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755.4 W64
HISTORY
OF
MONONGALIA COUNTY,
WEST VIRGINIA,
2
FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENTS TO THE PRESENT TIME;
WITH NUMEROUS
BIOGRAPHICAL AND FAMILY SKETCHES.
BY SAMUEL T. WILEY, 1
AUTHOR OF THE "HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA," ETC.
ILLUSTRATED. 221860
KINGWOOD, W. VA .: PRESTON PUBLISHING COMPANY. 1883.
UTAR
COPYRIGHT BY WM. M. O. DAWSON & B. M. SQUIRES 1883
PRESS OF JOURNAL PRINTING HOUSE KINGWOOD, W. VA.
HAT
PREFACE.
NO TIME has been spared, nor labor or expense avoided, in preparing this History of Monongalia County. Unex- pected difficulties in the way of obtaining some information essential to the book, and a spell of sickness, has prevented its completion at the time contemplated by the author.
The Biographical Sketches have been principally written by friends of the subjects of the sketches. The author is indebted to others for the general history of the Mound Builders and the Indians, the latter part of the chapter on Political History, and that section of the Military History entitled " The Civil War."
Thanks are returned to all who have furnished infor- mation, but the number is too large to receive individual mention.
Morgantown, December 1, 1883. S. T. W.
. THE LIBRARY BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSIT PROVO, UTAH
INTRODUCTION.
TO WRITE the history of Monongalia County from its creation by legislative enactment in 1776, down to the recorded events of the present,-and confine the work to the limits of the present territory of the county,-to gather a large portion of the events of this history from scant records and imperfect sources,-is an undertaking of no small degree. While it unavoidably possesses considerable to make it a wearisome task, it also necessarily contains much to render it a work of pleasure.
In attempting to some extent the investiture of this history with the interest that naturally belongs to it, we shall seek to trace the assembling of its first civil courts for near twenty years beneath the walls of the frontier fort. We shall endeavor to chronicle the existence and mark the course of two great parties on its soil, struggling for civil supremacy over its northern sweep of territory. We shall record the fraternizing of these hostile factions in the com- mon war waged by the colonies against England, and call especial attention to the noble spirit of patriotism aroused by the opening thunders of the Revolutionary struggle. We shall seek to notice briefly the attempted Tory revolt in the Monongahela Valley, that one dark spot upon an other- wise bright Revolutionary page. We shall try to pass carefully over the closing struggles of the White Race and the Red Warriors of the forest, for a land crimsoned with
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INTRODUCTION.
the blood of the slain. We shall examine what little can be found of the Whiskey Insurrection, with a view to divorce it from tradition and preserve it from oblivion. We shall next attempt to trace the progress of the county, noticing its stages of growth and giving attention to its few acces- sions and many losses of territory, and the influences tending to retard its advance, up to the days of the late Civil War. We shall endeavor to give the position the county occupied and the part it took in that great struggle. We shall attempt the record of its progress since the war, and the efforts made to place Monongalia in the front rank of the counties of West Virginia-a rank the county is justly entitled to by her immense material resources; by her educational advantages, commencing in a county graded school system and culminating in the State University situated upon her territory, with its departments of law and medicine ; by her religious standing, sustained by churches in every community, and by an intelligent county press, wielding a potent influence for the public weal and con- tributing to the high moral character the county has abroad for peace and good order.
To write this history, treating of the living as well as of the dead, is a delicate task. To write this history, making a faithful presentation of facts, may not render it acceptable to the extreme enthusiastical, too prone to over-exalt ; or the over critical, too liable to under-estimate.
To write this history intelligently, it is necessary to trace the territory of Monongalia under the jurisdiction of Orange and Augusta counties; chronicling under Augusta the de- struction of its first attempted settlement by the red demons of the forest, the planting of its first permanent settlements, the growth of population till sufficient to warrant the erec-
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INTRODUCTION.
tion of a new county, called Monongalia, with a sweep of territory ample to constitute a State, upon which since have been born and lived men of national fame-Andrew Stew- art, John L. Dawson, Philip Doddridge, "Stonewall" Jackson, James G. Blaine, and a host of others, who have won honorable mention in the history of the American Republic. Virginia gave to Pennsylvania the northern portion of the territory of Monongalia, including nearly all of the wonderful Connellsville coking region. After this it must be related that Monongalia yielded portion after portion of her fairest territory, until to-day she retains but a mere fragment of a territory once magnificent in its proportions.
