USA > West Virginia > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, West Virginia : from the early days of Northwestern Virginia to the present > Part 29
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
of the expense of digging when a person who understood blow- ing rocks proposed to try it, and completed it at a small ex- pense compared with what its digging would have cost. It was solid clay and no appearance of rock. Lodged at Mr. Bonnell's on Hughes River. Country still very hilly. Scattering new settlements and a tolerable ap- pearance of range, which has not been the case heretofore.
The Buckeye leaves nearly half grown and vegetation much more for- ward than with us. Severe hurricane and powerful rain just after we got up."
At an election held in the Court House for trustees of the town of Clarksburg on the 21st. day of May 1804 the following persons were elect- ed as such : viz,
259
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Allison Clark, Daniel Davisson, Benjamin Wilson, Jr., and David Hewes.
Only eleven votes were cast at this election.
A list of taxable property in the town of Clarksburg taken by David Hewes, assessor, and subject to taxation under the corporation laws of the town April 3, 1810 contained the names of thirty-one tax payers.
The total valuation in the town amounted to $84.115. In order to show the number and names of the tax payers living in the town at that date the list is here given :
James Pindall
John Smith
Allison Clark Joseph Neville
Robert Gray
Peter Link
Col. George Jackson Jacob Stealey
Alexander F. Lanham
Samuel Hawthorn
Daniel Davisson, Major.
David Hurry
Joseph Summerville
Benjamin Wilson, Jr.
David Hewes
Daniel Morris
William Williams
Archibald B. Wilson
Joseph Lowry
George I. Davisson
Josias Adams
Daniel Kincheloe
Thomas Synott
Jacob Means
Asher Lewis
Rev. George Towers Michael Criss John G. Jackson
Thomas Tate
Nathaniel Davisson's Heirs
After the Indian troubles were settled the accessions to the popula- tion were mostly from Eastern Virginia particularly the professional class, and they introduced the manners and customs of that part of the country, which still to some extent clings to the people of Clarksburg.
While the social and political relations were with Richmond the trad- ing and commercial relations were always with Baltimore, and now that railroad facilities have increased so rapidly in other directions there is but little communication with the mother State, and her influence has not the prominence it had in days of yore.
Statement of John Scripps.
In 1803 at 18 years of age I was sent an unbound apprentice forty miles from home to Clarksburg, Harrison County where I served out my time four years and continued one year longer at journey work at two dollars higher wages per month than was wont to be given. Those five years were the turning point in my life. My coming out to the West had established my health and I had become robust and my perpetual application to work, exposure to all weather general privations frequent fatigues, hard and cold lodgings &c. had habituated me to any endurance so that my new mode of life which to my fellow apprentice was a little purgatory was to me a terrestial paradise.
I had greater liberty and much more leisure than I had ever enjoyed, and I worked with a will and obtained a greater proficiency in the trade than even my seniors, and being the only scholar among them had the
Samuel Ferguson
260
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
books of the concern put into my hands with the entire management of the business at the end of my second year.
There were two very distinct classes of society in the town the one consisting of the upper ten, the merchants and professional characters, the others of the mechanics, journeymen and employees, a reckless, drinking, swearing, gambling class, who spent all their leisure and every night at the tavern. This class I could not associate with for although raised in a tavern, which my father had kept to help out for our awkwardness and deficiency in farming, yet I could neither endure spir- ituous liquors, nor the hilarity they occasioned, and being naturally ad- dicted to study and literary pursuits I spent most of my leisure in them. This drew me to the attention of the better class.
Rev. G. Towers, a Presbyterian clergyman aud Professor of the Academy and his wife were the only religionists in the town. They gave me access to their large and select library. He was sociable and instruc- tive and at his special request I visited him two or three evenings every week. Both he and his wife smoked and encouraged me in my smoking, as an incentive to study and he kept a pipe constantly for my use. Every- body then used tobacco and amid its fragrant fumes I derived much in- struction.
Dr. Williams the most literary man in the community found me out and often visited me. He also advised me to smoke for the benefit of my eyes, which had become much impaired by the small pox. Mr. Towers preached regularly twice a month in the Academy, but he had no church members.
