USA > West Virginia > Ritchie County > History of Ritchie County, with biographical sketches of its pioneers and their ancestors, and with interesting reminiscences of revolutionary and Indian times > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
The United Brethren and the Progressive Brethren, or Dunkards, also, have influential organizations. The late John Byrd was long a pillar in the former, and it was called by his name. "Byrd chapel."
The late Wilson B. Cunningham, whose history belongs to Leatherbarke, was the pioneer school-teacher on this creek. The house in which this school was taught, stood near the present site of the Wright school house.
Goff's was the first post-office. It was moved during the sixties to this creek, but after a few years was changed back to its present location at Goff's.
In 1871 or '?, an office was established at the residence of Alexander Wright under the name of "Spruce Creek," but it was discontinued after a few years.
Then near 1885, came the Ira S. Goff store, and a little later, the Hazelgreen post-office, with Mr. Goff as first post- master.
In 1890 the Lawford post-office was established at the home of M. L. Law, with Mr. Law as post-master; and this same year E. C. Goff launched the mercantile business at Law- ford and erected the first store.
Then in 1906 came the Juna office with L. C. Goff post- master.
Buzzard's Mill .- Near the year 1860, Buzzard's mill came upon the stage. The late Thomas Hardman, of Tannersville, son of Benjamin Hardman, was the pioneer of this enterprise. and he sold the property to James Holbert. It was then in turn owned by the late Simeon, R. W., and William Goff, and in the early seventies it passed into the hands of the late Henry Buzzard, and thus continued until swept away by a flood in 1896, and it has never been rebuilt.
Thomas Hardman married Miss Mary Fling, sister of F.
273
SPRUCE CREEK SETTLED
G. Fling, of Burnt House, and went to Tannersville, where he lies in his last sleep. After the death of his first wife, he married Miss Drusilla Kelly, and eight children were the fruits of this union : the late Thomas, principal of the Glen- ville Normal school, and later clerk of the County court: 1. N. Hardman, the present County clerk, Asa, Wm. L., French, the late Creed, Virgil, and Mrs. Gae (T. E.) Waggie, all of Gilmer county.
The children of the first marriage are: Lewis S., Francis G., Henry G., and John J., and Rebecca and Mary, who both died in youth.
CHAPTER XIX
Grass Run Settled
RASS RUN derived its name from a bit of grass that grew in a swampy place near its mouth, and though it is a small streani, it has quite an interesting history.
John Riddel, its first citizen, was born in Virginia, not far from the present site of Georgetown, in the District of Columbia, on June 30, 1778-at a time when the forests were resonant with the din of the American Revolution ; and with his parents re- moved to what is now Tucker county, where he was married, on September 23, 1802, to Miss Tamar Goff, half-sister of Alexander Goff, senior, who was born in the "Old Dominion," in September, 1782, and died at her home in Gilmer county, on September 15, 1823. This was one of the romantic run- away marriages of early days, and on the banks of the Cheat river, it was solemnized ; the young people having been com- pelled to ford this river in order to carry out their nuptial plans.
The date of the removal of Mr. Riddel from Randolph to Gilmer county is wanting, but it was probably shortly after the war of 1812. There death robbed him of the com- panion of his youth ; and there he was again married, on May 16, 1824, to Miss Elizabeth Holbert; and in 1831, they canie to this county and settled on what is now the J. C. Rexroad homestead-this old pioneer cabin having stood just across the road from the present Rexroad residence, and only a few rods from the Fonzo post-office, and Hatfield store. Here, death again robbed him of his companion, and some time afterwards, he was married to Mrs. Hannah Drake Smith. widow of Aaron Smith; and from here he removed to the Obadiah Bee farm, on Spruce creek, near the year 1838. He
277
GRASS RUN SETTLED
later went to Lewis county, and finally, to Roane, where he died in 1843, and where he and his last wife sleep.
