USA > West Virginia > Upshur County > The history of Upshur county, West Virginia, from its earliest exploration and settlement to the present time > Part 1
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 00017707565
1800
HON. WILLIAM CURRENCE CARPER.
THE
History of Upshur County
West Virginia
From its Earliest Exploration and Settlement to the Present Time
ILLUSTRATED
BY
W. B. CUTRIGHT
- 247 .26 CT
H 989 33
INTRODUCTION
The actual history of Upshur antedates the period of recorded events; re- lates to the peoples who lived on this continent prior to its discovery ; embraces the epochs of settlement, colonization, nationality and disruption of Virginia ; refers more particularly to the early settlers on the waters of the Buckhannon and West Fork rivers and their troubles with the Indians, the local political agencies which brought about the formation of the county, her complete records, including Upshur's share in the Civil and Spanish-American Wars, the life of her people, commercial, industrial, economic, social, educational and religious ; also the family records of a thousand persons who have taken part in the settlement and county periods.
Within this volume will be found a very instructive chapter on the Birds of Upshur, by Rev. Earle Amos Brooks, a native born son who is authority on ornithology and whose reputation spreads to the ends of this nation.
The plan of this history proper embraces three divisions. The first is a condensed history of West Virginia ; the second is an elaborate, carefully-prepared county history, and part third is a biography.
Part First was written by Hu Maxwell, author of county histories of Tucker, Randolph and Barbour, and joint author of County History of Mineral and a text book on History and Government of West Virginia.
Parts Second and Third in the fall of 1906 and spring of 1907 and the material (much of collected years before) was collected from every available source. To those who aided in collecting the data for this book we are indebted and for the' names of those who assisted in the most substantial way to make the History of Upshur a success, particular reference is directed to family history.
Buckhannon, W. Va., July 1, 1907.
L
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART FIRST-STATE HISTORY
CHAPTER I.
Explorations West of the Blue Ridge.
Capt. Batte's Expedition. . Governor Spotswood Reaches the Base of the Alleghanies. . The South Branch Valley Explored. . Washington's Surveying Tour Alleganies-The South Branch Valley Explored-Washington's Surveying Tour . . Settlement Forbidden West of the Alleghanies. . Soldiers Attempt to Drive Colonists Out. . Settlements on the Ohio and Monongahela-Population of West Virginia. . Land Titles. . 19-24.
CHAPTER II. Indians and Moundbuilders.
West Virginia's Territory Uninhabited. . The Mohawk Invasion. . Mound- builders and Indians Probably Identical. . Their Origin Unknown. . America Had Pre-Historic Inhabitants. . Estimated Number of Indians East of the Mississippi . . 25-28.
CHAPTER III. The French and Indian War.
The Scheme of France. . Contest for the Ohio Valley. . The French Build Forts-England Interferes. . Washington's Journey to the West. . The French Use Force. . English Troops Skirmish with Jumonville. . Battle at Fort Necessity .. Washington Surrenders. . Braddock's Campaign. . His Defeat and Death. . In- dians Attack the Settlements. . Expedition Under Forbes. . Fort Duquesne Falls. . France Loses the Ohio Valley. . 29-38.
CHAPTER IV. The Dunmore War.
Causes Leading to Hostilities. . Forerunner of the Revolution. . England's Scheme to Intimidate. . The Quebec Act. . Lord Dunmore. . His Greed for Land. . Indians Take Up the Hatchet. . Two Virginia Armies Invade the Indian Coun- try .. Battle of Point Pleasant .. Treaty at Camp Charlotte. . Alleged Speech of Logan. . The Indians Make Peace. . 39-46.
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER V.
West Virginia in the Revolution.
