USA > West Virginia > Preston County > History of Preston County (West Virginia) > Part 32
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Why should not Cranesville become a summer resort- the Syracuse of Preston County ? Here are pretty lawns and gentle meandering streams fringed with whispering pines. Here are cool and inviting shades, as classic as ever Greek, strolled through inter silvas Academica ; groves grand and solemn as any that ever witnessed Druid rites and incantations ; grand as any that ever wafted heavenward the fatherland songs of Christians collected together in camp- meeting, buzzed with the harmless revelry of the jocund har- vest-home, or echoed the boisterous hilarity of a basket picnic.
Rodamer's is at the west end of Rodamer's tunnel. The first store was kept by Rev. J. W. Hardesty in 1872, succeed- ed by T. W. Nine & Co, in 1875, and by T. W. Nine since 1880. Rodamer's postoffice was established in 1873, Rev. J. W. Hardesty (son of Joshua Hardesty, who came from Greene County, Pa., in 1832), postmaster till 1877, and T. W. Nine since that time.
A Paper Town .- Burchinal town or "Mount Vernon," at the mouth of Rodeheaver's lane, a mile from Willey, was started by a man named Burchinal more than 60 years ago. Two houses and a school-house were built, and afterwards torn down. .
Nt. Joe .- Joseph G. Cressler and his son Joseph B. came from Pa., in 1871, and entered into partnership with the Rev. Joseph H. Gibson. They put up a large mill and built a number of dwelling houses, and their place took the name of St. Joe from the Christian names of the three prc- prietors. Joseph G. Cressler died March 17, 1874, and Mr. Gibtion in 1875. On the night of December 19, 1878, the mill, uninsured, was burned to the ground. J. B. Cressler has partly rebuilt the mill. St. Joe is a long half mile above Albrightsville, on Cheat River, near the mouth of Dougherty's Rur. It is a respectable rival of the latter place.
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PORTLAND DISTRICT.
Albrightsville is 3 miles n. e. from Kingwood, and is named after David Albright, who originally owned the land round about. . The first house was built by Wm. Morgan, who kept store, about 1840.
Connected with the store keeping business were afterwards Samuel Albright, Eugene Forquer, - Daughterty and dis continued by -- Elliott.
The second house was put up by Wm. Mason, who also kept store. He was bought out by H. C. Ravenscraft about 1856, who was succeeded by Benj. Shaw and C. E. Vickery. Then came the names of Wm. Bishoff, succeeded by Wm. Albright, followed by his son, L. M. Albright at the present time.
Present blacksmith, Noah Metzler.
The school-house was built in 1854; Jacob Snyder, first teacher. William Mason teaching before the house was built.
On petition of Marshall Morgan and others, a voting place was established here Sept. 6, 1878.
Postmasters were Leonard Posten, Mrs. Henry Copeman, A. G. Mason, W. H. Bishoff, L. M. Albright, N. Metzler, and L. M. Albright again. For this list we are indebted to Squire A. G. Mason, of Cranberry. The postoffice is Albright's.
Mail Service .- 16 miles n. e. of Kingwood Cranesville was established as a postoffice in 1855. Postmasters were John W. Edwards, Jacob S. Hyde, Charles Stone, A. J. Sanders, D. Fichtner, N. B. Browning, and D. Fichtner again.
Mails tri-weekly to and from Cranberry, and bi-weekly to and from Johnstown, Md.
Ten miles n. e. of Kingwood, Willey was established in 1860 named in honor of the Hon. W. T. Willey ; and Joseph Bishoff, who had begun merebandizing some time previous. was the first p. m. The second was John Forman, from 1868 till his death in 1876, who also carried on a store. Next Miss A. V. Forman became postmistress, and continued
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HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
the store under the name of A. V. Forman & Co.
Thirteen miles n. e. from Kingwood Pleasant Hill p. o. was established between Cranberry and Cranesville in 1875, Rev. Daniel Titchenell, who is a notary public, being p. m.
Seven miles n. e. of Kingwood, Tannery p. o., served by the daily mail from Morgan's Glade to Cranberry, was establish- ed in 1878, George H. Trembly, notary public, being p. m.
