USA > West Virginia > Preston County > History of Preston County (West Virginia) > Part 28
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The great Cheat River cavern is situated on that stream, on the east side, opposite the "Beaver Hole, " and its mouth is full a quarter of a mile from the water's edge, and is reached by a precipitous and almost perpendicular ascent. The cave is at the base of a towering cliff of rocks, under which it extends. Its mouth is 14 feet high by'5 feet wide. A fine stream of water runs through it. This cave has never been explored, yet its extent is conjectured to be considerable.
Traces of ochre exist in the county, also saltpetre and cop- peras ; while a mineral paint, a reddish-brown in color, is abundant in Kingwood District.
Traditions and old men's stories tell of lead, zinc, copper, gold and silver existing in paying quantities in different parts of Preston. The geological structure of the county does not admit of their existence in any quantity in any part. Spruce
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Creek seems the most favorable locality for lead or silver, and presents faint indications of a vein of anthracite coal, which, if it exists in any quantity, will be far more valuable than all the stores of precious metals on its waters. Lead has been found in several localities, but indications are that it is not in workable quantities. Traces of zinc and copper exist, but are traces only, not quantities.
In deep hollows and wild ravines, legend tells of bright gold coined and shining silver moulded into dollars, yet care- ful examination proves that either exist only as a faint trace. and not as the outcrop of any vein ; while the shining pyrites and the white scales of mica have lured many a foolish man away from profitable employment in quest of treasure-wealth only existing in tradition. While the county possesses no treasures in the precious metals, yet she has a wealth of waters pure and invigorating. Several calybeate springs exist, and at Irondale Furnace a spring was struck in dig- ging a well, whose waters are considered by eminent physi- cians as an excellent tonic and a remedy for kidney and liver diseases, having already effected several remarkable cures. Already it is being shipped in small quantities to many places.
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HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
CHAPTER XVII. GRANT DISTRICT.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION -EARLY SETTLEMENTS - MORRIS'S FORT - ROADS- ORGANIZATIONS : MAGISTERIAL, TOWNSHIP, DISTRICT - TOWNS -MAIL SERVICE - FURNACES --- SALT WELL ---- OIL WELL -CHEAT RIVER CAVE - RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS- SCHOOLS.
The territory of Grant was embraced in the First (magis- terial) District when Preston County was divided in 1852. And in 1863, in order of division of the county as then made, it became without any change of boundaries Pleasant Township. By a change of designation merely, in 1873, it became Grant District. It is bounded on the north by Pennsylvania, on the east by Maryland, on the south by Pleasant District, and on the west by Cheat River, which separates it from Valley District.
Grant District lies within the celebrated Ligonier Valley. On the east Laurel Hill and on the west Chestnut Ridge loom up, while through the center high and broad-topped hills extend. The surface is broken, except in the eastern part, where a high elevated plain, called "the glades, " stretches away to the foot of Laurel Hill Ridge. On the hills the soil may be classed as a clay loam, while along the creek bottoms and on the chestnut ridges, it is a sand loam, and when properly tilled yields fair crops of wheat, corn, rye, buckwheat, oats, and barley. One day, it was supposed wheat could not be raised, but now it is a regular crop, and averages from 7 to 10 bushels per acre.
The climate is healthy, but naturally cold in winter from
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the high elevation of the district. The winters are mostly open and broken, with cold spells. The district is well sup- plied with water. Springs are abundant, and Big Sandy Creek, with its tributaries, Laurel Run from the west, and Little Sandy from the east, afford water-power for saw- and grist-mill at many different points.
Timber is still plentiful, though much has been destroyed. Oak is most abundant on the hills, and chestnut on the ridges ; while sugar, ash, poplar, sycamore, and cherry are to be found in places.
Coal is abundant in every part of the district, the Upper and Lower Freeport veins ranging from 22 to 6 feet in thickness.
