USA > West Virginia > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, West Virginia : from the early days of Northwestern Virginia to the present > Part 42
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After this he returned to Hopewell for his family. His description of the Country so pleased his friends and relatives that many of them determined to move.
Some time in the year 1779 Levi with his family, his brother Clement and his family, his cousin Benjamin and family, viz: Samuel, Isaac, Amy and Lucretia Shinn, and some of the Clarks, Antrims, Earls, Drakes, Herberts and others set out for Harrison County. Arriving there they took up such lands as pleased them and began their improvement. Levi Shinn had already made his selection, Clement located on Middle Creek about one mile from where Shinnston was afterwards laid out. Isaac Shinn went about six miles away and chose a location on Simpson's Creek, while Samuel Shinn made a selection on Ten Mile Creek about fifteen miles away, clearing and housebuilding kept them busy and the Indians troubled them so frequently as to make them forget their peaceable doc- trines and fight for their lives. The necessity of a fort soon presented itself and upon a prominent location three miles away they erected a stockade. They were pleased with their settlement and sent word back to Hopewell and to New Jersey inviting other friends and relatives to join them in the West.
The records show that Levi Shinn entered 400 acres of land on the West Fork River with a preemption to 1000 acres adjoining in 1773. By the census of 1782 he had seven in his family.
Benjamin Shinn entered 400 acres in 1773 on Simpson's Creek. By the State census in 1782 he had a family of eight.
Judge John G. Jackson.
John George Jackson, the son of George Jackson was born at or near the present town of Buckhannon in the year 17- and came when a small boy to Clarksburg with his father.
He received a liberal education for the times, studied law and entered early into public life, being a member of the Virginia Legislature as early as 1797 serving several sessions. Was Surveyor of government lands west of the Ohio, a representative in the 8th., 9th., 10th., 11th., 13th., and 14th. Congresses, commencing his first term in 1803, and a Brigadier General of Militia. In 1819 was appointed United States Judge for the Western District of Virginia and held that office until his death March 29, 1825.
He was twice married, first to a Miss Mary Payne, a sister of Mrs. Madison whose husband was subsequently President, and who as Dolly Madison was famous for her beauty and social qualities, and whose gracious reign at the White House still lingers among the traditions of that famous
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historic building as having never been surpassed by any of her successors. This marriage was the first one celebrated in the White House.
Judge Jackson's second wife was Mary, the daughter of Governor Return Jonathan Meigs of Ohio and Post Master General under the ad- ministration of Madison and Monroe.
The subject of this sketch was the most remarkable man West of the mountains and besides filling many public positions with marked ability he established many enterprises and developed the rescources of the coun- try to a surprising degree to the great benefit of the inhabitants.
At Miles End, East of Clarksburg for many years known as the "Factory" he built quite a town and had in operation a flour mill, card- ing machines, a furnace, foundry, fulling mill, tan yard and other factories.
The pits he dug for ore can still be seen in many places around Clarksburg.
In addition to the above he had a forge at the Hugill Ford on Elk three miles from Clarksburg, Salt Works on the river and a saw mill on Davisson's Run.
He contemplated turning the waters of the Buckhannon River into those of the West Fork to give him more water power and procured an Act of the Legislature for that purpose, but this was never accom- plished.
He ran flat boats down to the neighborhood of Pittsburgh loaded with flax, tobacco, ginseng, woolen cloth, salt, maple sugar, leather, iron, nails, horse shoes, pots, skillets and other products and wares. He built dams on the West Fork River to improve the navigation, but they were all swept out by a great flood and the enterprise was abandoned.
No man who preceded Judge Jackson or succeeded him seemed to have possessed the energy and ability to carry on the works that he had established. Water was the only power known in his day, and had he lived in the days of steam and electricity what he would have accomplished with the resources at his command is beyond the bounds of conjecture.
Judge Jackson while a member of Congress fought a duel with Con- gressman Pearson of South Carolina and received a wound in the hip which caused a lameness for the rest of his life.
This wound caused him to go on horseback a great deal. Many of the old surveys made by him, have the line and corner trees marked with the tomahawk, high up from the root of the tree, showing them to have been made by a horseman.
