USA > West Virginia > Upshur County > The history of Upshur county, West Virginia, from its earliest exploration and settlement to the present time > Part 30
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Second day, June 18, 1581 .- Daniel Goff, Edwin Maxwell and Benjamin Bastable were admitted to practice in this court, and Miflin Lorentz was qualified as second deputy circuit clerk. The first civil case ever tried in the county was then called. It was an action of debt in which Thos. S. Pri mand Thos. B. Curtis were plaintiffs and Isaac W. Simons was defendant. The defendant came into court without counsel and confessed judgment in the sum of $1,077.77. The declara- tion of the plaintiff set up a debt of only $421.20. This discrepancy, at this day and date, is explicable on the grounds that Prim and Curtis in their declaration claimed that Isaac W. Simons had notes and accounts as offsets which he ( Simons) had not.
The first grand jury of Upshur county was impaneled at this session of the court. Then as now they sat as a jury of inquest and inquiry for the protection of the body politic of Upshur county. The grand jurors were: Alvin M. Basta- ble, foreman; Tilletson Janney, Clinton G. Miller, Daniel D. T. Farnsworth, George Ambrose, John Lewis, John L. Smith, Elias Bennett, David Bennett, Lewis Karickhoff, William E. Basley, Henry Reger, David Haselden, Wilson M. Haymond, Archibald Hinkle, and O. B. Loudin. The clerk swore them, the judge instructed them, they retired to consider of their presentments after hear- ing the witnesses before them. They returned into court and presented six true bills of indictment. Of these sixteen sovereign citizens eligible to serve as grand jurors of the first circuit court of Upshur, but one is still alive-he is the last named on the above list. He informs us that the first circuit court on June 17, 1851, opened its session in the street near where Main street crosses Kanawha street, but soon thereafter the county officials made arrangements to hold the remainder of the term in the dwelling house of Andrew Poundstone.
244
FORMATION OF UPSHUR COUNTY.
JUDGES OF THE CIRCUIT COURT.
The judges of the Upshur County Circuit Court in the past half-century have been few but were some of the ablest and most illustrious lawyers of West Vir- ginia. The first judge was George H. Lee, who held his first term on June 17, 1851, at the house of Andrew Poundstone. On the Chancery side of the court the only order recorded was the appointment of T. M. Bastable, R. L. Brown, and Jacob Lorentz, Commissioners of Chancery. The same Judge held the second term on November 17, 1851, in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the dura- tion of this court was the same as the one preceding and the one following, namely, two days.
Gideon D. Camden became Judge in 1852 and served in that capacity until 1861. During the tenure of his office David McComas, Judge of the Ninth Judi- cial Circuit and Edward P. Pitts, Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, held a term each for him. The court held its sessions after the court house fire of September 8, 1855, in the Baptist Church.
William A. Harrison was the next Judge of the Circuit Court of Upshur county, and he was succeeded by Robert Irvine, who held his first court in this county on September 15, 1863. The caption of the Chancery order book among other things, says: "And in the first year of the state." He served until 1873, holding his last term in this county October 19, 1872.
John Brannon began his term of Judgeship in 1873 and ended it with December, 1880.
Henry Brannon now of the Supreme Court of West Virginia, was Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit for eight years, from January, 1881, until January, 1889. While he was on the bench Robert F. Fleming, of the Sixth Ju- dicial Circuit, held two terms for him.
WV. G. Bennett began his term of Judgeship January 1, 1889, and ended it with January 1, 1905, when J. C. McWhorter succeeded him as Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit.
CIRCUIT CLERKS OF UPSHUR.
The Circuit Court of the county, formerly sometimes called the Superior Court, has had clerks as follows :
George Miller, 1851; Andrew Poundstone, 1861 ; Jacob Waugh, 1866; John L. Hurst, 1873; John A. Hess, 1879; C. W. Heavener, 1902 ; A. J. Zickefoose, 1903.
LAWYERS ADMITTED TO PRACTICE IN UPSHUR.
The majority of lawyers who have practiced at the bar of the Circuit Court of Upshur county were non-residents and includes in its list many who have achieved reputations extending beyond the state.
