USA > West Virginia > Myers' history of West Virginia (1915) Volume II > Part 25
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"In the year 1838 Presley Martin laid out the town of New Martinsville, the boundaries of which were, at that time, North Street, on the North ; Union Street, on the East : Wash- ington Street, on the South, and the Ohio River, on the West.
"Presley Martin was the father of eleven children-all now deceased. Their descendants are settled in many of the middle and far western States, but few remaining in West Virginia.
"Col. Charles Martin, my great-grandfather. was born in Eastern Virginia : his first wife was a daughter of Lord Fair-
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fax, of Virginia fame. In 1768 he was granted 400 acres of land in Monongalia County. He was in command of Fort Martin from 1773 until the close of the Revolutionary War. The Fort was built on his land near the mouth of Crooked Kun. This Fort was attacked by the Indians in June, 1779, and two whites were captured and killed. In 1874 the first M. E. Church was organized at Colonel Martin's house and services were conducted there for a long time. He was sheriff of Monongalia County at the time of his deatlı.
"My grandfather, Presley Martin, was the only child of Col. Charles Martin by his second wife.
"S. R. Martin."
Col. T. Moore Jackson.
T. Moore Jackson was born in Clarksburg June 22, 1852. He married Miss Emma, daughter of Judge Charles L. Lewis, now dead. He was a son of James M. Jackson, whose mother was a daughter of Governor Meigs, of Ohio, afterwards post- master-general of the United States, and Colonel Jackson's grandfather, John G. Jackson, was the first federal judge of the Western District of Virginia. He died in 1825, after many years as a federal judge, and after erecting furnace forges, mills, wood factories and salt works in Harrison County, all out of existence now. The grandfather made the first iron in that section. He projected digging a canal by which the Buckhannon River would be diverted into the West Fork. but did not get government consent.
Colonel Jackson was schooled at Bethany College and Washington and Lee University, graduating in June, 1873, as a civil and mining engineer, and helped to build several rail- roads. As professor of civil and mining engineering he filled a chair in the West Virginia University until 1891, graduating, the first civil engineering class from that institution. The Short Line Railroad from New Martinsville to Clarksburg was promoted and built by him, and he had the Clarksburg Northern Railroad from New Martinsville to Middlebourne under way, when, on February 3. 1912, after a short illness due to exposure while overseeing the construction work, he
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died. The road which the Colonel commenced two years ago is now just entering Middlebourne, under the management of Joseph Fuccy, the original contractor, and trains will be in operation on the road within the next few days.
Hon. Aaron Morgan, of Porter's Falls, W. Va.
The subject of this sketch is a son of Elijah Morgan; Elijah Morgan was a son of Pady Maud Morgan, and Pady Maud Morgan was a son of Morgan Morgan, who was a son of David Morgan, the noted Indian fighter of the Monongalia Valley.
The Hon. Aaron Morgan's father, Elijah, was born in Marion County, Virginia (now West Virginia), in 1801, and came with his parents to Wetzel County, settling where the subject of this sketch now resides, near Porter's Falls. Elijah early became a surveyor of land, which occupation he followed at intervals up to near the time of his demise, in 1876. He was also a skilled millwright and all-round me- chanic ; represented Wetzel County in the house of Delegates in 1872, and served as colonel of militia for about 50 years. At his death he was laid to rest by the Free Masons, of which fraternal organization he was a member of high rank.
Aaron Morgan was born at Morgantown, in Tyler County, Virginia (now Porter's Falls, Wetzel County, West Virginia), March 5, 1832. During his boyhood days, the facilities for education were extremely meager, in consequence of which his educational qualifications are not of the best. Notwith- standing this, however, Mr. Morgan is a well informed man of good common sense, which is often more useful than a knowledge of the classics. He served four terms in the State Legislature and was often appointed to important committees.
During the session of 1901. Mr. Morgan introduced a bill asking for an appropriation for the erection of a monument to be placed in the court house yard at New Martinsville, in memory of Levi Morgan, a noted Western Virginia pioneer and Indian scout. After strenuous efforts, "Uncle" Aaron succeeded in passing his bill, which resulted in the erection of the splendid monument that now adorns the court house
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yard, on the corner of Washington and Main Streets, a picture of which accompanies this sketch. Touching on this achievement of Representative Morgan's, we quote from the Charleston Gazette, published about the time of the passage of the bill :
"We are proud of our representative. He has done what 'could not have been done by any other member of the West Virginia Legislature, Democrat or Republican ; he has stood up all the time and every time with his party. His manhood is of the kind that commands respect on every hand and on every side.
