USA > West Virginia > Upshur County > The history of Upshur county, West Virginia, from its earliest exploration and settlement to the present time > Part 39
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314
UPSHUR COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR.
UPSHUR GRAYS.
COMPANY B OF TWENTY-FIFTH VIRGINIA REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.
OFFICERS .- John C. Higgnbotham, captain; Daniel Brown, first lieutenant, died at McDowell; Warren White, second lieutenant, resigned ; Jerome Reger, third lieutenant, killed at Allegheny mountain; Charles Ridgway, fourth lieuten- ant; W. H. Fichett, orderly sergeant; Wm. McFadden, second sergeant ; James Mullan, third sergeant ; "Gam" Bastable, corporal.
PRIVATES .- N. B. Reger, color bearer or ensign; Frank Suderth, Noah Haskins, promoted color bearer ; Perry Summers, Chas Hodges, killed at Gettys- burg : Philip Krise, discharged, '62; "Tif" Krise, killed at Antietam ; Joseph Paugh, Elam Crites, Philip Crites, died in hospital at Staunton ; G. P. Shreve, A. J. Kidd, Clay Jackson, killed at Rich Mountain ; Oscar Sherwood, killed at Rich Mountain, William Gibson, Geo. B. King, Henry Hoover, killed at Mine Run; George Hoover, Sherman Cummings, killed at Lynchburg; Ezra Woodson, Nathan Ligget, Dr. Sam. J. Cabell, died at McDowell; Dr. Isaac White, Willis Woodley, Col. Woodley, Geo. W. Dawson, Rigg Hilleary, Jerry Paugh, Benj. M. Patterson, John Owen Tillman, killed at Gettysburg; William Hamner, Melville Johnson, Richard Wingfield, killed at Mine Run; Wm. Wingfield, John L. Fitzgerald, Herndon Dowel, Bruce Middleton, Rufus King, Cyrus King, John Hay Reger, joined in '62; James W. Gawthrop, John Dawson, James Dawson, John W. Dowell, joined in '62; Augustus Hilleary, Benj. Garroll, killed accidently at Sherando; Edward Moon, James Woodson, William Lawhorn, Daniel Bassell, Joseph Bassell, A. J. Reeder, Monroe Reger, joined in '62; Wm. McFadden, Thomas Surgner, killed at Beverly; Charles William Wurtenbaker, John W. Crisman, Jacob D. Warner, Martin D. Wingfield, Charles McFadden.
The strong Union sentiment of Upshur county did not deter the Southern sympathizers from agitation and action in the eary years of the war. With some degree of reserve they manifested their desire and sentiment for the southern people, yet they manifested that sentiment in unmistakeable terms and with a valor that redounded eminently to their credit. The most forceful and active organization in advertising the bravery and courage of the southern element of our population was the Upshur Grays, a local company, organized in the early months of 1861 and numbering 67 young, active and stalwart citizens when mustered into service May 7, 1861.
The officers of this Confederate company were John C. Higginbotham, captain ; Daniel Brown, first lieutenant ; Jerome Reger, second lieutenant. Captain Higginbotham was the elder son of William T. Higginbotham, was eighteen years of age when he went to war, was the inspiring spirit in the organization of the company, as well as the inspiring spirit in the many conflicts of the company.
Ere a month had elapsed after the company was mustered in a call to come to Philippi was made and strict obedience to that call resulted. On June 2, 1861, Captain Higginbotham arrived in the town of Philippi and ordered the bag and baggage of his company unpacked and remained there several days, until the retreat of Colonel Porterfield. The day before the retreat, Porterfield ordered the companies to pack their wagons. Later in the same day he ordered the companies to unpack, but Captain Higginbotham told his men not to unpack, as if there was reason for packing, there was no reason to unpack. The next morning Porterfield was surprised, and ordered a retreat. The Upshur Grays
315
UPSHUR COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR.
alone saved their baggage. On the retreat firing was heard and it was supposed that a Braxton company had been cut off. Captain Higginbotham took a vote of his company whether they would go to the relief of that company. Every man voted to do so. They started back and after going some distance learned that the Braxton company had escaped, and that the Federal troops were fighting among themselves. The Upshur Grays then continued their retreat to Beverly, where they remained a few days, when they were ordered to Rich mountain. Col. Pegram was in command at that point. It was reported that the Federal troops would cut off their retreat by cutting the pike at the top of the mountain. The night before the battle, Col. Pegram held a council of war. Capt. Higgin- botham insisted that as Mcclellan had been in their front for several days, he did not intend to attack them in their trenches, but would rely on the attack at the top of the mountain, and that at least 500 men with two pieces of artillery should be sent to that point. However, he was overruled, and only 250 men and one piece of artillery were sent to that point. The Upshur Grays were among the number and took an active part in the battle of Rich mountain.