Following is a list of lawyers with the date when the name of each first ap- peared on the court records :
1851. William A. Harrison, Caleb Boggess, Jr., Matthew Edmiston, John McWhorter, William D. Williams, Benjamin Wilson, George W. Berlin, Richard L. Brown, Samuel Crane, Uriel M. Turner, Robert Ervin, David Goff, Edwin Maxwell, Benjamin Bassell, William E. Arnold, Benjamin W. Byrne, George J. Arnold, John Brannon, Burton Despard, Gideon D. Camden, E. S. Duncan, Jonathan M. Bennett.
245
FORMATION OF UPSHUR COUNTY.
1852. Spencer Dayton, Albert G. Reger, John S. Carlisle, Matthew W. Har- rison, Lewis Maxwell, Edgar M. Davisson, John S. Huffman.
1854. John S. Fisher, Frederick Berlin, Robert Johnson, William C. Car- per, Samuel Woods, Enoch Withers.
1855. George W. Duvall, Charles S. Lewis, Nathan S. Taft, H. G. Pinnell. 1856. James B. McLain, E. B. Hall. «
1857. John N. Hughes, Camden Goff, Homer A. Holt.
1858. W. H. Gibson, G. H. Smith, Gideon D. Camden, Jr., Douglas M. Bai- ley, Morris Taylor.
1859. Richard W. Barton.
1860. James E. Middleton.
I862. Thomas W. Harrison.
1865. James William Dunnington, W. G. L. Totten, Alexander C. Moore, David H. Lilly.
1866. George Cozad, Alexander M. Poundstone, Joseph A. Thompson, T. B. Taylor, William D. Hoff, George R. Latham.
1871. Louis Bennett.
1873. Clinton G. Rapp, George E. Bennett, Albert G. Reger, Henry Bran- non, Coleman C. Higginbotham, L. D. Strader, Stark W. Arnold.
I875. C. J. P. Cresap.
1877. B. L. Butcher, James Woodzell, C. W. Rohrbough, Shelton L. Reger, 1878. Claudius Goff, A. G. Dayton.
1879. A. C. Moore, Thomas A. Bradford, William Dawson Talbot, Leland Kittle, E. T. Somerville.
1880. W. W. Brannon, F. C. Pifer.
1881. John M. Brake, G. M. Fleming, Miflin Lorentz, A. L. Hustead, Cyrus H. Scott.
1882. Samuel A. Miller, Eugene Lutz.
1883. George H. Moffatt, A. F. Haymond, C. F. Teter.
1884. C. P. Snyder, George C. Cole, C. P. Dorr.
1885. F. J. Baxter, M. T. Frame.
1886. J. H. Brown, John J. Davis.
1887. Melville Peck.
1888. G. W. Smith, W. H. Fisher, U. G. Young.
I889. D. W. Gall, R. F. Kidd, S. A. Hays, A. J. Salsberry.
1890. E. D. Talbott, W. S. Stuart, W. L. Kee, W. L. G. Corley.
I891. C. W. Lynch.
1892. W. S. O'Brien.
1893. J. D. Ewing.
1894. J. C. McWhorter, W. B. Nutter, J. Frank Wilson. -
1895. Samuel V. Woods, C. J. Poe.
1896. James M. Morris, F. O. Blue, Floyd J. Strader.
1897. W. T. Talbott, Charles W. Murphy, Ralph W. Heavner, W. B. Kit- tle, W. T. George.
I898. .J. M. Foster, J. B. Bennett, W. B. Cutright.
I899. M. H. King.
I900. Clay N. Pew.
I90I. J. M. N. Downes, Lyman Cutright.
I902. Carry C. Hines, E. G. Rider, Lee Roy See, J. Russell Trotter.
246
FORMATION OF UPSHUR COUNTY.
1903. P. J. Crogan, Will E. Morris.
I904. L. H. Barnett, A. L. Holt, Claude S. Phillips, M. B. Morris, R. F. Kidd, J. M. Hamilton, R. G. Linn, H. Roy Waugh, John W. Davis, H. C. Thurmond, Alex Dulin, E. B. Carlin, L. H. Kelley.
1905. J. W. F. Stone, Osman E. Swartz, John T. Cooper, Roy Reger, Jake Fisher, Haze Morgan, Thomas Jefferson Peddicord.
1906. B. P. Hall, A. G. Hughes, O. W. O. Hardman, E. A. Bowers, Ira E. Robinson, James Ewing.
COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEYS.
