USA > West Virginia > Preston County > History of Preston County (West Virginia) > Part 29
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
The Bruceton House was built by I. Armstrong, and has been kept by Dawson, Holmes, Horner and Bryte, success- ively. The Valley House was built by J. Bell, and is now kept by Moses Silbaugh.
A splendid iron bridge, built in 1877, spans the creek and connects the town.
William H. McGibbons commenced his present saddlery business here in April, 1855.
The Bruceton Woolen Factory was started by Hagans & Conner, who were succeeded by Hamilton & Zinn, by a Mr. Huffman, and purchased in 1849, by Charles Kantner, of Somerset County, Pensylvania, who, July 4, 1851, put in his factory the first stationary engine ever used in Preston.
$74
HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
People came from a distance to see the wonder. The fac- tory is still run by this 10-horse engine. The capacity of the factory is 200 pounds of wool per day, with 2 looms, 2 spin- ners, and fulling and shearing apparati. Mr. Kantner served as magistrate from 1853 to 1861, was a member of the con- stitutional convention of 1872, a member of the house of delegates in 1873, and was an able worker for the charter of the Pennsylvania Line Railway along Sandy, and labored hard to secure its construction. He has now in operation a lime crushing machine-to crush lime instead of burning it. It is an invention that will be of great value to Preston.
We are indebted to Dr. M. S. Bryte for the following in- formation of the physicians of Bruceton: Dr. Jesse Beer- bower was born in Ohio, September 18, 1829; graduated at Keokuk Medical College and located in Bruceton in 1856. He was assistant surgeon of the 3d Maryland Regiment, and died at Huntsville in 1865. Dr. Francis Coke Shepherd was born in Cumberland County, Pa, January 18, 1829 ; gradua- ted at Dickinson College and at Jefferson Medical School in 1854, and came to Bruceton in 1860. Dr. F. H. Patton came from Fayette County, Pa., in 1863, and the same year became assistant surgeon of the 12th W. Va. Infantry, and was confined as a prisoner in Libby for some time. Dr. Thomas B. Seamans was born in Fayette County, Pa., in 1845 ; graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1873, hav- ing located in Bruceton in 1869. He removed to Clarksburg in 1877, and is now in the West. Dr. J. H. Stumm, of Fay- ette County, Pa., of the Jefferson Medical College, was in Bruceton from 1872 till 1874. Dr. W. C. Jamison was born in Monongalia County in 1851; attended W. Va. University and Jefferson Medical College, and located in Bruceton in 1876. He read medicine with Dr. Brock. His brother, J. A. Jamison, is now a student in his office, preparing to attend lectures. Dr. Milton S. Bryte was born in Preston County in 1846; taught school, attended Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in 1876-7, and received a certificate from the State Board of Health in 1881.
375
GRANT DISTRICT.
William H. Miller one of Squire Joseph N. Miller's 8 sons who are blacksmiths has been for twelve years proprietor of the old Harner blacksmith shop and is an excellent workman.
The postmasters of Bruceton have been C. Holmes, J. Hoffman, W. H. McGibbons, Samuel Wiles, Harding S. For- man, John Collins, A. C. Leach, Frank Wolf, Henry E. Cale, Marshall Chidester, William Armstrong and William Scott, the present incumbent.
Bruceton was incorporated March 24, 1853, and on June 4th, N. R. Harding, A. J. Bell and W. T. Inks were elected trustees, and on the 7th of June, J. H. Hoffman was appointed mayor and Colonel L. H. Jenkins sergeant. The present town council: Charles Kantner, mayor; W. H. McGibbons, recorder ; Moses Silbaugh, sergeant; Dr. W. C. Jamison, George H. Armstrong, James M. Chidester, Charles Kaiser and the Rev. T. W. Chidester, councilmen.