Therefore Captain Higginbotham was right when he admonished Colonel Pegram to place 500 men on top of Rich mountain to do the fighting. Only 250 Confederates were placed in line of battle near the Joe Hart residence and they were the Upshur Grays, Hampden-Sidney Boys and the Buckingham Lee Guards. The issue of this battle was favorable to the Federal forces. Of the Upshur Grays, Oscar Sherwood and H. Clay Jackson were killed and several were wounded. From Rich mountain this already illustrous company went into camp at Monterey where they remained for a short time before going into winter quarters at Camp Barto on the Greenbrier river, which camp was composed of the Upshur Grays, of the First and Twelfth Georgia, the Twenty-second, Twenty-third, Twenty-fifth, and Thirty-first Virginia, and the Third Arkansas. A battle occurred here and the Upshur Greys were ordered to Allegheny moun- tain to rest and repair until the following spring. From Allegeny mountains, the Upshur Grays took up their weary march to Staunton. Twelve miles west of Staunton, at West View, they planted their tents and waited the arrival of "Stonewall" Jackson. From this point they learned that McDowell was occupied by Milroy and commanded the force with which they desired an encounter. So, they betook themselves, under Stonewall Jackson and Edward S. Johnson, west- ward toward the Federal forces and reached McDowell to engage Milroy and Schenck on May 8, 1862. The battle was a stubborn one, lasting fully five hours and ending only with darkness. The Federals finding their position untenable and dangerous, withdrew during the night and took up their retreat to Franklin. The Confederates followed and returned thence to Jennings Gap, preparatory to going down the valley.
The Upshur Grays were under that inimitable and impetuous "Stonewall" in the engagements at Mt. Jackson, the first of a series of battles down the valley which were the most disastrous and direful to the Union cause for a like time during the war, commencing as it did on May 24 and terminating August 30 with the second battle of Bull Run, or, as the Confederates prefer to call it, the second Manassas.
On this illustrous march, the Federals learned the painful truth that Stone- wall Jackson was a quantity that needed their most careful consideration and their best judgment. The Upshur Grays under his sagacious and tactful command worked proud honor to their native soil in the battles of Front Royal, May 23,
316
UPSHUR COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR.
and Winchester, June I. The Upshur Grays were in the front in the battle of Cross Keys and Port Republic, June 8 and 9, respectively. From this latter battle Jackson's army retreated "over the hills and far away" toward Richmond, where they were engaged for seven days in a continuous bloody warfare, partici- pating in the battle of Seven Pines, Gains's Mill, Frazier's Farm and Malvern Hill, from June 27 to July 2. Next engagement to add new luster to the Upshur Grays was the battle of Cedar mountain, which was fought for the purpose of checking Pope's advance and where nothing but desperate fighting saved the Federals from complete route. The Upshur Boys, after a small syirmish at Warrenton Springs, fought most desperately in the second battle of Bull Run, where a terrible contest ensued on August 28- 29. The Upshur Grays were engaged in the battle at Fairfax Court House, Boonesborough and Antietam, or Sharpsburg, and Fredericksburg. Near this last battle they wintered.
In the spring of 1863, the gallantry and audacity of the Upshur Grays had secured an order for them to accompany Imboden upon his illustrous raid through West Virginia and Ohio. After the varied experiences of this raid the Upshur Boys returned to the valley and were subsequently called into meritorius service in the battles of Gettysburg, Mine Run, The Wilderness, Spottsylvania and Petersburg. In the fight at Spottsylvania, John C. Higginbotham, who had been promoted to colonel, was killed. From Petersburg the Upshur Grays participated in the final scenes of the war in and around Appomattox, and were mustered out June 5, 1865. Of the eighty-seven men who went forth to fight for their convictions and opinions only sixteen returned to tell the sad story of their wonderful loss and suffering, to renew their allegience to a common country and to walk in the future, as in the past, uprightly and honestly in the sight of man and in the fear of God.
