USA > West Virginia > Wood County > Sketches of Wood County : its early history : as embraced in and connected with other counties of West Virginia : also brief accounts of first settlers and their descendants : including accounts of its soils, timber, minerals, water, and material wealth > Part 7
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In the year 1797, two brothers with their families, by the name of John and Michnel Simins, eame, purchased and settled on the South Fork of Lee Creek, about a mile and a half back of Belleville. Here they opened fine farms, and resided until 1816, when they sold to Elisha Timms and Benjamin Mitchell, who, in the fall of that year emigrated to this eounty, from Culpepper county, Va. The two Simms families em- igrated to Ohio, and settled on Shade river Under the ministry of the Rev. Benjamin Crouch, Mr. Mitchell joined the M. E. Church, aud soon after was licensed as a local minister in the church, and officiated as such successfully, until his death, in 1834. He was abundant ia labors and usefulness. At the tim of his death he left a large amily of children. These were raised and sica: . \ for usefulness in .soeirty, vid several of them still reside in this ount
Among them is our ttive t .d worthy City Sargeant, wohn W. Mitch :. ell and Henry S. Mite A, a merchant at is eville. ... Rev. Elisha T. Mitchell. some year - mince . novel to II ington. : Cabell county, where he is engaged in merchand; ng. 'he chiest son, James W. Mitchell, for many years past has resi led at Ashland, Ky. These four sons of Rev. Benjamin Mitchell all have large families, and occupy prom- inent positions in the communities in which they reside.
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PHILIP WIGAL, ER.
In the year 1797, Peter Derenberger, (a German), emigrated with his family from the State of Pennsylvania, and settled on Lee creek, back back of Belleville Bottom. He was a worthy, industrious citizen, raised a large family. Many of his numerous descendants are living in this county, and are respected for their uprightness of character.
Also, during the same Spring, (1797), John Boso, with his family, came to this county, and settled ou the South Fork of Lee Creek. There . are numerous descendants of this family, residing in the lower part of . this county, respected for their integrity and uprightness of character.
In the year 1787 Jacob Kiems settled there and married a sister- of Joseph Dewey. Some of the descendants of this family are still resid- ing in that vicinity. We are conseious that in our efforts to gather up the names of these first settlers in that portion of our county, the names of many will be omitted for the want of information.
It is to be regretted that during the first years of the settlements made in this county, that there was found no person to keep a record of those times and the events then passing. Such a history would be highly ap- preciated by the inhabitants of the county at the present day.
Among the carly pioneers of this county, there were few, if any, who. have left among us a larger, better, and more industrious posterity than Mr. Philip Wigal. He, with his wife and seven small children, emi- grated from Westmoreland county, Pa., early in the Spring of 1799,and settled at the mouth of Lec Creek, some three miles from the Ohio riv- er, where he opened up a farm and surrounded himself with the comforts of a home, raised his family, to which four more children were added, and there ended his earthly pilgrimage in 1817. His children received such an education as the country and times furnished. They were taught to be industrious, persevering and self-reliant, thus making them thoughtful and considerate.
His eldest daughter, Margaret, was married to Richard Fortner, of this county. They raised a large family of children. many of who mare still residents of this county.
The son, Jacob Wigal, was united in marriage to a Miss Quigler, and removed to Indiana. Also, the second daughter, Elizabeth, was united in marriage to Peter Sheets, and moved to and settled in Indiana:
His third son, William Wigal, remained at the homestead place, on the farm on Lee Creek. He is now eighty three years of age. aud is one of the few who has chosen to spend a life of single blessedness.
Catherine, the third daughter, was married t. Henry Brockheart, and moved from this county. She was the mother of seven children, and was buried at Ilockingport, Ohio.