Meeting at Fort Gower. . Resolutions Passed. . Meetings at Pittsburg and Hannastown. . Soldiers from the Monongahela. . Attempted Tory Uprisings Sup- pressed. . Patriotism on the Greenbrier. . Four Indian Armies Invade West Vir- ginia · · Numerous Incursions. . Cornstalk Assassinated. . First Siege of Fort Henry. . Capt. Foreman Ambushed. . Simon Girty Joins the Indians. . Fort Ran- dolph Beseiged. . General Clark Marches to the West. . Last Battle of the Revo- lution. . Expeditions Against the Indians. . General Wayne Conquers the Savages . . 47-56.
CHAPTER VI. Subdivision and Boundaries.
Virginia's Western Territory. . Jealousy of other States. . The Controversy. . Virginia Cedes to the General Government Her Territory West of the Ohio .. Mason and Dixon's Line. . Other Boundary Lines. . Contest with Maryland. . Virginia's Original Eight Counties. . Table of Population. . 57-65.
CHAPTER VII. The Newspapers of West l'irginia.
Humble Beginnings. . The First Newspaper. . Others Enter the Field. . Ephemeral Character of Country Journalism. . The Editor's Mistakes and Suc- cesses. . 66-70.
CHAPTER VIII. Geography, Geology and Climate.
The Rock-History of West Virginia. . Mountain-Building. . Valley-Sculpture . . The Plateau of West Virginia. . Influences Acting on Climate. . How Coal was Formed. . The Rain Winds and the Rainless Winds. . Rainfall and Snowfall. . Formation of Soil. . Fertility and Sterility. . Fertilizing Agents. . Altitudes in West Virginia. . 71-82.
CHAPTER IX. Among Old Laws.
Examination of and Extracts from Virginia's Early Statutes. . Death Pen- alty for Petty Crimes. . Cruel Punishments. . Condemned Prisoners Forbidden Spiritual Advice. . Law Against Gossiping. . Hog Stealing. . Special Laws for Slaves. . Horse Thieves "Utterly Excluded". . Pillories. . Whipping Posts, Stocks and Ducking Stools. . Fees of Sheriffs and Constables. . Tavern-Keepers. . Ferries . . 83-88.
CHAPTER X. Constitutional History.
The Bill of Rights. . Constitution of 1776. . Freedom of the Press. . Schools not Mentioned. . Restricted Suffrage-Constitution of 1830. . Members West of the Mountains Advocate Greater Liberty. . Overruled. . Education Neglected. . Con-
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
stitution of 1852. . Line Drawn Between the East and West. . Property Against Men. . West Virginia's First Constitution. . The Slavery Question. . Constitution of 1872. . Enlarged Suffrage. . 89-104.
CHAPTER XI. John Brown's Raid.
His Purpose. . The Attempt. . Capture, Condemnation and Execution. . 105- 108.
CHAPTER XII.
The Ordinance of Secession.
Causes of Beginning. . The Richmond Convention. . Delegates from Western Virginia. . Stormy Sessions. . The Vote. . Western Delegates Secretly Leave Rich- mond. . Virginia Seizes United States Property. . 109-112.
CHAPTER XIII. The Reorganized Government of Virginia.
Mass Meetings West of the Alleghanies. . First Wheeling Convention. . Its Members. . Vote on the Ordinance of Secession. . Second Wheeling Convention. . The Delegates. . New Officers Chosen for Virginia . . 113-119.
CHAPTER XIV. Formation of West Virginia.
The United States Constitution Provided a Way. . The Several Steps. . Pres- ident Lincoln's Opinion. . The Bill Signed. . 120-125.
CHAPTER XV. Organizing for War.
Call for Volunteers by Virginia. . Troops Sent Across the Alleghanies. . Mus- kets Sent to Beverly by the Confederates. . Guns frfom Massachusetts Reach Wheeling. . Federals Cross the Ohio. . Fight at Philippi. . Confederates Fortify in Randolph. . General Garnett in Command. . General Mcclellan Arrives. . Defeat of the Confederates at Rich Mountain. . Garnett's Retreat. . 126-137.
CHAPTER XVI. Progress of the War.
