USA > West Virginia > Preston County > A History of Preston County, West Virginia, V.1 > Part 33
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Jonathan Chorpenning came from Somerset about 1849, and settled on the "Mount Pleasant" farm near Brandonville, where his son, M. Fillmore, now lives.
John Christopher, an orphan, was reared by John Seaport, and in- herited his farm two miles south of Pisgah.
The name of James Clark is of special interest, since by repute it was borne by the first permanent settler of Preston. This pioneer was born in County Derry, Ireland. In 1762 he married and sailed for America. He soon pushed into the interior, and according to tradition located in 1769 on the Big Sandy, four miles above Bruceton and one mile below the state line. His cabin stood on what is now the Fysel farm. Yet according to the Land Office records of Virginia, his settle- ment was not until 1776, and until then, his name does not appear in our annals. In 1773 Clark visited Ireland, returning with a second wife. Upon his death in 1808, he was buried on the farm by the side of his first wife. The widow removed to Indiana, accompanied by all the surviving children except Isabella.
Joseph Clark of Pennsylvania lived a while on the John O. Jenkins place at Harmony Grove. He returned, but his children married in Pleasant.
William J. Clarkson came from Fluvanna county to Reno in 1852. About 1906 he removed to South Dakota. Joseph A., a brother, came to Etam in 1872.
Clingan is a railroad name identified with Lyon District.
James Cobun was born in Grant County. He appears to have been a grandson of James Coburn, who was one of the very earliest settlers on the South Branch of the Potomac, and was operating a gristmill at the mouth of Mill Creek near Petersburg as early as 1746, the year when the younger James was born. At his death in 1749, his personalty amounted to $1122, a very tidy sum for those days. He was the first slaveowner of whom we find mention in Augusta county. His estate included a grown slave of each sex, the man being appraised at $66.67
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and the woman at $110. He was also one of the few owners of an "iron- shod wagon," this item being rated at $23.33. But his "smooth board gun," was not made of wood. Jonathan, father of the younger James, sold in 1760, a tract of 250 acres, which was patented to him by Lord Fairfax in 1748. The selling price in 1760 was $233.33. He administered upon the estate of James. We also find mention at the same time of Samuel, Jacob, and Isaac, but whether these four were sons or brothers of James, we do not know. Ten years later we find him set- tled near Dorsey's Knob, a little south of Morgantown. On his land stood Coburn's Fort. In 1790 James acquired 1000 acres where Mason- town now stands. His three-storied log house stood considerably to the rear of E. E. Cobun's residence. Those of his slaves who died here were buried on the orchard knob, near by. He was a Methodist class leader, and was remembered by his granddaughter, Mrs. Hubble, as a man of excellent Christian character. His wife was called the "pretty squaw," by the Indians, on ccount of her handsome features and her long, abundant black hair. She was a daughter of Arthur Trader, who had been a neighbor of the Cobuns on the South Branch, and who came to the Monongahela during the daughter's girlhood. He or his son of the same given name, took a survey on Little Sandy. Isaac, son of James Cobun, lived east of Masontown, on the B. F. Cobun place. Arthus and James, Jr., the other sons lived respectively on the Simon and Simon D. Snider farms, a mile southward. Arthur died suddenly while in a field. His son, James P., a Methodist preacher, settled on Pringle's Run, in which vicinity are many of his descendants. Robert, another son of Arthur, was also a preacher, while John was a lawyer and militia colonel. Isaac W., the fourth son, lived at Kingwood and Masontown. The sons of Isaac lived about Masontown. James M. died in a Confed- erate prison, and Lieutenant Jacob G., a teacher, was mortally wounded at Droop Mountain. Benjamin F. was a prosperous farmer, as are his sons Homer S., and Elmer E. Sanford L. and William G. became lead- ing merchants of Masontown and Reedsville. Isaac B. was a minister of the Evangelical Church. His son, Leonidas W., is a physician of Morgantown.
The pioneer Colcamp came from Germany about 1835 and settled one mile south of Eglon. Only the children of his second marriage remained here.
The Colebank family is of recent settlement near the hamlet of the same name.
The Colliers are on the Pennsylvania line above Clifton Mills.
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James Collins came from Fayette about 1842 and lived on the Ashbel Collins farm. Andrew was the only son to remain. Ezekiel was notice- able for his small stature. The aggregate holdings of the connection form a compact body of 1,000 acres of the best land in Grant.
William Collins was a neighbor to the foregoing and lived on the Jesse W. Wheeler farm. "If not a native of Preston he came in early life. He has no descedants here except those of his sons, Eliphalet and Edward.
