USA > West Virginia > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, West Virginia : from the early days of Northwestern Virginia to the present > Part 43
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Indian Cave.
Through the representations of Mr. G. F. Queen, Mr. L. F. Mc- Whorter of West Virginia, was induced to open a correspondence with the Director of Ethnology at Washington, in regard to an interesting cave or rock shelter, located in Harrison County the walls of which were said to be covered with pictographs, and in September 1889 Mr. W. H. Holmes was directed to proceed to the locality and make an examination of it.
This cave is located on Two Lick Run, a tributary of the West Fork on the west side above Milford in Union District, on a small stream called Campbell's Run.
Mr. Holmes describes the opening in the sand stone rock as about twenty feet long and in the deepest part extends back sixteen feet and four feet high on the left and much lower at the right, and further says,
"The rock sculptures occupy the greater part of the back wall of the recess, some twenty feet long by about four feet high. At the left, the line of figures approach the outer face of the rock, but at the right, it ter- minates in the depths of the chamber beyond which the space is too low and uneven to be utilized. There are indications that engravings have existed above and below those shown in the sketch but by disintegration and wear traces of these are too indistinct to follow.
If the animal figures of which the pictures are for the most part made up, represent the deities of those who engraved them, and this is the only tenable theory of their origin and execution, it is probable that one or more pertaining to the upper regions would occupy the higher parts of the wall or the roof space overhead, and that one or more be- longing to the lower regions would occur on the lower part of the avail- able space. Be this as it may, it is probable that the figures now seen comprise the most important part of the original work.
The more legible designs comprise three heads resembling death's heads, one human head or face, one obscure human figure, three birds re- sembling cranes or turkeys, one with outspread wings, three mountain lions or beasts of like character, two rattlesnakes, one turtle one turtle-like figure with bird's head, parts of several unidentified creatures. one re- sembling a fish, and four conventional figures or devices resembling, one a hand, one a star, one the track of a horse and the fourth the track of an elk, buffalo, deer or domestic cow.
The serpents placed above and toward the right of the picture are much larger than life, but the other subjects are represented somewhat
Inscriptions on Back Wall of Indian Cave
FIG. 1 .- Outlines of petroglyphs, about one-thirty-sintà actual size, Red areas are dotted.
Og a
a.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
nearly natural size. The animal figure facing the two death's heads is drawn with considerable vigor and very decidedly suggests the panther. A notable feature is the two back curving spines or spine like tufts seen upon its shoulder. It is possible that these represent some mythical char- acter of the creature. Two of the animal figures in accordance with a wide spread Indian practice exhibit the heart and life line, the latter con- necting the heart with the mouth. These features are as usual drawn in red.
The human head or face is somewhat larger than life. It is neatly hollowed out to the nearly uniform depth of one fourth of an inch and is slightly polished over most of the surface. Ear lobes are seen at the right and left and an arched line, possibly intended for a plume, rises from the left side of the head. A crescent shaped band of red extends across the face and within this the eyes are indistinctly marked. The mouth is en- circled by a dark line and shows six teeth, the spaces between being filled in with red.
Probably the most remarkable members of the series are the three death's heads seen near the middle of the line. That they are intended to represent skulls, and not the living face or head, is clear, and the treat- ment is decidedly suggestive of that exhibition in similar work of the more cultured Southern nations. The eye spaces are large and deep, the cheek bones project, the nose is depressed and the mouth is a mere node depressed in the center.
A few figures appear upon the exterior face and upper surface of the over-hanging rock and it is quite possible that others have been ob- literated by weathering. There are now but two sufficiently distinct to be made out, both are human figures. The one on the right represents a personage life size with arms and legs extended to right and left. The work is identical in character with that upon the interior of the chamber.
The other figure on the face of the rock above the left hand side of the opening is smaller and is about one half obliterated.
All the figures are clearly and deeply engraved and all save the ser- pents are in full intaglio, being excavated over the entire space within the outlines and to the depth of from one eighth to one fourth of an inch. The serpents are outlined in deep unsteady lines ranging from one-fourth of an inch to one inch in width and in parts are as much as one-half an inch in depth. The example at the left is rather carefully executed but the other is very rude. I have omitted from the drawing a wing like feat- ure which forms a partial arch over the larger serpent. It consists of a broad line of irregular pick marks which are rather new looking and may not have formed a part of the original design, aside from this there are few indications of the use of hard or sharp tools.