General Lee in West Virginia. . Expedition Against Cheat Mountain and Elkwater. . General Loring's Army. . Movements in the Kanawha Valley. . Quar- rel Between Generals Wise and Floyd. . Federals Defeated at Cross Lanes . . Con- federates Worsted at Gauley Bridge. . Further Fighting. . Contest for the Balti- more and Ohio Railroad. . Governor Letcher's Proclamation . . 138-146.
PORTRAITS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE.
Anderson, Joseph
. 399
Ash Camp Rock.
. 230
Beans' Mill and Bear Den Rock.
333
Beer, Dr. O. B.
390
Bennet, Silas
398
Bennet, Vernon Lee.
457
Boreman, A. I.
.390
Brown, Eugene
391
Bridge, Stone and Dirt Road.
203
Bush's Fort
196
Carper, W. C.
.Frontispiece
Carper Church
.216
Clark, A. B ..
604
Conference Seminary
.271
College, West Virginia Wesleyan
.271
Courtney, John T.
262
Court House, New
279
Court House, Old.
279
Cutright, W. B ..
174
Cutright, G. S., Family
270
Cutright, Lyman
. 190
Dailey, James
.605
Darnall, H. A.
.391
Downes, J. M. N.
391
Farnsworth, Gov. D. D. T
360
Farnsworth, J. J.
263
Farnsworth, Thomas J.
446
Farnsworth, Dr. Thomas G.
398
Farnsworth, Professor B. U.
190
Fleming, G. M.
39
Fidler, W. F.'s Family
278
Fidler's Mill
278
French Creek Institute
268
Graham, Sanford
.400
Gould, Aaron, Sr.
390
Gould, Benjamin
.456
Hanging Rock
.332
Hall, D. O'B.
605
Hamner, William E. 464
Heavner, Major Jacob
.472
Herd of Graded Cattle
202
Hiner, Charles E.
464
L
Crites' Mill at Selbyville
231
xii
PORTRAITS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE.
Hinkle, Job
481
Hinkle, Margaret Hadden (Jackson)
481
Hinkle, Foster, and wife.
480
Hyre, Jacob's Grist Mill.
276
Jackson, Minter J. 465
Kiddy, Arthur Glasgow 456
Leonard, Levi 248
496
Leonard, Wealthy Gould
496
Lewis, H. Q.
390
Ligget, Thomas J.
262
Lorentz, Jacob's Pack Train
319
Marple, Granville D.
465
Martin, W. T.
.605
Mearns, William 263
Moore, Oscar L. . 540
207
Morgan, J. J.
398
Neff, Henry
399
O'Brien, W. S.
. 540
Phillips, Spencer
532
Phillips, Lothrop
532
Phillips, Walter
.533
Phillips, Ernest
533
Poe, David
541
Pringle Bros. and Sycamore Tree.
177
Racoon Meeting House
332
Regar, John, Sr., Major Abram and John W.
. 544
Regar, John, Sr., and daughter, Barbara.
326
Rexroad, R. B., and family
. 206
Rohrbaugh, Simon
398
Ross, Charles
541
Reger Mill on Spruce Run
231
Smith, John L.
386 Sexton, F. P.
400
Smith, Joseph C.
.457
Stockert, Gustave F. and wife.
576
Strader, Rev. Perry S. .540
Strader. John, and wife. 480
Southdown Sheep
.202
Talbott, Sen. W. D. .604
Tenney, A. M., Jr. .
604
Teter, Alva, and wife. . 327
Westfall, Homer, and wife. 207
Young, Hon. U. G. 60
Young, Hon. U. G.'s residence. 270
Zickefoose, A. J.
.605
Morgan, Isaac
Leonard, Ebenezer
PART FIRST State History
CHAPTER I.
:0 :-
EXPLORATIONS WEST OF BLUE RIDGE.
