USA > West Virginia > Preston County > History of Preston County (West Virginia) > Part 35
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1880-Joseph M. Godwin and Gustavus J. Shaffer, justices ; James Carroll and P. F. Caufield, constables.
1881-School board-Dr. W. R. Potter (president), James H. McGinnis, W. R. Shaffer, who resigned, and Dr. R. B. L. Trippett was appointed ; John Potter, secretary.
Road surveyors appointed by the court October, 1881 : Precinct No. 1, John D. Elliott ; No. 2, J. W. B. Trowbridge ; No. 3, Michael Lynch ; No. 4, Henry Shaffer ; No. 5, J. W. Parks ; No. 6, W. C. Gibson ; No. 7, W. Q. Britton; No. 8; Simeon Mattingly.
THE COUNTY SEAT.
Kingwood was established as a town of Monongalia Coun- ty, Virginia, on the 23d of January, 1811, and was the first town established in the territory of Preston. On the 12th of March, 1853, it was made a town corporate by the name of "The Town of Kingwood." The officers were to consist of seven trustees and a sergeant. James .C. McGrew, Wil- liam G. Brown and Israel Baldwin, or any two of them, were appointed to hold the first election on the first Monday in June, 1853. The following board was elected and organized June 7, 1854: E. T. Brandon (president), John H. Bennett, Henry Startzman, Peter Barrick, John J. Brown ; Edward C. Bunker, secretary.
The present members of the town council are: John Bar- ton Payne, mayor, Dr. James H. Manown, D. Young Morris, Elisha Thomas, Draper C. Hughes, Peter Voltz, and John M. Crane, recorder. James E. Murdock is the town sergeant.
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KINGWOOD DISTRICT.
The first building used as a court house was John Robert's store room, in 1818, which stood on the site of Oliver Dunn's house. . It was known as the Old Red Court-house. A log jail stood by it, which was burned by escaping prison- ers. The next court-house was the old Stone Court-house, built about 1821, on the site of the present court-house, by Major Wm. B. Zinn. A stone jail was built by William Carroll and Jonathan Wilson. The court house was about 30 by 40 feet, 2 stories high, with a clerk's room on the east end, 16 by 20 feet. The court room was in the lower story, while two stairways led to the upper story, which was di- vided into three jury rooms.
In 1856, James C. McGrew commenced the brick court- house that was burned in 1869. A wind storm blew down the walls when partly erected, and the county authorities allowed him.$1,500 additional to the contract price of $8,000. When finished in 1857, it was one of the finest court-houses in the State. It was 70 by 47 feet, three stories high in front, and two stories in height running back. A flight of broad stairs led up to the court-room and clerks' offices in the second story. The third story was divided into three jury rooms. On the first floor was the court house hall, en tered by a side door. The stone jail was still used with it. While the Court house was building, court was held in Squire Price's house, which stood between the bank building and Mrs. Bunker's. This court-house was insured for $8,000 when burned.
The present brick court house was built in 1869 and 70, by Robert McCafferty, S. W. Smalley and A. B. Menear, for $11,000. The building is 70 by 47 feet, two stories high. Two clerks' offices, two fire-proof vaults, and the court-house hall are on the lower floor; and the court room and two jury rooms are on the upper floor.
· The present brick jail was built in 1871 and 72 by Robert McCafferty and A. B. Menear, for the sum of $6,165.
John Miller and Hugh Morgan principally owned the land upon which Kingwood is built. Miller kept a tavern
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HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
on John Williams's farm, and hero sometime after 1800 John Roberts kept a small stock of goods. Some time about 1807, Conrad Sheets built a log cabin where the Hon. James C. McGrew's residence stands. Jacob Funk, who married a daughter of Hugh Morgan, built a log house opposite Elijah Shaffer's, and a man by the of Steel built the house occupied by F. Hines. They called their new town Kingwood, the name of the great camping-ground where the court-house stands. John Miller, sometime later, probably 1810 or 11, built a store-room for John Roberts on the site of Oliver Dunn's house, and it was used for a court-house from 1818 to about 1822. Roberts had two clerks, one Wilson and then McDaniels. A hatter by the name of Fulton (who, it is asserted, was a brother of Robert Fulton), about 1809 or 10, lived in the Steel house. About 1810, Jacob Funk started the Spahr tannery, and sold it in 1813 to William Sigler, a reed maker by trade, and a native of Loudon Co., Va. He served as one of the first members of the legislature, was a justice of the peace, a colonel of the militia, commissioner of . the revenue, and recorder. He was born in 1783, and died 1864. His last wife, Nancy, who was a Sterling, died in 1882.