Matthew, Edminston, 1851 ; George W. Berlin, 1852; John S. Fisher, 1856; Nathan S. Taft, 1861 ; A. M. Poundstone, 1867; W. G. L. Totten, 1877; Stark W. Arnold, 1881 ; A. M. Poundstone, 1885; W. D. Talbot, 1889; W. B. Nutter, 1901 ; H. Roy Waugh, 1905.
CONSTABLES OF UPSHUR COUNTY.
In the compilation of the list of constables no regard is given to classification by districts. At first they were appointed by the County Court. They have al- ways depended upon fees for their pay and the emoluments of the office were usually small. Their duty with limitations was similar to the duty of the sheriff ; but for the same work they received smaller fees. There were always persons willing to fill this office. Names of Constables by years follow :
1851. Gilmer F. Sines, William Hirschman, George F. Cooper, James Kes- ling, William Loudin, Alfred D. Woodley, Jacob Rohrbough, James Lemmons, John O. Core, David D. Casto, W. N. Gillum, Jacob Cutright, Wm. L. Anderson, Adam C. Shrieve, Jacob Kesling, Bolivar Hanks.
1852. M. J. Fogg, John O. Core, Garland T. Ferrill, David Little, William Henman, C. P. Rohrbough, A. D. Woodley, James Q. Harvey.
1854. John O. Core, James Q. Harvey, G. W. Ratliff, Charles S. Haynes, Adam C. Shrieve, M. J. Fogg, Granville Marple.
1856. James Q. Harvey, John L. Queen, A. D. Woodley, G. W. Ratliff, Adam C. Shrieve, C. S. Haynes, M. J. Fogg.
1858. Morgan A. Darnall, James Q. Harvey, M. J. Fogg.
1860. David J. Brake, Isaac Wamsley, James P. Curry, L. L. D. Loudin, > John W. Rohrbough, T. S. Heavner.
1863. Thaddeus S. Heavner, Jacob W. Lorentz, D. J. Brake, Job Ward, Edward J. Brown, Calvin L. Cutright, Nimrod D. Foster, Gideon H. Wilson, Martin Westfall.
1865. David J. Brake, John Ward, Issac N. Kesling, Geo. W. Currence, T. S. Heavner, Elmor Brake, Gideon H. Wilson, Wm. W. Warner, Wirt Phillips, - John W. Rohrbough.
1867 Lewis Sutton, Geo. H. Clark, Samuel Karickhoff, Adam Mick, W. R. Lowe, Geo. W. Currence, Stillman Young, Perry Talbott, Wm. B. Goodwin, Wayne Love.
1870. Wm. A. McNulty, C. W. Hart, Jonathan Hefner, L. J. B. Smith, Joseph H. Elbon, Thomas Jack, Abram Bennett, Martin Queen.
1872. Isaac Carter.
1874. Geo. W. Stewart.
I876. Wm. C. Gum, W. R. Lowe, Caswell E. Brady, Anderson Smallridge, J. S. Windell, Francis Reeder, D. W. Armstrong, John M. A. Jackson.
247
FORMATION OF UPSHUR COUNTY.
1878. D. M. Reed, Elijah Goodwin.
1880. J. J. Trussler, J. L. Sandridge, J. C. Brady, W. S. Harper, O. A. Mosby, Joseph C. Bailey, G. M. Heavner, Philip Reger, James McAvoy, Gran- ville Warner, Hiram Piles.
1882. Hiram Piles, A. J. Hoffman.
1884 W'm. H. Hillery, David Strader, J. J. Moss, A. M. Tenney, Jr., Josiah Martin, J. W. Windle, Adolphus Sharps, Anderson Smallridge, C. P. Tallman, Jesse Sandridge, T. E. Kidd, J. M. A. Jackson.
1888. W. K. Findley, A. C. Cutright, J. N. Shaw, A. M. Curry, J. A. - Smallridge, David Phillips, J. J. Moss, M. Osburn, C. P. Tallman, J. H. Griffith, Gideon Marple, I. M. Hartman.
1890. J. M. Shumaker, J. S. Kesling.
1892. L. D. Rollins, Phillip Reger, David Phillips, A. D. Cutright, S. S. Moore, Sol Williams, David Maher, Silas Gooden, L. M. Dean, C. P. Tallman, I. N. Hartman, Gran. Reynolds.