Associated with the history of the present territory of Monongalia under the rule of the White Race, comes up the history of its occupation by the Red Man, and its previous habitation by the Mound Builders, thus making its history divisible into three periods, namely: 1. the Aboriginal or Mound Builders; 2. Surage or Indian; 3. Civilized or White Race.
The pioneer-stock of the Great West, for over eighty years, has drawn largely of its numbers from the green hills of Monongalia.
Monongalia! the age of the Republic numbers thy years ! Monongalia, mother county of Northern West Virginia! five generations sleep in thy cemeteries, and thousands of loving hearts, the Great Republic over, cherishi thee fondly as the land of their birth and the home of their fathers.
S. T. W.
ERRATA.
Notwithstanding that great care has been taken to avoid mis- takes in the preparation and printing of this book, and that it was hoped to avoid this heading entirely (though it is quite seldom that such is done in work's of this class), yet the comparatively short time in which the book had to be written, and the immense num- ber of dates and proper names handled, have allowed a few errors to creep in and pass unnoticed till in print. The reader is kindly requested to correct the following before reading :
Page 33, last line, for " Lancester " read Lancaster.
104, Monongalia road, not North-western pike, passed by Smithtown.
106, line 24, for " 1883 " read 1833.
125. Brandonville and Morgantown pike, see pp. 537-8.
147, line 7, for "[John]" read [William].
170, line 29, for " Sine " read Line.
220, Taylor County bounds Monongalia on the north-east-mistake made by con- sulting defective map of the State.
260, line 9, for " Capt. James Thompson," read G. Thompson.
254, last line, for " 1822," read 1882.
289, line 14, for " CLARK " read CLARKE.
#03, vote of 1871 for House of Delegates, see p. 768.
355, line 25, for " General Daniel," read David.
411, line 20, and p. 422, line 5, J. S. Stewart, see p. 774.
498, line 5, for " Mr. Morgan " read Mr. Hoffman.
522, line 19, for "or " read and.
584-5, for " Kelley " read Kelly.
651, line 23, and p. 674, line 20, for " son " read grandson.
680, line 1, for " Rode " read Rude.
691. line 16, Cass was in the Sixth instead of the First (constabulary) District.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. THE MOUND BUILDERS.
Discovery of America. The Mound Builders. Origin, Works and Fate. Mound Builders in Monongalia. Occupation of the County for Hunting Purposes. Traces and Relics. 17
CHAPTER II. INDIAN OCCUPATION.
Origin of the American Indians. Theories Held. Probable Asiatic Origin. Indians in Monongalia. Six Nations, Proprietors. Delawares and Shawnees, Tenants. War-paths. Pottery and Relics. Buffalo Pond. "Pictured Rock." ... ..
23
CHAPTER III. MONONGALIA UNDER ORANGE. 1734-1738.
Crossing of the Blue Ridge by Spotswood. Orange County Erected. Settlements West of the Blue Ridge. Erection of Frederick and Augusta Counties ..
CHAPTER IV. MONONGALIA UNDER AUGUSTA. 1738-1775.
Territory of Augusta County. The Ohio Company. Attempts to Settle the Coun- try. The Eckarlys. Thomas Decker and his Colony Murdered. First Perma- nent Settlement. Virginia Colony under the Morgans. Pioneers from 1769 to 1774. Murder of Bald Eagle. Dunmore's War. Stockade Forts and Block- houses. Old Roads. 30
CHAPTER V. MONONGALIA IN WEST AUGUSTA. 1774-1776.
Struggle of Virginia and Pennsylvania for the Northern portion of its Territory. Outbreak of the Revolution. West Augusta Recognized. Names of Settlers in 1775 and 1776. Boundaries of West Augusta Declared. 44
CHAPTER VI. MONONGALIA COUNTY FORMATION. 1776.
Virginia in the Revolution. Creation of Monongalia, Ohio and Yohogania. Their Boundaries. The Name Monongalia. Selection of County-Seat. First Court- House Situated in Pennsylvania. First Sheriff and Clerk.
49
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TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII.
MONONGALIA IN THE REVOLUTION. 1776-1783.