Somewhere between 1810 and 18, Thomas McGee kept a store, and Ann Steel a tavern.
In 1818, Kingwood was selected as the county-seat of Preston, and began to improve. Squire William Price built the Herndon Hotel some time before 1812, and kept it sever- al years. He sold it to S. P. Herndon, who married Mary Carroll, and built an addition to the house. He was suc- ceeded by James M. Carroll. He by Herndon's widow ; and after her death, Miss Kate Carroll kept it. She was married, in 1880, to Dr. J. C. Kemble, and the hotel discon- tiņued.
The Union hotel was built by William Johnson about 1824 or 25. Johnson's wife was Phoebe Bonnel, and the hotel was named by Smith Crane, who painted the sign. He was followed by his son, Wick Johnson, Thomas McGee, Da-
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KINGWOOD DISTRICT.
vid McGee, Adam Bishop (1843), George R. Calvert, Rev. John Regar, James Caldwell, Ephraim McClaskey, Hiram Vankirk, John S. Murdock, C. H. Corbin, John T. Neff, and White and Shaffer (1881-2). The house is now vacant.
William Carroll built the next hotel, a frame house, about 1829, and was succeeded by James Caldwell, E. T. Brandon who built an addition, Benjamin Gilbert, Walter W. Worth- ington, who was keeping when it burned down, January 6th, 1867.
Wm. Price kept the next hotel in a house between the bank building and Mrs. Bunker's, and was followed by John S. Graham prior to 1849. John R. Stone kept where Charles W. Faucett lives, about 1855.
The Exchange Hotel was built in 1869 by John S. Brown, and sold to H. Zotz, who died before finishing it, in 1870. John T. Neff first kept it, and was succeeded by James L. Stone, and by the present landlord, Peter R. Smith.
C. H. Corbin opened the Corbin House in 1872, which he · enlarged in 1875-6 to its present size.
In 1822, William Johnson was postmaster ; and the next of whom any account can be obtained, was Israel Baldwin in 1841, who was succeeded in 1845 by James H. Carroll, and afterward by James Caldwell, Eugene T. Brandon, Joseph Jackson, Wm. H. Grimes, James W. Parks, William C. Mc- Grew and Jacob Basnett. The present postmaster is Capt. Joseph M. Godwin, appointed in 1878. Capt. Godwin was born in 1827. His father, Robert Godwin, came from Cum- berland, Md., in 1802, and his mother, Mary Barb, was from Shenandoah, Va. Joseph M. Godwin was Captain of Com- pany 0, 6th W. Va. Infantry. He was captured and paroled at Oakland, Md., and afterward took part in the chase after John Morgan in Ohio. He has served as judge of the Coun- ty Court, and is now justice of the peace.
The first resident physician of whom we have any account. was Dr. Marmaduke Dent, who married Squire William Price's daughter, and was here before 1820. The next was the celebrated Rev. Peter T. Lashley, about 1826. Before
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HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
1820, Dr. Charles McLean, of Morgantown, was sent for in cases of sickness. In 1841, Dr. W. D. Eyster was here ; and in 1848, he was succeeded by Drs. J. P. Sturgiss, C. F. M. Kidwell, and W. E. Herndon; succeeded, in 1852, by Dr. . James H. Manown, who was born in Allegheny Co., Pa., in 1822. He was surgeon in the 14th West Virginia Infan- try, and was in the engagements at Cloyd Mountain> Lexington, Lynchburg, Carter's Farm, Winchester, Martins- burg, Halltown, Berrysville, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, and Medly. In one of these engagements, he coolly threw a, shell that lit at his feet over an embankment, where it vurst in an instant after leaving his hands. He is a member of the State Medical Society.
Dr. W. H. Ravenscraft came after 1852.
Dr. W. S. Martin, a brother of the Hon. B. F. Martin, and a graduate of Starling Medical College, came in 1873.
Dr. R. Bruce L. Trippett attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College. He graduated at Louisville Medical Col- lege, and commenced to practice in 1872. He is a mem- ber of the State Medical Society.