Limestone is abundant in the eastern, western and north- ern portions of the district ; in the east and north ranging from 3 to 5 feet, while in the western portion the great 100- foot vein comes to the surface.
Iron ore is also abundant in the western and northern por- tions, and is pronounced to be an article of superior quality-
Fruit does well. Apple orchards are on nearly every farm: peaches are only an occasional crop, while pears and cherries yield well wherever planted ; and small fruits, such as cur- rants, gooseberries, strawberries, etc., do well. The hardier varieties of the grape seldom fail to bear an abundant crop. Blackberries and whortleberries are abundant on the moun- tain ridges.
The panther, bear buffalo, elk, and wolf once roamed over the hills, but have long since disappeared. Wild-cats are the most formidable animals left. Deer still remains in limited numbers, and in the north rattlesnakes and copper-snakes are found.
Horses, cattle and sheep do well, and the district is well adapted to dairying and sheep raising.
Indian Graves and Trails. - Grant as a hunting ground did not possess attraction sufficient for the dusky sons of the forest to cause them to locate permanently on its soil. Back of Bruceton on land owned by Mr. Bell, of Pittsburgh, are one
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HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
or two very large Indian stone-pile graves that never have been opened. Arrow- and spear-heads are found all over the district. An old Indian trail came down Big Sandy Creek, and Mccullough's old path coming up Big Sandy and pass- ing through Wymp's Gap, was originally the great northern Indian trail.
Early Settlements. - The first permanent settlement in the county was made in Grant, on Big Sandy Creek, by John Judy in 1769, on the Squire Henry Smith farm; and a son or brother of his settled on the Sliger farm in 1772. Martin Judy, in 1780 settled on Sandy, near the site of Clifton Mills. The Judys removed to Ohio, and none can tell of their re- lationship or whence they came.
Contemporaneous with Judy was James Clark, who came from Ireland and settled at what is now known as the Pysel place on Big Sandy, above Clifton Mills. His wife, nee Mary Ramsey, dying in 1770, he returned to Ireland, and three years afterward married Eleanor Kirkpatrick, and sailed for America. Their children were Samuel, Isabella (wife of Colonel Patrick McGrew and mother of the Hon. James C. McGrew), Robert, William, Mary, and Isaac. Clark died in 1808, aged 76, and was buried on his farm. His widow removed to Indiana.
The second settlement in Grant and the second in the county was made in 1770, on the farm of Jesse Spurgin, in "the Glades," by Samuel Worral, Sr., and one Worley, a sickle-maker from Philadelphia. Gabriel Greathouse, Zebu- lon Hogue, and Thomas Cheney settled around him, and in a year or so Richard Morris came in, and in 1774, on his farm, now occupied by Shipley Mitchell, Fort Morris was built, and the settlement went by the name of the "Sandy Creek Glades," being on the headwaters of Little Sandy. James Spurgin came to the glades in 1784, from Wills Creek, Maryland, and bought out Samuel Worral. Worral left, and nothing authentic can be obtained concerning him or his neighbors, Morris, Greathouse, Worley, Hogue, and Cheney. as to where they went.
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Spurgin's wife was Elizabeth Browning, an aunt to the celebrated Meshach Browning, the great hunter. They had two sons, Jonathan, who went to the Kanawha, and Jesse, who married Catherine Spahr, and is the ancestor of the Spurgins of Grant. His son Jesse now occupies the home- farm, and is a stock-dealer.
David and Ephraim Frazee and the Archers came about 1784. Frederick Spahr took up a large tract of land, and his daughter Susanna married John Cuppett, who came from Bedford County, Pennsylvania, in 1723. They had several daughters who went west; Daniel (the father of Alpheus Cuppett), John, Jacob, and Henry.
Phillip Beerbower, the ancestor of that family, came about 1820 ; and about the same time William Robinson, whose wife was Mary Payton, came from England and bought land here. He raised a large and respectable family. One of his children was the Rev. John C. Robinson, lately deceased, whose sons Albert M. and M. W. occupy the old home-farm.