He was the father of fourteen children; viz., the late James, of Roane county ; the late Rev. Eli Riddel, of Riddel's chapel ; Mrs. Hannah (Benjamin) Cunningham, Mrs. Nancy (Strother) Goff, Mrs. Elizabeth (N. H.) Frederick, of Burnt House; Eleven and George, who died in childhood, were the children of the first marriage; and Tamar, who was the late Mrs. Emmett Norman, of Auburn; Dorcas, who married Rufus Holbert, of Roane county ; William and Harrison (who were twins), Thomas, Joseph and John, who passed on in childhood were the fruits of the second union.
Though his children have ali joined the throng on the other side, his descendants in this and adjoining counties are a multitude. Among the grandchildren that are well-known citizens. are Mrs. Clara Goff, Mrs. J. R. Stalnaker, James. the late John Frederick, all of Burnt House ; John R. Cunningham, of Tanners ; the Normans, of Auburn, and numerous others that we might mention.
Riddel Ancestry .- Though not a few of the Riddels claim to be of French extraction, investigation proves that their ancestor, James Riddel, came from Germany along with John and Salathiel Goff, and Joseph Hardman; and that after a brief sojourn in England, they all came to America, and set- tled at Georgetown, which is now in the District of Columbia, after a twelve month's residence in Baltimore, where they first landed-in the year 1773 or '4. From here they went to Fredericksburg, Virginia, and later to what is now Tucker county, West Virginia, where he probably sleeps. His death occurred on February 26, 1816. He married a Miss Welsh, of Scotland, before leaving the Fatherland, and was the father of the following named sons and daughters: John, James, junior, Benjamin, Jeremiah, Dorcas, who married Joseph Hardman, and Elizabeth. the wife of Alexander Goff, senior. And from these sons and daughters sprang the innumerable families of Riddels, and Hardmans-and not a few of the Goffs in this and adjoining counties -- in fact, these descend- ants are scattered throughout the Union.
John Riddel, as above stated, settled in Ritchie county :
278
HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
James, junior, in Lewis county. He was twice married but left no heirs.
Benjamin Riddel married Miss Nancy Anne Goff, daugli- ter of Salathiel Goff, and settled at Hollow Meadows, on the Cheat river, in Randolph (now Tucker) county ; but near the close of the war of 1812, he sold his possessions there, and removed to Gilmer county, and became one of the pioneers, at the mouth of Leading creek. Here he passed from earth, and here his ashes lie. He was the father of ten sons and one daughter; viz., Salathiel, died in Roane county, in 1907, at the age of ninety years ; Silas T., the youngest son and the only survivor of the family, resides near Washburn, in this county ; and the others were, Hiram, Richard Welsh, John Goff, Benjamin, junior, George Washington, William (died in infancy), and the next brother was called William Slavens, James S., and Dorcas, who married William Holbert, of Gil- mer county.
Jeremiah Riddel, or "Jerry," as he was familiarly known, married Miss Margaret Hardman, sister of Joseph Hardman, who came from Germany with the rest of the party, and fol- lowed them in their wanderings until they found a home (and she, a final resting place), in Gilmer county.
It is not known where or when they were married, but circumstances point strongly to the fact that they were mar- ried in the Fatherland, before they set sail for America, but this cannot be verified at this late day. However, he died at Norfolk, Virginia, while serving his country in the war of 1812, and there he reposes. He was the father of six children : viz., Eleven, the Spruce creek pioneer : James, junior, John E., George M., and Mrs. John Short.
George M. Riddel married Miss Mary Norman, and was the father of Mrs. Nancy Bush, of Auburn ; Mrs. Etta Russell, of Parkersburg; and grandfather of Mrs. W. H. Amos. of Auburn, and the well-known traveling salesman, A. W. West- fali.
(The family of Dorcas Riddel Hardman appears in an earlier chapter, and that of Elizabeth Riddel Goff follows in this chapter.)
