USA > West Virginia > Tucker County > History of Tucker County, West Virginia, from the earliest explorations and settlements to the present time; > Part 28
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GEORGE N. DAY, of Pleasant Run, son of Jesse Day, of English descent, was born in 1854, and was married in 1878 to Nancy Coberly, of Randolph County. Children : Arthur and Mary J .; his farm of 173 acres has 45 acres improved, and lies 13 miles from St. George.
A. L. DUMIRE, born 1845, son of Jacob Dumire, married in 1865 to Anamelia, daughter of John M. Miller, of Lime- stone; he has 100 acres of land, one-half improved, on Limestone, six miles from St. George; he was 16 months in the Union army, under Kelley. Since, he has been a mem- ber of the board of education and road surveyor. Children : Jasper F., Jacob H., Virginia M., and Anna Elizabeth.
JACOB DUMIRE was born in 1817, son of John Dumire, of German descent .* In 1842 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Emanuel Pifer. Their children are : Andrew L., Minerva J., John W., Oliver K., Anzaletta C., George M., and Flor- ence E. He is a farmer, and lives 5 miles from St. George, on Limestone ; his farm contains 150 acres, of which two- thirds is improved. His orchard is a good one, and he nearly always has apples and cider all winter. He has held
* For a fuller history of the Dumire family, see another chapter of this book.
.
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many offices in the county, among which are justice of the peace, school offices and deputy sheriff twice. During the war he was a strong supporter of the Union cause, and led many Yankee scouts through the county.
ALEXANDER DICE, born 1845, in Scotland, by trade a miner, came to America in 1866, mined 11 years in Hampshire, and came to Tucker in 1882; he is now a farmer, owning 116 acres of land, with improvements on twenty acres.
JOHN WILLIAM DUMIRE was born in 1836 and married 1857 to Margaret, daughter of John P. Gray; he has 90 acres of improved land and 100 acres unimproved, on Lime- stone, 9 miles from St. George. Nine months of his life were spent in the Union army, under Kelly, defending the B. & O. Railroad from Cumberland to Wheeling. His children are : Francis P., Adaline S., Harriet Susan, William S., Martha N., Priscilla and John D. He has been consta- ble, township clerk, and secretary of the board of education.
FRANCIS DUMIRE, son of the above, was born in 1858, lives on Limestone, 9 miles from St. George, and is a farmer.
GEORGE D. DUMIRE, son of Daniel Dumire, was born 1857, married 1879 to Anamelia Shook; he is a farmer of 60 acres of land, one-half improved, and lives 8 miles from St. George, on Location. Children : William A., Henry H. W., and Clarinda Fanny.
HENRY W. DUMIRE, brother of George D., was born 1861, and married in 1880, to Mary E., daughter of David Harslı ; his farm of 60 acres, 25 acres improved, is on the Location, 8 miles from St. George. His child's name is Lulu Virginia.
JOHN H. DEETS, of Preston County, was born 1844 and married 1866 Virginia, daughter of Samuel Bowman, of St.
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George; he has a farm of 366 acres, with 150 improved, two miles below St. George; he was six years constable. His children are : Lavina F., William E., Charles L., George S., Albert, David S. and Alice. He joined the Union army in 1861, and was in St. George when Imboden swooped down upon the place. He, with the other prisoners, was paroled, and was sent to Camp Chase. There were, he says, 40,000 Union soldiers there on parole, and half that number of Confederate prisoners. He was exchanged in 1863 and came back and helped capture Captain Harper, Michael Myers and George Kalar.
RHINEHART DOMIRE" was born in 1800, in Preston County. The history of his family has been given in another chapter of this book. In 1825 he married Catharine, daughter of Stephen Losh. Their children are, George N., Stephen, Reuben, Sarah, Maria, Rhinehart, Mary Ann, John W., Abraham.and Savina. He died in 1875.
ABRAHAM DOMIRE, son of Rhinehart Domire, was born in 1842, on Horse Shoe Run. In 1864, he married Ann Sophia Shaffer, of Horse Shoe Run P. O. Their children are : Edgar J., William S., Jennet Catharine, Melissa Ellen and Joseph Pierce. He is a farmer of 790 acres, of which 125 are improved, on Horse Shoe Run, 10 miles from St. George. He has not devoted his whole time to farming, but has paid attention to lumbering; worked three years getting out shingle timber for the Rowlesburg Lumber & Iron Co., and three years longer as partner in the "Domire Shingle Mill;" sawed 100,000 a month, and sold his interest to George Shaffer ; has been road surveyor and school trustee. In his younger days he killed many deer-was only 15 years
* The name Domire is spelled in two ways. Thus : Domire and Dumire. It is said he name originally was Toomire.