Patriotism of the Inhabitants. Virginia and Pennsylvania Recruit Troops in Monongalia. Tory Revolt. Indian Invasions. Attack on Dunkard Creek. Killing of Miller and Woodfin. Slaughter near Ft. Statler. Adventure of the Morgans. Attack on Martin's Fort. Murder of the Scott Girls. Adventure of James Scott. Correspondence of Col. Broadhead and Col. Evans. Slaugh- ter on Doll's Run. Killing of Statler, Myers and Thomas. Thrilling Escape of Smith and Mrs. Thomas. Murder of Crawford, Wright and Elizabeth Pindall. Unprotected State of the Frontier. Capt. John Wetzel's Company. Reminis- cences of William Haymond.
54
CHAPTER VIII.
CLOSE OF THE INDIAN WARS. 1783-1792.
The Frontier Cabin. The Early Settlers. A Coward's Courage Tested. Washing- ton's Visit. Capture of Dawson. An Indian Party Killed. Attack on the Cleggs, and Murder of the Handsuckers. Adventures of two Boys and of Col. John Evans. Indian Campaigns. Monongalians in Them. Levi Morgan. List of Taxable Persons in 1786. Murder of the First County Surveyor ~2
CHAPTER IX .- MASON AND DIXON'S LINE.
History and Importance of the Great Boundary Line. The Virginia Charter. Grant to Lord Baltimore. William Penn's Charter. Boundary Controversies of Penn and Baltimore. Mason and Dixon's Work. Boundary Controversy between Virginia and Pennsylvania. Futile Attempts at Settlement. · Final Settlement. 86
CHAPTER X.
WHISKEY INSURRECTION. 1791-1795.
Origin, History and Suppression. Mobs at Morgantown. Action of the State and National Authorities. 95
CHAPTER XI. LOSSES OF TERRITORY. 1784-1848.
Formation of Harrison County. Addition to Harrison. Formation of Preston County. Addition to Preston. Formation of Marion County. Addition to Marion. Unsuccessful Attempts to Detach Territory 99
CHAPTER XII.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
1796-1883.
Early Growth of the County. Monongalfa Glades Road. Monongahela Naviga- tion Company. Census of 1820, 1830 and 1840. First Steamboat. Academies. Turnpikes. Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Projected Railways. Slack-water Navigation. Morgantown Suspension Bridge. Various Minor Enterprises. ... 103
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TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIII.
REORGANIZED GOVERNMENT OF VIRGINIA. 1861-1863.
Secession. Virginia Legislature Convoked. Calls a Convention. Action in Monon- galia. Proceedings of the Richmond Convention. Submits an Ordinance of Secession. Course of the Union Delegates. Large Meetings at Morgantown. Resolutions Adopted. Other Meetings in the County. Vote on the Ordinance. Rumored Invasion. Military Preparations. New State Organization. Wheel- ing Convention of May 13, 1861. Convention of June. Reorganization of the State Government. Jones's Raid. Showalter's Retreat. 134
CHAPTER XIV.
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA.
1863-1883.
Erection of West Virginia. Meetings held in Monongalia. Establishment of the Townships. Monongalia's Centennial Celebration. Biographical Sketch of Waitman T. Willey . 152
CHAPTER XV. PHYSICAL HISTORY.
Geography of the County. Cheat River Canon Views. Geology, Structural and Economic. Palæontology. Carboniferous Fossils. Botany. Zoology. .... . 200
CHAPTER XVI. AGRICULTURAL HISTORY.
Early Farming. Tools used. Early Mills. "Old Monongahela Rye Whiskey." Reaping, Cleaning and Threshing Grain. Threshing Machines. Home-made Goods. Early Clothing. First Stores. Present Farming. Fertilizers. Im- proved Stock. County Fairs. Market Gardening. Fish Culture. Prices of Farm Products, 1821 to 1883. Statistical. Delinquent Land, 1820. 240
CHAPTER XVII. INDUSTRIAL HISTORY.
Decker's Creek Iron Works. Cheat River Iron Works. Davis or Pleasant, Wood- grove, Henry Clay and Anna Furnaces. Clinton Furnace. Hawthorne's Nail Works. Powder Mill. Mill Stones. Woolen Factories. Paper Mill. Potteries. Carriage Works. Foundries. Furniture Works. Borings for Oil. Salt Making. Gold Seeking. Coke Burning. Preston Company. Statistical. 254
CHAPTER XVIII. POLITICAL HISTORY.
