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 41
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WEALTH, DEBT AND TAXATION.
But little is to be gathered of the wealth or taxation of Monongalia for the one hundred and seven years of her existence as a county. The first twenty years' records were burned. From 1796 to 1852 the land assessment books of the commissioners of the revenue have no summaries, or next to none, and no sheriffs' settlements are to be found from which to gather any data. A portion of these books
557
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
are gone. The books from 1852 to 1863 are somewhat bet- ter, but they are partly gone, and nothing can be done with: them to get accurate results, beyond a few isolated cases. From 1863 to 1873 a part of the books are gone, and some that are left are in bad shape. With 1873 only can we com- mence to give anything correct enough for use or benefit.
WEALTH OF COUNTY-EASTERN DISTRICT .*
YEAR.
CLINTON.
MORGAN.
-
Real. | Pers'n'l / Total.
Real.
| Pers'n'1 | Total.
1873
$337.273 |$172 178.$509.451
$396 073 $176.280 $572.353
1874
340 204
165 216
505,520
404,773
167.570
5:2,303
1875 ..
367.865
166.391|
534 256
399,380
162 857
562,237
1876
368 073
142,897
510,970
398.878
160 239
559.117
1877
368.185
139,007
507,192
399,086
173 561|
572 647
1878
365 241
144 526
509 767
396 237
163 427
9 664
1879
365,111
137 327
502.438
397 672
163 284
560 956
1880
365 800
126.517
492,317
399 352
162.673
562.025
1881
367.214
140.286
507.5 0
398 509
172.014|
570.523
1882
366.273
161 774
528 047
398.361
168 879
567.240
1883
359,481)
179 176
538 6571
565 201 156.173|
521 374
YEAR.
-
UNION.
MORGANTOWN.
Real.
Pers'n'1
Total.
Real.
| Pers'n'1 | Total.
1873
$369.364 $171 528|8540,892
$205.427 $250 198 $455,625
1874
372.082
176,081
548.163
205.327
316,073| 521.400
1875
384 013
165 608
549.621
221,653
274 749
496 402
1876
384 341
135,656
5.9.997
222,053
297 944
519,997
1877
385.073
138.085
523.158
222.403
296.526
518,929
1878
3º3,869
129 905
513,774
224,602
283.459
508,062
1879
381,901
109,323
494 224
223.683
273 668
497 351
1880.
3-4 287
103,050
487 337
224.175
181,303
405 478
1881
384 319
126,746
511 0651
225.425
194 066
419,491
1882
384,201
130 484
514 685
224.975
199,7:24
424 699
1883
374 6511
136,436
511,087|
217 720
195,990
413.710
WEALTH OF COUNTY-WESTERN DISTRICT.+
YEAR.
-
CASS.
=
GRANT.
Real. | Pers'n'1 |
Total. !!
Real.
| Pers'n'1 |
Total.
1873
$372,612|$191.281|$563 893
$549.453 |$244,390|>793,843
1874
372,891
159,988
532,879
551,413
227,220
778,633
1875
432,371|
153,221
485,592
624,744
231,123
855 867
1876
432,709
156,575
589,284
626,699
208,261
834.960
1877
432.295
135,668;
567,963
625,164
211,994
837,158
1878.
433,267
141,220}
574.487
626,024
220,219|
846,243
1879
432,466|
142,763|
575,229
625,779
197,605
823,384
1880.
432,194
127,771|
559,965
624,832
190,067
814,899
1881
434,731
132,230
566,961
625,831;
196,003
821,834
1882.
431,785
141,491 |
573,276
626,110
199,681
825,791
1883
436,029
139,432
575,461
649,304|
200,628
849,932
-
-
* The Eastern District is the first assessment district, and includes all that portion of the county east of the Monongahela River.
t The Western District is the second assessment district, and includes all that part of the county lying west of the Monongahela River.
558
HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.
WEALTH OF COUNTY-WESTERN DISTRICT.
YEAR.
-
CLAY.
=
BATTELLE.
-
Real. | Pers'n'1 |
Total. [|
Real.
| Pers'n'I | Total.
1873
...
$404,901 |$242 528|$647.429
$305,091 |$173,251|$478.342
1874
404,778
248,093
652 871
305,326
180,756
486,082
1875 ..
510.533
241,485'
752,018
397,627
167,116
564,743
1876
511,679
193 029
704,708
397.670
148,255
545,925
1877
512.529
194.526
707,055;
398,498
131,612
530.110
1878.