In 1800, John Scott came from Baltimore and settled in the glades. He was elected justice of the peace and served until his death in 1828. One of his sons, John, represented Preston County in the Virginia legislature several terms, and died in Richmond on the evening of the day Fort Sumter was fired on by the Confederates. Another son, Thomas Scott, was a contractor on the turnpikes from 1835 to 1840 ; served as postmaster and justice of the peace, and now re- sides at Brandonville,
The next settlements of which we have any records, were made about 1781, on Big Sandy, in the vicinity of Brandon- ville and Bruceton. John and Samuel Robinett settled south of Brandonville, and John's wife Catharine was buried in 1783, on the farm now owned by Samuel Forquer. John Robinett, it is said, once made 1000 rails in a day on a wager of five gallons of whiskey, They sold to Robert Forman, a quaker, whose wife was Mary Naylor, who came from Bal- timore. One of their sons, Isaac, died at Fort Meigs in the
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HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
War of 1812. Isaac was the father of John Forman, who now resides at Bruceton.
The Robinetts sold also the land whereon Brandonville stands to Colonel Jonathan Brandon, who came with his brother, Alexander Brandon, in 1786, from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Alexander was the father of William and Walter Brandon. With the Brandons came Patrick McGrew, whose children in after years all removed to the West, except Colonel James, who married Isabella Clark, and remained. One of his sons is the Hon. James C. McGrew, another is Isaac McGrew, who now occupies the old home- farm, near Brandonville.
Near where Buceton now is William and Robert Conner settled before 1790. Robert married Elizabeth Forman, and his son William was a justice of the peace for years, and was the oldest justice when the change of the constitution .in 1829-30 cut him off from being sheriff. His son, 'Squire Samuel Conner, now occupies the home place.
Samuel Morton came from West Chester County, Penn- sylvania, in 1791, and owned the first mill on Big Sandy Creek, at Bruceton. He raised a large family, who nearly all went West, and one of his sons, Thomas, married Rebecca Squires, and it is claimed was the grandfather of Senator Oliver P. Morton. But two representatives of the family remain East -Samuel in Pennsylvania, and Nancy, an aged lady, in Grant.
James Walls, the ancestor of the Walls family, about 1770 settled on the east side of Cheat, and founded the Walls Settlement. In 1786, John Willits, of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, whose wife was Rachel Hughes, settled about one mile east of where Brandonville now is. He died in 1826 at the age of 78 years. His family all removed from the county, except a son, Jesse, who remained and married Rebecca Forman. His family mostly left the county. Ami, Owen, Ezra, and Rachel went West. Israel died in Preston, and Ruth, the wife of David Frankhouser, is still living.
About 1786, the McCollums came to the Sliger farm, near
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Big Sandy, and John Harader to the vicinity of Clifton Mills, from Germany.
Nicholas Frankhouser came from Maryland to the vicinity of Brandonville in 1800, being originally from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His wife was Susanna Broadstone. He died in 1850 at the age of 81. Three of his sons, old men, are still living in Grant - David, Peter, and Jacob.
About 1800, Samuel Darby came from New Jersey to the vicinity of Hopewell. His son John was the father of Sam- uel T. Darby, who now resides near that place. In 1818, the Rev. George Hagans came to Brandonville.
Jacob Smith, Sr., came from Somerset County, Penna., about 1825, and bought the large scope of land, a thousand acres or more, now known as the Smith farms, two miles north of Bruceton. His son Henry was a prominent man in the district, and was a justice of the peace, and owned a large amount of land now in charge of his son Lucian, upon which is located a strong sulphur spring of reputed curative properties. Josiah, another son, is still living, and resides upon an adjoining farm, a part of the original tract.