"We are to have a statue of Capt. Levi Morgan erected at New Martinsville, Wetzel County's county seat. The Legislature has provided for it, the appropriation is $35,000, and the bill has been passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. Aaron Morgan did it through his ability and influence in the Legislature. There could not have been done any more or as much by any body else ; he is a true Morgan. He made a speech in the House of Delegates which surprised many and opened the eyes of all and converted everybody who was against the bill. What he doesn't know about the early history of this part of the old State is not worth knowing. We quit as we began, we are proud of our representative."
We also quote an article from Governor MacCorkle to the Gazette:
"The feature of legislation most talked about at this time is the triumph of Hon. Aaron Morgan in getting his bill through for the monument to Capt. Levi Morgan, at New Martinsville. There is no necessity for any one else claiming any interest in this political legislative achievement, it is due entirely to Mr. Morgan's skill, earnestness and popularity. When it was undertaken by him every one in the Legislature laughed at him and the bill was sent to the Legislative Burying Ground-that is to the Committee on Claims and Grievances ; but the old gentleman, with his usual pertinacity and energy, never stopped work. If any one wanted a bill to go through and needed help, Hon. Aaron's good and wise judgment was always consulted. He was so true and ardent to his business as a legislative man that he never let up on a
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good cause, and while he has the appearance of one just arrived from the country, it is very unwise to think that such is the case. He is smart and sly and is the only man in this Legislature who has been able to get a bill through the House with an appropriation with any kind or class of help or as- sistance. They are having a great deal of fun at the expense of Ex-Governor MacCorkle in reference to Hon. Aaron's bill. Mr. Morgan, being sick at the time his bill should come up, appealed to Ex-Governor MacCorkle to assist him on his bill and make a speech before the committee. The ex-Governor. being somewhat an antiquarian, went over and saw the committee and that body told him that they did not intend to report the bill favorably nor give Mr. Morgan one cent, and told the Governor that he would just simply make a spectacle of himself if he went before the committee and made a speech for the bill that would not get a single vote. So the Governor told the committee to make it right with Hon. Aaron-that they had been great friends for years, and that he did not care about losing his friendship, and he asked the chairman of the committee to tell Mr. Morgan that it would be no use in making a speech before the committee. After this. Ilon. Aaron, inconvenienced by sickness, went to work and put the bill through against the judgment of every man in the Legislature. There was a broad smile went around at the Governor for not being able to accomplish that which Hon. Aaron had no trouble in doing. It is the best piece of legislative work that has occurred at this session. Mr. Morgan is the most popular man with the Republican ma- jority and is today more able to get through legislative work than any other Democrat in cither House or the Senate.
"The placing of a monument at New Martinsville is un- precedented in its scope because West Virginia has not done this kind of work heretofore and when the Republicans are cutting in order to keep within the income. It was a splendid triumph of legislative work. Wetzel County is to be con- gratulated in having such a smart and energetic member of the Legislature, whose speech in defense of his monument bill captivated the entire legislative body."
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Another expression of the appreciation of the worth of "Uncle" Aaron Morgan is given below, taken from the Daily Legislator :
"Charleston, W. Va., February 15, 1915.
"True worth and merit should always be recognized. A free people seeking to perpetuate a republican form of gov- ernment are blind to their interests if they do not encourage those brave and true spirits who in public life forget self and look to the one guiding star of right and justice in the recent struggles of Democracy in electing a United States Senator and determining the results of the election in 1888 for Gov- ernor.
"Many beautiful instances of that stern devotion to prin- ciple and love and fairness may be found to interest the curious and impress the wise and prominent. Among these stands the representative from Wetzel County. Hon. Aaron Morgan.
"During both of these long struggles his body and brains never tired in the cause of duty. Ever at his post, always out-spoken and truthful, never at a loss to impress the eternal truth of his principles upon others. he was the pillar of Democracy in the party's greatest struggle. Wetzel knew the man she needed when she sent Morgan to the Legislature. and she would make no mistake to return him.