513,463
190.629
704.0921
398 537
131,886
530,423
1879
514 975
179,951
694.926
398,681
125,412
524,093
1880
515.574|
185 174
700,748
398,439
135,744
534.183
1881
517.481|
195.409
712 890
397.43
151,748
549,187
1882
518,229
204 844
723 073
399.490
151,875
551,365
1883
...
556,577
222,308
778.885
420,997
171,459
592 456
AGGREGATE VALUES IN ASSESSORS' DISTRICTS.
YEAR.
Real.
Personal.
Real.
Personal.
1873
$1,30>,137 $770,184
$1,632.057
$851,450
1874
1.322.446
824 900
1.633,804
816.057
1875
1.372.911
769,605
1,965,275
792,945
1876
1.373.345
736,736
1.968 757
706.120
1877.
1.374 747
747.179
1,968,486
673,800
1878 ..
1 369 950
721 319
1,971 291
683.954
1879
1,371,367
683.702
1 971.901
647.731
1880
1.373,514
573.543
1.971,039
638,756
1881
1,375 467
633,112
1.975,482
675,390
1882
1 373,810
660.861
1 973,614
697,891
1883 .:
1.317.053
667,575
2.063.907
733.827
TOTAL WEALTH OF COUNTY-REAL AND PERSONAL.
YEAR.
EASTERN DIST.
WESTERN DIST.
GRAND TOTALS
1873
$2,078,321
$2,793,507
$4,871,828
1874
2,147,346
2.449,861
4,597,207
1875
2,142,51€
2.758,220
4,900,736
1876
2,110.081
2.674,877
4,784,958
1877
2.122.026
2.642,286
4,764,312
1878.
2.091 269
2.655,245
4,746,514
1879
2.055.069
2,619,632
4,674.701
1880.
1,947,057
2.609,795
4,556,852
1881.
2.008,579
2,650,872
4,659,451
1882.
2,034,671
2.671,505
4,706,176
1883.
1,984,628
2,797,734
4,782,362
The county has never been in debt to any extent, so far as we can find. On one or two census reports a trifling amount, such as forty or fifty dollars, appears.
COUNTY LEVIES.
Under the following order we find the following rates : "Ordercd, That the sheriff of this county collect of each tithable
EASTERN DISTRICT.
WESTERN DISTRICT.
559
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
in this county the sum of - cents for the purpose of defraying the expenses and allowances made at this term." [These allowances were for a year, and were always made at the May term].
In 1795, the rate was four shillings ; in 1796, three'shillings.
Year. Rate.
Year. Rate.
Year. Rate.
Year. Rate.
Year. Rate.
1806 ... .25
1821. .40
1830
.50 .50
1839 .75 1851 1.95
1810 .26 1822. .20
1831
1840. 1.373 1852 ..... .1 25
1811. .25 1823. .374 1832 .50
1841 .75
1853 2.75
1812. .60 1824. .46
1833 .87
1842 1:25
1854 .2.25
1813.
.50)
1825 .. .60
1834.
.31}
1843 .. 1.25
1855 ... .. 2 00
1815. .50
1826 ...
.56 1835 .37₺
1844 .. 1.00
1856 .. 2.25
1816. .43
1827 .44
1836 .50
1845. 1.25
1857 .. 2.00
1819 .40
1828 .46
1837 .62}
1848 .. 2,85
1863. .. 1.50
1820 .43
1829 .50
1838 .. .85
1849 .2.00
State and County Levies .- From the year 1864 the levy- ing orders read as follows: - cents on each $100 of real and personal estate outside the Borough of Morgantown for county purposes, including the support of the paupers and keeping roads and bridges in repair.
The following table shows the annual levies laid by the county authorities for the above purposes, and also those laid by the legislature of the state for state and state school purposes :
In the table "S" stands for state, and the figures under it denote the number of cents levied for State and State school purposes on each $100 valuation ; "C" stands for county, and the figures under it denote the number of cents levied on each $100 valuation for the purposes named in the above order.
Year. .S.
48 C. 28
Year. S.
C.
C. 1864. 40
1869 ...... 30 50
40 50 Year. S.