There can be little doubt that Upshur county sent forth to war a kind and class of soldiers, both blue and gray, that reflected alike a standard of citizenship which Rome in her proudest days could not boast of and a quality of soldiery that equaled Leonidas' men at Thermopylae. To the mothers, sisters and daughters of these brave Upshur Grays, as well as to the mothers, sisters and daughters of the Upshur Blues, be it ever known they were fearless and dauntless in their efforts to aid, abet and encourage the right as they saw it and understood it, and now that the last vestige of sectional hatred and prejudice has disappeared and there is no longer a North, a South, an East, or West but a common country for a common people, the next generation will produce a population which will confer, equally, credit and honor to the boys who wore the blue and the boys who wore the gray.
SOLDIERS FROM UPSHUR COUNTY IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN
WAR.
Coleman Cutright, enrolled April 26, 1898, in Company F, First West Virginia Infantry and mustered out February 4, 1899.
Kenneth Wamsley, enrolled April 26, 1898, in Company F, First West Virginia Infantry and mustered out February 4, 1899.
Leonard B. Phillips, enrolled July 6, 1898, in Second Regiment of West Virginia Infantry and mustered out April 10, 1899.
317
UPSHUR COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR.
Joseph F. Ligget, corporal, enrolled June 25, 1898, in Company F, Second Regiment of West Virginia Infantry and mustered out April 10, 1899.
James W. Caldwell, corporal, enrolled June 27, 1898, in Company F, Second Regiment of West Virginia Infantry and mustered out April 10, 1899.
Perry E. Johnson, corporal, enrolled June 27, 1898, in Company F, Second Regiment of West Virginia Infantry and mustered out April 10, 1899.
Seymour P. Lemmons, corporal, enrolled July 26, 1898, in Company F, Second Regiment of West Virginia Infantry and mustered out April 10, 1899. Charles E. Haines, enrolled June 27, 1898, in Company F, Second Regiment of West Virginia Infantry and mustered out April 10, 1899.
Kirk P. Haskins, enrolled July 6, 1898, in Company F, Second Regiment of West Virginia Infantry and mustered out April 10, 1899.
Sidney O. Landin and Wm. Landin, Hugh Morrisette, Granville Newlon, Hunter W. Parker, and Samuel J. Wolf, enrolled June 27, 1898, in Company F, Second Regiment of West Virginia Infantry and mustered out April 10, 1899, with the exception of Hugh Morrisette who was discharged February 13, 1899.
Reuben A. Landis, Walter A. Landis, and Charles Smith, enrolled July 6, 1898, in Company F, Second Regiment of West Virginia Infantry and mustered out April 10, 1899.
Edward G. Tiernay and Thomas B. Tierney, enrolled June 24, 1898, in Company F, Second Regiment of West Virginia Infantry and mustered out April 10, 1899.
Clyde C. Leonard, enrolled July 6, 1898, in Company M, Second Regiment of West Virginia Infantry and mustered out April 10, 1899.
Spalding Winchester enrolled in Company M, Second West Virginia Infan- try, was mustered in with that company ; later was promoted to be color sergeant of the Second. Died October 14, 1898, at Philadelphia, Pa., of typhoid fever.
CHAPTER XXI.
:0:
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY
COMMERCIAL BEGINNINGS.
A pioneer settlement has only primitive wants. Individuals who cast their fortune in such a settlement, must accustom themselves to few conveniences and many hardships and privations. Especially is this the case with settlements established before the advent of the railroad, the invention of steam boats, and other means of transportation. To-day it is entirely dikerent. On the wide plains of the west not infrequently within the short space of forty-eight hours there springs up like a mushroom, a city with stores, banks, livery stables, hotels, and all the comforts of modern civilization.