Dr. Arthur Love was here for a short time in 1878.
Dr. S. A. Pratt, a native of Tyler County, attended lectures in Ohio, and came in 1879. He passed the State board ex- amination in 1881.
Dr. John D. Hall attended lectures at Louisville and Bal- timore, and came in 1881, and left in 1882 for Aurora, where he now is.
About 1830, Thomas McGee had a store opposite Elijah Shaffer's. About the same time, Samuel Byrne had a store where John H. Brown keeps, which burnt down, and he built the present building. He was succeeded by H. & Elisha M. Hagans (1833), J. C. McGrew & Co. (1840), E. M. Hagans (1845), W. H. Grimes, James W. Parks, Shaffer & Wilson, E. M. H. Brown, J. H. Brown (1869), J. H. Brown & Co. (1871), C. E. Brown (1877), J. H. Brown (1879), D. R. Jackson (1880), and J. H. Brown (1882.)
William Carroll about 1831, opened a store on the site of
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KINGWOOD DISTRICT.
Corbin's store room. He was succeeded by E. T. Brandon, H. H. Gribble, and in 1867, by J. M. Godwin, when the house burnt down.
William Carroll also kept a store in a log house near the site of the Journal office.
Wick Johnson had a store on the site of Dr. Elliott's store, which burned down about 1843. Rev. J. W. Regar built the present brick building and kept there, followed by E. T. Brandon, Joseph Jackson, F. Heermans & Co., Joseph Jackson, and in 1871 by Elliott & Startzman, and in 1873 by Dr. Felix Elliott.
In 1844, James Mullin kept on the site of Joseph Jackson's store. He was followed by James C. McGrew, who built the present building in 1852; and was succeeded by Mc- Grew & Jackson (1857), J. C. McGrew (1862), W. C. Mc- Grew, McGrew & Parks, Parks & Co., Parks & Jackson, and Joseph Jackson (1880).
About 1844, Rev. J. W. Regar kept in E. Lantz's shoe and boot shop.
About 1850, James Caldwell kept on the site of J. W. Parsons's store. His building burnt down.
James W. Parsons came from Tucker County, where he served as justice of the peace, and from which he was a dele- gate to the Wheeling Convention of 1861. He built his present store-room in 1872.
J. M. Godwin built his store-room, now postoffice, in 1865.
C. M. Bishop erected his store building in 1877 and kept until 1881, and was succeeded by C. M. Bishop & Co.
Hartley & Hutchinson opened in 1882 in C. H. Corbin's store.room.
The first drug store was opened in 1875, by Dr. W. R. Potter, who attended Cornell University and afterward medical lectures at the Louisville Medical College, and in 1878 sold to D. R. Jackson, and is now engaged in the grocery and hardware business. The next drug store was
466
HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
opened in the building now used by the Argus newspaper, by George S. Martin and D. R. Jackson in 1878. Mr. Martin was accidently killed in 1879.
H. H. Potter, watchmaker and jeweler, opened out in the old postoffice building in 1880. In the same building, Mack Evick, from Pendleton County, saddler and harness maker, commenced business in 1881, succeeding the late I. Lee Cooper.
The National Bank of Kingwood was organized Nov. 14, 1865, with a paid-up capital of $100,000. The board of di rectors were, William G. Brown, president, Smith Crane, vice president, J. C. McGrew, cashier, Charles M. Bishop and James H. Carroll. Francis Heermans was elected cashier July 28, 1870, in place of James C. McGrew, who resigned. The capital of the bank was increased, Jannuary 7, 1871, to $125,000. James W. Parks has since been elected assist- ant cashier. The bank makes its loans principally in this section of the State.
In 1875, Allen & Dorsey started a planing mill, and the next year sold to Oliver Dunn, who carries on the wagon making business also. Robert McCafferty opened, about 1875, his planing mill, which burnt down in 1881. Draper C. Hughes commenced, in 1881, his present planing mill, and in connection the manufacture of furniture.
The Journal Building, which appears as the frontispiece of this work, and in which this book was printed, was built in 1879, by William M. O. Dawson, the present editor and proprietor of The Preston County Journal ; foreman, B. M. Squires.
The Argus newspaper is edited by George Purcell, a na- tive of Rappahannock County, Va., formerly editor of the Broad-Axe ; foreman, James W. White.
