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 40
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
501
CAIRO
sylvania, who is of High Dutch stock, and with her he came to Cairo. Their children were five in number ; viz., E. B., George, and Mrs. Jennie Carroll, and the late F. S., Cairo; and the late Minor, of Atlanta, Georgia.
Mr. Merchant passed on several years ago, and rests at Cairo.
Churches .- The pioneer public building in this section, which served the people for both school and church purposes for a half century, was torn down shortly after the erection of the United Presbyterian church in 1870; and the site of this re- vered old structure is now marked by the "Odd Fellows ceme- tery." The Rutherfords, Halls, Pews, Douglasses, and Taylors were the chief builders of the U. P. church ; and the Rev. D). M. Sleeth was its first pastor. This church was reduced to ashes in 1904 but was re-built two years later.
The Baptist church also came in 1870, with the Hatfields, Fordhams, Moatses and Phillipses as principal builders. This church stands on the Hatfield homestead near one mile from town, and only a short distance from the United Presbyterian church.
This church society was organized on June 6, 1868, with the Rev. P. A. Woods, chairman ; and Henry Fordham, cicrk ; but its organization was not fully completed until June 20th of the same year, when Jacob Hatfield and Thomas Fordham were made Deacons, and Henry Fordham, clerk.
The original members of this organization were as fol- lows: Jacob Hatfield and wife, Sarah J. and Elizabeth Hat- field, Thomas Fordham and wife, Lucinda Yockey, Peter Moats, Tohn Layfield, Elizabeth Layfield, and Elizabeth L., Margaret and Salinda Layfield, of the Harrisville Baptist church, Sarah E. Cain, and Cinderilla Hatfield, Goose creek ; Samuel Moats, Indian creek : Harriet Layfield, Cedar creek. and Henry Fordham, of the Baptist church of Baltimore.
Next came the Presbyterian church, which stands beyond the town limits, and which is the largest and best church edi- fice in this part of the county. The Mckinneys, the McCol-
502
HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
lums, and the Wanlasses were among the leaders of this de- nomination.
The Methodist Episcopal church, which is the only one within the limits of the town, was dedicated during the au- tumn of 180; and among its principal promoters and build- ers, we find the names of Eli Earnest, J. R. Sigler, Harrison B. Haddox, and Mrs. Cunningham. This church has been rc- modeled and improved within recent years, and has been fur- nished with a fine musical instrument, the half of which was the gift of Andrew Carnegie.
Before the coming of the churches, the oid "Block House" was used as a place of worship, as well as the other old building mentioned.
The Block House was also used for school purposes, San- ford Carroll being the first teacher within its walls; and George WVeddekham, another teacher, is said to have given 111- structions to a class in German here.
This "old Block House," which stood on the west side of the hill above the railroad, was instituted during the Civil war as a place of defense and as a guard house. It was built compact of hewed timber and all along the railroad these houses were to be seen; but they have all long since passed from view.
The First School Building was erected in 1868. It was an old time log structure and stood on the hill on the west side of the river, and served the town for educational purposes until 1873, when the present school-grounds were set apart, and a two-roomed frame building erected ; but this building was de- stroyed by fire in 1893, and the following year it was replaced by another two-roomed building, which was remodeled by the addition of two more rooms and an office, in 1896.
In 1904-5 another addition was made, and the present building consists of six class rooms,'an office and a reading room, a library of six hundred volumes, and other modern ap- paratuses and conveniences.
When the school was established in 1868, one teacher was thought to be equal to the occasion, as the curriculum con- sisted of only the three "R's" and a "few fragments and frills,"
303
CAIRO
but it has kept pace with the onward march of education, and it now occupies a place in the front ranks, among the schools of this and neighboring counties. Owing to its crowded conditions no High school work of any notice was taken up until 1904 and 1905, when through the efforts of L. R. Fowler, one year's course was added. The curriculum now consists of the regular graded-school work and a two-year High school course. Like the other schools of its kind in the county, it has sent out some of the prominent citizens of our state, as well as the county. Its present enrollment (1909) is near two hundred, and its teaching faculty is as follows: S. C. Grose, P. C. Hickman, Genevieve Kirsch, Nettie Myers, Sallie Agnes Pew, and Emma McCollum.