It is impossible to say when and where the first white man set foot on the soil of what is now West Virginia. In all probability no record was ever made of the first visit. It is well known that adventurers always push into new countries in advance of organized exploring parties; and it is likely that such was the case with West Virginia when it was only an unnamed wilderness. Probably the Indians who waged war with the early colonists of Virginia carried prisoners into this region on their hunting excursions. Sixty-five years were required for the colonists of Virginia to become super- ficially acquainted with the country as far west as the Blue Ridge, which, until June, 1670, was the extreme limit of explorations in that direction. The distance from Jamestown, the first colony, to the base of the Blue Ridge, was two hundred miles. Nearly three-quarters of a century was required to push the outposts of civilization two hundred miles, and that, too, across a country favorable for exploration, and with little danger from Indians during most of the time. In later years the outposts of civilization moved westward at an average yearly rate of seventeen miles. The people of Virginia were not satisfied to allow the Blue Ridge to remain the bound- ary between the known and unknown countries; and in 1670, sixty-three years after the first settlement in the State, the Governor of Virginia sent out an exploring party under Captain Henry Batte, with instructions to cross the mountains of the west, seek for silver and gold, and try to dis- cover a river flowing into the Pacific Ocean. Early in June of that year, 1670, the explorers forced the heights of the Blue Ridge which they found steep and rocky, and descended into the valley west of that range. They discovered a river flowing due north. The observations and measurements made by these explorers perhaps satisfied the royal Governor who sent them out; but their accuracy may be questioned. They reported that the river which they had discovered was four hundred and fifty yards wide; its banks in most places one thousand yards high. Beyond the river they said they could see towering mountains destitute of trees, and crowned by white cliffs, hidden much of the time in mist, but occasionally clearing sufficiently to give a glimpse of their ruggedness. They expressed the opinion that those unexplored mountains might contain silver and gold. They made no attempt to cross the river, but set out on their return. From their account of the broad river and its banks thousands of feet high, one might suppose that they had discovered the Canyon of the Colorado; but it was only New River, the principle tributary of the Kanawha. The next year, 1671, the Governor of Virginia sent explorers to continue the work, and they remained a considerable time in the valley of New River. If they penetra- ted as far as the present territory of West Virginia, which is uncertain,
20
EXPLORATIONS WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE.
they probably crossed the line into what is now Monroe or Mercer Counties. Forty-five years later, 1716, Governor Spotswood, of Virginia, led an exploring party over the Blue Ridge, across the Shenandoah River and to the base of the Alleghany Mountains. Daring hunters and adventurers no doubt were by that time acquainted with the geography of the eastern part of the State. Be that as it may, the actual settlement of the counties of Jefferson, Berkeley, Morgan, Hampshire and Hardy was now at hand. The gap in the Blue Ridge at Harper's Ferry, made by the Potomac breaking through that range, was soon discovered, and through that rocky gateway the early settlers found a path into the Valley of Virginia, whence some of them ascended the Shenandoah to Winchester and above, and others con- tinued up the Potomac, occupying Jefferson County and in succession the counties above; and before many years there were settlements on the South Branch of the Potomac. It is known that the South Branch was explored within less than nine years after Governor Spotswood's expedition, and within less than thirteen years there were settlers in that county.
Lord Fairfax claimed the territory in what is now the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. But his boundary lines had never been run. The grant called for a line drawn from the head of the Potomac to the head of the Rappahannock. Several years passed before it could be ascertained where the fountains of those streams were. An exploring party under William Mayo traced the Potomac to its source in the year 1736, and on December 14 of that year ascertained and marked the spot where the rainfall divides, part flowing into the Potomac and part into Cheat River on the west. This spot was selected as the corner of Lord Fairfax's land; and on October 17,. 1746, a stone was planted there to mark the spot and has ever since been called the Fairfax Stone. It stands at the corner of two states, Maryland and West Virginia, and of four counties, Garrett, Preston, Tucker and Grant. It is about half a mile north of the station of Fairfax, on the West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railroad, at an elevation of three thousand two hundred and sixteen feet above sea level.