One of the prominent men of Kingwood was Elisha M. Hagans, son of Rev. George Hagans, born November 28, 1798. He was a man remarkable for truth and veracity. He married, Miss Anne M. Brown, sister of the Hon. William
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KINGWOOD DISTRICT.
G. Brown, and was a leading member of the M. E. Church. He removed to Elmhurst, Illinois, in 1857; died, March 5, 1864, in Cincinnati, and was buried in Graceland Cemetery, Chicago, where but a few months ago his widow was buried by his side. He was the father of five children: Marcellus B., late Judge of the Superior Court at Cincinnati ; Jane R , late consort of Judge Dille ; Lovela, Juliet and Annie E.
Israel Baldwin was another of the prominent men of Kingwood. He was born in New Milford, Conn., and came in 1827 as agent for the Fellows lands then owned by Dr. Troups. He married Miss Phebe Bunker, a highly accomplished and very amiable lady. He was a man of ex- tensive and varied information, and died April 16, 1870.
The Mozart Brass Band was organized in 1868, E. G. Jeffreys (leader), E. M. H. Brown, W. A. Reese, H. C. Show- alter, W. C. McGrew, R. B. L. Trippett, Hemy Deaker, Joseph M. Brown, James W. Holt and E. O. Ludwig, mem- bers. The members of the present band are, John M. Crane (leader), who joined one month after its organization, Dr. R. B. L. Trippett, Ed. S. Elliott, Frank Murdock, F. M. Thomas, Ira E. Travis, J. K. Monroe, D. C. Hughes, G. D. Strider, E. M. Menear and Grove C. Jackson.
Crane's Orchestra was organized in 1880, with John M. Crane (leader), J. H. Hawthorne, I. E. Travis, D. R. Jackson, D. C. Hughes, A. W. Potter, Ed. S. Elliott, H. W. McCaf- ferty and Drs. R. B. L. Trippett and S. A. Pratt, members.
The Philomathean Society was organized about 1840. The Hon. James C. McGrew and Judge John A. Dille were among the original members. Judge E. C. Bunker, Hon. John J. Brown, Alex. Martin, once president of the West Virginia University, and many other prominent men have been among its members. The society was revived la $ about 1880, and ran a few months.
The Kingwood Literary and Library Association was organized January 15, 1882 ; George Purcell, president, J. C. Ralphsnyder, vice president, P. J. Crogan, recording
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HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
secretary, John M, Crane, corresponding secretary, E. C. Ravenscraft, librarian, succeeded by Mrs. Kate B. Payne, Peter R. Smith, treasurer. The society has 40 volumes in its library.
Peter Voltz, merchant tailor, came in 1867 from Maryland.
Kingwood has an $8000 school building, a fine Presbyterian and a splendid M. E. church.
The altitude of Kingwood at the Court-house gate is 1864 feet and 9 inches above tide water.
Tunnelton is situate on the B. & O, R. R., 260} miles. west of Baltimore, and 118} miles east of Wheeling, at the east end of the Kingwood Tunnel. It is at the head of Pringle's Run, and is 10 miles southwest from the county seat, with a population of 125. James C. McGrew erected the first building for a store, which is now used for a bark, shed. He was followed by D. B. Jeffers, Allen, Shaffer & Co., and Shaffer & Bonafield, In 1878, Shaffer & Bonafield (M. L. Shaffer and A. J. Bonafield) opened in their present large building, and do an extensive business in staves, shook and tanbark.
M. C. Gibson and brother opened their store in 1875.
The first postmaster was Henry L. Bosket, followed by D. B. Jeffers, Charles E. Ellis and A, J, Bonafield, the present incumbent.
Martin L, Shaffer is the present ticket and freight agent.
W. J, Lavelle has charge of the telegraph office. He came in 1876 from Fairmont. He was the author of the "Polly Q. L." letters of local notoriety in 1880. Mr. Lavelle was married to Miss Allje Griffith in 1881. The telegraph com- pany keep him at this point on account of its importance, and that he has never had an accident.
Peter Barrack kept the first public house, followed by J. W. Brown, C. E. Ellis, A. J. Bonafield, and Luther E. Swearingen.
John W. Brown, founder and machinist, who came from Mt. Savage, Md., in 1856, started his large foundry about
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KINGWOOD DISTRICT.
