USA > West Virginia > Braxton County > History of Braxton County and central West Virginia > Part 5
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(Gauley Proper)
Gauley River
Pocahontas 4 sq. miles
(Gauley Proper)
Williams River.
Webster
70 sq. miles
Williams River.
Pocahontas
65 sq. miles
Cranberry River Webster 49 sq. miles
Cranberry River
Pocahontas 32 sq. miles
Cranberry River
Greenbrier 1.5 sq. miles
Cranberry River Nicholas
20 sq. miles
Cherry River Nicholas 48 sq. miles
Cherry River Greenbrier 124 sq. miles
Cherry River.
Pocahontas 5 sq. miles
Hominy River Nicholas 95 sq. miles
Hominy River
Greenbrier 12 sq. miles
Muddlety River Nicholas 71 sq. miles
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SUTTON'S HISTORY.
BASIN ROCKS-NATURAL SCENERY
There is a peculiar formation called Basin Roeks on a branch of Missouri run of Laurel creek. This is a basin or rich eove in the head of a hollow,eom- prising seventy-five or eighty acres. This basin is surrounded by a eliff of rocks which average in height about thirty feet, standing perpendicular and in the form of a horseshoe, with an opening at the lower side as between the corks of the shoe. In this enelosure, wild game is aceustomed to feed, and the only way of getting in or out is by the opening mentioned. This was a favorite place for the hunter to pen the game. The pasture was luxuriant as the land was very fertile, and it was not unusual for a hunter to make a good haul. The wildeat, the eatamount, the panther and many other wild animals made this a special rendezvous as they had an opportunity there to capture sueh game as they preyed upon.
On one occasion Mr. Hosey succeeded in killing two niee deer at the Basin Rocks. Night coming on, and being unable to get home with his game, he lay down by the side of it to camp for the night, but when the tired hunter awoke next morning, his two deer had been almost entirely consumed. Within the stillness of the night while Mr. Hosey was wrapped in that sweet embraee which slumber brings to the tired man, the panthers had congregated and in cat-like stealth and silence had enjoyed a royal feast, preferring venison to human flesh. We have sometimes imagined that other causes intervened to save the life of this hunter. Ramps give an odor almost equal to the cigarette of the present day and grew plentifully at that time in the wilds of the forest, and the hunter might have enjoyed an evening meal of ramps.
CAVERNS AT HEAD OF THE ELK RIVER
Theory and all known facts lead to the conclusion that a eave of enormous dimensions exists in Randolph county, under or near the course of the Elk river, between the Pocahontas county line and the mouth of Valley Fork. six miles below. But no one has ever yet found an entrance into the eave, and its existanee cannot be positively affirmed. The faets, which are explained on the theory of a vast cave, are these: The Elk river, except in time of freshet, flows into a ereviee at the foot of a mountain, or when very low disappears among the boulders of its channel. In Pocahontas, near the Randolph line and six miles below, the water rushes to the surface. Its underground course is through limestone and it must flow through galleries of large size. In 1896, near the point where the water sinks, a portion of the river bottom dropped down, leaving an opening about fifteen feet square, into which the whole river plunged and disappeared. No bottom was visible, and no one attempted to enter or examine. The next flood filled the opening with boulders. Between the points where the river sinks and where it rises to the surface, a distance of six miles, there are no streams emptying its channel on the surface, except in freshets ; but they all sink, and the most of them pour into sinkholes, and unless
47
SUTTON'S HISTORY.
this water reaches a subterranean channel of the river, its destination is un- known. The area of the region whose streams flow into sinkholes is from fifteen to twenty square miles; and the supposed underground course of the Elk river passes beneath the region. The conclusion is that all these streams which sink, reach the waters of the Elk somewhere under the ground; and those meeting places of the waters and galleries through which they flow form a series of caverns and chasms of great dimensions. Few attempts have been made to penetrate through the sinkholes to the eaves, but that some practicable opening exists somewhere in the region is reasonable.
A LEDGE OF FLINT
Near the "Brady Gate," at the head of the Elkwater, is a ledge of flint, from which, no doubt, the Indians obtained the material for their arrowheads. Flint is very scarce in West Virginia, only a few ledges being known, the chief one being on the Kanawha river. Indians frequently traveled long distances to obtain this material, sometimes earrying it from Ohio, as is supposed from the character of the specimens found about old Indian town-sites in the valley of the Monongahela and its tributaries. Flint is a deposit in crevices of rock and has a resemblance (in form) to veins of coal. It is quartz, in character, but it splits like slate, and in this respect differs from ordinary quartz, which breaks with a ragged fracture. The flint ledge on the head of the Elkwater was discovered by Claude W. Maxwell, of Tucker county, while collecting material for the history of Randolph.
