History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 31

Author: Laidley, William Sydney, 1839-1917. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 1066

USA > West Virginia > Kanawha County > Charleston > History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens > Part 31

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HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

Luke Wilcox's furnace was run by him until 1854, and Charles Brown died in 1849. With two furnaces near, and the trade and travel from the back counties, it was a lively point for business. This continued up to and during the war, then the opening of the C. & O. R. R. and the timber trade and coal trade and the branch railroad up Lens creek kept the place growing, and the construction of the lock and dam thereat, and its being a good healthy place to live in, also kept up the growth. Within the last few years some one wanted to change the name and by some means succeeded in hav- ing the postoffice department change the name of the office, and call it Marmet, but people call it Brownstown yet, except when it becomes essential to give its legal name. The Brown family departed many years ago and there are many that do not know for whom it was named. There was never any reason for calling it "Marmet" except to gratify some strange whim. It was named for Charles Brown, an old man that was here from 1808 to 1849.

In the palmy days of salt making in the val- ley some of the largest and most productive furnaces were located within the present limits of this district, and here were some of the deepest borings ever made in the state of Vir- ginia. Of the two wells on the Logan prop- erty, one was 1860 feet in depth and the other 1500. What was known as the Thompkins well was 1350, and that of the Dickinson I200 feet. All wells above Malden are from 1000 to 1500 feet deep, while all below that place are 800 to 1200. The production of salt and gas from these wells is elsewhere noticed in this work.

HALE'S SPRING

At a point in this district just opposite Charleston, is a never failing spring of crystal water, the coldness of which is suggestive of the icy fountains of the north. For many years after the erection of Clendenin's fort it fur- nished water for the garrison, and many were the risks taken by some members of it in order to secure a supply of pure water.

In the year 1789-the same in which the county was formed-there came to the fort a young man named Hale, and Captain Clen-

denin employed him as a common laborer. Soon after his arrival and one day after the house servant of Clendenin's had finished churning, she prepared to cross the river in order to dress the butter at the spring. Hale being near by remarked that it was not safe for her to go, he had seen several Indians prowling over the neighboring hills the day previous, and at the same time proposed that he and another man whose name cannot now be ascertained, would cross the river and bring two buckets of the water to the fort. Taking their rifles they jumped into the canoe and paddled to the opposite side ; arrived at which, Hale, leaving his companion in the canoe, as- cended the bank, filled the pails and started to return, but the report of a dozen rifles rang upon the air and Hale fell dead. The man in the canoe jumped into the river, and by rapid swimming and diving reached the fort amid a shower of balls. Soldiers from the fort the next day crossed the river and buried the scalped and otherwise mutilated remains of Hale, near the spot where he fell. No endur- ing marble marks the spot. but he left his name attached to the spring where he met his fate- and Hale's spring will be known to generations yet to come.

MALDEN DISTRICT.

Malden District is next above Charleston on the north and east side of the Kanawha. It has Campbell's creek, at the mouth of which was the famous salt spring that brought the Ruffners to Kanawha. It has Malden as its town, which once was larger than Charleston, had more business and more money, and was headquarters for the salt trust for years. It is called a "has-been," but there is more history in it than one book will hold.

The principal streams are Campbell's creek, Burning Spring creek, and Simmons' creek, all flowing southwest and emptying into the Ka- nawha. The surface is rough, and may be said to consist of "mountains of coal," outrivaling both in quantity and quality any locality of similar extent in the state.

It is said that the first cabin was erected by Abraham Baker in the year 1790. Among the earliest settlers were David and Joseph Ruffner,

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John Alderson and Samuel John Shrewsbury. The first settlement was made just above the mouth of Tinkersville, the oldest town in the district. The Ruffners were prominent men in developing the mining and salt manufacturing interests of this locality, a notice of which has already appeared in this history. They built the first grist mill ever erected within the lim- its of the district, in he year 1803. It was a water-mill with one run of stone. An old pio- neer says it was a model "corn-cracker."

The first school appears to have been taught about the year 1820, by a gentleman named Ezra Walker, of Athens, Ohio. His successor was George Taylor. The building was a one- story frame, erected by Gen. Lewis Ruffner, at his own expense. It was the first school build- ing in the district, which is now well provided with both white and colored schools.

The old Kanawha Salines postoffice was one of the first in the valley. It has recently been discontinued, and Malden is now the only one in the district.

It is not recorded who preached the first ser- mon. The Methodists and Baptists appear to have held meetings contemporary with the first settlement, but no organization appears to have been perfected until 1816, when the Rev. Henry Ruffner organized the First Presbyterian church of Malden.

