USA > West Virginia > Summers County > History of Summers County from the earliest settlement to the present time > Part 54
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IIISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
sold to A. E. Humphries, of Charleston, for $10,000. Charles R. Hines was married twice, his first wife being a Conner, of Muddy Creek, a daughter of John Conner, one of the first merchants who ever sold goods on the Lick Creek. By this wife there were born five children, two girls and three boys-James, Lorenzo and John, and Mary and Mattie-all of whom are now dead. By the second wife there were six children, all of whom died in infancy except Charles L. B., who is now engaged as a pharmacist in Kansas City, Mo., and J. Lee, who lives at Pence's Springs. He married Miss Winn, of Albemarle County, Va. C. L. B. is unmarried.
Charles R. Hines, the ancestor, was a brick mason by trade, and a very intelligent man. He was at one time engaged in the mercantile business at Palestine, in Greenbrier County, but at the formation of Summers County was a resident thereof, and was active in its formation. He was a justice of the peace and a mem- ber of the county court from the formation of the county until his death. His partner in the mercantile business was E. M. Brown. a veteran merchant of Union. He was one of the mem- bers of the county court who settled the court house location question. Thomas Beard emigrated to the West, and was thrown from a wagon loaded with hay, and killed. He never married.
COCHRAN.
Charles Cochran, one of the oldest citizens of this county, resides in Jumping Branch District. He emigrated to this county from Franklin County, Virginia, in 1872. His. wife's name was Ruth Radford. He is now eighty-two years old, hale and healthy. He was a Confederate soldier throughout the Civil War. He at this time has two sons living-Robert, who married Miss Pack, a daughter of Preston Pack, and A. J., who married a Miss Shively. Robert is a prosperous farmer in Jumping Branch District. A. J. has been a justice of the peace eight years. He also held the office of Constable for the Jumping Branch District for several years, and has been a member of the Democratic County Execu- tive Committee, and aggressive in the causes of his party. One son, Michael, died in 1884. He married a Miss Vest, daughter of Anderson Vest. In 1894 he was accidentally cut by a scythe while mowing his meadow, from which wounds he died. He had also held a position as constable for a number of years.
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
DEEDS.
Two of the oldest citizens now residing in Summers County are two brothers, John Deeds and C. B. Deeds, the former living near Jumping Branch and the latter at Jumping Branch, and is a member of the firm of Meador & Deeds, who have been en- gaged in the mercantile business at that place for many years, and who are probably the oldest merchants now operating in Summers County. The other member of the firm is Green F. Meador, a son-in-law of C. B. Deeds. These brothers removed to Summers County while they were youths, before the war. John is now ninety-two years old. They were born in Allegheny County, Vir- ginia, and were of Dutch descent. C. B. Deeds is one of the thriftiest business men in the county. Both brothers are honest, reliable citizens. The former established and operated a tanyard at Jumping Branch for a number of years.
EWART.
The only family of this name ever residing in Summers County was founded by Colonel John S. Ewart. His ancestors were Eng- lish. He was born August 22, 1813, in Groveland Township, Liv- ingston County, New York, and educated at Temple Hill Acad- emy, in his native county. He was a member of the New York State Guards, and as such led a company against the marauding Indians on the Canadian frontiers, and held a commission under the Government as colonel, by which title he was always famil- iarly known thereafter. The title was well earned from active service, as well as intelligent and brave in action as a soldier in the army. In 1844 he removed to Southwestern Virginia, where he was engaged for a number of years in teaching school, civil engineering and bridge building. He possessed rare mathe- matical ability, and was noted for the intelligent plans and well executed work on several of the best bridges constructed in Vir- ginia. He and his brother, James Ewart, were contractors in the construction of the famous James River Canal. In May, 1852, he married Miss Sarah Honaker, of Pulaski County, Virginia. In 1856 he removed with his family to Raleigh County, W. Va., then Virginia. This was then a sparsely settled and wild frontier section. In those early days his intelligent judgment and fore- sight saw the great development which was bound to come to
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