A few years after this, Christian Maust came from Mary- land, and settled near Brandonville. His wife was a Seese, and one of his sons, George Maust, was one of the managers of Greenville Furnace, and afterward of the Virginia Fur- nace. He introduced and sold a large number of the first cooking stoves used in Preston and adjoining counties. He resides near St. Peter's Church, and being well informed in the law, is much sought by many for legal advice and to manage cases before the magistrates.
From 1830 on, the growth of population was rapid, and those coming in were not entitled to the name of early settlers.
Old Fort Morris. - In 1774, in the "Sandy Creek Glades,"" this fort was standing on the land of Richard Morris. In fear of a threatened attack from the Indians, the whites from Washington County, Pa., and from towards Morgantown flocked here for safety. It was a stockade fort, on a run
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HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
emptying into Little Sandy, graced by the more practical than euphonious name of Hog Run. After a time the men returned to their clearings, but left the most of their women and children at the fort with a small guard. They drank of the water from the run in low marshy ground, and had some- thing like ague. The old fort is gone, and hardly a vestige remains to mark its site. A cabin or two enclosed by saplings eight or ten feet high, driven into the earth two or three feet, enclosing about an acre on the run, constituted the fort. It stood about a quarter of a mile on the left of the Brandon- ville and Somerfield road, and about the same distance from the "Two Churches," opposite the dwelling lately occupied by Lot Spurgin.
Roads. - The earliest road of which we have any record was the "old Sandy Creek road." Crossing the State line and running through William Thomas's place, and on through the farm of Alpheus Cuppett and passing within a mile of Fort Morris, it went to the " Little Crossings," in Maryland. An old Morgantown road came by Hopewell above Bruceton, and on to the glades, past Jesse Spurgin's to the "Little Crossings." On this road were only two stopping-places from Morgantown to the "Little Crossings. " A man by name of Wilson, where Lahamar Wolf lives, near Hopewell, kept a stand, and at Jesse Spurgin's was another. An old road ran from Cheat to the Beaver Dams (in Pleasant), and thence to the house of Jonathan Brandon. Next was the old Brandonville and Kingwood road, with a couple of "mud pikes " across the mountain northward to Haydentown and Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Then came the turnpike from Morgantown to Brandonville, in 1836, and the turnpikes from Brandonville, through the glades, to Somerfield ; and to Kingwood. In 1857-8, a turnpike was made from Bran- donville to Cranberry Summit. Three tolerable roads lead across the mountain to Pennsylvania.
Organizations. - From 1818 to 1852, the territory of the district was not recognized as a distinct part of the county. Colonel Jonathan Brandon was the first justice of the peace
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within its limits of whom we have any account. John Scott, William Conner, Harrison Hagans, and Henry Smith were justices. In 1852, the territory of Grant was organized into the First District. In 1852, Harrison Hagans, Henry Smith, William McKee and James Hill were justices.
1856- William McKee, John Scott, Charles Kantner, and William Glover, justices.
1860 - William McKee and Harrison Hagans, justices.
On the 10th of July, 1863, a committee, of which Harrison Hagans was a member, established the First District by the name of Grant, in honor of General U. S. Grant, and ran its boundary lines (as still exist) as follows: Beginning at the mouth of Big Sandy Creek on the east side of Cheat River, thence up the creek, with the meanders thereof, to the mouth of Little Sandy Creek ; thence up the last named creek, with its meanders, to Fike's mill; thence s. 81 degrees e. 740 perches to a chestnut at the mouth of Glover's lane ; thence s. 43 de- grees e. 169 perches to a gum ; thence s. 64 degrees e. 120 perches to a stone in the Maryland line ; thence, with said line north, to a stone in the Pennsylvania line, known as the original corner of Maryland and Virginia ; thence with the Pennsylvania line west 4940 (or 15 miles and 140 perches) to a stone marked M. and P., corner to Monongalia County ; thence with three lines of said county reversed, to wit : south 500 poles to a stone marked M. and P .; thence south 22 west 1020 poles to the England ore-banks and a stone marked M. and P. 1841 ; thence south 5} west 870 poles to a double chestnut on the east bank of Cheat River at the Beaver Hole ; thence up the river, with its meanders, to the place of beginning.