MALDEN

The town of Malden, W. Va., was incorpo- rated in 1883, but in 1885 the charter was al- lowed to lapse after the marshal had been shot by an intoxicated man. The first mayor of Malden was Mose Norton, the second, William Reynolds, and the third, Dr. Potts. The town has at different times had different names, they being in their order as follows: Terra Sallas, Kanawha Salines and Malden. There are five general stores in the town, as follows: L. P. Oakes, J. E. White, W. H. Goodwin, W. J. Krantz and W. E. Casper. E. Oakes has been postmaster since 1903. The only physician is Dr. W. F. Shirkey. The town has two hotels, and one two-room school which is taught by Miss Lorena Canterberry, principal, and Miss Florence Shamlin. The former has a class enrollment of 21 and the latter of 56.

Masonic Lodge of Malden has a membership of 130 and has its own lodge room. The lodge was organized in 1827, the present charter dating from 1865. The worshipful master is Lawrence A. Christy ; senior warden, Woodson Blake; junior warden, Lemuel Fauber; treas- urer, Frank D. Jones; secretary, J. N. Scott ; senior deacon, M. Chambers; junior deacon. Preston Snowden; tyler, Squire R. P. Shrews- bury.

Malden Lodge No. 77, I. O. O. F., was insti- tuted September 15, 1875, with five charter members, as follows: C. S. Abbott, D. A. Cole, F. M. Atkins, J. J. Jacobs and J. J. Krantz. All of these are dead except J. J. Jacobs. The lodge building and fixtures were burned twice and were partly insured each time. There are now 99 members and the worth of the lodge is about $3,000.

Sultannas Lodge K. of P. No. 87 was insti- tuted Jan. 1, 1894, with 25 charter members. At present there are 185 members.

Malden Kickapoo Lodge, Improved Order of Red Men was instituted in October, 1893. It has at present a membership of 68.

Harmony Council No. 16, Ancient Order American Mechanics, was instituted in 1883 with about 40 members. The highest member- ship was 128. At the present time there are 65 members. They own their lodge room and the property is valued at about $1,500. Mr. Oakes gave $200 to the building.

The M. E. church at Malden was built be- tween 1832 and 1840. About 1844 or 1846 the church divided. There are about 60 or 75 members. A new church edifice is now in the course of construction, which will be a brick structure 35x50 with an alcove back choir, ves- tibule four feet extra and will cost $45,000. The present pastor is Rev. Rowe. The building committee is composed of H. J. Hervey, Au- brey Krantz, J. E. White and Dr. W. F. Shir- key. The church is practically on the same site as the old one except that it is about ten feet to the front of the old church. The church is in a prosperous condition. Malden, Danaville and Putney constitute the charges of the pastor.

The Southern Methodists took charge of the M. E. church now known as the Northern Methodist by reason of a majority in the voting.

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but after the Civil War the property was re- stored to the Methodist or what is known as the Northern branch of the church by the courts. The Southern Methodists erected a very neat structure but are not holding services in it.

The Baptists have a strong membership at Malden.

Kanawha Salines Presbyterian church, Charleston and Malden or the "Licks" as it was afterwards called was organized by Dr. Henry Ruffner. Dr. J. M. Brown was the first pastor of both Charleston and Malden. After the separation Rev. Brown remained with the Charleston church and Rev. Stewart Robinson was the first regular pastor of the church at Malden after the separation. The present pas- tor is Rev. J. W. Carpenter who came here in 1907.

The first house of worship was called a meeting house, which was located on the Ruff- ner estate below Georges creek. This building was in use until about 1838 and could be used by all denominations for religious services. About 1839 or 1840 Col. David Ruffner erected the present house of worship with his own means and since that time this brick structure has been used as a house of worship by the Presbyterians. Kanawha Salines church was organized September 1. 1841, it having been known previously as the Kanawha Presbyterian church at Kanawha Salines and Charleston, W. Va. The present membership of the church is 72.

At one time 42 salt furnaces were in opera- tion in and around Malden. Now there is only one furnace owned and operated by J. Q. Dick- inson & Co.

J. Q. Dickinson & Co. plant or furnaces were erected for the manufacture of salt in 1832 by Dickinson and Shrewsbury or by Dr. Putney. The plant was destroyed by flood in 1861 and rebuilt by J. Q. Dickinson early in the seventies. Capacity, 150 bar- rels. daily. Other products are calcium chloride and bromine. Five or six tons of calcium chloride are produced daily and 125 pounds of bromine.

