History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 8

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 8

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).

The bishop lost his wife in 1842 and he married Mrs. Lucy Merriweather in 1844. She was the widow of Dr. Merriweather of Kentucky. She died in 1871 and the bishop subsequently contracted a third marriage. A handsome steel engraving of him is contained in the "Life of the Bishop" and he was a fine specimen of a man.

It was said by some of the bishop's Baptist friends, that he chose the Methodist church because there were no bishops in the Baptist church and no opportunity for promotion. While Bishop Morris was one of the bishops of the old Methodist church, before the divi- sion, he made no change but remained therein until his death, which was in 1874.

Bishop Morris was a talented man, of fine address and appearance, and perhaps may be said to have been the most illustrious of the Morris family. And as a bishop, he was sec- ond to none, at the time in which he served his church. He was a man of great executive ability and an earnest, faithful minister.

Carlos Morris or Carroll was sixth son of William, Sr. We have no information of this son.

Levi Morris, seventh son of William, Sr., married Margaret Starks first and Peggy Jar- rett secondly. The children were: Cynthia, married L. Brannon, the hatter; William; Benjamin, married Amanda Hamilton; James, married Sarah Shelton; Francis, married William Spurlock; G. W., married Sarah- Hamilton; Elizabeth, married Levi Spurlock; . Martha, married Mr. Burgess.

Levi was born in 1768 and died in 1834. James Morris, son of Levi, married Sarah Shelton, and their children were: George, who was killed by fall on the ice when a boy; Levi, Jr., married Mary Voirs and went to North Carolina: Benjamin, married Ann Montgom- ery ; James D., married Alice L. Hammaker ; Susan, married Dickinson Morris; Amanda, married E. F. Flagg; Sarah, married William Hamilton; Ellen, married Silas Custer; Eva, married Dr. Manser of Kentucky; Margaret, . married Joshua Harriman; Emma, married first Dr. Early and secondly William Riggs ;. Mary died young.

Benjamin Morris, eighth son of William Morris, Sr., was born in 1770 and died in 1829. He married Nancy Jarrett and their children were: Achilles, who went to Mexico and died; Frances, married William · Shelton and went West; Virginia, married J. Kincaid of Ohio; Catherine, married Miles Manser of Kentucky; Jane, married Jacob Johnson : Celia, married Captain John Harvey; Eden, married Miss Edgar of Greenbrier; and Leah, who married Mr. Pardy.

Benjamin Morris in 1824 built a brick house which is now known as the "Dunn House." He was a great hunter and once killed thirteen bears in one day.

Morris Harvey of Fayetteville was a son of Capt. John Harvey and the wife of Morris

HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

Harvey was a daughter of H. M. Dickinson and the sister of Morris Harvey. Miss Fanny married Capt. Snelling C. Farley of steamboat fame.

Elizabeth Morris was the ninth child of William Morris, Sr. She married Mr. See. Michael See and Adam See were sons of Geo. See and they came from the south branch of the Potomac. Michael See was in Kana- wha in 1792.

Frances (or Franky) Morris was the tenth child of William Morris, Sr. She married John Jones, who was born in 1775 and died in 1838. He was in the battle of Point Pleas- ant, and from the account published of his un- usual conduct, he must have been excited; but if he ran, it was towards the enemy. He came from Culpepper county and he was also in the Revolutionary War. He settled above Paint Creek, was thrifty and had a good home, plenty of land, was generally well known and was a good Baptist. He delighted to tell of his martial experiences, while resting under the shade of an apple tree, brought home with him and growing near his house. His wife survived him and the monument to him and other members of his family she erected in her life time.

Col. B. H. Jones of 60th Virginia Infantry, C. S. A., was a grandson of John and Franky Jones. He was a writer of much history of the late war and died in Lewisburg.

Among the early marriages in Kanawha are found the following :

1793, Sarah Morris and Charles Young.

1795, Sarah Morris and Fleming Cobb.

1796, Elizabeth Morris and Joshua Hil- yard.

1796, John Morris and Mary Ann Coleman. 1794, Mary Morris and Lawrence Bryan. 1800, Catherine Morris and Charles Ven- able.

1802, Lucy Morris and Lucas Chapman. 1803, Edmund Morris and Sally Estell.

1804, John Morris and Jane Jordan.

1805, Leonard Morris and Mary Heister. 1806, Polly Morris and Jas. Ellison. 1807, Cynthia Morris and Isaac Noyes.

1807, Miriam Morris and Easom Hannon. 1807, John Morris and Jane Brown.