1864-Justice, William McKee; school commissioner, Isaac McGrew.
1868-Justices, William McKee and Frank Wolf.
1869 - William McKee, supervisor ; John S. Mitchell, township clerk : Moses Silbaugh, surveyor of roads ; George Maust, township treasurer ; John C. Robinson, school com-
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HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
missioner ; James G. Crawford and George W. Walls, in- spectors of elections ; Moses Silbaugh, constable.
1870 - Charles Kantner, supervisor ; Alpheus D. Hagans, township clerk; Samuel Conner, justice ; Mcses Silbaugh and Jonathan Chorpening, constables; John J. Thomas, overseer of the poor; Jacob C. Wolf and George Fear, school com- missioners.
1872-John C. Forman, supervisor ; Jacob C. Wolf, school commissioner ; John S. Mitchell, township clerk ; Da- vid Mosser, overseer of the poor ; William McKee and J. S. Mitchell, justices ; George H. Armstrong and James D. Benson, constables.
1875 - School board, W. H. McGibbons (president), Geo. Walls and A. Conaway ; J. M. Chidester, secretary.
1876 - Justices, William McKee and J. Shipley Mitchell.
1877-School board, W. H. McGibbons (president), Geo. Walls, Jesse Spurgin ; J. M. Chidester, secretary.
1879 - School board, W. H. McGibbons (president). J. J. Moyers, J. C. Wolf, John E. Orman, W. Thomas ; J. M. Chidester, secretary. .
1880 - Justices, William McKee and William Hagans.
1881 -School board, Dr. M. S. Bryte (president), John E. Orman and J. S. Mitchell ; J. M. Chidester, secretary.
Towns. - Brandonville was laid out March 27, 1827, and named after Colonel Jonathan Brandon who built the first house on Dr. William Frey's lot. In 1818, the Rev. George Hagans and his three sons, Zer, Elisha M., and Harrison, moved here, and Harrison Hagans opened a store in the backroom of Brandon's house. He next kept in a store. house on the site of the present residence of Captain H. C. Hagans. Several houses now went up, and the place as- sumed an air of business activity mainly through the exer- tions of Harrison Hagans. Zer Hagans married Catharine Dix, and removed to Petersburgh, Pennsylvania, where he followed the mercantile business, and died. One of his sons, A. D. Hagars, was sergeant-at-arms ficm '63 to '70 in the legislature of West Virginia, and ancther, Jared E., is en-
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gaged in railroad business at Thornton. Mr. Hagans re- moved his store to a part of the present building used as a store by his son H. C., and kept it for many years. The following merchants opened stores after Hagans commenced : W. Carrol in Mrs. Scott's house; Samuel Rodeheaver, close to McKee's : Alex. G. Tremble, where Mrs. Cuppet lives ; and J. Heatherington, W. Reynolds, A. D. Hagans, J. B. West, Allen Crane, W. Ridenour, John Hoffman (1847), N. R. Harding & Bro., Forman and Harding, Joseph H. Gibson, Dr. Frey & Co., J. C. McGrew, and some others have kept in different places in the town. At present Captain H. C. Hagans has a large and well filled establishment; and the firm of Morris and Wolf-T. J. Morris and A. Wolf - carry a good stock of goods.
Among the first physicians was Dr. Michaels, followed by Drs. Shaw, P. M. Sturgiss, I. Carr, A. S. Warder, B. Brooks, Hustead, W. Peyton, J. W. Ramsey, and William Frey, a graduate of the Maryland University, 1856, who still remains. Dr. J. T. Fuller, a graduate of the Western Reserve Medical College, located here in 1877, and is still re- maining. Dr. Ramsey was fond of a joke, and the following is told of him: An old gentleman blessed with rather a large mouth, called to have a back tooth extracted. Opening his mouth for the Doctor to get sight of the aching molar, Ram. sey gravely remarked, "You need not open your mouth any wider ; I propose to remain outside." The old man went off in a dudgeon, and the Doctor pocketed the joke instead of a fee.