In May 1808 I left the place against the strongest remonstrances of my friends and even of my own biased friends for I had a gratutious induction into either of the three professions of law, medicine or divinity but family reasons induced me to forego their friendly offers.
Letter from Benjamin to Wm. Scripps of Morgantown from New Orleans.
"It gives me pleasure to hear he is so agreeably situated at Clarks- burg and of the pecuniary advantages he derived from Mr. Stealey's liberality, together with Mr. Tower's library that enables him to en- dulge himself in the pleasing pursuits of literature."
The writer of the above worked with and learned the trade of a tanner of Mr. Jacob Stealey, whose tannery was on Water Street near the present flour mill.
In October, 1798, Mr. Felix Renick passed through Western Virginia on his way to look at lands in Ohio, accompanied by Joseph Harness and Leonard Stump from the South Branch of the Potomac.
The journey was on horseback and in part is described by Mr. Renick as follows :
"Having a long journey before us we travelled slow and reached Clarksburg the third night, which was then near the verge of the Western settlements in Virginia, except along the Ohio River.
Among the first inquiries of our apparent good, honest, illiterate landlord was whether he could tell us how far it was to Marietta, Ohio,
261
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
and what kind of a trace we should have. His reply was "Oh, yes, I can do that very thing exactly, as I have been recently appointed one of the viewers to lay out and mark a road from here to Marietta, and have just returned from the performance of that duty. The distance on a straight line which we first ran was seventy-five miles, but on our return we found and marked another line that was much nearer."
This theory to Mr. Harness and myself, each of us having spent several years in the study and practice of surveying was entirely new. We, however let it pass without comment and our old host to his great delight entertained us till late in the evening, with a detailed account of the fine sport he and his associates had in their bear chases, deer chases &c. while locating the road.
We pursued our journey the next morning taking what our host called the nearest, and which he also said was much the best route. The marks on both routes being fresh and plain, the crooked and nearest route, as our host called it frequently crossed the other. We took particular notice of the ground the straight line had to pass over, and after getting through we were disposed to believe that our worthy host was not so far wrong as might be supposed. The straight line crossing such high peaks of moun- tains some of which were so much in the sugar loaf form that it would be quite as near to go around as over them."
Mr. Renick and his party encamped two nights in the woods between Clarksburg and Marietta where the land office was then kept by General Putnam and from his office they obtained maps of the Government land for sale.
"Howes History of Virginia printed in 1845 describes Clarksburg as situated 253 miles North Westerly from Richmond and 70 miles East of the Ohio River, at the junction of Elk Creek with the West Fork of the Monon- gahela. The village stands on a rolling table land, surrounded by an amphitheater of hills, while Elk Creek meandering through and around the town imparts additional beauty to the scene.
Clarksburg was established by law in 1785 and is now a flourishing town. It contains seven mercantile stores, two newspaper printing offices, two fine classical academies, one Methodist and one Presbyterian Church and a population of about eleven hundred.
There are inexhaustable supplies of coal in the immediate neighbor- hood and being in the midst of a fertile country possessing great mineral wealth in its iron, salt etc., it possesses the elements of prosperity.
This immediate vicinity was settled a few years before the com- mencement of the Revolutionary War. The early settlers in this region of Country suffered greatly in the wars with the Indians until Wayne's treaty in 1795."
A Christmas Party in the Long Ago.
Mr. Benjamin F. Shuttleworth stated to the author that on Christ- mas day in the year 1829 when quite a child he remembers of being at a children's party at the residence of John Wilson, who lived on the South Side of Main Street opposite the intersection of Fourth Street.
262
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
The company assembled early in the morning before daylight and enjoyed a bountiful breakfast by candle light. Afterwards they were conducted into another room and surrounded an elegant dressed Christ- mas tree laden with fruits, nuts, candies and toys.
The occasion was such an enjoyable one, that although more than three quarters of a century had elapsed since its occurrence, it still lin- gered in the memory of the participant as a pleasant recollection of the days of his childhood.
Previous to the commencement of the civil war in 1861 Clarksburg was noted for its hospitality and social gatherings.
During the sessions of the several courts it was the custom to enter- tain the officials and members of the Bar. Dances were a common form of amusement.
