History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 9

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 9

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).

Dr. Hale wrote that on May 1, 1788, the Clendenins, and others were on the land purchased of Bullett and were at work con- structing a fort and a residence for his fam- ily and associates, and the fort was built and the town was begun. With Clendenin came Francis Watkins, Joshua Harrison, Charles McClung, John Edwards, Lewis Tackett, John Young, and others whose numbers were sufficient to prevent an ordi- nary Indian attack. The official designation of the fort was "Fort Lee," though usually known as Clendenin's Fort. And for a time it was used as the court house of Kanawha county. It was a two-story, double, hewed- log, bullet-proof building and near by were some cabins for residences.

Charles Clendenin, the father, died in 1790 and was buried near the fort, which was located about the corner of Brooks and Kanawha streets, where the residence of Charles C. Lewis, Sr .. now is. The first county court was held Oct. 5, 1789, in the fort, when the county was organized. George Clendenin was sent to the legisla-

HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

ture from Kanawha in the years 1790-1791- 1792-1794 and 1795.

In 1795 the 1030 acre tract was sold by the Clendenins to Joseph Ruffner, except- ing only the lots that had before that time been sold, and the Clendenins went to the mouth of the Kanawha on the Ohio. George went on a visit to Marietta, Ohio, and there died before May, 1797.

William Clendenin was born in 1753 and Margaret, his wife, was born in 1762, their children, Elizabeth and Sophia, were born in 1785 and 1787, Charles, Jr., in 1789 and John in 1790.

William died in Sept., 1828, aged seventy- six years. Margaret died in 1833, aged seventy-three. He also represented Kana- wha in the legislature. He lived the latter part of his life below Point Pleasant, oppo- site Gallipolis. He and his family were buried in the Steinberger cemetery, near his . home.

The Clendenin family were all good citi- zens, good business men and reliable, quiet people, and are entitled to the credit of be- ing the founders of the town of Charleston, which they named after their father.

For further details of the Clendenin fam- ily, we would refer the reader to the West Virginia Historical Magazine for July, 1904, and to the Southern Magazine, in which the journal of Lewis Summers is published, which gives much information as to William Clendenin and family.

Just exactly why the Clendenins sold their holdings at the mouth of Elk, on the Kana- wha, has not been explained. The Indians had ceased to trouble, and the country was growing ; they had great holdings for sale. the county was organized and they had been honored in every way and it looks as if they should have remained, and sold lots, cleared and cultivated land and continued to repre- sent the county in the legislature, but Ruff- ner's gold induced him to let it all go, and there may have been other reasons; but if so, it is not related ; therefore we will repeat that it was to rest in his old days and be quiet and enjoy the sight of the two towns and the big boats, etc.

Peace to the founders of Charleston for- ever.

PAY ROLL OF CAPT. WILLIAM CLENDENIN'S

COMPANY, GREENBRIER COUNTY, MOUTH OF ELK, IN 1788

Capt. Wm. Clendenin. Lieut. Geo. Shaw.

Ensign Francis Watkins.

Sergeant Shadich Harriman.

Sergeant Reuben Slaughter.

Privates. John Tollypurt, Samuel Dun- bar, John Burns, Isaac Snedicer, William Miller, John Buckle, Jas. Edgar, Michael Newhouse, Robert Aaron, Wm. Carroll, Thomas Shirkey, Nick Null, Archer Price, Ben Morris, Levi Morris, Jo Burwell, Wm. Boggs, Wm. Morris, Wm. Turrell, Wm. Hylliard, John Cavender, Henry Morris, Chas. Young, Wm. George, Alex Clendenin, John Morris.

MUSTER ROLL OF CAPT. JOHN MORRIS'S CAMP, I791

Capt. John Morris, Lieut. Geo. Shaw, En- sign Andrew Lewis, Ensign Alex Clendenin, Sergeant John Hansford, Sergeant Geo. Roberts.