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old when he killed the first one; he tried to take it home, but it bloated before he got it there, and he stuck his kinfe in its side to let the air out, thinking that would help it.
CYRUS F. DUMIRE, son of B. F. Dumire, of Preston Coun- ty, was born in 1858; is a young man of much enterprise, and has collected property to the amount of 775 acres of land, with 40 acres improved, and an interest in the "Do- mire Shingle Mill," besides other property, and has made it all himself. He is a farmer by occupation, but has super- intended steam saw-mills to some extent.
RHINEHART DOMIRE, JR., son of Stephen Domire, was born in 1856; lives 10 miles from St. George, on Horse Shoe Run, where is his farm of 176 acres. In 1882 he was married to Anna, daughter of James Evans, of Ohio.
SAMUEL R. DUMIRE, born in 1840 on "Old Andra," is a son of Frederick Dumire, and lives on Horse Shoe Run, 6 miles from St. George ; his farm of 200 acres is one-fourth cleared; has worked twelve years at the carpenter trade, and was one of the first to work in St. George. In 1866 he was married to Sarena Domire, who died in 1880, and he married Sarah A. O'Donnell, of Illinois. The names of his children are, Letta May and Anna Emma. In 1876 he killed two bears with a very small shot gun, and filled an- other's head full of shot. He came out of the fight with two bears.
FREDERICK DOMIRE, brother to Rhinehart Domire, Sr., was born in 1806, and married in 1829 to Mary Ann Loughry, of Holly Meadows. Of six children, two only are living, who are Daniel L., and Samuel R. Frederick Do- mire was also a great hunter in his younger days, as nearly all the Domires were. He has killed many a deer and bear
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with an old flint-lock gun, which he still has on the rack over the door, just as hunters used to keep them. He is a farmer owning 162 acres, all improved, 9 miles from St. George, at the Leadmine post-office. He built a mill there in 1842. It was a tub-mill, and ground 8 or 10 bushels a day. In the earliest years he spent there, wild animals were plentiful. In 8 years, he killed 160 deer. He says that John Grimes was the first settler on Horse Shoe Run. He lived on the Bonnifield farm. Dr. Chilcoat lived on the Evan's farm about the same time; and John Carrico and John Stephenson were the next settlers (aside from Stephen Losh, who came earlier than 1818). Frederick Du- mire was postmaster for ten years before the war.
DANIEL L. DOMIRE, son of Frederick Domire, was born in 1834, at Limestone, on "Old Andra." In 1858 he married Susan Spesert, of Horse Shoe Run. Children: Margaret E., Mary Isabel, Edna Agnes and Sarah Alice. When he was 6 years old his father moved to Horse Shoe Run, and has since lived there. D. L. Domire was brought up on the farm principally ; but, his inclination drew him toward mechanical pursuits, and he gave considerable attention to the carpenter trade. He also taught school twelve years on Horse Shoe Run, and from time to time engaged to some extent in the lumber business. His chief connection in this was in the "Domire Shingle Mill," in which he was partner. The mill would average 1,000,000 shingles a year, when steadily attended to. He owns 103 acres of land, one- half mile from the Leadmine post-office, on Laurel Run. He pays considerable attention to bee raising, and well understands the business. He helped build the first house that was built in St. George after the town was laid out. It
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was the "St. George Inn," and built in 1859. The same year he helped build the M. E. Church South, in St. George. At that time Jesse Parsons was sheriff, and Domire wrote all his tax receipts ; he has several times been member of the board of education.
COL. H. J. DUMIRE, son of D. K. Dumire, of Mill Run, one mile above St. George, was born in 1860; he is a farmer and school teacher, having taught five schools, all on No. 1 certificates, except the first ; was a member of the board of examiners in 1882, and has been a delegate to senatorial, congressional and State conventions.
FREDERICK R. DUMIRE, brother to Rhinehart Dumire, was born in 1863, and lives with his brother on Horse Shoe Run.
SAMPSON DAY was born 1825, in Pendleton County, near the mouth of Seneca; his parents, who were of English and German descent, were noted for their honesty, and their eight children received a pious training. Sampson, the third child, went to school one month each year for eight years, and never went any more. In 1846 he married a Miss Harman, who died in 1866. Day staid at home during the war, and did what he could in the cause of peace. He was a Union man, and served as a justice of the peace. In Pendleton County, strongly Southern, this is a good recom- mendation. He decided impartially for Union and Confed- erate. He was the man who held the election in Pendleton County, and had it go with the new State. He bought a farm at the mouth of Red Creek, and soon afterward mar- ried a Miss Waldren, and raised a family of nine children. He now lives on Dry Fork, in Tucker County.