James Harvey Cooper was the second citizen of the Rex-
279
GRASS RUN SETTLED
road homestead. He was born in Pocahontas county, in 1810, and married Miss Julia Ann Whitnian, a native of Green- brier county ; and in 1836, came to Gilmer county and settled near Troy; and two years later (1838), removed to the Rex- road farm. After a brief sojourn here, he went to Leather- barke, and made an improvement on the Dr. A. M. Edgell farm ; and near 1840, returned to the Frederick's mill vicinity, and reared the first dwelling on the land that is now owned by his grandson. F. M. Cooper; and from here he removed to Gilmer county, and took up his residence on what is now designated as the S. L. Bush homestead, where he passed from earth in 1881, and on an adjoining farm, he rests. He was a school-teacher, and in this profession forty years of his life were spent. He was also a surveyor, and was at one time County surveyor of Gilmer.
He was the father of three daughters and eight sons : Agnes died in youth ; Julia is Mrs. Francis Hardman, of Tan- nersville; and Rebecca, Mrs. Jesse Hardman, of Nebraska. Five of the sons were Confederate soldiers : Robert S. died in prison : George was slain in the Battle of Fisher's hill, in 1864; the late James T., lost an arm in the cause: John M., who resides in Gilmer county, was severely wounded ; and Charles, of Auburn, narrowly escaped injury : Andrew Holly also re- sides in Gilmer county ; and Leonidas, and Henry J., have passed on.
While the greater number of his descendants live in Gil- iner county, not a few of them are known in this county ; the family of Charles Cooper, of Auburn, being prominently known among the teachers, and in other professions: H. E. Cooper was the principal of the Harrisville school for two years: Victor, who was formerly County Superintendent of Gilmer, is now identified among the Harrisville lawyers : Mrs. Homer Adams, of Harrisville: Miss Cora, Everett, Grover, the late Price, who was graduated from the State University, at Morgantown, and died of smallpox in the Philippines, where he went as a teacher ; and the late lamented Okey Cooper. of Newberne, were all members of this family, and have all been identified in the profession of teaching. F. M. and Joseph Cooper, of Fonzo, are also grandsons of this pioneer, they being the sons of John Cooper.
280
HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
The Coopers1 are descended from an old Virginia family. James Cooper, father of James Harvey, being a native of Augusta county, and a typical pioneer of West Virginia. He married Miss Nancy Agnes Wooddell, who was also a native of the "Old Dominion," and came to Pocahontas county, early in the nineteenth century and settled near Piney woods, now known as Greenbanks, where the remainder of his life was spent. He was a prominent figure in the early affairs of Poca- hontas county, being one of its organizers, and having after- wards served as constable, magistrate, assessor, and peda- gogue. He was also one of the pillars of the "Liberty" church, in its early history.
His children were ten in number: Elizabeth, became Mrs. Woods, of Highland county ; Margaret was the late Mrs. Enoch Hill, of Hardman chapel, this county ; Jane married Andrew Kerr, and lived at Dunmore; Lucinda became Mrs. John A. Gillispie, of Greenbanks: Nancy, and Malinda were the other two, all were of Pocahontas county ; Thomas died in youth . John T. became a prominent physician. He resided at Parkersburg for a number of years, but finally went to Claysville, where he died in 1878. His son, Arthur, is now a renowned pulpit orator of the Presbyterian church of Illinois; and James and other members of his family still live at Park- ersburg.
James Harvey, the Ritchie county pioneer, and Joseph W., of Pocahontas, were the other sons.
Isaac Collins made the second settlement on Grass run, on the farm that is now the estate of the late Nicholas H. Frederick, near the year 1832. He was of Irish lineage; and was a soldier of the war of 1812, having been drafted into service. He married Miss Rachel Cunningham, daughter of Thomas and Phebe, and they resided at Smithville, and at dif- ferent other points in this county, before going to Calhoun county, where they spent the remnant of their days, near Freed, and where, on their old homestead, side by side, they sleep. At their home Phebe Cunningham died, and there she rests.
1The facts concerning the ancestral history of this family are gleaned in part from the "History of Pocahontas County," the author of that book being indebted to George C. Cooper, son of Joseph, for his informa- tion.