Privates. Thos. Upton, David Johnson, Sr., Jas. Hazleton, Lewis Floyd, Wm. Mil- ler, Edmund Newhouse, Leonard Morris, Edward Price, John Moss, Reuben Slaugh- ter, Adon Mathews, Henry Morris, Chas. Young, John Jones, Wm. Droddy, John Tackett, John Bailey, Jr., Nathaniel Hud- dleston, Wm. Smith, Rowland Wheeler, Phillip Tuon, John Wheeler, Ezekiel Droddy, Wm. Pryor, John Windsor, John Sheppard, Michael Newhouse, John Mor- ris, Jr., Chas. McClung, Henry Newhouse, Ed. McClung, Jas. Spencer, Wm. Hall, Wm. McCallum, Jo Graham, Geo. Alderson, Wm. Griffith, Wm. Carroll, Wm. Morris, Jr., Jonathan Windsor, Conrad Young, Joseph Edwards, Levi Morris, Thos. Alsbury, Jr., Arch Casey, John Cavender, Roland Wheeler. John Childers, Samuel White, Wm. Hughes, Davis Alderson, John Jen- kins, Carrol Morris, Chas. Alsbury, John Sharp, Wm. Crain, Wm. Neil, Jo Burwell.

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Thomas Sammons, John Carter, Benjamin Johnson, Patrick Cockhern, Pleasant Wade, Reuben Simmons, Abram Barker, Jos. Car- roll, Francis Watkins, John Bailey, Wm. Rider, Mathias Young, Lewis Tackett, Benjamin Morris, Lewis Tackett, Jr., Ed- ward Hughes, Jo Clymer, Henny Bailey, Mathew Wheeler, Robt. Juon, John Case- bolt, Sam Peeples, Thos. Hughes, Thomas Shirkey, Thomas Hughes, Jr., Gabriel Jones, John Edwards.

To the roll of Capt. John Morris's com- pany, called into service from March 13, 1792, to Jan. I, 1793, which is substantially the same as for 1791, there is appended un- der the head of "Remarks" a statement of where they did duty, etc., viz :

Capt. John Morris performed his duty at his own fort and with him there were Eze- kiel Droddy, sergeant (he had no family) and Thos. Alsbury; made a crop there; family there also and Chas. Alsbury; made crop, family there also; Thos. Alsbury, made crop (no family), and Thos. Haman, part of the time at home and at George Alderson's.

At Clendenin Fort was John Young, lieut., with family, Alex. Clendenin with family, made crop; also Abram Baker, his family ; John Edwards, with family, made crop; Thos. Upton with family; Larkin Stone, single; Thos. Upton, Jr., John Bur- well, Andrew Hamilton; Michael New- house and family, made crop; Ed. New- house; Lewis Tackett, Sr., made crop on town lots, family with him; Amos Atwater, Lewis Tackett, Jr., single; after death of Michael See: Francis Tackett, single: Pleasant Wade, single.

At Col. Andrew Donnally's. Francis Wat- kins, resided in town; William Miller, sin- gle: Wm. Droddy and family, made crop; Thos. Smith, with family, made crop there ; Geo. Alderson with family, made crop at home on river a mile above John Shepherd, was shot in the thigh, cured by Mr. Alsbury.

At Leonard Morris's: Edward Price and family: Henry Newhouse, single; Robt. Lewis and family: William Lewis, single.

At William Morris's: Jo Carroll, Will-

iam Carroll, son of Jos. Carroll, Davy Alder- son, John Moss (wife was daughter of Jo Carroll), Henry Wheeler, captured by In- dians; Mathew Wheeler, killed by Indians, 16th October, 1792; Allen Rice with family, made crop; Jo Chymer, single; William Smith, single. Boat building.

Jonathan Henderson, family made crop; William Morris, Jr., at home; Edward Hughes, single, made crop; John Hans- ford, made a crop over the river; Jonathan Kindson, little boy of 14; Carrol Morris, at home; John Cavender, single, boat build- ing; John Bailey, single; Thos. Castor, sin- gle : Samuel White, took family to Jackson river, had a negro; John Nugent, single; Nathan Wheeler, single, made crop; \Vill- iam Pryor, made crop at home; Isaac Jen- kins, boy of 14, with father, John Jenkins; Roland Wheeler, killed Oct. 16th.

At John Jones's: John Jones, at home, kept boat yard; John Jenkins, with family, made crop; John Campbell, single, made crop; Nathan Huddleston, family, made crop; Robt. Irwin, single; Joseph Edwards, Ben Morris, Gabriel Jones, Isaac Jenkins, 15; Thos. Hughes, Jr., boy of 15 years; James Shirkey, single, made crop.