Ilis fourth son, George Wigal, (ar infant three months old when his parents came to this county), settled on the North Fork of Lee Creek. His first wife was Miss Rebecca Sams, who, at her death, left him with one child. His second wife was Miss Sarah Gill, who has giv-
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GEORGE WIGAL.
en to him eight children. These children are all settled near him, with their families, and are in good easy circumstances. George Wigal is now in the eightieth year of his age, and has continued to reside in this county. During his past life he has witnessed the great and wonderful changes which have taken place in this country in the present century. IIe is a man well read in the history of his.country, and has a vast fund of useful information relative to the many changes and improvements made in his time. Patient industry, frugality and economy, has enabled him to provide homes and settle his children around him, and in their prosperity and happiness he is enjoying the blessings of a happy old age.
The fifth son of Philip Wigal, is Daniel Wigal, born at Belleville. He married Matilda Joseph, daughter of Joseph Joseph, late of this county. They have eight children.
He resides on Lee Creek.
Barbara Wigal, the fourth daughter, was married to James Sams, of Tygart Creek, and has three children. He died about twenty years ago.
Philip Wigal. Jr., the sixth son, married Miss Nancy Sheets. They have thirteen children, all residing in the lower part of this county.
Miss Sarah Wigal, the youngest child and fifth daughter, married John Congrove, and moved to and lives in the State of Ohio.
It would form an interesting chapter to trace the families of each of the descendants of Philip Wigal, Sr., deceased. This would require much patient toil, as well as expense.
In closing this brief sketch of the elder Philip Wigal and his family, and numerous descendants in this county, it is a remarkable occurrence that all of his descendants are in comfortable and easy eirecmstances, and are honored and respected by their fellow citizens. Honesty, indus- . try and economy are their prevailing characteristics.
This brings our notice of Belleville down to the year 1800, the date of the formation of Wood county.
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CHAPTERX.
Peter G. Van Winkle.
The first recognition of any material importance which Parkersburg and Wood county received from the State Legislature of Old Virginia in. the way of improvement, and bringing them into public notice, was the establishment and completion of the Northwestern Virginia Turnpike rond, leading from Winchester, in the Valley of Virginia, over the Alle- gheny mountains, westward to. Parkersburg. on the Ohio river, a dis- tance of two hundred and thirty miles. At that time, (1836), Parkers- burg was a small town of about two hundred inhabitants, pleasantly sit- uated on the Southern bank of the Ohio river, at and above its junction with the Little Kanawha river, a stream of considerable importance, heading in the Allegheny mountains, and running in a northwestern di- reetion about one hundred and fifty miles. The country extending from the Ohio, eastwardly to the Allegheny mountains, was a vast wilderness, with a few towns and settlements interspersed here and there, of long standing. Its vast, heavy timbered forests. majestic mountain ranges. of arable lands, rich, fertile valleys, abounding in numerous streams. with its salubrious climate, and grand scenery. werethe common heritage of wild beasts, pursued by and became the sport of hunters. Such was the brief outline of Western Virginia, when this Northwestern Turnpike was projected and compted.
It was about this time in the history of Parkersburg an . Wood, coun- ty, that Mr. Peter G. Van Winkle came, and completed vois law studies in the office of the late Gen. John J. Jackson, and after carefully sur- veying the relative position of Parkersburg in its connection with the seaboard cities of the East, and the unfolding cities of the great inland West, he determined on making it his future permanent home. This question of his citizenship being thus permanently settled, he untiringly
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HON. PETER G. VANWINKLE.
devoted his mind and energies to the work of developing the resour- ces and advantages of Western Virginia. In this employment bis pen was never idle, when an opportunity of advancing the common in- teresta presented itself. He lived long enough to personally realize many of the bright day dreams of his imagination. He lived long enough to not only command the personal esteem and homage of the citizens of his adopted county and home, but of the citizens of our common country.
The standard of a pure morality had in him a bright living expo. nent, and was exemplified in the private walks of life, in the counsel chambers of the State, and in the Senatorial Halls of Congress. We have here introduced this chapter on the life and character of our personal friend, to give the reader some correct knowledge of the past, as well as the present condition of this county in its advanced history.