1870, to which he has attached a large machine shop.
Gibson, Weaver, Brown and Mankins built the steam flouring mill in 1879.
George P. Durr, son of Philip Durr, keeps the livery stable.
Dr. H. W, Harr came in 1880,
G. J. Shaffer has a steam saw mill near, and M. C, Gibson another.
Howesville is 5 miles southwest from the county seat, ou the Kingwood and Tunnelton road. John J. Gocke came in 1840 from Germany, and resided on its site in 1859. About 1868, James Dexter Howe, of Maine, established a shook shop here for A. A. Perry & Co. He was succeeded by S. S. Evans, who obtained & p. o. here. In 1870, he named Howesville after James Dexter Howe who still lives here and is in the lumber business, In 1871, Henry Wright be- came postmaster, and moved the office to its present location. John J. Gocke was in charge of the toll gate here, and was superintendent of the Brandonville, Kingwood and Evans- ville turnpike for 28 years. He built and opened his pres ent store in 1879.
Mills .- The Berket Minor mill was one of the earliest in the county It was built before 1800, just above Albright's mill on Green's Run. Thomas McGee many years afterward built a mill one half mile above its site. In 1853, William Albright built the present steam and water mill now operated by his son, D. J. Albright. David Trowdridge, in 1807, built a mill near the island in Cheat River. Jacob Snyder built a mill on Cheat close to A, W. Chidester's, and Samuel Trowbridge built one on Morgan's Run, near which Samuel Snyder afterwards built the mill now owned by Bishop & Stone. Williams Brothers own the mill on Heather Run, George Conley built a steam mill at Kingwood about 25 years ago. C. W. Fawcett now has his shoe shop in the building. The Tunnelton steam mill was built in 1879.
Mail Service,-The first postoffice in the district was es.
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HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
tablished at Kingwood, and James Carroll, now living, was a mail carrier in 1817, on the route coming through the Green Glades (Cranberry) past Kingwood, and running to Clarks- burg. The present postoffices are, Kingwood, Howesville and Tunnelton ; supplied by a daily mail.
Paint Bank .- On the bank of Laurel Run is the celebra- ted paint bank of this district, similar to the one described in Valley District.
Kingwood Railway Company .- This company was char tered, January 9, 1882; capital stock limited to $150,000, in shares of $50 each. The charter members were, William G. Brown, James H. Carroll, Wm. M. O. Dawson, George Purcell, Daniel R. Jackson, Joseph Jackson, C. M. Bishop, Wm. R. Potter, William G. Brown Jr., James H. Manown, Oliver Dunn, D. C. Hughes, Sanson W. Smalley, Elias Lantz, James E. Murdock, John Morris Crane, Peter Voltz, Elisha Thomas, J. Ami Martin, Alvin W. Potter, Smith Crane, D. Y. Morris, William G. Worley. M. H. Murdock, Neil J. Fortney, and John Barton Payne.
The company organized February 11, 1882, and the fol- lowing board of directors was elected, namely : C. M. Bishop, president, J. H. Brown, vice president, William G. Brown, Jr., treasurer, Dr. James H. Manown, James H. Carroll, William G. Worley, Simeon Mattingly, Elisha Thomas, Wm. M. O. Dawson, D. C. Hughes, Joseph Jackson, Neil J. Fortney, and John Barton Payne, secretary. Executive Committee: Dr. James H. Manown, chairman, John Barton Payne, secretary, Wm. M. O. Dawson, Wm. G. Worley, and Joseph Jackson.
On the 3d of April, 1882, the county court, on motion. made an order submitting to the voters of Kingwood District a proposition for that district to subscribe $25,000 to the capital stock of the company. Accordingly, on the 20th of the following May the election was held ; and the subscrip- tion was authorized by a vote of 270 to 126. The prelimi- nary survey was made in April, 1882, by Thomas M. Jackson.
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KINGWOOD DISTRICT.
chief engineer, and J. C. Merideth and C. E. Grafton, assistants. The object of the company is the construction of a narrow gauge road from Kingwood to Tunnelton.