Peters Creek Station-Henry Morris. two children killed, then at Jones's ; Mathias Young, Chas. Young. John Niddle, James Robinson, single; Henry Young single.

At Pryor's-Daniel Tawney, Allyn Pryor, Wm. Pryor.

STATEMENT OF KANAWHA COUNTY OF PER- SONS ON THE PENSION LIST UNDER ACT OF CONGRESS, MARCH 18, 1818

Isham Bailey, private, allowed $25.97. Virginia Militia, placed on pension roll Sept. 16, 1833; pension commenced March, 1831, aged 79.

William Bailey allowed $80.00, aged 80. Marshall Bowman allowed $30.00, aged 74.

John Cassey allowed $80.00, aged 70. Robt. Christian allowed $23.33, aged 70.

Peter Grass allowed $43.33, aged 79. Rush Millam allowed $30.00, aged 75. Job Martin allowed $80.00, aged 81.

HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

Alex. Thompson allowed $20.00, aged 71. Joseph Thomas allowed $43.33, aged 75. John Young allowed $46.66, aged 74. Benjamin Stono, aged 74.

APPLICATIONS FOR PENSIONS

Fleming Cobb, Kanawha, did not serve six months.

Thos. Smith, Kanawha, did not serve six months.

Ben Johnson, Kanawha, did not serve six months.

Jonathan Windor, Kanawha, did not serve six months.

Chas. Young, Kanawha, served in Indian War.

Samuel Martin, Kanawha, awaiting fur- ther proof.

Jas. S. Wilson, Kanawha, not six months' service.

Peter Cook, Kanawha, awaiting proof. Edward Brown, Kanawha, not six months' service.

RUFFNER FAMILY

Having treated of the Morris settlement, and then of the Clendenin settlement, we come now to the Ruffner family, that takes the place not only of the Clendenin but also of the Dickinson salt property, which together for a long time in the history of the county is to control the destiny of the valley.

The Ruffners came to Kanawha from the valley of Virginia, the Shenandoah valley. It has been stated that this family were among the Hessians that came with the British to overcome the revolution brought about by England's tyranny and formally announced in the Declaration of Independence by the colonies, July 4, 1776, and who remained in the United States after England's failure to hold her supremacy over the colonies-that her hired German soldiers chose to remain as Virginians instead of returning to Germany. But this is not true. In the first place, the ancestor, Peter Ruffner, was born in Switzer- land and came to America when a young man, bringing with him an only sister, who became Mrs. Abraham Strickler, they being the par-

ents of the Strickler family, Jacob and Joseph and others of Shenandoah county, Va.

Peter Ruffner married Mary Steinman in Lancaster county, Pa., and also settled in Shenandoah, where he lived and died. He was the first of the name in Virginia and he settled in 1739 and hence was among the first of the German settlers of the valley of Vir- ginia.

"The German Element in the Shenandoah Valley" is a work published in 1907 by Prof. John W. Wayland of the University of Vir- ginia, who says, "One of the largest land holders in the Shenandoah valley was Peter Ruffner, who was the first of the name in Vir- ginia and settled at the large spring on the Hawksbill creek, in 1739, now close to the town of Luray. His wife was Mary Stein- man whose father gave to them a large tract of land on the said creek, extending eight miles from its mouth on both sides, and then Peter added to this estate extending it four miles further up the same."

In one of the conveyances dated in 1746 the name is spelled Ruffnaugh and Ruffner, and Peter became the administrator of the estate of Abraham Strickler, his brother-in-law. It is said in said Wayland authority, that Peter was of the Menonite sect, but Daniel Ruffner said that the Ruffners and himself were Luth- erans.

The children of Peter and Mary were: Jo- seph, born September, 1740, died March, 1803. He married Anna Heistand who also was born in Shenandoah in . 1742; the mar- riage was May 22, 1764. There were some six or seven others of the family but as they never came to Kanawha, we will omit their mention. They were Benjamin, Catherine, Peter, Jr., Reuben, Tobias, Elizabeth and Em- anuel.

The children of Joseph and Anna were: Esther, born 1765, died young in Shenandoah ; David, born 1767, died 1843 in Kanawha; Jo- seph, born 1769, died 1837 in Cincinnati; To- bias, born 1773, died 1836; Eve, born 1777, married N. Wood, went to Ohio; Daniel, born 1779, died in Kentucky, July, 1865; Abraham, born 1781, died in Ohio.