E
ROBERT W. EASTHAM, a native Virginian, born in Rappa- hannock County, February 28, 1842, is the son of Capt. B.
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F. Eastham, and is of English descent. He is one of the most perfect men, physically, in the county, State, or the the United States. Above six feet in height, well propor- tioned, deep and full chest, muscular limbs, and erect figure, he presents as fine appearance as ever Sam Houston did. He is active and athletic, walks with grace, and is a splen- did rider.
He has had a history, that, so far as the war and conse- quent adventures are concerned, hardly has a rival anywhere. Going into the field in April, 1861, he fought almost every day as long as the war lasted, and fought in two battles after Lee surrendered. Being a supporter of the Southern . Confederacy he supported it from principle ; but the pros- pect of excitement and adventure had not a little to do in shaping his course. He is of a disposition that likes com- pany, and he is seldom seen without a crowd about him. There seems to be some attraction in him for other people. In ordinary affairs, he is quiet and sociable; but when other people are excited, he is master of the situation. Fear has no part in his nature. Indeed, his bravery may at times amount to rashness. His sense of honor is such that he will not do an unmanly act ; or, if he forgets himself for the moment and errs in this, he is ready to right the wrong so far as apologies have power to do it. He hates a lie and cowardice and deceit as he hates everything that is mean ; and, one who sins in this particular must, before again gain- ing his favor, wipe out the contamination of the iniquity in a multitude of praiseworthy acts.
When the war came on, in 1861, Eastham was among the very first to respond to the call, when Virginia threw her defense and her honor upon the heroism and manhood of her chivalrous sons. There was no hesitation as to which
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or what course to pursue. His first ambition was to show himself a man in repelling assault upon principles which he believed to be right. The intensity of Southern passion reached perfection in him ; and, at nineteen years of age, when he knew that his native State was calling for protec- tion, he hurried off to the front to offer his services in whichever department of the defense that they should be most needed.
He joined Green's company, and was at once mustered into service and was quartered at Winchester. His battles began soon after. He marched to Harper's Ferry, April 19, 1861 ; and from Harper's Ferry he went to Alexandria. The troops that were with him were the first and last and only Confederate troops that were stationed at Alexandria dur- ing the war. They remained there until they were shelled out by Pawnee.
He was attached to Field's brigade, and Ewell's division, and was soon back in Winchester. He was also with Jones and Wheat, and when Wheat died, Eastham was tendered his place, but saw fit not to accept. After this, he was principally on scouting duty up to the battle of Gettysburg, and was under Jones the greater part of the time.
His adventures and escapes were thrilling. Fifteen thous- and dollars was offered for him, dead or alive. At one time in battle, he was taken prisoner, but escaped before an hour. He was hunted by the Yankees with a perseverance surpassed only by the perseverance with which he hunted them. They feared and hated him, yet respected him for daring. So determined were they upon taking him, that large numbers made that their special aim. He rode a good horse, and they had no show of overtaking him in a race. While they ransacked the country for him, he was raking
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them in, as prisoners, every day. After the second battle of Bull Run, thirty miles from the field, Eastham and eleven companions took prisoner sixty-five Yankees, whom Jackson had demoralized and driven into a thicket of brush. In this skirmish, Eastham was wounded in the foot by a Minie- ball. He was not in the Bull Run fight, but was on the field next day. In another skirmish, a bullet passed through the horn of his saddle, one perforated his belt and one cut a button from his coat.
In battle, he never used a saber. It is told of him, by those who were eye witnesses, that, when going into a fight, he would throw down his sword and cut a stout club, and with it knock right and left every one who came in his reach. He and his companions, thirteen in all, took eighty- six men in an hour. The men were retreating, by a road on which was a partly destroyed bridge. The Yankees ran upon the bridge and could not get over, and Eastham made them surrender. At another time, he and two others cap- tured thirty-six horses and twenty-three men in one day. He remained with Jones until the battle of Gettysburg, and Jones was sent south. He made a special request that Eastham be allowed to accompany him, but the request was not allowed, and the scout was left to seout for Yankees in Virginia. They also hunted for him and many a time he had to save himself by flight or concealment. When, on one occasion, he had been out all day hunting for them, and had not seen one, he was coming down the road at dusk of evening and met an old negro whom he knew. The old fellow exclaimed in wonder, at seeing him alive: "Good heavens! massa, de whole world am full of Yankees huntin' foli you." At that moment he heard galloping horses in the distance. He took a grain-cradle and a bas-
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ket which the negro was carrying, and climbed the fence into the field, having put his horse out of sight. He threw down a sheaf of wheat and sat upon it. The soldiers came by and saw him; but in the dusk of evening they did not recognize him. He watched them go by, and then mounted his horse and struck after them. He followed them boldly into town, dismounted and entered into conversation with them. He went into a store and bought him some tobacco, and made free with all about him. None recognized him, until a little negro came along. The little scamp knew him and yelled out : "I do 'clah! tha's Bob Eastham !"