We will here say, that the city of Parkersburg is situated at the lower, or southern extremity of a high and wide bottom of land, ex- tending down the Valley of the Ohio, from Briscoe's Run to the Lit- tle Kanawha river, a distance of six miles, and contains an arca of about five thousand acres. Two miles South of Parkershurg, Worth- ington Creek enters the Little Kanawha from the East. The bottoms of this river and creek, in the vicinity East and South of Parkersburg, contain an area of about five thousand aeres, well adapted to city im- provements. An elevated ridge separates these lands, and presents commanding views as sites for suburban residences.
We close this chapter, devoted to our friend, the Hon. Peter G. Van Winkle, by inserting a biographieal sketch of him, which we pre. . peared and published in the Odd Fellows Guardian, of Chicago, Ill., of which Order he was an honorable and worthy member :
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
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"The memory of the just in blessed."-Solomon '
In this dark world of sin and suffering, there are oasis springing up in the desert of man's mortality. Among these, the memory lingers and delights to dwell, as the warm affections of the heart cluster around wi, whispering through all its silent chambers, of a better world, b, gliter home and purer life. It is thus, amid the impress- ive emble ms, dressed in the habilament- of mourning, we are made to look back upon the lie and character of far worthy Brott; the late IIon. Peter Godwin Van Winkle, who departed this life on the morn- ing of the 15th of April, 1872, aged 63 years, 7 months and 8 days.
On the paternal, as also on the maternal (Godwin) sides of his pa- rentage, his family records went back to the carly settlement of the colonies of this country. He was the third son of Mr. Peter Van Win-
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HON. PETER G. VANWINKLE.
kle and his wife, Mrs. Phebe Godwin, born in the city of New York. the 7th of September, 1808. Being endowed by nature with studious habits and an enquiring mind, he in early life laid the basis of a good education; and in all his after years, by his muwearied diligence and close application, he studied to improve, until he became a ripe schol- ar, a correct thinker and an able writer, with a wide sweep of practice- al knowledge. His love of letters was so great, that in all the active anties and claims of life, and the laborious studies of the law, (his pro -; fession), he found time to improve Ins talents in the higher walks of. literature, and his manuscripts grace the pages of many literary jour- nals of the day.
Ou the 21st of September, 1831, at Paramus, Bergen county, New. Jersey, he was most happily united in marriage with Miss Juliet Rath- boue, daughter of the late Judge W. P. Rathbone, a lady of finished accomplishinents and refined manners, social in intercourse, with a most amiable disposition and warmth of affection. By her he became the father of six children; three of whom died carly in infancy. His fourth, the late Hon. Rathbone Van Winkle, died at his residence in this city, in 1870, thus leaving at the time of nis death his youngest sou. Godwin, and his youngest daughter, Mrs. Blackford, to mourn his loss. His loving and accomplished wife, after a long and painful illness, died in 1844.
Mr. Van Winkle came to this city early in the year 1835, and com- pleted his study of law in the office of the late Gen, John J. Jackson, and was admitted to practice in our Courts. At that time this coun. try was comparatively new, and Parkersburg was a small town, sur- rounded by woods, with a vast undeveloped country, stretching away to the East and Sonth against the Allegheny mountains. Yet from its relative position, geographically, lying in direct line between the sea-board cities and the far off, and ontspreading West, he came to the conclusion that it had a bright future, and determined to make it his future home. He formed a co-partnership in the practice of law with Gen. J. J. Jackson, and gave the energies of his mind in leisure hours to the development and growth of this place and the sursound- ing country. Our county papers, both editorially and otherwise, teemed with articles from his able pen, setting forth its local and com- inercial advantages. These weekly contributions in our papers un- folded to the enquiring mind the vast, rich resources of wealth, hid- den in our mountains and valleys. the innsie of its water power pass- ing through the uubrokes solitudes of one of the most salubrious cli- inates on earth, inviting the enterprise of the capitalist and the strong energy of the woodsman's ax.