Thomas J. Collins came from Maryland and married a daughter of William Collins.
John Collins was living near Masontown about 1850.
John Conley came from the east of Maryland in 1811, settling on the "Grape Thicket Farm," a little north of Kingwood, but spending his latter years on the Asa D. Squires' place. His descendants in Kingwood and Valley Districts are somewhat many. Amos C. is a physician of Tunnelton and William G. is the present attorney general of the state.
Benjamin F. Conley was reared by John Wagner of Monongalia and came with him to Lyon in 1838. His foster father had represented his county in the State Legislature and he bequeathed to him the farm now owned by his son, Lucien J., who is a veteran teacher.
The Conns are a pioneer family of Cheat Neck in Monongalia. Caleb came thence about 1837 to Tunnel Hill. The name was once slightly represented in Grant District.
John, Jr., James, and Robert Connor were members of the Quaker colony in Grant. They came from the east of Pennsylvania in 1776. The first named lived on the Yeast farm near Bruceton. His son, William, was the only one of the connection to rear a family here, and the chil- dren of the latter went West during the 50's, save William C., who re- mained at Bruceton and was a justice prior to the Constitution of 1850. Cyrus, son of William C., served in the wars of 1846 and 1861, and was a major in the latter. The family of his brother, Benjamin, are the only Connors of this connection now in Preston.
Michael Connor located about 1800 on the Rebecca Connor place, three miles northeast of Tunnelton. He lost sight of the five brothers who also came from Ireland.
William Constable appears to have been living near Irona about 1830.
John H. Cool, a native of New Jersey, was reared in Frederick county, Virginia. He became a Baptist preacher. In 1837 he settled on the Moreland farm, three miles south of Tunnelton, but toward the
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close of his life went to Ritchie. He was married long before coming to Picston, and his oldest son never lived here.
The Rev. D. Cool, of Newburg, born 1836, died 1911, was a grand- son of John, a pioneer of Upshur and soldier of 1812. The youngest brother of John went to Kentucky with Daniel Boone. .
Henry Copeman, a native of the kingdom of Hanover, came to Preston in the later 50's and settled on the Royse homestead. A brother followed him to America in 1860, but was not afterward known of, and according to German law the large estate of the family became tied up sixty years unless the fate of the missing brother is sooner disclosed. Frederick, a nephew to Henry, came in 1868 and settled near Bruceton. Their daughters, M. Eleanor, Martha C., and Isaphene, became well known teachers, the second being a candidate for county superintendent in 1894.
Benjamin Corbin, a carpenter, came to Fellowsville in 1848.
Michael Core came in 1786 to the vicinity of Lake Terra Alta. His son Christian, lived in the Craborchard. Moses, son of Christian, was a Methodist minister and William K. was a Federal captain.
Charles Cornwell carried on a gristmill a half-mile from Herring, and in it his youngest son, Edward S., met a tragic death by accident.
Samuel Costolo, of Irish birth, was an iron worker in Pennsylvania. In 1841 he came to Evansville with the younger members of his family.
William Costolo and his wife, both of Irish birth, came from Warren county, about 1850 and settled north of Gladesville.
John Cozad came with his wife from Pendleton county about 1814. in which region the name is now extinct. They settled on Bird's Creek near the Cornelius Martin farm. But there was one Jacob Cozad on Morgan's Run as early as 1770.
John Craig came from Ireland in boyhood. He lived first at Cranes- ville, but in 1848 settled on Morgan's Run. His youngest son, Charles C., is a well-known auctioneer.
Peter Cramer, a school teacher, came from Hagerstown about 1820, and settled in Grant on Laurel Run. His sons, Jonathan and Jonas, were preachers of the Methodist and Baptist persuasions, respectively. The connection is now in Portland.
Stephen Crane was the oldest son of Joseph and great-great-grandson of Stephen, who came from England to Elizabeth, New Jersey, about 1640. Joseph died in 1778 and the widow went with her other sons to Ohio, where she lived to be upward of ninety. Stephen came to Beech Run Hill in 1790, and located 2,545 acres of choice land. His
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first marriage is said to have been solemnized by Bishop Asbury. His second wife died in Indiana. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving under Colonel Jonathan Crane. John, Jacob, and Calvin, his three sons who remained in Preston, were all very substantial citizens, as have been their own sons in their turn. Smith, oldest son of John, came to Kingwood in 1844 as deputy clerk to John P. Byrne, nd suc- ceeded him in 1852. In 1863 he was chosen circuit clerk and held that office till his death, 25 years later. Silas F., was a prominent busi- ness man of Parkersburg.
