USA > West Virginia > Monroe County > A history of Monroe county, West Virginia > Part 25
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Baker (Becker) Holsapple (Holzapfel-"Wood-
Beamer (Boehmer)* apple")
Bostick (Bostwick) Hull (Hohl)
Broyles (Bruehl) Larew (La Rue)
Cochran (Corcoran)
Mitchell (Michel)
*In the German language oe and ue appear as dotted o and dotted u. Boehmer is therefore spelled with six letters instead of seven.
291
FAMILY NAMES
Counts (Kuntz)
Miller (Mueller)
Estill (d'Estelle)
Neel (Neill)
Fleshman (Fleischmann)
Nickell (Nichol)
Hansbarger ( Hensperger)
Swope (Schwab)
Haynes (Heyn)
Wickline (Wicklein)
Zoll (von Zoll)
Some of the Monroe surnames often appear in the old papers in a different orthographic guise than at present. Such differences are of another nature than those just mentioned, which relate to their derivation. The more conspicuous of the old spellings are these :
Burdit (also Burdet)
Laverty Nale (for Neel)
Deboy (also Deboie) Inchminger
Reburn
Estile
Syers (for Sawyers)
Grimes (for Graham) Harvie
Scarbrough
Scaggs
Hickenbottom
Smitson
Hutchison
Sturgeon (for Stodghill)
Kissenger Kountz (also Kouns)
Wikle
The distintinction between Johnson and Johnston was seldom observed, the second form being generally used. Willey, Wiley, and Wylie were also used interchangeably. But perhaps no name had more liberties taken with it than Swope. Such forms as Swobe, Soab, and even Soap and Soaps are more generally seen.
Ever since the formation of Monroe there has been a steady and considerable movement into the county from the eastward. But very few of these immigrants have been of European birth. Since the present century began there has been quite an influx from Floyd and neighboring counties and from the nearby coal districts to the southwest. This new element has become quite conspicuous in sev- eral neighborhoods.
Burnsides
Pine
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A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
On the other hand there has been from the first years of settle- ment a large and constant outflow. At the outset this movement helped to settle the newer counties of West Virginia, the valley of East Tennessee, and the Bluegrass region of Kentucky. It has kept step with the westward march of the American nation, so that people of Monroe birth or ancestry are scattered throughout the Missis- sippi basin, the Gulf States, and the Pacific Slope. In recent years the tide has turned eastward also, and families from this county are finding new homes in the Valley of Virginia and east of the Blue Ridge.
Under the economic conditions which thus far obtain in the United States, the strictly rural county never becomes thickly peo- pled. One of its functions is to serve as a nursery ground for the filling up of newer localities and the commercial and industrial cen- ters.
In 1800 the population of the present Monroe area was prob- ably about 3300. In 1910 the number was 13,055. Thus, in spite of the very heavy emigration from the county, and the absence, with one relatively small exception, of any commercial town, the pop- ulation has doubled every 55 years. The natural increase has been large, although a lessening in the rate is now observable. This cir- cumstance, together with the increasing loudness of the call of the city and the attractiveness of other agricultural fields, has caused the very slight decrease between 1900 and 1910. In no previous de- cade has any falling off occurred.
The outflow from this county represents a population probably not less than five times greater than that of the county itself. The broader opportunities outside have enabled many of the sons and daughters of Monroe to win fame or fortune, or both. It would be inspiring as well as interesting to make a far-reaching search for these instances, and thus construct a Monroe "hall of fame." But only some of the more conspicuous of these examples could be men- tioned. Our space did not permit us to make much excursion beyond the county limits.