Inquiry into the origin and purpose of these sculptures may be made. The first thought of the inquirer naturally is that here is a primitive re- cord that may possibly be read. This view is supported by the fact that a large body of similar work found throughout the country is intended to record statements or ideas. In this case, however, I incline to the view that there is nothing recorded to be read, that the figures were intended for no practical purpose but owe their existence to the demands of super- stition. It is reasonable to suppose that inscriptions designed to be read
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
would be so placed as to meet the eye of others than those who made them. These works are hidden in a mountain cave, and even now when the forest is cleared away and the surrounding slopes are under culti- vation, this secluded recess is invisible from almost every side. The spot was evidently the resort of a chosen few. Such sequestered art has and always had a mystic office, and is ordinarily the work of the God consult- ing anchorite or priest who hides away from the world to pray, to con- sult oracles and to acquire prophetic power I infer that we have here, realized to the eye by sculpture and painting, the Gods of the hunter priesthood, that the humble rock shelter is an incipient pantheon of which the sculpture enriched temples of Greece are the perfected type, and the momotheistic cathedrals of today the most highly developed representa- tives.
Although many of our aboriginal races are known to have devoted much time and care to the delineation of personal and clan totems it seems to me that no other than the deep and lasting motives connected directly with religion would be equal to the production of such elaborate and otherwise useless works."
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Fourth of July Celebration.
For many years the good old custom was observed of having cele- brations on the Fourth of July. The Declaration of Independence was read and an oration delivered, then a dinner, followed by the President reading the toasts.
The regular toasts were prepared before hand and were of a patri- otic nature eulogising the Patriots of '76, the constitution, and General Washington and expressing devotion to Republican institutions and de- nouncing the monarchies of the old world.
But when the volunteer toasts were handed in by the audience the rankest kind of political sentiments were expressed and applauded by those in sympathy with them. And although at that time political feel- ings were much more bitter than now, they were taken in good part and did not disturb the harmony of the occasion.
The volunteer toasts covered all kinds of subjects from euologising Chief Justice John Marshall, to vilifying the politicians of the times down to, hoping that the pretty girls of Old Harrison may soon find husbands to the satisfaction of their minds.
The Fourth of July Celebration, in 1835, as described in the "Coun- tryman," July 11, 1835 :
"At twelve o'clock a large concourse of citizens assembled at the Court House where after prayer by the Rev. Otho Callahan of the Meth- odist church, the Declaration of American Independence was read with "great beauty" by Richard W. Moore, which was followed by an address from Col. Daniel Kincheloe in which was displayed a great deal of "gen- ius and eloquence."
At 2 o'clock P. M. a large number of citizens repaired to the Ran- dolph Academy and partook of a sumptuous dinner prepared for the oc- casion. The cloth being removed the President of the day read the regular toasts, after which a large number of volunteer toasts were hand- ed in and read.
Although the meeting was composed of members of both sides of the political house and the sentiments cheered and drank to, were as varient as the feelings of men on party questions, yet perfect harmony and good order marked all the proceedings of the day. This is as it should be."
From the "Countryman," July 11, 1835.
A large and respectable meeting of the citizens of Harrison County was held at the Spring between the residence of Mashack Ross and Hum- phrey Faris, Esqus. to celebrate the 4th. of July. The Declaration of In- dependence was read by Dr. Benj. Dolbeare and a neat and appropriate oration delivered by Capt. Aug. J. Smith, after which the company re-
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
paired to a sumptuous dinner prepared for the occasion. John Horner and John Ross, Esqs. presiding assisted by Captain Beverly Roy and Aug. J. Smith as vice presidents, the flag of the Union flying over the heads of the assembly. After the cloth was removed the following regular toasts were drank with great harmony.
Below is given a Sample of the Toasts.
"By B. Roy" Captain A. J. Smith the orator of the day, his pres- ence contributes greatly to the festivity."
By Morgan Ross. "Liberty the best gift of Heaven to man."
By Col. J. Johnson. "The constitution of the United States the Palladium of our liberties. Though Southern politicians denounce it as a rope of sand, yet the true friends of civil liberty will defend it with their lives and fortunes."