Joseph and wife moved to Kanawha in

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

1795. He had been out West before that, and had purchased the five hundred and two acres salt property including other at mouth of Campbell's creek, from Col. John Dickinson of Jackson's river.

Joseph became interested in the town of Charleston and he purchased all the land that the Clendenins had not sold; he owned all the salt property that was then known; and with the beginning of a new county, and a new town, and a new business, in a new world, he invested heavily and wisely. Consequently every proposition that had for its purpose the aiding of the upbuilding of the town or the county he became interested in. He was an active energetic, full of a go-ahead spirit and determination, and made a success of every- thing. He did not live to be over sixty-three and died in 1803. His wife died in 1820 and was seventy-eight years of age and both are buried in the Ruffner cemetery.

His son David succeeded him as the leader of the name; he was prominent as a justice, as a salt maker and man of affairs. His wife was Anne Brumbach and they were married in 1788. Their children were: I, Henry, born 1790, married Sally Lyle and then Laura Kirby; 2, Ann E., born 1792, married Dr. Richard Putney; 3, Susan, born 1794, married Moses Fuqua; 4, Lewis, born October 1, 1797, married Elizabeth Shrewsbury and then Viola Knapp.

David lived in Malden and was a very im- portant personage, acting as a justice, he cared nothing for limited jurisdiction and his de- cisions were often compromises and arbitra- tions, but always for the best of both parties.

It is said that he never lost his German ac- cent and German notions and that everyone recognized them as good ones.

(1) Henry, became Dr. Henry Ruffner of the college at Lexington, Va., and was rated as one of the great men of the country. He was the author of the "Ruffner Pamphlet," which advocated gradual emancipation of the slaves, and excited a national interest.

Dr. Henry had a son, William Henry; a daughter, Miss Julia; and a son, David Lewis; all of whom were much more than ordinary people in point of talent and education. Will- 6

iam Henry was the greatest of Virginia's schoolmen. Miss Julia was a teacher and stood among the teachers of the country as unexcelled, and David Lewis was a civil en- gineer and as such had no peer.

For detail of these people we refer to the W. Va. Historical Magazine and elsewhere herein.

Daniel Ruffner was another son of Joseph and Anna; he also was born in Shenandoah, in the year 1779, and came as a lad with his parents in 1795. His first wife was Elizabeth Painter and their children were: I, Catherine, born 1799, and went to Ohio and died 1849; II, Charles, born 1801, married Anna Hedrick and had two children-Mary, who was Mrs. C. L. Roffe of Cabell county and Lucius; Charles married second Elizabeth Wilson, children viz .: I, Charles, Jr., who died young ; 2, Elizabeth, who married Rev. Mr. Rider; 3, Goodrich, who was the wife of Mr. Sim- mons, of Cal .; 4, Ann Placentia, who was Mrs. Watson of St. Charles, Mo .; 5, Ella, who died young, Charles Ruffner died in 1881.

III. Joel Ruffner, born December, 1802, and married Diana Mayre, of Page county, Va., and they were the parents of a large fam- ily and they lived at upper part of Charleston.

The children of Joel and Diana are as fol- lows: I, Mary E., who died early; 2, Frances E., married David Lewis Ruffner, born 1830; 3, Virginia, died young; 4, Anne M., born 1834, never married; 5, William Mayre, born 1836, died 1896, never married; 6, Alexander, born 1837, married Miss Wallace; 7, Daniel, born 1839, joined "Border Rangers" and died in C. S. A., 1862; 8, a daughter that did not live; 9, Joel, Jr., born in 1840, died 1861 in C. S. A .; 10, Lydia D., born in 1842, unmar- ried; II, Catherine A., born 1844, married Mr. Fant; 12, Jane A., born 1845, married W. W. Dorsey; 13, Theda E., born 1847, married Mr. Brans; 14, Willie A., born 1849, married Chas. Blaine; 15, Louisa B., born 1851, married John Hopper; 16, James Au- gusta, born 1853, married Miss Bach. This old patriarch Joel died in 1882.