48
SUTTON'S HISTORY.
BRAXTON COUNTY SCHOOLS
Braxton being in the interior of the state and very sparsely settled, it was not until about the year 1823 that schools were taught in the territory now embraced in Braxton eounty, and then it was only in the most thiekly settled neighborhoods that there could be children enough gathered at one place to make a school that would justify the patrons to employ a teacher. What was true in refer- enee to the searcity of pupils was also true in reference to school houses. Neighbor- hoods built their own houses and furnished them. The way of building a school-house was by voluntary labor. The citizens of a neighborhood would agree first upon the location, then they would meet and eut logs. Some patron having a team would draw the logs together, and some one handy with the froe and broad-ax would make the boards and hew out the puncheons for the building. Then they would set a day for a public gathering to raise the walls of the house, and if the day were fair and the attendance good, the house would be raised WM. D. BAXTER and covered. Then a chimney was built One of the old shouting Methodists, 65 years a member of church as high as the mantel, the stem of the chimney being built of cat and clay. The jams and baekwall were made of rocks. The inantel was often made out of a large piece of hewn timber. The fireplace, being very wide, it was ineonven- ient to get roeks long enough for a mantel piece. The house being raised and covered and the puncheon floor laid, the next thing was to ehink and daub the eraeks. This was done by splitting out pieces of timber with one thin edge to fit the cracks, these pieces were kept to their places by keys or wedges. Mortar or moss was used to elose up the joints, thus making the honse comfortable. In addition to this, a log was taken out of the side of the house and the open spaee covered with paper, this being the window. The paper was first grcased to preserve it as well as to render it more transparent. In front of this space was the writing desk. This consisted of a wide plank extending across the space made by the removal of the log, and was supported by wooden pins driven in augur holes immediately below. The seats were another important item. They were made of split logs with the round side placed down, sup- ported by legs at each end. The seats were made in heights for large scholars, the little folks letting their feet hang down. A door was sometimes made of plank, but often of thin split timber or boards, the doors being from five to five and a half feet high. Joists were placed across the building at a height of six
49
SUTTON'S HISTORY.
or six and a half feet, and these were covered with clapboards. The house being completed, the teacher would take the contract and get the patrons to subscribe so many scholars. The contract would read about as follows:
"We, the undersigned, William Lyons. teacher, of the one part, and the undersigned patrons of the school. witnesseth :
"That the party of the first part agrees to teach a school of not less than twelve scholars at Buffalo school-house, beginning Novem- ber 15, 1851, embracing a term of three months, and agrees to teach the following branches : MeGuffey's Spelling Book and Third Reader, Ray's Arithmetic and the New Testament, for the amount of two dollars and fifty cents per scholar. And we, the patrons of the second part, agree to send the number of scholars hereby subscribed.
"Given under our hands this the day and date above.
1
William Lyons, Teacher. Jacob Delany, 3 scholars. Albert Johnson, 1 1/2 scholars. Marshall James, 2 scholars. Martin McDuff, 4 scholars. John Mace, 3 1/2 scholars. Susan Murphy, 1 1/4 scholars.
The required number of scholars having been subscribed, all looked forward with great interest to the winter school. The teacher, being a stranger, there was great speculation among the scholars as to his ability as a teacher, his morality and the rules and order of the school. Some of the larger boys were anxious to size him up and discern from his manner and the snap of his eye, which is the index of the human character, whether it would be safe to bar him out of the house, should he refuse to give Christmas holidays. This was very frequently done with teachers. It was nothing less than what we call in modern days, a strike. The larger scholars first demanded a suspension of so many days during Christmas and New Year, and this being refused, they went on a strike and endeavored to enforce their demands by barring the door against the teacher. Sometimes they went so far as to take him to some pool of water for a winter bath. All the differences arising among the boys that called for a vindication of honor were scheduled to be pulled off on the last day of the school. When boys in the heat of passion, will let an opportunity pass and grant a continuance, the case is rarely ever tried. But the good old winter days have gone by, possibly never to return.
