History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 6

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 6

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).

When these visits commenced no one knows. For hundreds of years the fertile lands of the Kanawha were famous hunting grounds for the savages. Tradition has it that the first of these pilgrimages to be encountered by a white man was some time in the early '50s when a hunter tracking a bear was surprised by the In- dians and hid himself behind a fallen trunk for safety, and saw them come trotting up the creek in single file. They were in full regalia

and numbered about a hundred, gathering about the tree points, they waited silently for the falling of darkness. At the rising of the moon, a signal cry brought the band into single file again, they plunged through the tangled brush and set about the ascent of the bank. Presently in the strong moonlight the wonder- ing huntsman saw the line of dusky bodies appear in the clearing and wind up the trail to the towering oak, another signal call told they had reached the summit and the huntsman stayed no longer but crept unnoticed to his home.

From time to time the redskins visited this mysterious spot in dwindling numbers. In 1880 a band of thirty came down the creek one November noon, a settler named Cojen, curi- ous to know what they would do, watched them until they set out by moonlight on the hidden trail, then followed. In the early morn- ing the band came down the creek, scattered and disappeared, the leader as usual with a bulky sack slung over his shoulder.

Cojen's brother then made search for him. Anxiously and swiftly climbing to the top, tak- ing the black oak for a guide around the tree he found an area of trampled brush and the ashes of a big fire. Near by was Cojen's body, with a rifle wound in his back and his head scalpless. While trailing the savages he had been trailed and slain.

In lessening numbers still the savages came every few years until, in 1900, only one lone Indian made the last sad pilgrimage. Now the hidden trail is untrodden and thickly over- grown. There are no ashes under the black oak. The last meeting of the silent night fires has been held at the three points. Was it some ancient tribal ceremony that brought these bands hither Was the fire on the mountain top part of a secret tribal rite? Did the sack contain some charmed medicine or the regalia of the high priest ?

How did the little company travel all those weary miles that they must have traveled un- discovered? To what tribe did they belong ? These are questions none can answer, but we may surmise.

Miles away on the Kanawha river are many Indian relics, but none on Campbell's creek.

HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

The woodsman has delved into the ground around the old black oak without results. There is nothing in that wild spot to tell of the visits of the savages, except the trodden herb- age and the ashes of past ceremonies.

In the long ago, there was a salt lick near the mouth of Campbell's Creek, to which all kinds of animals came for the benefit of the salt. In time there was a well-worn trail to this oft-frequented spot on the river, so well known to deer and buffalo. The Indians fol- lowing the game, came too, to this important place, and here, ever afterwards held their gatherings, not for the salt but because it was the spot blessed of the "Great Spirit" for the good of his creatures. The great warrior and chief, Cornstalk, was born on the Kanawha and stood high in war and council in the esti- mation of all the tribes and after his death, in 1777, the veneration of the Indians for him was so great, they established some rite or sacred

ceremony on the mountain near the sacred spot blessed of the "Great Spirit" in recognition of his goodness to them and in memory of their great chieftain. What this ceremony was none can say; the Indian did not intend any mortal to know, especially the pale face. In keeping up these periodical visits the red man showed his courage, his trust in the faith of his ances- tors.

Daniel Boon knew of this place where game congregated, and settled just across the river from the spot. Perhaps he knew too of the savages' religious rites, but he never inter- fered nor sought to disturb them. These mys- terious rites are now ended, but the white man has remembered the greatest of Indian chief- tains and erected a monument to his memory, not at his birthplace on Campbell's Creek but at the place of his death and his great battle, Point Pleasant.

CHAPTER IV

ORGANIZATION OF KANAWHA COUNTY

The Act Organizing the County-Origin of the Name, Kanawha-Boundaries-"Gauley" an Indian Name-First Court Held at William Clendenin's-Organization of the County Court, 1789, and Justices Present-Other Officials-Court Houses-Clerk's Office-Jail- Remarks by Dr. Hale-His Archaeological Enthusiasm-The First House-Trip of Anne Bailey-Fleming Cobb's Perilous Trip-Appointment of Constables and Magistrates --- Land Assessments-Some "First Things"-Prison Bounds-Collecting Taxes Not a Wholesome Business in Early Days-Land Owners in 1791-Land Books-Tithables in 1792-Kanawha County Records-Justices of the Peace.

