest, wooden bowls and trenchers ; a few pewter spoons, much battered about the edges, were to be seen at some tables. The rest were made of horns. If knives were scarce, the deficiency was made up by the scalping-knives, which were carried in sheaths suspended to the belt of the hunting-shirt.
After dinner the dancing commenced, and generally lasted till the next morning. The figures of the dances were three and four-handed reels, or square setts and jigs. The commencement was always a square four. which was followed by what was called jigging it off ; that is, two of the four would single out for a jig, and were followed by the remaining couple. The jigs were often accompanied with what was called cutting wut ; that is, when either of the parties became tired of the dance, on intimation the place was supplied by some one of the company without any interruption of the dance. In this way a dance was often continned till the musician was heartily tired of his situation. Towards the latter part of the night, if any of the company, through weari- ness, attempted to conceal themselves, for the purpose of sleeping, they were hunted up, paraded on the floor, and the Addier ordered to play, " Ilang out till to-morrow morning."
About nine or ten o'clock, a deputation of the young ladies stole off the bride. and pett her to bed. In doing this, it frequently happened that they had to ascend a folder instead of a pair of stairs, leading from the dining and ball room to the loft. the floor of which was made of clapboards, lying loose, and without nails As the foot of the ladder was commonly behind the door, which was purposely opened ion the occasion,
-
200
BROOKE COUNTY.
and its rounds at the inner ends were well hung with hunting-shirts, petticoats, and other articles of clothing, the candles being on the opposite side of the house, the exis of the bride was noticed but by few. This dove, a deputation of young men in like manner stole off' the groom, and placed him snugly by the side of his bride. The dance still continued ; and if scats happened to be scarce, which was often the case. every young man, when not engaged in the dance, was obliged to offer his lap as a seat for one of the girls : and the offer was sure to be accepted. In the midst of this hilarity the bride and groom were not forgotten. Pretty late in the night, some one would re- mind the company that the new couple must stand in need of some refreshment ; black Betty, which was the name of the bottle, was called for, and sent up the ladder ; but sometimes black Betty did not go alone. I have many times seen as much bread, beef, pork, and cabbage, sent along with her, as would afford a good meal for half a dozen hungry men. The young couple were compelled to eat and drink, more or less, of whatever was offered them.
It often happened that some neighbors or relations, not being asked to the wedding, took offence ; and the mode of revenge adopted by them on such occasions, was that of cutting off the mancs, foretops, and tails of the horses of the wedding company.
On returning to the infare, the order of procession, and the rice for black Betty, was the same as before. The feasting and dancing often lasted for several days, at the end of which the whole company were so exhausted with loss of sleep, that several days rest were requisite to fit them to return to their ordinary labors.
Should I be asked why I have presented this unpleasant portrait of the rude manners of our forefathers-1 in my turn would ask my reader, why are you pleased with the his- tories of the blood and carnage of battles ? Why are you deligined with the fictions of poetry, the novel, and romance ? I have related truth, and only truth, strange as it may seem. I have depicted a state of society and manners which are fast vanishing from the memory of man, with a view to give the youth of our country a knowledge of the advantages of civilization, and to give contentment to the aged, by preventing them from saying, " that former times were better than the present."
Capt. SAMUEL BRADY resided at one time at Wellsburg. He was tall, rather slender, and very active, and of a dark complexion. When in the forest, engaged in war or hunting. he usually wore, instead of a hat, a black handkerchief bound around his head.
Hle bore towards the Indians an implacable hatred, in consequence of the murder of his father and brother by them, and took a solemn oath of vengeance. Gen. Hugh Brady, of the U. S. army, is either a brother or nephew of him. He was at the siege of Boston ; a lieutenant at the massacre of Paoli; and in 1779-80-81, while Gen. Broadhead held command at Fort Pitt, was caprain of a company of rangers. To fully detail his adventures would require a volume, and we have space but for a few anecdotes, drawn from various sources, illustrative of his courage and sagacity,
A party of Indians having made an inroad into the Sewickly settlement, and com. mitted barbarous murders and carried off some prisoners, Brady set off in pursuit with only five men and his pet Indian. He came up with them, and discovered they were en . camped on the banks of the Mahoning. Having reconnoitred their position, Brady returned to and posted his men, and in the deepest silence all awaited the break of day. When it appeared, the Indians arose and stood around their fires; exulting, doubtless, in the scalps they had taken, the plunder they had acquired, and the injury they had inflicted on their enemies. Precarious joy-short-lived triumph! The avenger of Blood was beside them ! At a signal given, seven rifles cracked, and five Indians were dead ere they fell. Brady's well-known war-cry was heard, his party was among them, and their guns (mostly empty) were all secured. The remaining Indians instantly tled and disappeared.
Brady being out with his party; on one occasion had reached Slippery Rock Creek. a branch of the Beaver, without seeing signs of ludians. Here, however, he came on an Indian trail in the evening, which he followed till dark without overtaking the In- dians. The next morning he renewed the pursuit, and overtook them while they were engaged at their morning meal. Unfortunately for him, another party of Indians were in his rear. They had fallen upon his trail, and pursued him, doubtless, with as much ardor as his pursuit had been characterized by ; and at the moment he fired upon the Indians in his front, he was, in turn, fired upon by those in his rear. Ele was now be- tween two fires, and vastly outnumbered. Two of his men fell ; his tomahawk was shot from his side, and the battle-yell was given by the party in his rear, and loudly re- turned and repeated by those in his front. There was no time for hesitation, no safety
1
201
BROOKE COUNTY.
in delay ; no chance of successful defence in their present position. The brave captain and his rangers had to flee before their enemies, who pressed on their flying footsteps with no lagging speed. Brady ran towards the creek. He was known by many. if not all of them; and many and deep were the scores to be settled between him and them. They knew the country well : he did not ; and from his running towards the ereek they were certain of taking him prisoner. The creek was, for a long distance above and be- low the point he was approaching, washed in its channel to a great depth. In the cer- tain expectation of catching him there, the private soldiers of his party were disregarded ; and throwing down their guns, and drawing their tomahawks, all pressed forward to seize their victim. Quick of eye, fearless of heart, and determined never to be a captive to the Indians, Brady comprehended their object, and his only chance of escape, the moment he saw the creek ; and by one mighty effort of courage and activity, defeated the one and effected the other. He sprang across the abyss of waters, and stood, rifle in hand, on the opposite bank, in safety. As quick as lightning his rifle was primed ; for it was his invariable practice in loading to prime first. The next minute the pow- der-horn was at the gun's muzzle ; when, as he was in this act, a large Indian, who had been foremost in the pursuit, came to the opposite bank, and with the manliness of a generous foe, who scorns to undervalue the qualities of an enemy, said in a loud voice, and tolerable English, " Blady make good jump !" It may indeed be doubted whether the compliment was uttered in deri-ion ; for the moment he had said so he took to his heels, and, as if fearful of the return it might napit, ran as crooked as a worm-fence --- some- times leaping high, at others suddenly squatting down, he appeared no way certain that Brady would not saswer from the lips of his rifle. But the riffe was not yet loaded. The captain was at the place afterwards, and ascertained that his loap was about 23 feet, and that the water was 20 feet deep. Brady's next effort was to gather up his inen. They had a place designated at which to meet, in case they should happen to be separated ; and thither he went, and found the other three there. They immediately commenced their homeward march, and returned to Pittsburg about half defeated. Three Indians hal been seen to fill from the fire they gave them at breakfast.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.