Sometimes the patrons of the school would meet on Saturday, and get wood, but the greater portion of the wood for the school was obtained by the scholars. The large boys would drag in good sized trees by dulling a chain
50
SUTTON'S HISTORY.
around the log. They would then twist some hiekory withes and attach to the ehain. They would then place eross-bars about six feet long and by these the boys would pull, often having three or four eouples, making a team of six or eight strong boys. It was surprising the loads of wood they were able to pull. Some one of the patrons, having an extra ax, would lend it to the sehool during the winter. The fire-place being from four to six feet wide, it required two strong young men to put on a back log. Wood-getting was not a burden, but was entered into with as mueh zest and energy as a ball game. The young ladies of the school took great interest in watching the boy teams haul in logs and play baseball, while they would have their little plays going on near the ball yard. There never was a country sehool taught in which there were not little love affairs springing up which often ripened into the most happy mar- riages. Usually twiee a month, the school would have a spelling raee on Friday afternoon, and oeeasionally one would be held at night. Frequently two sehools would meet and spell against each other. Sometimes a seholar would keep the floor until the whole school would be turned down, or the book gone through without missing a word.
Many of the young ladies who attended the primitive schools of eentral West Virginia, with forms of beauty and eheels as pink as a rose, whose hearts beat true with womanly love and virtue, have laid the foundation for a higher education for their children and their grandchildren, and we doubt whether there is a man living who secured his education in the old school-house who does not recall those early days with pride and animation. Some of them have made sueeessful business men; others have filled positions of honor and trust ; some have distinguished themselves in the various professions; others on the battle field.
Following is a partial list of teachers who taught in this eounty before the Civil war: Joseph House who is said to have taught the first sehool in a log eabin on O'Brien's fork of Salt Liek, in the year 1823; William Berry who taught a school at or near the above date in the same loeality; Elizabeth Chaney, Adam Given, William Morrison, William Bates, William Davis, William Huteh- inson, William D. Baxter, William Lyons, Felix Sutton, W. F. Corley, James H. MeCuteheon, Asa Squires, Naney Mealey, Nancy Young, Jackson Singleton, Catherine Berry, Haynes, Charles Ruekman, Henry Mitehell, Andrew Robins, Theodore Robins, Dr. Job McMorrow, Jonathan Koiner, F. J. Baxter, Dr. Thomas Duffield, Henry A. Baxter, Augustus Beamer, Adam Given, Ann McAnany, John D. Baxter, Charles S. Smith.
It was the custom for seholars at sehool, at least the larger ones, to visit one another over night, within the short term of school, and the following day they would eat dinner with the parties with whom they had been visiting. Vis- iting at sehool was a great social funetion. Often the teacher would spend the night with his scholars. This oeeasion was greatly enjoyed at the children's home as the teacher was looked upon as a kind of royal guest.
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SUTTON'S HISTORY.
Under the old system, when the State furnished assistance only to those who were unable to send their children to pay schools, it was thought by some to be a reflection to be thus assisted in their education; but some might object, and doubtless have, to send their children to the public schools of the present day. Moreover, it takes time and experience to perfect any system or form of govern- ment. If, under the old system, we had possessed the great wealth and resources to draw upon that we have at this time, the country would have responded as cheerfully and as liberally to the cause of education as it does today.
Following is a copy of a case where assistance was given children to attend school :
The School Commissioners of Braxton County.
For tuition of poor children entered by John Given, Esq., School Commis- siner of District No. 2, under his subscription of one hundred sixty-nine days, in account with J. Given, for the quarter ending the 2nd of Feb., 1849.
NAME
Age
Father
No. Days
Rate
Subjects Taught
Anthony Nathaniel George
.
15 9 12
James
Dec. 4th 1348
59 55 55
3c
$1.77 1.65 1.65
Reading Writing and Spelling
169
$5.07
Braxton County, to-wit : This day John Given came before me, a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid, and made oath that the above account is just and true, given under my hand this 18th day of July, 1849. L. D. Camden, J. P.
· To the Superintendent of Schools of Braxton County, pay John Given or order Five Dollars and seven cents for the tuition of poor children, entered by me at his school, agreeable to the above account.
John Given, S. C. July 18, 1849.
5%
SUTTON'S HISTORY.
BRAXTON COUNTY SCHOOLS.
We wish here to show the form of disbursement, of school funds, and the tax receipts showing the amount of taxes collected in 1842 from Andrew Skid- more, and the amount on the same land with scarcely better improvements, and buildings of no greater value :
1842.
