USA > West Virginia > Monongalia County > History of Monongalia County, West Virginia, from its first settlements to the present time; with numerous biographical and family sketches > Part 34
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 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
454 HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.
nently a power in Presbyterianism in Western Pennsylva- nia and Virginia ; was thoroughly prepared, and did at all times-when he deemed it advisable and proper-defend the doctrines and polity of his branch of the church against all who would assail them, and never ceased the struggle until the assailant was made his friend.
Physically he was delicate, and yet capable of great en- durance, as his active ministry attests, his principal relaxa- tion being in social intercourse with his family, and other friends, and the superintendence of his farm near Smith- field, Penn., where he resided at the time of his death, which occurred on the 30th of July, 1864. He was buried at the Frame meeting-house, in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Only two of his children survive him, namely, Anne, the wife of L. S. Hough, Esq., and Ashbel Fairchild, who re- sides at Morgantown.
The Rev. JESSE MARTIN PURINTON, D.D., was an eminent Baptist divine in Southwestern Pennsylvania and North- western Virginia; was born at Colraine, Massachusetts, August 12, 1809. His father, the Rev. Thomas Purinton, married Miss Sabrina Boardman, and Jesse M. was their third son. He was educated at Madison University, N. Y .. , but was compelled to quit school before taking his degree, on account of ill health, brought on by hard study. He entered the Baptist ministry in 1829, and his early pastorates were near the shores of Lake Erie, whose winds affected his lungs. He came south for his health, in 1848, and settled in Preston County, eight miles from Rowlesburg. Here he founded the Buffalo Creek Church, and served as pastor of three churches, besides preaching at many points in and out of the county. He became pastor of the Mt.
1
455
RELIGIOUS AND TEMPERANCE.
Moriah Church at Smithfield, Penn., in 1852, and served three years. He returned to Preston County, but accepted a second call to the Mt. Moriah Church in 1862. In 1867, he removed from Smithfield to Morgantown, and became pastor of the Baptist Church at that place. He died at Morgantown, June 17, 1869.
Dr. Purinton was twice married. His first wife was Miss Roxea Buell, whom he married in 1833, and who died in 1845. In 1846, he married Miss Nancy A. Lyon, whose maternal ancestor, John Alden, came over in the May Flower. Their family consisted of four sons; Edward, of bright promise, who died young; D. B. Purinton, of the West Virginia University ; Aaron L. Purinton, A.M., Superin- tendent of the Parkersburg Schools, and G. Dana Purinton, A.M., who is connected with Furman University, South Carolina. He was of English nationality. A man of fine personal appearance; calm, grave and dignified, he always retained on acquaintanceship the respect which his appear- ance involuntarily commanded. He was a zealous worker, a hard student, an eloquent preacher and an able theologian. His death was a severe loss to the church of which he was so useful a servant and so bright an ornament. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Burritt College, Tennessee.
The Rev. PETER THOMAS LAISHLEY, M.D., was born in Southampton, England, on New Year's day, 1798. His grandparents belonged to the societies started by John Wesley. He had four brothers who, like him, all became ministers. He emigrated to America, landing on the 28th of August, 1818; and, in 1819, was converted at a camp- meeting in Louden County, Virginia. He united with the
456
HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.
O'Kelleyites or Republican Methodists, and was ordained a minister in that church, August 20, 1820. Coming to Fay- ette County, Penn., in 1821, he there married Sabina Ewing, September 28th. He began the study of medicine in 1831, and was graduated the next year. In the following year he joined the Pittsburgh Conference of the Methodist Prot- estant Church, and is justly entitled, from the magnitude of his labors for it, to be considered one of the founders of that church. He was three times chosen president of this conference, and five times president of the West Virginia Conference. He was sent four times as a representative to the General Conference, and was elected also to the Union Convention of the Methodist Protestant Church, in 1877.
