USA > West Virginia > Preston County > A History of Preston County, West Virginia, V.1 > Part 36
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
Harry C. Jackson came from Cecil county, Md., in 1868, and lives in Pleasant.
Josiah Jackson was a college graduate who practiced medicine fifteen years at the mouth of Redstone, in Fayette. He then went into iron smelting at Ice's Ferry, owning 15,000 acres of land and three furnaces. A business reverse at length overtook him. His first wife was Sarah McCartney and the second was Verlinda Fleming. By the former he had only eighteen children, and by the second only eleven more. Benjamin F., a son of the first marriage, came to Gladesville in 1844. Daniel R. and Grove C., sons of the second marriage, came to Kingwood, the former in 1868, the latter in 1873. Daniel R. has served as sheriff and as deputy United States marshal.
Luke and Thomas Jaco were early residents near Marquess.
Dennis Jeffers came from Pennsylvania in 1798, setttling at the Jeffers place on_Coal Lick. But one son, Abraham, remained here permanently. Samuel lived a while at Oak Flat, in Valley. Benjamin served in the legislature of Iowa. The small resident connection is in Portland and Union.
Benjamin Jefferys was a native of England. He arrived from near Cumberland about 1788 and settled on the Elisha Jefferys place near Hazelton. There are many and widely distributed descendants of his sons William, James, Thomas, Joseph, and Edward.
The brothers John and Thomas Jenkins were natives of Wales, and settled at Harmony Grove, in Pleasant, shortly after the Revolution. We are told of three other brothers who went further west, and between 1792 and 1798 we find the names of James, William, and Evan, Sr. and Jr. Evan, Sr. was grandfather to Albert G., a Confederate general killed in the battle of the Wilderness. The descendants of John
-
365
PRESTON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
and Thomas are numerous, especially in Pleasant and Valley. Jehu of Morgan's Glade was many years a justice and member of the county court, and in the latter capacity has been followed by his son, John E., a teacher of long service.
Levi H. Jenkins, son of Horton of Stewartstown, came about 1850 to the Rumble farm, a mile north of Valley Point.
Joseph J. Jenkins, a son of George of Cheat Neck, came to Evansville about 1837 and while yet single worked for eight dollars a month on the farm he afterward purchased and now lives upon.
Ferguson and John Jenkins, brothers and natives of Monroe county, Pa., were blacksmiths. They came to Evansville about 1840. Ferguson was a local pugilist, and as such was never defeated. He enlisted in the Federal army when past sixty years of age, and died soon after his discharge at the close of the war. His son William H., and grandson Charles H., are merchants of Independence, and Henry E., a son of John, is a merchant of Evansville.
Alexander Jenkins lived in the south of Reno. He served in the war with Mexico.
John Jennings lived on the Johns farm at Harmony Grove. Isaiah, an exhorter, was a brother. The family came here about 1800.
William Jennings was a son of an English immigrant who settled in Barbour and lived to a great age. The son lived near Scotch Hill and was a member of the county court.
Jacob Johns came from Somerset in 1851 and settled on the John Johns place near Harmony Grove. His wife was related to the Gribbles of Pisgah.
Andrew Johnson, a native of Scotland, was a soldier under General Wayne. He was several times wounded, was once left for dead, and he carried a silver plate in his skull. In 1799 he settled on the Charles C. Craig farm near Irona. His wife, Elizabeth Green, is elsewhere mentioned.
Wick Johnson was a tavernkeeper about 1830. He seems to have lived first near Gordon.
Fielden R. Jones came from Virginia in 1847, intending to go farther West. But being detained by sickness at Fellowsville, he remained in the county, living chiefly at Rowlesburg, where he was a builder.
John P. Jones came from Wales to America in 1837, and to Terra Alta in 1863, where he became a prominent citizen and business man. He was three times in the lower house of the State Legislature and
العمدة
366
PRESTON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
once in the Senate. He was a president of the county court and in 1872 was a member of the Constitutional Convention.
William Jones came to Tunnelton from Monongalia.
Christopher Jordan, an Irish immigrant, settled on the. Benoni Jordan place near Kingwood.
Hezekiah Joseph, who lived near Pisgah, would seem to be a descendant of William, who came from Delaware to Monongalia in 1770 and married Mary Stafford.
Charles Kantner, a native of Hagerstown, Md., came to Grant in 1849. He was a conspicuous citizen of Bruceton.
Peter Keefover, son of a German immigrant, came from Monon- galia about 1856 and lived near Brown's Mill. After some years he went West with all his family except David L.
John Keiser was living before 1840 on the Felton place near Etam. He moved away. Henry, probably a relative, came from Pennsylvania and settled near Colebank.