We may expect Monroe to remain one of the most American of
293
FAMILY NAMES
American counties. The lack of great mineral wealth tends to keep at a distance the demoralization observable in the coal and oil dis- tricts. The grazing interest will remain dominant, and yet the growing need of more intensive farming throughout our country will at length arrest the stationary tendency of the population of Mon- roe. Scientifically constructed highways, to obviate the mud block- ade of the winter season, will gradually appear. A further increase in the steam railroad mileage is less probable than the building of a trolley line through the longer dimension of the county. This would afford a very practical outlet and would give the now almost dor- mant resorts a new lease of life. The rural school in America suf- fers from a lack of sympathetic interest because it is lagging behind its opportunities. Its best friends will eventually succeed in bring- ing it into harmony with the times and to the great advantage of the rural neighborhoods. The Monroe of the present is a decided advance upon the Monroe of the pioneer. The Monroe of the fu- ture will record still further progress.
XXXIV
GENEALOGIC AND BIOGRAPHIC NOTES
numerous.
HE history of Old Monroe goes back a century and a half. All this while there has been much coming in and there has been very much going out. Because of this great outward drift few family groups have become Not a few of the old families have become extinct on Monroe soil or nearly so. These facts are called up to account for the very large number of family names.
We have sought to carry the lines of family descent far enough down to enable the growing generation to perceive easily its own relationship with those that to all intents and purposes have passed off the stage of action. Behind this limit the genealogic facts are scarcely subject to any further change. In front of this limit they are all the while undergoing further change, because births, marri- ages, and changes of residence are still taking place. These two classes of genealogic facts we may distinguish as historic and cur- rent. We know of the historic data by records and tradition. But records are liable to sudden and irreparable destruction, and tradi- tion fades in amount and trustworthiness with every passing year. On the other hand, the current facts are a matter of everyday knowl- edge on the part of the community, and so for a while they are able to take care of themselves.
It would have been a satisfaction to carry the lines of family descent forward to the year of publication, provided full and ac- curate results were obtainable. Such an effort would include full particulars as to dates of all kinds and facts relating to residence and occupation. In a book, booklet, or newspaper article confined to . some one family such fullness is aimed at, and the narrative is usu- ally given in what is called the loose form. This is an excellent style, since it is the way in which a story it naturally told. But
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295
GENEALOGIC AND BIOGRAPHIC
it eats up space. Had the family sketches in this book been written in such a manner, there would be no room for anything else at all.
It was necessary to do one of two things; to leave a large ma- jority of the families without any special mention whatever, or to use a compact, tabular form of narrative and not go much outside of what we have called the historic class of data. We chose the latter alternative. Yet the question of space was not the only con- sideration. This volume is put out at the lowest living price, even if some persons who know nothing of the cost of getting up a book appear to think otherwise. Consequently the work had to be done with- in a definite time and the size of the book had to be kept within a certain limit. To collect and arrange family history on a thorough- going scale was beyond the power of any man in a single year. To give another year to the task and to double the pages in this his- tory would treble the cost of the book because the increase in price would curtail the number of purchasers. The course we pursued was the only one open to us.
It may appear to some persons that we have shown favoritism by tracing some family lines farther than others. We wished to construe our own rule in a liberal manner and include some current data with the historic. In some instances we could not do this and purely for the reason that sufficient information was not at hand. In some cases the information was very deficient.
While going through record-books, newspaper files, and other sources, all the genealogic facts that seemed to relate to Monroe families were transferred to our card system. Sometimes much was gleaned and sometimes very little, but no partiality was practiced. To supplement what could thus be gathered, letters of information were repeatedly and urgently asked for through the columns of the "Monroe Watchman." We did not make a general solicitation by means of personal letters, because we did not wish to appear too inquisitive or persistent. We preferred to leave the matter to the self-interest of the people, so that they might feel free to send such material as they preferred. The responses were numerous and gen- erally excellent, but there were not enough of them. Shortages will
296
A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
now and then appear in the sketches themselves, and in case of some old families there is no special mention. There are persons in or out of the county who could have done very much to supply these deficiences. Through procrastination or indifference much help has been withheld. Some readers of this book will be chagrined at their own remissness, or at the remissness of kindred better informed than themselves. The author is not a mind reader and could not put down what he did not find or what had not been furnished to him.