281
GRASS RUN SETTLED
Their children were as follows :
Felix, the eldest son, served as a soldier of the war of 1812, and shortly after its close, went to Texas ; Thomas, also, went to Texas; Isaac, to Iowa; John D. resides at Chestnut Grove, in Calhoun county: Phebe, became Mrs. Anthony Smith, of Portsmouth, Ohio; Hannah married Isaac Smith, and lived and died at Smithville; Leah was Mrs. Henderson Beall, and Barbara, Mrs. John Beall, both of Calhoun county ; Nancy, Mrs. James Wilson, of Wirt county ; and Rachel, is Mrs. Jesse McGee, of Harrisville.
Among the grandsons and granddaughters are, Martin and A. W. Smith, Mrs. M. A. Ayres, and Mrs. Alfred Barr, all of Smithville : and Isaac and Wilford Collins, of the Lawford vicinity.
Philip Frederick was the successor of Mr. Collins on the Frederick homestead, as early as 1835. He was of German origin, and of Pennsylvania nativity, he having been born at Lancaster, in 1775. From his native state, in his young man- hood, he went to Rockingham county, Virginia, where he met and married a young lady of French descent by the name of "Bougher."
Ile was a miller by trade and for a time after their mar- riage, they resided in Louisa county, Virginia, and from there, removed to this county in 1832, and settled on Indian creek. near the County Infirmary, for a brief time before coming to Grass run. They afterwards emigrated to Athens, Ohio, but soon returned to their old home on this creek, where they spent their last hours. Mr. Frederick died in 1861, and both lie at rest on their old homestead, which is still in the hands of their heirs.
Their sons were David, Nicholas H., Samuel B. and Philip Frederick.
David Frederick left home in his youth and was never heard from afterwards.
Nicholas H. Frederick, who was born on October 6, 1815. married Miss Elizabeth Riddel, daughter of John and Tama Goff Riddel, who was born on March 7, 1815, while her father was serving as a soldier in the war of '12. The marriage was solemnized, in 1837, at what is now the W. G. Lowther home-
HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
stead. and they at once took up their residence at the old home on Grass run, where they lived and died, and where they lie at rest.
Their children are James Frederick, the late John, Mrs. Louisa (J. R.) Stalnaker, Mrs. Clara Goff, Mrs. William Stal - naker, who are all the heads of families; and Joseph, Samuc' Mary E., Tamar, Martha J., and Nancy, who died in youth.
Samuel B. Frederick married Miss Elizabeth Petty, of Wirt county, and principally spent his life in the Burnt House vicinity. He was the father of Samuel, Ulysses G., the late Victor, and Roll, Cathrine Snodgrass, Josephine Pritchard, and Amanda.
Philip Frederick married Miss Phebe Hardman, daughter of Benjamin, and lived and died on Grass run. They were the parents of Charles, Franklin, William, David, Edward. James, Samuel, Elizabeth, who died young, Leah, who mar ried James Cain, and Safronia, the late wife of George W. Hardman.
Benjamin Cunningham, son of Thomas and Phebe, made the first improvement on the Dr. J. F. Hartman farm in 1836: but in 1845, he sold this improvement to David W. Sleeth. and moved his family to Iowa in a wagon. Not being satis- fied there, he returned to this county, the following spring. and became the first settler of the Charles Drake homestead. near Hardman chapel. Here the remainder of his life was spent, and here he fell asleep, on April 24, 1853, at the age of fifty-three years ; and on the Joseph Frederick homestead. be- side his father, he lies asleep.
He married Miss Hannah Riddel, daughter of John Rid- del, whose earthly pilgrimage began in Randolph county. on August 18, 1803, and closed on Leatherbarke, on December 13, 1881. She rests at Hardman chapel.
Their children were as follows: Phebe died in childhood and James, in infancy : John R. is of Tannersville; Wm. C .. of Calhoun; the late Mrs. Hannah E. (John) Modisette, of Walker; Mrs. Leah C. (Wm.) Vannoy, Gilmer county ; and the late Mrs. Nancy H. (Wilson B.) Cunningham, of Eva : Mrs. Rachel Norman, of Doddridge county; Mrs. Tamar J. (James T.) Smith, of Smithville : Eli R., of Iris ; and Thomas. of Calhoun county, have all passed on.