The following is a copy of the inscription on the tombstone of the first Mrs. Jackson in the old Jackson Grave Yard, where her mother, Mrs. Payne is also buried:
"Here lies interred Mary, the beloved wife of John G. Jackson. It requires not this marble slab to perpetuate her memory. It is embalmed in the heart of a husband who adored her and of many relatives and friends who loved her sincerely, but that when the stranger shall tread this hallowed place, he may with reverential awe approach the spot, where lies the form which once contained the noblest spirit, that ever adorned her sex, in all the endearing attributes of wife, mother and friend, and
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contemplate the destiny of all in her, whom virtue, love and youth could not exempt from death.
She expired in the arms of her husband on the 13th. of February, 1808 in the 27th. year of her age."
Colonel Benjamin Wilson.
Benjamin Wilson was born in what is now Shenandoah County, Vir- ginia, November 30, 1747, of Scotch ancestry.
When a small boy his father moved to what is now Hardy County.
His first appearance in official life was as a Lieutenant in Lord Dun- more's expedition against the Ohio Indians in the Sciota Valley and he served on the Governor's staff.
On his return East from this expedition in the Fall of 1774 with a small party, he passed through the beautiful Tygart's Valley and was so much pleased with it that he bought out the Tomahawk rights of two set- tlers about four miles from Beverly and moved his family there shortly afterwards and built what is known as Wilson's fort.
As Captain of Militia he took an active part in the pursuit of Indian marauders and was always prompt to relieve the suffering inhabitants and conducted his Military operations with marked ability and prudence.
When later during the Revolutionary period he was appointed Colonel he was the organ through which most of the Military affairs in his part of the State was conducted, and he performed his duties with such skill and good judgment, as to become a tower of strength to the frontier settlers, and more than once by the exercise of his influence, prevented the whole settlement from being abandoned and the inhabitants retiring East of the mountains, on account of the repeated depredations of the Indians.
Colonel Wilson was several times a delegate to the Virginia Legis- lature, was a member from Randolph County of the convention of 1788 that adopted the constitution of the United States, was a Justice of the Peace and Clerk of the County Court of Harrison County from its for- mation in 1784 to 1814 when he was succeeded by his son John.
Besides his public duties he conducted large business operations and in many ways contributed to the development of the County.
Randolph County was formed from Harrison in 1787 and a short time afterwards Colonel Wilson, removed from his home in the Valley back into Harrison County, it being necessary for him to do so in order to retain his position as Clerk of the County Court.
He purchased 400 acres of land of William Lowther on Simpson's Creek below Bridgeport, and moved on to it, built a flour and saw mill, woolen mill and engaged in other enterprises.
The subject of this sketch was twice married. first September 4, 1770, to Ann Ruddell of Hampshire County, and second on December 15, 1795, to Phoebe Davisson of Harrison County. Colonel Wilson had born to him by the first wife twelve and by the second one seventeen children. Twenty-four of these children reached adult age and were living at the time of his death.
The last of these children Rachel was born July 20, 1820, and died
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July 31, 1906, near Quiet Dell. She was twice married, first to Lewis Haymond and second to W. D. Wilson and left several children.
Colonel Wilson died at his residence in Harrison County December 2, 1827, two days after his 80th. birthday, leaving surviving him twenty- four children, seventy-three grandchildren, thirty-two great grand child- ren and one great great grand child making one hundred and thirty descendants.
Colonel Wilson is described as a man of affairs, of extensive informa- tion, of large experience of a genial kindly disposition, good conversational powers, of sound judgment and good sense, of stalwart person and digni- fied bearing, a vigorous intellect and a daring and courageous frontiers- man.
His character and integrity was without a blemish, and he was of commanding presence and possessed of that elegance of manner pertaining to a gentleman of the old school.
In his time he was the most prominent figure in the Monongahela Valley and a natural leader of men. In politics he was a Federalist.
Col. Wilson was present at the treaty made with the hostile Indians at Camp Charlotte on the Sciota River, Ohio by Lord Dunmore. Corn- stalk, the great Shawnee Chief, who had commanded at the battle of Point Pleasants October 10, 1774, took part in the Council and his appear- ance is described elsewhere.
Thomas Bartlett.