His childern are: Elizabeth A., who married T. F. Con- way (five of whose sons are ministers in the Methodist Protestant Church); Richard J., who was killed September 27, 1848, by the bursting of the cylinder of a threshing machine; John M., Martha J., Hannah A., Harriet E .; George W., who taught school for years, served on the board of school examiners, and has served as one of the three county commissioners since 1882; and Letitia V.
Dr. Laishley was engaged for one year of his life in the mercantile business, and practiced medicine five years. He joined the Masonic fraternity in 1826, and was master of Union Lodge, No. 93, in 1847. He was always a strong advocate of temperance and free schools. He was at the Wheeling convention of May 13, 1861. He is now living near Easton, in the eighty-sixth year of his age. One who knows him well said of him : " As a preacher, Dr. Laishley has stood in the front rank of the ministers of his day; clear in statement, strong in argument and pathetic in man-
457
RELIGIOUS AND TEMPERANCE.
ner, he seldom failed to convince the judgment, and move the unprejudiced heart to Christ."
The Rev. GEORGE FREDERICK CHARLES CONN was born in Fayette County, Penn., July 25, 1809. His grandfather, George Conn, who was a ship carpenter at West Point, married Lydia Flintham, and came to George's Creek, and was the first of the name west of the Alleghany Mountains. His father was a Scotchman. The father (Jacob Conn) of the subject of this sketch married Ellen, daughter of Capt. George F. Hartman. Their family consisted of ten chil- dren, of whom George F. C. is the eldest. When about ten years of age, Mr. Conn moved with his father to the Forks of Cheat, near Stewarttown, where he lived till 1854.
In 1832, Mr. Conn married Susannah Robey, second daughter of Lloyd Robey. In 1837, he professed conver- sion, and on January 21st of that year was baptized by the Rev. James W. B. Tisdale, and united with the Forks of Cheat church, of which Mr. Tisdale was then pastor. In 1846, the Goshen church called for his ordination, which took place at Forks of Cheat in September of that year, by the Rev. Cleon Keyes, the Rev. Leven Howell and the Rev. Charles Parker. He immediately took the pastoral care of the Goshen church, which he retained continuously for twenty-two years. During this pastorate, 120 person's were baptized, the church increased from 27 members to 100 or more, and a comfortable brick house of worship was built.
In 1848, Mr. Conn received a commission from the Gen- eral Association of Virginia to labor as missionary in Pres- ton County. Under this commission he labored at the Monongahela Glades, where a church was organized with six members and increased to forty; at Elliott's Ridge,
.
458
HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.
where he baptized many; at the place now called Glades- ville, where a house of worship was built, and the little church grew from seven members to one hundred; at Blacksville, where he organized the Minersville Church, which built a house of worship and attained a membership of forty during the three years of his pastorate; and at Laurel Point, in the bounds of the old Anti-Mission Bap- tist Church, where, in 1852, he organized what is known as the Zoar Baptist Church, with twelve constituent members. In a very few years this church became self-sustaining, whereupon Mr. Conn resigned his commission, and became pastor of the church. His labors under this commission were abundantly blessed of the Lord; and Mr. Conn attributes any success he may have had as a Gospel min- ister, largely to the divine blessing upon this aid extended by the General Association of Virginia.
Mr. Conn was pastor of the Zoar church for twenty-four years. During this time a house of worship was built, con- verts were added to the church every year without excep- tion, and the membership was increased to 250.
In addition to the above labors, Mr. Conn has preached as pastor at Morgantown eight years, at Taylortown, Penn., eight years, at Pleasant Hill four years, where he organized a church ; at Forks of Cheat, two years, and at Palatine four years, where he assisted in organizing a church of seven members and left it with sixty. This was Mr. Conn's last regular pastorate.
At the advanced age of seventy he resigned the church, in consideration of the growing infirmities of his age. He has also labored extensively at various places in protracted meetings.
Mr. Conn has baptized with his own hands more than
459
RELIGIOUS AND TEMPERANCE.
1,200 persons. He is certainly one of the most successful pioneer ministers that have labored in this section of the country.