Andrew Skidmore to the Sheriff of Braxton Dh.
To County & Parish Levy on 2 Titles. $4.50
Revenue on 3 Horses .. .37
Same on 140 acres of land, south side of Elk 1.05
Received payment, Sept. 21, 1842. $5.92
Felix Sutton S.B.C.
The taxes on the same land at this time are about twenty times as much as in 1842, yet the increased facilities are such on this particular farm which is a fair sample of all other farms of similar value in the country, can stand the present rate of taxation, with less effort than the burden bourne in 1842. There is no unprejudiced mind that can point with derision to the fathers. They did the best they could; they made as great an effort to advance the general inter- ests of education with the means at their command as is being put forth today.
Ki may be that the present school system fifty years hence may be subject to as. great a comparison as now exists against the old school system of our fathers. We never see an old pile of burned stone where once stood the chimney at the end of the old log schoolhouse, that we don't say, " All hail and veneration to the splendid type of citizenship that sacrificed for their own and future gen- erations." The general public was fortunate if they received as much as three winter terms of three months each, aggregating nine months, and from that general class of students came the most intelligent men and women, doctors, lawyers, ministers, statesmen, farmers and law-makers. It is no exaggeration to say that the close application of the scholars in the schools rendered them as efficient for good citizenship and the various positions of life, as is now acquired by the eight-year primary course.
The old log schoolhouse, with all of its surroundings, primitive and simple though they were, yet around them cluster memories never to be forgotten.
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SUTTON'S HISTORY.
Neither wealth, fame nor any earthly gift could detract one jot or tittle from the old moss-chinked schoolhouse of our youth. The associations of that day formed a basis, and gave inspiration that lent dignity and grace to every pulpit, learning to every bar, made creditable and honorable all the professions, drove forward with energy and skill the business of the State, sent teachers out into the world and clothed the farmer with dig- nity and independence.
The people of central West Virginia had but limited opportunities to obtain an education in the higher branches. The first school of any note was called Randolph Academy, established in 1795, and in 1843 the Northwestern Virginia Academy was opened to pupils. These educational insti- tutions were located in Clarksburg. They SCHOOL HOUSE did a great deal to build up the interests of education in their locality and the surround- Erected before the Civil War- now standing ing country. About the year 1845 or 1850, some of the leading citizens of Nicholas coun- ty established a grammar school at Summersville which was quite a factor in that and adjoining sections in giving the rudiments of an education. The town of Charleston before the Civil war had quite a good school. A few years prior to the war, and immediately afterwards, quite a number of people from Brax- ton and adjoining counties attended the Academy at Morgantown, an institu- tion which was finally merged into the West Virginia University.
J. W. Humphrey taught a subscription school at the forks of Otter in the year of 1863, and the house burned a few weeks before the three-months' term ended, and he then taught a school on the Middle fork of Cedar creek, in a house near Harvila Shaver's place. This was perhaps the last school taught in Braxton county under the old subscription system, except some select schools after the war closed.
Mr. Humphrey relates that he taught on that memorable New Year's day when the extreme cold held the land in an Arctic grip; that within the day a squad of Federal soldiers came into the house, set their guns down and warmed themselves, then went on their way.
Mı. Humphrey taught the first free school which was taught in the county, in the same house, a picture of which is shown. He began on Monday, the 3rd day of September, 1866. The new school system was late in being organized. The Superintendent of Schools was D. S. Squires. The Trustees of the school were Jacob Shaver, Jacob Riffle and Jacob Westfall, three Jacobs living on the heads of the Three forks of Cedar creek. The township was called Lincoln.
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SUTTON'S HISTORY.
One crippled Federal soldier, M. D. Shaver, attended this sehool. His salary was Thirty dollars.
Mr. Humphrey says his birthday is the 16th of April, and that on that day President Lincoln declared war, and on that same day, four years later, Presi- dent Lincoln died, it being Easter Sunday.
Parties who have represented Braxton county in the various Legislative bodies of the State and Nation :
It is very probable that John Haymond was the first man, residing in what is now Braxton County, who ever sat in the Virginia legislature. John Hay- mond was in the Senate of Virginia in the sessions beginning in 1797, 1798, 1799, 1800 and 1801, the last session in which he served beginning on the 7th day of December, 1801 and ended January 2, 1802. Haymond's History of Harrison County, states that John Haymond was born in 1765 in Maryland, and eame with his father to near Morgantown in 1773, and that about the year 1807 he moved to Little Kanawha. We know that this John Haymond located at Bulltown and established the salt works there. It may be that John Hay- mond did not move to Braxton County until after the expiration of his term. of office as member of the Virginia Senate but it is probable that he was still a member of that body when he moved to Builtown.