Thomas Bartlett who owned a large tract of land on the West Fork River near the Maulsby Bridge was noted for his large corn crops and in times of scarcity people would come from a great distance to purchase corn, and so frequently did this happen, that his plantation was called Egypt, which was suggested by the well known incident stated in the Bible when Joseph's brethren went down to Egypt on the Nile in time of famine to purchase grain.
To Thomas Bartlett's credit be it recorded that he never raised the price of corn no matter how scarce it was, and that the quantity he sold to anyone was governed by the size of the purchaser's family.
He would positively refuse to sell in large quantities to anyone for fear they would raise the market price and speculate upon the wants of the people.
All honor to this noble pioneer whose heart went out in sympathy to his fellow man. Would that the world contained more like him.
William A. Harrison.
The subject of this sketch, one of the most prominent members of the Harrison County Bar, was born in Dumfries, Prince William County, Virginia, August 27, 1795, and was the son of Matthew Harrison, a mer- chant of that place.
He received such an education as the schools of that day afforded, and studied law with his brother-in-law, Obed Waite, a prominent law- yer of Winchester.
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After being admitted to the bar Mr. Harrison first located at Mari- etta. Ohio, but thinking Parkersburg offered better opportunities removed to that place, but after a short stay there upon the advice of John L. Se- hon, he finally settled at Clarksburg and was admitted to practice in the Circuit Court of Harrison County on September 14, 1820.
He advanced rapidly in his profession and became famous as a jury lawyer and his services were in great demand in all of the Courts in which he practiced and he was engaged in all cases of importance dur- ing his active career.
In 1836 he was appointed attorney in the United States Court for the Western District of Virginia and also served for several years as Prosecuting attorney for Harrison County.
He never took much interest in political affairs but represented the County in the years 1836, 1837 and 1838 in the Legislature at Richmond.
In the stirring and exciting period leading up to the civil war, and the division of the State, he took an active part for the Union, and by his prominence and ability added strength to the cause.
He held the position of Circuit Judge in the re-organized government of Virginia and Judge of the Court of Appeals of West Virginia and a member of the Governor's council.
Judge Harrison was for many years a consistent and devout member of the Presbyterian church and as to discharging the duties of a Chris- tian, a good citizen, faithful public official and a devoted husband and father, his whole life was above reproach.
In person he was large of stature and of a commanding appearance, courteous in his deportment, kind and genial in manners, he always re- ceived the respect of those with whom he associated.
He died in Clarksburg December 31, 1870.
Lloyd Lowndes.
The subject of this sketch was of a Maryland family, but himself a native of the District of Columbia. He came to Clarksburg and established a store in a small wooden building which stood on the North side of Main Street below what is now Third Street. In course of time he purchased the old Hewes tavern stand on the corner of Third and Main Streets and lived and conducted business there until his death in 1879. It is still known as Lowndes Corner.
In the many years in which Mr. Lowndes conducted the mercantile business he builded a reputation for integrity second to none in the com- munity and the name of Lowndes has ever since stood as a synonyn for honesty and fair dealing.
Mr. Lowndes married Elizabeth, the daughter of Major Thomas P. Moore. and his son Richard still continues business at the old place.
His son Lloyd graduated from Allegheny College, Meadville, Penna., in 1865, and from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1867, lo- cated at Cumberland, Maryland was elected a member of the 43d. Congress, and in 1895, was elected Governor of Maryland for four years.
Governor Lowndes was connected with many financial and other in- stitutions, and died January 8, 1905, in the prime of his manhood and
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usefulness and in the fullness of his fame, honored, loved and respected by his people.
Major Benjamin Robinson.
The above named settled in 1775 on 400 acres of land near the pres- ent town of Lumberport.
He was a man of great force of character, took an active part in the Indian troubles, was long a justice of the peace, served as sheriff of the County and did well his part as a useful citizen in the stirring times of the pioneers.
Many of his descendants still reside in the County.
Stephen Dicks.
Stephen Dicks in 1795 purchased from Sotha Hickman 33 acres of land including what is now the village of Quiet Dell and erected a mill on it. He afterwards sold it to Able Bond, who conducted the mill for many years.
Mr. Dicks as a boy in July 1776 heard the Declaration of Independ- ence read from the steps of Independence Hall in Philadelphia just after its passage by the Convention.