Immediately the whole town full of Yankees started up and rushed at him. He sprang on his horse and dashed through them, knocked them down and rode over them, and finally reached the edge of the town. By this time the whole body of the enemy had mounted, and horsemen were galloping in every direction to hunt him down and head him off. He dashed up the mountain and escaped. So daring was he that no Yankee could feel safe when he was in the country. He would cross the lines and ride through the camp, and probably carry off a prisoner. Once he went to a house and got dinner, when the house was full of Yan- kees, and at another time he went into a stable, where several Union soldiers were sleeping, and took away the officers' horses. This is why they so hated him. He was upon them before they were aware of it, and he always, or nearly always, came out best. But, sometimes he had to hide and slip about in the quietest manner to keep from being taken. He had to bury himself in a rail-pile, and lie flat in a potato patch and conceal himself under a stone fence, while they were all around him. But, he always es- caped, and finally came to believe that it was impossible 26
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for him to be hurt. With this belief and assurance he went to his father's house when he knew that Yankees were thick around and while the $15,000 reward was on him. While he was in one room, two Yankee officers were in another. He heard them talking of him, and how much they would like to see him. But, they had little idea of seeing him so soon. For, he kept quiet until they had gone to supper, and then he concluded to give them an oppor- tunity to take him, if they liked. While they were eating, and seemingly in full enjoyment of the substantial fare which Virginian hospitality had placed before them, he walked boldly into the dining room where they sat at the table. His father introduced him to them as "My son, Robert, the man you are looking for." They turned and looked at the tall figure before them, clad in full Confeder- ate uniform, and armed from head to foot. His belt gleamed with the hilt of a saber and with the handles of pistols. The officers evidently would rather have been excused from making new acquaintances that evening; but, they had the presence of mind to make the best of the sit- uation. They shook hands, and he sat down at the table with them, and talked two hours. They made no attempt or showed no disposition to capture him, and he was al- lowed to depart in peace.
He was with Mosby in his raids, and was all through the Valley of Virginia. He was in Jones' Raid in June, 1863, through Preston County, when Rowlesburg, Kingwood and Morgantown were taken, and when E. Harper piloted the Rebels that burnt the Fairmont bridge. He was in the 6th Virginia, which " locked sabers" with the 6th New York fourteen times during the war. In the battle of Fairfield the New York regiment was finally overthrown.
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When the news was received that Lee had surrendered, Eastham was one of the many who refused to believe it, be- cause he did not want to belive it. He remained in the field and refused to surrender. He fought two battles after Lee had laid down his arms. Eastham never surrendered. He escaped without that humiliation. He remained with Mosby until that guerrilla leader disbanded his men.
After the war was over, he returned to the farm and went to work. But after his four years of war he could not feel satisfied with the tame existence of a farmer ; so he sold out and went South. He visited North and South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee, and finally grew tired of roaming. He returned to Virginia, and married Mary C., daughter of Dr. A. W. Reid, of Rappahannock County, Va. This was in 1869. In 1876, in May, he came to Tucker and bought land in the Canaan Valley, 30 miles from St. George. His farm of 276 acres has 40 improved and in grass. He built a farm house and other buildings, and was prospering well enough when a fire in the woods caught his house while he was absent, and burnt everything. He had not a dollar left, nor even a coat to wear. Everything that would burn was burnt, except two horses, a cow, a dog and a cat. His financial condition was not flourishing. However, he borrowed a coat, and went to Oakland and bought a suit on credit. He went on to Eastern Virginia where he had a little property. He came back to St. George, where the town authorities had some charge against him, and at- tempted to arrest him. In the scuffle, Frank and Dock Pi- fer tore his coat off of him, and some one else got his hat, and he had to go home coatless and hatless.
When he went to Canaan there were only three families there, Solomon Cosner, John Nines and James Freeland.
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Eastham lived there till 1883, and farmed and raised stock with various succes. By that time the W. Va. C. & P. R. WV. was coming into the country, and was no longer a sub- ject of speculation. It was confidently expected that it would greatly enhance the prosperity of Canaan.