that region, as well as its great wealth in timber and coal; but in those days there were no railroads or means of transportation within a hundred miles, with no prospects of its being developed within a century. He acquired, however, a large boundary of these coal lands, which he held until the developments were in sight, a number of years before his death. In the great conflict between the States, which began in 1861, he remained neutral, taking no active part on either side, though his sympathy was naturally with the South. In 1862 his farm in Raleigh County was devastated by local plunderers. His dwelling and barn were burned. His stock was driven off, slaughtered and sold, and the accumulations of many years were swept away in a night. Noth- ing was left but a barren waste of farm land. He then moved with his wife and two children to a one-room cabin, the best then obtainable, on what was then known as the "Cooper place," where he resided until 1868, when he took his family to New York, where he resided until 1872, when they then removed to Shady Springs, in Raleigh County, residing there until 1878, when they removed to Athens, then Concord, in Mercer County, for the pur- pose of securing the benefit of the Concord Normal School for his children then growing up. In the fall of 1880 he became a resident of Hinton, West Virginia, purchasing the Dr. Gooch homestead on the island of Avis, where he continued to reside until his death, February 8, 1888. His remains now rest on the old plantation in Raleigh County. His wife and four children, who survive him, still reside in Hinton. His family, at the date of his death, consisted of one son, Harvey Ewart, and three daugh- ters, Mary J., the eldest of the family, having married Captain C. A. Alvis, one of the leading passenger conductors engaged in the service of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Company. Miss Stella is engaged as clerk in the Hinton postoffice, which posi- tion she has held for more than twelve years, having been first appointed by George W. Warren during the second Cleveland ad- ministration, and as evidence of her efficiency, her retention through Republican as well as Democratic administrations is the strongest. Miss Ella also resides with her mother, and Harvey Ewart, the only son, is one of the leading and most enterprising citizens of this section of West Virginia. Colonel Ewart invested largely in mineral and timber land in Raleigh, but parted with his holdings before the great appreciation in these lands came. He foresaw the wonderful wealth of that region, but the war, no doubt, was one of the chief causes in the delayed development,
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
and prevented the consummation of his hopes and plans. He was a man of strong convictions, great courage and extreme energy. These natural endowments brought him in conflict with men, and unavoidably resulted in making him strong enemies and abiding and fearless friends.
It was Colonel Ewart who first planned, and by his enterprise secured, the construction of the first bridge over the branch of the river forming the island in Avis. It was a wooden structure, constructed on plans made by him, and under whose observation and management it was built without money and without price to the town or the people.
Each of the children of Colonel Ewart graduated at the Con- cord Normal School. He was a man of strong convictions, loyal to his friends, and his enemies knew where to find him.
Harvey Ewart, the only son of Colonel John S. Ewart, re- sides on the flat in Avis, in Summers County. He was born on the 3d day of March, 1861. He was educated by private tutors, largely by his father, finally taking a course and graduating at
the head of his class at the Concord Normal School, in the fa- mous class of 1879, which included J. W. Hinkle, of Greenbrier County ; Clark Ellis, of the same county; M. J. Garst, of Salem, Va .; Harvey Lewis, of Greenbrier County; Miss Mary J. Ewart and James H. Miller. After graduating he taught in the public schools of Summers County for some time, and was engaged with A. B. Perkins in the mercantile business. In 1892 he was nomi- nated by the Democratic party for justice of the peace in Green- brier District, without being a candidate. In 1896 he was re- elected, holding that position for eight years. In 1890 he was nominated for sheriff of Summers County over C. H. Lilly, and elected over L. P. Graham, holding the office for four years. He was appointed a commissioner in chancery by Judge A. N. Camp- bell, which position he held throughout Judge Campbell's term of eight years. He was removed in 1897 by Judge MeWhorter for political reasons, and again appointed in 1905 by the present judge. Miller. In all official positions he is fair, honest, intelli- gent and entirely impartial, and has been one of the most effi- cient and fearless officers ever holding office in Summers County. He is one of the most enterprising citizens of the county, and has been engaged and interested in more of the enterprises for the advancement and development of this section than any other citizen residing therein. His intelligent, honest business fore- sight attracts him to all persons entering a new business enter-
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
prise. His judgment in business, as well as other matters, is un- excelled. His loyalty and honor are unimpeachable. He is an inveterate worker and energetic to the utmost, and is a master in every matter that he undertakes. He is now engaged in the coal-producing industry, in hunber enterprises, in the wholesale and retail industry, and is one of the large stockholders and chief promoters in the Hinton Water & Light plant. Much is due to him for the great hotel now being constructed in the city of Hin- ton. Practically all of his investments are with home industries and for the development of home enterprises. He has for a num- ber of years been engaged in insurance, both life and fire. He was one of the chief promoters in the organization of the National Bank of Summers, the strongest bank in this section of the State.