He lived to an honored old age and had the respect of all who knew him.
John P. Duval.
John P. Duval was prominent in public affairs in the Monongahela Valley. He was a member of the State Senate when a resident of Monon- galia County before Harrison was formed, and afterwards served in that body from 1780 to 1792.
He was a member of the first Court of Harrison County and was the first County Lieutenant for the County, and was active in performing the duties of that office.
He is subsequently spoken of as living on an island in the Ohio River. The date and place of his birth and also that of his death are un- known.
Henry McWhorter.
The subject of this sketch was born at Orange, New Jersey, November 13, 1760, and when quite young with two brothers served in the War of the Revolution.
He married Mary Fields and in 1790 moved to Western Virginia and located on Mckinney's Run near the present town of Jane Lew, where he lived until his death on February 4, 1848, and was buried at the McWhort- er Chapel near the above town.
He was for fifty years a class leader in the M. E. Church, and for sev- eral years while religious meetings were being held in the settlers cabins, a sentinel would be left outside to guard against surprise from the Indians.
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He aided in carrying the remains of Mrs. John Waggoner to West's Fort when she had been killed by Indians in 1792.
Mr. McWhorter owned the first mill in the present County of Lewis and during times of scarcity of corn meal refused to raise the price to the settlers but sold at the ordinary price and would permit the same to be paid for by labor.
The log house which he built more than a hundred years ago is still standing.
In all the walks of life as a soldier, farmer, miller, christian, worker and citizen he performed his duties conscientiously and lived a pure and unsullied life.
Henry Mc Whorter left many descendants, quite a number of them be- coming distinguished in civil and military life, one participated as Cap- tain in the war of 1812, with England, and thirteen served in the great civil war and all on the Union side.
Others have been members of Legislatures, County officials, Judges of Circuit Courts, and one, Henry C. Mc Whorter, a Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, and all have filled their varied and honorable positions with credit to themselves, and have been faithful to the trusts confided to them.
John Emir.
Among the many interesting characters who have tarried within the gates of Clarksburg was a Frenchman by the name of John Emir.
His occupation was that of a gardner and a trimmer of fruit trees and grape vines.
He had been a soldier in the victorious armies of Napoleon, and had taken part in the famous retreat from Moscow and had been wounded at the battle of Waterloo. He worshipped the memory of Napoleon and still retained his military bearing.
The later years of his life passed amid the hills of West Virginia, were as quiet and peaceful as his early ones in war-tossed Europe had been stir- ring and eventful.
He died far from the vineclad valleys of Sunny France, and from the fields of the triumphs of the mighty Napoleon, in whose stupendous achievements he had borne an humble though an honorable part.
May the ashes of the old soldier of the Empire rest in peace.
Elias Hickman.
Elias Hickman, who was born in Clarksburg in 1797, says the first coal he saw used as fuel was in a grate in the Old Randolph Academy building when he attended school.
The teacher was George Towers, an Englishman, who wore knee breeches, and used cow hides on his pupils without the slightest hesitation, and well laid on at that.
He remembers seeing the teacher tie two boys together whom he caught fighting, and compelled them to fight it out.
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OF HARRISON COUNTY
HISTORY
Joseph Sommerville, an Irishman, and Adam Hickman were the first merchants he can remember and John McCullough the first Post Master, who kept his office in a building that stood on the South Side of Main Street below Second.
Whiskey was sold at $8.00 per barrel. Mr. Hickman was a school teacher in West Virginia and Ohio, and has taught seventy-two schools.
Richard Bond.
Richard, the son of Samuel Bond, a native of England, was born in Cecil County, Maryland, October 4, 1728, and died in Harrison County, Virginia, January 14, 1819.
He belonged to the same family with Sir Richard Bond, Lord Mayor of London, who was knighted by the King for services in the crusades and whose crest was three Benzants, or Eastern coins.
Richard Howell, the Governor of New Jersey during the war of the Revolution, was a nephew of the subject of this sketch, being the son of his sister, Sarah Bond. Varina Howell, the wife of Jefferson Davis, Presi- dent of the Southern Confederacy was his great niece.