1802, John Morris and Hannah Morrison. For further particulars of the Morris fam- ily, refer to the W. Va. Historical Magazine, April, 1905, and for John Jones, October, I903.

MAJ. JOHN HANSFORD

Major John Hansford, born in Orange county, Va., 1765, died in Kanawha, 1850. He is said to have come to this valley in 1778; he married Jane Morris, daughter of William Morris and who was born in 1770 and she was four years old when she came to Kana- wha valley. Some say that he was married in Lewisburg in 1787. As this part of the coun- try then was in Greenbrier county and the record of the marriage was made in Lewis- burg, we presume that it was intended to say, that their marriage was in Greenbrier county; we should say that they were married at her father's house, at the mouth of Kelly's creek, on the Kanawha, where she lived with her father. John Hansford and Jane lived near William Morris until 1798, when they went across the Kanawha to a house there which they built just below the mouth of Paint creek. He had patented five hundred and thirty acres on Kanawha in 1793, four hundred acres on Paint creek in 1800, four hundred and ten acres on Kanawha in 1818 and one hundred and ninety-seven acres on Paint creek in 1822. So he had land enough; besides it is said his wife's father gave them a tract on which they built their home, which house, when built, was said to be the best in the valley; it was a frame, two-story, six rooms, the inside was made of cherry and walnut, but the material was all handmade. He is described by those who remember him, as a handsome, clean shaven man, well dressed, in blue broadcloth and silk hat. He entertained most hospitably and at eighty was as gay as a boy. He had many interesting stories to tell of his time while in Richmond in the House of Delegates, for he represented Kanawha from 1811 to 1818 inclusive, was there at the time of the burning of the theatre, and some solid silver spoons he purchased are still in existence, marked "J. H." He was a magistrate and a captain of the militia. His commission bore

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

date 1809, captain of a company in the 80th Regiment in 13th Brigade in the 3rd Division of the Virginia militia. He was a Whig, a Baptist, a farmer, a salt maker and almost everything else. He drilled his company on each muster day near his home and after the muster was over he set out "something good" of his own distilling, and then he took his leave; and as a magistrate and as their cap- tain he could no more be found that day. He said that he wished the boys to have their own fun in their own way, which was to drink and fight as long as the brandy lasted, and we all know that good soldiers have been drilled to fight. There were no fines to pay on that oc- casion. He was a very industrious man all his life; he died in 1850, and his wife in 1854. Their boys were : Herman, William, born 1790, Morris, born in 1794, Alex G. born 1795, John born 1798, Carrol born 1799, Charles born 1800, Alvah born 1803, Marshall born 1807, Gallatin born 1808, married Nancy Harriman; Milton born 1811, married Mary, daughter of Andrew Parks, whose mother was a niece of General Washington.

Of the family of Felix G. Hansford, we have learned probably the most. He was edu- cated under Dr. McElhamy of Lewisburg who as a Presbyterian minister served his church for sixty years. He there met Miss Frazier and they were married in 1821. They then came to Kanawha and he built a two-story brick residence near Paint creek in 1825. Their children were: James Frazier Hansford, who married Anne Noyes; Martha Jane, who married John S. Smith; Sally, who married Philip Doddridge; Felix G., Jr., who married Miss Hamilton, and Philadelphia Hansford who married William Hobson of Richmond.

The home of Maj. John Hansford was a stopping place for travelers and the Hansford family was not only an early one but it was as good as it was early-one of the very best in any country. Paint creek was named from the fact of the Indians having painted some trees there to show them that it was a high- way over to the New river, far in the centre of the state, and that it was a nearer and bet- ter route.

The Morris and Hansford families inter-

married later and they all did much to build up the country and the Baptist church, which proved their value as pioneers.

JOHN JONES

John Jones, previously mentioned in brief, came to Kanawha as a pioneer and settled just after the end of the Revolution; he first came with Genl. Andrew Lewis on the way to Point Pleasant. He returned to his home in Culpepper county, Virginia, and then went into the Revolutionary army and remained until the end of the war. He was born in 1755, finally came to Kanawha soon after the Yorktown surrender in 1781, and the first next thing he did was to marry Frances Mor- ris, of Kelly's creek. In 1792 he took a patent for three hundred and fifty-nine acres on the Kanawha river, also for four hundred acres in the same year, and for four hundred acres in 1797 in the Teays valley, also for land on Paint creek. He is said to have controlled the situation from Paint creek up to the Nar- rows and the town of Clifton was located on his farm and his own homestead was there also. This town was afterwards called "Dego" and now it is "Pratt." Why not call it Jonesburg ?