It is exceedingly easy for error to creep into dates and proper names. Therefore we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the details found in this chapter. We have, however, done the very best we knew how with the material secured. Furthermore, it is to be re- membered that two sources of information are not likely to agree throughout, and that errors exist in the public records themselves.
This history of Monroe does not by any means assume to contain an account of all the famliies that are or have been identified with the county. In a genealogical way it is a source-book designed to be of service to persons who desire to trace family lines more thor- oughly than has been possible to us. In the author's notes are many facts which do not admit of easy classification, and they have not been put into the book. For a nominal charge such material will be furnished to persons desiring it.
The attention of the reader is also called to the general intro- duction to this volume.
The tabular form of narrative that we use makes necessary cer- tain abbreviations and fixed forms of expression. To illustrate these, a fictitious family history is now given. The explanation will be found immediately below.
DOE: John (b. 1750) (Celia-d. 1800) C: James (1775-1850) (- Smith) -Jane (s)-Adam (?Mary Poe)-Henry (Nancy Poe, 1810, Sarah Bee, 1820)-Thomas (dy)-William-Catharine ?
C. of James: Joseph (k. '62), Philip (k. '61), Dr. Richard (away) George (d. 1820) (app. $100)-bro. to John C: Moses (m. Ky)-Seth (unc)-Nimrod (Mary Beck Smith).
Explanation: John Doe, a pioneer of Monroe, was born in 1750.
297
GENEALOGIC AND BIOGRAPHIC
The given name of his wife was Celia, and she died in 1800. Their children, so far as known, were James, Jane, Adam, Henry, Thomas, and William. It is probable that there was also a Catharine. James was born 1775, died 1850, and married a Smith, her given name be- ing unknown. Jane lived single. A certain Adam Doe married Mary Poe, but the question mark shows that it may have been an- other Adam Doe A question mark after Poe would mean that Adam may have married Mary Poe, although we have no assurance that he ever married at all. Henry was twice married; to Nancy Poe in 1810 and to Sarah Bee in 1820. Thomas died in early manhood. Names of persons dying in childhood are not included in our lists. Of William nothing is known. He may not have grown up.
Joseph, son of James, was killed in the war of 1861 and in the year 1862. Philip was killed in the same war, the exact year being unknown. Richard is a physician and lives out of the county.
George was a brother to John the pioneer. He died in 1820 and his personalty was appraised at $100. His sons were Moses, Seth, and Nimrod. Moses married in Kentucky, Seth is unaccount- ed for, and Nimrod married a widow, whose maiden name was Mary Beck.
In the sketches a county name is not followed by the name of the state when the county is in either of the Virginias. The name of a well known local stream is not generally followed by the word river or stream. Names of children are given in order of age when- ever our information permits. Nicknames or pet names are avoided except in case of uncertainty. Polly is not usually given for Mary, because in the early time there might be a Mary and a Polly in the same family. A date standing without special explanation means we find mention in said year. Thus, "John Smith-Indian, 1800," means that John Smith was living on Indian Creek in 1800. Abbre- viations not already pointed out are these: adj .- adjacent to; m- married; w-wife. c (following a date) means that the date is an approximation.
* *
ABBOTT
Joseph (d. 1852) (Jemima -) : C .- St. Clair-Wilson-John (Esther
298
A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
Farley, 1807)-Lucinda-Joseph-Sophia (George W. Hutchinson, 1830) - Esther (John Roberts, 1829).
ADAIR
The progenitor of the Adairs followed William the Conqueror to Eng- land in 1066. A descendant moved from the southwest of Scotland to county Antrim, Ireland, and thence William, a Presbyterian minister, who had been educated at Glasgow College, came to Philadelphia. As an Irish patriot and obnoxious to the British government he had to flee his native country hidden in a barrel and he never ceased to be bitterly hos- tile to England. He was sent as a missionary to Monroe, Greenbrier, and Pocahontas. Both he and his wife Ellen often prayed that the death angel would call for them at the same time. Their petition was answered and they were buried at New Lebanon in 1848.