1879 .... .30 C. 42! 45
1875 ..... .30 1870 ...... 35 40 1876 ..... .30 1881 .. .. 30 35 1866 .. 40 50 1871-2 ... 35 50 1877 .... .30 44 1878 ...... 30 35 1883 .. .... 35 35 1867 ... .40 40 1873 ...... 30 1882 .. .30 1874 ...... 30 35 1868 .30 50 Year. 1880. .30 45 1865 .. 40 100
District Levies .- The following table shows the levies in the several districts of the county for the years named, for road, school (teachers' wages), and building (school-houses) purposes. In the sub-head " R" stands for road, "S" for school, and "B" for building, and the figures under them denote the number of cents levied on each $100 of valuation.
560
HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.
EASTERN DISTRICT.
CLINTON.
MORGAN.
=
UNION.
|[MORGANTOWN
YEAR
R.
S.
B.
R.
S.
B.
R. | S.
B.
S.
B.
1873 ...
...
15
10
5
15
10
5
10
6
268 6 8
27
8
1875 ...
10
20
8
10
12
10
8
26
8
1876 ...
10
21
9
10
15
10
8
10
20
10
1877 .
10
15
10
10
12
6
10
11
7
23
10
1878 ...
12
11
7
10
13
7
10
11
10
22
...
1879.
15
9
9
10
16
7
10
9
6
22
1880.
10
15
15
10
10
20
10
16
3
24
12
1881 ...
6
17
13
6
163
22
G
10
5
25
15
1882 ·
12
15
10
12
25
18
12
12
17
40
10
1883 ..
15
11
14
15
9
15
15
19
10
30
20
WESTERN DISTRICT.
CASS.
GRANT.
CLAY.
BATTELLE.
YEAR
R.
S.
B.
R.
S.
B
R.
S.
B.
R.
S.
B.
1873 ..
10
...
...
10
10
8
15
15
2
10
16
7
1875 ...
15
12
2
10
20
4
15
16
25
12
7
1876 ...
10
10
4
10
18
4
10
16
12
20
16
26
1877 ...
10
10)
2
10
12
6
15
15
8
10
183
51
1878 ...
15
10
15
10
9
4
15
7
17
14
20
13
1879 ...
10
5
10
10
3
3
15
11
5
10
10
16
1880 ...
15
10
4
10
10
2
15
15
15
15
16
6
1881 ...
6
10
5
6
10
10
6
8
9
6
20
8
1882 ...
12
14
8
12
13
16
12
5
7
12
7
30
1883 ...
15
10
5
15
10
18
15
11
10
15
26
10
...
10
5
..
..
1874 ..
15
10
...
5
5
21
...
10
20
35
1874 ...
20
...
16
4
3
...
COUNTY AREAS.
Monongalia, when created in 1776, embraced the present territory of the county, nearly the west half of Tucker, all of Randolph east of Tygart's Valley River (except along eastern slip), all of Barbour and Taylor east of the same river, all of Marion except Grant District, and the present territory of Preston County. It also included nearly all of Greene and Fayette, and about one third of Washington County, Pennsylvania. In 1779, the territory now in Pennsylvania was yielded to that State. In 1779, an ad- dition was made on the south, from Augusta County, and in the next year, another addition from the same county. The territory in these two additions embraced nine-tenths of what is now Wood and Wirt, all of Calhoun and Gilmer,
561
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
three-fifths of Braxton and Webster, one-fourth of Poca- hontas and Doddridge, one-half of Pleasants, all of Ritchie, Lewis and Upshur, and the remainder of Taylor and Bar- bour. In 1784, Harrison was taken from Monongalia.
This left the county with its present territory, all of Marion and Preston, and half of Taylor. In 1800, about one-fifth of Marion was taken from Monongalia and added to Harrison, and in 1818, Preston County was taken off. In 1841, a small slice east of the Chestnut Ridge was added to Preston. In 1842, nearly all of the remaining four-fifths of Marion, and one-half of Taylor, were taken from Monon- galia. The last dimiuntion was in 1847, when the last small portion of Marion was taken from Monongalia.
AREAS, POPULATION AND GROWTH-1776-1880.
YEAR.
Total Population.
Increase.
Per cent of Increase.
Estimated Number to area sqr. mi. square mile. pres'nt area
1776 .
..
.. .......
..
......
. .
...
4,000
1779 ...
.........
......
..........
2,400
.........
.......
1780 ...
.........
.........
..........
5,250
.........
.........
1784 ..
.... ....
..
. .......
1,385
...
1,200
1800 ..
8,540
3,772
79
1,325
6+
2,340
1810 ...
12,793
4,253
50
1,325
93
3,320
1818 ...
.. .....
.... .......
...
.....
1820 ...
