History of Monongalia County, West Virginia, from its first settlements to the present time; with numerous biographical and family sketches, Part 49

Author: Wiley, Samuel T
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Kingwood, W.VA : Preston Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 856


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 49


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


661


UNION DISTRICT.


The district is drained by the Monongahela and Cheat and its branches, affording water power for machinery. Good springs abound. The surface is broken and hilly. The soil is productive when properly cared for. The hills carry a clay loam, while chestnut lands and the bottoms are more of a sand loam.


Heavy bodies of timber one day covered the hills, but the lumberman and the charcoal-burner have used large quantities ; yet enough remains for all needed uses. Oak and chestnut remain in largest quantities, with a fair repre- sentation of poplar and hickory, and some sugar, sycamore, ash and locust.


Fruit does well, excepting peaches. The cereal produc- tions are fair, with attention and culture. Wheat averages from 7 to 10 bushels to the acre; corn, 20 to 50; oats, 15 to 40. Rye, buckwheat and barley are not much cultivated. Potatoes do well, yielding from 50 to 75 bushels per acre. Grasses yield well. Stock-raising should be a profitable business, as stock thrives and does well.


The wild animals have left : the panther, bear, and wolf have not been seen for nearly fifty years. A few wild cats remain in mountain fastnesses, where a rattlesnake or cop- perhead sometimes is encountered. An occasional wild turkey, and now and then a deer, is seen along the moun- tain side.


Iron ore seems abundant throughout the district ; espec- ially in the eastern or south-western part, it exists in large quantities.


Limestone of good quality is to be found in different veins, varying in thickness from two to eighty-five or ninety feet.


Several veins of coal are found, of different thicknesses.


662


HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.


From the river past Stewarttown to near Easton, a large bed of the Connellsville coking coal is found, which, tested by actual experiment, yielded a good coke .*


GEOLOGY OF CHEAT RIVER CANON.


The following description of the geology of Cheat River Canon is taken from a paper read by Prof. I. C. White be- fore the American Philosophical Society, and afterward published in pamphlet form under the title of "Notes on the Geology of West Virginia." Prof. White traces the canon from Ice's Ferry to Albrights, in Preston County, but only so much of his paper is here reproduced as refers to the canon in this county :


"At this [Ice's] ferry the road leading from Morgantown, W. Va., to Uniontown, Pa., crosses the river which, emerging from the canon of No. XII, one mile above, now flows between low hills of the Barren measures with the Mahoning sandstone making bold cliffs along the immediate banks. About one-fourth of a mile above the ferry, a small steam puts into the west bank of Cheat over the Mahoning sandstone cliffs, and descending it from the Morgantown road near Mr. Bayles, the following succession may be seen (Sec. 1) :


1. Coal (crinoidal) 1'


2. Shales, gray. 10'


3. Shales, red .. 25'


4. Shales and concealed. 45'


5. Shales, brown, sandy. 10'


6. Coal, Bakerstown. 2'}


7. Sandy shales and shaly sandstone.


8. Upper Mahoning sandstone, very massive and peb- bly. 30'


50'


9. Shaly sandstone, intermingled with slaty coal and representing Brush Creek coal of Pa. 3'


10. Sandy shales. 7'


11. Lower Mahoning sandstone, visible. .85'


12. Concealed to level of Cheat River .. 10'


" The Upper Mahoning sandstone, No. 8, is very conglomerate at this locality, so much so that it was once extensively quarried for mill stones on the opposite (east) side of the river. The Upper


* Ninety bushels were hauled to Fairchance Furnace, where it was coked under direction of the Superintendent, R. L. Martin, who pronounced it a fair grade of coke.


663


UNION DISTRICT.


Freeport coal lies about 10 ft. below the level of Cheat River at the mouth of Bayles' run, where our section ends.


"In passing up the river south-eastward from the ferry, the rocks rise very rapidly toward the Chestnut Ridge axis, and the top of No. XII makes its appearance above river level in a massive dam- like wall just below Mr. Ley's, and not quite a mile above the ferry. The intervening Lower Coal Measures are not well exposed [thick- ness about 250 ft.]. The only coals in these measures here are the Upper Freeport, and one that comes about 160 ft. below it, being 13-2 ft. thick, and very excellent coal. It is either the Middle or Lower Kittanning, most probably the latter. Above Mr. Ley's, the rocks rise about 400 ft .- 450 ft. to the mile, and bring the top of the Mauch Chunk shales (No. XI)'above river level at the mouth of Quarry run, a small stream that empties into the east bank of Cheat, one mile and a half above Ice's Ferry. It cuts a fine ex- posure through No. XII, and in descending to the river along its right bank this section was got (Sec. 2) :