He was a quiet, easy, but positive man; he made more by attending to his own business on his own farm in his own way than he could in any other way. He had peculiar views as to some things, but they were his own affair. He was a member of the Baptist church for over forty years. He made his home and his farm comfortable and when a traveler stopped with him once, he always wanted to go again. He was near to Capt. John Field when he was wounded at Point Pleasant. His will was re- corded in 1838 and he was buried in the Clif- ton cemetery. He had a son, Gabriel Jones, a daughter Nancy, who married Huddleston; Frances, who married a Shelton, and she was the mother of Hon. Winston Shelton of Nich- olas county. Several of the family went to Indiana and this is all we shall tell of this pioneer-a man who did his duty, attended to his own business, and was a member of the Baptist church for forty-two years. See Oc-

HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

tober, 1903, W. Va. Hist. Magazine for the residue.

JOHN PADDY HUDDLESTON

His father Daniel Huddleston was born and reared in eastern Pennsylvania, and went to Virginia and settled in Bedford county. In after years Daniel Huddleston married Rachel Martin and their son was named "John Paddy Huddleston" and this family came to Kana- wha after the Morrises but before the Clen- denins.

He had a house, that tradition says, was built in 1785, the style of house then built is the kind this house was; a double, two-story, hewed-log-framed, especially when it was in- tended to keep travelers on the roadside; a tavern, inn or ordinary. At first Daniel stopped at Loop creek, but subsequently crossed the Kanawha and built on the opposite side.

Daniel, when he heard of the coming battle by Gen. Lewis, took his gun and his canoe and went down the river, but reached the Point just after the battle, but he was doing the best he could.

Owing to the location of the stream and mountains, the travel from the East was either around to the north of the Falls, and down Kelly's creek to the river, or they crossed New river higher up and came down by Paint creek. And those living above Kelly's creek were to a great extent cut off from the line of travel for some time. Roads were out of the question.

Daniel Huddleston patented three hundred and eight acres on the Great Kanawha in 1791, on which he made his farm and his tav- ern home. Nathan Huddleston patented two hundred acres of land on Laurel creek in 1801 and also two hundred acres on the waters of Kanawha in the same year. David Huddles- ton seventeen and a half acres on Loop creek in 1809. Daniel Huddleston in 1810, twenty- seven acres on Kanawha, John P. Huddles- ton, fifty acres on Armstrong creek, 1810, and fifty acres on Kanawha river 1815, and Job Huddleston one hundred and sixty-eight acres on Jarrett's branch 1830, etc.

John Paddy Huddleston was born in 1771,

died in 1862 and hence he was aged ninety- one. He was yet a boy when Daniel Boone came to Kanawha and took Paddy with him to set a trap for beavers, which he discovered in the Kanawha. This trap is now in the historical rooms in the Annex, left there by the Huddlestons.

John Paddy married Miss Mirian Jarrett of Paint creek and their children were: Job Hud- dleston, Jarrett, Allen, Nathan, George Paddy, Fleming, Ruth, who married Samuel Hanna and lived in Clifton; Nancy, married first Pinckney Peeples of North Carolina and later John A. Dempsey, and she yet resides in Fayette county, is ninety-one years of age and is bright and cheerful as ever; Elizabeth, married Frederick Nihoof of Frederick City, Md .; Hulda, married Maj. Hiram Marsh of Vermont; and Mary married John Martin.

Mrs. Ruth Hanna was ever regarded the most beautiful woman in the Kanawha valley. There was Peter Likins who owned from Smithers creek to Boomers branch. Then came John Boomer who was a cousin to Paddy Huddleston, and from Boomer up, for about four miles, was owned by the Huddles- tons. There was living above them, Zack B. Thomas, Mr. Copeland and Mr. Keeny.

Just when Daniel, the ancestor died, we have not learned, but John Paddy Huddleston became known of all men, and he knew every- body and never forgot anybody or anything.

He was called "Paddy" and this was one of his names, and not a nickname, nor was he an Irishman. He was rather a small man and a very quiet, easy going man, never drank, although he distilled peach brandy, which all taverns well kept were expected to have, among the other good things to be found when wanted, and which were among the first things called for by tired travelers, but neither Paddy nor his sons ever indulged and none were ever known to use profane language.

J. Paddy Huddleston was a decided Union man and did all he could to keep the state from seceding, but when the state of Virginia passed the ordinance and the same was ratified, then Paddy said, "We will have to go with her," but he took no part with either side in the war, and he and his family and his property were

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

respected by all parties. He had two grand- sons, Dan Nihoof and William Marsh, who spent a part of the war time in the service of the "C. S. A." and lived to return home after it was over.