Henning's Statutes at Large, Vol. 12, page 670-October 1788, thirteenth year of the Com- monwealth, contains the following :

"An Act for forming a new county, out of the counties of Greenbrier and Montgomery." Passed 14th of November, 1788:

"Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that from "and after the first day of October next (1789) those "parts of the counties of Greenbrier and Montgomery, " within the following bounds shall form one distinct " county and be called and known by the name of " 'Kanawha.' "

This name is an unusual one, and so far as the record goes or even the tradition appears, it was unusual at that time. It is said there was a tribe of Indians bearing that name, located somewhere, some time, on the upper New riv- er, which may be a fact; but they left neither record nor tradition such as would induce us to honor them with the name of a county. They must have been an unusual tribe; they had never been in Ohio, and their fondness for the long-haired, white folks' scalps had not been developed.

There may have been a tribe of Indians so named and we must assume that the people of Virginia, in General Assembly, knew what they were doing; we should also conclude that by giving this name to the county, there really was a tribe of good Indians that deserved to

be so honored. Only this presumption that the people of Virginia knew what they were do- ing, warrants the conclusion. But this is not to be regarded as precedent, or proof in all cases.

"Kanawha" was the name given to the new county. It is usually pronounced as if it was "Ka-gnaw-y" with the accent on the "gnaw." It is neither musical nor otherwise attractive, and being "Indian," there is nothing attractive about it to us; but to others, who appreciate Indian melody, it may be charming. There has been no excuse or apology placed on record to satisfy us for the adoption of the name, and we are unable to furnish any other than that the Assembly of Virginia knew what they were doing. Still we have no favorable opinion as to the advisability of honoring an Indian or Indian tribe, nor of adopting their musical mel- ody. It was done, however, and done in 1788, and no one having suggested a better name, it has remained and perhaps will ever remain- "So mote it be."

The Act provided that the bounds of the county should be : "Beginning at the mouth of the Great Sandy, in the county of Montgom- ery," which means the Big Sandy that now divides Kentucky from West Virginia, on the Ohio river, "thence up the Big Sandy to the Cumberland mountain; thence a northeast

HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

course, along said mountain to the Great Kan- awha; thence crossing the same, at the end of the Gauley mountain; thence along said mountain to the line of Harrison county, with said line to the Ohio river; thence down said river to the beginning, including the islands thereof."

Here comes another Indian melody, "Gau- ley," which has by some supposed to mean the word Gaul, or French, and for which conclu- sion there may be some authority, but it is not in the spelling. The river which is now called "New river" was then called the Great Kanawha river. We do not propose to ex- plain the names of these rivers, but we still insist that the General Assembly knew what they were doing. For explanation of this boundary see a former chapter.

This Act said that the justices should "meet " at the house of William Clendenin upon the " first court day after the said county shall take " place " ( whatever that means). We do not know where this house was, and there is noth- ing to locate it. The only house standing in the spring of 1788 was the Clendenin Fort, but this was to take place October 1, 1789, and they gave the Clendenins time to erect a house for William, in which the court was to meet.

The Governor was by the Act, authorized to appoint the sheriff, that is the first sheriff, and the Governor appointed the first justices. In the future elections of a senator, Kanawha was to be in the same district with Greenbrier.

It was provided: "That a place for holding courts for this new county and of the selection of a clerk, they were not to be made unless a majority of the justices appointed be present." Evidently this proviso was suggested by Mr. Clendenin and it had the appearance of being a proviso that would not let William Morris get the location of the court house in the vicin- ity of Morris's home, which was about twenty miles above that of the Clendenin home, on the Kanawha river. This matter of locating capi- tols began early to attract the attention of land owners, and town builders and real estate spec- ulators.

The Act provided that the justices should elect a clerk, take the bond of the sheriff and fix a place for holding court in the county at

or as near the center thereof as the selection and convenience will admit and thereafter to erect the buildings for the public use at such place and until such place was provided, the court should determine the place. It seems that the determination of the center of the county was hardly material, and almost im- possible, at that day and date. It might have located the place a long way from any settle- ment or Fort and the presence of some parties, not summoned, might have been unwelcomed and not disposed to obey the orders of the Court, as to order.

ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY COURT

The fifth day of October, 1789, arrived and the following gentlemen justices presented their commissions and were sworn and qualified as members of the County Court of Kanawha in the commonwealth of Virginia : Thomas Lewis, Robert Clendenin, Francis Watkins, Charles McClung, Benjamin Strother, William Clen- denin, David Robinson, George Alderson, Leonard Morris and James Van Bibber. Ten in all present.

Thomas Lewis held his commission as sher- iff, took the oath of office and he selected John Lewis as his deputy. William H. Cavendish was selected as clerk and Francis Watkins was made his deputy clerk.