1894. E. C. Young, R. B. Lynch, G. H. Spiker.
1896. W. A. McNulty, Dayton Cutright, E. V. Brown, T. J. Newcome, R. B. Rexroad, W. E. Haynes, J. S. Quick, John W. Bailey, Noah Messman, C. P. Tallman, Thomas Post, Simon Hickman.
1900. B. F.Malone, A. L. Reese, T. J. Newcome, A. B. Simon, G. M. Warner, M. V. Lance, Lloyd Miller, J. J. Moss, W. E. Haynes, R. B. Rexroad, J. H. Shipman, Austin Smith.
1902. B. M. Riggleman.
1904. G. A. Smith, U. G. Black, Sydney E. Phillips, Warren Haynes, A. B. Simon, George Hasaflook, Willie Norman, Noah Messman, Sanford Wentz, T. J. Newcome, A. L. Reese.
1906. Harry Jenkins, G. L. Crites, E. L. Coburn.
SUPERVISORS OF UPSHUR COUNTY.
1863. Thomas J. Farnsworth, Ormsby B. Loudin, Cyrus R. Wiches, Gran- ville D. Marple, Lare Dean, Jared Armstrong, George Clark in '64 in place of C. R. Wiches.
1864. O. B. Loudin, G. D. Marple, Benjamin Gould, Jared Armstrong, Marshall L. Rohrbough, Lare Dean.
1865. O. B. Loudin, Lare Dean, G. D. Marple, Marshall L. Rohrboubh, Benjamin Gould, John W. Wilson.
1866. Andrew Poundstone, O. B. Loudin, Solomon Day, John W. Wilson, - Adam Rohrbough, Watson M. Bunten.
1867. John J. Reger, O. B. Loudin, Lare Dean, Solomon Day, Elbridge Burr, John W. Wilson.
1868. O. B. Loudin, Lare Dean, Elbridge Burr, Solomon Day, John J. Reger, John W. Wilson.
1869. John J. Reger, O. B. Loudin, Solomon Day, C. B. Mayo, Jared Arm- strong, Elbridge Burr.
1870. O. B. Loudin, Thomas J. Farnsworth, Benjamin Gould, Jared M. Armstrong, Solomon Day, C. B. Mayo.
1871. O. B. Loudin, John J. Reger, C. B. Mayo, Solomon Day, George W. Simon, Isaac W. Vincent.
-
248
FORMATION OF UPSHUR COUNTY.
1872. O. B. Loudin, Andrew Poundstone, B. F. Armstrong, Isaac W. Vin- cent, Nicholas Ours, Ashley Gould.
COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY COURT.
1881. O. B. Loudin, B. F. Armstrong, and Ashley Gould.
1885. O. B. Loudin, Ashley Gould, and L. D. Casto.
1887. O. B. Loudin, L. D. Casto, and O. W. Bunner.
1889-91. O. B. Loudin, O. W. Bunner, and J. W. Morrison.
1893. O. W. Bunner, J. W. Morrison, and A. W. C. Lemmons.
1895.
A. W. C. Lemmons, J. W. Morrison, and Joseph S. Reger.
1896. J. S. Reger, J. W. Morrison, and Granville Teter.
1897. J. S. Reger, Granville Teter, and R. A. Darnall.
1898.
J. S. Reger, R. A. Darnall, and Granville Teter.
1900. R. A. Darnall, Granville Lanham, and J. S. Reger.
1902. R. A. Darnall, Granville Lanham, and W. M. Day.
I90.4. W. M. Day, Granville Lanham, and G. A. Fitzgerald.
1906. G. A. Fitzyerald, Granville Lanham, and W. P. Crites.
SHERIFFS OF UPSHUR COUNTY.
Col. John Reger, 1851 ; Tobias Hopkins ; 1852 ; Washington Summers, 1856; Geo. Bastable, 1858; Alva Teeter, 1860; Levi Leonard, 1864; T. S. Heavner, 1868: Jacob W. Heavner, 1869; C. F. Ridgway, 1877 ; Granville D. Marple, 1881 ; J. J. Morgan, 1885 ; Walter Phillips, 1889; Albert J. Maple, 1893; W. P. Fowkes, 1897; A. M. Tenney, 1901; H. F. Ours, 1905.
SURVEYORS OF UPSHUR COUNTY.