The Murdered Peddler .- Thursday evening, July 3, 1879, Barnabas Dewitt discovered a dead body in an advanced stage of decomposition, about 40 yards off the pike leading from Kingwood to Cranberry, in a dense thicket one mile east of Paugh's and three miles west of Cranberry. Justice E. D. Benson was informed, and a jury being empanneled, led by Mr. Dewitt, found the body on the evening of the 3rd of July. Bringing it to Cranberry, where the inquest was continued on the morning of the 4th. The body was in- terred in the cemetery, but the skull or head was retained.
The inquest developed some strange facts. A coat and the peddler's pack near by shovel no evidences of expos ure to the weather for the length of time the body had lain there. A memorandum had been mutilated and torn to pieces, some of the mutilated leaves found under a log close by. These leaves put together gave the names of several eastern firms. But, strangest of all, a letter was found of which an exact copy is here given :
Aprile 29. 1879.
I came hear a stranger among you for the purpis of put ing and end to my existanc. I came a grait Distance. For the last twenty years my mind has bean effected more or less. Life has became to me a burdin. I am 65 years of Age. Without a family or home. I have livid a moral life but my history must and shall remain unriton you will find enclosed along with this pocket book the sum of over ten Dollars. if my body or Bones shall be discovered let some kind friend gather them together and Burrey them as thay ar. and reserve the money for his trouble. JOHN FICTIOUS.
$11.35 in silver was found in his pocket-book. His skull was fractured in the back part, and the temporal bone was
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PORTLAND DISTRICT.
broken in as if by a heavy blow back of the eye. A peddler, a man about 60 years of age and of medium size, stayed over night at one of the hotels in Cranberry, and on the morning of the 29th of April was seen going out the pike west of town. He stopped at Stump's, not far from the spot where the corpse was found, and inquired the way to Brandonville. When told he was on the wrong road, he inquired if he could not go past Albrightsville ; and went ahead in the direction of that place. He was said to have had a consi l- erable sum of money on his person.
And thus the case rests. It remains to be seen whether the mysterious death and blank history of the said John Fictious "shall remain unriton" until revealed as a Judy- ment Day secret.
Chips's Cave .- Near Willey, on lands of Calvin Crane, near Roaring Creek, is a ledge of rocks known as Chips's Cave. "You can say nothing too bad of John Chips," eras the current recommendation of Thomas Chips's son . John. In the so-called cave John Chips was said to conceal stolen horses. James C. Feather found on his farm a grave con- taining human bones, which he supposes to be those of the negro alleged to have been murdered by John Chips.
David Trowbridge built a mill on Cheat in 1807. Butler's Mill was built next, whose site is now occupied by Col. W. H. King's mill. Henry Albright's steam mill is about 2 miles from Cranesville. His son A. S. Albright, who mana- ges the store, was granted a patent on a car coupling.
Religious Denominations .- The Methodists (Episcopal) have a church building at Cranberry, Albrightsville and (with the Evangelicals) at Cranesville ; they also have Salt Lick and Rodeheaver's Chapels. Trinity Church at Cranesville belong jointly to them and the Evangelicals. It is in Pleasant Hill circuit (formerly Brandonville), and has had the following ministers: C. J. Trippett, 1 year ; J. G. Weaver, 2; J. W. Hess, 2; G. Rogers, 6 months ; F. G. W. Ford, 3
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HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
years ; J. B. Feather, 1881-2. Rodeheaver's Chapel, one inile from Willey, was built in 1874.
The Baptists have a frame church at Albrightsville. The earliest settlers of the neighborhood were Baptists. The present pastor is the Rev. Joseph Clarke.
The Lutherans have had an organization near Willey for about 65 years. Their present church was built during the Rebellion. The church at Cranesville was built in 1875, and dedicated in June, 1876. This congregation was organ- ized on the first of September, 1857 ; John Forthman pas- tor, Jacob Wilhelm, Elder, John E. Otto, deacon, and mem- bers Henry Albright, Lewis Wetzel, and Eugenus Wolfe, Margaret, Rachel and Hannah Wolfe, Margaret and Elizabeth Albright, Wm., Catharine and Nancy Wilhelm. The pastors were the same that preached at Brandonville.