Mr. Conn is now in his seventy-fifth year, and resides on his farm, not far from Laurel Point, surrounded by all the conveniences and comforts of life. His estimable wife, with whom he has passed more than half a century in the close companionship of wedded life, is still living, and both enjoy, to an eminent degree, the esteem and love of their wide circle of acquaintances and friends. Their only son, Garrett, lives on a farm near his father's, and of their three daughters, two-Mrs. John Alexander and Mrs. John M. Bland-live in Monongalia, and the other lives in the West.
CHAPTER XXIII. FINANCIAL HISTORY.
Money in Early Days-Tobacco as Currency-Paper Money-Fur- nace Script-Points of Exchange for State Bank Currency -- Foriner and Present Methods of Transmitting Money-Panics of 1837, 1857, and 1873-Monongalia Farmers' Bank-Merchants' and Mechanics' Bank-Merchants' National Bank-J. H. Hoff- man & Co .- The Morgantown Bank-Second National Bank- Bank Presidents and Cashiers, Etc.
THE MAIN use of money among the first settlers was to pur- chase land and pay taxes. Their dealings were carried on principally by exchange of products and property-a sys- tem of barter. Almost the only commodity which they could sell for money was the furs of the wild beasts which they hunted and trapped. There was no market for the products of the field. As late as the year 1789, tobacco seems to be used as a measure of value in the payment of fines to the State. An absent grand juror without lawful excuse, was taxed 400 pounds of the weed.
As early as the year 1814, paper-money was in circula- tion, and increased from year to year in quantity. It was known as State bank money. After the breaking out of the late civil war, Government legal tender paper-money, known as " Greenbacks," came into circulation ; and, a little later, was added National bank notes. To-day, the circulating medium is National bank notes, greenbacks, and gold and silver. Silver for "change" has now entirely superseded the fractional paper notes or "shinplasters," issued by the Government during the civil war.
461
FINANCIAL HISTORY.
"Furnace script" was issued about 1840-2, at Cheat River Iron Works, but was only good at the furnace stores.
Pittsburgh was the main point, up to 1853, for the ex- change of State bank paper ; and the means of conveying any sum of money to the eastern cities was by private messengers, as the mails were not safe .. In 1853, Fairmont took the place' of Pittsburgh, and money was sent by express from there. Now Fairmont and Fairchance Fur- nace (since 1875). are the nearest express offices. Besides the use of the express, money is now transmitted by bank checks, postal money-orders (obtainable at the Morgantown postoffice), and registered letters. The postal note, for sums less than five dollars, came into use September 3, 1883.
The principal articles of export are live-stock and timber. There is not sufficient data obtainable from which to ven- ture any calculation as to the volume or amount of money in the county.
The financial panics of 1837, 1857 and 1873 did not . affect Monongalia County so severely as many other parts of the country.
MONONGALIA FARMERS' BANK.
This was the first bank in the county, and was organized on the 1st of December, 1814, at the house of Capt. W. N. Jarrett, in Morgantown, by "the Monongalia Farmers' Com- pany of Virginia." It was a bank of exchange, discount and deposit. Its first officers were Thomas Wilson, presi- dent ; C. Berkshire, clerk (cashier); John Evans, Jr., Enos Daugherty, George S. Dering, Mathew Gay, Alexander Hawthorne, Nimrod Evans and A. Werninger, managers (directors). This bank ran until 1840, when, in January,
0
462
HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.
it wound up its business and appointed Mathew Gay to dis- tribute equitably all money on hands among the stock- holders.
MERCHANTS' AND MECHANICS' BANK.
This bank was the branch of "The Merchants' and Me- chanics' Bank of Wheeling" at Morgantown. It was organ- ized November 6, 1834, and was in existence until October 1, 1865. The capital stock was $50,000, which was in- creased to $110,000 in 1857.
