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 33
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Fragrant to the Memory
nf
The
Referenda
Thomas Cunningham
John Drake
Who Gaid the Foundation for the Methodist Episcopal and the Baptist Churches in this Wilderness
I love thy Church, O God! Her walls before thee stand, Dear as the apple of thine eve, And graven on thy Hand. -Timothy Dwight.
CHAPTER XXXI
Churches
HE ycar 1810 was marked by the first church organizations. The Reverend Thomas Cun- ningham, whose interesting history occu- pies a preceding chapter, was the first minis- ter in the Hughes river valley. He laid the foundation for Methodism in this wilderness, in Ritchie county. He came here in 1807 and entered upon his ministry the following year ; and in 1810, the first Methodist Episcopal class was organized at his home, near Frederick's mill, where Henry Barker now lives.
Among the original members of this class were-James and Benjamin Hardman, John Wigner, senior, John Hill. Jabez Elliott, and John Wilson, with their wives.
This organization may well be styled the mother of Hard- man chapel, as James Hardman, one of its initial members, laid the corner-stone for this church, which was erected late in the sixties.
The Reverend Mr. Cunningham was a lay minister at the time of the organization of the church here, but he was fully licensed to preach at Zanesville, Ohio, on September 5, 1817, and continued his labors until he was called to his reward in 1825.
His son, William, began his ministry in 1810, but went to the Ohio conference in 1812.
The First Church-house in this part of the county stood on top of the hill, on the Kennedy farm, above the mouth of Lamb's run.
Its history began, perhaps, in the early thirties, and ended in 1845, when it was destroyed by fire while it was being used for school purposes.1
1E. C. Goff, who was then a child of five years, was attending this school.
·
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CHURCHES
Another pioneer church, which came a little later, was lo- cated on the McNeill homestead, but was reduced to ashes before its completion. These houses were not built in the name of any denomination, but were constructed for both church and school purposes.
The Methodist Protestant people laid the foundation for a church on the Scott farm, below Smithville, as early as 1840 or '45, but it was never completed.
So the old "Union church" at Goff's was the first building in this part of the county, which was dedicated, exclusively, to the "worship of God ;" and it was built by the Methodist Episcopal people not earlier than 1845, but was open to all denominations.
The late Rev. James L. Clark, in his Autobiography, gives the following description of the place of worship, at this ap- pointment, in 1844, at the time of his first quarterly-meeting. after he was sent to the Harrisville circuit :
"It was an old frame, twenty by thirty feet, built for a bark shed for a tannery, the vats of which still surrounded the building-if such it could be called. In order to protect their. from the inclemency of the weather, the brethren had col- lected some plank, and set them upon end around the frame, leaving an aperture in one side to answer for a door. Win- dows, there were none. The boards were fastened on with hickory withes. The inside was seated with split poles which were laid across some sills, which were placed length-wise of the building. The floor was of dirt, plentifully covered by straw, as the space within our altars at camp-meetings, fre- quently is.
A rude fixture at one end answered for a pulpit from which we preached the unsearchable riches of Christ to the hungry souls, who came through the rain and mud to this rude temple, dedicated, for the time being, to the worship of God."
He farther describes this meeting, which was continued for several days, and which resulted in the salvation of thirty- eight souls.
He says, "The last night of the revival was a time of power. Although the rain poured incessantly, the lightning
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HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
flashed and the thunder roared, but few within knew of the terrific nature of the storm without, for above its mighty roar, rose the cries of the penitents, intermingled with the shouts of new born souls, and the rejoicing of the people of God."
Shortly after this meeting. the old "Union church" was erected. on the farm of the late Thomas Goff, not far from the present residence of E. C. Goff ; and Mr. Goff (Thomas) was one of the chief factors in its erection.
In 1853, the old Pleasant Hill church, which has long since crumbled to decay, came into existence as a Metliodist Episcopal church.
The late Joseph Haddox gave the grounds for this church and cemetery.
Harrisville M. E. Church .- The first Methodist Epis- copal church class in the Harrisville vicinity is said to have been organized as early as 1820; but we have no authentic history of this church earlier than the year 1844, as the rec- ords were destroyed when the church burned to the ground some years ago.
But the first church building, which was located on the late Noah Rexroad farm not far from the present site of the Lorama depot, is said to have been erected near the year 1843, with Noah and Henry Rexroad and Eli Riddel as chief build- ers. The Rev. Mr. Riddel preached the first sermon within its walls, and the Rev. Mr. Gordon was the first pastor in charge.