"The following is the substance of Representative Mor- gan's speech before the joint assembly :
"'Mr. President : In explanation of my vote, I desire to say that, although I am not a lawyer but a plain farmer, I have, nevertheless, taken a deep interest in the case before us. I have examined the evidence submitted by the majority and minority reports together with the depositions which are printed, and I am convinced that the contestant, Judge Flem- ing, was honestly and fairly elected Governor of our State. Legal and orderly elections are essentials to the perpetuity of the institutions of this country, and to countenance fraud in our elections, means to defeat the popular will of the people ; for these reasons 1 cast my vote for Judge Fleming.'
Mr. Morgan married Miss Elizabeth Allen, a member of a highly respected family. To this union were born three sons
F
COURT HOUSE, NEW MARTINSVILLE, W. VA. Erected in 1908 Showing Levi Morgan's Monument in Front.
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and one daughter: William 1., Other E., Leonard W. and ., the last marrying a Mr. Shepherd, to which union was born one daughter -Estella by name- who now resides at Middletown, Mo., where she is engaged in teaching school. The three sons have all taught school, Leonard still being so engaged. Other E. and William A. are engaged in farming. William .A. once served as justice of the peace in Greene District. He is also now a member of the County Court of Wetzel County.
"Uncle" Aaron, as his friends in Wetzel County call him, is now in his 821 year, and he and his aged wife still reside at their old home place near Porter's Falls, cared for by their three sons, whose homes are near by. Mrs. Morgan, a faithful wife and mother, is still able to perform her household duties, but "Uncle" Aaron, being blind and weakened by the infirmi- ties incident to old age, is confined to his room most of the time, and can only move by the assistance of others. Yet he is cheerful and is always delighted to have his old friends call upon him and talk over the political issues of the day-a subject of which he never tires. He has a wonderfully reten- tive memory, and when in a reminiscent mood, reels off a regular panoramic picture of the past that is intensely inter- esting.
Hon. Lewis S. Newman.
Lewis Steenrod Newman was born at Glendale, Marshall County, West Virginia, August 24, 1839. He was a direct descendant of John Newman, a cavalier emigrant of 1635, whos father, John Newman, of Berwick House, Somersetshire, England, was a member of the London Company in 1608-9. Alexander Newman was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1694, and Alexander 11th of that name and father of the subject of this sketch, was elected to Congress from what is now the First Congressional District, in 1848.
In 1871, Lewis S. Newman was elected a member of the House of Delegates, and from 1878 to 1882, he represented his district in the State Senate. In 1888 he was one of the electors on the Democratic ticket, and was chosen to register the vote
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of his State at Washington in that election. He was extremely affable, an entertaining conversationalist and able speaker. The many responsible positions with which the people hon- ored him during his earthly career are sufficient evidence of his great popularity. When quite a young man he selected as his life-companion Miss Clementine Pickett, whose family was prominent among the early settlers of Wheeling. To this union were born nine children, two of whom, Lillie and Birdie, died some years ago. The surviving children are Judge Charles C. Newman and Lewis S., Jr., of Wheeling; Edwin A. and W. A., of Glendale; Mrs. Lilla Lytle and Mrs. Edith Stead, of Glendale, and Miss Dora Lee, of the Fairmont High School faculty.
Lewis S. Newman's mother was a daughter of Joseph Tomlinson, one of the first settlers at Moundsville, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this book.
Mr. Newman died at his home at Glendale on the evening of February 6, 1913, having survived his faithful and devoted wife but a few months.
The many noble traits of character of this aged couple might well, indeed, be emulated by those who have at heart the good of their country.
Reuben Harvey Sayre.
Reuben Harvey Sayre was born November 23, 1837, in Greene County, Pa. He is the son of Mercer Sayre and Margaret Winget Sayre (nee Winget).
Mercer Sayre was the son of Samuel and Lydia Sayre. and was born in New Jersey, February 20, 1794. At this birth were born triplets, who were named for three noted Revolutionary Generals, Warren, Montgomery and Mercer, by General George Washington, a personal friend of the family.
R. 11. Sayre's grandfather, Samuel Sayre, was born April 15, 1761, and died in 1813. He married Lydia Simpson, who was born November 30. 1765, she being the daughter of Simeon Simpson and Mary Simpson (nee Mulford). Simcon Simpson was the son of Alexander and Elizabeth Simpson.