The presidents of this bank were:
Nov. 6, 1834, to Jan. 12, 1837, Thomas P. Ray. Jan. 12, 1837, to Jan. 17, 1839, Mathew Gay. Jan. 17, 1839, to Jan. 21, 1841, Thomas P. Ray. Jan. 21, 1841, to Mar. 26, 1857, Mathew Gay. Mar. 26, 1857, to Jan. 13, 1859, Edgar C. Wilson. Jan. 13, 1859, to Oct. 1, 1865, George M. Hagans.
The cashiers were James Robb, 1834-8; and William Wagner, 1838-65. James Robb was born at Brownsville, Penn., and came from Wheeling to Morgantown; went to New Orleans in 1838, where he engaged in banking ; erected gas works in Havana, Cuba; served in the legislature of Louisiana; embarked in railway business; engaged in banking in New York City, and died near Cincinnati.
MERCHANTS' NATIONAL BANK.
The "Merchants' National Bank of West Virginia at Morgantown" was organized October 1, 1865. Its capital stock is $110,000. The bank contains a fire-proof vault, in which is a double burglar-proof safe, the whole secured by combination locks and a time-lock. The vault doors are burglar- and fire-proof.
The first president of this bank was George M. Hagans, October 1, 1865, to January 15, 1874; the second, D. H.
463
FINANCIAL HISTORY.
Chadwick, January 15, 1874, to January 2, 1879 ; and the present president is John J. Brown, January 2, 1879.
William Wagner has been the one cashier. Mr. Wagner was born August 21, 1813, in Cumberland County, Penn .; went to Harrisburg when but fourteen, and clerked in a store till 1832, when he became assistant clerk (cashier) in a bank. In 1836, he was corresponding clerk in the Girard Bank, Philadelphia. In 1838 he came to Morgantown, and, on the 1st of October, became cashier of The Merchants' and Mechanics" Bank; and, on October 1, 1865, became cashier of the Merchants' National Bank, which position he holds to-day. Mr. Wagner has been engaged in the banking business over half a century, of which time he has spent forty-five years in Morgantown.
In April, 1868, Hoffman & Co .- J. H. Hoffman and Charles S. Finnell-engaged in the banking business, lasting till 1874.
THE MORGANTOWN BANK
was chartered March 23, 1874. The presidents were Wil- liam Price, James Evans and G. W. John ; cashier, J. H. Hoffman.
SECOND NATIONAL BANK.
The Second National Bank of Morgantown was chartered February 24, 1880; capital, $60,000, with privilege to in- crease it to $100,000. The bank has lately built a vault (6}x8 feet) of chilled iron, weighing five and one-half tons, which is surrounded by an eighteen-inch cemented wall. The vault has burglar-proof doors, with combination locks. A burglar- and fire-proof safe, weighing 4,000 pounds, is in the vault. This safe has two combination locks and a time- lock. The vault and safe cost $2,800.
464
HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.
G. W. John was the former president, and E. Shisler the present.
J. H. Hoffman, the cashier, was born in Frederick City, Maryland, February 3, 1819; was raised in Baltimore, and engaged in the mercantile business. He came to Frost- burg, Md., in 1836, then to Bruceton Mills, Preston County, in 1846, which place he named for his step-father, George Bruce, of Frostburg, a descendant of Robert Bruce, of Scotland. Mr. Hoffman did a large milling, mercantile and general business at Bruceton, and, in 1851, engaged in the claim agency business. He came to Morgantown, in 1860, and was in the claim agency business here until he com- menced banking in 1868. In 1874, he became cashier of the Morgantown Bank, and in 1880 became cashier in its successor, the Second National Bank, which position he still holds.
John J. Brown, in his centennial address, says of these banks, that they " have been throughout the past, and are at the present time, conducted by officers distinguished for superior business capacity and unswerving integrity."
On the 20th of February, 1860, a charter was procured for a bank to be called "Monongalia Bank of Morgantown." January 10, 1862, a charter was procured for a bank to be known as the "Farmers' and Drovers' Bank of Morgan- town."
10ES ENO CON.Y.
ALPHA RALPHSNYDER. See Page 735.