This old structure served Mr. Rexroad as a grain-house, after it had out-lived its usefulness as a place of worship : and it was finally torn down and the frame timbers were pressec. into service in the erection of the depot store-house by Noalı Rexroad and E. C. Fox.
Harrisville was a three weeks' circuit with twenty-nine appointments when the Rev. James L. Clarke became the pas- tor in charge, in 1844. It began on the Ohio river, just be- low Vancluse, and extended back to within twenty-two miles of Clarksburg, including what is now embraced in the whole or a part of Harrisville, Smithville, Pullman, Smithton. West- union, Ellenboro, Pleasants and Valley Mills, and other cir-
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CHURCHES
cuits. These itinerant ministers gathered the scattered set- tlers into little societies at every convenient point.
The Rev. Mr. Clarke gives the following description of the parsonage at Harrisville, upon his arrival: "We found a small parsonage with one room down stairs, and a half-story above, with steps to go up from the porch. The brethren furnished the lumber, and I turned the porch into two small rooms, which made us more comfortable, and gave us a spare bed-room."
He speaks of the "grand local ministers" within the bounds of the charge, at that time, in the persons of T. Hen- derson, Eli Riddel, George Collins, Elijah Clayton, and James Hardman, whose homes were ever open to the worshipers of God.
The Harrisville charge in 1871 consisted of fifteen ap- pointments, which were as follows: Harrisville, Spruce Grove, Goff's, Hardman chapel, Leatherbarke, Spruce creek, Pleasant Hill, Bone creek, Horn creek, Middle Fork, White Oak, Chevauxdefrise, Pisgah, Smithville, and Webb's mill. But changes have gradually taken place until it is now a
Harrisville M. E. Church.
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HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
charge of three appointments ; viz., Harrisville, Fairview, and Spruce Grove.
The Rev. Moore McNeill, who is now spending the even- tide of his life at his pretty country home, "Locust Grove," near Smithville, served this charge in 1872. He and the Rev. U. Pribble, of Harrisville, are the only two early ministers that are still among us, though the Revs. T. B. Hughes, S. E. Steele and others survive in other parts of the country.
The White Oak Methodist Episcopal class was organ- ized in 1842, at the home of Elijah Clayton, and Mr. Clayton, Thomas Ireland, Peter Pritchard, and Samuel Wolfe, with their wives, were among its initial members. The pioneer church building was erected in 1845, Mr. Clayton being the donor of the grounds. But this old time structure gave place to another in 1857, and to the present one, in 1891.
M. P. Church .- Though the exact date of the organiza- tion of the Harrisville M. P. church is not known, its history begins as early as 1845; and Zackquill M. Peirpoint, and Amos Culp were among its corner-stones.
In 1850, this church applied for admission into the Tyler circuit, which had been formed in 1840; and at the next con- ference, the name of this circuit was changed to that of the St. Marys and Harrisville, which included the territory of Tyler, Ritchie, and Pleasants ; and was traveled by two ministers at one time. In 1867, the Harrisville circuit was formed ; and in 1881, another division was authorized which made it a charge of two appointments, Harrisville and Den run, but since 1898, it has been a station; and is now one of the strongest, and most influential churches in the county ; it having an active membership of over two hundred.
"It has numbered some of the ablest ministers in the state as its pastors," among them being the Revs. Dr. E. J. Wilson, Dr. Helmick, Dr. Brown, and Dr. S. C. Jones.
The Baptist Church Organized .- The first Baptist church organization was contemporary with that of the Methodist Episcopal. It having been made, in 1810, at the home of Baines Smith, senior, where B. H. Wilson now resides ; and was, in part, composed of the following named gentleman with their wives: Aaron and Barnes Smith, Samuel and
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CHURCHES
Amiziah Murphy, James Drake, John Every, William Wells. and Mrs. Eleanor Ayres. This was known as the "Hughes River Baptist church" until 1875, when its name was changed to Smithville. From the date of its organization until 1873, its places of worship were at private houses, principally at the home of Barnes Smith, in the earlier days of its history. The Rev. John Drake, who was the first Baptist minister iu the Hughes river valley, and one of the first missionaries of this church to cross the Allegheny mountains, was the first pastor of the Hughes River class. The heirs of the late Isaac Smith, among whom are Martin Smith, Mrs. M. A. Ayres and Mrs. Alfred Barr, gave the grounds for the Smithville church, and were among its chief builders.
Harrisville Baptist Church .- The second Baptist class is said to have been organized by the Rev. John Drake, in the Harrisville vicinity, in 1812, or '13. The first church in this section stood on the Cannon farm, it having been erected by the Baptist and the United Presbyterians, but was open to all denominations.