Reuben Slaughter was selected county sur- veyor. David Robinson, John Van Bibber and Benjamin Strother were selected as commis- sioners of the revenue.

William Droddy and William Rogers were selected as coroners.

For County Lieutenant, George Clendenin.

For Colonel, Thomas Lewis.

For Lieutenant-Colonel, Daniel Boone.

For Major, William Clendenin.

For Captains-Leonard Cooper, John Morris.

For Lieutenants-James Van Biber and John Young.

For Ensigns-William Owens and Alexander Clendenin.

And this seemed to have completed the organization of the county; the civil and military. It seems that George Clendenin had the control of the affairs in the new

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

county, and it also looks as if men were scarce. The public buildings were ordered to be erected on the land of George Clen- denin, which was on the Kanawha river, above the mouth of Elk river.

The settlement at the mouth of Kana- wha was represented by Thomas Lewis, James Van Bibber, Leonard Cooper and William Owens and perhaps others.

The settlement at the upper end of the valley was represented by Leonard Morris. William Droddy, David Robinson, John Morris and perhaps others: while the Clendenin settlement was represented by nearly all the others mentioned.

Lewis Tackett, John Young and a few others represented the mouth of Coal river which hardly amounted to a settlement at the organization of the county.

If there was a settlement on Elk, it is not mentioned for years afterwards. Daniel Boone lived a few miles above Charleston in what is now known as "Kanawha City." The Land Books do not give the location of the owners, only the number of acres and its value.

We should have supposed that the largest settlement was in the vicinity of Kelly's Creek and Paint Creek, and no doubt but this was the case for some time after the organization of the county. Why the residence of William Clendenin is not given we can not explain. There were two maps or plates of the town made, one is recorded in the county court clerk's office and a copy thereof in Atkinson History of Kanawha, and the other is in the West Virginia Historical Magazine for Octo- ber. 1904. page 323 ; and on these maps appear to be written (supposed to be) the names of the owners, but on neither is the name of IVilliam Clendenin.

COURT HOUSES

The first court house was William Clenden- in's residence and the next was built in 1796 (on the present court house lot), which was a one-story log house; the next court house was built in 1817.

The present court house was built in 1891. It was said that Mr. Alderson was the owner of the court house lot and sold it to the county on some settlement made between them.

The first clerk's office was a stone building on the Hotel Ruffner lot, 14 x 14 feet, one story. The next clerk's office was a one-story brick, near the court house. with two rooms. In 1873 an additional room was built for the records of the deeds and wills, near the court house on the opposite side from the older clerk's office.

Jail .- This was erected under contract by Lewis Tackett and the next by David Fugua on the present lot ; it was made of large hewed logs, lined inside with sawed oak plank, about twelve inches wide and four inches thick. spiked on the walls, and not one ever escaped, except through the doorway, and on several occasions it was pretty well filled. Then there was a two-story stone jail, and then the iron cage which is now used, enclosed within brick walls.

Hale's "Trans-Alleghany Pioneers," 289, says that "It is a curious fact the legislature officially established the county in 1789, as 'Kenhawa' and the town in 1794 as 'Charles- town,' both names by common consent became changed, one to 'Kanawha' and the other to 'Charleston.' How, why or when, nobody knows."

In an edition of Henning's Statutes, vol. 12, page 670, published 1823, with a certificate that they have truly and accurately printed the statutes, except certain errata, which are corrected, in matters of smaller accounts. This act was passed November 14, 1788; the name is spelled "Kanawha" and so spelled in many places throughout the chapter.

It is another curious fact, that even Dr. Hale made mistakes in his explanations of er- rors, and it may be that he was right, not- withstanding. and it is not generally safe to deny a historical statement made by him. He sometimes became enthusiastic on a matter and went to extremes, as he was said to do in making collection of Indian flints : he wanted all that he could get and purchased some valu- able and curious ones. It soon became known that he would buy any old flint. and Bob Carr said that "they had started a flint-factory over in Ohio, to furnish Dr. Hale therewith."

The first house or residence-fort, or block- house or all three in one, was the property of George Clendenin, then David Ruffner's, then

HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

James Wilson's, then became the property and residence of Fredrick Brooks, and after him John A. Truslow owned it. In 1872 Dr. Hale purchased and removed the building to the northeast corner of Brooks and Virginia, re- paired, painted and made it sightly and com- fortable, and it is now in the possession of Tom E. Jeffries, U. S. engineer. So that the said historical first house is still with us, not- withstanding the Indians, fires and floods, and the tooth of Time.

The first white child born in Charleston was Gen. Lewis Ruffner, on October 1, 1797.