Clifton Mills, a village located upon the waters of Big Sandy, 20 miles northeast from the county-seat, dates its age from about the year 1869, when Samuel Morton built a mill and a dwelling. Jacob Zimmerman kept the first small stock of goods, and was succeeded by David Frankhouser with a store, which he sold out to R. B. Waddel in 1877. Mr. Waddel was a militia captain and a quarter-master ser- geant in the late war, and succeeded Frankhouser as post- master in 1877 ; was commissioned a notary public May 10, 1881, and is now doing business in the firm of Waddel & Thomas. John Harader & Son also carry on a store here. The Evan Brothers bought the flouring-mill of David Frank- houser, and have attached steam to it. Mr. William Hara- der is building a steam saw-, planing- and flouring-mill at this place. The town derives its name from the postoffice estab- lished here about 1874, but it is often called "Slabtown." In 1875, the place was visited with the small-pox, there being over forty cases.
Greenville Furnace is four miles from Bruceton; was started, it is said, by Walter, commonly called "Wat," Car-
25
376
HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
lile on a barrel of watered whiskey, a box of home made to- bacco, and a 10-dollar counterfeit note. He built the furnace about 1815, but having no capital, he could not run it. It passed into the hands of Miller & Frantz, and then to Fay, who failed. Next and last a Boston company, in 1836, with Harrison Hagans as president, ran it a short time. It is now torn down.
Valley Furnace was built about 1837, by Andrew Ochiltree and James Caldwell operated it between two and three years. Both these furnaces had ores sufficient, but long. transportation and want of capital caused them to go down. Valley still stands.
Salt Well .- About 50 years ago a salt well was com- menced above Bruceton. Fair indications of salt were present, but from some cause boring was suspended and never resumed since.
Oil Well. - Near Valley Furnace, in the northern part of the district, an oil well was bored after the Rebellion. It is thought that if the Pittsburgh company boring it had went deeper, they would have been successful in finding oil.
Cheat River Cavern, which is described in Chapter XVI, is in the western part of the district, and though unexplored as yet, is undoubtedly very large.
Mail Service .- Prior to 1822, there was no postoffice in the district. Harrison Hagans was the first postmaster. The postoffices now in the district are, Brandonville, Bruce- ton, Clifton Mills, and Glade Farms. The latter, 23 miles northeast from the county-seat, was established before Clif- ton Mills. Postmasters: Robert Sterling, H. Beerbower, and George Fearer, present incumbent. Mails are now daily from Cranberry to Bruceton, Brandonville, and Glade Farms ; and weekly from Farmington, Pennsylvania, via Clifton Mills, to Brandonville.
Religious Denominations. - The first church was that of the Friends, between 1796 and 1812. The first members
377
GRANT DISTRICT.
were John Willits, John Smith, Robert Forman and Samuel Morton, but the organization is now extinct.
The Methodist came next. The first class was the Rev. George Hagans and wife, William Michael and wife, Samuel Shaw and wife, and a few others, about 1819. The place of preaching was where Joseph Michael lives on Little Sandy Creek, and the class was in the Baltimore Conference. This church now in Grant is composed of the Brandonville class, No. 1, Dr. William Frey, class-leader ; Glade Farms class, No. 2, Colonel J. G. Crawford, leader ; Laurel Run class, No. 4, George W. Walls, leader ; Pisgah class, No. 5, Eli Walls, leader ; Hopewell class No. 9, A. S. McNear, leader; Bruce- ton class, No. 10, the Rev. T. W. Chidester, leader, who was a minister on the Oakland Circuit one year, two years at St. George, three years at Grantsville, and a year on the Bran- donville Circuit. An old frame building at Brandonville was the first M. E. Church built. It was succeeded by the pres- ent large brick church, dedicated on Christmas, 1850. The early ministers were West, Tuder, McCall, Morrison, Baker, Swasey, Hamilton and Moses Titchenell. The Rev. F. G. W. Ford is the present pastor, succeeding the Rev. D. Cool. The parsonage is in Brandonville. Robinson Chapel is at Glade Farms. Its first members were the Robinsons, some of the Cuppets, the Beerbowers and others.