The Harrisville Baptist church came into existence in 1825, under the name of the "Mab Zeal" Baptist church. Its nineteen charter members were: William, Elizabeth, Isaiah, Jane, Christopher and Clarissa Wells, Allan and Elizabeth Calhoun, Gamaliel and Nancy Waldo, Jacob and Phebe Col- lins, Margaret Berkeley, Hester Heaton, Jane Wilkinson, Judith Chancellor, and Mary Rogers.
William Wells was the first deacon; Gamaliel Waldo, the first clerk ; and the Rev. John Drake, the first pastor ; but death ended his labors the following year, and the Rev. Mr. Nathan became his successor in 1827. He remained one year. and was succeeded by the Rev. Cornelius Huff, who continued his pastorate until 1832, when this church severed its connec- tion with the "Union Association" (a connection of six years), and was admitted into the "Parkersburg Association," and for the next three years it had no pastor. Among the minis- ters who have since had pastoral charge, we find the names of the Reverends James Tisdale, James Gawthrope, F. H. Johnson, A. C. Holden, James Woods, John Woofter, Aaron
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HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
Barnett, J. F. McCusic, P. A. Woods, George Woofter, E. J. Woofter, and Jonathan Wood, who is now in charge.
The first Baptist church in this section was erected near 1843, on the lot now owned by Sheriff John Hulderman, this lot being donated by George Moats.
Harrisville Baptist Church.
The Reverend John Drake is said to have preached the first sermon in Grant district, at the home of William Mc- Kinney, in 1823; but no organization was perfected here until April, 1835, when the Rev. Festus Hanks, of the General As- sembly Presbyterian church, of Parkersburg, who had been preaching in this, and the Harrisville vicinities, alternately, for a year-for the fourth of his time, organized a class at the home of Joseph Marshall.
The members of this class were as follows :
William, senior, and Mrs. Frances Piatt McKinney. Joseph and Hannah Marshall, Edward and Jane Skelton, Stephen and Isabel Wanless Outward, Mrs. Catharine Hal! Douglass, Mrs. Susana Douglass Layfield, Miss Jane Hoskins. Mrs. Mary Miller Mckinney, Miss Katharine Mckinney, Ani- drew and Agnes Young, and John Harris and his daughter. Mary-the latter two from Harrisville.
The First Church-house was erected near the year 1839, on the site that is now marked by the Odd Fellows' cemetery. This old structure, which was used for both school and church purposes, served the people of all denominations for many vears until better churches could be built. But the Presby-
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CHURCHES
terians and1 the United Presbyterians were the principal wor- shipers here.
In 1845, the United Presbyterian church was organized at Harrisville, as an Associate Reform church; it becoming the United Presbyterian in 1858, by the union of the Associate, the Reformed, and the Associate Reformed Presbyterians. The Rev. Dargo B. Jones was the first pastor of this organ- ization, in 1849.
The First Sermon in Clay district is said to have been de- livered by the Rev. B. F. Sedwick, of the Methodist Episcopal church, at the residence of Edmond Taylor. We are without information as to the first church building in this district, but Riddel's chapel is, doubtless, among the first. It was erected at an early day, and stands as a monument to the chief- builder, the late Rev. Eli Riddel. The present church was erected in 1880.
The Seventh Day Baptist church was organized at Berea, near 1837. And its founders were Elders Peter Davis and Asa Bee. Among its charter members were: George, John C. and Sarah Starkey, Elias, Jonathan C., Rebecca, Margaret, Mary and Dorinda Lowther. One member of this pioneer organization still survives, in the person of Jonathan C. Low- ther, who is now a member of the Adventists' church.
Many other denominations, besides the ones mentioned. have long since effected organizations in different parts of the county. There are now more than one hundred churches, of which twenty-six are Methodist Episcopal ; twenty-three, United Brethren ; and, perhaps, a like number of Methodist Protestant, thirteen Baptist, four Catholic, four Presbyterian, and four Christian. The Seventh Day Baptist, the Seventh Day Adventists, the United Presbyterians, the Dunkards, and the Latter Day Saints, also, have church buildings.
Almost every community has its comfortable church, and its little band of worshipers. This religious influence, too, has had a telling effect on the people of the county : for more than fifty years, "the courts have been sustained in the anti- license policy." In all that time no individual has been licensed to sell intoxicants.