1. Sandstone, massive, Homewood, top of XII. 25'


2. Concealed 40'


3. Very massive pebbly sandstone 5'


(coal 0' 10")


4. Coal < sandstone 0' 3" > Quakertown coal? 1' 4" (coal 0' 3") 10'


5. Black, slaty shale.


6. Sandstone, gray, massive. 20'


7. Shale with streaks of coal .. 1'


8. Sandstone, grayish-white, massive,


base of No. XII. 15'


9. Shales, green, containing I. O., top of No.


20'


10'


10. Red shales.


11. Greenish sandy shales and flaggy sand- stone 60'


12. Concealed to mouth of old oil well boring 25'


13. Flaggy sandstone and shales (Mr. Ley's autliority) in oil boring. 185'


14. Limestone, Umbral, Mountain, &c ...... 85'


15. Sandstone, ( Vespertinc, No. X) to bot- tom of hole 700'


.


Pottsville


177'


conglom- Mauch 2


-


erate. Chunk Shales.


"Immediately below this last stratum [No. 3], there comes a very interesting little bed 'of coal which is quite persistent for many miles along Cheat River, being generally separated into two lay- ers by a thin sandstone or shale. It [this vein] never gets thicker than 2 ft. and seems to be quite pure, simulating the 'block' coals


· 664


HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.


in physical aspect. Since it appears to come at the same geological horizon as the Quakertown coal of Lawence County, Penn., I have doubtfully referred it to that bed. At the horizon of No. 9 occur val- uable deposits of iron ore all along the Cheat river mountains on each side of Chestnut Ridge, and they were formerly extensively mined and used at the Henry Clay, Laurel, Green Spring and other furnaces. It is known as the 'Swisher,' and 'Mountain' Ore, and was mined by both drifting and stripping, the bed sometimes at- taining a thickness of two feet.


"No. 15 is very probably not all No. X, but the lower portion doubtless penetrates the Catskill or Chemung, if the foriner be ab- sent as Prof. Stevenson claims."


"In passing up Cheat River from the mouth of Quarry run, the rocks rise quite rapidly, and at one-half mile south-east from the locality of the last section, all of the Mauch Chunk shale, and nearly half of the Mountain Limestone have appeared above water- level, where on the left bank of Cheat, they reveal this succession (Sec. 3) :


1. Sandstone, current-bedded . . 10')


2. Concealed


3. Red Shale . 10' {


4. Limestone, fossiliferous, impure 8'


5. Shales, red and green . 15'


6. Shales, marly 5'


7. Limestone, grayish-white, massive . 25' .


8. Shale, calcareous, very fossiliferous 1'


9. Limestone, massive, gray, to level of Cheat River (850' A. T. by Bar) 15'


15'


Shale.


Limestone


Mauch Chunk Mountain


"Continuing south-eastwards up the river, the rocks still rise with great rapidity, and at one mile and a half above the last locality, only 2} miles from where the top of No. XII first emerges from the bed of Cheat, we get the following succession in descend- ing the almost vertical wall on the right bank of the river (Sec. 4) :


1. Very massive pebbly sandstone 20'


2. Concealed . No. XII.


3. Sandstone, massive, coarse 20' (165'


4. Concealed . 45'


5. Shales and concealed 20"


6. Red shale . 10'


7. Sandstone, greenish, current-bedded 165' 50'


8. Red, and green shales and concealed


9. Limestone, impure 10'


10. Shales, green and red . 25'


11. Flaggy sandstone and shales 15'


12. Mountain limestone, in layers 1'-10' thick, separated by thin calcareous shales · 95'


Chunk & shale.


Mauchi


1


UNION DISTRICT.


13. Sandstone, finely laminated, and con- taining pebbles of limestone 10' 5'


14. 'Silicious limestone,' grayish-white


15. Sandstone, flaggy


16. Sandstone, massive, pebbly, current- bedded


17. Concealed to level of Cheat River (875 A. T.)


10'


No. X. (305'


80'


200'


"About one-fourth inile above the last locality, another section taken on the same (east) bank of Cheat River reveals the follow- ing structure (Sec. 5) :


1. Massive sandstone, and conglomerate,


making lower half of No. XII . 100'


2. Concealed ר'50


3. Sandstone, flaggy, and current-bedded 160'


4. Layers of breccia . 2'


5. Concealed and red shale 40'


6. Limestone, impure ·


7. Red shale, and concealed 35'


8. Mountain Limestone, visible 85


9. Concealed 25'


10. 'S'ilicious limestone,' 10/ .


