USA > West Virginia > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, West Virginia : from the early days of Northwestern Virginia to the present > Part 33
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Fruit Trees-Samuel Southern.
Merchants-Lloyd Lowndes, A. Werninger, S. Hartman, Aaron Criss, W. M. Carder, Richard Fowkes, Clarke & Company, A. S. Criss, R. F. Criss, John Armentree & Company.
S. Hartman was the first Jewish Merchant in Clarksburg, and one of his advertisements was headed, "Restoration of the Jews."
In response to this Aaron Criss headed his advertisement, "Important news from Mexico, the entire overthrow of Jerusalem."
The Mexican War was then going on and these two were rival mer- chants.
Hartman afterwards removed to Baltimore, where he was very suc- cessful in business.
"The Harrison Republican" Friday November 17, 1848.
Merchants-Curtis and Prim, Criss & Harrison, Richard Fowkes, Charles Lewis.
Boots and Shoe making-Dulaney Smith.
Drug Store-Dr. John Edmonson.
Blacksmith-John Peck.
Private School-Miss Lucy Edmonson.
Bridgeport. E. N. Coplin, merchant.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
The "Clarksburg Democrat," Friday December 1, 1848. Edited by Benjamin Dolbeare.
Merchants-A. C. Smith, Wm. F. Green, E. Pritchard, Wm. M. Car- der.
Hotels-E. W. Patton, West Milford, Harrison House, A. Werninger. Saddler &c .- J. & R. Davis.
Attorneys-Wm. L. and B. W. Jackson.
J. Hilderbrand and M. J. Robinett, Proprietors of stage line from Parkersburg and Marietta to Greenspring Valley Depot 14 miles East of Cumberland. Fare from Parkersburg to Baltimore $15.00.
Hursey & Hartwell, Furniture.
Tailor, Edward Owens.
Proposals are invited to construct that part of the Beverly and Fairmont road between Beverly and Philippi to be received up to Decem- ber 22, 1848 by Luther Haymond, Supt.
Also proposals to be received to construct the Buckhannon and Clarksburg Turnpike.
JOHN H. SHUTTLEWORTH, Clerk of Board.
The Age of Progress by Philip F. Crichfield, May 18, 1855. Advo- cating the principles of the American party or "Know nothings" as it was dubbed by its opponents.
Attorney's Cards-Caleb Boggess, C. & C. S. Lewis, J. S. Hoffman, U. M. Turner, B. Despard, Geo. W. Lurty, Benjamin Wilson. Blacksmith-Elisha Smallwood.
Boot and Shoe Maker-Wm. R. Alexander.
Merchants-Jos. Cork & Company.
Market.
Flour $9.00 to $9.50
Wheat
$1.65 to $1.75
Corn
87 to $1.00
Oats
.50
Eggs .8 1-3
.15 to 18 Butter
1861.
Hotel Keepers-J. P. Bartlett, John A. Richards, Samuel Walker. Jeweler-S. S. Wells.
Merchant-T. S. Spates.
Attorneys-Hugh Lee, John C. Vance, Benj. Wilson, W. S. Lurty, Edgar M. Davisson, John J. Davis, Henry Haymond, A. P. Davisson.
Druggists-Dr. J. M. Bowcock & Co., Dr. J. L. Carr.
Furniture-Milan Dils.
Photographer-S. F. Smith.
Dentists-The. F. Lang, J. L. McGee.
Post Master-Cyrus Vance.
In the issue of the "Western Virginia Guard" of April 5, 1861, James P. Davis, a prominent merchant, heads his advertisement as follows: "The Union, now and forever.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Being desirous to settle up my business before the Union is dissolved, all those who are indebted to me either by note or otherwise are requested to call and settle.
As secession is the order of the day, I hope that none of my custo- mers will secede from the candy store where we still keep on hand a fine assortment of confectionaries &c."
J. E. Woodward, Blacksmith heads his advertisement as follows: "Dissolution, Disunion" Iron and steel, Fire and fall into rank." Both of these advertisers were staunch Union men.
From the "Ohio Twenty-Second," July 12, 1861, Clarksburg.
"This is a beautiful town of about 1500 inhabitants situated on the West Fork of the Monongahela River and is the county seat of Harrison County 84 miles East of Parkersburg on the B. & O. R. R.