The brines found in the Kanawha valley are different from those discovered in other parts

of the country. By analysis of the W. Va. Geological Survey, Vol. 5, they are found to be 98.28 per cent pure, whereas the reports in the same volume of the product of one of the plants in the Ohio district is given as 91.31 per cent pure, and another of the Ohio plants, 95.32 per cent pure, both of which would indicate that the salt has 3.7 per cent less impurities than the salt in other districts. Owing to this purity this product has an exceptional value as a meat curer or preservative. With the exception of the Snow Hill plant this is the pargest plant ever operated in the valley. The last furnace to cease operations was the Brooks furnace two or three miles above Charleston. The next to the last was the Snow Hill furnace, operated by Dr. J. P. Hale. Mr. Charles Dickinson has been in charge of the plant since 1898. The furnace is run by gas piped thirteen miles from Boone county, W. Va. A combination of gas and coal is used for fuel. It is expected to increase the capacity of furnace to 175 barrels daily.

The stock breeders especially in the blue grass district use the salt manufactured in the Kanawha valley.

The Campbell Creek Coal Co., located at Malden or just below is a very old company and has operated and worked out several mines.

Malden has one saloon.

THE CAMPBELL'S CREEK BRIDGE TRAGEDY

It was on the night of the 24th of Decem- ber, 1875. that Thomas Lee was waylaid and murderd by Rufus Estep and John Dawson, on the iron bridge spanning Campbell's creek at Malden. On the next day (Christinas ) the perpetrators were arrested by the officers, taken to Charleston, and lodged in jail, there to await trial on the charge of murder. The murder of Lee was so unprovoked that a mob was at once organized, resolved to avenge his death by lynching Estep and Dawson. Philip WV. Morgan, high sheriff of the county, to- gether with John W. Lentz, John T. S. Perry and Silas Morgan, having learned of the in- tention of the mob, under cover of darkness removed the prisoners to Barboursville, and placed them in the Cabell county jail; but, fearing that the mob might learn of their

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whereabouts and follow on, they, two days later, removed them to the Wood county jail at Parkersburg.

Here they remained until the convening of the circuit court of Kanawha county in Jan- uary, when the court and prosecuting attorney having concluded that there was no longer danger of mob violence, ordered the sheriff to return the prisoners to the jail at Charles- ton, that they might be ready for trial. But no sooner were they brought back than "Judge Lynch" announced himself ready for work, accordingly ordered the circuit court to at once try and convict the prisoners, else he would proceed to the execution himself. On the 24th of January, 1876, the prisoners were brought into court and arraigned upon the charge of murder. Their attorneys R. H. Freer and Abram Burlew, asked for a change of venue, and offered, as a reason for doing so, the fact that an armed mob existed, and ow- ing to its presence, it would be impossible to secure a fair trial for the accused. Their mo- tion was strongly opposed by John E. Kenna and James H. Ferguson, attorneys for the state. Judge Joseph Smith reserved his deci- sion until the next morning, and the prisoners were remanded to jail.

Meanwhile, the matter was being discussed at the courthouse. Thomas Hines, a journey- man tailor of Charleston, walked into a shoe shop on Anderson street, and cut the throat of J. W. Dooley, a colored shoemaker, who died from the wound in twenty-five minutes. Hines was at once arrested and lodged in jail. Judge Smith never rendered his decision, for that night the mob surrounded the jail and took from it Estep and Dawson, and at the same time it was joined by about fifty colored men, who took out Hines. All marched to Campbell's creek bridge, and there the two former paid the penalty of their crime on the

very spot on which they had committed it; and at the same time Hines expiated his by hanging to the limb of a honey-locust tree three hundred yards above the bridge. The mob dispersed, and the bodies were cut down and buried the next morning, under orders from the authorities. Thus met and adjourned the first and last court over which "Judge Lynch" has presided in Kanawha.

CABIN CREEK DISTRICT

Cabin Creek District lies on both sides of the Kanawha. On the south side of the river it extends from Loudon, below Field's creek, up to Fayette county at Montgomery and in- cludes the waters of Kanawha. This takes in Paint creek, Cabin creek, Slaughter's creek and Field's creek. On the north side of the Kanawha, it includes Witcher's creek, Kelly's creek and Buffalo fork of Simmons' creek.