Qualification of Voters. Voting Places. Presidential Votes. Delegates to Consti- tutional and other Conventions. Votes on Constitutions and Amendments, Secession, New State, Etc. Members of House of Delegates. Senatorial and Congressional Districts and Representatives. List of Sheriffs, Surveyors, and Assessors. Old Tax Receipt. Prominent Monongalians Abroad. Political Cus- toms. Political Speaking in 1846. Biographical. Votes of the County. Statis- tics of Population, Etc. 267
12
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIX. JUDICIAL HISTORY.
Courts of the County and the Judges. District Court. Superior Court of Law. Superior Court of Law and Chancery. Circuit Court. County Courts. List of Prosecuting Attorneys. List of Clerks of Courts and Presidents of County Courts. List of Presidents and Clerks of Board of Supervisors. Recorders of the County. List of Justices of the Peace. Roll of the Bar. County Buildings. Hangings. Sult of Harrison County against Monongalla. Biographical 307 Sketches of Judges, Clerks, Attorneys, and others.
CHAPTER XX. EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
Early Schools and School Houses. How furnished. Methods of Teaching. Books. Subscription Schools. Commissioners. Tuition. Free Schools. Establishment and Growth of the System. List of County Superintendents, Votes for and Sketches of. Institutes. Wade's Graduating System. Morgan's Outline Course of Study. Boards of Examiners. Exhibit at Centennial Exposition. Prize Map. Statistics. Extracts and Summaries from Reports of County Su- perintendents. Monongalla Academy. Morgantown Female Collegiate Insti- tute. Woodburn Female Seminary. Morgantown Female Seminary. Sketch of James R. Moore. West Virginia University. Boards of Regents, Officers, Professors. Sketches of Presidents and Professors. Names of Graduates. Yearly Enrollment of Students. Monongallans Graduated from Other Col- leges. West Virginia Historical Society 358
CHAPTER XXI. JOURNALISTIC HISTORY.
Progress in Journalism. List of the Newspapers Published in Monongalla County. The First Paper in Virginia West of the Alleghany Mountains. Particular De- scription of Each Paper Published in Monongalla, with Extracts. Early Presses, Etc. 426
CHAPTER XXII
RELIGIOUS AND TEMPERANCE HISTORY.
The First Church West of the Alleghany Mountains in Virginia Organized in Monongalla County. The Baptists. Methodist Episcopal, with Extracts from Bishop Asbury's Journal; and List of Preachers from 1784 to 1833; Presiding Elders from 1786 to 1813; Statistics ; Conferences Held in Monongalia. Camp- meeting. Presbyterian. Evangelical Lutheran. Protestant Episcopal. Meth- odist Protestant. Christian. Catholic. Mormon Preacher. Church Statistics. Missionaries : Mrs. Lowrie, Miss Moreland ; First Sermon. Sunday-Schools. Monongalla County Bible Society. Temperance Organizations. Whiskey Li- cense. Biographical Sketches. 440
CHAPTER XXIII. FINANCIAL HISTORY.
Money in Early Days. Tobacco as Currency. Paper Money. Furnace Script. Points of Exchange for State Bank Currency. Former and Present Methods of Transmitting Money. Panics of 1837, 1857 and. 1873. Monongalia Farmers' Bank. Merchants' and Mechanics' Bank. Merchants' National Bank. J. H. Hoffman & Co. The Morgantown Bank. Second National Bank. Bank Pres- idents and Cashiers, Etc .. 460
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TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXIV.
MEDICAL HISTORY.
First Visiting Physicians. First Resident Physicians. Schools of Medicine Rep- resented in the County. Regular or Allopathic. Eclectic. Homeopathic. County Board of Health. Medicinal Plants and Waters. Births, Marriages and Deaths. Cause and Ratio of Deaths. Statistics. Centenarians and Nona- genarians. Biographical Sketches.
CHAPTER XXV. MILITARY HISTORY.
French and Indian War. Dunmore's War. Revolutionary War. War of 1812. Mexican War. Oregon Frontier War. The Civil War. Regular Army. United States Navy. Militia Regiments, 1796 to 1867. Projected Monument to Wash- ington. Projected Soldiers' Monument. Soldiers' Reunion, July 4, 1883. Biographical Sketches.
486
CHAPTER XXVI.