In 1901 he was united in marriage with Miss Emily Burke, a daughter of the famous editor and newspaper man, Richard Burk. They have two children-James H. M. Ewart. a lad of four years, and one daughter. Hildegard, one year of age.
WITHROW.
The ancient family of Withrow is connected with the first settlement of the Green Sulphur and Lick Creek regions. Rob- ert Withrow, the founder of the family, was born near Yorktown, in Virginia, and was a boy at the time of the fight of Yorktown and the surrender of Cornwallis, which terminated the Revolu- tionary War of '76. He related his recollections of that famous battle, hearing the cannons booming and seeing the marching of the French and English and American soldiers. His father's name was William Withrow, an emigrant from Scotland, and was of Scotch-Irish-Welsh descent. The family has more or less been always noted for the contrariness of the various members, which is attributed to this mixture of ancient blood. Robert Withrow's wife was an Alderson, from the Greenbrier River settlements, and her name was Jean. The sons of Robert Withrow were: Abel, who went West, finally settled in Iowa, raised a large family and died. His wife was a Newsom. The second son, David, married a Gwinn, of the ancient Lowell Gwinns, who settled in the West, and his family was lost sight of. The third son, Robin, married a Foster, and settled and died in Ohio State. The fourth son, Alderson, married a Skaggs, settled in Fayette County, raised a family and died. His wife was a daughter of Dr. Jimmy Skaggs. The fifth son was Samuel Harrison, born in 1811, and first set-
CAPTAIN WHITE G. RYAN.
First Elected Prosecuting Attorney Summers County, Soldier, Farmer and Lawyer.
JOHN W. WISEMAN, Jailor.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONE.
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
tled where Elton Postoffice is. He at one time owned the mill at that place, and died at the age of seventy-seven, on the head of Lick Creek, where he built one of the first and ancient mills in that region, known as "Withrow's Mill," first an undershot and later an overshot wheel. The old building is one of the pic- turesque memories of that section. He was engaged ten years in building it, that being the second one near the same site. His first wife was Sarah Kincaid, daughter of Matthew Kincaid, who died in Missouri. Samuel H. emigrated to Missouri, where he lived six years, and then returned to Lick Creek, where he lived until his death. His second wife was Amanda A. Smith, of Fay- ette County, a daughter of Elijah Smith.
He was noted for his stubbornness and contrariness, and was a man of strong personality. He was a Union man during the war and a Republican after the war, largely in opposition to all of his neighbors and all of his sons. He was a man of ingenuity and a good carpenter and millwright, all of which he learned with- out teaching.
The sixth son was Allen, who also married a daughter of Matthew Kincaid, settled in Missouri and died there. The daugh- ters of Robert Withrow were: Hannah, who married a Harrah; Bettie, who married a Smith, the mother of Jackson Smith, and the man who, with M. Hutchinson, built the first log storehouse at Elton and was the ancient merchant of that place, along with his partner, M. Hutchinson. The third daughter, Virginia, mar- ried a McClung. The sons and daughters of Samuel H. Withrow by his first marriage were: Columbus Wran, John Knox, Matthew Alexander, and two daughters, Sarah, who married Joseph Green Burdette. The children by his second marriage were: Milliard Fillmore, who lives on the old plantation; Robert Smith, who married Miss Mollie Graham, a daughter of Blacksmith James Graham, and Allen, who removed to Ohio in his youth. The daughters were Miss Sallie Ann, who married Enos Flint, of Griffith's Creek, Ellen and Kate.
Among the family of Withrows, on Lick Creek, was Curtis, married and having a family. Charles W., now of Beckley, and the late A. J., of New Richmond, were his sons. He volunteered in the Southern Army, from which he never returned, and from the day he left his family to fight for his State he was never heard from. His widow and children, after the close of the war, waited and watched for his return as the other soldiers came in, but he never came, the general understanding being that he was killed in battle and his identity lost forever.
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
JONES.