George Washington spent the summers of three years surveying the estate of Lord Fairfax, partly in West Virginia. He began work in 1748, when he was sixteen, and persecuted it with ability and industry. There were other surveyors employed in the work as well as he. By means of this occupation he became acquainted with the fertility and resources of the new country, and he afterwards became a large land-holder in West Vir- ginia, one of his holdings lying as far west as the Kanawha. His knowledge of the country no doubt had something to do with the organization of the Ohio Company in 1749, which was granted 500,000 acres between the Monon- gahela and the Kanawha. Lawrence Washington, a half brother of George Washington, was a member of the Ohio Company. The granting of land in this western country no doubt had its weight in hastening the French and Indian War of 1755, by which England acquired possession of the Ohio Valley. The war would have come sooner or later, and England would have secured the Ohio Valley in the end, and it would have passed ultimately to the United States; but the events were hastened by Lord Fairfax's sending the youthful Washington to survey his lands near the Potomac. While en- gaged in this work, Washington frequently met small parties of friendly Indians. The presence of these natives was not a rare thing in the South Branch country. Trees are still pointed out as the corners or lines of sur- veys made by Washington,
21
EXPLORATIONS WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE.
About this time the lands on the Greenbrier River were attracting attention. A large grant was made to the Greenbrier Company; and in 1749 and 1750 John Lewis surveyed this region, and settlements grew up in a short time. The land was no better than the more easily accessible land east of the Alleghany Mountains; but the spirit of adventure which has always been characteristic of the American people, led the daring pioneers into the wilderness west of the mountains, and from that time the outposts of settlements moved down the Greenbrier and the Kanawha, and in twenty- two years had reached the Ohio River. The frontiersmen of Greenbrier were always foremost in repelling Indian attacks and in carrying the war into the enemy's country.
The eastern counties grew in population. Prior to the outbreak of the French and Indian War in 1755, there were settlements all along the Potomac River, not only in Jefferson, Berkeley and Hampshire, but also in Hardy, Grant and Pendleton Counties. It is, of course, understood that those counties, as now named, were not in existence at that time.
The Alleghany Mountains served as a barrier for awhile to keep back the tide of emigration from the part of the State lying west of that range; but when peace was restored after the French and Indian War the western valleys soon had their settlements. Explorations had made the country fairly well known prior to that time as far west as the Ohio. Immense tracts of land had been granted in that wilderness, and surveyors had been sent to mark the lines. About the time of the survey of the Greenbrier country, the Ohio Company sent Christopher Gist to explore its lands already granted and to examine West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky for choice locations in view of obtaining future grants. Mr. Gist, a noted char- acter of his time, and a companion of Washington a few years later, per- formed his task well, and returned with a report satisfactory to his em- ployers. He visited Ohio and Kentucky, and on his return passed up the Kanawha and New Rivers in 1751, and climbed to the summit of the ledge of rocks now known as Hawk's Nest, or Marshall's Pillar, overhanging the New River, and from its summit had a view of the mountains and inhospit- able country.
In speaking of the exploration and settlement of West Virginia, it is worthy of note that the Ohio River was explored by the French in 1749; but they attempted no settlement within the borders of this State.
Had Virginia allowed religious freedom, a large colony would have been planted on the Ohio Company's lands, between the Monongahela and the Kanawha, about 1750, and this would probably have changed the early his- tory of that part of West Virginia. A colony in that territory would have had its influence in the subsequent wars with the Indians. And when we consider how little was lacking to form a new state, or province, west of the Alleghanies about 1772, to be called Vandalia, it can be understood what the result might have been had the Ohio Company succeeded in its scheme of colonization. Its plan was to plant a colony of two hundred German families on its land. The settlers were to come from eastern Pennsylvania. All arrangements between the company and the Germans were satisfactory, but when the hardy Germans learned that they would be in the province of Virginia, and that they must become members of the English Church or suffer persecution in the form of extra taxes laid on dissenters by the Epis- copacy of Virginia, they would not go, and the Ohio Company's colonization scheme failed.