James, a brother, arrived later and settled near William. His sons, William and James, Jr., located at Red Sulphur Springs, where they were prominent and prosperous citizens and conducted a large mercantile es- tablishment many years. William was for a long time owner and man- ager of Red Sulphur Springs resort, was a man of large influence and re- peatedly represented Monroe county in the Virginia Legislature. C. of James, Sr., (1761-1809) (Mary Wallace) : William (1804-1887) (Sarah Harvey)-James (1807-1868) (Jane R. Smart-Robert-Mary-Jane
C. of William. James H., Robert C., John R., Walter S., L. C.
C. of James: Asa R., Robert W. (b. 1848) (Julia Bane), Hugh T., John A., Mary J., James A., Manilius C. Robert W. settled near Cash- mere in 1874. C: Willie, Nancy B., Asa., Hugh H.
In 1812 one William (Catharine) was living on the Penturff patent at the head of Second. An older William died in Augusta in 1763 leaving a library of religious and medical books. He was one of the earliest set- tlers.
ALDERSON
John (1738-1821), the pioneer of this family in Monroe, wa's a son of John (1719-1781) who was a native of England and a son of John, a clergyman of the Church of England. The second John was about to take a matrimonial choice which his father disapproved. With the view of breaking the attachment, the parent gave the son a horse and some pocket money as a means of traveling around his native country. After he had used up his money, including that derived from the sale of the horse, he came to America as a redemptioner and was bought by a Mr. Curtis of New Jersey After his release from service, the young man married his master's daughter and became a Baptist preacher. A letter to his father brought a kind response and two volumes on theology, which book's have been passed along from generation to generation. This sec-
299
GENEALOGIC AND BIOGRAPHIC
ond John came to Rockingham in 1755, but died in Botetourt, where he was a merchant. Other sons were Curtis, James, and Thomas. The last named also lived here a while but left no posterity in this region.
The third John (Mary Carroll, 1759) was preaching for the Baptist congregation on Linville Creek in 1775. After two missionary trips to the Greenbrier he came permanently in 1777, and built his house where now stands the Alderson Hotel in the town of Alderson. His patent overlap- ping that of Samuel Lewis just below, he extended his boundary into the hills south of the river. His brother-in-law, William Morris, had also a patent of 1200 acres and it lay across the river. As pastor of Old Green- brier Church, and founder of the Baptist Church in the Greenbrier valley, the Rev. John Alderson is spoken of in Chapter XXIII. C: George (1762- 1811c) (-Osborne of Josiah)-Joseph (b. 1771) (Mary Newman, 1789) -Margaret (1778-1869) (Thomas Smithson)-Jane (b. 1780) (William McClung)-John (1783-1853) (Jane Walker, 1805, Nancy Robinson Mays)
George moved to Kanawha, where he was a justice. George's Creek was named for him. John, Jr., lived on the homestead, and Joseph a mile south.
C. of George: John (France's Alderson, 1815)-Levi (Clementina Al- derson)-James O. (Abigail McClung)-Polly ( McClung). J. O. was the father of Rev. James G. and Margaret.
C. of Joseph : George (b. 1789) (- McCreery, - Davis)-
Sarah (Thomas Smithson)-Mary (b. 1793) (- Lewis) -Martha (s)-Margaret (William Feamster)-Newman (s)-Joseph K. (s)- Lewis A. (1812-1880) (Lucy B. Miles, Eliza Coleman). George was a Colonel in Fayette and the father of 23 children. The Rev. L. A., who took the master's degree at the University of Ohio in 1832 and was ordained the next year, was the first native Baptist preacher in Virginia who was a college graduate. He was principal of the Monroe Academy, 1834-6 and 1840-43, meanwhile preaching in the vicinity. In 1858 he went to Kansas, where he was offered the presidency of several colleges. It has been said of him that "the world might soon become converted if there were more such noble-hearted, self-sacrificing Christian men."