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HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
The Sunday Schools of early times, like everything else, were "crude affairs." We have no authentic date of their be- ginning in the county, but iate in the fortics and early in the fifties, they were conducted here and there at private houses. Their literature consisted of a testament, and a spelling book, and, later the school readers were pressed into service. But this work has made rapid progress, and is now at the zenith of its interest.
At the annual convention last year (1908), the schools in the county numbered eighty-one, with a combined men- bership of five thousand three hundred pupils. Twenty-five of these schools were kept open the year round. Teachers' Training classes are being organized at various points and many noble and heroic workers are uniting their forces for the advancement of the cause in general. Among the princi- pal workers are Will A. Strickler, Secretary-Treasurer, G. M. Ireland, Dr. J. F. Hartman, Dr. I. C. W. Fling, and many others that might be mentioned.
The Reverend M. McNeill .- It seems to us that a little sketch of the life and public service of the Reverend Moore McNeill would form a fitting conclusion for this chapter, as few other ministers in the history of the county have had a longer association with its people.
The Reverend Mr. McNeill was born in Pocahontas coun- ty, on November 8, 1830, and there he grew to manhood and engaged in teaching before entering the ministry, in Septem- ber, 1859.
He began his ministerial work under the auspices of the Methodist Protestant church, but, in 1867, became a member of the West Virginia Methodist Episcopal conference. and thus continued in the active work until April 5, 1881, when he removed to the "Ayres homestead," above Smithville, where he continues to reside.
Among the more prominent charges that he served dur- ing his twenty-one pastoral years were: Mannington, King- wood, Spencer, and Harrisville. he having been pastor of the latter charge in 1872, when he first formed the acquaintance of the people of this county-an acquaintance which was
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CHURCHES
destined to ripen into a strong and enduring tie, a life-long friendship.
He is one of the most widely known and beloved citizens of the county, having endeared himself to the hearts of the many by his comforting ministrations in times of sorrow and bereavement. Perhaps no other minister, in the history of the county, has married or buried a farger number of its citizens ; and when he lays down the cross to claim the crown. no other one will be more sadly missed.
On July 2, 1862, he led Miss Eliza Jane Caldwell, daugh. ter of John and Mrs. Jane Poole Caldwell, of Marshall county, to the altar as his bride, and twelve children are the result of this union, all of whom survive :
Owen M., and Tutt, reside in the West : Ida V., the eldest daughter, is Mrs. G. M. Clammer, of Colorado; E. Augusta is Mrs. Augustus Shaffer, of Kingwood; Minnie is the wife of the Rev. A. L. Ireland, of the West Virginia Methodist Episcopal conference : Ellen H. is Mrs. Cochran, of Wheeling : Isa P. is Mrs. Morrow, of the West ; Miss Freda is a profes. sional nurse of Washington city; Burleigh S. C. is still at home, and William K. is married and resides there ; A. Frank, and Otis S., live near Fonsoville.
The McNeills are of Scotch-Irish descent. Their ante. cessor crossed from Scotland in Colonial times, and settled in the Old Dominion. Thomas McNeill, son of the original emigrant, was married to Miss Mary Ireson, of Franklin county, Virginia, and removed (from Frederick county) to Pocahontas county, this state, near the year 1770, where he entered three hundred acres of land and became a prominent pioneer.
He and his wife were the parents of four sons and two daughters; viz., Jonathan. Absalom, Enoch. Gabriel. Naomi (Mrs. Smith), and Mary (Mrs. Wm. Ewing), who all went W'est, but the first one mentioned.
Jonathan, the one son that remained in Pocahontas coun- ty, was a very enterprising individual, as milling, weaving. fulling-cloth, and powder-making were all carried on under his supervision.
He married Miss Phoebe Moore, daughter of Moses
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HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
Moore, who was born, on February 13, 1124, and four sons, John, William, Moore and Preston, were the result of this union. Preston was drowned in childhood, and the rest were all the heads of well-known Pocahontas families.
William McNeill was one of the earliest school-teachers within the bounds of his native county. He married Miss Nancy Griffey, a native of Franklin county, Virginia, who emigrated to Pocahontas county with her elder sister, Mrs. Rebecca McNeill, when she was but twelve years of age. Her father. Jonathan Griffey, was born in Switzerland and crossed the water to America with Lafayette, in 1779, and, with this distinguished Frenchman, fought to the close of the American Revolution, being present at the siege and the surrender of Yorktown; and after the war he was married to Miss Anna -, a Virginia maiden, and spent the remainder of his life in Franklin county, Virginia.