11. Sandstone, massive, pebbly 100' No. X.


12. Concealed with flaggy sandstone at base


13. Concealed to Cheat River (885' A. T.) 150')


"It [Silicious Limestone, No. 10] is a light gray rock, containing possibly 40-50 per cent of lime, and would make as good pavement blocks as that from Westmoreland County, Penn., so extensively used in Pittsburgh and vicinity.


"The rocks still rise quite rapidly south-east wards as we approach the Chestnut Ridge axis which crosses Cheat River about one mile and a quarter above the locality of Sec. 5.


"About one-half mile south-east from the locality of the last sec- tion, a small rivulet falls over the base of No. XII. and completely exposes the beds at the junction of No. XI. with the former, exhib- iting the following in descending the steep east bluff of the river (Sec. 6):


1. Conglomerate, very massive . 100%


2. Sandstone, coarse, few pebbles 50' No. XII.


3. Shales, sandy, buff, contains some I.O 20' (180'


4. Sandstone, massive, buff 10/


5. Shales, yellow, and green, contains I.O 30/5


6. Sandstone, greenish, somewhat flaggy 140'


7. Layer of breccia, calcareous 2'


8. Sandstone, green, flaggy 20'


9. Layer of breccia, calcareous 1'


10. Shales, red and green 45


11. Limestone, impure 10


12. Red shales, and flaggy sandstone · 45'


Mauch


Chunk & shale


Mauch


292' XI.


5'


. .


Chunk & shale


435'


665


666


HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.


13. Mountain Limestone


14. 'Silicious limestone' and Pocono 100'


sandstone 125' No. X


15. Concealed to level of Cheat River 450' 575'


"A few rods farther south from the last locality another meas- urement of the beds gave this result (Sec. 7):


1. Massive, pebbly sandstone 150/) No. XII.


2. Shales and shaly sandstone, buff 35'' 185'


3. Shales, greenish, sandy 30^


4. Sandstone, greenish-gray, flaggy 90'


5. Red and green shales 13'


6. Sandstone, greenish, massive at top,


flaggy and shaly below 65'


7. Brecciated limestone 2'


8. Red and green shales 25'


9. Blue sandy shales, and green flaggy SS . 25'


10. Limestone, impure, fossiliferous


10'


11. Red and green shales and sandstone


12. Mountain Limestone


(a.) Massive limestone in layers 1'-5' thick, sparingly fossiliferous . .


(b.) Shaly limestone and calcareous shales, very fossiliferous, especially rich in Productus, Spirifer, Athyris, Lopho- phyllum and Crinoidal columns


(c.) Limestone, gray, good, few fossils


(d.) Shales and limestone


13. 'Silicious limestone,' passing gradually into sandstone below


30'


No. X. $605'


"Here the 'Silicious limestone ' runs down into the underlying sandstone to a depth of 30 feet and finally fades into sandstone so imperceptibly that it is impossible to fix the line between the two.


"Just above this locality, about one-fourth mile, the Chestnut Ridge Axis crosses Cheat River, four and a half miles from Ice's Ferry. At the latter locality, the top of No. XII. is 300 feet under the river, while here at its axis its top comes about 1,300 feet above Cheat River, or 1,400 feet higher than at Ice's Ferry, since the stream falls nearly 100 feet between the two points.


" Here at the crest of the axis, the Great Conglomerate makes a broad and gentle arch, being alınost horizontal for nearly a mile and a half. Its outcrop is traversed as usual by great intersecting fissures, which are often 3 to 4 feet wide, and separate the stratum into immense blocks, some of which, 50 feet on a side, have toppled over into the steeply sloping edge of the canon, and look from a distance as though a slight push would dislodge them into the great chasm beneath."


Shale.


40' r


25'


11 !.


5'


45' 35'


14. Sandstone, massive, pebbly, current- bedded, making cliffs 100'


15. Concealed to level of Cheat River .


475'


Chunk


Mauch


299'


667


UNION DISTRICT.