Brice Miller was a native of Monroe County and of English descent. T. J. Jones was a noted justice of the peace in recon- struction days, always signing his name "T. J. Jones, Justice J. P." He was from Monroe County and a descendant of one of the first settlers of the Wolf Creek region, and one of his sisters, Sarah, married George W. Dean, one of the oldest residents of the county, now being eighty years of age. Their sons are Dr. George WV. Dean, a dentist ; Samuel W. Dean, an insurance broker, and Ballard W. Dean, a lumberman. George W. Dean lived for a number of years on the Matthew Dunbar place on the Hump Mountain adjoining the Kalor lands, then removed to the Simp- son Zickafoose place on the mountain near Elton, adjoining the William Miller farm, now owned by Major G. W. Goddard's heirs. Thos. J. Jones married a daughter of Brice Miller, a native of Mon- roe County, who at an early day settled at the foot of Keeney's Knobs on the Lick Creek side. His sons were A. J. and Wm. An- derson. These Millers, Jones and Dequasies were all allied by marriage.
Marion Mize married Christina, a daughter of William An- derson Miller, and they now live on the Dunn place on New River near Pack's Ferry.
Charles Mize married another daughter, and they live on Lick Creek on the waters of Van Bibber (Bensliver) branch of Lick Creek. He is a very quiet, hard-working, thrifty man. The Mizes were from Patrick County, Virginia.
William DeQuasie Miller, the only son of W. A., lives in Monroe County. He was many years ago going down Lick Creek one day, and on the road between the W. E, Miller and A. A. Miller farm found a large pocketbook with a considerable sum of money in it. He concealed it under a culvert, and later went back and appropriated it and the funds to his own use. Later it was discovered, and he was arrested, indicted and sentenced to serve two years in the penitentiary, but a question as to his sanity arose. He was proved to be insane, and escaped incarceration. He as a youth was known far and wide as a notorious story-teller. He would fabricate a yarn out of anything, and tell "white lies" for his amusement. Later in life he settled down and became a peaceable, quiet and law-abiding citizen.
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
CRAWFORD.
Thomas Crawford was a native of Monroe County, born near Lynnside, who moved from that county many years ago and settled near Greenbrier River in the Dog Trot community. He was a man of worth and a good citizen. He left the following children, now residents and citizens of Forest Hill District: Henry Crawford, the oldest son, is a merchant at Forest Hill. He mar- ried Elizabeth MeNeer, a daughter of Richard McNeer. A. T. Crawford, another son, married Miss Boude, a daughter of Sam- uel K. Boude, and sister of Walter H. Boude, the clerk of the circuit court. J. Walter, another son, married a daughter of Wil- liam Redmond, of near Indian Mills. Another son, John W., has never married. He also left one daughter, who married Charles Lively, of Monroe County. J. Walter Crawford is a prominent minister in the Missionary Baptist Church.
There was another family of Crawfords in that district, of whom Henry Crawford, a prominent farmer and excellent citizen, resides near Ballangee Post Office. He married a Leftwich, sister to Jabez and George W. Leftwich and daughter of David Leftwich, the settler. His father settled on Bradshaw's Run. His son, Lacy Crawford, is engaged in the lumber business at Mayberry, West Virginia. Another son, Robert, married Florence Hedrick, a daughter of Squire Wm. C. Hedrick, and his daughters, Misses Nina and Bessie, are teachers in the county. There are no better citizens than these Crawfords of Forest Hill.
LOWE.
Matthew Lowe was one of the first settlers in Talcott District. He was born at Pence Springs and raised a large family on the Hungart's Creek farm, about a mile from the mouth of that creek, now owned by John Willy. He was a son of S. Lowe. His wife was a daughter of the old settler Kincaid. IIe was born in 1793, and was drafted as a soldier in the war of 1812, but it was terminated before he saw actual service. He raised a family of eighteen children-Clark, who married Sarah Campbell, a daughter of William Campbell; Charley, who married Emmeline Meadows, a daughter of Joshua Meadows; Sam, who married Catherine Meadows, a daughter of Joshua Meadows: Granville (J. G.), who married a Miss Vines, daughter of Silas Vines; M.,
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
who married a daughter of William Campbell; John, who married Sallie Allen, a daughter of Nathaniel Allen and sister of Archie Allen ; Clementine, who married Archie Mann, son of John Mann; Adaline, who married William Arnett, son of Henry Arnett; Liz- zie, who married James Ramsey, son of David Ramsey; Ann, who married Anderson Wheeler, son of Robert Wheeler; Rebecca, who married Jordan Grimmett, son of Joseph Grimmett; Agnes, who married Peter Wyant, a son of Peter Wyant. There are a number of the descendants of Matthew Lowe still living throughout that part of Jumping Branch and other parts of the county. C. E. Lowe and Clifford Lowe, of Hinton, the furniture dealers, and Webster Lowe are sons of Granville Lowe, who lived near the "Shoemaker Bill" Lilly place in Jumping Branch District. John Lowe, who died in 1906, lived at the same place. He was afflicted and unable to walk for twenty-seven years prior to his death. Matthew Lowe was one of the guards at the hanging of Beck Coulter at Union Jail, the first and only woman ever legally executed from the territory of Summers County.