L. L. D. Loudin, 1851 ; W. T. Higginbotham, 1858; Col. Watson Westfall, 1861 ; Festus Young, 1864; J. W. Wilson, 1880; Lynn T. Phillips, 1884; John V. Tenney, 1892; Joseph C. Smith, 1904.
COUNTY CLERKS OF UPSHUR COUNTY.
Miflin Lorentz, 1851 ; Richard Fretwell, 1866; I. M. Bennett, 1872; C. C. F. McWhorter, 1876; J. J. Morgan, 1890; Eugene Brown, 1902.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Samuel L. Hayes, 1851 ; Samuel L. Hayes, 1852; Samuel L. Hayes, 1853; Washington Summers, 1854; W. C. Carper, 1855; W. C. Carper, 1856; Washing- ton Summers, 1857; Richard L. Brown, 1858, 1859; Benjamin Bassell, Sr., 1860; D. D. T. Farnsworth, 1861; R. L. Brooks (resigned), 1862; Jacob Teter, 1863; Alva Teter, 1864; David S. Pinnell, 1865; David S. Pinnell, 1866; David S. Pin- nell, 1867: David S. Pinnell, 1868; David S. Pinnell, 1869; Thomas G. Farns- worth, 1870; A. B. Clark, 1871 ; A. M. Poundstone, 1872 ; Thomas G. Farnsworth, 1872; Thomas J. Farnsworth, 1875 ; Thomas J. Farnsworth, 1877; A. M. Pound- stone, 1879; David Poe, 1881 ; J. J. Morgan, 1883; J. S. W. Dean, 1885; Still- man Young, 1887; Stillman Young, 1889; Stillman Young, 1891; A. B. Clark,
.
LEVI LEONARD.
LEVI LEONARD was born on French Creek, September 16, 1829. He was the son of earnest Christian parents who came to Virginia from Bridgewater, Mass., in 1816. In 1851 Mr. Leonard married Mary E. Cooper, from Staunton, Va., who died, leaving a son and a daughter. In 1871 Mr. Leonard married Elizabeth Coplin, of Harrison county, W. September 22, 1897. He was a man of integrity and honor, whose Va. Of this marriage one daughter is still living. He passed away influence was always for righteousness, on the side of temperance, morality and Christianity. He was actively identified with every movement for the development and progress of his county, and was at one time sheriff.
249
FORMATION OF UPSHUR COUNTY.
1893; A. B. Clark, 1895; Henry Colerider, 1897; W. B. Cutright, 1899; W. D. Talbott, 1901 ; Henry Colerider, 1903 ; Robert A. Reger, 1905; J. M. Curry, 1907. .
SITE OF COURT HOUSE.
The special committee named by the Justices of the Peace at their April term for selecting a suitable site for the public buildings of the county, made its report on June 19, 1851. The lots selected by this committee were on the corner of Locust and Main streets. The Justices were unable to purchase the lots of ground near the four selected. This day the Justices of the Peace pur- fronting on the Staunton and Parkersburg turnpike road, running north 81 E., 8 chased of Henry F. Westfall two lots of ground in the town of Buckhannon poles and 23 links to James Mullins' line and with his line south 9 E. 9 poles to a stake, thence S. 81, W. 7 poles and ten links to a stake, thence N. 181/2 W. 9 poles to the beginning, at the price of $750; $2.50 of which to be levied for and paid out of the levy for the present year, and the residue in two equal annual payments, without interest, said sums to be chargeable to the said county of Upshur.
The said Henry F. Westfall was present in court and consented thereto.
A committee was then appointed to draft specifications for the court house and advertise bids for the building of the same.
The contract was let to Thos. S. Prim and W. W. Craver, the lowest bidders, who gave a bond in the penalty of $10,000 to build the court house according to specifications. The bid of the contractors was $7,300.
Robert Maxwell was made architect of the construction work August 22, 1851, the day that the contract was awarded to Prim & Craver.
The contractors sublet the different parts of the building to individuals in and about the county seat. Abraham Reger did the mason work on the founda- tion and jail of the old court house.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
After the year 1852 the Justices of the Peace were elected by the people. Prior to that time they were appointed by the Governor and held office for life if they chose to do so. The following shows the names of the Justices of the Peace and the year when they first appeared on the records of the court :
1851. Adam Spitler, Simon Rohrbough, George Bastable, James T. Hart- man, Jacob Lorentz, David Bennett, Kosciusko Hopkins, George Clark, John M. Marple, Willis H. Woodley, A. M. Bastable, David Bennett, Anthony B. See, Alva Teter, William Bennett, Wilson M. Haymond, Anson Young, Wm. T. Higginbotham, Daniel D. D. T. Farnsworth, Clinton G. Miller, W. W. Foster, Elias Bennett.