Hale's branch, on opposite side of Kana- wha, was named for "James Hale," who was working for George Clendenin, and who went from the fort to a spring for a bucket of water fresh from the spring for a sick young woman also in the family, at the fort; he was shot and killed by Indians. This was about 1790 and his name has been kept alive and ever will be and ever should be.

It was about this time that "Anne Bailey" made one of her trips to Lewisburg for pow- der, and for unselfish sacrifice, she also should ever be remembered and the story of her life kept alive. She was last buried on the battle- field at Point Pleasant, near the monument to the soldiers. There should be a separate monument erected to her memory.

It was about this time, perhaps 1791, that Fleming Cobb went to Point Pleasant, for am- munition for the fort in Charleston. He went and returned and brought the supply. He was strong, was cautious and careful, and al- though he met and encountered Indians, he managed to out-manage them all. Fleming Cobb should be honored with a monument.

Andrew Anderson was appointed constable at Belleville and Amos Morris at Point Pleas- ant.

Abner Pryor and Joseph Woods were rec- ommended for magistrates. William Hughes was appointed constable for Capt. John Mor- ris's district. Thos. Asbury for Coal river, and Abram Baker for Clendenin's station. William Morris was recommended for magis- trate. It was ordered that "a Petition to the General Assembly, on behalf of this county, stating the disadvantages under which the in-

habitants labored, the remoteness of this situ- ation, the thinness of the neighborhood and the frequent invasions of the Indians, and prayed to be exonerated from the payment of taxes, until the blessings of Peace are imparted, and they are enabled to derive those advantages from their labors which the fertility of the soil promised."

LAND ASSESSMENTS

At the next session of General Assembly a re-assessments of the values of lands was di- rected and commissioners to be appointed. At the February term in 1790, it was ordered that "Andrew Donnally, Sr., William Morris, and Joseph Carroll do view a way at the town ford on Gauley river, through the narrows on the north side, up to Morris's cabin, up above the upper ford, on said river, and make re- port to next term." (This perhaps was plain when made, and may be yet to some.)

The first deed recorded was from Thomas Lewis to Benjamin Eulin, for a lot in Point Pleasant.

The next deed recorded is for a lot in Belle- ville. George Clendenin made three deeds to his daughters, Cynthia, Parthania, and Mary, giving to each two negroes, horses, cows, etc.

Thomas Upton conveyed to Thomas Davis two hundred and forty acres at the mouth of Davis creek.

The first will recorded was that of Thomas Hughes. The will of William Morris, Sr., was recorded in 1794.

Administrators of the estates of James Hale, Michael See, Edward McClung, Roland Wheeler and Shadrock Herriman were ap- pointed by the courts. These men were killed by the Indians; Shadrack Harriman marked the last white man killed by an Indian, March, 1794, in the Kanawha valley.

The prison bounds were extended, so as to include the garrison and house where George Clendenin lived, for the safety of the prison- ers, from the hostile invasions of the Indian enemy.

PRISON BOUNDS

Prison bounds were lines or boundaries out- side of the jail, in which prisoners were al- lowed to go without forfeiting their bonds,

MARMET, LOCK NO. 5, KANAWHA RIVER

HESSE LAT

H.L'ANE. GROCER

-MILL-INERY

FOURTH AVE., LOOKING WEST, MONTGOMERY

FRONT ST., LOOKING WEST, MONTGOMERY

NEW BRIDGE OVER ELK RIVER, CHARLESTON

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

that is, certain prisoners were considered to be within the jail while within these bounds. In those days men were imprisoned for not pay- ing their debts and for other cases, whose close confinement was not required. It might have been the case that some prisoners were within bounds and not able to go to the fort, in time of an invasion, and the court thought they were entitled to the benefit of the garri- son's protection; as if a man would hesitate about getting within the fort, whether he were in the bounds or not, if an Indian were after him !

We notice that Thomas Lewis of Point Pleasant was appointed sheriff of Kanawha on the morning of the first day and before night he came into court and resigned his office. What did that mean? Suppose he had a summons to serve on a man living at Belle- ville, and one on the North Carolina line, at the head of New river, and for such services he was allowed a few shillings. It was prob- able that Mr. Lewis knew why he resigned. Collecting taxes was not the most wholesome business in those days at best, and this also, perhaps, induced him to resign his office.

But in this year 1789, in October, we see the county of Kanawha fully organized and ready for business, with a territory as large as some states, without a road, with but a few people and few houses ; but she had her Daniel Boone and his gun.