By J. Horner. "United we stand, divided we fall."
Celebration at Shinnston, 1835.
A large and respectable company of the citizens at Shinnston having attended at an early hour were marched by Col. J. S. Martin to the front of Mr. Black's tavern, where the citizens had assembled in honor of the day.
Dr. Flowers led in an appropriate prayer. His son then delivered an oration which did much honor to the cause the audience had met to celebrate. He was followed by Joseph S. Morris and W. K. Shinn whose speeches were equally appropriate to the subjet thy spoke upon.
The Company sat down to an elegant dinner prepared by Mr. Black. The following is a selection from the toasts offered :
"Nullification, seed of disunion, root of anarchy and germs of despo- tism. May it like its proprogator sink to rise no more."
By B. Reeder, "The next President of the United States, May he be the chief Magistrate of the nation and not of a party."
By S. H. Morris. "Henry Clay, once the favorite of the Democracy. Has he left Democracy or has the Democracy left him? Time will de- termine."
By M. Orr. "Andrew Jackson. May his administration bloom like the rose when fate shall have called him to sleep in the common dust."
By W. K. Shinn. "The celebration of the Fourth of July at Clarks- burg like all other attempts of the ruffle shirt tories, alias whigs, where unanimity is required, has fallen to the ground and lies prostrate by the side of their honored selves."
-"THE COUNTRYMAN" July 6, 1839.
CLARKSBURG, 1839.
The citizens met at the Court House at 10 o'clock.
Colonel D. Kincheloe Marshall of the day assisted by Colonel Aug. J. Smith and Major G. G. Davisson.
Robert J. Smith, Esq., orator of the day and Richard W. Moore read- er of the Declaration of Independence were escorted to the Methodist Church by the Harrison Rangers, Captain J. R. Johnson, accompanied by the clergy and citizens in procession where the declaration was read and the oration delivered, after which the procession formed and marched to
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
the "Point"' where a splendid dinner was prepared by Captain John W. Coffman, at which William A. Harrison presided with Cols. D. Kincheloe and Aug. J. Smith as Vice-Presidents.
Toasts.
By R. J. Smith. "Henry Clay. His country's brightest ornament, may he be chosen in the approaching Presidential election as a token of his country's gratitude."
By J. M. Ferguson. "Thomas H. Benton, may he be our next Presi- dent and keep up the Democratic party so that the balance may see their error."
By John Hursey. "The political parties of the day. May they be abolished by the small party that knows no interest save that of their Country's good."
By Luther Haymond. "The clergy of Clarksburg. No less the friend of civil institution than of religion itself."
By J. C. Campbell. "South Carolina: Knowing her reserved rights, she dare maintain them in the face of Federal denunciation."
By A. M. Bastable. "President Van Buren a Northern man of Southern Principles, an advocate of free negro suffrage."
By Captain J. W. Coffman. "Henry Clay, the great American Reg- ulator. May he be our next President."
Celebration at Rock Camp, July 4, 1846.
"At an early hour a number of ladies and gentlemen assembled at the sugar orchard of Captain Isaac Smith near the mouth of Little Rock Camp Creek, numbering three hundred and fifty.
The meeting was called to order by Samuel D. Smith, Andrew Davis- son was chosen President, Felix R. Coffman Vice President, John B. Davisson Secretary and John W. Stout Marshall, assisted by Captain Isaac Smith.
The gentlemen were then paraded and marched to a convenient shade where they were arranged in Military order, the rifle men in front. The ladies were then paraded and escorted by the Marshall and brought in front of the first platoon, when by order of the Captain the rifles were discharged in regular order amid the cheers of the Company.
The procession was marched to the stand and the Declaration of In- dependence was read by Samuel D. Smith. The orators of the occasion were James L. Smith, Mathew J. Orr and Allen Martin.
Dinner being announced and the procession being formed with the Military Company in front, next the ladies, with the music at their head and the rest of the audience marched in regular order to the tables.
The President took his seat at the head of the table, the ladies occupy- ing one side and the gentlemen the other, the tables being loaded with an abundance of provisions.
After dinner a number of toasts were offered and received with ap- plause, some of them being proposed by the ladies, which were very appropriate.