The town is surrounded by minature mountains, which contain an abundance of coal. It is, we believe one of the oldest towns in Western Virginia, notwithstanding there are many tasteful residences.
The streets are named and laid off regularly, unlike the most of our Buckeye towns. The citizens are affable in their manners and generous and hospitable. Business independent of the War Department is quite dull, ordinarily a moderate share is carried on in the various depart- ments.
Five churches, one male academy, the Court House and jail consti- tute the public buildings.
The churches have almost suspended, the divines have left for more genial climes. The Court is in statu quo. The Judge is now sojourning in the South.
The sheriff has had a quo warranto served upon him by the Union men, to show cause why he should not hold the office of Sheriff under the rebel government. He must take the oath of office as required by the Federal Government or take the consequences.
There have been some fifteen or twenty secessionists taken prisoners, which almost rids the place of rebels. It is to be hoped that they will see the error of their ways and repent before it is too late.
The troops of the gallant 22nd. will recur with pleasure to the time spent in Clarksburg in view of the favors shown them by the citizens generally, and especially those in the western part of the town in prox- imity to the camp. Let them be assured that they have our sincere thanks and that we will ever try to be worthy of their kindness. "May their shadows never grow less."
The followng anecdote was published in the "Rattlesnake," a Clarks- burg paper in existence as far back as 1822.
"The hill of Pinnickinnick was in early days noted for the number of rattlesnakes inhabiting it, and one day when the old mother Rattle-
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
snake returned to her den, the young snakes eagerly told her that a great party of young ladies and gentlemen from Clarksburg had been spending the day on the hill holding a picnic, laughing, talking, playing the fiddle, dancing and having a great time generally.
The old mother snake listened to her children's account of the day's doings and in a solemn manner said, "My children when the Clarksburg people begin to come up on the hill and invade our home, it is time for the snakes to leave and go further back in the woods." and the Editor stated that from that day to this no rattlesnake had ever been seen on Pinknickinnick.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Slavery.
In August 1619 a Dutch ship sailed up the James River and offered for sale to the planters twenty African Negroes as slaves.
There was no indenture or any limitation of service. The negroes were captives and were sold by their captors to repay themselves for their trouble and expense . There seemed to have been no conscientious scruples as to depriving a human being of his liberty, and no difference of opinion as to their right to do so.
The negroes were perhaps regarded the same as bound servants, with the important exception, that the servitude was to last during their lives.
The planters readily purchased them to cultivate tobacco, and from this small nucleus widened year by year, the great African shadow, out of which was to come in the future the dire calamity of war, bringing in its train suffering, woe and desolation.
Slaves were not as numerous in the western counties of the state as the eastern ones, the conditions being different and the system being very expensive.
Harrison County never contained at any one time more than 582, that being the number given by the census of 1860. They were mostly employed in domestic service, driving teams and ordinary labor.
Uncle Frank Sehon, belonging to Daniel Davisson, is said to have been the first slave child born in Harrison County. He died along in the seventies.
They would sometimes escape into Ohio and Pennsylvania where they would be free.
Congress by the passage in 1850 of what is known as the "Fugitive slave law" authorized the Government to return fugitive slaves to their former owners. This law created great excitement throughout the free states and was quite a factor in bringing on the civil war.
Charles, a slave in the Jackson family, one Saturday night, took one of his master's horses and rode to St. Marys and before noon on Sunday was in Ohio. His residence was discovered and he was brought back under the Fugitive Slave Law, and sold South just before the War.
Gangs of slaves would occasionally pass through the County hand- cuffed to a rope with a man on horseback holding one end of it on their way to the South by Parkersburg and the Ohio River to be sold to sugar and cotton planters.
These merchants in human beings who made a business of buying
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
up negroes and taking them South were called "Soul Drivers." Their calling was considered a cruel and inhuman one, and they did not stand well in the estimation of the people.
Many years before the Civil war the question of abolishing slavery was agitated and persons who were in favor of this were called "Abolitionists". This movement was bitterly opposed by the slave hold- ers and created a strong sectional feeling between the free and the slave- holding states.
Occasionally upon the settlement of estates slaves, men, women and children, would be sold at auction in front of the Court House to the highest bidder. It was a sad sight as families were separated never to meet again.
The slave code of Virginia was severe and tyrannical. It was unlawful to teach a slave to read or write.
It was unlawful for any one to deny the right of property in slaves either by writing or speaking, or to assist a slave to escape from bond- age.