John S. Hall, the blind pedagogue and poet, of St. Mary's was the first teacher in the house on these grounds ; and among those who have served as principal since his time are: Miss Jennie Smith, Luther Randolph, Fillmore Randolph, Wm. M. Hall, A. B. Smith, I. A. Tannyhill, Mr. King, William Echols, Jora Cannon, J. H. Nichol, Lucy McKinney, J. Newman, Kath- rine Roberts, J. F. Marsh, L. H. Hayhurst, J. W. Davis, L. R. Fowler and S. C. Grose, the present incumbent.
Bank .- The first Cairo Bank building marks the site of an old and important landmark, which is now but a memory, the spoke factory and grist-mill of the late "Jackey" Horn, which played no small part in the early history of the town, but which finally sank into a state of dilapidation and ruin and vanished from sight before the hand of modern improvement.
The Grange .- Early in the seventies an organization called the "Grange" flourished here. Its purpose being to ad- vance the interests of the farmer. A large store was opened, which did a successful business for a time. One fair was held, which was a pronounced success, but soon after this, the com- pany went to pieces ; the business was sold out, the store closed, and the corporation disbanded. There was at this time quite a number of other Grange organizations in the county, but not even one is left "to tell the tale," of their success. They have long since been "naught but a memory."
The Late Ex-Senator J. N. Camden, of Parkersburg, was
504
HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
an important factor in redeeming much of the territory east and north of this town from its primitive wilderness. He and other Parkersburg men purchased thousands of acres of land, and put in large mills which cut up the timber ; and after the best timber had been removed, they sold the land in small farms, reserving their coal and oil interests which have since proved to be valuable possessions. This enterprise began near the "Nutter farm." H. S. Wilson,1 of Parkersburg, also did much toward opening up this territory.
Major J. D. Beardley, superintended the mill-work for Senator Camden ; and he built the residence that is now owned by Mrs. Anna Newman, which was at that time considered one of the few palatial residences in the county. Mr. Beardsiey was a Canadian by birth and always remained loyal to the Crown. He and his accomplished wife added much to the so- cial circles while here, but when his work was at an end, they went to Arkansas, where they amassed quite a fortune.
The First Silversmith .- Henry Fordham was the first silversmith of the town. He was born in Yorkshire, England. on September ?, 1817, and there grew to manhood and learned the watch and clock-maker's trade in his father's shop.
In 1841, he was married to Miss Sarah Mitchell, daughter of William Mitchell, who passed on in 1849, leaving two cliil- dren, the late Mrs. Elizabeth (Abner) Hatfield, and Thomas Fordham, of Goff's.
After her death he married her sister, Miss Mitchell, and in 1851, they embarked to America, landing in Baltimore, where she died a few years later, leaving one sor, Henry Fordham, junior, who died in his early manhood. He then married Miss Barbara Ellen Gettier, of Baltimore; and from there came to this county, and settled at Cornwallis, for a brief time, before coming to Cairo in 1858, where he con- tinued to work at his trade until his death, in 1887.
He spent two years of his life as a sailor, and served as a soldier in the Civil war for a few months. He was Secretary of the Board of Education for seven years-just before his
1See Chapter XXVIII for sketch of Mr. Wilson.
505
CAIRO
death-and was unusually skillful in his trade as repairer of clocks and watches, as is his son.
The children of his last marriage are Mrs. Mary Hall, Mrs. Florence Hall, and the late Mrs. Emma (A. L.) Gracey, of Marietta, Ohio, who died at the birth of her first child. Mrs. Fordham still survives and at the Gracey home at Marietta, she resides.
Physicians .- Dr. T. B. Humphrey was the first resident physician. He remained for several years and then went to Bridgeport, Harrison county, where he died. His successor was Dr. C. P. Lowry, who married Miss Myra Sigler, daugh- ter of J. R. Sigler, and after several years' practice here was compelled to give up the profession owing to his failing health. He then removed to Parkersburg, where he died a little later, and where his family still live.
The late Dr. Martin came next and, after years of faithful service, died here. Dr. Chesney was another physician, but he only remained for a brief time, going from here to Tyler county.
Dr. Archie Bee, and Dr. U. S. G. Ferrell are the present practioners.
Lawyers .- James Newman, an Englishman, was the first lawyer in 1894. He came as a teacher, but since his practice has become so large, he has given up teaching. Charles Mc- Kight, Robert Talkington, Robert McGregor, and S. O. Prunty are other jurists that have been identified here. Mr. Prunty is now the partner of Mr. Newman.
Newspapers .- The pioneer newspaper was the "Ritchie Democrat and Beacon Light" in 1877. The Cairo Times came later, but was destroyed when the Commercial hotel went up in smoke, some twelve years ago, after a brief history. "The Cairo Enterprise" with Robert Morris owner and Van A. Zeveley editor, is the only publication in the town at present.