CHAPTER XXIV.
MEDICAL HISTORY.
First Visiting Physicians-First Resident Physician-Schools of Medicine Represented in the County-Regular or Allopathic- Eclectic-Homeopathic-County Board of Health-Medicinal Plants and Waters-Statistics-Centenarians and Nonagena- rians-Biographical Sketches.
"The science of medicine is the theory of diseases and of remedies."-C. Creighton, M.D.
IF NOW in tracing the medical history of the county we could turn back "the sun-lit hemisphere of modern sci- ence" to that position which it occupied at the time the first physician came to Monongalia, we would find the med- ical profession but poorly equipped indeed, compared to its fitting out to-day, for the conquest of disease.
The pioneer openings of Monongalia in 1772, continually raided by Indians, were not an inviting field for even a vis- iting physician ; and that condition of society necessary to exist in order to secure a resident physician, was years in the future in the year 1772.
The earliest physicians visiting the county, it is said, were. from Washington and Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Who was the first physician that visited the county is a question we have no means of determining. It is likely that Dr. Absalom Baird, of Washington, is entitled to that dis- tinction. . He was a physician and surgeon in the Revolu- tionary war, and settled, in the fall of 1786, at Washington, Washington County, Penn. W. G. Barnett, M.D., in a cen- tennial address on the medical history of Washington County, delivered in 1881, says : "He soon became noted
30
466
HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.
as a physician and surgeon, and was called to great distances, . as far, for instance, as Morgantown." Old Dr. Baird would present a novel appearance to-day if seen as he went attired when visiting Morgantown in 1786. Dr. Barnett describes him as follows :
"He was about five feet eight inches high, and weighed about 150 pounds. To the end of his life he dressed in knee-breeches and stockings, according to the custom of the times. He wore a queue, and, when on horseback, a blue, military cloak lined with red ına- terial. Blue eyes, dark brown hair, medium stature, military bear- ing, affable demeanor, up to high water mark for knowledge and skill in his profession."
Dr. Thomas Bond came from Philadelphia, at an early day, to Morgantown, as the agent of a large land company. He was an accomplished physician, but we have no account of his practicing. He died December 17, 1793, in Morgan- town, and lies buried under the Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Enos Daugherty seems, from all accounts, to have been the first resident physician. There is evidence of his practicing in 1805; as he was a middle-aged man then, he must have been here before that date. All traditional accounts make him the first resident physician. None of the old people know where he came from. They say he married Miss Sample, from about Winchester, and had four children : Joseph T., a lawyer; James, and two daughters, Susan and Anna. He died in Morgantown on February 10, 1826. The first jailer of the county of whom we know any- thing was James Daugherty. In 1804, he left all his prop- erty in Morgantown to his son Enos Daugherty, but whether this was Dr. Enos Daugherty or not, can not be ascertained.
Dr. John Nicklin* was practicing in Monongalia in 1804.
* The following is a copy of an advertisement which appeared in the Monongalia Gazette in 1804:
" NOTICE .- All thofe indebted to the Subscriber, on Open Account, are defired to
-
467
MEDICAL HISTORY.
If Daugherty was not the first resident physician, then Nicklin was.
Dr. Hersey was practicing at Morgantown in 1812.
Among the students of Dr. Enos Daugherty were Dr. Byrne, who went to Missouri, and Dr. Marmaduke Dent, who, for more than a half century, was a practicing phy- sician in Monongalia County.
Dr. Daniel Marchant, of Uniontown, came and stayed awhile after Daugherty commenced practicing. Dr. Wells was here awhile after Marchant.
Dr. Charles McLane came to Morgantown in 1823, and until 1850 had a number of students to read with him, among whom were Drs. Laidley, Billingsley, Joseph A. McLane, Isaac Scott, and the late Dr. H. W. Brock. After McLane came, Dr. Dent commenced practicing at Gran- ville. Drs. Thomas Brooke, Daniel Gettings, Colastian Billingsley, and B. R. C. O'Kelly were at Morgantown before 1840. Dr. Robert Travis was at Smithtown about 1828, and Dr. Hugh McNemera was at Blacksville before 1840. The practicing physicians of the county since that date will be treated of in the District History.