R. H. SAYRE, OF NEW MARTINSVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA.
One of the few surviving members of First Constitu- tional Convention held at Wheeling, West Virginia. (Photo taken in 1915.)
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and was born in New Jersey, August 11, 1743. Mary Mulford. who was the daughter of Ezekiel and Bathiah Mulford, was born January 6, 1745. Simeon Simpson and Mary Mulford were married February 10, 1703.
Mary Winget Sayre, the mother of K. 11. Sayre, was born October 23, 1798, and was married to Mercer Sayre April. 1817. To this union were born twelve children, Mr. Sayre being the youngest. On January 18, 1829, were born to this union triplet daughters- - Martha Washington, Louisa Cath- erine Adams and Margaret Winger, who were named by Mrs. Louisa Catherine Adams, the wife of John Quincy Adams. the latter being then President of the United States.
William Winget, the grandfather of Mr. Sayre on his mother's side, was born September 20, 1709, and died October 20, 1841. Nancy Winget (nee Hampton ), the wife of William Winget, was born August 24, 1708, and died April 13, 18444. She was a descendant of Lord Hampton of England. Mr. Sayre's foreparents on both sides of the house were English, those on his father's side having come over with the Pilgrims. His grandfather, Samuel Sayre, served throughout the Revolu- tionary War. When but a boy less than sixteen years of age he was with Washington's troops when they re-crossed the Delaware, amid floating ice, on Christmas night, 1776, and marched on to Trenton in a furious snow storm and captured 1,000 Hessian soldiers, without the loss of a man. He also passed the winter with Washington's army at Valley Forge.
When the subject of our sketch was about two years old his parents came to Tyler County, and one year later they re- moved to Wetzel County, settling in New Martinsville, where the parents died and where the son still resides, being a con- tinued resident of the city for 73 years.
Mr. Sayre served in the Federal army during the Civil War and was discharged in June. 1865. He also served as Post Master in New Martinsville, having taken charge of the office under President Lincoln June 1. 1861. He was also En- rolling Officer under the Government, for Wetzel County, hay ing charge of the enrollment of the Militia in anticipation of the government having to draft men to fill the depleted Union army. He was in the mercantile business in New Martinsville
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a number of years; and subsequently he engaged in the timber and lumber business. He was Commissioner of School Lands from 1897 to 1905. On August 8, 1867, Mr. Sayre married Miss Martha Russell Hill, daughter of James and Sarah Craig Hill, formerly of Fayette County, Pennsylvania. To this union six children were born. Mr. James Hill's father was the founder of Hillsborough, Pa.
Mr. Sayre was one of the eight members of the May Con- vention, in 1861, from Wetzel County. Ile was a follower of the conservative element, led by Waitman T. Willey who bit- terly opposed the radical clement, led by John S. Carlisle, in the methods of procedure on the State Separation question.
By request of a son of Mr. Willey and others for an ex- pression of his views concerning that memorable convention. Mr. Sayre wrote a very lengthy and interesting article, which appeared in The Bar, of October, 1913, in which he criticises. in very strong terms, the attitude taken by Mr. Carlisle and his friends, and highly commends the course pursued by the · pposition. He also mildly criticises certain prominent gen- tlemen who took an active part in unveiling of the Pierpont n.onument in Statuary Hall, on April 30, 1910. We quote, in part, as follows :
"I do not wish to detract from the great services of Gov- ernor Pierpont, neither do I wish to see the greater service of the llon. Waitman T. Willey, which was rendered to the State during the eventful days of 1861, passed by in silence and con- tempt. I have read carefully the history of the unveiling of the Pierpont Statue, and I cannot understand why Governor Glasscock and Thomas C. Miller and others pervert historical facts in order to give Mr. Pierpont a place to which he is not entitled, in so far as it relates to the May convention, the re- stored government, and the formation of the State of West Virginia, and pass by the great services that the Hon. Wait- man T. Willey rendered the State and Nation during the May convention. If other counsel than that of his had prevailed. we would not have had a restored government or a West Vir- ginia ; neither would there ever have been a Governor Pier- pont."