The Lutherans came in shortly after the Methodists. Dr. Philip Mockenhouse preached here about 1820, and after him Brown aud Haus. Then George Nicksdorf, during whose time (about 1852 or '53) the brick church, Mt. Zion, was built. Its early members were the Frankhousers, Guth- ries and others. Succeeding Nicksdorf, came W. Shephard- son, who once walked 29 miles through a snow-storm to fill an appointment at Willits. After him came J. A. Snyder, J. K. Melhorn, John Tressler, - Swingle, J. H. Cupp, S. Floyd, Smith, J. G. Gilbreath, and Summers, the present pastor. The parsonage is in Brandonville. St. Peter's Church was built in 1870 by Andrew Spindler, and its first members were the Haines and Spindlers.
378
HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
The Baptist are next in order of age. About 30 years ago Hazel Run church was built, whose early pastors were J. M. Purinton, G. W. Hertzog, P. G. Sturgis and John Williams.
The German Baptists (Dunkards) came next, and built Salem Church, between 1847 and '50. Jacob Thomas was among the old preachers. Solomon Bucklew, James Ride- nour (now in Ohio) and Flemon Barnes have succeeded him.
A union church was built at Clifton Mills in 1879.
The Disciples (Campbellites) own a church at Bruceton, where they have occasional preaching.
The Rev. Samuel Clawson, called the "wild man," used to preach in Grant. He was holding a meeting at Valley Fur- nace about 1838 ; one night a man came in and took his daughter from the "mourners' bench," and as he passed out, Clawson pointing to him, said, "The fowler of the Lord has done his duty and wounded the game, but the old hell hawk has gathered it up, and there he goes with it!" His preach- ing was of terror-inspiring character, and, as one of his hearers has described it, the congregation imagined when he preached about Hell, that they could hear the thunders roll, and see the forked lightnings flash, in the regions of the lost.
Schools .- A man by the name of Powel taught at the Glades in 1793. Benjamin Payton was an old and highly es- teemed teacher, as also was Able Lodge. Among the old men living, who have quit teaching, is Robert Arnold, who came from Ireland in 1843, where he was on the ordinance survey in Dublin. Among the younger and very successful teachers who have left the profession, are Drs John S. Ned. row and M. S. Bryte.
The Brandon Academy was successfully conducted for many years. At present the district is divided into the Bran- donville Independent District, whose school is taught this sea- son (1881-2) by N. Canan, an experienced and popular teacher ; and into eighteen sub-districts, among whose teachers for this year are F. P. Burke (at Bruceton), George Matthews, Miss Lizzie. Abrahams, Isaac P. Martin, and Thaddeus Cun-
379
GRANT DISTRICT.
ningham, old and experienced teachers; and Joseph Scott, R. B. Hill, D. Scott, Mr. Frederick, W. Guseman, Mr. Wright, N. Thomas, A. W. Fearer, and John H. Cuppett.
Grant District contains 57,688 acres in farms. The value of her buildings is $59,490; of land and buildings $293,517. Tax (1881), State and county purposes, $880.74; district road tax, $263.61. The school levy is 35 cents on each $100 for the teachers' fund, amounting to $1006.39 ; and 10 cents for buildings, amounting to $293.75.
Grant is 4th in order of size, 5th in order of population, 1st in order of designation, 4th in order of wealth, of the eight districts into which the county is now divided.
Clark Cuppett (son of Alpheus) was granted letters pat- ent No. 236,308, on January 4, 1881, for an instrument " combining means of indicating distances and ascertaining the measurements of hights and plane surfaces without the aid of a surveyor's chain." This invention has been very fa- vorably spoken of by many who have examined it.
Grant has sent three members to the legislature of West Virginia: Harrison Hagans, Charles Kantner, and Joseph H. Gibson, who came in 1847 from Shippensburg, Pa., and served in the house of delegates in 1867 and '69, and was the father of D. J. Gibson, of Newburg.