1852. Simon Rohrbough, A. M. Bastable, Alva Teter, Elias Bennett, George Clark, C. G. Miller, Adam Spitler, Anthony B. See, David Bennett, W. T. Higgin- botham, John W. Marple, William Bennett, James T. Hartman, W. W. Foster, Willis H. Woodley, Amos Brooks, Anson Young.
1853. John B. Shreves, James Mullin, Tazewell Marshall, Riley Reger, Joseph Flint, George N. Talbot.
1854. William S. Sumner, Joseph Flint, Gilbert T. Gould, George N. Tol- bert, Riley Reger, John W. Marple, Jolin B. Shrieve, Tazewell Marshall, A. M.
250
FORMATION OF UPSHUR COUNTY.
Bastable, George Clark, Anson Young, Alva Teter, James Mullins, James C. Tallman, Silas Bennett, Simon Rohrbough, Watson Westfall, David Bennett.
1856. John B. Shreve, Watson Westfall, John Lynch, S. Rohrbough, Alva Teter, Silas Bennett, John W. Marple, Joseph Flint, A. M. Bastable, Riley Reger, Edward J. Colerider, Abram Reger, Erasmus A. Cease, David Bennett, Anson Young, Samuel Wilson, Watson Westfall, George Bastable, Alva Teter.
1858. John N. Loudin.
1859. David D. Casto.
1860. Benjamin Tallman, Valentine Hinkle, Jr., J. B. Shreve, S. Rohr- bough, Silas Bennett, Joseph Flint, Job Casto, John N. Loudin, Robert Coyner, Jr., Riley Reger, David D. Casto, N. H. Hannah, David Bennett, Anson Young, Charles S. Haynes, E. A. Cease.
1861. Noah B. Wamsley, W. B. Goodwin, Elmore Brake, E. D. Boyles.
1862. Richard Fretwell, J. L. D. Brake.
1863. Simon Rohrbough, Joseph D. Rapp, John N. Loudin, Jacob L. D. Brake, Ashley Gould, Noah B. Wamsley, Valentine Hinkle, Samuel Wilson, .. Elmer Brake, Wm. B. Goodwin.
1865. David D. Casto, Anson Young, Richard Fretwell, Benjamin Tall- man, Job Casto.
1867. J. D. Rapp, A. B. Clark, Benjamin Conley, Jacob L. D. Dean, Val- entine Hinkle, G. D. Marple, Walter Phillips, Charles S. Haynes, Noah B. Wams- ley, Ashley Gould, Edward J. Brown, Thomas W. Vincent.
1873. O. B. Loudin, A. G. Osborne, Daniel Cutright, John N. Loudin, Job Casto, M. A. Darnall, Jesse Lemmons, C. S. Haynes, Robert Curry, Nicholas Ours, Jr., C. B. Mayo.
1877. D. D. T. Farnsworth, Jacob Waugh, R. M. Norman, Daniel Cutright, R. T. H. Benson, S. D. Jackson, C. W. Gibson, Stillman Young, Wm. Mearns, Festus Young, H. F. Bryan, L. D. Westfall.
1880. John W. Hinkle, G. Austin Newlon, R. T. H. Benson, Granville Lanham, Jacob Waugh. S. Young, Festus Young, R. M. Norman, C. S. Haynes, J. L. D. Brake, William Bean, A. W. Tenney.
1882. William Loudin, O. F. Hodges, L. D. Westfall.
1884. William Loudin, S. L. Loudin, O. W. Bunner, G. W. Ratliff, Still- man Young, Wm. Mearns, W. L. Sextton, J. R. Russell, Granville Lanham, G. W. Dawson, A. C. Hinkle, J. L. D. Brake.
1888. John W. Hinkle, S. L. Loudin, L. P. Brooks, R. A. Herring, A. J. Gladwell, W. L. Sexton, J. C. Bailey, R. T. H. Benson, Granville Lanham, G. W. Dawson, A. C. Hinkle, Adam Mick.