There were several of the Huddleston name that moved to Indiana but the family of John Paddy all died at home in Kanawha, or in Fayette. Fleming Huddleston died on Blue creek in 1910, and Nancy still surives. The others have all gone.

DANIEL NIHOOF

Daniel Nihoof, son of Frederick and Eliza- beth Huddleston Nihoof, was born in 1837, in 1857 married a daughter of Joseph Perkins of Gauley and their children are: Frederick, who lives in Kentucky; Elizabeth, married Mr. Tamplin and is a widow; Anne, married Mr. Morris, both died; Kate, married Mr. Easely, said to be the image of her Aunt Ruth; Joe, is in Ronceverte; Charles, with his father at Boomer.

On the C. & O. Railroad, Mt. Carbon is at the mouth of Armstrong creek; at the mouth of Loup creek. is "Deep Water," on the Ka- nawha river and the C. & O. Railroad, and is the terminus of the Virginian Railroad, about half way between Montgomery and the falls of Kanawha.

Mr. Nihoof tells that near his home there was a large flat rock in the river's edge on which there was engraved there distinct fig- ures representing an arm from the elbow in- cluding the hand; a wild turkey track; and a fish; that they are well executed figures and have been there since the memory of man run- neth not to the contrary, and that the Indians have always been credited with the execution thereof; the rock is covered with the water since the dam has been built.

KANAWHA VALLEY IN 1808: SUMMERS' JOURNAL

Lewis Summers made an inspection of this valley in 1808, passing down it on horse- back, with an eye for an investment in real estate, and watching for the outlook, to see what was the income to be. Exactly how he heard and learned that there was a Kana-

wha Valley we do not know, unless it was through George Clendenin, who had been in Richmond in the Legislature.

Summers kept a journal for the use of his father, whereby he could make selection, which was retained in the family and pub- lished in the Southern Magazine. He left Alexandria, Virginia, June 22, 1808, passing through Centreville, Haymarket, Fauquier C. H., Culpepper, then across the Blue Ridge to New Market and Harrisonburg, on the 27th. Leaving Staunton to the left, he went to the Warm Springs, the Hot Springs, Jackson's river, to Dennis Callahan's, and the White Sulphur Springs, then Lewis- burg, in Greenbrier, where the tavern was kept by Mr. Tyree. On the 30th he reached New river and struck Kanawha river at Hoof's Ferry and went on down to Mr. Jones's, here he notes that the farms are larger, the houses, buildings and orchards are better and more comfortable. July 2d, he left Jones's. crossed the river and went down on the north side to Ruffner's Salt Works, which had lately commenced; he had but 64 kettles and the parts were quite temporary. The salt made was good and 50 pounds made a bushel. He dined with Mr. Joseph Ruffner, who said they made from 25 to 30 bushels per day and sold it for $2.00 per bushel. He met Mr. Whit- tiker at the court house. The farms in- creased in size as he descended the valley. Mr. Ruffner told him that the Dr. Craik land. opposite Pocatalico, was the finest piece of land he ever saw and was worth four dollars per acre, taking it all. Mr. Andrew Donnally, the clerk, estimated the best of the bottom land at twelve dollars per acre. That there was a fine settlement in Teays Valley. July 3d, saw James Wil- son, who had been here twelve months and had gone to the Mason Court; saw Mr. Reynolds. July 4th, the day was celebrated by gentlemen and ladies, about twenty of each : Mr. Reynolds, David and Joseph Ruff- ner and their families ; Mr. Buster and fam- ily : Col. Andrew Donnally and family : Mr. Sparks and family and others. some fine girls from Teays Valley.

HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

While at the court house, his horse be- came lame and "Mr. Reynolds proposed a swap, and we selected Mr. Buster and Mr. McGee to make the trade for us." Mr. Summers then proceeded down the river to Blakes, then to Caruthers, and on the 6th of July he crossed the Kanawha, at Poca, to the Craik land which had been laid off into lots from 150 to 350 acres; the first lot was vacant, the second was held by Caruthers, the third was held by Tacket, the fourth by Asbury.

He crossed the river at Red-House and went on Johnson's in Bronaugh's bottom, July 7th, examined G. W. Craik's bottom land, Col. Powell's, Mrs. Aldrich's and G. W. Craik's.

July 9th, met Mr. Hale, brother to Mrs. Minor; his first wife was sister to John Bronaugh, and his present wife, sister to William Bronaugh. Concerning Point Pleasant, he says, nature has been liberal to this place, but enterprise, industry and capital appear to be wanting. "Proceeded to Gallipolis and stopped at Menager's ; met Mr. Le Clerc, Mr. Bruno; dined with Mr. Hereford; went with Col. William Clen- denin and examined Mercer's bottom land ; met Mr. Andrew Lewis and Mr. McKee,", etc.