283
GRASS RUN SETTLED
The Dr. Hartman homestead is still in the hands of the heirs of David Sleeth, Mrs. Hartman being his only surviving granddaughter.
John Harris built the first dwelling on the F. G. Fling farm at Burnt House as early as 1836. He came from New York and kept a stage coach and a house of public entertain- ment. While thus engaged a tragical drama is said to have been enacted within the walls of this home, which hung a shadow about the good name of the family, and furnished material for all sorts of weird tales and ghost stories.
A stranger, who had stopped for the night, mysteriously disappeared, and nothing ever being heard of him again, sus- picion pointed strongly to Harris or his son, William (This is variously stated), as having been the perpetrator of a crime. A child, belonging to the family, is said to have told the following story :
That while the stranger sat at supper, the father (or brother) decapitated him with a drawing-knife, and concealed his remains up a run, which has ever since borne the name of "Dead Man's Hollow." For many years this region was sup- posed to have been visited by supernatural beings-appari- tions in varied forms appeared to the consternation of the fanciful. But these old superstitious traditions have long since lost their terror-they are now naught but a memory. To those of us who are familiar with the pleasant scenes of this section, they are but little more than interesting legends. or fairy tales.
Shortly after this tragic occurrence, in the early fifties, Harris sold his possessions here, to Mrs. Susan Groves-a widow-and her son, John, and went West, and here his his- tory ends. He has no known relatives in this county.
While the Groves family resided here, an incident oc- curred, which gave rise to the name "Burnt House."
Mr. Groves being a slave holder in the "antebellum days." is said to have sold a little negress, and she being so enraged at her master for this act of cruelty, set fire to some clothing up stairs, before taking her departure, which resulted in the destruction of the house-the first dwelling where the village now stands, the site being marked by the Ferrell hotel.
284
HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
This interesting little legend, however, is set aside by facts which somewhat modify it. The other story being that the little black girl had been lent to Mrs. John Groves, by her father. Mr. Rogers, of Waynesboro, Virginia, and that while Mr. Groves was absent-taking the little wench back to his father-in-law, the house caught fire, and was burned to the ground-hence the origin of the name.
The Groveses came from Augusta county, Virginia, and Mrs. Susan Groves went back there and died. John went to California, and Thomas lived in Wirt county, but moved to Cairo, where he died some years ago, and where one of his daughters still lives.
Henry Fling .- In 1859. the Grove's farm became the prop- erty of the late Henry Fling, and has ever since been in the hands of the Fling family, he having been the first to rebuild where the Grove's residence was burned.
In 1849, John Fling purchased quite a tract of land in this section, which he divided between his two sons, Henry and Levi.
Henry built his cabin on the land that is now owned by Mrs. Ona Fling, and having married Miss Eunice Fisher, of Gilmer county, two years before, took up his residence here this same year (1849). And in 1859, as before stated. lie moved to the Groves' farm, where he continued to reside until 1883, when he was succeeded by his brother. F. G. Fling, who is still the owner. Henry Fling was born in 1821, and died in Calhoun county, in 1906, and sleeps beside his wife in the Baptist chuchyard, at Tannersville.
His first wife died in 1872, and, two years later, he mar- ried Miss Rebecca Holbert, who, with her four daughters, Gay, Martha, Mary, and Jennie, resides at Brooksville.
The children of the first union have all passed away but three : viz .. Mrs. Minerva Kelley, Tannersville : Mrs. Maggie Heller, Nebraska: and Fisher,.of Pittsburg: Henry and his family met tragic deaths at their home in Calhoun county, a few years ago by a gas explosion-the charred remains of the wife and two children being laid in the same grave at Tan- nersville. William died at Big Springs. in Calhoun county :
285
GRASS RUN SETTLED
George A., at his home near Hardman chapel; Floyd, and Levi J., in Nebraska ; Mary S., and John, at Burnt House.