11,060*
1,733*
14*
700
16
5,760
1830 ...
14,056
3,996
36
700
20
7,200
1840 ...
17,368
3,312
24
700
243
8,820
1841 ...
......
...
675
...
.......
1842 ...
... ....
..
370
...
.........
1847 ...
........
.........
360
....
1850 ..
12,387*
4,981*
29*
360
341
12,387
1860 ...
13,048
661
5
360
36
13,048
1870 ...
13,547
499
4
360
37}
13,547
1880 ... ...
14,985
1,438
11
360
41}
14,985
1790 ..
4.768
.........
1,385
34
700
The first column gives the population each ten years, yet until 1850 the county was becoming smaller all the time, hence those numbers for the county at different sizes are not the true figures of population based on its present area. The area has been estimated at every loss of territory, and
· Decrease.
36
Est. pop. of
562
HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.
is given. The total population divided by the area gives the number of inhabitants to the square mile, and this quotient multiplied by the number of square miles in the county (now 360) will give (approximately) the number of inhabitants then living within the present limits of the county. The county as composed of its present limits, has never lost any population, which will be seen by inspecting the last column.
The cost of the County government for the last decade is shown in the following table :
COUNTY RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
Fiscal Year.
*Total Re- ¡ Total Ex-1 penditures ceipts.
County Levy.
Support of Poor.
-
Cost of Bridges
Road Tax
1/73-4
$19 491.96
$
$18.323 93 $5.358.58|81.768.0
...
1874-5
32.167 55
21 696 21
21,700.38| 4 916.53
4,608.92
5,209.57
1875-6
34.364.26
20.124.03
3 451 85;
3,197.65
1876-7
39,670 28
24 321.13
9,812 55
2.666.35
1877-8
25,567.67
17,864.21
20.560.65
1,7.8 37
5,327 80
1678-9 ..
32.397 65
20,454 93
16 135 35
4.885 66
1 526 09
1679-80
42.722.04
24.301.34
22,882 49
5.695.13
566.95
4.774.66
1880-1
44,379,95
25,269.11
20,104 09
3,214,72
604 21
5,150 26
1881-2
18,713,86
9,542.96
15,904.22
2,192 89
1,400 53
2,495.59
1882-3
21,034.07
19,909.24
4,587.28
4,169.71|
2,443.73
GEOGRAPHICAL CENTER.
As there are no surveyed boundary lines of the county, and as its shape is irregular, we can only estimate the Geographical Center to be in Grant, not far from the Cass District line.
CENTER OF POPULATION.
From want of surveyed boundaries of the county and the districts, it is difficult to determine the center of population, but it seems that that point lies west or northwest of the conter of Grant District.
COUNTY DIVISIONS.
The first division of the county was into nine constabu-
* Receipts included county levy, back taxes, miscellaneous, and amount in treasury at beginning of fiscal year.
563
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
lary districts, established as follows by the county court on June 8, 1807. :
First District .- Up the Monongahela River from where the Penn- sylvania line crosses to the mouth of Booth's creek, and up to Sayer's road and to John Ambrose's, then with Laurel Hill to Cheat River, and across with Laurel Hill to the Pennsylvania line, and with it to the beginning. Constables, Daniel Cox, James Mc- Vicker, George B. Hoskinson and John Cooper.
Second District .- To begin at the mouth of Booth's creek and up the Monongahela and Valley Rivers to the mouth of Sandy creek, and up said creek to Randolph road, and with it to John Ambrose's, and thence with line of first district to the beginning. Constables, Horatio Morgan, Isaac Powell and John Jones.
The Third, Fourth and Fifth comprised what is now the territory of Preston County.
Sixth District .- From the Monongahela River up the Pennsylva- nia line to the ridge between Dunkard creek and Crooked run, then to Wade's run, and down to Scott's mill run, and down it to the river, and with the river to the beginning. Constable, John Ramsey.
Seventh District .- Up the Pennsylvania line from the last men- tioned point of beginning, to include all the Dunkard creek settle- ment and its waters. Constables, John Statler and Thomas Baldwin.
Eighth District .- From the mouth of Indian creek up the main left hand fork, and to extend to the bounds of the Sixth District. Constables, Rawley Martin and Samuel Kennedy.
Ninth District .- And that the Ninth District shall be as follows, to wit : All that part of the county above the Eighth District. Constables, John West and Jasper West.