A Justice of the Peace had the authority to take a newspaper from the United States Post Office and burn it, if in his opinion it contained anti-slavery sentiments. Thus was denied the right of free speech and freedom of the press.
America's great editor, Horace Greely, Editor of the New York Tribune was indicted by the Circuit Court of Harrison County for cir- culating his paper containing anti-slavery sentiments.
The County Court had the right to sentence a slave to death. But finally after nearly two centuries of slavery in 1862, during the great war, President Abraham Lncoln, by his emancipation proclamation struck the shackles from the arms of four million of slaves and bade them go free. In 1866 upon the adoption of the 13th. Amendment to the Con- stitution of the United States slavery was abolished and all men declared free and equal before the law, thus fulfilling the prediction made by the celebrated editor Horace Greely upon one occasion when he wrote that
the time would come " When no slave shall clank his chains beneath the shades of Monticello or by the graves of Mount Vernon."
The following is a portion of an advertisement published in the Clarksburg Intelligencer September 23, 1826.
"Fifty Dollars Reward.
Runaway from the subscriber on the night of July 24, my man named Fill. He is about twenty-eight years of age, supposed about five feet eleven inches high, well made, walks straight but has a down look when spoken to and quite a smooth face. Very little to say generally. I pur- chased him of a Mr. Baxter about ten years ago, who was authorized to sell him by his master Mr. Fitzhugh near Fredericksburg, but I don't believe he will make in that direction.
The above reward will be given if taken out of the State, twenty- five dollars if a shorter distance and over twenty miles, and ten if about
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
home, but in either case he is to be lodged in jail and information given so that I get him.
GEO. CUNNINGHAM, Moorefield, Va."
There were many original characters among the slaves in Clarksburg. The older ones were privileged in the families in which they lived and were generally called "Uncle and Aunt" as a mark of respect.
"Uncle Rube," a slave of the Stealey family had many amusing and mysterious tales to tell of his adventures. One was that one night when returning home from a corn shucking, he was confronted by the Devil in the Court House yard, who handed him a brass jug and ordered him to take a drink. Just as Uncle Rube lifted it to his lips, the devil, jug and all vanished in a sheet of fire, leaving Old Rube senseless on the ground. He did not recover consciousness until daylight and said he then could detect a strong odor of brimstone in the air, and that his head ached for two days after. "Uncle Rube" always regretted that he lost that drink of liquor.
It was strongly suspected that the old man had freely imbibed at the corn shucking before he thought he met the Devil.
Uncle Ben Dempsy, who belonged to the Williams family was famous and popular among the youngsters and always had something amusing to tell.
Once "Uncle Ben" took it into his head to make a dash for liberty and one night he headed for the Ohio River. After hiding in the woods for two or three nights, he made his way to the vicinity of Salem, and meeting some one in the road who called him by name he exclaimed, "Lord Bless my soul, who knows me way out here in Canada?" He was perfectly willing to return home and never made another effort for free- dom.
"Aunt Milly Chapin" who lived to an advanced age, had the early history of the Clarksburg people at her tongue's end, and was always interesting to talk to. She was a famous cook and had the respect of all who knew her.
She was at one time the slave of the famous and eccentric lawyer James Pindall, and had many amusing anecdotes to tell of his doings.
"Uncle Watt Colston" who was brought to Clarksburg by Judge Lee and who died about 1900, claimed to be over a hundred years of age.
He had been employed at the White House when John Tyler was president. His master at one time hired him as cook on a ship bound on a voyage from Alexandria to China.
He was thoroughly imbued with the old time Virginia manners and no living man could excell him in deferential politeness and courtesy. "Uncle Watt" when he came to town would have his hat in his hand nearly all the time greeting his acquaintances, and Lord Chesterfield him- self could not bow more gracefully.
He was the last of the old regime in Clarksburg.
"Uncle Humphrey" lived on the banks of the river near the Fair Ground.
"Aunt Easter," his wife had the reputation of being a conjurer, and was held in great awe by the colored people and young whites.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
"Aunt Molly" who was a slave in the Moore family, would often boast that she had given General Washington a drink of water at the gate of her master's residence in New Jersey. She was a little girl at the time, but whether the incident occurred during the war of the Revolution or afterwards in one of Washington's tours of the New England States is not definitely known.