Within the bounds of this district is situated some his- toric scenery, so beautiful and sublime as to instantly kindle the artistic eye and fill with enthusiam every sympathetic beholder. Prof. White gives a fine description of this at- tractive region in his Notes, as follows :


"The scenery along the crest of this great arch is the grandest and most picturesque to be found on this river, famous for its wildness for a distance of nearly 200 miles. There are two points from which the outlook is especially fine. One of these, known as


HANGING CLIFF VIEW,


is on the east side of the river and about one mile above the locality of the last section. Here the river bends sharply westward and a long, narrow ledge of No. XII. sandstone, extends in a bold cliff far out into the main course of the canon. From this elevated point, the eye takes in a radius of 25 to 30 miles for nearly three-quarters of the horizon ; to the south-east one looks up through the great gorges carved by the river out of Laurel Hill and · Briery mountain, to the vicinity of Rowlesburg (30 miles distant), where on a clear day, the white puffs of steam and smoke from the B. & O. R. R. engines may be distinctly seen, as the heavily laden trains wind up the steep slopes of the Alleghanies to Cranberry Summit, the lofty peaks of whose surrounding mountains loom proudly against the horizon ; to the west and north, the eye has an unobstructed view down the canon and out over its fast receding " walls, to the great plateau of the Coal Measures, which sculptured into endless forms of hill and dale stretches away to the limit of vision, in delightful contrast to the rugged moun- tains on the east. Add to this the wild dash of the river as it rushes along over its rocky bed more than a thousand


668


HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.


feet almost vertically below, disappearing in a silver thread far up and down the canon, and we have a picture enchant- ing in the extreme. The other point is


BROCK'S VIEW,


named in honor of the late Dr. H. W. Brock, of the W. Va. University, who first discovered the beauties of this portion of the canon. It is on the opposite side of the river from the Hanging Cliff, nearly one mile below, and is scarcely inferior in grandeur to the latter.


"In descending from Hanging Cliff View to the river the following structure is visible (Sec. 8):


1. Massive conglomerate 75') No. XII.


2. Concealed to base of XII 110') 185'


3. Concealed 190' Mauch


4. Shales, red, green, &c., containing an impure limestone just below centre 100'


5. Sandstone, greenish-gray, current- bedded 10'


6. Mountain Limestone


7. Concealed, with occasional showing of limestone and shales 60'


8. Concealed to level of Cheat river . 425'


Chunk


300'


Shale


95'


"In descending from the same Hanging Cliff to a point one-half mile further up the river, and just below the 'Bea- ver Hole,' the following succession was observed (Sec. 9):


1. Massive conglomerate, visible 65' No. XII


2. Concealed to base of No. XII . 120', 185'


3. Concealed 60'


4. Sandstone, green, flaggy 25' Mauch Chunk


5. Concealed, but showing frequent out- crops of green, flaggy sandstone . 195'


295'


6. Sandstone, green, massive, visible 5' Shale.


7. Concealed, 10'


8. Mountain Limestone . 120'


9. 'Selicious Limestone ' 39'


10. Pocono sandstone, massive and pebbly at top, hard and flaggy below to the level of Cheat river . 425'


"The Mountain Limestone contains some extensive cav- erns along Cheat river, and one not far from the locality of this section has been named the


669


UNION DISTRICT.


EAGLE CAVE,


from the fancied resemblance of one of its stalagmitic accu- mulations to the outspread of an eagle. It has been fol- lowed into the mountain side for several hundred yards, and those who have explored it, report some extensive rooms in this cavern."


At this point in the Notes the Preston County line is reached, and further descriptions are omitted as being for- eign to the purpose of this work.


MOUND BUILDERS.


Some bones found on Cheat River, it is reported, would indicate the presence of this race in Union, but beyond this and the fact of their being on Cheat River, nothing definite can be given or found.


INDIAN OCCUPATION.


The Indians used the district, like the rest of the county, for a hunting ground. Stone-pile graves were once numer- ous in the district. A very large and peculiar one is still remaining on the lands of James P. McClaskey.


PIONEERS AND EARLY SETTLEMENTS.


From 1769 to 1777, we find the following persons making settlements in Union :


PIONEERS.