C. of John: Malinda (b. 1805) (James Callison, 1840)-Albert (b. 1807) (Matilda Hines)-Louisa (Aaron Newman, 1829)-Evaline (Thomas D. Crews, 1834)-John (b. 1812) (Harriet E. Johnson, 1839)-Mary (An- drew Ellis, 1834) ; by 2d w .- Jane (b. 1824) (Joseph A. Huffman, 1847) Amanda (Samuel Carraway, 1847)-Catharine (A. Jackson Smith, 1843) -Elizabeth (William Gray)-Lucy (1831-1899) (Joseph P. Hines)- George (b. 1833) (Mary J. Hines, Virginia M. Stevens Boyd).
C. of George of John: Charles O. (dy)-Emma C .- Ida N. By 2d w. -I. Cary-Bernard C. (1870-1905)-George (1875-1907)-Virginia S. (Charles B. Rowe, 1907). Both George and George, Jr., have represented
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A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
Monroe in the legislature. I. Cary was graduated from Hampden-Sidney College and in law from the University of Virginia. He practiced at Logan and was president of the Guyan Valley Bank. Bernard C. was a graduate of West Virginia and Chicago universities, and for two years instructor in Latin and Greek at the former. In 1900 he and Emma C. organized the Alderson Baptist Academy, in which the latter is still a teacher.
C. of Albert of John: Joseph K. (m. in Tex. )-Mary A.
Higgens)-Catharine (James Bobbitt)-Margaret
Foster)-
Frances (- - Keaton)-John W. (- Garstang)-Henry C. (dy)-Amanda (dy)-Susan (Jackson Bledsoe). Most of the above went to Texas. J. W. returned, built the Alderson Hotel, and it is still car- ried on by the widow.
C. of John of John: Elizabeth J. (DeWitt Smith)-Sophronia (Chris- topher Ballard)-William-David-Ellen-Harriet. John and the four younger of his family went to Missouri before 1860.
ALEXANDER
This family was the first to settle where the county seat was estab- lished. Owing also to its intermarriages with other leading families of Monroe, the Alexander connection has been very prominent in local an- nals. James, Sr., who lived in Beverly Manor, is mentioned there as early as 1746 and was a captain in the Old French war. James, Jr., (1750- 1814) visited this region before his settlement in 1773. He located on land which he understood was to be conveyed by a man from Pennsylvania, but that personage failed to appear. His first house was built on the hill just east of Union. The second year he started for the Valley, and from the summit of a knob the couple saw their cabin in flames. It was the year of the Dunmore war. The second house was built on what be- came the main street of Union, and th third, "Old Hundred," was low down on the western slope of Green Hill. It was afterward the home of Matthew Alexander, and was burned several years ago. The ceme- tery at the top of the knob is on land granted by the pioneer. He was a member of the Greenbrier court in 1784 and was sheriff in 1793. Two years before Union was founded he took out a tavern license. His wife was Isabella Erskine. C: Andrew (b. 1773) (Phoebe Bracken, 1805)- Jane (b. 1775) (Alexander Dunlap)-Catharine (b. 1776) (Richard Shank- lin)-Matthew (1777-1825) (Elizabeth J. Marshall)-Michael (1779-1857) (Mary Benson, 1801)-Henry (1782-1866) (Elizabeth Cathron, Frances P. Burrell)-Elizabeth (John Byrnside)-Mary (Henley Chapman)
Jane, Catharine, Henry, and Michael had each a James, and by will each of these grandsons had a legacy of $50.
C. of Andrew: Mary A. (Hugh McClaugherty, 1828)-Rebecca B. (b. 1811) (Samuel Kean, 1837)-Isabella (Michael Cotton, 1835)-Cath-
-===-=-
301
GENEALOGIC AND BIOGRAPHIC
arine (Stephen Wright)-Jane (W. G. Henderson)-Malvina (William Byrnside, Saunders).
C. of Matthew: James (d. 1854) (Ingabo -)-Matthew-John- Catharine (Joseph Porter, 1807)-Mary (Robert B. Wallace, 1808)-An- drew-daughter (Robert Ross)-daughter (George W. Curry).