Lodges .- The Kate Barclay Lodge, No. 51, of the I. (). O. F. was the pioneer secret society. It held its early sessions at the Alpha hotel, but later purchased an old dwelling near the Methodist Episcopal church, which served until 1890, when the fine lodge hall was erected, which is now the home of all
506
HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
the secret orders in town, the others renting of the I. O. O. F. H. B. McCollum is styled the "father" of the organization here, he having been an Odd Fellow for more than sixty years. The Odd Fellows also own a large cemetery near town.
A strong Good Templars organization once flourished here, but has long since gone out of existence. The other secret orders are, the Masonic, the A. O. U. W., the I. O. R. M., the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of Pythias, and the Woodmen of the World.
John McGregor, brother of David was an early black- smith here, perhaps, the first one of the town.
Cairo is divided by the North Fork of Hughes river, but is connected by bridges, a county, a railroad, and a suspension bridge span it, and a foot bridge is under agitation. It is heated and lighted by natural gas, and is the only town in the county that has waterworks. It is in the midst of an extensive oil field though developments are now on the wane; but it has been greatly enlarged during this period of oil development. Several new additions having been added and others are in progress, among which the Ferrell is perhaps, the more im- portant.
Dr. U. S. G. Ferrell bought a tract of land some distance from the main town and divided it into one hundred seventeen lots, thirty of which, perhaps, have been improved. This ad- dition has a planing-mill, a general store, and a movement is on foot for a church and a school house.
Cairo claims a resident population of eight hundred 111- habitants. It has a third-class post-office, the late C. E. Had- dox being the first post-master appointed by the President, and B. R. Twyman is the present one. It has been under municipal government since 1895, when it was incorporated with James Newman as first mayor.
It has a fine drug store, with G. S. Flesher, druggist : an opera house which was recently completed by H. E. McGregor & Company at a cost of near one thousand five hundred dol - lars ; a nitro-glycerine factory, a job printing-house, an oil well manufacturing tank shop, planning-mill, feed stores, bakeries, groceries, a good school-building, two hotels, the "Alpha and
507
CAIRO
the Omega," and a few boarding houses. It has one bank, the two having been consolidated under the name of the "Cairo Bank," a few years since.
The South Penn, the South, and the Stuart Oil Companies, and a number of others have their head offices here.
Its business men are H. E. McGregor and C. D. Lowry, who have a large furniture and undertaking establishment under the firm name of McGregor & Company. The Greer Supply Company are also dealers in furniture and have a spa- cious hardware establishment in connection. The Ramsey Sil- cott Company are the clothiers, The Cairo Mercantile Film with Newton Marsh in charge, Summers, Hall & Co., (B. E. Summers, A. L. Hall and G. P. Sigler), S. P. Heckart, G. P. Hess, A. Pribble, T. P. Sandy are the general merchants.
John Shroper, is the photographer, W. L. Collins, J. Fried- ley, T. L. Cross, blacksmiths, A. S. Lemon, tailor, Mrs. A. M. Douglass. milliner, and Misses Anna and Mary Lavelle, dress- makers.
While Cairo cannot boast of its beauty of location, it is conveniently situated, and is the third town in point of size in the county ; and in modern conveniences it holds the first rank.
As the country about it was formerly called "Egypt"1 it takes its. name from the ancient land of the Pharaohs beyond the sea.
The names of Mckinney, Marshall, Hall, Douglass, Younge, Rutherford, McGregor, Lowther, Pew, Fordham, Merchant, Haddox, Carroll, Sigler, Hatfield, Earnest, Lee Humphrey, and McCollum, all have old and prominent con- nection with this town, but as many of their histories have already appeared in preceding chapters, more than a passing notice is still due a few of them.
Eli Earnest and his wife came from the Keystone state, and died here after a long residence. Their son, Luther, mar- ried Miss Mary Lowther, daughter of the late Maxwell and Mrs. Matilda Lowther (now Mrs. McGregor) and went to Oregon, where they now live.
1The name Egypt originated from the fact that much corn was raised here in early times, and when the citizens of the Harrisville vicinity came down to buy, one of the wives of the old settlers said: "Oh! you Israelites have come to Egypt to get corn, have you?" hence the name.
508
HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
Harvey B. McCollum came from Pennsylvania in his young manhood, near the year 1854, and married Miss Kath- erine Mckinney, daughter of Jacob Mckinney, and is still a familiar figure of the town. He has been the Secretary of the Board of Education of Grant district almost throughout the history of the free school system.