On Monday June 27, 1831, the county court of Monon- galia divided the county into four constabulary districts, and constables were appointed, as follows :
" District No. 1 .- All that part of the county east of the Monon- gahela River, and northeast of a line commencing at the mouth of Cobun's creek, and up the same to the head thereof at the
564 HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.
Preston County line." Constables, George W. Dorsey, John Watts. Jeremiah Stillwell, George Jenkins, Nelson Berkshire and Madison McVicker.
" District No. 2 .- All that part of the county east of said river and southwest of the above described line." Constables, William Meredith, William Swearingen, Amos Jolliffe, Amos Meeks, Horatio Morgan and Benjamin Bradley.
" District No. 3 .- All that part of the county west of said river and northeast of a line running up Indian creek to the head thereof ; thence to Peter Tennant's mill; thence down Day's run
₱ to Dunkard creek ; thence with the creek to the Pennsylvania line." Constables, William M. Harrison, John D. Martin, Benj. H. Barker, Hosea Wade, Andrew Brown and Caleb Tanzey.
" District No. 4 .- All that part of the county west of said river. and southwest of the last above described line." Constables, John Musgrave, Thomas Wade, Haze Parsons, George Dawson, Thomas L. Boggess and William Lantz.
DISTRICT DIVISIONS.
In 1852, the county was divided into seven Magisterial Districts, designated by numbers, from one to seven, inclu- sive. The commissioners* to lay the county out into these dis- tricts was appointed by the General Assembly, April 2, 1852, and made the following report of their work :
"District No. 1 .- Bounded and described as follows, to wit : Begin- ning at the mouth of Booth's creek, on the Monongahela River, thence up said Booth's creek to the mouth of Jacob's saw-mill run; thence up said run to where the road leading from said run by Ben- jamin Jacob's smith shop to the Beverly turnpike comes into said pike; thence a straight line to the ford where the Rock Forge road crosses Cobun's creek ; thence with said Rock Forge road to where it intersects the Morgantown and West Union turnpike road, thence with said turnpike road to the Preston [County] line ; thence with the said Preston County line to the chestnut corner of Mon- ongalia, Marion and Preston counties; thence with the Marion
"The commissionery were: William Lantz, N. Pickenpaugh, Gen. E. S. : Pindall, Thomas Meredith, Alpheus Stuart, William Haines and William Price.
.
565
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
County line to the Monongahela River, and thence down said river to the beginning.
" District No. 2 .- Bounded and described as follows, to wit : Beginning at the mouth of Booth's creek, the beginning of District No. 1 ; thence down the Monongahela River to the mouth of West's run ; thence up said run, near by the house now occupied by Joseph Cummins, and with said road by Davis Weaver's to the Preston County line, and with said Preston County line to the West Union and Morgantown turnpike; thence with lines and boundaries of [District] No. 1, to the place of beginning.
"District No. 3 .- Bounded and described as follows, to wit: Be- ginning at the mouth of West's run, on the Monongahela River, thence down said river to the Pennsylvania line, and with the Pennsylvania line, crossing Cheat River, to the Preston line ; thence with the Preston County line, recrossing Cheat River, to District No. 2, and thence with the adjacent boundaries and lines of No. 2 back to the beginning at the mouth of West's Run.
" District No. 4 .- Bounded and described as follows, to wit: Be- ginning at the mouth of widow Brook's lane; thence with the road leading through said lane to the Morgantown and Evansville road; thence with said road to the Brandonville and Fishing creek pike; thence with said pike to where the old State Road leaves said pike, near Scott's bridge ; thence with the old State Road by the old Capt. Dent place on to where it comes to the new road leading by John Fetty's, and with the said new road to the line of No. 6 hereinafter described ; and with lines of No. 6, as here- inafter described, to the Pennsylvania line; thence with the Penn- sylvania line to the Monongahela River, and up said river to the place of beginning.
" District No. 5 .- Bounded and described as follows, to wit : Be- ginning at the mouth of widow Brook's lane on the Monongahela River, the place of beginning for No. 4, and with the boundary lines of No. 4 to where said line strikes the boundary line of No. 6; and thence with the line of No. 6 as hereinafter described to the Marion County line ; and thence with the Marion County line to the Monongahela river, and thence down the Monongahela river to the place of beginning.
"District No. 6 .- Bounded and described as follows, to wit :
-
566
HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.