1892. William Loudin, Dexter W. Cutright, W. L. Sexton, G. A. Fitz- gerald, D. M. Reed, A. J. Zickefoose, Thomas Avington, Granville Lanham, W. S. Harper, S. B. Gawthrop, A. C. Hinkle, E. S. Queen.
1896. L. D. Rollins, Daniel Cutright, R. P. Young, C. W. Waid, W .S ._ Harper, Charles Bunner, R. T. H Benson, Lafayette Westfall, Harry Jenkins, Bezalee Radabaugh, J. L. Casto, A. C. Hinkle.
1900. L. D. Rollins, Daniel Cutright, C. Waid, G. E. Boseley, J. L. Casto, T. P. Dawson, Bezalee Radabaugh, J. W. Miles, G. B. Brown, J. L. Queen, Silas Gooden, R. T. H. Benson.
1906. Silas Gooden, Daniel Pence, L. C. Haymond, G. B. Brown, A. J.
251
FORMATION OF UPSHUR COUNTY.
Gladwell, C. W. Waid, A. C. Hinkle, T. P. Dawson, B. Radabaugh, Luther Shreve, James Dailey, L. D. Rollins.
DIVISION OF COUNTY INTO DISTRICTS.
On July 31, 1863, the West Virginia Legislature passed an act for the sub- dividing of the counties into magisterial districts. To carry out this provision of the act, commissioners were appointed in each county of the state. In Upshur county, James Kesling, C. S. Haynes, O. B. Loudin and John J. Burr were named as commissioners to sub-divide Upshur county into not less than three, nor more than ten magisterial districts. The act empowered these commissioners to em- ploy the services of a surveyor whose duty it shall be to go with the commis- sioners, survey the various proposed districts and make at least two maps to accompany the report. One of these maps shall be sent to the Secretary of the State and the other shall be recorded in the County Clerk's office.
Festus Young, of French Creek, was selected by the commissioners to do the surveying.
The commissioners proceeded to the task of surveying the entire county and then to sub-dividing it into districts. Their work having been ended, they re- ported the sub-division of Upshur into six districts and named them as follows : Buckhannon, Banks, Meade, Union, Warren and Washington.
A short history of the naming of these magisterial districts and the estab- lishment of the most important towns, mills, churches, etc., follows :
The map made by Festus Young, was handed to the County Court in 1869, and an order was spread upon the minutes of the court for the recordation of the same and the making of a plate of said original map.
BUCKHANNON DISTRICT.
Buckhannon district takes its name from the river which makes its eastern boundary and the town which still is a part of the district for magisterial and civic purposes. It was named by John J. Burr.
Within this district was located Bush's Fort, sometimes called Buckhannon Fort, around which lingers many daring adventures during the early days when settlements were sought to be established in the Buckhannon valley. At one time no less celebrated chieftain than Tecumseh was before the walls of the old Fort. In this district also was another strong Indian fort which was erected by the settlers in and around the present village of Lorentz. Here also occurred the massacre of the Bozarth family. The name of this fort was Jackson and stood on the elevated ground near where the palatial residence of Jacob Allman now stands.
The first settlers were Samuel Pringle, John Pringle, William Pringle, John Cutright and Samuel Oliver. The first improvement was made on Cutright's Run, four miles south of the present town of Buckhannon, in the year 1786. John Hacker was the first settler, but owing to the fact that the land which he had selected was claimed by the Pringles, he removed farther west and built his permanent cabin on the head waters of that stream which has ever since borne his name and thus he became the first settler in what is now Lewis county. Other settlers were John Jackson, Abraham Carper, Jesse Hughes, William Hacker, Abraham Brake, William Radcliff, Alexander Sleeth, Thomas Sleeth,
252
FORMATION OF UPSHUR COUNTY.
John Brake and Joel Westfall, who came in the first years of the nineteenth century.
The first saw-mill was erected by John Strader and Henry Reger in the year 1806. It was a small water mill with a tub wheel, grinding some corn. It stood on Spruce Run about where the Clevenger residence now is. The second was built by John Jackson in 1810 on the present site of the Anchor mill in the town of Buckhannon and cut the race which now makes the Island. It was the first frame mill building in the county as well as the best one in the interior of the state at that dty. The following year Mr. Jackson added to his grist mill machinery which enabled him to saw the timber of his neighbors into building lumber. This was the first saw mill in the county. Both were swept away by a violent flood on the 27th day of July, 1837.
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