Then followed games, music, dancing, social converse and thus ended a glorious happy day.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Andrew Jackson.
The following is clipped from the issue of the "Harrison Repub- lican" of July 11, 1845, published in Clarksburg.
Funeral Obsequies in honor of the late Maj. Genl. Andrew Jackson, Ex President of the United States to be observed Saturday 12th. July, 1845.
The cannon will fire five rounds at short intervals at 5 A. M. and the bells tolled during the firing. It is requested that all business be sus- pended from 10 A. M. until 1 o'clock P. M. During the progress of the procession the cannon will be fired and the bells tolled.
The citizens and those who propose to participate in the ceremonies of the day are requested to wear crepe on their left arm.
General Order.
The Harrison Guards and all who intend to join in the march will assemble in the Court House at 10 o'clock A. M., and proceed in the following order, up main street to the intersection of the N. W. Turn- pike, down the Pike to Church Street, thence to the Presbyterian church.
1st. Band of Music.
2nd. Harrison Guards. Colors in center half furled in crepe.
3rd. President of the day and minister.
4th. The Clergy.
Pall Bearers.
Platoon H. Guards. Platoon H. Guards.
5th. Committee of arrangements.
6th. Citizens and strangers.
At the church the order of exercises will be
1st. Appropriate music.
2nd. Prayer, Rev. E. Quillan.
3rd. Music.
4th. Funeral discourse, Rev. G. Battelle.
5th. Music.
6th. Benediction.
The following assistant marshals are to be respected accordingly.
Thomas A. Horner, Eli Marsh and Joseph J. Winter.
By order Cyrus Vance, Chief Marshal.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Banks.
As near as can be now ascertained about the year 1812 a Company was formed at Clarksburg for the purpose of conducting a banking busi- ness under the name and style of the "President, Directors and Company of the Saline Bank of Virginia," that they issued notes, received deposits and discounted paper without a legal charter as required by the laws of the State. Benjamin Wilson, Jr., was President and John Webster Cashier.
The Banking house was in the Stone building which still stands (1909) on the South side of Main Street between Second and Water Streets.
An attempt was made to obtain a legal charter for the institution, and in 1814 a circular was issued entitled Articles of Association of the Virginia Saline Bank and stated in substance, that the Country was sep- arated by a distance of more than three hundred miles and a large chain of mountains from the Metropolis of the State subjecting the inhabitants to many inconveniences and compelling them to resort to distant banks for accommodations, and that they have paid large sums of money annu- ally for discounts, and that it was proposed to apply for an act of incor- poration in order to promote the improvement of the navigation of the Monongahela River the manufacture of salt and iron, wool, cotton etc., and the encouragement of agriculture under the name and style of the "Virginia Saline Bank."
The capital stock of the Company was to be $125,000, divided into 12,500 shares of ten dollars each and books were to be opened for the subscription of stock in Clarksburg under the superintendance of George Towers, Jacob Isreal, William Martin, John G. Jackson, Jacob Stealey, Benjamin Wilson, Jr., James Pindall, James McCalley and Josiah Lowry, on the 15th. of August and to continue open until the third Monday of September in the same year.
The following is a copy of one of the certificates of stock issued in pursuance to the above call :
"Virginia Saline Bank No. 5.
This is to certify that Elizabeth Jackson, Sr., is entitled to one hun- dred shares in the stock of the Virginia Saline Bank, and has paid seventeen per centum on the aforesaid shares.
Clarksburg the 30th. day of September 1814.
B. WILSON, JR., President."
J. WEBSTER, Cashier.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
For reasons not now known the charter, which changed the name of the former association and sought to do not only a banking business but also manufacturing on an extensive scale was never obtained.
It appears, however, that from the case of the United States against the Bank, John Webster and others as reported in First Peters reports of the decisions of the United States Supreme Court that in the dis- charge of public dues $10,120 of the notes of this Bank had been paid into the Treasury of the United States, prior to October 21, 1819, and that when called upon by an agent of the Government to redeem said notes, the demand was refused by the Cashier because of no funds.
The United States brought suit against the institution in the U. S. District Court, which decided in favor of the defendants.