Beginning on the Pennsylvania line at David A. Worley's stable ; thence crossing Dunkard creek at the ford there and with the Day's run road, commonly called the "graded road," by the route for said road as surveyed and graded, to the Marion County line ; thence with Marion County line to what is called the Kennedy corner ; thence a straight line to the mouth of the run on which Mrs. Dorcas Riggs lives ; thence up said run to its head and the top of the ridge separating the waters of Stewart's run and the run on which John Hawkins lives; thence with the top of the ridge dividing the waters of Doll's run, Stewart's run and Little Indian creek, keeping the highest ridge between Doll's run waters and Dent's run waters, and between Scott's run waters and Doll's run waters, until a knob not far from Smoky drain of Doll's run is reached ; thence down a ridge in a north-east direction, including the Postlewaite farm in No. 6, to the Jackson school-house on a run which puts into Dunkard creek at Morristown ; thence with the road leading therefromn to Morristown, to the Pennsylvania line, and with said Pennsylvania line to the place of beginning.
"District No. 7 .- Bounded and described as follows, to wit : Beginning at David A. Worley's stable on the Pennsylvania line, the place of beginning for No. 6, and with the line of No. 6 on the Day's run to the Marion County line ; and thence with the Marion County line to the Wetzel County line; and thence with the Wet- zel County line to the Pennsylvania line, and with the Pennsylva- nia line to the place of beginning."
The Legislature of West Virginia, on the 31st day of July, 1863, appointed William Price, Reuben Finnell, James T. McClaskey, Thomas Tarleton, Philemon L. Rice, Jesso Mercer and Jesse J. Fitch commissioners to divide Monon- galia County into townships, and designate them by names. Messrs. Price and Fitch did not serve, and Michael White and Harvey Staggers were appointed in their places. They marked off the magisterial districts, with but little variation, into townships, and gave them names. The First District became Clinton Township, the Second became Morgan, the
567
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
Third Union, the Fourth Cass, the Fifth Grant, the Sixth Clay, and the Seventh Battelle Township. Squire William Price, who made the survey, is dead, and nothing of it could be found after a laborious search among the county records.
In 1872, by the constitution adopted in that year, the " townships " were changed to "districts." We come now to the consideration of their individual history in the DIs- TRICT HISTORY of the county, which will commence with the next chapter.
BOROUGH AND DISTRICT HISTORY.
CHAPTER XXVII. MORGANTOWN BOROUGH .*
General Description-Theory of the Morgantown or Monongahela Valley Terraces-Early Settlers-Traditional Blockhouse- County Buildings-Town Established-Trustees-Incorpora- tion-Officers- Mills - Postmasters-Stores-Physicians-Mor- gantown Suspension Bridge-Gymnasium-Lecture Association -Religious Denominations-Schools and Officers-Growth of the Town-Suburbs-Statistics.
MORGANTOWN is situated where the Monongahela breaks through the foot-hills of the Alleghanies with majestic sweep, and was named for the adventure-loving and Indian- fighting pioneer, Zackwell Morgan. The borough stands on the eastern bank of the river, and on the north side of Decker's Creek. It occupies the broken surface of the second terrace of the Monongahela Valley. This terrace is one of a series of five along the Monongahela Valley, through which the river has re-cut its channel down to its present bed.
A well supported geological hypothesis now teaches that away back-hundreds or thousands of years-the Monon- gahela and its tributaries had cut down their channels nearly to their present beds; that then, two great ice
· Morgantown is now the only borough in the county. There never was but one other borough in the county. This was Granville, which was incorporated in 1849, but soon went down.
569
MORGANTOWN BOROUGH.
glaciers-one from the northwest and one from the north- east-came together near Cincinnati, and formed a great ice-sheet 600 feet high, whose southern rim crossed the Ohio and dammed up its waters into a vast glacial lake, whose outlet was through Kentucky, over the Licking River ridges. This lake backed its waters 300 feet above the site of Pittsburgh, and back-water extended from 250 to 275 feet high in the Monongahela and Cheat river valleys. The Rev. G. F. Wright, an eminent glacialist, has established the ice-dam, and Prof. I. C. White has shown that this glacial dam caused the Monongahela and Cheat to fill up for 275 feet above their present beds, with trash, clay, sand, gravel, drifted logs, boulders &c., &c., and that these ter- races are remnants of this great trash deposit. When the ice-barrier disappeared, Prof. White says, "the rivers re- cut their channels through the silt deposits, probably by spasmodic lowering of the dam, in such a manner as to leave the deposits in a series of more or less regular ter- races which in favored localities subsequent erosion has failed to obliterate, though from steep slopes it has removed their every trace.
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