There is a corner on Rock Camp fork of Bell creek where Nicholas, Fayette and Ka- nawha join and the line runs from thence to the Kanawha river at the mouth of Simmons' creek at Cannelton; thence down the middle of the river to lower end of Montgomery ; and thence to Raleigh county, crossing Paint at the mouth of Laurel branch. The old road came down to Gauley river at the mouth of Twenty-mile and then up Bell creek and thence down Hughes' creek, or Kelly's creek, their heads being near.

The first white man who dared to attempt to settle in the Kanawha valley was Walter Kelly. In the early part of the year 1774 he removed his family to the mouth of the stream which has ever since borne his name now within the limits of this district. His settle- ment was eighty-five miles west of Donnally's fort in Greenbrier, and was at the time the most western English settlement in America. Its destruction by Indians and the tragic end of some members of the family have been al- ready narrated in this volume.

The murder of one individual or a dozen families did not deter the sturdy pioneer from his onward march in the conquest of the wil- derness, and accordingly, before a year has passed after the destruction of Kelly's settle- ment, we find Leonard and William Morris both residing almost in sight of the fatal spot. Their settlement is elsewhere noticed. Among those who here found homes and become actual settlers in the next few years were John Hans- ford, Sr., Thomas Foster, Ransom Gatewood, Robert Perry, John Jarrett, John D. Massey, Gallatin G. Hansford, William Johnson, John Wheeler, Shadrach Childers, Peter Likens, Spencer Hill, William Pryor, Barney Green, · Thomas Trigg and Shadrach Hariman. The

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latter was an Englishman, who came to the Kanawha valley and married Susan Pryor; this was, most probably, the first marriage contracted on the banks of the Kanawha. They had to go to Fort Savannah (now Lew- isburg) for license. He was killed by a rov- ing band of savages, on the 7th day of March, 1791, on what is now known as the Donnally farm, near. Charleston.

The same year in which Hariman was killed, there came to the valley a family of the name of Wheeler; they remained two years at the Kelly's creek settlement, and then re- moved eight miles farther down the river and began an improvement. Several months passed away, autumn came and brought with it the lurking band of Indians. One evening, when the family-six in number-were seated in front of the cabin engaged in roasting chestnuts, and all unconscious of their fate, a savage scream rent the air, the report of a dozen rifles resounded among the mountains, and, with the exception of one lad, nearly grown, every member of the family lay dead upon the ground. The boy ran and made his escape to Kelly's creek, where he related the bloody story. A company of soldiers went down the next morning, but only to find the charred remains of five human bodies among the smoking ruins of the cabin, into which the savages had carried them before applying the torch.

Staten's run is a small stream which emp- ties into the Kanawha a short distance below the town of Cannelton. It derives its name from the following incident. Soon after the formation of the county, in 1789, James Staten, Leonard Morris, William Morris, John Jones and John Young made a journey to Charleston, for the purpose of attending court. After having finished their business at the county seat, they set out on horseback to re- turn to their homes. When near the above mentioned stream they were fired upon by a number of Indians, and, although a perfect shower of balls whistled past them, but one took effect, and that caused the death of James Staten. The others put spurs to their horses and rode safely away. The stream has ever since been known as Staten's run.

THE OLDEST PROTESTANT CHURCH WEST OF KANAWHA FALLS.

In 1777-early in the quarter of a past cen- tury-was gathered the first Protestant congre- gation in the Kanawha valley. No minister proclaiming the glad tidings had yet lifted up his voice in this (then) wilderness land, but the old pioneers in obeyance of the scriptural injunction, "assemble yourselves together," met, and organized a congregation. Soon the Macedonian cry was heard east of the moun- tains, and Revs. John Alderson, Mathew Elli- son, James Johnson and John Lee responded to the call, came west of the mountain barrier and assisted in carrying on the good work already begun.

Among the names of those who were mem- bers of this primitive church we find the fol- lowing: Leonard Morris ( the first permanent settler ). Levi Morris, Benjamin Morris, Will- iam Morris and wife, Katie Carroll, William Morris, Jr., John Jones, John Hansford, Jane Hansford, David Jarrett, William Huddlestone, Edward Hughs, Lewis Jones, Mary Malone, Susanna Malone, Leah Alderson, Thomas Trigg. Polly Ellison, Polly Winsor, Nancy Hariman, Richard Hughs, Matilda Winsor, and John Meadows. This was the beginning of the Kanawha Baptist church of today.