The following historical information was received too late for classification. Michael Toets settled near Brandonville about 1788, and one of his grandsons, Samuel A. Teets, lives near Cranesville; and another, Harrison Teets, near Cran- berry. Valentine King settled at an early day on Laurel Run, and his sons were Thomas, Isaac, James and John. John was the father of Colonel W. H. King. John Deberry came about the same time, as also did Amos Glover, who married Drusilla, daughter of James Spurgin, and is the ancestor of all the Glovers of Preston County. Bowermas- ter's Mills, on Big Sandy, is the beginning of a town that
380
HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
will be built up some day, as well as Hopewell, two miles north of Bruceton. One mile east of Mill Run W. D. Arthur has a store and a wintergreen distillery. It is a good loca- tion for a town.
Beckhorn Town was founded in Sandy Creek Glades, near Alpheus Cuppett's, on the Old Sandy Creek road, about 1790, but went down, and exists only in the memory of the old men,
HARRISON HAGANS.
CROSSCUPONES PHILA-
383
GRANT DISTRICT.
HARRISON HAGANS.
The grandparents of the subject of this sketch were na- tives of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. His father, the Rev. George E. Hagans, was born in 1761, in Connecticut. His wife, Persis Eggleston, was born in Massachusetts. They removed to Vergennes, Vermont, where Harrison Hagans was born on the 17th of June, 1796. His father next re- moved to Indiana, but was on account of ill-health was advis- ed by his physician to return East, and he came to Preston County about 1815, from Vincennes, and settled on Cheat River. The Rev. George E. Hagans's family was composed of twelve children when he left Vermont, of which only Zer, Harrison, Lovila, Harriet, Elish M., and David came with him to Preston. Lovila was married to Zalmon Ludington ; Harriet became the wife of Samuel Rodeheaver; David died shortly after their arrival; Zer died a merchant at Peters- burg, Pennsylvania; and FElisha M. died at Cincinnati. About 1818, the Rev. George Hagans settled at what is now Brandonville, accompanied by his son Harrison, who some time after their arrival married Jane, daughter of Captain Daniel McCollum, a man of some local note in those days. Harrison engaged successfully in the mercantile business, which he followed for many years. He was justice of the peace for many years, and was president of the Greenville Mining and Manufacturing Company in 1836 and '37, and, built Virginia Furnace in 1852. He was identified with nearly every enterprise for the improvement of the county, being instrumental in securing the partially graded roads, called turnpikes. He was a member of the Wheeling conven- tion of June, 1861. In 1863, he went by solicitation to Washington City, and aided greatly in influencing members. of congress to vote for the admission of West Virginia as a State. In 1866-'7, he was a member of the West Virginia legislature. He came very near completing a successful mowing machine in 1846.
384
HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
His family was composed of eight children, as follows: George M., a merchant at Morgantown, and at the time of his death president of a National bank at that place; Wil- liam, now a justice of the peace in Grant; Captain H. C. Ha- gans, now engaged in merchandising at Brandonville, and is president of the county court; Lucian A., who was secre- tary of state under the reorganized government of Virginia, afterwards one of the proprietors of the Wheeling Intelli- gencer, and now a member of the well-known house of Rand, McNally & Co., of Chicago ; J. Marshall, a member of the 43d congress, and reporter of the State supreme court of ap- peals, and as such author of Hagans's Reports, who married Sarah B., daughter of ex-Senator W. T. Willey of National reputation for ability, integrity and patriotism; Persis, wife of the Hon. James C. McGrew ; Delia A., widow of the late Judge Edward C. Bunker ; and Virginia E., wife of Dr. Wil- liam Frey, of Brandonville.
Harrison Hagans died on the 7th of May, 1867, and was greatly missed in Preston County. He was a man of great natural ability, a mathematician and mechanic. of splendid business qualifications. He was wonderfully energetic and quick of perception, and was liberal to a fault, kind to the poor, liberal to the cause of education, and a large contribu- tor to the church. His life was one long round of useful- ness, and his name is indelibly stamped on the history of the county for all time to come.