Politically, Mr. Sayre is a Republican, with progressive
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tendencies, realizing the fact that parties, like men, cannot move onward while "standing pat." He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Sayre exhibited to the writer a Bible published by order of King George, in 1775, which contains the family rec- ords of the Simpsons for more than 170 years back.
A lengthy culogy of Mr. Sayre and his family is un- necessary. No higher tribute could be paid than to say that they are law abiding, respectable and respected citizens who "do unto others as they would that others should do unto them."
Dr. T. M. Stone.
The subject of our sketch was born in West Wheeling, Ohie. September 30, 1838. When quite young his pare its re- moved to Wheeling, where they resided until 1855. at which time they loaded their goods onto a flat boat and il ated down the Ohio River as far as New Martinsville, from whence they were conveyed to their new home on Limestone Ridge, in Wetzel County. In 185- he married Amanda, daughter of Thomas McQuown, who was formerly captain of the Sixth Virginia Infantry, stationed at Wheeling. In 1864 he and a couple other young fellows by name of Morgan formed a part- nership and opened up a general store at Porter's Falls. After remaining here about three years, Mr. Stone sold out his in- terest in the store and opened up a similar business on his own account in the village of Pine Grove, about twelve miles far- ther up Big Fishing Creck. About this time he took up the study of medicine and surgery, which profession he followed with much success for a period of about thirty years when. owing to the infirmities of old age, he retired from active ser- vice ; but still, up to his seventy-fifth year, he would occasion- ally consent to attend a consultation in some unusually im- portant case, where the experience of an older head was re- quired. Previous to his entering the mercantile business (about 1860) the doctor fitted up a photographic outfit on a boat and took tin-types of hundreds of rustic youths and las- sies and some of the older ones as they assembled along the
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banks of the Ohio. But the doctor's experience in the picture business was of short duration. The Blue and the Gray were soon engaged in deadly strife, and he laid aside the camera for the musket. He joined the Wheeling militia under Capt. Smith and took part in the famous Jones' raid.
The doctor was a son of Adam Stone, who was born in Yorkshire, England, and came to this country when a young man and served in the Civil War. The doctor's mother, De fore marriage, was Sarah Hall, a daughter of William Hall. She was a native of New York state.
The subject of our sketch was a member of the house of delegates from Wetzel County in 1872-73. Clarence M., a son, also represented this county in the legislature two terms, and on November 4, 1912, was elected sheriff of Wetzel Cou -- ty. Besides Clarence M., there are two sons and one daugh- ter. namely : J. William, Burl and Alice. William and Burl are acting deputies under their brother. The Stones are among the leading citizens of Wetzel County and highly c :- teemed by all who know them.
Colonel Archibald Woods-A West Virginian Who Voted to Ratify the Federal Constitution.
Colonel Archibald Woods, who was one of the delegates from Ohio County to the federal convention at Richmond, in June, 1788, was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, Nowen- ber 14, 1764; served under General Greene in his North : 'aro- lina campaign, in 1781 ; settled in Wheeling at the clos of the Revolution, when the whole of Northwestern Virginia was a frontier settlement, exposed to incursions of the Indians. He was for twenty years president of the Northwest en Bank of Virginia at Wheeling, organized in 1817, and the first banking institution in West Virginia. Died October 26, 1846, aged 82 years. Buried at the Stone meeting house on Wheeling Creek.
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Henry Gassaway Davis.
llenry Gassaway Davis was born in the little village of Woodstock. Md., on the sixteenth day of November, 1823.
His father was Caleb Davis, who, some years prior to Henry's birth, had been a successful merchant of Baltimore, but in his late years business reverses had come upon him and he removed a few miles out into the country and bought a small farm where now is located the village of Woodstock.
Caleb Davis had been a soldier in the war of 1812, while his wife, whose maiden name was Louisa Brown, sprang from Revolutionary stock.
When Henry was a very small boy, still more business reverses struck his father, and the little farm in Howard Coun- ty was taken away from him, simultaneously some railroad contracts he had undertaken resulted disastrously and he died very shortly afterward, when Henry was in his early 'teens.
It is to his mother, who was of Scotch-Irish blood, that Henry G. Davis owes his greatest debt of gratitude. Sh. came from a remarkable family noted for the prominence that its . embers have attained, and the sound common sense that has always characterized them.
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