He is the father of two sons, and one daughter : viz., Wm. McCollun, and Miss Emma, who is one of the successful teachers of the county, and Dr. Reilly McCollum, of St. Mary's.
Jacob Hatfield was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, on May 13, 1818, of Scotch-English parentage. He was the son of Jacob Hatfield, senior, and his mother's maiden name was Miss Mondell. Both lived and died in Pennsylvania.
In 1840, he was married to Miss Wilhelmina Everhart. who was also born in Greene county, on October 26. 1820. and shortly after their marriage, they came to West Virginia, and settled near Middlebourn in Tyler county ; and from there they came to Cairo in 1852, and took up their residence on the old homestead, near one mile east of the town where their son. Jacob, now lives, and where they saw the last of earth. She. in 1895, and he, on February 9, 1902. Both rest in the Egypt cemetery, near their old home.
Mr. Hatfield was long prominent in public affairs. He served as magistrate at the time the magistrates formed the County court ; and was a member of the Board of Supervisors that laid the county off into districts. He was also a member of the body that organized the State of West Virginia, he and John P. Harris being the delegates from this county. He gave the grounds for the Cairo Baptist church and was one of its chief builders and pillars. He also played & liberal part in the building of the Central Baptist church at Goff's.
He was the father of the following named children : Hon. Samuel Hatfield, ex-State Senator, and Jacob, already men- tioned. Cairo: the late Dr. F. P. of Parkersburg, who also oc- cupied a seat in the Legislature, from Wood county : Cephas. of Marietta: Abner Hatfield. and Mrs. Thomas Fordham. Goff's: Mrs. Benjamin Phillips, Rusk; and Mrs. Madison Lambert. Ellenboro.
Samuel Hatfield is the one member of this family that has
509
CAIRO
taken an active part in the public affairs of the county. He was born in Tyler county, in 1842, and with his parents came to this county at the age of ten years. He married Miss Cin- derilla Phillips, and is the father of two daughters, the late Mrs. Mary (B. F.) Twyman, and Mrs. Wilhelmina Cokeley, of Cairo. He filled the offices of assessor and of Commissioner of the County court ; and in 1904, was elected as State Senator from the third Senatorial district: and at the session of 1907, he served as a member of the following committees: On County and Municipal corporations ; on Militia ; on Immigra- tion and Agriculture ; to examine Clerk's offices, and was clair- man of the one on Federal Relations.
J. R. Sigler, who was so long identified with the business affairs of this town, came to this county from Evansville. Preston county in 1849; but later went to Gilmer county where he was engaged in the tannery business, at Glenville, at the breaking out of the Civil war ; but in 1862, he returned to Harrisville where he remained until the time of the build- ing of the "Calico railroad" when he came to Cairo. Here he was engaged in the mercantile business for many years, and here he passed from earth ; but in the Harrisville cemetery he slumbers. He was first married to Miss Mary Stevens, daugh- ter of Israel Stevens of Taylor county, who died in 1847 leav- ing two sons, John W., who lost his life in the Union cause, on the Lynchburg raid ; and J. J. Sigler, of Harrisville. His second wife was Miss Jane Moats, daughter of Jacob Moats, of Cairo, and she was the mother of the following named children : Ella, late wife of H. P. McGregor, of Wheeling, and mother of H. E. McGregor, of Cairo; Mattie, is the widow of the late Dr. J. R. Lowry, of Parkersburg ; Myra is Mrs. Charles E. Batson, of Cairo : Cora, Mrs. Thurston Coffman, of Parkersburg : Ollie, Mrs. Frank Gaylord, of Clarksburg : Addie was the late wife of the Rev. Mr. Beard, of the Presbyterian church ; George P., is the druggist at Pennsboro ; and Walter was killed by the train in his boyhood.
The name of Carroll has long had a prominent association with the history of this town, though few members of the family yet remain here.
Sanford Bartlett Carroll was one of the early pedagogues
.
510
HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
of the town. He was born in Harrison county, on January 27, 1814, but with his parents removed to Doddridge county in his youth, or in his early manhood. He married Miss Mary Flint, who was born at Hartford, Vermont on July 13, 1825, and who with her parents resided in Wood county at the time of her marriage. She was a school-tcacher, also, and while thus en- gaged in Ritchie county she met Mr. Carroll, and on Sunday, September 28, 1845, they were married at the home of James Terry, by the late Rev. James L. Clarke.