"Aunt Rose" was a famous exhorter and would deliver addresses from the Court House steps, church steps or wherever she happened to be when the spirit called her.
She was gifted with a wonderful flow of language and her eloquence always attracted attention. She has long since gone to her reward.
"Esau" an intelligent mulatto was the slave of Daniel Wilson who had inherited him from his father Colonel Benjamin Wilson. He had been taught to read and write and was employed by his master as a gen- eral clerk in his numerous business affairs.
About the year 1838 Esau was sold South and finally fell into the hands of General Samuel Houston of Texas, who employed him as his body servant.
It is said that General Houston some years afterwards came to Clarksburg and purchased Esau's wife.
Becoming anxious for his liberty Esau ran away to Mexico and upon his arrival there became a free man and enlisted in the Army.
During our war with Mexico in 1846, one of the Calonels of Mexican Cavalry Regiment, who was an English speaking Mulatto was supposed to have been Esau by the Wilson family.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
The War of 1812.
The War of 1812 with England seems not to have created much en- thusiasm among the people of Harrison County, situated as they were so far from the field of operations that little notice was taken of it.
As far as can be ascertained two companies marched from the County to join the army. One commanded by Captain Joseph Johnson afterwards Governor, which marched to Norfolk, and the other commanded by Cap- tain John McWhorter, which marched to the Lakes. David Wolf was a Lieutenant in this Company.
It has been found impossible to secure copies of the rolls of these Companies, as the War Department refuses to give copies, or any account of their services.
When pensions were granted to the soldiers of this war, a few of them were still living in the County, but no one seems to have considered it worth while to obtain any account of their services and now that they are all gone what might have been an interesting part of the history of the County is gone beyond recall.
Thomas P. Moore, of Clarksburg, was appointed a Captain in the Regular Army and served through the war, took part in the invasion of Canada and participated in the battle of Chyrstler's Fields and was pro- moted to the rank of major.
Zadock McIntire, of this County served in this war in the army in Canada, was taken prisoner and spent more than a year on a prison ship in the harbor of Halifax.
Of those known to have served in this war besides the names of those given who afterwards resided in the County were Joseph Bailey, Cyrus Haymond, Notley Shuttleworth, John Core, John Gibson, Wilson Bart- lett, James Reed, Richard Fowkes, Rueben Bond, Samuel Cottrill, John Gibson, Patrick Sullivan, Edwin S. Duncan, Frederick Harrison, Richard Bond, Robert Cunningham, Edward Cunningham, William Hugill, James Barton, James Conley, George Davis, Benjamin Stout, William Bell, Wm. Blake, James Barton.
The second war with England was not popular, as a large number of people thought it was unnecessary, and could have been avoided by the exercise of tact and diplomacy on the part of the Government.
The politicians of the Country hampered the administration in the prosecution of the war, and created distrust and discontent among the people.
Military operations were badly conducted and finally resulted in the capture of Washington by a small British force and the flight of the Pres- ident, which has always been a source of humiliation and chagrin to the
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
American people. The Navy made a brilliant record but the only trans- actions of the army during the war that can be referred to with pride are the invasion of Canada and the battle of New Orleans, which was fought January 8, 1815, after peace had been declared, but before the news reached America.
This war resulted in Great Britian's surrendering the practice she had exercised of seaching American vessels on the high seas, and im- pressing American seamen, claiming them as British subjects, and settled other questions as to navigating the seas.
It is shown by the official records of the War Department that Cap- tain Joseph Johnson's Company of riflemen served from August 31, 1814 to November 25, 1814 with the 6th Regiment of Virginia Militia, and from November 25, 1814 to February 22, 1815 his company was attached to the 4th. Regiment Virginia Militia and served at Norfolk.
Captain John McWhorter's Company served with the 1st. Regiment Virginia Militia, Colonel Connell's from September 16, 1812 to April 15, 1813, and served under Genl. Harrison on the Lakes.
Peter Davis, His Journal, 1812.
September 20.
We started from Captain Nathan Davis' and that day marched and encamped at the widow Marsh's.
September 21.
We encamped at the foot of the Dry Ridge.
September 22.
We encamped at Sharp's.
September 23.
We encamped on the bank of the Ohio about one mile below Marietta.
September 24.
We arrived at Parkersburg at the mouth of the Little Kanawha where we laid two days.