Hedgeman Triplett was elected to the Virginia Assembly and served in the sessions of 1821, 1822 and 1826. Triplett lived in what is now Birch Distriet, Braxton County. Addison MeLaughlin served in the Virginia Assembly from Nicholas County in the years of 1828, 1829 and 1831. These gentlemen were the only ones who resided within the limits of what is now Braxton County and served in the Virginia Assembly prior to the formation of the county.
Braxton County was formed in 1836 and a delegate district composed of the counties of Braxton and Lewis was created. This district was represented in the various seessions of the Assembly as follows:
For 1836-Thomas Bland.
For 1838-Marshall Triplett.
For 1839-January session, Weeden Hoffman.
For 1839-December session, Jacob J. Jackson.
For 1840-Jaeob J. Jackson.
For 1841-Philip Cox.
For 1842-Cabell Tavener.
For 1843-Matthew Edmiston.
For 1844-Samuel L. Hays.
Of the gentlemen above named, Marshall Triplett was the only one who re- sided in Braxton County. Hays lived in what is now Gilmer County. All the others resided in Lewis County.
Gilmer County was formed in 1845, so that the delegate distriet was them made up of the counties of Braxton, Lewis and Gilmer.
This district was represented as follows :
1845-John S. Camden.
1846-James Bennett.
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SUTTON'S HISTORY.
1847-Addison MeLaughlin.
1848-Benjamin W. Byrne.
1849-James Bennett.
1850-Samuel L. Hays.
Of these gentlemen, Camden, MeLaughlin and Byrne lived in Braxton County.
About 1852 there was formed a delegate distriet of Braxton and Nicholas, which was represented as follows :
1852-Robert Dunlap.
1853-James F. Given.
1855-Marshall Triplett.
1857-Benjamin W. Byrne.
I understand Dunlap lived in Nicholas County and Given, Byrne and Triplett in Braxton County.
About the year 1859 there was formed a delegate distriet of Braxton, Nicholas and Clay. Joseph A. Alderson of Nicholas represented the district in the session of 1.859 and Duncan MeLaughlin in the session of 1861.
In the session of 1863, the delegate distriet of Braxton, Nicholas, Clay and Webster was represented by Luthur D. Haymond. This was the last session of the Virginia Assembly in which a resident of Braxton County appeared as a member.
The constitution of West Virginia of 1863, provided that the county of Braxton should be entitled to one member in the House of Delegates. The eon- stitution of West Virginia of 1872 contained the same provision. This eounty regularly clecied one delegate until 1892. In the session of the legislature of 1891 there was created a delegate distriet composed of Braxton and Clay, with two delegates, and this was continued until 1901, when in the new apportion- ment, Braxton was given two delegates which has continued to this date. The following named gentlemen have represented Braxton County in the legislature of West Virginia in the sessions which preeede their respective names.
Session 1863-Felix Sutton.
Session 1864-Felix Sutton.
Session 1865-Harvey F. Hyer.
Session 1866-James F. Given.
Session 1867-G. F. Taylor.
Session 1868-Henry Bender.
Session 1869-Elias Cunningham.
Session 1870-Alpheus MeCoy.
Session 1871-W. D. Rollysen.
Session 1872-W. D. Rollyson.
Session 1873-George F. Morrison.
Session 1875-Daniel S. Squires.
Session 1877-B. F. Fisher.
Session 1879-Ellis S. Hyer. Session 1881-B. F. Fisher.
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SUTTON'S HISTORY.
Session 1883-James A. Boggs.
Session 1885-B. F. Fisher.
Session 1887-Peyton Byrne.
Session 1889-George Goad.
Session 1891-George Goad.
Session' 1893 -- George Goad, Richard Shelton.
Session 1895-J. W. Kidd, Joseph A. Pierson. -
Session 1897-E. W. Cutlip, J. E. Sirk.
Session 1899-Jake Fisher, John H. Long.
Session 1901-Jake Fisher, J. S. Cochran.
Session 1903-John S. Garee (died in office), E. B. Carlin, R. M. Caven- dish elected to succeed Garee.
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