At the mouth of Bever the site was selected for the ter- minus of the road. The contract for clearing away the timber for the city was given Eastham, and soon after he moved there with his family, and built him a residence. This was the first house built in a city which is to be called Davis. As yet, there is no city there. The floating popu- lation amounts to twenty or more. But a town must be there in the near future, and Robert Eastham will be re- garded as the founder of it. Under his supervision all the work so far has been done. In consideration of this, it would be no more than justice to name the city EASTHAM. It is a genuine English name, and is a suitable name for a town, and such ought to be its name.
In 1882, Eastham was a candidate for the Legislature, to be elected by Tucker and Randolph Counties. Although not . elected, he ran a heavy poll, and carried his own district by an overwhelming majority.
JOHN H. EVANS was born in Hardy County, in 1841; married in 1874 to Maria Michael, of Grant County. Chil- dren : Cora Anna, Mary E., Charles W. and Mary J .; farmer, lives in Canaan.
SAMUEL H. EWIN, a merchant of St. George, and a son of William Ewin, was born in 1836 in Baltimore, and was married in 1864 to Sarah A. Kuhn, of the same city. He is of Irish descent. He lived in Baltimore from 1852 to 1862, when he went into the Union army and remained in the
*
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service nearly three years. He was commissary sergeant. He was at the battles of Antietam, Bolivar Heights, Cedar Mountain and several others. He is a painter by trade. He came to St. George in 1882.
WILLIAM EVANS was born in 1818, died in 1874, on Horse Shoe Run, 11 miles from St. George. He married Lyda Kitzmiller. Children : James I., Solomon A., John Alex- ander, William Lewis, George A., Warner B., David C., Perry J., Mary A. and Lucy Ellen. He came to Tucker in 1860, and purchased a farm of 455 acres and had 140 acres under improvement, and had 100 fruit trees in bearing condition.
DAVID C. EVANS was born in 1857 in Hardy County ; mar- ried in 1876 to Ollie Calhoun; of German descent. His children are : Ellot F. and Abraham, named after Abraham Bonnifield. He is a farmer of 246 acres, with sixty acres improved and a good orchard of 100 trees.
SOLOMON H. EVANS, brother to David C. and son of William Evans, was born in 1843; English and German descent ; married in 1871 to Catharine Shaffer, of Preston County. Children : Ama, Stella, Lewis. Mollie, Harry, John and Dollie. He is a farmer, living on Horse Shoe Run, ten miles from St. George. He owns 270 acres of land, of which 40 acres are improved and the rest is well timbered. He has a good orchard. He followed the shoe- making trade 12 years, but gave it up for farming.
JAMES I. EVANS, brother of Solomon Evans, was born in 1842, in Hampshire County; married in 1874, to Emma C. Whitehair, of Preston County. Children : Florence May, Jennie Belle, Cora Etna and Ida. He is a farmer and miller, living at the Lead Mine Post-office, 10 miles from St.
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George. His is the largest and best mill in Tucker County. It is on the site of Frederick Domire's tub-mill, of 1842, and is where Mason's mill used to stand. It has a set of corn-rocks and a pair of buhrs. The mill grinds about 6,000 bushels a year, rather more wheat than corn. The mill is a new one, having been rebuilt in 1879. He also owns a saw- mill that will cut 1,000 feet a day.
JAMES EVANS, brother . of William Evans, was born in Hampshire County, in 1832. In 1855 he was married to Lucinda, daughter of William Losh. Children: Evaline, John William, Mary Jane, Emaline, Phoebe Ann, Lettie, Maggie May, Nellie and Eddie. He married a second time in 1877, to Sarah Carr, of Illinois. In 1865 he went to Indi- ana and staid 4 years ; then went to Illinois and remained 13 years, and returned to West Virginia, where he follows the occupation of farming.
F.
HAMILTON FINK, son of Elias Fink, of Rockingham County, Virginia, of French and German descent, was born in 1842, and in 1869 was married to Emeline Ramsey, of Barbour County. Children : Ida May, Bashy C., Elias, Nancy A., Cora B., William Arthur and Michael. He is a farmer, owning 112 acres of land, of which 32 are improved; spent three years in the Rebel army, under Lee most of the time, but part of the time under Imboden, Brecken- ridge and Early, and was in nearly every battle in the Val- ley of Virginia for two years, and was in the battles of Gettysburg and Williamsport. He was in both of Lee's in- vasions of the North; he was four times wounded, and another ball broke the skin on his nose. He was never taken prisoner, but came near falling into his enemy's hands at Beverly. He was passing through the town be-
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