George Keller, a soldier and pensioner of the Revolution, was an early settler of Reno, locating on Grape Run. George, Jr., was in like manner a soldier and pensioner of the war of 1812. His wife was Mary Bolyard. Tradition says they were blessed with twelve pairs of twins, and that while the tribe was passing through a town of Ohio on its way West, a hatter was so struck by the spectacle that he fitted the two dozen heads.
John Kelley came from' Loudoun in 1783 and located on the Alfred Kelley place near Zar. He was a soldier of the Revolution. In 1811 he removed to Ohio with four of his children, and is said to have attained the age of 103 years. Of the three sons who remained in Pleasant, John and James were in the war of 1812. John was the only one of a party of nine soldiers who persevered in a wilderness march, and was reduced to such dire privation that he went through the form of eating his moccasins. His son William J., moved to Lyon in 1850. The rest of the connection are mainly within a short radius of the old homestead. Jackson J. was many years a teacher.
Joseph and William T. Kelley, brothers, came from Cumberland about 1830. The former settled on the Allen Kelley place, and the latter, a blacksmith, close to Lenox.
Hugh Kelso lived near Caddell on the west bank of Cheat. He was in good circumstances and owned slaves.
Dr. Julius C. Kemble was born at Pruntytown, Taylor county. He came to Evansville in 1844, and to Kingwood in 1882, where he died
367
PRESTON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
twelve years later. In the years 1854-9 he was a member of the Vir- ginia Senate. He was married to Eunice C. Morgan, and later to Catherine C. Carroll.
John Kimberley was a cabinet-maker of Brandonville. His sister married John D. Rigg.
Valentine King came from near Winchester in 1788. His settle- ment was near the Laurel Run church in Grant, where his son John built a saw and grist mill. Colonel William H., son of the latter, operated a mill at Albright, spent a while in California, and was sheriff of Preston. The connection is somewhat numerous.
Another King was living prior to 1830 very near the Tunnelton Campground. His given name was probably Eneas or Cornelius. He went to Ohio, but his son John M., remained.
Edward F. King and his sister Louise, natives of Germany, came to Portland in 1852.
Nathan King, of Irish descent, came from Virginia to Fellowsville about 1855. Afterward he settled between Aurora and Eglon.
Isaiah Kirk, a native of Pennsylvania, settled about 1830 on the Robert Patton place, immediately south of Masontown. His wife was Irish-born. Isaiah, Jr., was a captain in the Federal army and raised for it the first company in Preston. In 1864 he was colonel of the 25th Regiment of militia.
The name Kisner seems identified with Bird's Creek.
Levi Klauser came to Kingwood as a printer and newspaper man.
Philip S. Knapp came from Barbour in his boyhood and lives at Amboy. He has served on the county court.
George W. Knisell, a native of France and soldier under Napoleon at Waterloo, came to Kingwood in 1832 and followed the trade of wheelwright. He built a stuccoed house after the European style. His wife is remembered by elderly people for the tempting eatables she cooked for the crowds on muster day. His son Philip settled on Bird's Creek.
The name Knott had a transitory existence in the south of the county.
Robert and Edward Knotts, brothers, came to Reno in 1814. The former settled on the Philip S. Knotts farm. The other lived on the Samuel Zinn place. His family has drifted out of the county. The progeny of Robert are numerous, especially in Reno and Union. Eight sons of Absalom were in the Federal army. Marcellus, their cousin,
商品
368
PRESTON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
is a Methodist minister. Philip S., his brother, has been on the county court.
Peter Lambert, son of a German immigrant, lived near Glade Farms.
Zadoc and Eugenus Lanham, sons of Zadoc of Taylor, settled in Lyon, the former in 1859 and the latter in 1869.
Henry Lantz came from Lancaster county, Pa., in 1801. He settled on the D. A. Dixon farm, midway between Aurora and Rowlesburg. His three sons have many descendants. John C., is well known as the proprietor of a summer hotel at Aurora. Percival and Jacob O. became physicians. J. Frank is a journalist in Nebraska.
The Larews of Preston are descendants of Isaac, who moved from New Jersey to Frederick county a little before 1743 and was a constable there in 1748. Hiram removed from Jefferson to Barbour. Three of his nine children settled between Newburg and Evansville, William H. arriving in 1851, Hiram G. in 1857, and James H. in 1864. Hiram G., Jr., is County Surveyor. Rolandes S., an older brother, is State Mine Inspector.
David Largin, probably of Hardy county, lived a mile north of Rockville.
George Laub, brother-in-law to John M. Galloway, lived some time in Grant, but returned to Somerset.