William McNeill and his wife were the parents of the fol- lowing named children: viz., Jonathan, James, Claibourne, Jane (Mrs. John E. Adkisson), Elizabeth (Mrs. Solomon Cochran), Agnes, and Moore McNeill, the subject of this sketch.1
1See Pocahontas County History for farther data of this family.
Ehergreen in the Memory
Isaiah and Jane Taylor nf
Isaiah and Jane Taylor Wells.
None knew thee but to love thee, None named thee but to praise. -Halleck.
CHAPTER XXXII
Mills
HOMAS MALEY, son of Lawrence Maley, is recognized as the pioneer miller of the county, he having erected the first mill about 1812, near two miles north of Harrisville, on the bank of Hughes river, on the site where the mill-property of Enoch Leggett was burned in 1871.
This land is now owned by John Shriver, but nothing marks this historic spot.
Mr. Maley married Miss Elizabeth Starr, and went to Illinois at an early day, where he sleeps.
William Wells, whose history will be found in an earlier chapter, was the builder and owner of the second mill in this section, which stood near the mouth of Bunnell's run, on the site of the well-known B. F. Wells' mill, which, though still standing, is fast crumbling to decay. Three generations of the family manipulated this mill, and the land is still owned by the heirs of the late B. F. Wells, who died in 1908, at the age of more than ninety years.
"Sugar Grove Mill."-Then, in 1842, came the "Sugar Grove" flouring mill, with Isaiah Wells, son of William, as builder and proprietor. This mill stood three-quarters of a inile north of Harrisville, and was one of the most noted in Western Virginia, during its early history. A saw-mill and carding-machine-the first in this section-were operated in connection with the grist-mill for a time, but after some years. the carding machinery passed into other hands, but Mr. Wells continued to own and operate the saw and grist-mill until his death on May 17, 1875, when it passed into the hands of his heirs, who kept it in motion for a time: but finally, the wheels became silent, and the old building lapsed into ruin. and in
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MILLS
1908, it was torn down. The Heaton heirs now own the land.
In 1858, Isaiah Wells constructed a mill at Cornwallis, which was operated by his son, George W. Wells, until 1875, . when it became the property of the late James Taylor, and at his death passed into the hands of the Naughton Brothers, who are still the owners, though nothing now remains of this once valuable mill-property, but the ruins of the building The introduction of the steam and roller process put these water mills out of commission.
The Isaiah Wells mill and homestead.1
Isaiah Wells was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on August 6, 1796, and with his parents came to this county in 1808. In 1816, he was married to Miss Jane Taylor, of Vir- ginia, the marriage taking place at Pruntytown, where she was visiting relatives ; and they settled on the farm that had
1This picture was taken after the old mill had been dismantled. At the right can be seen the picturesque sugar grove from which it took its name. In the rear-center is the old homestead which opened its hospit- able doors to some of the most distinguished Virginians of the day, and at the left is the family burying-ground where Mr. Wells and his beloved wife lie in their last sleep.
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HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
been improved by Joseph Wilkinson, and which, though now owned by the Heaton heirs, is still better known as the "Isaialı W'ells homestead."
Mr. Wells was widely known and greatly revered for his hospitality, and for his charitable disposition. He was a prom- inent figure in the early history of the county, and was long a pillar in the Baptist church.
His children were as follows: The late Benjamin Wells, of Hannahdale: William, of Grantsville; Levi, of Tollgate; Mrs. Elizabeth Cornell, and Mrs. Mary Cornell, Cornwallis. Mrs. Salina Woods, Harrisville; Mrs. Cynthia Core, and George W., Cornwallis; and Isaiah, Grafton. The last three only survive, but his descendants in this county are a host --- many of them being prominently known. Judge H. B. Woods is a grandson.
The Pritchard Mill .- Near the year 1832, Thomas Pritch- ard came from the Glades in Preston county, and built the first mill on the South fork of Hughes' river, below Oxford, on the farm that is now owned by the Zinn Brothers (G. P. and M. G.), and made the first settlement here.
A man by the name of Henry O. Middleton had given him one hundred acres of land in this wilderness so as to induce him to settle, and to erect à saw and grist-mill, and here some of the first lumber in the county was sawed.
This old grist-mill was a water-power, and the wheel run in a sycamore gum, and its capacity was from eight to ten bushels a day, but this was a marvelous improvement over the old hand-mill.
Mr. Pritchard was born in 1768. His antecessors came from England and settled at Jamestown, in 1610; and his brother. John Pritchard, saw three years of service as a sol- dier of the Continental army during the American Revolution.
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