IV. Augustus, son of Daniel, born 1805, married Mary Rogers, their children were as

HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

follows: I, Henry Daniel, married Miss Sally Patrick, secondly Miss Abbott; 2, Leonora C., married W. A. Alexander; 3, Mary E., mar- ried Dr. L. L. Comstock; 4, Augustus, died in 1855.

V. James and Andrew Ruffner, born in 1807-Andrew died unmarried in 1850. James married (1) Martha Morton, their children were: I, Adeline M., died young; 2, Andrew L .; 3, Meredith P., married Miss Maxwell, died March, 1911; 4, Annastine W., married Col. W. H. Hogeman.

James married (2) Ellen McFarland, and they were the parents of Mrs. Nellie Jackson. James died in 1868.

VI. Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel, born July, 1810, married Nathaniel V. Wilson. To these were born: I, Catherine A., who married P. H. Noyes; 2, Daniel A., married Miss White; 3, Elizabeth J., married Chas. C. Lewis; 4, Annie, married Mr. Allemong; 5, Virginia, married Rev. Dr. Hall; 6, Willie, married Chas. Rooke; 7, Nathaniel V., Jr., married a Miss Spiegel; 8, James W., died.

Daniel Rugner married (2) to Elizabeth Singleton, a widow, who was a daughter of Samuel D. Honeyman, and they were the parents of the following children, viz :

I, Walter, born 1845 and died young; 2, Daniel, Jr., born 1847, died unmarried in 1909; 3, Joseph, born 1848, married Miss Mary Jackson ; 4, Virginia, born 1850, mar- ried Mr. Stroughton; 5, William, born in 1853, lives in Kentucky.

The Ruffner family has not all been given even of the Kanawha generation, but we are not able to give them.

One of the ablest men of his day was General Lewis Ruffner, son of David, who was the first white child born in Charles- ton, Oct. I. 1797. He was a salt maker, a member of the legislature. Was prominent in the formation of the state of West Vir- ginia. Lived to an old age, and left Lewis, Jr., Ernest, Joel, and Mrs. Wiley. His son Ernest, graduated at the head of his class at West Point, and stands high in Engineer Department. U. S. A. Joel taught Booker Washington all that he learned in his West Virginia home. Joel died in 1911 at Malden.

Daniel Boone had heard of the valley and had come and settled amongst the Kana- wha settlers about half way between the two settlements. He wanted a new game, and beavers were his selection and he taught Paddy Huddleston how to catch them with their traps. In the mouth of each creek was the beginning of a farm; the flat-boat business had continued to grow and boats of all kinds could now be seen. From the list of persons in the county, now, the reader will be surprised to find so many persons in the country, and will also find that other persons, not present, had taken out patents for so much land in this wild country.

Ann Bailey had become a frequent visitor and had become acquainted with them all, houses were better and farms were more farmlike, the legal tender crops, tobacco, was being grown and they all had hopes of being able to pay their taxes.

While all this was progressing, and both settlements were growing, there was occa- sionally some talk of the need of more civil- ization and government, and in fact, there had been some steps taken and members of the legislature had been communicated with. Roads were needed and only a court could make them; there were many cases between traders which could not always be decided without a justice and a jury, and constables to keep the peace were often needed. Business was looking up.

ELK RIVER SETTLERS

Elk river settlers, in the order in which they settled, prior to 1820:

Beginning on the north side, there was Henry Newhouse, on Newhouse Branch. who came about 1801 ; next above, was Ed- ward Burgess, about the Connor place : William and John Atkinson, about the Jar- vis place : James Reveal, a boat builder, came in 1815; and Ephraim Foster.

Then came Leonard and George Cooper. who settled on Cooper's creek; they sold out to Mike Newhouse. Michael New- house, John Porter of Porter's Island, Na- than Porter, above Cooper's creek. Then

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

came John Slack. Thomas Joplin was lo- cated in 1808 where afterwards Friend's salt-furnace was built in 1838. Joplin sold to Henry, and moved to the Kanawha river, where the Blaine farm is. Ralph Joplin was a Revolutionary soldier.