C. of Michael: John E. (Jane Miller)-Mary M .- James A .- Cath- arine A. (William H. Shanklin, 1831)-Jabin B .- Isabella E. (Benjamin F. Steele)-Delilah (George Beirne, 1827, Hugh Caperton).
C. of Henry (by 1st w.) : Charles C. (s)-Isabella (Rev. John Pink- erton)-James H. (1810-1866) (s)-Elizabeth (Newton E. Keenan, 1834) -Frances C. (Lewis E. Caperton)-Harriet B. (William G. Caperton)
C. of J. E. of Michael: James R. (Elizabeth Baldwin, 1855)-Mary J. (John Ross) -Michael C. (Sarah McFadden)-Jabin B. (s)-Delilah C. (John Miller)-John M. (Annie E. Zoll, 1872)-Margaret E. (Fred- erick D. Wheelwright, 1869)-Madison S. (Isabella Zoll).
C. of Michael C. of J. E .- William M., Elizabeth, Libbie, Kyle.
Rev. William M. Alexander, D. D. was born in Union in 1861. He was graduated from the Washington and Lee University in 1884 and from Union Theological Seminary in 1887. He was chosen moderator of the 55th General Association of the Southern Presbyterian Church and is well qualified for such a position.
ALFORD
John (Jane) came from Rockingham during or just after the Revolu- tion. C: Thomas (1771-1853) (Phoebe Cummins)-John (1773-1853) (Mar- garet -)-James-Margaret-Sarah (James Ellis)-Jane.
C. of Joseph (d. 1830c) (Jane) : James, John, Nancy, Lois, Robert, Polly, Joseph.
ANDERSON
C. of John A. (Susan McMann) : Ednonia (Robert Ralston), Ada, Ar- thur C., Susan, James (Birdie Hoylman), Homer (Minnie Parker), Mamie (Otey Bland), Ella (- Wickline), Cora (William Hoylman, - Boone), John (Ida Nicely).
APPLING
David (1802-1884), was a native of Amherst. C .- R. C. and W. T.
ARCHEY
Charles S. (1809c-1901) (Francena Shirey, Isabel Neal Poole) came from Virginia in his youth.
ARNOT
Henry (1761-1847) when 18 years old ran away from his home in New Jersey to join the army of the Revolution. With his wife, Elizabeth Trues-
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A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
dale, he came here in 1793 and settled on Swope's Knobs, about 3 miles west of Union. C: Elizabeth (b. 1781) (Matthew Wood, 1799)-Martha (b. 1786) (Charles Neal, 1802)-Deborah (b. 1787) (Walter Neal, 1804) -William T. (b. 1789-1863) (Mary Garten, 1812, Lucinda Handley, 1817) -Henry (b. 1791) (Mary Phillips, 1815)-Sarah (b. 1795) (Joseph Baker, 1834)-Almeda (b. 1799) Levi Canterbury, 1816. The couple were de- vout Methodists and as long as they were able would walk long distances to attend religious meetings.
C. of William T .- Jesse (1812-1896) (Mary E. Hanley)-Jacob (Re- becca Thomas)-Anderson (1816-1892) (Mary J. Hill). By 2d w .- Mary (1819-1908) (John Maddy, Jr.)-Elizabeth (1820-1907) (John Mc- Neer)-Margaret (1824-1908) (Charles Maddy)-James W. (1826-1894) (Derinda Ross)-Elisha T. (1829-1910) (Ruth A. Miller, 1853)-Martha A. (John P. Maddy)-William H. (1833-1910) (Martha Coalter) -Re- becca (1837-1910) (Isaac F. Ballard).
C. of Elisha T. (m. 1853) : Estill M. (s)-Lycurgus B. (Mary E. Cummins)-J. William (Rose V. Lively)-Ella M. (Dewey E. Pence)- Charles (Mabel E. Johnson)-S. Pemberton (Stella M Varner).
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