Mr. Carroll at that time owned a farm on Arnold's creek in Doddridge county, and there the first few years of their married life were spent ; and from there they removed to Cairo in the early fifties : and, here, he passed from earth at a ripe old age. Mrs. Carroll survived until August 11, 1907, when the lamp of her life went out at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C. E. Haddox, at Moundsville. Both sleep at Cairo.
They were the parents of the following named children : Lydia, the eldest, died at the age of two years.
Chapman married Miss Jennie Merchant, and died a num- ber of years ago leaving two children: George F. resides at Fairmont. Caroline is the wife of the Rev. W. A. Echols, of the Presbyterian church of Ohio: Sanford B., junior, died in 1898, and Charles, too, has passed on; Ellen is the widow of the late C. E. Haddox, of Moundsville; and Emma is Mirs. Stonewall Taylor, of Parkersburg.
The Carrolls are of Irish descent and they probably first settled in the Maryland colony upon their arrival in America.
Charies Carroll, the last surviving signer of the Declara- tion of Independence, who died at Baltimore on November 14, 1832, was born at Annapolis, Maryland, in 1737.
And his Cousin, John Carroll, was the first Roman Catho- lic Bishop in the United States. He too, was a native of Mary- land, and doubtless belongs to this same family.
William Carroll, the father of Sanford B. Carroll, and his wife Lucinda Mott Carroll, were both natives of the "Old Dominion" and there they grew to maturity and married ; and from there they emigrated to what is now Harrison county where the most of their family were born.
They died at Cairo at the home of their son, he, on August
311
CAIRO
15, 1864, at the age of eighty-three ; and she, on December 15, 1816, aged eighty-five years. Both sleep at Cairo.
Haddox .- Three generations of the Haddox family have figured in the history of this town, but as a sketch of the older generation appears elsewhere, we shall only mention the fam- ily of the late Harrison B. Haddox, whose brief earthly pil- grimage began on the South fork of Hughes river in this county ir. 1846, and ended at Cairo in 1877.
Mr. Haddox was a man of high character and was a use- ful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He offered himself as a soldier at his country's call for volunteers during the Civil war, but was rejected on physical grounds.
In 1863, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Lowe, a native of the Shenandoah valley, who was a lineal descendant of the renowned Lee family of Virginia ; her mother being a cousin of the late General Robert E. Lee, and six children were the fruits of this union, namely, the late Charles E. Haddox,' of Moundsville ; C. M. Haddox, of Charleston ; Harold Haddox, Mrs. Incz (Van A.) Zeveley, Cairo ; and Morde and Addie, who died in childhood.
C. M. Haddox is one of the sons of this town that is mak- ing a record for himself in the state, he having filled the po- sition of Chief Clerk in the State Treasurer's office under the administration of the late Newton Ogdin; and during the last six months of Mr. Ogdin's administration, served as Treas- urer as well as Chief Clerk, Mr. Ogdin being capacitated by illness.
1See Younger Men's Calendar.
CHAPTER XLI
Pennsboro
HIS town was laid out at an early day, and was named in honor of Mr. Penn, of Balti- more-the civil engineer who performed this service. But the history of the town proper begins with the coming of the railroad in 1858.
As has already been mentioned, in an earlier chapter, the first settlement in the county was made here, in 1800, by John Bunnel; and the picturesque old stone house at the western end of the town is the oldest landmark in the county, as well as one of the most interesting. It has with- stood the storms of a century, and bids fair to stand for many more. Its walls are two feet in thickness and are constructed of flag-rock, of all shapes and sizes, which are held in-tact by the most substantial of cement : and it is two one-half stories in height. and contains twelve rooms. As one gazes with ad- miration and awe upon the unique design of its masonry, one is almost lost in wonder in regard to the character of the builder. (John Webster, who came from New England and went to Texas where he was killed by the Indians).
Mr. A. J. Ireland, the present owner, recently had an an- nex of twelve rooms added to the back, which now makes it the largest hotel in town.
Here, in this historic building, James Martin kept the first post-office, which would be a rare curiosity to-day with its small desk which afforded ample room for all of the mail which was then in circulation. A small store box usually served this purpose, but the Ellenboro post-mistress used a sieve. which she pushed under the bed out of the way.
The first dwelling, after the "stone house" stood on the corner of Pike and Spring streets, where the Wilson furniture
513
PENNSBORO
store now stands ; and was constructed by Marshall Martin (son of James), who removed an old store house from below the fairground here, and converted it into a residence.
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.