Debating, Thespian Societies and church festivals were numerous and occasionally a banquet would be given to some public man or by some political party, and the 4th. of July was generally celebrated by patriotic gatherings.
Below is given some invitations to attend the dances:
"Social Ball.
"The pleasure of your company is requested at a ball to be given at the Hotel of Major Wm. M. Bartlett on New Years Eve.
Managers.
G. D. Camden
Geo. H. Lee
A. J. Smith
Aaron Criss
L. Haymond
C. Tavenner
G. G. Davisson
Clarksburg, Va., 1841."
"January 1, 1846.
The pleasure of your company is respectfully requested at a "Cot- tilion party" to be given on Thursday evening the Ist. proximo, at 6 o'clock at Dent's Hotel in Clarksburg.
Richard W. Moore James McCally Luther Haymond R. F. Criss A. J. Smith
Managers.
Aaron Criss G. G. Davisson John S. Duncan James M. Jackson And. S. Criss
December 30, 1845."
"Independence Ball.
The pleasure of your company is respectfully solicited to attend a ball, at the Court House on the evening of the 5th. of July.
W. P. Goff
263
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Committee.
Col. D. F. Hewes
Col. Luther Haymond G. D. Camden, Jr. Capt. A. P. Davisson
Henry Haymond Major Uriel M. Turner Wm. P. Irwin Hugh H. Lee Theo. Rosenthal
CLARKSBURG, VA., June 24, 1858.
COOPER & BRUEN Printers.
The Harrison Republican in its issue of August 15, 1845, states that
"A census of Clarksburg taken last week by some youths connected with the Academy shows the following as the number of inhabitants :
Heads of families
140
White males
340
White females
326
666
Black Males
39
Black Females
101
140
Total population
806
Those living on the "Point" were not enumerated."
Mr. J. H. DisDebar an accomplished young Frenchman, who came to West Virginia as agent for the claimants of large bodies of land known as the Swan lands, gives an interesting account of his first visit to Clarksburg in April 1846 and put up at the North Western Hotel on Pike Street kept by James Carder. He describes the building as a large wind shaken two story frame with a long ell and double porches in the rear, and as ranking second in the town because the other tavern kept by a Mr. Bartlett was built of brick and adjoined the Court House lot.
The frame building is still used for a hotel and has for many years been known as the Walker House.
He further says that "The denizens of Clarksburg are chiefly of Old Virginia descent, and constitute a somewhat exclusive conservative set with all the traditions and social prejudices, pertaining to an ancient moss grown aristocratic town, such as Clarksburg was reputed to be. With very few exceptions there was but very little actual wealth to back up their pretensions, which were by common consent founded upon anti- quity of pedigree and superior culture and manners. Their language was uniformly correct, their conversation refined and their hospitality generous within their means.
Modern buildings, with somewhat tasty surroundings did not exceed a dozen all told, and to a traveler from more progressive sections of the Country, the town viewed from within or without presented a rusty time worn appearance, relieved, however, by neatly cultivated flower plots, vegetable gardens and orchards, which with the absence of all bus- iness like bustle lent the place an aspect of almost idylic repose.
Shops and stores of any kind were few and mostly confined to the ill lighted front rooms of dingy dwellings.
264
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Clarksburg was always widely and justly famed not only for its distinguished legal talent, and brilliant oratory in the line of politics, but also for the general ingenuity of its citizens in trades and shifts of any kind.
As illustrating the thrift of her people in holding the balance of trade, the following anecdote is related: A wholesale grocer of Parkersburg was asked what he intended to do with his oldest son then coming of age. The reply was "I intend to set him up in business at Clarksburg with a thousand dollars and if he can keep that for three months I will entrust him with all I possess."
United States Court was held at Clarksburg twice a year in the spring and fall. On such occasions card parties, for gentlemen only, were given by leading citizens, with a display of lavish hospitality in the shape of generous refreshments of the choicest brands from various climes. These entertainments generally lasted from eight of nine P. M. until the dawn of day, and besides a selection of local friends embraced the Court officials, members of the Jury, witnesses and visitors, all hailing from more or less distant parts of the State. It was never a cause of surprise that a large proportion of these invited guests required the help of some good Samaritan, to find the way back to their lodgings in the morning fog, and it is scarcely necessary to add that after all and every one of such functions "the balance of trade" was found to be largely in favor of the town.