William Lawrence came from Fauquier about 1847 and settled be- tween Newburg and Fellowsville.
The Lawsons were a pioneer family of Pisgah, coming from Loudoun at the same time with the Gribbles and Wallses. The pioneer's name appears to have been Elias. In old records the surname is given as Layton.
Charles T. Lawton came from Vermont in 1869 and settled mid- way between Rowlesburg and Aurora.
John Leach lived near Harmony Grove and married the widow of Thomas Liston. His sons left the county.
Jeremiah Leach came to Scotch Hill from Virginia.
John W. Lease came from Marion about 1830 and settled in Lyon on the Charles L. Larew place.
About 1850 Henry Ledman was living two miles southeast of Bran- donville.
Nicholas Lee came from Ryan's Glade in Garrett in 1824, and settled near Gregg's Knob. When 59 years of age he enlisted as a Federal soldier and served throughout the Civil War.
Moses G. Lemon came from Monongalia in 1875 and lived on the
369
PRESTON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
Huber farm, west of Mount Phoebe. His brother Jacob was for some time a blacksmith at Reedsville.
Aaron Lenhart arrived from Somerset about 1851. He lived first at Morgan's Glade and afterward near St. Peter's in Grant. His sons are about Lenox and Rockville, excepting James A., the ex-sheriff and Kingwood merchant.
A Lewis, whose name was doubtless Henry, settled during or before the Revolution on the lands of Freeman Kelley, a mile north of Dority. His cabin was burned by the Indians, traces of it being still observable. His family would seem to include the Daniel, killed in 1788 on Green's Run; John B., who married Mary Butler in 1796, and died about ten years later, leaving a large family ; a son, who married Elizabeth Trow- bridge; a daughter, who married Henry Everly; and Henry, Jr. who lived on Lick Run and died about 1848. The descendants of the last- named appear to include all the Lewises now in Preston, these dwelling mainly in Portland and Reno. Jacob, a son of Henry, Jr., went to Reno about 1839.
Philip and George Lieb were German-born and settled at Brandon- ville about 1845.
Isaac J. Light, a resident of Pleasant, lost his life in the Civil War.
Lewis Lininger came from Franklin county, Pennsylvania, to Grant in 1860. His twenty children did not include any twins. Fourteen of these were yet living in 1907, but none in this county except Samuel, a resident of Grant.
Henry Linton was from Maryland and settled southeast of Glades- ville about 1837.
Ambrose Lipscomb, a British soldier in the Revolution, settled in 1808 on the Joseph Lipscomb place in Union near the Northwestern Bridge. At the present time the connection is much more numerous in Tucker than in Preston.
Thomas Liston came from Delaware, apparently somewhat earlier than 1800, and located in Pleasant on the river-hill behind Harmony Grove. He seems to have died while his children were small. John, said to have been a brother, settled in the same vicinity, but lived until about 1830. The connection has grown numerous and is scattered over Pleasant, Grant, Valley and Kingwood.
Samuel Livengood arrived from Somerset about 1845, settling first at Fairview and afterward on the George Livengood farm near Cruzzart. He became worth considerable property. He was preceded by Jona-
370
PRESTON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
than, an older brother, who lived in Pleasant eighteen years, but returned to Pennsylvania.
Of four brothers bearing the name of Loar and migrating from Hagerstown, one settled at Frostburg, another at Oakland, a third in Pennsylvania, while the fourth is unaccounted for. Three sons of George of Frostburg settled in Valley. William has no descendants here. John settled in 1852 at the Halfway House on the Morgantown pike. He went thence to Kingwood where he kept a hotel for a while, and then left the county. Jonathan S. settled in 1850 on the Freeburn farm Still another brother, George, located near Gladesville just with- out the county line.
Margaret, widow of John Loughridge, came in 1848 from Alleghany county, Md., with her sons, James, George, Abraham, and Samuel. John, another son, followed about three years later. They lived in Reno but did not acquire realty. In 1854 James grew 1,509 bushels of corn. William, his son, whose home is at Fellowsville, was on the Reno Board of Education 24 years.
John Luraw, a German immigrant, settled near Eglon. His wife was from St. Mary's county, Md. The present connection is mainly on Little Sandy near Bruceton.
Aaron Luzader is said to have been the first settler on the site of Grafton. John B., of northeast Reno, is a great-grandson. Susan, an aunt, married William Matlick.
The Lyons connection is in the vicinity of Gladesville.
James R. Manown, a physician, came to Kingwood in 1852. He was surgeon of the 14th W. Va. Inf., and in one of its engagements he threw over a bank a shell that lodged near his feet. It burst a moment later.