1768-David McNeal 1770-Wm. Stewart 1772-John Hoard


1769-Eph. Richardson 1770-Robert Lowther 1773-Samuel Ruble


1869-John Collins 1770 -- Moses Templin 1773-John Sulsor


1769-John Pierpont 1771-Joseph Barnett 1773-Thomas John


1770-Samuel Sutton 1771-Samuel Lewellin. 1773-Robert Galloway


1770-Francis Warman 1772-Job Sims 1774-Robert Curry


1770-Thomas Craft 1772-Jon. Reese 1774-Jacob Rogers


1770-Robt. Chalmbers 1772-Jacob Clark 1776-John McFarland


1770-Philemon Askins 1772-George Parker


1776 -- Chas. Donaldson


1770-John Scott 1772-Thomas Evans


1776-John Daugherty


1770-Edmond West 1772-William Norris


William Stewart and Thomas John settled near Stewart-


670


HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.


town ; John Pierpont one mile from Easton; Chalmbers settled at Ice's Ferry and sold to John Ramsey. The early settlers called all of Union east of Cheat "Cheat Neck," on account of its great bend ; and all of Union west of Cheat was called " Forks of Cheat."


FORT DINWIDDIE.


This fort stood just beyond Major W. W. John's resi- dence, and is supposed to have been sometimes called Rogers's Fort. It commanded a fine view, and was of some size. Why it was called Dinwiddie no one knows. Tra- dition has it that Indians once came to attack it from the east side of Cheat, but that the river was so high that they could not cross it.


PIERPONT'S FORT.


This fort was built on the Pierpont farm, and stood on some spot between the residence of the Anderson heirs and Pierpont's church. One or two spots have been pointed out as the site of the fort.


GROWTH FROM 1770 TO 1884.


From 1770 to 1808, the growth of the territory of the district was very slow. In the latter year, Jackson's Iron Works were commenced; and, until 1850, the iron industry accelerated the development of the district. Since 1850, the growth of the district has been gradual but slow, want of transportation killing the iron industry.


Of the seven districts into which the county is divided, Union is the third in size, and contains 38,590 acres; sixth in population, containing 1,707 in 1880; seventh in wealth, containing $511,087 worth of real and personal property in 1883.


671


UNION DISTRICT.


CIVIL LIST-MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT OFFICERS, 1852-1863.


JUSTICES.


1852.


1856.


1860:


Charles H. Burgess


Charles H. Burgess


William W. John


John M. Cobun


John Rude


John Bowers


William Robinson


William Donaldson


William Donaldson


Seth Stafford


James T. McClaskey


James T. McClaskey,


CONSTABLES.


1852.


1856.


1860.


Henry S. Coombs


Isaac F. Roby


William Robinson


John Bly


John Bly


Thomas D. Hawker


TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, 1863-1873.


1863,


JUSTICES .* 1867.


1871.


James T. McClaskey


Elihu H. Ridgeway


Elihu H. Ridgeway John N. Dawson


CONSTABLES.+


1863.


1867.


1871.


Joseph Hartman


J. I. Swindler


G. F. Moore


E. C. Donaldson 1865.


A. D. Lyons


1869,


J. D. Colebank James Ferrell


W. L. Jaco


F. L. Stafford


SUPERVISORS.


1863-Geo. V. Coombs


1866-Wm. Donaldson 1869-G. D. Ridgeway


1864-James Hare


1867-Wm. Donaldson


1870-W. I. Vandervort


1865-Geo. V. Coombs


1868-G. D, Ridgeway 1871-Henry S. Coombs


INSPECTORS OF ELECTIONS.


1863-Joseph Smell


1866-Jacob Newman 1869-Jacob Newman


Jesse Lewellen


Jesse Lewellen Thos. M. Jarrett


1864-Joseph Smell Jesse Lewellen Jesse Lewellen Thos. M. Jarrett


1865-Joseph Smell


1868-Jacob Newman


1871-Jacob Newman


Thos. M. Jarrett


Jesse Lewellen Thos. M. Jarrett


OVERSEERS OF POOR.


1863-67-John N. Baker 1867-72-William H. Stewart


TOWNSHIP CLERKS. 1863-65-F. A. Coombs 1867-69-F. A. Coombs 1869-72-A. C. Rude 1865-67-J. N. Dawson


* 1865, E. H. Ridgeway, to fill vacancy.


+ To fill vacancies : 1864, Owen Dunn and John Sheets; 1866, John Sheets and J. I. Swindler; 1868, W. L. Jaco; 1870, W. Fowler and J. L. Conn.


1867-Jacob Newman


1870-Jacob Newman


Leonard Warman


John N. Dawson


672 HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.


TOWNSHIP , TREASURERS.


1863-65-John Rude 1866-Joseph Smell 1869-Wm. Donaldson 1865-Enoch Moore 1867-69-A. C. Rude


DISTRICT OFFICERS, 1873-1884. JUSTICES. *1872-John N. Dawson 1876-Albert C. Rude 1880-Geo. W. Laishley Albert C. Rude Oliver Bayles E. H. Ridgeway


CONSTABLES.