A
385
PLEASANT DISTRICT.
CHAPTER XVIII. PLEASANT DISTRICT.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION - INDIAN GRAVES AND TRAILS - EARLY SET- TLEMENTS- ROADS- ORGANIZATIONS : MAGISTERIAL, TOWNSHIP, DISTRICT - TOWNS AND MAIL SERVICE- JOSEPHINE FURNACE -- RIGG'S FACTORY -SALT AND OIL WELLS - RELIGIOUS DENOMINA- TIONS - SCHOOLS.
The territory of Pleasant was the second magisterial dis- trict into which Preston County was divided in 1852. And in 1863, in the order of division of the county as then made, it became without any change of boundaries, Pleasant Town- ship. By a change of name merely, in 1873, it became Pleas- ant District.
It is bounded on the north by Grant District, on the east by Garrett County, Maryland, on the south by Portland District, and on the west it is separated from Valley District by Cheat River.
The eastern part of the district is mountainous, and the surface in great part rough and rocky, while high hills extend through the center, with elevated level tracts of land. In the western part a range of high hills border on Cheat, and the surface is broken aud irregular, like that of the eastern part. The soil is a sandy loam in the valleys and on the chestnut ridges, while on the hill slopes it is more nearly a clay loam. The district throughout is well watered. Its streams afford good water-power and inviting facilities for mills and factories. Big Sandy and its affluent, Little Sandy, drain the northern and central part of the district. Muddy Creek, coming from Engle's, and draining a part of the Pine-
386
HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
swamp region, through the Chidester settlement, by Mor- gan's Glade, past Josephine Furnace, and emptying into Cheat on the southwest, has many advantageous sites for manufac- turing establishments, as also has Mill Run, a tributary in the east. Webster's Run, in the western part, a small stream named after James Webster, flows into Muddy Creek, and Beech and Soverns Glade runs into Cheat River. In the east, Elk Run, and Pine Run, so named from the superior quality of yellow pine found along it, form the Little Sandy.
Bituminous coal is found in all parts of the district. Along Mill Run and the Big and Little Sandies, veins of coal from 2 to 6 feet are found, and a few banks are operated. Lime- stone is found in most parts - of very good quality in the eastern end of the district. Iron-ore is abundant. Muddy Creek, said to have been so named from the beaver working along its banks and keeping it muddy, has scooped its chan- nel through veins of iron-ore from its source to its mouth. Near William Chidester's there are three veins, one of which is said to be 5 or 6 feet in thickness. The water of Muddy Creek has a rapid descent which may account for its muddy appearance, but the outcropping, which shows abundance of minerals, might have something to do with the discoloration of the stream. Little Sandy is also rich in iron-ore.
A good supply of timber for all needed purposes remains. Oak and chestnut are most plentiful, with some hickory, wal- nut, cherry, poplar, ash, and at one day a considerable quan- tity of sugar.
The trees of the nursery generally grow stout and thrifty, and bear good fruit. Apples are a good crop, peaches an occa- sional crop; plums and pears are medium. The small fruits, such as currants, quinces, gooseberries, do well. Strawber- ries, raspberries and blackberries bear profusely. The grape, but little cultivated, promises fair.
The people are chiefly engaged in farming, and the ordi, nary grains of the market are raised. Wheat yields from 7 to 15 bushels per acre, corn from 25 to 50 bushels ; oats from 15 to 40, and buckwheat is a never failing crop. Rye and barley
387
PLEASANT DISTRICT.
are not generally cultivated, though they do well. Potatoes are a certain crop. Grasses yield well. Good springs abound. Stock-raising is, or ought to be, a profitable busi- ness. Cattle, sheep and horses thrive and do well.
Deer, bear, panthers, wolves and smaller game were once here in countless numbers, the elk and buffalo in small num- bers. Some few deer yet remain, and the wildcat is still found. The wild turkey still stalks throught the depth of the mountain-forest. Two porcupines have been killed in the district within the last ten years. Bees do well when properly cared for. Snakes - copperheads and rattlesnakes - were once numerous, but civilization drives them away be- fore its uplifted clubs and flying missiles.