Richard Bond lived for many years at what was known as the head of Elk, on or near Chesapeake Bay, and was the possessor of large estates. He was a man of affairs and represented Cecil County in the Assembly accord- ing to the family tradition, for sixteen years.
When Lord Howe sailed up Chesapeake Bay in 1777 on his way to capture Philadelphia his route lay by Mr. Bond's residence and he suffered severe losses by the depredations of the British soldiers.
He had a large family and desiring to secure lands for them he and his son Richard bought lands in Harrison County as early as 1798, the most of his purchases being on Lost Creek including the present railroad station of that name.
About 1800 he removed to his new purchase leaving some of the older members of his family in Maryland, who had married and had homes of their own.
Mr. Bond led a quiet retired life in his new home, was a devout mem- ber of the Seventh Day Baptist Church and held the respect and esteem of all who knew him. Many of his descendants are still living in the County.
Waldo P. Johnson.
Waldo P. Johnson, a nephew of Governor Joseph Johnson was born and reared to manhood at Bridgeport in this county. He studied law and moved to Missouri.
He served as a Lieutenant in Col. Doniphan's Regiment of Cavalry in the war with Mexico, was a member of the Legislature, a Judge of the Circuit Court, a member of both the United States and Confederate States Senate and President of the Missouri Constitutional Convention after the Civil War.
William S. Haymond.
Dr. William S. Haymond was a native of Elk District, studied medi- cine and located in Indiana. Served as a Surgeon during the civil war, and was a member of the lower house of congress from that state.
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Philip Shuttleworth.
Philip Shuttleworth came from England and landing at Alexandria, Virginia, came west at an early day and located his settlement right on Tom's Run, a tributary of the Monongahela River on the East side now in Marion County, in the year 1777.
The commissioners of unpatented lands in 1781 granted him one thousand acres, which included his settlement right.
His son, Notley A. Shuttleworth was a soldier in the war of 1812 with England and was for many years a prominent resident of Harrison County.
Quite a number of his descendents are still here and are active en- terprising people.
Simon Girty.
This white renegade by his assisting and encouraging parties of sav- ages to murder women and children, was the terror of the Virginia fron- tier and the most despised and hated man in the employ of the British Government.
He was born on the Susquehanna River in 1741. His father, Thomas Girty, was an Indian Trader and was killed by an Indian in a drunken row in 1751. This Indian was in turn killed by John Turner a friend of Girty's, who in 1753 married the widow Girty.
In 1756 a party of French and Indians invaded the settlements on the Juniata, and killed and captured many of the settlers. Among those captured was John Turner his wife and family, including the four Girty boys. The prisoners were taken to the Indian villages on the Allegheny River near the present town of Kittaning. Here John Turner was tor- tured to death in the presence of his family.
Girty remained with the savages until the capture of Fort Duquesne from the French in 1758. After his surrender he remained in the vicin- ity being employed by the Military authorities as an interpreter. When the Revolution broke out he took sides with the colonies.
Alexander McKee, who lived at Mckees Rocks just below Fort Pitt and who had been employed as a British Indian Agent. on the night of March 28, 1778 with a small party, one of them being Simon Girty, who was won over by McKee, escaped down the river in canoes and finally reached Detroit, which was the British Military Headquarters for oper- ations against the American frontier.
Girty was at once given employment as an interpreter and for years spent most of his time with the Indians under the orders of the Military Commandant, engaged in scouting and leading small parties of savages against the settlers.
Even after the close of the Revolutionary War, he still took part in the Indian wars being present at St. Clair's defeat in 1791 and against General Wayne in 1794, although he was then a British subject and there was peace between the two nations.
When the Americans took possession of Detroit in 1796 this ended Girty's operations among the Indians on this side of the line, and he set-
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OF HARRISON COUNTY
HISTORY
tled on the Canadian side, but still being employed by the British in In- dian matters.
In the war of 1812 when Detroit was captured by the British, Girty paid a visit to the town, it being the first time he had been on American soil since 1796, and he celebrated the event by getting gloriously drunk.
He died in 1818, to the last being the inveterate enemy of his former countrymen.
On several occasions he used his influence to save white prisoners from being tortured, and caused some of them to be released from cap- tivity. This can be said to his credit, but in all other respects he was a white Indian, possessed of all the brutal instincts of the savage.
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