22
EXPLORATIONS WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE.
Another effort to colonize the lands west of the Alleghanies, and from which much might have come, also failed. This attempt was made by Vir- ginia. In 1752 the House of Burgesses offered Protestant settlers west of the Alleghanies, in Augusta county, ten years' exemption from taxes; and the offer was subsequently increased to fifteen years' exemption. The war with the French and Indians put a stop to all colonization projects. Vir- ginia had enough to do taking care of her settlements along the western bor- der without increasing the task by advancing the frontier seventy-five miles westward. The first settlement, if the occupation by three white men may be called a settlement, on the Monongahela was made about 1752. Thomas Eckerly and two brothers, from eastern Pennsylvania, took up their home there to escape military duty, they being opposed to war. They wished to live in peace remote from civilized man, but two of them fell victims to the Indians while the third was absent. Prior to 1753 two families had built houses on the headwaters of the Monongahela, in what is now Randolph County. The Indians murdered or drove them out in 1753. The next set- tlement was by a small colony near Morgantown under the leadership of Thomas Decker. This was in 1758, while the French and Indian War was at its height. The colony was exterminated by Indians.
In 1763, October 7, a proclamation was issued by the King of England forbidding settlers from taking up land or occupying it west of the Alle- ghanies until the country had been bought from the Indians. It is not known what caused this sudden desire for justice on the part of the king, since nearly half the land west of the Alleghanies, in this State, had already been granted to companies or individuals; and, since the Indians did not occupy the land and there was no tribe within reach of it with any right to claim it, either by occupation, conquest or discovery. Governor Fauquier, of Virginia, issued three proclamations warning settlers west of the moun- tains to withdraw from the lands. No attention was paid to the proclama- tions. The Governors of Virginia and Pennsylvania were ordered, 1765, 10 remove the settlers by force. In 1766 and the next year soldiers from Fort Pitt, now Pittsburg, were sent into West Virginia to dispossess the settlers. It is not probable that the soldiers were over-zealous in carrying out the commands, for the injustice and nonsense of such orders must have been apparent to the dullest soldier in the West. Such settlers as were driven away returned, and affairs went on as usual. Finally Pennsyvania bought the Indian lands within its borders; but Virginia, after that date, never paid the Indians for any lands in West Virginia. The foregoing order was the first one forbidding settlements in West Virginia north of the Kanawha and west of the Alleghanies. Another order was issued ten years later. Both were barren of results. The second will be spoken of more at length in the account of the incorporation of part of Ohio in the Province of Quebec.
Settlements along the Ohio, above and below Wheeling, were not made until six or seven years after the close of the French and Indian War. About 1769 and 1770 the Wetzels and Zanes took up land in that vicinity, and others followed. Within a few years Wheeling and the territory above and below, formed the most prosperous community west of the Alleghanies. That part of the State suffered from Indians who came from Ohio, but the attacks of the savages could not break up the settlements, and in 1790, five years before the close of the Indian war, Ohio County had more than five thousand inhabitants, and Monongalia had nearly as many.
During the Revolutionary War parts of the interior of the State were
23
EXPLORATIONS WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE.
occupied by white men. Harrison County, in the vicinity of Clarksburg and further west, was a flourishing community four or five years before the Revolution. Settlers pushed up the West Fork of the Monongahela, and the site of Weston, in Lewis County, was occupied soon after. Long before that time frontiersmen had their cabins on the Tygart Valley River as far south as the site of Beverly, in Randolph County. The first settlement in Wood County, near Parkersburg, was made 1773, and the next year the site of St. George, in Tucker County, was occupied by a stockade and a few houses. Monroe County, in the southeastern part of the state, was reclaimed from the wilderness fifteen years before the Revolution, and Tyler county's first settlement dates back to the year 1776. Pocahontas was occupied at a date as early as any county west of the Alleghanies, there being white set- tlers in 1749, but not many. Settlements along the Kanawha were pushed westward and reached the Ohio River before 1776.
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