Indian Graves and Trails. - Mccullough's Indian tra- ders' path passed through by Morgan's Glade, the Metzler place, and on past Bruceton Mills. On the Metzler, or old Jacob Wolfe, farm, near Mccullough's path, is the "Indian Spring," as the early settlers named it. A nice basin was cut in the slate, which has since been hewn out somewhat larger. Three Indian graves were found on the hill above Rigg's woolen mills, and on some other hills graves exist. Deberry Knob, in the east end, is said to have been a camp- ing ground. Darts, arrows and Indian implements are nu- merous in the neighborhood. David Vansickle, twenty-five years ago, plowed up Indian relics near the Maryland line, which may be seen in the University museum at Morgan- own, labeled " Vansickle Indian Relics."
Early Settlements. - The settlement centers passing to- day from east to west, are Nicola's or Mill Run, Chidester's, Morgan's Glade, Conner's, Sugar Valley, Beach Run and Harmony Grove. It is a sheer impossibility to give a full and complete account of the early settlements. In early days there were no private records or common place books kept. The young man did not have a diary. He dug into the work, and made his mark on the rail-cut. The grave- yards give but a very imperfect list of names. Many were never honored with the rude entablature of rock, and on the
388
HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
rough moss-covered stone slab the names of others can scarcely be deciphered. Jacob Wolfe settled as early as 1785 on the farm now owned by Ezekiel Feather, about one mile from Willey. After the murder of the Green family by the Indians, he moved to Wheeling, and remaining about five years, came back and bought of David Morgan the farm now owned by the Metzlers. He married Christina Wetzel, sister to the celebrated Lewis Wetzel. Jacob Wolfe had neighbors by the names of Isaac Barb, James Webster, Augustine Wolfe and Reuben Askins. His children were Jacob, John, George and Lewis, Sallie, Margaret, Eliza and Susan. Lewis Wolfe, now 81 years of age, makes his home with his son Josiah in Maryland. He was a successful hunter, and on one occasion, kneeling on the ground, shot three bucks without changing his position. Lewis's children living in Preston County are Eugenus, near Pleasant Hill, David and Mrs. Jefferson Cuppett, near Cranesville, all of Portland District.
A century ago five brothers by the name of Jenkins came to America from Wales. John Jenkins, the eldest of the five brothers, died in Preston. His son Jonathan was the father of Rolla and James Jenkins. William and Evan and another brother, the fourth, went West. Evan, the third, was the grandfather of the Confederate General Albert Gallatin Jen- kins who was killed in the late war. Thomas, the fifth, mar- ried and lived in Preston. His children were Elizabeth Cushman, who died in Ohio; Susan Mason, Mary Reed, the Rev. Thomas, a minister in the Baptist Church; Rachel, who married Jacob Cale ; the Rev. Absalom, Christian, John who lives at Harmony Grove; Delilah, Joseph and Evan. Evan married Hannah Graham, and lived to be 89 years of age. He was the father of John Jenkins, of Harmony Grove, and Jehu Jenkins, Esq., of Morgan's Glade, who has made such an acceptable justice of the peace that the people will not permit him to be put on the retired list. Hannah Sterling, the Squire's maternal grandmother, dressed the heads of the Corbleys who were killed in Green County, Pennsylvania.
Contemporaneous with the Jenkinses, Thomas Gibson set-
389
PLEASANT DISTRICT.
tled on the Cheat Hills. Thomas, James, Levi and Robert were his sons. James was the father of Levi, Zaccheus, Sam- uel, Thomas and the Rev. John F. Gibson, a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania.
About one hundred years ago, Christian Cale left the blue Rhine in his native Fatherland, and, coming to America, finally made his home in Preston. His farm was the one now owned by Lewis Everly. Elizabeth, Mary, John and Jacob were his children. The two latter are both living and are over 90 years of age.
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.