The Evangelical Association have a frame church (Salem) near Willey, built in 1870, and a frame church (Trinity) in Cranesville, in which they and the M. E. Church both wor- ship. It was dedicated Sunday, November 1, 1874. Be- tween it and the Lutheran church formerly stood the old brick Union (neighborhood) church, built in 1854. Dr. Fichtner and Michael Albright were the first members at Cranesville ; Henry Bishoff and Jacob Smith, in the Crab- orchard, and John Metzler and Jacob Ringer were the first members at Morgan's Glade. The parsonage at Willey was bought in 1877. These churches are in Preston Circuit. The first ministers were the Rev. Jacob Hyde and Thomas Doyle. In 1866, Bookman ; 1867, Shaffer; 1868, Stull ; 1869, B F. Feight; 1870, E. B. Arthur ; 1872, assisted by L. I. Baumgardner ; 1873, H. S. Stoeffer ; 1874, J. A. Dunlap. In 1875 Kingwood Circuit was formed from Preston Circuit. 1875 F. Bone was in charge ; 1877 to 1880, Rev. G. W. White served the circuit. Mr. White was born in Kingwood in 1838. He was a soldier in the Re- bellion, and in 1863-4 was detailed to make a survey of the roads and streams in Preston County to be used in construct-
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PORTLAND DISTRICT.
ing a military map of West Virginia. He left the M. E. Church and united with the Evangelical Association in 1871, and was licensed to preach the same year, assisting the Rev. Mr. Arthur two years, then two years in charge of Mineral Point Mission ; two years in charge of Somerset Circuit, three years on Preston Circuit, and now stationed at Cham pion, Fayette County, Pa. In 1880, the Rev. R. D. Dalzell, the present pastor, was assigned to Preston Circuit.
The Dunkers, or German Baptists, have a white frame meeting house (Pleasant Grove) near the Rev. John M. Freeland's. They have preaching stations at numerous school-houses throughout the county.
A Presbyterian church was organized at Cranberry in 1869.
The United Brethren church have one regular minister, the Rev. W. R. Cunningham, and one local minister, the Rev. Daniel Titchenell, but no church building in the district.
School Boards .- 1869 .- William T. Kelley, president, William Constable, Philip Buckalew; H. C. Beatty, secretary.
1873 .- John P. Jones, president, William H. King, S. Deberry ; John W. Watson, secretary.
1879 .-- J. W. Watson, president, J. G. L. Shaffer, R. P. Jackson, G. H. Trembly, J. W. Feather.
1881 .- A Staley Shaw, president, R. P. Jackson, N. B. Browning ; John W. Hill, secretary.
Portland District is divided into 22 school districts. The teachers for 1881-2 were J. S. Rogers, principal, Miss Lily Elliott, and Miss Dora Arnett, assistants (Cranberry): Joseph G. Arnold, Miss Jennie Graham (Albrightsville), D. H. Barker, J. Frank Rodeheaver (Willey), Charles T. Van- sickle, Miss Elsey, M. A. Wolfe, Joseph A. Beatty, A. S. Teats, C. W. Forman, L. Beatty, S. W. Messenger, E. W. Whetsell, W. C. Jones, W. B. Freeland, Miss Jennie Braham, M. N. Snyder, C. M. Dunn, J. M. Nine and J. M. Michaels.
Portland Distriet contains 65,454 acres in farms. Value of buildings, $40,595 ; of land and buildings, $256,623: value
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HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
of personal property, $116,381; town lots, $36,375 ; total (1880), $409,599.
Portland is first in order of size, third in order of popula- tion, third in order of designation, fifth in order of wealth, of the eight districts into which the county is now divided.
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UNION DISTRICT.
CHAPTER XX.
UNION DISTRICT.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION-MOUNDS-INDIAN TRAILS-MYSTERIOUS DIG- GINGS-EARLY SETTLEMENTS-ROADS : NORTHWESTERN TURNPIKE. B. & O. R. R .- MILLS-ORGANIZATIONS : MAGISTERIAL, TOWNSHIP. DISTRICT-TOWNS-MAIL SERVICE-SALT WELL-OIL WELLS- RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS-SCHOOLS.