An appeal was taken by the Government to the Supreme Court, their attorneys being Daniel Webster and Philip Doddridge with James Pindall for the Bank. The Court affirmed the decision of the Court below and dismissed the bill, the opinion being delivered by Chief Justice John Marshal in January 1828.
The following is a synopsis of the opinion: "The plaintiffs as cred- itors of an unincorporated bank, filed a bill against the cashier and a number of persons, stockholders of the bank for a discovery and relief, who in reply to the bill state that their answer to the bill would subject them to penalties under the laws of Virginia prohibiting unincorporated banks.
Held, that the defendants were not bound to make any discovery, which would expose them to penalties."
The affairs of the Bank came to a disastrous close about this time and for years the notes were in the possession of numerous persons as curios- ities. The writer remembers seeing bureau drawers lined with unsigned sheets of them.
-"Clarksburg Intelligencer, Sept. 23, 1826.
Look Here.
The stock holders of the Saline Bank are requested to meet at the Court House in Clarksburg on the third Monday in October next as a suit is now depending in the Supreme Court of the United States against them for a large amount and some means must be adopted .this fall to defend it, as the same is expected to be decided next winter.
(Signed) A STOCKHOLDER.
After the failure of the Saline Bank no attempt was made to estab- lish another until 1860 when the Merchants and Mechanics Bank was organized, being a branch of the Wheeling Bank of that name.
The first board of Directors consisted of Nathan Goff, Aaron Criss, Cyrus Ross, Burton Despard and John Davis.
Nathan Goff was chosen President and Luther Haymond Cashier.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
For many years it occupied a store room on the North Side of Main Street nearly opposite the Court House.
It entered into the National Banking system as the Merchants National Bank in 1865 and is now (1909) located on the corner of Third and Main Streets, at the old Despard corner.
The Bank of West Virginia was organized in 1869. President, Thomas S. Spates; Cashier, John C. Vance.
Since then there have been established the following banks in Clarks- burg, the Traders, Peoples, Farmers, Lowndes Savings Bank, Home Savings Bank, and Empire. The Traders and the Peoples consolidated and is now called the Union Bank. Banks are now established at Bridge- port, Shinnston, Wallace, Lumberport and two at Salem.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Whiskey Insurrection.
The only practical way the people West of the mountains had of dis- posing of their surplus grain was by distilling it into whiskey, as in that condition it was easy of transportation. Small distilleries abounded, and whiskey became an important article of commerce.
In 1791 Congress passed a law, laying a small tax on stills, and tax- ing whiskey at four pence per gallon and appointed excise officers to en- force the law.
This created great dissatisfaction in South Western Pennsylvania, which finally swelled into an insurrection with Pittsburgh as the center of the revolt. All the officers of the United States Government were forced to flee the country or to resign their offices.
A few inhabitants of the border counties of Virginia participated in this feeling to a small extent. A party said to have been from Penn- sylvania came to Morgantown on two or three occasions in attempts to force the excise officer to resign, and to stir up revolt among the people. The following letters will give an insight into the situation :
Edward Smith writes from Winchester, August 17, 1794, to Edward Covington, Supervisor of Revenue at Richmond stating,
"That the collector at Morgantown had been obliged to fly his home, and that the people of Randolph and Harrison Counties are temperate on this business and that the affair at Morgantown was the result of a rabble who have nothing to lose and that the best people are well disposed."
Governor Henry Lee of Virginia issued on August 20, 1794 a procla- mation stating,
"That a bandetti from the western part of Pennsylvania have in defiance of law and order passed into this commonwealth, and by threats and other evil doings compelled an officer of the United States living in Morgantown to abandon his home, and seek personal safety by flight, and directing all officers and Military to apprehend any persons who are offenders so that they may be dealt with according to law."
Benjamin Wilson to Governor Lee, September 2, 1794, from Clarks- burg :
"Yesterday Captain John Haymond favored me with a sight of your letter to the County Delegates, with your proclamation on the subject of the rebellion, in Pennsylvania. For my part I am highly pleased with
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your procedure, as it is of instant value to the few who speak their sentiments, free and open in favor of the Government. I believe there are but few in the Counties of Harrison, Monongalia and Randolph who will dare to appear in arms, when the standard of the United States is displayed at the head of our Federal Army."
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