James Crawford came in early life from County Tyrone, Ireland, and settled on the George W. Crawford place three miles northeast of Bran- donville. His wife was likewise Irish-born. His son, James G., was a county surveyor and Hamilton was a captain of militia.
Gustavus Cresap came in 1829 from Alleghany county, Maryland, and settled at Kingwood. In 1832 he was admitted to the bar and was prosecuting attorney twenty-seven years.
The given name of the pioneer Cress seems to have been Henry. He was here by 1792, and seems to have died not long afterward. He settled on the plateau between the lower courses of Coal Lick and Muddy Creek. Here his son, Jacob, built in 1831 a massive stone house, still in fine preservation. From the rising ground a hundred yards to the rear is spread out one of the most magnificent views to be found in all Preston. The southward vista is very far-reaching. The family of the pioneer became much scattered. Jacob lived on the homestead, and built a Baptist church on Coal Lick. Isaac went to Reno about 1810 and purchased a tract of 700 acres, where Isaac W. Criss now lives. His house was for several years a voting place. Michael, a Methodist local preacher, at first lived a little north of the family homestead, but near 1835 he settled on Scotch Hill. Soon after his death his entire family went West. These two wings of the connection use the spelling Criss. A broad frame and stout figure were characteristic of all three of the brothers. Eugene, a son of Michael, settled in Sac City, Iowa, in 1855, and became a prominent and highly respected citizen, holding sev- eral positions of honor and trust, including that of county judge. In 1868 he was a member of the State Legislature. In 1820 there was a Michael Criss at Bruceton. He and his wife, Maria, were from Phila- delphia. Mrs. Criss was a lady of unusual refinement. The husband, who was a tanner, had not the physical characteristics of the foregoing connection.
James Crogan, of County Roscommon, Ireland, came to America
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in 1846, and at Mount Savage, wedded a native of his own county, two of whose brothers accompanied him to America. Early in the 50's James came to Tunnel Hill as a railroad employee, but soon purchased the farm near Newburg, where his son John F., now lives.
Thomas Cruse, a native of Ireland, came in 1849 as a railroad work- man and settled on Tunnel Hill.
Robert Cunningham came from Somerset in 1869 and settled near Rockville. His son Thaddeus S., taught fourteen terms of school.
Peter Cupp came with his family from Frederick county, Maryland, considerably prior to 1800, and settled in the Craborchard. Of his sons who remained here, William lived near Cranesville, John on the Cun- ningham farm near Rockville, and Leonard, a captain in the war of 1812, at Locust Grove.
John Cuppett came from Bedford county, Pennsylvania in 1824, or, as others insist, in 1808. He settled on the "Mud Pike," a mile east of Glade Farms P. O. He dwelt in a stone tavern put up soon after 1808, and destroyed by fire many years later. The house bore the name of being haunted. Uncanny tales are related of the invisible beings that frequented it by night and made the hours of darkness miserable to the stranger. The descendants of the four sons of John are numerous, though more so in Pennsylvania than in Grant, Pleasant, and Portland, where the Preston connection is found. The Cuppetts are of more than ordinary force and ability, and a number of them have won success in professional and business lines. Parson B., is a Methodist minister, John H., is a merchant of Clarksburg, Charles H., is a principal of city schools, John T., and Victor are business men of Pennsylvania, and David E., a graduate of the State University, is an attorney of Thomas and member of the State Legislature.
About 1800, John and David Curry were living near Kantner's Cross- roads in Grant. John was killed by being thrown against a tree by his horse. The widow went West with the other members of the Clark family. Samuel, who wedded Elizabeth Glover, was a son of David. Another Curry made pottery at Brandonville about 1850.
Joseph Danks came from England in 1841, and to Preston in 1854 as a laborer on public works. He settled on Bird's Creek, where he was killed by a runaway horse. Joseph, a cousin, lived a number of years near Hazelton.
Jonathan Danser, a native of New Jersey, settled in 1844 on the Northwestern Pike just above Drover's Rest.
Samuel Darby came from New Jersey about 1784. There are tra-
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ditions of rough treatment of the family by British soldiers in the Revolution. He settled on the Mueller place west of Clifton, but his son who remained in the county, lived near Hopewell on the Samuel T. Darby farm.