When Preston County was divided in 1852, the territory of Union was embraced in the Fourth (magisterial) District. And in 1863, when district divisions of the county were suc- ceeded by township divisions, the Fourth District, with very little change of boundaries, became Union Township. By a mere change of designation, made by the Constitution of 1872, it became Union District. It is bounded on the north by Portland District, on the east by Maryland, on the south by Tucker County, and on the west it is separated from Reno District by Cheat River.
Union is third in order of size, sixth in order of population. fourth in order of designation, seventh in order of wealth, of the eight districts into which the county is now divided.
The district lies within the Cumberland Valley. The central and eastern part is a high elevated plain. In the west, Cheat River cuts deep through this plain. The soil when properly cultivated yields fair crops of wheat, corn, rye, buckwheat, oats and barley. Wheat averages from 8 to 17 bushels per acre.
The high altitude of the district naturally causes some pretty cold weather in winter, but gives it a healthy climate, and makes it a desirable summer resort. The water is good
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HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
and abundant. Cheat River drains it on the west. One of its tributaries, Big Run, is in the north, and another, Wolf Creek, is in the southwest. They afford many good sites for saw. and grist-mills. The headwaters of the Youghio- gheny drain the eastern portion of the district.
Originally heavy forests covered large portions of the district, and yet large bodies of oak and chestnut remain, and considerable quantities of pine are to be found on the Cheat River hills.
No coal has yet been found and the geological structure of the district seems to indicate its absence, yet this loss is largely compensated by immense beds of limestone underly- ing large portions of its area, and in places are supposed to be 100 feet in thickness. The farmers by a liberal use of this lime can make their district very productive.
Iron ore exists in some parts but never has been developed. Fruit does well, especially the hardier varieties.
In early days, the panther, bear and wolf abounded, but about fifty years ago they disappeared, while some deer still remain.
Horses, cattle and sheep do well, and the district is well a lapted to stock-raising.
Mounds. - On the farm of Andrew Goff, seven miles above Rowlesburg, were three mounds, about 25 feet long, and 15 feet high. Two of them have been torn down, and were found to be composed of earth, and stones taken from the river. The Indians had buried in the top of them. The bones in the bottom of them showed evidence of fire, and indicated that the dead were Moundbuilders and not Indians. Between these mounds and the river, several small stone furnaces were found, about six inches below the surface of the earth. They were round, and about 12 inches in diameter.
Indian Trails. - An Indian trail crossed the Maryland line at Goff's (now Chisholm's) mill, and keeping on, crossed
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UNION DISTRICT.
the Youghiogheny River, about 50 yards below the N. W. Turnpike ; thence through the Wilt farm to Rhine Creek. where Isaac Shaffer's saw-mill stands ; then past " Pringle's Camp," where .Grady's pottery now is. From thence, with many small turns followed the waters of the Youghiogheny and came directly in front of where the old Lutheran Church stood in Carmel. It forked here, one branch going west of Major Stemple's, past Painter's mill, and by the south side of the high knob near Rowlesburg, striking Cheat at the mouth of Buffalo Creek; the other branch left Carmel and went south, crossing the N. W. Turnpike where J. H. Wot- ring lives, and continuing on to Cheat. Following the meanderings of that stream, it passed the Goff farm and went to the " Horse Shoe Bottom," in Tucker County.
Mysterious Diggings .- The early settlers found on a Spruce Creek hill, in the northwestern part of what is now Union District, six holes about 6 feet in diameter, and dug down 18 feet to a solid rock. In the creek below, they found the remains of a log dam. They supposed the Dun- kards (the Eckarlys) had dug them in quest of gold and sil- ver in 1754 or 55. A few years ago, one of these holes was put down 12 feet farther, and then abandoned. These holes are now nearly filled up. These diggings are south of the B. & O. R. R., and about 1} miles west of "72," on the widow Burke's place.