TOWNS

Of towns, this district has Cannelton, which came into existence through the manufacture there of oil from cannel coal. It is opposite Montgomery, and this latter town is in Fayette. Handley is a railroad town, on the C. & O. railroad. There are also Clifton, called Dego, (now Pratt), Cedar Grove, East Bank, Coal- burg, Shrewsbury or North Coalburg, Chel- yan, Lewiston.

On Cabin creek, it is town all the way up, and the places are not large as towns, but ex- tremely busy as coal properties. This district is noted for having seen the beginning of the settlement of Kanawha, at the mouth of Kel- ly's creek and at the mouth of Paint creek. Paint creek was an Indian thoroughfare for the upper New river, a cut-off, or short route, less difficult to follow than New river.

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CEDAR GROVE

Cedar Grove is located on the right bank of the Kanawha river on the line of the Kanawha and Michigan Railroad, at the mouth of Kelly's creek. The town was incorporated about 1902. The finest and oldest house in the place is the residence of the late H. P. Tompkins, which was erected by William Tompkins, father of the late H. P. Tompkins, about 1844. The house is constructed of brick and is near the mouth of Kelly's creek and is occupied by the family of Mr. Tompkins. H. P. Tomkins was the second mayor of Cedar Grove after its incor- poration. The following is a list of those who have served as mayors of the town: Joseph Luther, H. P. Tompkins, Dr. R. M. Hudnall, H. P. Tompkins (second term), Benjamin Hope, whose term was finished by Herbert Harold, who was the sixth mayor. Mr. Har- old was succeeded by Walter Campbell; he in turn by John Quick. The ninth mayor was Harold P. Tompkins, a son of H. P. Tompkins, the second mayor ; he was said to be the young- est mayor in the United States. The tenth mayor, the present incumbent, is Eli Dixon. The first mayor was appointed by the court until an election could be held.

There are eight stores in the place, viz : The Sunday Creek Co. store (a general store), W. C. Shannon's general store; H. A. McClung & Son, grocers; W. E. Lewis, general store; Calderwood Bros., general store ; M. S. Miller, general store and millinery; James Estep, gro- cer; and G. H. Spruce, grocery. M. F. Spruce is a funeral director. There are two butcher shops and three coal companies which operate in the vicinity.

The Methodist Episcopal church is the old- est church in Cedar Grove. The building is a brick structure located at the mouth of Kelly's creek. It was erected for the Methodists by William Tompkins. After a lapse of eight or ten years without services, the church was re- organized in 1910. In this year some improve- ments were made, among other things a new belfry being added. The church is in the Ce- dar Grove circuit. There are twenty members and Rev. J. E. Brown is the pastor.

There are three churches in the Cedar Grove

circuit, one at Malden and one at Glen Ferris. The latter was organized in 1910 and has twenty-three members. The structure is a frame building which was erected in 1903. Rev. J. E. Brown is the pastor.

Brown Memorial Presbyterian church has a membership numbering thirty. The congrega- tion has no pastor. The last pastor was Rev. John Carpenter. The church, a frame struc- ture, was erected in 1903, and was dedicated in June, 1904.

The Baptist church of Cedar Grove, a frame building, was erected in 1903. Its highest membership is about sixty-five.

There is also a colored Baptist church in the town.

William Calderwood is postmaster of Cedar Grove.

The Kelly's Creek Railroad, a branch road and also a coal road, runs five miles from Cedar Grove to Mammoth; also Kelly's Creek South Western Railroad, two and a half miles long, running from Cedar Grove to Ward. This is also a coal road.

Kanawha Star Lodge No. 177, K. of P., with a mebership of forty-five, has the follow- ing officers: Ernest Derring, chancellor com- mander; Charles Rutledge, master finance; C. H. Malcolm, master exchequer; and Charles Rutledge, secretary.

The town receives its chief support from the coal mines.

PRATT

The town of Pratt, W. Va., was originally laid out in 1850 under the name of Clifton and incorporated June 4, 1905. The railroad sta- tion is known as Paint Creek Junction. The early owner of the site was Dickinson Morris, who was a son of James Morris, original owner of the land on which Handley was laid out. The town is a third of a mile above the mouth of Paint creek, and the corporation extends to Paint creek. Part of the survey of 430 acres was granted by Virginia to John Jones in 1795, who was the first settler. The population ac- cording to the last census is 306. The oldest inhabitant in the point of residence is Julian M. Johnson. There are four stores in the town, as follows: J. A. B. Holt, a dry goods and a

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 31

Author: Laidley, William Sydney, 1839-1917. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co Number of Pages: 1066

Author: Laidley, William Sydney, 1839-1917. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 1066