William Darling settled in 1774 on the Copeman farm east of King- wood. In 1787 he sold to his brother Robert his interest in the family homestead on the South Branch. The father, whose name was William, was not then living. William, Jr., had a son William. A daughter was a captive among the Indians for a while. In 1806 the Darlings sold their Preston land to Moses Royse for $2000 and went to Ohio.
Isaac Davis, who married a McMillen, settled quite early in the last century on the Sherman Pell farm northeast of Masontown.
About 1855 John Davis came with his family from Maryland to Etam.
Joseph W. Davis came from Maine to Etam in 1862. He is a well known merchant and has served in the State Legislature.
The Dawsons of Union and the east of Reno are recent arrivals from Garrett.
Francis, William, and Leonard M. Deakins were residents of Prince George county, Maryland, and were related to the Washingtons. Francis was in the Braddock campaign, was a colonel in the Revolution, and was on Washington's staff. Captain Leonard M., who survived the others, raised a company for the Revolution and only twelve of his men came out of the conflict. The surveying compass used by Francis and William had been the property of General Washington and is now owned by George S. Beginning in 1784, the three brothers took patents for 200,000 acres in this and other counties. Carmel was laid out by them. Francis W., of the second generation, settled in 1835 on the Paren Deakins place. All but one of his sons are citizens of Union, George S. being a surveyor.
About 1830 Henry Deal came from Somerset to the Zalmon Cuppett farm, northeast of Hazelton. His brother Simon, who settled in Canada, visited him here. Of the sons of Henry, Henry Jr., located in Reno, and his own son, Jasper N. Deahl, is a professor in the State University. Jacob and Andrew J. remained in Pleasant.
John DeBerry was one of three brothers of a prominent Hueguenot family who came to America by way of England. In France the De- Berrys had been wealthy but their fine estate was confiscated. A street in Paris bears the family name. James spoke French but his family did not. Falling into reduced circumstances, he came here about 1805
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with three sons and a daughter, none of whom remained long except Archibald. The settlement was on the John H. Deal place near Zar. Of the sons of Archibald, Samuel and Joseph lived in Portland, and Wil- liam in Valley, while Martin, Jonas, Jacob, and James remained in Pleasant. Parley and Wesley, business men of Terra Alta, are sons of Samuel.
David Deets was a ward of Major David Stemple, to whom he was bound by his father, Adam Deets, a comer from Somerset and soldier in 1812. He located for himself near Amboy.
The DeMoss connection has been resident a long while in Reno and Lyon, the pioneer settlement being on the border of Taylor county. The name appears to have come from the lower Shenandoah and South Branch valleys, in which region we find the names of Peter and Lewis as early as 1744. A s in several other instances, we were not so fortunate as to secure a history of this family.
The story of Colonel Felix DeNemegyei reads like a romance. Born a Hungarian count, he became an officer in the Austrian army and saw active service in Italy. He took part in the Hungarian revolt of 1848, and after its disastrous termination, found a refuge among the Turks. A few years later he went to Mexico, where he amassed a fortune as an exporter of tropical woods. Coming at length to Preston, this county became his home for almost 30 years. In 1877 he purchased the furnace at Irondale, and operated it for some time. This enterprise eventually failed, and his latter years were passed in the shadow of financial embarrassment, the cloud being lifted somewhat after the in- dustrial revival beginning in 1898. The wanderings of Colonel DeNemegyei, superimposed on the fact of his birth in a polyglot empire. rendered him quite a linguist as well as instructive companion.
Christopher Dennis, a native of Germany, came to Glade Farms about 1820.
James Dennison was Irish-born, and came from New York to Cole- bank about 1820. He afterward removed to Barbour.
Captain John Dent chose some land in Monongalia in 1762, and set- tled there in 1773. His son, Dr. Marmaduke Dent, practiced at King- wood in 1825-8, where he married a daughter of Colonel William Price. He was born 1801, and died 1883. His sister Ann Arah, married Peter Fogle and was the mother of Dr. James B., and R. Bruce Fogle. Dr. William M. Dent, son of Dr. Marmaduke, entered West Point Military Academy in 1848 through appointment by Congressman William G. Brown, Sr., He withdrew without completing his course
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and took up the study of medicine. In 1863 he located at Newburg as a practicing physician.
Absalom Devall lived on the James DeBerry farm northeast of Cuzzart, and died there at an advanced age about 1845.
James Devers, a native of Culpeper, settled on Field's Creek in 1848.
Peter Dewitt settled on Roaring Creek about 1800. His sons, Richard and Henry, were in the war of 1812. None but John remained here. His son, Joseph, was a Methodist preacher. There are other Dewitts in Preston, but their relationship to the preceding has not be- come known to us.