Levi Fling built his dwelling near the present residence of his only son, P. J. Fling, about the same time that his brother Henry, made his settlement ; but he put a tenant on his farm until his marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth Bush Heckart- an event which took place on August 9, 1869, and commemo- rated the forty-sixth anniversary of his birth. From that time until his death, in 1905, he was a respected citizen of this com- munity. He sleeps at Mt. Liberty, and his venerable widow still occupies the old home.
She first married Jacob Heckart, and is the mother of S. P. Heckart, of Cairo ; Mrs. Margaret Harden, and the late \\'. H. Heckart. Burnt House ; the late H. A., of Tannersville ; J. M .. of Knoxville, Tennessee; Mrs. Sarah (Jerome) Prunty, California ; and Mrs. Louie S. Beckner, Tannersville.
F. Gainer Fling married Miss Elsie Bush, daughter of George and Mrs. Mary McQuain Bush, of Gilmer county, and is the father of the late General Fling and Mrs. Mollie E. (J. E.) Ferrell.
The Flings are of Irish lineage. John Fling was born in America, shortly after his parents crossed the sea; and when he was still in his cradle, his parents both died, and he was reared by a family by the name of "Polen," near Baltimore, Maryland. After he had grown to manhood, and served as a soldier in the war of 1812, he came to Barbour county, (\V.) Virginia, and there he met and married Miss Elizabeth Gainer, in 1816; and from there, they removed to Gilmer county, in 1831. Here at his old homestead, near Tannersville, he closed his eyes to earth, in 1861. Eight children were the fruits of this union. Besides the three sons already mentioned were : the late Mrs. Jane (Wm.) Wilson, Mrs. Sarah (Thomas) Hardman, the late George and Sanford, all of Tannersville : and Mrs. Mary (David) Ayres, of Calhoun county.
George Fling married Miss Hannah Bush, and was the father of the late H. H. Fling, of Roseville, who figured as an early miller in the history of the towns of Smithville, Au- burn, and perhaps, others, in this county.
H. H. Fling married Miss Mary Talbott, of Philippi, Bar-
236
HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
bour county, and was the father of twelve children; viz., G. W. D. Fling, Mrs. Rose Bush, Mrs. Guy Younge, and Miss Eva, are all of Gilmer county ; Laura B. is Mrs. P. J. Fling, of Burnt House, and Dr. I. C. W. Fling is of the same place ; P. E. A. Fling is of Arkansas; H. H. J., of Texas ; Mrs. Bertha House, of Clarksburg; Gertie L., J. K. W. and M. E. have ali passed on.
. Joseph Cunningham made the first improvement on the head of the stream, on the T. J. Hartman farm. We learn that he never owned this land, that it belonged to the Max- wells at this time.
He was a nephew of Thomas Cunningham, being the son of his brother, Benjamin. He married Miss Jane Malone, sis- ter of John and James Malone, and was the father of the late Mrs. Tabitha (Israel) Davidson, of Spruce creek ; Benjamin. of Missouri : Findlay, of Ohio; Mrs. Sarah Quinn, and Mrs. Elizabeth Quinn, both of Iowa; Mrs. Priscilla Kenney, of Missouri, who later became Mrs. John Miller, of Ohio; Mrs. Amanda of Missouri ; and Robert, of Ohio.
After residing at a number of other points in this county. Mr. Cunningham went West, but finally returned to the home of Israel Davidson, of Spruce creek, where he found a final resting place, beside his wife.
Jonathan Bessie, of Virginia, was another early settler on the T. J. Hartman farm; it being claimed by some that he preceded Cunningham here, but we are unable to verify this statement, however.
Strother Goff was the pioneer on the old homestead that is still in the hands of his heirs. He was born in Randolph (now Tucker) county, in 1809, and with his parents came to Gilmer county shortly after the war of 1812, where he grew to manhood, and married his cousin, Miss Nancy Riddel. daughter of John and Tamar Goff Riddel, who was also born in Randolph (now Tucker) county, on October 17, 1807. He served as deputy sheriff of Gilmer county under Peregrine Hays, before coming to this county, in 1850, where he spent the remnant of his days. He was one of the corner- stones of the old M. E. church South, at Burnt House, and re- mained a pillar in this church to the close of his earthly pil-
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.