William Marquess came to Reno about 1827, and built a gristmill at the hamlet which now bears his name.
John W. Marsden and his wife were natives of England, and located about 1867 at the mouth of Roaring Creek. George W., his son, was actively interested in trying to bring a railroad into the county from the north, so as to enlarge the local coal mining industry.
Thomas Charles Martin was living in 1769 where Martinsburg now stands. He then moved to Monongalia, and in 1773 built Fort Martin, where the Fort Martin church now stands. The spot is west of the Monongahela and near the state line at Crooked Run. In June, 1779, the stockade was assailed by Indians. Colonel Charles, as the pioneer was known on the Monongahela, was a prominent citizen. He was over six feet tall, with dark complexion and keen, black eyes. Several
371
PRESTON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
of the eleven children of his first wife accompanied him to Crooked Run, and New Martinsville is said to have been founded by his son Pressley S. While surveying in the glades of Valley and Lyon, he chose for himself 1200 acres on Three Fork and moved there in 1795. He is reported as saying he did not wish to be so near to a neighbor as to hear the crowing of his roosters. His home was on the Cornelius Martin farm, and it was here that he reared a second family of eleven children. He was now known as Thomas Martin, and was colonel of the militia regiment in which the second father-in-law was a captain. The resident connection is not numerous.
Allen Martin came from Charles county, Md., to the glades of Valley about the same time that the Fairfaxes arrived. In 1808-9 he was keeping a tavern on the John W. Guseman place. Only his son Aquila appears to have remained in Preston. The only son of Aquila was John A. F., a resident of Kingwood and Terra Alta. He was sheriff, representative, and colonel of the 148th Regiment of militia. He accumulated considerale property, was well informed, a Bible scholar, affable, and kind to the poor. Isaac P., of Kingwood, is an only son. Mrs. Mary Huffman of Marquess, is a descendant of Allen by another line.
Daniel Martin served seven and a half years in the Continental army. About 1785 he came to Valley Point and purchased the William Jackson farm of 300 acres. He lived to the year 1850, and is remem- bered by our older people as an old gentleman of very stout frame and fond of going through the manual of arms. His age is stated to have been either 101 or 104 years, but if he was a youth when he went into the Revolution, he could not have been so old by ten years. He had six brothers and lost trace of them. The descendants of his three sons are legion and are in nearly all parts of the county. His grandsons James and Isaac P., taught many years. The former was also a Baptist preacher. Several grandsons of Isaac P., as well as some other Martins of the same degree of descent, have of late years been con- spicuous as teachers.
Philip Martin came from Rockingham about 1805, when only a youth. He is said to have been of German birth. He lived a while on the Jordan farm near Kingwood, afterward moving to the Dale Settle- ment. Two brothers came here ahead of him, but where they went is not known. All his sons save one remained near Kingwood. John and Jacob, in their earlier years, were mail carriers. They left King- wood at midnight, one going to Romney and the other to Wheeling
372
PRESTON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
in eighteen hours. J. Ami, grandson of Philip, was many years county clerk. His half-brother, Philip B., is a teacher in the West and grad- uate of the State University. Cyrus H., a great-grandson, is a principal of town schools.
William Mason settled about 1810 on the Menefee farm at the . mouth of Elsey's Run. When he died-about 1850-he was a member of the county court. He was a teacher, a fine penman, an extensive reader of the English classics, and had some skill in writing verse. His brother Peter was a wag and much given to practical jokes. It is probable that their father was the actual pioneer, that he was the John who married Sarah Casey, and that one or more of his daughters married Messengers. DeKalb D., and William D., sons of William, were merchants at Albright. The former removed to Terra Alta and then to Parkersburg, where he was interested in oil, timber, and real estate. William D., built a store and married at Masontown and gave his name to the village. In 1864 he went West, merchandising in Missouri and Illinois.
Joshua Mason lived on the Jacob Wotring place in the south of Union.
Hiram and Nelson Massie came to Lyon about 1838 with Nathan Miller, their stepfather.
Joseph Mathew, a soldier of the Revolution and a justice, came to Scotch Hill at an early day.
Abraham Mathew, probably related to the foregoing, came about 1845 from Barbour to Hazel Run in Grant.
Joseph S. Matlick was a native of New Jersey. He was an only son, losing his father while still an infant. When 16 he came to Somerset, and in 1816 purchased the Alexander Brandon farm in Grant, the place still resting in the family. He went to Missouri in 1850, all his sons migrating thither about the same time, except John, who re- mained on the homestead, and William, who settled south of Tunnel- ton in 1837. The members who went to Missouri settled in Scotland county: where the name is now well represented. Twelve sons and grandsons of Joseph S. served in the Federal army and all but two returned home. The two sons of his daughter Delilah Raymond were forced to leave the neighborhood because of their Confederate sympa- thies. In the mining regions of the Northwest their pluck and energy secured them a very large fortune.