Religious Denominations .- The first Methodist preachers who traveled in this region were members of the Baltimore Conference. In the year 1786, Wm. Phoebus, John Wilson and E. Phelps were appointed to the Redstone Circuit in Pennsylvania. They extended their field southward and passed up the Monongahela and its branches, as far as set . tlements had been made. In 1788, Jacob Lurton and Lashley Matthews, from the Redstone Circuit, enlarged their field eastward, and preached in "the sparce settlements interspersed through the mountains. They entered the range fifteen miles south of Uniontown, Pa., and, passing up a creek, made their way to the Sandy Creek Glades, and formed a society which met at the house of William Waller."
About 1799, the Monongahela Circuit was formed. In 1813, it extended from the Pennsylvania line, southward, in- cluding Randolph County, with a membership of 781, and was traveled by John W. Watt and Jacob Foreman. In 1315, by A. Pool and Robert Boyd. In 1817, the circuit was called Monongahela and Randolph, and was traveled by the following ministers : John Connally and Thomas Jami son. Thomas Jamison and Wm. Hank (1821), Thomas Beeks and Shadrack Cheney (1822-3.) In 1824, the Pitts- burgh Conference was formed, and Samuel R. Brockunier and N. Callender were appointed to the Monongahela Circuit. In 1826, Wm. Hank and Richard Armstrong ; 1827, S. Cheney and George McKaskey ; 1828, S. Cheney and John Spencer ; 1829-30, Robert Boyd and Edmund Sehon ; 1831-2, Andrew Coleman and John West.
About this time Morgantown became a station and King- wood circuit was formed and included the country south of Morgantown between Tygarts Valley and Cheat rivers to Randolph County, and some distance, east of Cheat River. It was traveled in 1833-4 by Hiram Miner and E. G. Mur
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HISTORY OF PRESTON COUNTY.
phy, a local preacher; 1834-5, James L. Turner and S. G. J. Worthington ; 1835, Samuel Kyle, Chester Morrison and Walter Chalfant, then an exhorter ; 1836, George Monroe and John Francisco ; 1837, Jeremiah Phillips and Samuel B. Dunlap ; 1838, S. Cheney and W. F. Lauck; 1839, S. Cheney and John W. Reager ; 1840, Francis H. Read, H. C. Boyers, Joseph Shaw and Joseph Boils, supplies ; 1841-2, F. H. Read and William Lynch ; 1842, A. A. Jimeson and G. A. Lowman ; 1843, John M. Dudly and Henry Clay Dean; 1844-5, I. McClaskey and Daniel P. Mitchell ; 1846-7, Jacob S. Patterson.
The West Virginia Conference was formed in 1848, and the following ministers have been appointed for Kingwood Circuit : 1848-9, James L. Clark and R. Ball ; 1850-1, Wil- liam Smith; 1852-3, J. W. Snodgrass; 1854, R. L. Brooks and A. Robe ; 1856, J. J. Dolliver ; 1858, S. King and E. S. Wilson ; 1859, S. King and Wm. R. Carroll; 1860, D. O. Stewart; 1861, Geo. W. Arnold ; 1862, Franklin Ball ; 1863-6, A. Hall and S. W. Davis; 1866-9, W. C. Wilson ; 1869-71, M. McNeal; 1872-3, W. C. Griffith ; 1874-5, W. C. Snodgrass ; 1876-7, Wesley Prettyman; 1878-81, L. H. Jordan, and in 1881, Rev. Ashford Hall.
There are twelve pastoral charges and parts of four others in the territory of the original Kingwood Circuit, which have been contracted to three appointments: Kingwood, Albrightsville and Snider's, with a membership of 236. There are three Sabbath Schools with 238 members.
The present pastor, the Rev. Ashford Hall. was reappoin- ted to this circuit at the last session of the conference, after an absence of 16 years. Mr. Hall is a native of this county, and was licensed to preach and recommended for the traveling connection by the Kingwood quarterly conference in 1849.
The first Methodist society in Kingwood was organized sometime prior to the year 1815. William Sigler was a class leader from that time until his death in 1864.
Soon after the organization of the society, a log church
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KINGWOOD DISTRICT.
was built one mile east of the village, deeded to the following trustees: William G. Lowman, William Mason, Sr., David Trowbridge, John Snider, Jacob Snider, James Murphy and William Sigler. After 1818, the Court house was used as a place for preaching, and class and prayer meetings were held in the houses of the leaders, William Sigler and Elisha M. Hagans.
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