David Dill and his household came in 1860 from Alleghany county, Pennsylvania, and settled near Reedsville. Michael, the father of David, died in 1858 at the age of 92. He was a German immigrant who was burned out by Indians at Buffalo in the war of 1812. John and Samuel A., are well known citizens of Valley.
A Dillon family had a transitory connection with the west side of Grant.
Josiah G. Ditmore is a veteran teacher of Pleasant.
In early times Peter Dix lived northwest of Bruceton near the F. P. Evans farm.
The widow of William Dixon came with her family in 1875 from Washington county, Maryland. Emmanuel, one of her sons, is a prominent farmer and fruit grower of Valley.
Amos Dodge was a native of Block Island, which lies off the Rhode Island shore. About 1837 he came from Ohio and settled on the Thomas B. Taylor farm in Dority Valley. The connection is rather numerous in Portland. Charles F. has a long record as a teacher.
John J. Dolliver, a Methodist preacher of the early type, was a son-in-law to Robert Brown and lived near Kingwood. He removed to Iowa, where his son Jonathan P. acquired national fame as Congress- man and a leader of progressive statesmanship.
John Dougherty, whose daughter wedded the pioneer Elliott, was on the Cheat in 1774, and two years later was living on Elliott Ridge, which overlooks Albright. Until recently the surname lingered in Preston. It gave designation to Dority Run and Dority postffioce.
Patrick Duffey came in 1851 from County Roscommon, Ireland, and made a home at Anderson.
Jacob Dull lived in Grant near St. Peter's church. Abraham Doll, said to have been a brother, lived on Salt Lick.
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Rinehart Dumire, born 1765, was many years a whaler. He arrived in 1799, but his descendants are now almost wholly in Tucker.
About 1869, Thomas Dunn came from Monongalia to the east bank of the Cheat above Albright.
John Durr married a Martin and lived in Kingwood District.
Jeremiah Ellison, a native of Delaware, settled near Sinclair in 1847. A pedantic schoolmaster induced him to change his name to Elliason.
Abraham, William, and Edward Elliott were brothers who left the James River after the close of the French and Indian War, and settled in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, Elliottsville receiving its name from them. Abraham was single, and Edward moved on to Kentucky. Thomas, the oldest of the sons of William, made a trip to Preston, and this caused Abraham, a younger son, to do likewise. In 1793, when a youth of twenty, he walked to Morgantown, and thence through the forest to the cabin of John Dougherty, which stood a little east of Albright, on the John C. Crane farm. He remained several days. The pioneer had a daughter and her name was Jane. Abraham looked upon Jane, and Jane looked upon Abraham. The youth told the pioneer he liked Jane and must have her. The pioneer diplomatically referred the decision to the maiden herself, who pronounced the acquaintance too brief. Yet when early flowers were abloom in 1794, Abraham came on horseback, and Jane rode behind him into Pennsylvania. But after a year or so, the young couple returned to Dougherty's and made their home on the same ridge, since known as Elliott's Ridge. The descendants of their sons, William and John, are numerous in Preston. Felix, a son of the former, was a Baptist preacher and also a physician .. He was the father of Edward S., a college graduate and attorney and of Felix, Jr., the cashier. Captain William, the oldest son of John, was a deputy sheriff and in the Civil War an assistant quartermaster. His son, A. Judson, is a miller of Terra Alta.
Joseph R. Ellis came from Frederick, Maryland, in 1851, and made his home at Newburg. He was a railroad conductor from 1846 to 1892, never meeting any serious hurt. His son Charles E., is a merchant of Newburg.
Frederick Elsey, a native of central England, came from east of the Blue Ridge about 1796, and located on the east bank of Cheat just below the mouth of Elsey's Run. Here he lost his first wife and married again. The three sons of the first wife then returned east, but the youngest soon went to Randolph. He is the progenitor of the Elza
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connection of that county. Frederick died while his son, Nicholas, by the second marriage, was still small. The latter settled about 1840 on the C. C. Nine farm, and his posterity are chiefly on the plateau of Portland. Two of his sons died in the Federal service. His grandson, Benjamin H., holds the palm among Preston teachers for length of service in the schoolroom.
John Emerson came from Monongalia about 1825, and lived on the S. R Martin place, a mile north of Masontown.
Shadrach Emerson came from Pennsylvania in 1829 and lived on the Mitchell Emerson farm north of Newburg.
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