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
Roads. Rivers, Ferries and Steamboats. Servitude. Early Taverns. Postal History. Flour Inspectors. First Notary Public. Early Coroners. Overseers of the Poor. Secret Organizations. Literary Societies. Monongalia Inven- tions. Insurance History. Telegraph History. Building Associations. Wealth, Debt and Taxation. County Areas. Geographical Center. Center of Popula- tion. County Divisions : Constabulary, District and Township 536
CHAPTER XXVII.
MORGANTOWN BOROUGH.
General Description. Theory of the Morgantown or Monongahela Valley Terraces. Early Settlers. Traditional Block House. County Buildings. Town Estab- lished. Trustees. Incorporation. Officers. Mills. Postmasters. Stores. Physicians. Morgantown Suspension Bridge. Gymnasium. Lecture Associa- tion. Religious Denominations. Schools and Officers. Growth of the Town. Suburbs. Statistics . .. 568
CHAPTER XXVIII. CLINTON DISTRICT.
Geographical Boundaries and General Description. Indian Occupation. Early Settlers. Indian Murders : Miller, Woodfin, Stone, Booth, Etc. Voting Places. Civil List. Towns: Smithtown, Clinton Furnace, Halleck, Uffington. Post- Offices. Roads. Oil Wells. Noted Places : Pictured Rock, Uffington Cave, Clinton Cave, Raven Rocks, Ferrell Rock, Indian Rocks. Jones's Raid. Church History. Sunday-Schools. School History. Statistics. Stores. Flour- ing Mills. Saw-Mills. Blacksmiths. General Notes. Biographical Sketches and Notes 605
CHAPTER XXXIX.
MORGAN DISTRICT.
Geographical Boundaries and General Description. Indian Occupation. Destruc- tion of the Decker's Creek Colony. Early Settlers. Settlers' Forts : Kern's, Cobun's and Burris'. Growth of the District. Civil List. Towns and Post-
14
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
1
Offices. Roads, Mills. "Rock Forge." Iron Valley & Morgantown Railway. Noted Points : Dorsey's Knob, Mckinney Rocks, Dripping Spring. Religious Denominations. Cemeteries : Oak Grove Cemetery. Schools and School Offi- cers. Statistics. Biographical. 646
CHAPTER XXX. UNION DISTRICT.
Geographical Boundaries and General Description. Geology of Cheat River Canon. Hanging Cliff. Brock's View. Eagle Cave. Mound Builders. Indian Occupa- tion. White Pioneers and Early Settlements. Fort Dinwiddie. Pierpont's Fort. Growth from 1770 to 1884. Civil List. Polling Places. Towns : Stew- arttown, Easton. Roads. Mills. Mail Service. Ferries. Jackson's Iron Works. Local Geology. Summer Resorts. Camp Eden. The Lock. Pro- jected Railways. Religious Denominations. Cemeteries. Oil- and Salt-well Borings. Buffalo Pond. Catawba War-path. Squirrel Rock. A Gretna Green. Schools. Biographical and Family Sketches 660
CHAPTER XXXI. CASS DISTICT.
Geographical Boundaries and General Description. Indian Occupation. Early Settlers. Settlers' Forts. Martin's Fort. Ilarrison's Fort. Indian Murders. Adventure of John Snider. Growth of the District. Civil List. Election Polls. Towns : Cassville, Hamilton, Maidsville, Stumptown, Osageville, Dornicktown. Mail Service. Roads. Mills. Ferries. Monongalia Salt Works. Salt Borings. Oil Borings. County Poor-house. Religious Denominations. Schools and School Officers. Statisties. Biographical Sketches. 694
CHAPTER XXXII. GRANT DISTRICT.
Geographical Boundaries and General Description. Indian Occupation. Indian Mill Rock. Pioneers and Early Settlers. Stewart's Block House. Growth of the District. Civil List. Polling Places and Presidential Votes. Towns : Gran- ville, Laurel Point, Arnettsville, Lowesville, Georgetown, Flickersville. Mail Service. Roads. Mills. Religious Denominations. Sunday-Schools. Schools and School Officers. Statistics. Biographical Sketches. General Notes .... . 715
CHAPTER XXXIII. CLAY DISTRICT.