In 1788, when Jacob Ridenour came to the Rich Hill farm, one fourth mile west of Aurora, he found potatoes growing and traces of what seemed to be an old fort.
Early Settlements .- The Pringles, Childers, and Lindsey, in 1761, founded their hunting-camp about 2} miles east of Aurora, at the mouth of Ryan's Creek, by a large rock. In 1783, an Ashby (the ancestor of Colonel Nathan Ashby) came from Maryland to the eastern part ; and James Goff, a Revolutionary soldier, traded lands in Tucker County to a man by the name of Jordan, for the tract of land now owned by his grandson Andrew Goff. James Goff asserted that
28
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HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
he was a descendant of the regicide, Judge Goffe, who help- ed sentence King Charles I. of England to death. James Goff came from Wales, and had several encounters with Indians in Tucker County, according to his grandson's ac-, count. His sons were Salathiel, George, Joseph, and Esau, who served in the war of 1812; Daniel, killed by a tree ; Thomas, John C., and James J. (father of Andrew).
The Rev. John Stough from Hagerstown, Maryland, came out in 1786, and examined the country. The next year he returned with his own and three other families. They set- tled at Mt. Carmel, and called their little settlement " Salem." The Rev. John Stough's wife was Elizabeth Hogmire. They lived where Lloyd Lantz now resides. She died, and was buried in the yard ; her husband preaching the funeral sermon. He afterward married a Troutman at Redstone, Pennsylvania, and went West. His son, Dr. Samuel Stough, born in 1793, is still living at Waterloo, Indiana.
Jacob Wagoner came with Stough. His wife was a Troxal. They lived near S. Wotring, Jr's. Their family, except one son, D. H., went West.
Jacob Diedrick and his wife, Magdalena Troxal, were the third family. They lived where Thomas Startzman resides. His wife dying, Jacob went to live with a Mr. Clouse; died and is buried on Deep Creek, Md. Of the fourth family we have no account.
In 1788, "the year of the second coming," the little pioneer colony was reinforced by the Stemples, Ridenours, Wotrings, Hershes, and others from Hagerstown. David, a son of Godfrey Stemple, married E. Catherine Rinehart. Their children were Elizabeth, Jacob, John, Maria, Catherine, Susan, Charlotte, and Major David Stemple. Mrs. Stemple was milking one evening, when a bear came into the yard to take their only pig. She grabbed an ax and killed Bruin, as he was in the act of carrying off the pig.
Jacob Ridenour married Susanna Stemple, and settled where the Rev. D. Beachy now lives. Their children were
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UNION DISTRICT.
John (father of David Ridenour), Margaret, Roxanna, Eve, David, Jacob, and Sarah.
John Wotring married a Troxal, and sold his farm in Maryland for a sum in Continental money, which became worthless, and he came out and settled where David Wotring now lives. He was the first tanner in the district. His son John was the first person buried in the Reformed M. E. Cemetery, and his grandaughter, Maria Shaffer, was the first one buried in the Lutheran Cemetery.
Frederick Harsh, or Hersh, had four sons : Frederick (who was a squire), Jacob, Andrew, and Daniel, very large, stout men, one of whom could lift 1100 pounds.
Youst Heck was single and was the first blacksmith. He came to the Rev. Stough in the field, one day with his gun in one hand and some game in the other ; accompanied by a Miss Goff, who was carrying her moccasins in her hand. They desired to be married, then and there, and Stough complied with their request.
This settlement grew rapidly and was known as "Germa. ny" or the German Settlement. In 1793, Adam Shaffer came from Germany and married Elizabeth Wotring. His sons were Teavolt, John, Adam, Jacob (father of J. H.), William, Daniel (father of Martin L. and Gustavus), Samuel and Abraham.
William Weills came from Hagerstown to Maple Run, settling where Abraham Weills now lives. He had 16 children, of whom 14 went West. Three of them, Absalom, Solomon and George, were ministers. Philo, one of the two children remaining, is now very old. He was a great hunter years ago. He made a wager with George Waltz, over 50 years ago, that whichever that season killed the most bear and deer was to take the pile of skins. When they came in on the appointed day, Weills had killed 37 bear and 126 deer ; and Waltz, 26 bear and 137 deer.