Mr. DisDebar speaks of Hon. William A. Harrison and Luther Hay- mond to whom he had letters of introduction, also of Messrs. Lloyd Lowndes and S. Hartman as merchants of the period.
He gives a humorous account of a frog supper given at the Carder Tavern, at which were present John S. Duncan, James M. Jackson, Caleb Boggess, Lloyd Moore, U. M. Turner, Robert Johnson, Robert Sommerville, Granville G. Davisson and Edgar M. Davisson.
It appears that the fires were out at the tavern when the frogs arrived, and the landlord refused to have them relighted, so the frogs were prepared in a salad by the versatile son of France, and with the addition of various liquids immensely enjoyed by the jovial company. And he adds, "A year or two later my friend Duncan, who had served a term in the State Legislature as a brilliant champion of the right of way for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, was again a candidate in competition with Col. Joseph Johnson, later Governor of Virginia. It was one of the most spirited contests known in that section and decided in favor of Johnson by a majority of one vote magnanimously cast by Duncan for his opponent who on his part failed to vote for Duncan.
A short time afterwards riding to Randolph County with Judge Edwin S. Duncan I was surprised to learn that it was my French frog supper that had defeated his son's election beyond a doubt. Three of the Judges rural neighbors, staunch whigs, incensed at John's lack of self respect in feasting on raw frogs, had remained away from the polls where their votes would have given him a decided majority."
In early days the neighborhood of Clarksburg was a good boy's country.
265
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
In the Spring was the fishing season by hooks, trot lines, brush seines, gigging and nets. A little later came mulberries, Dew berries, wild plums, black berries and raspberries. In the fall there were service berries, wild grapes, persimmons, cherries, paw paws, chestnuts, beech nuts, walnuts, butter nuts, hickory and hazel nuts. The nuts were gathered and stored away for winter use. Later in the Fall came the season for trapping snow birds, snaring rabbits, trapping muskrats and coon and possum hunts at night.
The Point mill dam in the West Fork was famous as a fishing place for bass, as was the "fish pot" in the bend below the dam.
The mill dam in Elk Creek called the "Town dam" was another fishing resort.
The swimming holes were for the town boys the Mill pond in Elk called "Saint Denis" another was just below the Fourth Street Bridge called the Pike Hole, the next was at the bend of the creek below Broad- dus College called the Deep Hole.
Then there was the old Ferry in the river at the foot of Ferry Street, which was famous as a swimming place, mostly for men and big boys. It was too deep and broad for the little fellows.
There was a Ferry conducted at this place for many years by "Daddy Eib" and hence its name.
"Despards corner" at Third and Main Streets was a famous gather- ing place for boys of evenings, around the old horse block which stood out in front of the store room. Many expeditions for the purpose of fishing, gathering nuts, tramps through the woods &c. were arranged there.
The amusements were games of marbles, shooting at a mark with bow and arrows, town ball, pitching quoits, tag, Anthony over, Hunt the Hare, jumping, wrestling and foot races and sliding on the ice, coasting and snow-balling.
As the conditions of the country changed the boy's occupations and amusements changed also. As the woods were cleared out with them went the nuts, fruits and wild animals.
The Stealey tanyard was located on Water Street opposite the Mill, and the used up tan bark was dumped over the bank into the creek between the mill and the bridge, and the accumulation of years formed a steep slide into the water and many is the wheelbarrow, cart or any loose vehicle left on the streets at night, that would be found in the water the next morning and nobody be the wiser for it. For many years the expression "over tanbark" was a familiar one and meant sliding an article over the bank built by tanbark into the creek.
On Traders Alley between Third and Fourth Streets was a pond of water caused by bad drainage and heavy rains called "Lake Erie" and many a luckless wight who had taken too much on board of Corbins whiskey was soused in its waters in order to sober him and of course no one knew anything about it.
During the existence of the Militia laws each Regiment of Militia was compelled to assemble for drill once each year generally in the Spring.
266
HISTORY
OF HARRISON COUNTY
The Eleventh Regiment assembled in Clarksburg and the day was called "Big Muster" and the boys looked forward to it with the greatest pleasure and interest.