When we come to speak of schools of medicine repre- sented in the county, we find that nearly all the physicians in the county practice a system of medicine which most of its followers do not generally designate by any particular name, but call themselves "regular" physicians and all others "irregular," and claim that the name Allopathic is given them by others and not recognized by themselves.
The first Eclectic physician to practice in the county was
come forward and pay up, (or at least give their Notes,) and that within two weeks from this dat(-Thofe that have reiteratedly promifed cath, grain, or work and have as often difappointed, may depend upon little longer indulgence.
20th. April, 1804.
JOHN NICKLIN, M.D."
468
HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.
the late Dr. G. W. John, in 1853, at Stewarttown. He studied with Dr. U. L. Clemmer, of Smithfield, Penn., who had been, some years before, at Granville, but who, it is said, was not an Eclectic when there. The next of this school was Dr. F. H. Yost, who practiced at Morgantown in 1863-5. Dr. N. H. Triplett, at Laurel Iron Works P. O., is the only Eclectic practitioner now in the county.
Homeopathy was introduced, in 1854, by Dr. A. C. Miller, who remained till 1859; succeeded by Dr. E. H. Coombs and Dr. M. L. Casselberry, who are the only Homeopathic physicians in the county to-day, and who live at Morgan- town and practice in co-partnership.
Under act of Legislature passed March 15, 1882, creating county boards of health, subject to the State board, the county court recommended and the State board appointed Drs. L. S. Brock, G. M. Fletcher and E. H. Coombs to serve two years from July 1, 1883, as the county board.
MEDICINAL PLANTS.
The county is rich in medicinal plants, which, for conve- nience, will be divided into three classes-trees, herbs and vines. The common name will be given first, followed by the botanical term :
TREES.
1. Dogwood, Cornus florida.
2. Tulip tree or poplar, Liriodendron tulipifera.
3. White pine, Pinus strobus.
4. Wild cherry, Prunus serotina.
5. Sassafras, Sassafras officinale.
6. Prickly ash, Zanthoxylum Americanum.
7. Yellow elm, Ulmus.
8. Oak, Quercus.
HERBS.
9. Milfoil, Achillea millefolium.
10. Sweet flag, Acornus Calamus.
469
MEDICAL HISTORY.
11. Smooth alder, Alnus serrulata.
12. Dog's bane, Apocynum androsaemifolium.
13. Dwarf elder, Aralia hispida.
14. Indian turnip, Arasiema tryphyllum.
15. Virginia snakeroct, Aristolochia serpentaria.
16. Wild ginger, Asarum Canadenoe.
17. Common milkweed, Asclepias cornati.
18. Pleurisy root, Aselepias tuberosa.
19. Peppermint, Mentha piperita.
20. Wild indigo, Baptisa tinctora.
21. Wild senna, Cassia Marylandica.
22. Pipsissewa, Chimaphila Umbellata.
23. Sweet fern, Comptonia asplenifolium.
24. Jamestown weed, Datura stramonium.
25. Boneset, Eupatorium perfoliatum.
26. Liverwort, Hepatica trilobia.
27. Yellow-root, Hydrastus Canadensis.
28. Elecampane, Inula Helenium.
29. Skunk cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus.
30. Burdock, Lappa Officinalis.
31. Indian tobacco, Lobelia inflata.
32. Horehound, Marubium vulgare.
33. Spearmint, Mentha viridis.
34. Horsemint, Monarda punctata.
35. Ginseng, Aralia quinquefolia.
36. Pokeweed, Phytolaccha decandra.
37. Seneca snakeroot, Polygala Senega.
38. May-apple, Podophyllum peltatum.
39. Bitter sweet, Solanum dulcamera.
40. Culvers root, Veronica Virginica.
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.