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The publie spirit and cuterprise of his mind, thus seen in and thro' these articles from his pen, allied him with the council of our grow- ing town, and made him President of its Board. This relation he sustained for many years; and, indeed, until a wider sphere of use-
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HON. PETER G. VANWINKLE.
fulness opened out before him to fill. Wherever and whenever enter- prise, public or private, looked to the advancement of our town or county, it at all times found in him a friend and advocate; and he be- came an able co-worker in securing its advantages to our city. He was for the first seven years President of the Little Kanawha Bridge Company; also Secretary for several years of the Northwestern Va. Railroad Company, and then its President: and then President of the Parkersburg Braneb Railway Company. To the faithful performance . of the duties of all these offices, he brought his untiring energies,and discharged the same with entire satisfaction to all interested. in them.
In 1850 he was elected and served with distinguished honor and ability in the State Convention of Virginia, for revising the Constitu- tion. Ilis labors upon committees were arduous ; yet he found time to assist our representative, and contributed largely. in securing the. passage of the Aet incorporating onr Railroad. He was a prominent and working memher of the Wheeling Convention of 1861 ; also of the Convention of 1862, which formed the Constitution of West Va .; and was a member of the Legislature of this State, from its organiza- tion to June, 1863. In Angust of that year he was elected a Senator in Congress from this State, for the term ending 4th of March, 1869. In all these responsible and high positions ot trust, as a statesman, he fulfilled the arduous duties with marked ability, coascientions exact- ness and unwavering devotion to the best interests of his country .- The same conscientious regard for truth and justice, which marked all the acts of his private life, 'he brought into the political arena of his public life, as his guide in the performance of duty.
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No base or private prejudices, or unholy passions ever marked or marred his career in all his intercourse with his associates in public and private life. During the late unhappy war, when the passions of many ran riot with the spirit of revenge, there was no individual case where the finger of anger or resentment could be pointed at him as being unjust and unmerciful. His nature rose above the an- gry passions of vindictive hate, or the malignant policy and purpose of carping demagogues. His carefully formed and well balanced mind, l'esting upon the golden rule of right and justice, at all times felt its responsibility. and nove swerved from a conscientious purpose of moral rectitude.
It is with the gr asure we can look over at view the life and character of our . d friend, as a citizen in : rate life, and as an officer in his public arver, giving, (as he has no.is done); to the world a bright example of a life of unwavering effort, which has cul- minated in an honored and honorable repose. But in closing this sketch to his memory and virtues, we feel and mourn the loss of a Brother Odd Fellow, whose voice once elicered us in our counsels, and
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HON. PETER G. VANWINKLE.
whose life and character was a living exposition of the holy ritual of our beloved Order. Peter Godwin Van Winkle was the Senior Past Grand of Parkersburg Lodge, No. 7. I. O. O. F., and no member in life and char- · acter ever reflected more honor upon that office, or gave brighter evi- dences to the claims of Odd-Fellowship. . For years past he made dona- tions annually of fifty dollars, for the benefit of widows and orphans of the Lodge, thus causing the blessings of the bereaved to light up the pathway along life's closing journey. But he has passed from the liv- ing of earth, full of years and full of honors, "to the rest of the Patri- archs."
It is at such a moment we realize the gathering darkness of the tomb over the days of our mortality-we realize the loosening of the silver cord-the breaking of the golden bowl-the dropping of the pitcher at the fountain-the wrecking of the wheel at the cistern, for man goeth to his long home. Our friend and brother "has passed the years of his appointed time," "the days of the years of his pilgrimage are numbered." With "the evergreen as an emblem of immortality," his remains were committed to the silence of the grave, "for the memory of the righteous shall be in remembrance forever and ever."
TO THE READERS :-
This last Chapter of the foregoing, is that much added to the original design when we commenced these pages. They are presented as a trib- ute to the memory of a personal friend, whose manhood years were spent among the citizens of this community-one whose pen added largely to the material wealth and position of the county and State.
Should these pages be appreciated by my fellow citizens, so as to be- come partially remunerative for the time, toil and expense in their prep. aration, they will be followed by a continuation of the history of the county, with its first settlers and their descendants, with descriptions of lands and sources of wealth.
The city of Parkersburg, with its various changes of names, etc., will form the opening Chapter of this continued work.
LRAFY GLENN, West Virginia, ovember, 1878.
S. C. SHAW.
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