Next above came Andrew and Doss At- kinson: Jacob Jarrett came next at Little Sandy. Jarrett's Fort, in Greenbrier, was built by Jacob Jarrett and he is supposed to have been the same man. Martin Ham- mock came in 1808, and settled near Little Sandy. James Summers came and settled next above, and then John, son of Martin Hammock. William Givens came in 1815. he was the father of Adam Givens. Abra- ham Jarrett, came next above and then George Rucker, who resided opposite the mouth of Blue creek; Benjamin Slack, at Slack's Branch, at foot of Young's shoal. John Young, the old Indian fighter, who helped to save the boy on White Man's Fork, of Aaron's Fork, settled at Young's Shoals and afterwards went to the mouth of Coal river.

John D. Young, son of John Young, came next. Ed. Price came next above. Samuel James was at Jordan's creek. Arch Price, above Jordan's creek, and opposite Falling Rock was William Cobb, and then another John Young and William Hays. In 1808 came Dr. Cobbs and settled at the mouth of Big Sandy. He was the first doctor in Kanawha and he had an extensive practice and was prominent and of decided character.

We will come back to the mouth of Elk. above the town and there was Capt. Genat. at the mouth of Two Mile creek and there was a salt furnace on Two Mile creek. ·Joseph C. Young, a salt maker, came from Kentucky. William Young settled on the hill. Aaron Crank settled in same vicinity. John Buster owned the Barlow farm. An- drew Atkinson had a boat-yard at the mouth of Mill creek. William Griffith lived at the mouth of Mill creek: an old settler. Then came John Slack, the father of Greenbury, John and Benjamin and Mrs. Chas. Bryant and Mrs. High. William Porter opposite Cooper's creek. John Phillips, the boat

builder. Nathan Porter, about the Graham mines. Samuel Henry came next; he pur- chased Blaine's Island for a bob-tailed mare and a spotted bull; he died on the Blaine farm. Sol Ratcliffe, was at Indian creek, as also was James Sewall, who sold to Wilson. Squire Jarrett and Ownen Jarrett were at Jarrett's Ford. Then came John Graham, who killed the last buffalo. Arch Price was at Blue creek. Joseph Newhouse, at Wal- nut creek. John Young was at the narrows. F. Rucker was at Falling Rock creek, he first discovered cannel coal and was a black- smith. Hiram Samples, Lewis Young, son of John, Wilson Woods, Lewis Young and Edmund Price, all lived where Clendenin now is.

The land books in 1812 first gave any description of the land, and frequently was satisfied with saying "on Elk." These, with the description "on Elk," were Martin Hammock, Ralph Joplin, Ed. Price, John Slack and others. Pat Murphy, "at mouth of Strange creek." David Heaton, "above Birch." William Cobbs, "at Little Sandy." Geo. Hancock. "adjoining Cooper's," etc.

" Strange is my name and I'm on strange ground

" And strange it is that I cannot be found."

This was found cut on a beech tree, on a creek of Elk, and the skeleton of a man and the rusty barrel of his gun near by; evi- dently he was lost. The tree and the creek are there and the creek is called "Strange creek."

Adam O'Brian lived on Elk, he built his cabin in a secret-like, out-of-the-way place, to hide from the Indians, then blazed the trees so he could find it. He died in 1836, on Big Sandy, over one hundred years of age. He said he liked to live on the fron- tier; that he could kill an Indian but he dared not kill a sheriff, or a justice. He liked it when there were no laws; he could fight it out with varments and savages but had no show with lawyers and sheriffs.

The following are early patents of Elk lands: In 1787. William Arbuckle, John Archer, Cooper and Morris, William Grif- fith, John Goodman, William Royal. Will

HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

iam Smuffer, Daniel Shedey. In 1788, John Osborne. In 1793, John McCae, David Robinson, Alex. Stuart. In 1795, James Stroud, Jas. Givens. Elk did her duty in furnishing fighting men also.

Jarrett Ford is twelve miles up Elk river and for a long while there could be seen around his house the old patriarch, Eli Jar- rett, a good old man that everyone knew and all respected.

In 1780 some Indians came from Green- brier with a lad as a prisoner. They went up Elk: then Little Sandy and some men heard of it and the Indians were followed by John Young, Ben Morris, William Ar- buckle and Robert Aaron. These men came up to the Indians and fired, and one Indian was killed and the other escaped and the boy was rescued. The dead Indian proved to be a white man, disguised, and the stream was ever afterward known as "White Man's Fork, of Aaron's Fork, of Little Sandy."

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 9

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