Henry Mattingly settled on the David A. Albright place near Cranesville about 1852. He was then a widower, and only his sons
373
PRESTON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
William and John came with him. William at length wished to join John in Missouri, but died on the journey. The brother fell ill at almost the same time and died in a week.
Christian Maust came from Somerset about 1844 and lived just west of the Bowermaster bridge on the Big Sandy in Grant. His son George was a justice and lived near St. Peter's.
Jacob Maust, a distant relative to the foregoing, lived near the Salem church.
The name of the pioneer May is unknown. His arrival at Deep Hollow in Pleasant was very early, since he died about 1785. His widow married Christopher Cale. So far as known, he left but two children, Henry and George. There is no record of the latter beyond his mere name and the conjecture that the given name of his wife was Eleanor. Henry settled on Beech Run Hill, where his son Levi lived. Jacob, another son of Henry, settled near Marquess. The seven sons of George, who went to Kansas, were all in the Federal army and all came home.
Charles W. Mayer came from Germany in 1848, and soon afterward settled at Terra Alta, where his son John C. is a merchant.
Frederick Mayes located in 1847 on the John Mayes place near Evansville. Four of his five adult sons lost their lives in the Federal service.
James, Andrew, and Alexander McCauley, brothers, settled a little north of Masontown about 1850.
James McCollum was a soldier of the Revolution. Four brothers and a sister accompanied him from Scotland a little before that war broke out. His own wife was Scotch. In 1775 he purchased the Jacob Sliger place near Clifton Mills, and in 1782 he came with his son and made settlement. While he went back for his family and his household goods, the son grew 350 bushels of potatoes in the clearing already on the place. The two-storied hewed-log house soon afterward built is yet standing and is probably the oldest inhabited dwelling in Preston. The family was substantial in both means and character.
Zephaniah McCoy came recently to Gladesville from Tyler county.
Samuel S., and Robert J. W. McCrum were sons of Robert, of Mif- flintown, Pa., the mother of the latter being a Campbell. The grand- father of his wife was a refugee from Ireland and soldier of the Revo- lution. Samuel S. came from Tyler county to Aurora in 1846, and founded the mercantile business now carried on by his sons, Page R., and Alvin A. The older brother has served in the State Legislature,
374
PRESTON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
as has also Arlington B., a nephew and attorney. Robert J. W., set- tled and died in Missouri. The family was then brought to Aurora with some difficulty, the Civil War not being over.
Thomas McGee was a merchant of Kingwood in 1830. His family went to Lewis county.
William McGee came from New Jersey in 1810, to the Waters place north of Independence. His great-granddaughter, Martha, was twice elected county superintendent of Cheyenne county, Neb. She had been educated by an older sister, and after the death of the latter, she re- quited this care by raising his children.
Ephraim McGee settled on the Hagans place near Kingwood, about 1832.
William H. McGibbons is a native of Bedford county, Pa., and came to Bruceton in 1855, where he has served as justice many years.
Matthew McGinnis became an orphan when very young and in this way lost touch with the history of his people. He arrived from New Jersey about 1800, and lived near Kingwood, but owned no realty. His sons settled around Bird's Creek. William H., a grandson, was a physician of Reedsville. William A., another grandson, and a justice, is a prominent citizen of Terra Alta.
The American ancestor of the McGrews was a Scotchman, who about 1774 came to Cumberland county, Pa. There he died suddenly, leaving a son, Patrick. The widow remarried. In 1786, Patrick with his wife and four children and the grandmother located on the Samuel Murray place, a mile south of Brandonville. James, familiarly known as Colonel McGrew, was the only son of Patrick to stay on the home- stead. Soon after his marriage in 1807, he purchased what was later known as the Lucian Smith farm, two miles north of Bruceton. It had a few acres cleared, and near the mineral spring by the present public road was a story-and-a-half log cabin. Here he did blacksmith- ing as well as farming. About 1819 he sold to Jacob Smith and returned to the homestead to care for his parents, who were now alone. Though often urged, he always declined civil office. During the war of 1812, and for some years afterward he was colonel of the 104th Regiment. It was called into service in the Northwest. James ranked as one of the more substantial citizens of Preston, attained a great age, and lived a quiet, retired, orderly, and contented life. The wife was a woman of more than ordinary ability and was noted for the systematic arrange- ment of her household affairs. There being for years no doctor within 25 miles, she was often called upon in emergency cases, and when it
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.