Harrison Hagans was the first postmaster and was suc. ceeded by J. H. O'Donavan, Thomas Scott, C. Walton, Jared Hagans, Dr. Frey, and A. D. Hagans, the present incum- bent.
Samuel Rodafer kept the first hotel, where William McKee lives. W. Kimberly kept the Franklin House, and Hardin, John Scott, and Joseph Ritenour were landlords in Morris & Wolf's store building. Moses Silbaugh, Frank Wolf and J. Ash kept in the house occupied by Ash now as a residence;
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HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
and at present A. D. Hagans is proprietor of the Hagans House.
The first tannery was started by Samuel Rodafer, suc- ceeded by Leech and Jared Hagans. Jonas Frankhouser now operates one, and another is carried on by William McKee, who came in 1850 from Pennsylvania, and has been elected continuously a justice from 1852 to 1880, and whose present term expires in 1884.
Brandonville was laid out in 1827, incorporated in 1858; and the members of the present town council are, C. S. Lathel (mayor), A. D. Hagans, J. Lieb, J. Clark, A. Michael and F. McKee. Recorder, Harry Frey; sergeant, Zer J. Hagans. The town is pleasantly situated 17 miles n. e. from the county-seat, with a hotel, two stores, two tanneries, two physicians, a fine church, and a good school building.
Captain H. C. Hagans and a partner built a fine steam flouring mill and foundry here a good many years ago, which burned down, and was a great loss to the place.
In 1852, Gen. Worth Lodge No. 113 I. O. of O. F. was started, but after the Rebellion went down. Colonel L. H. Jenkins was the last noble grand.
Bruceton (Bruceton Mills is the name of the postoffice) is situated on the waters of Big Sandy Creek, 16 miles north- east of the county-seat. It was once called Milford. The oldest house in the town is where S. W. Fearer lives. Sam- uel Morton in 1792 had a mill here, and a ferry was estab- lished adjoining the lands of Samuel Morton and William Conner. The mill was burned and a son of Morton, William, built a log mill and the oldest house. John Hoffman came in 1847-48, and opened the present mill, and named the place Bruceton, after his step-father, Bruce. Levi Fike was his miller. After many changes, Mr. Beeghley now owns the mill, and it is in the charge of S. W. Fearer, an experienced miller, formerly in charge of Nicola's and Clifton Mills. He is assisted by Peter Nedrow, whose father was killed by a log falling at a "raising, " and was said to have been the
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strongest man in the county. O. J. Stewart & Co. built a stone dam across the creek at this mill in 1879, and it is the only one ever built in the county.
John Wotring kept a store on the site of Armstrong's store, the building being now used as a grain house. Harding built the present building, and kept store, and was succeeded by Forman Bros., Hill & Harding, I. Armstrong & Co. In 1876, I. Armstrong & Son refitted the large three-story frame building and put in a large stock of merchandise. They af. terwards bought the store building and the Bruceton House property, comprising a square in the "Queen City. " Isaac Armstrong (father of I. Armstrong, who lives in Pennsyl- vania) married Frances Chidester, and came to near Bruceton. Two other of his sons, George and William, are still in Grant.
The Chidester building was used as a store by Leech for George Hagans, succeeded by Henry E. Cale, by J. M. Chid- ester & Co., and by Chidester & Smith, April, 1876; which last firm changed, in April, 1881, to Chidester Bros., James M. Chidester and the Rev. T. Wesley Chidester. James M. Chidester was a member of Company H, 3d W. Va. Infantry. and was assessor for two terms and deputy sheriff twice. Scott Bros. occupy the building formerly used by A. S. Craig, and are erecting a new and commodious store-room at the bridge.
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