*1872-Wm. E. Houston 1876-George F. Moore 1880-William Mack F. L. Stafford J. G. Phillips


POLLING PLACES.


It seems the Court-house was the voting place until 1833, when Ross's and Jarrett's were established as polls. Jar- rett's was near John N. Baker's, t and was a poll until about 1852, when Loftus (now Dr. N. H. Tripplet's) was estab- lished in its place till 1864, when we find the poll at Bur- gess's ; about 1865, it was moved to Bowers't store where it now is-seven and three-fourth miles north-east from Morgantown.


The poll at Ross's § continued from 1833 till_1868, when we find it at Easton, where it now is.


STEWARTTOWN.||


Stewarttown lies along the west base of a high cone-like hill surmounting a long high ridge. It is seven miles north- east from the county-seat. The town was laid out by


* Elected August 22, 1872, to take office January 1, 1873.


t John N. Baker is a son of George Baker, a gunsmith, who came from Lancaster, Penn., to Morgantown about a hundred years ago. He owned and lived in a log house where John H. Hoffman's residence is. He married Elizabeth Norris and had ten daughters and two sons-George and John N. John N. married Nancy, daughter of George Norris. Their children are: Frances E., wife of Dr. Geo. B. Morris ; Levarah G., wife of Dr. N. H. Tripplett ; Harriet, wife of John H. Bowers; Andrew C. and John Henry.


# John H. Bowers came from near New Geneva, Penn., in 1840, and married Levarah G. Baker. He started his present store in 1862.


§ Enoch Ross came about 1813, and married Elizabeth Miller. Their son, Robert C. Ross, lives on the home farm, about four miles from Morgantown.


I It seems that Middletown at first was intended for the name of the town.


UNION DISTRICT. 673


Charles Stuart* (now written Stewart) sometime before 1815. On May Sth of that year, he sold lots Nos. 8, 9, 10 and 11 on the west side of the main road in the new town, to John Rhodes for the sum of $300. On February 27, 1816, he sold lot No. 7 to Daniel Stewart for $100; and on the 11th of March, Charles Stuart and Jane his wife sold to Christian Pixler for $150 "three half-acre lots, on the town called Middletown (by some called Stuarts Town)". They were lots Nos. 2, 3 and 4.


In May, 1819, Lemuel John (father of Lancelot John) opened the first store, and Joseph Victor sold goods for him. From the store day-book we quote the following prices :


Coffee, 50 cents lb .; calico, 62} cents a yard ; a twist of tobacco, 6} cents ; fine comb, 31} ; sugar, 182 per lb .; muslin, 75 cents per yd .; a scythe, $2.50 ; a nutmeg cost 12 cents, while copperas and indigo sold at $4 per lb.


Afterward Henry Wise brought a stock of goods to the town. About 1836, John W. Sturgis kept a store; about 1839, Johns & Evans, whose store burnt. John Evans and one Witherow were storekeepers in the place. In 1854, A. J. Stewart kept a store, followed, in 1855, by A. P. Stewart, whose store burnt. Then came H. S. Coombs, John Hagans, one Wegley, John I. Conn, - Coombs, Dr. G. W. John, E. W. St. Clair, and, in 1876, Snyder & St. Clair (E. M. Snyder and E. W. St. Clair).


* Charles Stuart was the son of William Stuart, who was born in County Cork, Ire- land, in 1727, and came, in 1745, to Lancaster County, Penn., and, in 1750, married Elizabeth Givens. They came out to Monongalia about 1770, with their family of three children : 1. John, who settled on Stewart's run, Grant District; 2. Nancy, who mar- ried Robert Parks and went to Ohio ; 3. Charles, who rode a yearling calf across the mountains. They had five more children : 4. Robert, who went to Kentucky, and was a scout and hunter under Boone ; he married a Miss Dunlavy, sister of Louis Dunlavy, the head of the Shaker Society of Kentucky ; Daniel and Alexander, who were twins; 5. Daniel was a eaptain in the War of 1812, and married Ann Kelso; 6. Alexander, in 1794, married Rachel Brown, and went to Fayette County, Penn., and one of their sons, William, married Belinda John, and one of their sons is A. J. Stewart, of Smithfield, Penn .; 7. Elizabeth, who married James Bennett; 8. Sarah, who married Thomas Mc- Kinley.




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