Nobody was in uniform. Here and there an officer would have a white and red plume in his hat, or a sash or sword belted around him and it was sometimes the case that a newly elected officer would mount a pair of Epauletts. Great crowds would collect around the fife and drum corps on the streets a cavalry company, or rather a party of men on horseback with nothing military about them, would occasionally dash through the streets headed by a bugler who would sound his bugle, which with the drum and shrill notes of the fife, the neighing of the horses, barking of dogs and shouts of the officers with clouds of dust and the delighted howls of the young population, created pandemonium and an amusing and exciting scene, one never to be forgotten, alas Big Muster is a thing of the past. The Civil war broke up the Militia system and no one had a taste for military display after four years of actual conflict.
On Big Muster day as on all other public occasions Mrs. Cline had her stand set up in the Court House yard where she did a heavy traffic in ginger bread and spruce beer. The author can cheerfully testify that in all his subsequent application to confection, beer and drinks of "like nature" he has never yet encountered anything to equal Mrs. Cline's products, and all the old stagers of Clarksburg he candidly believes will verify this experience.
The coming of a circus and menagerie was an event among the young population of the greatest moment, and nothing else was talked about for days before the performance.
At that time the whole outfit of the show travelled by wagons as there was no railroad and it was the custom for every boy in town to go out to meet the caravan, sometimes two or three miles out.
It is remembered that shows were held on Main Street East of the Presbyterian church, between Pike and Main, near the Southern Methodist church and at the northern terminus of North Third Street and on the Jackson place.
In a Clarksburg paper published in 1847 appears an advertisement that Robinson & Eldreds Great National Circus composed of 100 men and horses will exhibit in Clarksburg on August 21. Among the attractions it is stated that Mr. Robinson is the greatest equestrain living the first and only successful four horse rider in the world.
The spacious water proof pavillion enclosing an area of 6000 square feet will seat 1000 persons. The Company was formed by J. R. Robinson in 1827.
Occasionally small traveling troops would visit Clarksburg and amuse the people by performances consisting of theatricals, dialogues, sleight of hand tricks interspersed with music and song.
Sometimes local Thespian Societies would give an entertainment. The Court House was always used for these amusements.
The earliest Menagerie or animal show of which there is any record was one that held forth in a house in Main Street between Third and Fourth Strets in the early twenties. The animals exhibited according to
267
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
the recollection of one who attended were a Leopard, monkeys and birds. The Leopard seems to have been the "star attraction" and to have made the greatest impression on the author's informant.
The hills South of town known successively as Criss', Duncan's Hay- mond and Lowndes' Hills were famous places for the boys to set snares for rabbits.
The West end boys set snares in Humphrey's Hollow on the Stealey place near the Old Fair Grounds, and also over the creek to the North on Werninger's Hill and the fields beyond.
The Hollow above mentioned was called Humphrey's Hollow after Uncle Humphrey, an old colored man, who with his wife Aunt Easter lived close to the river just below the South End of the Fair grounds bridge.
Captain Charles Leib, who was Post Quarter Master at Clarksburg in the first year of the war gives the following description of the town at that time. The Captain in guarding the interests of the Government had made many enemies, and it was not likely that he formed a favorable impression of the town or its inhabitants. He says :
"This ancient metropolis of Western Virginia as its people delight in calling it, lies in a little Valley on one side of which runs Elk Creek and on the other the West Fork of the Monongahela River.
On all sides loom up wild desolate looking hills covered to their summit with the "forest primeval."
The town itself is only approached by dilapidated looking bridges across the streams before mentioned, and is laid out irregularly with little regard to taste or beauty. It is motley collection of rickety frame houses, dirty looking brick dwellings and old stone buildings, some of which are propped up by large pieces of scantling, shattered monuments of the first families of Virginia.
For the most part the grounds around the dwellings are alike desti- tute of good taste or comfort.
The town boasts a Court House, a most extraordinary specimen of architecture, which is used for every purpose besides its legitimate one; for fairs, balls, parties, political indignation and other meetings.
Almost every sect is represented by a Church, the most of which have been sadly disfigured by the troops occupying them for barracks. There is also an Academy, which has been turned into a Guard House and prison for the numerous political prisoners sent there.
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.