We embarked and arrived at Belleville and on the 28th. we arrived at the mouth of Mill Creek.
September 29.
We passed Letart's Falls and encamped two miles above Point Pleas- ant.
September 30.
We arrived at Point Pleasont where we laid until the 20th of October, there we drew our arms, knapsacks, tents, clothes and two months pay.
October 20.
We left Point Pleasant and crossed over the Ohio River into the State of Ohio and encamped in a field on the bank of the river.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
October 21.
We arrived and encamped at Gallipolis which is about four miles below Point Pleasant and encamped in the town.
October 22.
We laid by and nothing particular occurred that day.
October 23.
We still laid there and we had a soldier drummed out of camp for selling government supplies.
About twelve o'clock we struck our tents and marched away. We passed through poor and uneven land and crossed Big Raccoon Creek. Went two miles and encamped in a field on the at the sign of the white horse.
October 25.
We struck our tents and marched away at ten o'clock through very poor and uneven land with very few inhabitants. We reached the Sciota Salt Works, which are about twenty miles and nearly destitute of water.
October 26.
We struck and went on down Salt Creek fifteen miles and encamped in New Richmond, which is about three-quarters of a mile from the Big Sciota, and it a very rough poor country until we got to our camping ground.
October 27.
We start and it being a very rainy day, which rendered it very dis- agreeable and after marching nine or ten miles we had to wade the Sciota River, and from thence four miles to Chillicothe, where we encamped on the edge of the town on the bank of the Big Sciota.
October 31.
We struck our tents and waded the river, it being a cold blustering morning and marched fifteen miles and encamped on the Pickaway plains.
November 1.
We started through the plains and at the distance of four miles we passed a small town called Jefferson, and at the distance of three miles we passed another small town called Circleville. Not far from the Walnut plains we passed some praries and encamped on a large creek, which is twenty one miles from where we encamped in the plains.
November 2.
We started and marched up the Sciota and encamped in a town called F
November 4.
Marched twelve miles.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
November 5.
Marched thirteen miles and encamped near a emall town called Delaware situated on Whetstone River, a fork of the Big Sciota. Here we laid from the 5th. November until the 21st. of December, in which time there was nothing in particular occurred. At this place we met with General Harri- son and several Indian Chiefs of the Shawnee Nation.
December 21.
Started and arrived at Norton at 3 o'clock and here we continued until the 2nd. day of January, 1813, for the purpose of guarding the stores, which was at a Fort called Fort Monroe.
January 2, 1813.
We started for upper Sandusky. The day before we started it began to rain and it continued to rain all day and a part of the night, and then it began to snow, and at 11 o'clock the snow was half leg deep. We went four miles and encamped at We continued there the next day. The fourth day the snow ceased falling and we started, the snow being about knee deep, and we reached the block house in the Sandusky plains, which is eleven miles, and it being extremely cold. The next day we started very early and marched fifteen miles and encamped in the plain with the Pennsylvania troops and here we laid until the - of January.
About four miles from this stands a town of the Indians called Green- town. These Indians are of the Wyandotte nation. The time we laid here there came part of another Nation of the Wyandottes that lived at Greentown, it was them that fought against General at the rapids of the Maumee, and after four days General Harrison concluded a peace with them by their promising to go in the front of the battle if called on.
January 23.
In the evening it began to rain. The snow began to melt and it being a level piece of ground, the water ran into our tents. We were baking and cooking and preparing to march to the Rapids. It was about three hours when our fires were all out and about three o'clock the water was knee deep in our tents, and we were obliged to retreat from our tents and build a fire on higher ground, where we continued until day, it being a very rough night. When daylight came we had to wade to our tents to hunt our baggage, which we found floating about the tents.
About 11 o'clock we started and it being very level we had to wade sometimes knee deep. We continued our march for eight miles and en- camped on a piece of woodland but very low and muddy. That night it began to snow. In the morning we marched two miles and were stopped by a small river, it being very high. Here we continued two days, and in that time we built two canoes but at the expiration of the two days it was so extremely cold that the river froze completely so that it bore the troops comfortably. We all crossed safely and that day we marched eigh- teen miles and encamped in a piece of woodland very level and rich.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
January 28.
We took up the line of march at nine o'clock and marched through very low and swampy land. The next morning we marched fifteen miles and came to where General Harrison was lying with about two thousand men from Ohio and Kentucky.
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