The only woman ever executed from this section of the country and from the territory of Summers County was a negro slave, Beck Coulter, who was owned by William Coulter. She was a nurse for the son of her master, and to get rid of the labor and annoyance attendant upon nursing the child, killed him. She was arrested and lodged in jail at Union, being in that part of Summers territory taken from Monroe, tried for murder, found guilty, and hung by the neck until dead in the jail yard at Union. That was more than fifty years ago. Matthew Lowe, of Hungart's Creek, was one of the guards at the jail at this execution. Another negro executed at Union jail was Buck Johnson, who killed Hun- ter, the timekeeper at the Big Bend Tunnel during its construc- tion. Hunter was killed at the exact location where Hilldale Station is now situated, at the west portal of the Big Bend Tunnel, and Johnson was tried and convicted at Union, and executed im- mediately prior to the formation of Summers County. He was a negro laborer working on the construction of the Big Bend Tunnel. Hunter was the timekeeper for Wm. R. Johnson, the contractor who constructed the Big Bend Tunnel for the C. & O. Railway Co. He was supposed by Johnson to have in his possession the money to meet Johnson's pay-roll, and was killed in cold blood for gain, and the law was righteously vindicated by the conviction and execution of the black murderer.
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
THE STORY OF PAULEY.
It was on September 23, 1779, that Margaret Pauley and her husband, John, together with James Pauley, wife and child, Robert Wallace and wife and Brice Miller set out from the Greenbrier section to go to Kentucky. They crossed New River at the horse ford at the mouth of Rich Creek, then down New River and up East River, which was the shortest route to the Cumberland Gap. Each of the men had his rifle; the women on the horses, on which was packed what household plunder they could carry was in front, the men in the rear driving the cattle. About noon of the day referred to, and when the party had reached a point on East River about one mile below the mouth of Five Mile Fork thereof, sup- posed to have been near the upper end of the old farm of Captain William Smith, they were attacked by five Indians and one white man by the name of Morgan, who was in company with the In- dians. The first intimation that the party had of the presence of the savages was the report of a gun. The women, Mrs. John and James Pauley, were knocked down from their horses by the Indians with their clubs. Wallace and the two children were killed and scalped, and John Pauley, though fatally wounded, escaped, and succeeded in reaching Wood's Fort on Rich Creek, where he died in a short time. The Indians took Mrs. John and James Pauley prisoners, and on leaving the scene of their atrocities, went up East River to the mouth of Five Mile Fork, and thence up the same to the head across the Bluestone, and on to the Ohio and to the Indian towns of the Miami. There were two women and the little boy of Mary Pauley, born shortly after she reached the Indian towns, who remained prisoners for about two years. Finally Mrs. Pauley escaped, and Margaret and her child shortly after this were ransomed.
Mrs. Pauley's maiden name was Handley. After the return of Margaret Pauley she married a Mr. Erskine, by whom she had a daughter who married Hugh Caperton, who became a distinguished man. and who was the father of the late U. S. Senator Allen T. Caperton, of Monroe County. Adam Caperton, the father of Hugh, was killed in a battle with the Indians at the Little Mountain, or Estell's Defeat, near where Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, is now situated. Captain Estell and six of his men were killed and seventeen of the Indians were killed. This battle was fought on the 22d day of March. 1782. Senator Allen T. Caperton wrote out a full history
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
of the attack, capture and escape of his grandmother, Margaret Pauley from her dictation when she was a very aged lady. His account is published in full, as taken by Senator Caperton, in Mr. Virgil A. Lewis' "History of West Virginia. See also "Johnston's History of the Middle New River Settlements."
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