Geographical Boundaries and General Description. Indian Occupation. Pioneers and Early Settlers. Indian Invasions and Murders. Settlers' Forts. Statler's Fort. Growth of the District. Civil List. Towns : Blacksville, New Browns- ville, Brown's Mills, Mooresville, McCurdysville; Ponetown. Mills. Roads. Mail Service. Religious Denominations. Oil Borings. Schools and School Officers. Statistics. Biographical Sketches. 739
CHAPTER XXXIV. BATTELLE DISTRICT.
Geographical Boundaries and General Description. Indian Occupation. Early Settlers. Murder of William Thomas and the Handsucker Family by Indians. Growth of the District. Civil List. West Warren Town. Mail Service. Roads. Mills. Religious Denominations. Schools and School Officers. Statistics. A Venerable Couple.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS.
APPENDIX.
SUPPLEMENTAL AND ADDITIONAL.
Morgantown Gas and Water Company. County Agricultural Correspondents and Average Crops for 1883. Census Enumerators, 1880. Congressional Districts and Representatives (See note, also, p. 776). Votes for Governors, Congress- men, Judges and Clerks of Courts, State Senators and Members House of Dele- gates ; on Locating the Capital, the Dog Tax, and on Railroad Subscriptions. List of Virginia and West Virginia Executives. Newspapers : "The Mononga- lian " and the "Morgantown Telegraph." Monongalia County Temperance Law and Order Society. Additional Statistics of Clinton District. Statistics of Morgan District. Additional Civil List of Cass District. Preachers of Monongalia Circuit, 1860-84. Value of Property in the County. Amount of Taxes. Value of Town Lots. Augustus Haymond. Alexander Martin. Capt. O. P. Jolliffe.
761
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PORTRAITS.
PAGE
Sketch on PAGE
Waitman T. Willey (Steel Plate) Frontispiece
163
John James Brown do. Facing
283
. 283
John A. Dille do.
324
324
Mathew Gay do.
336
336
Thomas P. Ray do.
4 .
348
348
James Evans do. 66
527
527
John Marshall Hagans
66
48
277
William Price
64
287
Waitman Willey Houston
.6
80
347
Augustus Haymond
96
352
William Sanford Cobun
112
354
Alexander L. Wade
128
371
Peter Thomas Laishley
144
455
George Frederick Charles Conn
160
457
George W. John
176
477
James Vance Boughner
6.
192
. 479
Absalom Morris Jarrett
66
208
480
Marmaduke Dent
66
224
482
Joseph Snider
66
240
531
William Edmund Watson
256
634
George Washington McVicker
304
658
John H. Bowlby
66
368
711
Shelby Pindall Barker
66
432
732
Samuel Calvin Stewart
448
733
Alpha Ralphsnyder
464
735
Andrew Brown
496
753
Alpheus Garrison
704
754
Oliver P. Jolliffe
720
.
BUILDINGS.
Public School Building, Morgantown,
Facing 384
West Virginia University .:
416
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HISTORY
OF
MONONGALIA COUNTY.
GENERAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER I.
THE MOUND BUILDERS.
Discovery of America-The Mound Builders-Origin, Works, and Fate-Mound Builders in Monongalia-Occupation of the County for Hunting Purposes-Traces and Relics.
IT WAS on the 12th of October, 1492, that the Western world revealed itself to the wondering eyes of Christopher Columbus. The discovery of a continent so large that it may be said to have doubled the habitable world, is an event so grand and interesting that nothing parallel to it can ever occur again in the history of mankind. Before this America had been known to the barbarous tribes of eastern Asia for a thousand years. Iceland was discovered about A. D. 860, and colonized by the Norwegians. About 50 or 100 years later, the same people planted colonies in Greenland. In 1001, an Icelander, sailing to Greenland, was driven far to the
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HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.
south-west, where he saw a level, wooded country. Return- ing home, he gave an account of his adventure. This induced Lief, the son of the founder of the Greenland colony, to undertake a voyage to the new country. Sailing with Bjorn, and after touching at two other places, they, after some days, came to a country having trees loaded with fruits on the banks of a river. Here they spent a winter. Finding wild vines growing, they called the country Vinland. A colony was planted, which remained for years. They traded with a people who came in leathern boats. Of dwarf- ish size, they called them Skruelings. These were the Esquimaux. The seat of this colony was about the 41st parallel of latitude, and the actual latitude of Rhode Island. There seems, therefore, no reasonable doubt that the northi- eastern portions of America were familiarly known to the Norwegians as early as the Eleventh Century."
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