LAND OWNERS IN 1791

The land books of Kanawha, 1791, show the following names of persons owning land in that year :

William Arbuckle, Henry Banks, Thos. Bulletts Hairs, Jos. Mayor Carington, Leon- ard Cooper, Jas. Carnahan, Thos. Chenowith, John Chenowith, Michael Carnes, John Cal- loway, James Craig, Robt. Davis, Thos. Davis, Wm. Duval, Wm. Donovan, Zechariah Dercer, James Donnally, Marcus Elkins, Thos. Edar, Baird Edmonson, Wm. Trigg, Geo. Welch, John Finley, Michael Gratz, Chas. Welling, Josiah Willard Gibbs, Ga- briel Green, David Gourd, Levi Hallengsworth, Easom Hanen, Shad. Harriman, Merdecai Hord, Hogg and Bullett, James Hines, Moses

Hunter, Wm. Hepburn, John Dundass, John Jones, Benj. Lodge, Thos. Levacy, Jacob Lochard's heirs, Isaac Moses, Robt. Mercer, Jas. Mercer, Nat. McGill, Geo. Muse, Levi Osborn, T. F. Preston, Wm. Pryor, Benj. Pollard, Ed Price, Jas. Penberry, Sam'l Pleasants, Geo. Snuffer, Thos. Upton, James Vaughan, Morris Given, Wm. Griffith, Isaiah Hews, Benj. Wyncoop, John Wilson, John Ward, Solomon Wilson, Geo. Washington, Geo. Washington and Andrew Lewis, Sam'l Ward, Foster Webb, Jonathan Windsor, Sinah West, John Young, Mathew Vaughan, James Wilson, Wm. Henderson and others.

The year 1790 was the first year that there was a land book in Kanawha, and as this was smaller and badly written, we made selection of 1791.

How many or rather how few of the above named persons were residents of the county ?

The list of Tithables is supposed to give the names of the residents of the county, and the number found on the land book and also on land books, will show the resident land owners.

Taxes were charged in English money, pound and shilling and pence. The dollar and cent were not used until 1799.

TITHABLES OF KANAWHA IN 1792

William Allen, Davis Alderson, Charles Alsbury, Thos. Alsbury, Emos Alwater, William Arbuckle, Daniel Boone, Jesse Boone, Michael Baker, David Brown, Abra- ham Baker, John Bailey, John Beckley, Geo. Clendenin, William Clendenin, Alex. Clen- denin, Joseph Carroll, William Carroll, John Childress, Leonard Cooper, William Craig, James Craig, Jacob Coonci, John Carter, John Cavender, John Campbell, Jacob Cas- dorph, Fleming Cobbs, Thomas Craig, An- drew Donnally, William Droddy, Joseph Don, James Ervin, David Ervin, John Ed- wards, Joseph Edwards, James Ferguson, John Fleming, Geo. Fitzwater, Leeman Gibbs, Edward Hughs, Thomas Hariman, William Hall, Joel Houston, Samuel Hous- ton, Thomas Hughes, Nat. Huddleston, John Huddleston, Daniel Huddleston, John Moss, Amos Morris, Chas. McClung, John

HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

Morris, William Morris, Levi Morris, Henry Morris, Ed. McClung, And. McClung, Will- iam Morris, Jr., David Milburn, Benj. Mor- ris, Leonard Morris, William McClung, Daniel Northup, Michael Newhouse, Henry Newhouse, William Owen, Abner Pryor, Edward Price, William Pryor, Allan Pryor, John Reynolds, Maurice Reynolds, Isaac Robinson, Allen Rue, Michael See, Reuben Slaughter, William Smith, James Shirkey. John Shepperd, Thomas Smith, Robt. St. Clair, Geo. Thornton, Isaac Taylor, Francis Tackett, Levi Tackett, Benj. Uland, Jesse Van Bibber, Peter Van Bibber, Jas. Van Bibber, Isaac Van Bibber, Mathious Van Bibber, John Van Bibber, Joseph Wood, Nemen Watkins, Roland Wheeler, John Wheeler, Roland Wheeler, Jr., Shadrach Harriman, John Hansford, John Hart, John Jones, John Jenkins, Robt. Iron, William Wheeler, Samuel White, John Young, Con- rad Young. Mathias Young, Ezekiel Woody.

KANAWHA COUNTY RECORDS

Thos. Lewis resigned as sheriff. Cav- endish resigned as clerk and Frances Wat- kins was appointed as clerk in his place. Daniel Boone presented his commmission from the Governor, appointing him Lieut .- Colonel, who came into court and qualified April 4, 1791.

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.

History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 6

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