Peter Carrico, and William Hebb, a Revolutionary soldier, came from Eastern Virginia in 1790. Carrico settled where
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HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
Gabriel Pulliam lives. Isaac Irvin, from New England, settled in the neighborhood of 72 the same year.
John Wheeler came from Lancaster Co., Pa., in 1800, to the site of Aurora. His wife was Catherine Gour. One of his sons was Squire William Wheeler, the father of Justice H. H. Wheeler, of Rowlesburg.
Eight years later, Ambrose Lipscomb, a Revolutionary soldier, settled on Cheat, near the Tucker County line.
John Bishoff (now mostly written Bishop) came in at an early day, but soon removed to Portland.
David Startzman came from Cumberland in 1818, and put a tannery on the Ridenour farm. In 1820, he bought the farm where Thomas Startzman now lives. He died in 1821. His brother Jacob came in 1822, and put up the present tannery. Jacob married Elizabeth Foster. His children were David, Henry (late Recorder and Clerk of the County Court of Preston County), Isaac, Mrs. Felix Elliott, Mrs. Shaffer, John, Luther, Annie, Thomas (who owns the tannery and is well conversant with the early history of the district), and William. The Startzman house is the oldest building in the district, and at which many noted men have stopped. It was built in 1794 by Jacob Diedrick.
Roads .- The oldest read was the one cut out along the Indian path from Mt. Carmel to Clarksburg. An old road ran from Mt. Carmel to the Dunkard Bottom. It crossed Salt Lick opposite Rowlesburg. Another old road crossed Stemple's Ridge, and led to Randolph (now Tucker) County. It was used till 1855. A road was opened in 1816 from Mt. Carmel to the "Green Glades" (now Cranberry), and used till 1854. The present roads are first the North Western Turnpike, entering the district on the east from Maryland. It was built during 1834, 5 and 6.
The first tavern in Union on this road, was the old Stone. tavern, built about 1825, by Henry Grimes. It was opened as a tavern in 1841, and kept by George G. Hauser, Hiram® Hanshaw and William H. Grimes. It is now the residence of
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UNION DISTRICT.
Christian Selders. The second tavern was the "Rising Sun," one half mile west of where Aurora stands. It was opened in 1838, and kept by Major David Stemple as a stage stand. It is now the tasteful private residence of Summers McCrum. The third tavern stand was about one and one- half miles west of the "Rising Sun," kept by M. Wilt and his son-in law John H. Wotring. The fourth was about three and one half miles west of Wilt's, at the foot of the Wolf Creek mountain, and was kept, in 1839, by Frederick K. Ford, for drovers. He came from Hardy County, and was the father of D. K., the Rev. F. G. W. and ex-Sheriff Frank M. Ford. The fifth tavern stand was about two miles west of Ford's, at the Cheat River bridge, and was known as the "Caledonia." It was built in 1837, and opened in 1840, by Charles Hooton, as a stage stand, succeeded by Francis W. Deakins, who kept drovers. Hooton and Deakins were toll collectors for the bridge, collecting from $400 to $600 every four months.
The West Union and Morgantown turnpike was surveyed by J. M. Kuykendall in 1850, and opened in 1853-4. The ground was first broken on the Startzman hill.
The West Union and Gnatty Creek Turnpike was surveyed by Hayes, in 1853, and by Wm. Ewing in 1854, and opened in 1855. This road leads to St. George, and is one of the best graded mountain roads in the State.
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad runs for 3 miles and 140 poles on the northern line of the district.
Mills .- The first mill was a log one, built by the Rev. John Stough, at the falls of Wolf Creek, about 1790. A spout placed under the falls carried the water on the wheel. Its capacity was three bushels of corn a day. The Old Goff Mill (now Chisholm's), owned and run by Martin L. Shaffer, east of Aurora, was next built by a Goff. Painter's Mill, in the northern part, was built by David Fries in 1852, owned by John Bishoff in 1858, and purchased by its present owner Isaac L. Painter, in 1869. Jacob S. Sanders's grist- and saw
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