On the 16th of July, he returned to Point Pleasant, and went on to Parkersburg on the 18th, where he saw Mr. Neal, Mr. James G. Laidley, and talked politics; and went on to Wheeling, then through Pennsylvania on to the Potomac and down the same to his home and made his report, and his father purchased the Dr. James Craik place afterwards, who resided in Alexandria.

THE CLENDENIN FAMILY

It was in the spring of 1788 that the Clen- denins came to the mouth of Elk river and this family with those that came with them made quite a settlement below the Morrises. Evidently the Clendenins knew the situa- tion and the first thing they did was to con- struck a fort, or fortified house, made bullet proof. They had purchased the "1030 acres" immediately above the Elk river,

that had been surveyed for Col. Thos. Bul- litt, and they came prepared to stay and likewise had guns and axes and men. All these people were active and energetic and made the bark fly.

They, too, came from the Greenbrier country ; they had learned what an Indian was and his ways of warfare, and they felt that while it was bad enough, they could take care of themselves, and with the people now in the valley, they all felt that with care and watchfulness, they could resist any and all that might come against them.

While the Morrises were constantly im- proving their acquired lands, they also were on the lookout for other choice lands and were rapidly acquiring them; there was plenty of it, but there were choice pieces which were a good thing "to have and to hold."

The Clendenins were Charles, the father, George, William, Robert, Alexander and Mary Ellen. All of these were quiet, sober- sided, thoughtful men, good and true, kind and generous, able, educated and well trained and acquainted with the ways of the world.

The settlement at the mouth of Elk was rushed forward and buildings around the fort to entertain the people that might come, and to shelter the farmer, that was clearing the land, were constructed. The settlement was growing, communication with the East more common, and business was looking up all along the line. No doubt it was quite an entertainment to have a blacksmith shop in their midst, and a ped- lar was a God-send, and besides it was not so lonesome. It was some fifteen or twenty miles from one settlement to the other, but between the two it was filling up with settlers.

The Clendenins seemed to have been .a little ahead, in some respects, of the Mor- rises, and although the upper settlement was the larger, it seemed to have been bet- ter satisfied with this situation, while the Clendenins had an "eye out" for the future and especially for the growth of the lower settlement; and the Clendenins supposed

CAPITAL CITY CHARLESTON

BANK,

REV. JAMES M. BROWN, D. D. Author of "The Captives of Abb's Valley," and Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Charleston, for Many Years.

THE ELK PANY,

BANKING COM- CHARLESTON

HOTEL FLEETWOOD, CHARLES- TON

Hinde

yaristy Story

SUTHERLAND BUILDING, HOME OF THE ST. ALBANS PHARMACY, ST. ALBANS

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

a little town might get a start-at least a start, on Major Morris. It was not long be- fore it was announced by George Clendenin that the Legislature had made a new county and directed a court to be established and the court house was to be at "Clendenins"- all of which had a tendency to start a boom at this settlement at the mouth of Elk, where the people were wont to meet; to

WILLIAM CLENDENIN-FROM A PAINTING

which place they would have to come, and even Major Morris, would be summoned to attend.

We do not know that Clendenin "chuck- led" or that Major Morris "cussed," but the court house of "Kanawha" was located at "Clendenin's." Perhaps few, if any, had ever heard the name of the new county; many wondered why they had selected an Indian name, and more were wanting to know why the court house was located "away down" at the mouth of Elk, etc.

Evidently the Clendenins had had a hand in it, if they had not been so long in it otherwise, and our pioneers, the Morrises, who had been too busy in other matters, were out-generaled.

Another account of this family-runs as follows :

There came to Greenbrier in 1761, Archi- bald and Charles Clendenin, and in 1763, peace was made between the French and English and the Indians had no excuse for murdering raids into the settlements in Vir- ginia, yet there was a raid made under Corn- stalk into Greenbrier county that destroys the settlement on Muddy creek, and the family of Archibald and Mrs. Clendenin, with an infant and her brother John, were taken off as prisoners into Ohio.

Charles Clendenin's home and family es- caped, and its location at the time men- tioned, is not given. Charles had four sons and one daughter, viz: George, William, Alexander, Robert and Mary Ellen. George was born in Scotland in 1746 and was with Col. John Stuart, sent from Greenbrier to the Richmond convention in 1788, and George met Cuthbert Bullett in Richmond and purchased from Bullett the 1030 acre tract of land on the Kanawha, just above the mouth of Elk.

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 8

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