The settlers of 1770 who braved the perils of this unbroken forest, and took renewed hope and greater inspiration from the lingering memory of every defeat, lived here over thirty years wanting the most important conveniences of this generation. There was no store in this county until after the dawning of the nineteenth century. Jacob Lorentz, Abram Post, and Abraham Carper emigrat- ing from the South Branch, cut a rough and uneven wagon road along one of the Indian trails across the mountains and came into this county by way of Beverly in the year 1800. They brought with them the first road wagon. Soon after their arrival, Jacob Lorentz went into the mercantile business near where the Lorentz post office now is; for many years this was the only store in all this section of the country. The roads were too steep and uneven to permit the general use of the road wagon and the goods sold from behind the counter of Lorentz's store were carried on pack horses from Richmond or Parkersburg or Cumberland. Only a few of the most necessary articles were kept. No money was in the country and no money was brought into the country except on the occasion of a herd of hogs being dripen to the eastern markets or a drove of cattle being carried there or a train of pack horses loaded with furs and roots.
The articles sold were necessarily high in price. One of the relatives of this ancient merchant informs us that calico was sold at 50 cents per yard ; nails at 25 cents per pound; cotton at 25 cents per yard, and other merchandise correspondingly high.
The second store in the county was kept by Ezra Morgan and Amos Brooks in a small store room on the farm now known as the Andrew Buckhannon place, near French Creek. It was opened for trade, selling goods and buying country produce, in the year 1820. In the year 1830, Levi Leonard kept a store at French Creek in which, as was the custom, ginseng, deer hides, furs and linen were exchanged for calico, from twenty-five to seventy-five cents per yard and indigo at one dollar per ounce.
319
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
In 1832 Nathan and Waldo Goz put up the first store in Buckhannon. Abram Brake, Saul Leonard, D. H. Hazelden and Seymour Horner were among the first clerks. Goz having moved into the town just prior to this business adventure, did not know all the people who would trade at his store. On one occasion he was very much embarrassed, after selling a customer a good bill of goods on credit, he asked the purchaser, "To whom should he charge this account?" The buyer was silent as death. The merchant again interrogated the buyer, and again the obstinate buyer refused to tell his name. Goff gazed sternly and vexed at the man before him and with his wits in full play said to him, "I will charge these goods to the ugliest man." Lemuel Brake was
JACOB LORENTZ PACK TRAIN.
the gentleman who would not tell Mr. Goff his name and whose name was afterward told the merchant by our informant who was present when this trans- action occurred.
John Wesley Wilson kept the first store at Rock Cave in 1851. He hauled his goods mostly from , Va. Joe Pringle kept a store near the road at the Jehu Hyre place on the head waters of Bull Run in the year 1854 or 1855; and Samuel Talbot kept the first store in the Beechtown settlement.
The second road wagon was introduced into the county in 1810, brought through by the New Englanders in their overland journey. These New Eng- landers also introduced sheep in 1810 into this settlement, which soon became an important industry for the settlers, inasmuch as the wool was used in weaving cloth out of which apparel was made. Joseph Ligget brought sheep with him on emigrating from Hardy county in 1809.
The horse first came here with the settlers returning with Samuel Pringle
320
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
to stake off their claims and make permanent locations. This animal was small, but wiry; evidently, not a near offspring of either the Arab, the Barb, or the Turkish stallion which were introduced into Virginia in the year 1660. The horse of the Buckhannon settlement, however defective in size, was remarkable for his fleetness and his powers of endurance. Cattle were brought into the settlement in the year 1770 and with every instalment of new settlers came more cattle, so that when the New Englander arrived, the crossbreeding of his strain of cattle with those which had been here before produce a fair grade of Bovines.
Fruit trees and grain were early cultivated not only to satisfy the relish for one and the necessity for the other, but also the purpose of extracting from the apple, its cider and from the grain, its brandy. Two distilleries flourished in the early days of the Buckhannon settlement, known as "Old Gerty's" and "Jackson." They were in operation for many years in the settlement and the patronage which they received was evidently not very little. A majority of the population had been born and reared in England and had, therefore, the English thirst for strong liquor. Barley and Indian corn were planted and raised abundantly by some to secure material for liquors, and large apple and peach orchards were grown so that brandies might be had.
Aaron Ligget operated the last distillery in this county. It was located on the head waters of Stone Coal run and with its cessation there dawned upon this people the rightousness and virtue of preaching and practicing, as far as possible, temperance.
The most universal ingredient of food is salt. The absence of it affects serious- ly the health of man and beast. For many years the pioneers of the Buckhannon valley suffered not a little from the lack of a proper amount of salt to go into their food, to preserve their meats and to make healthy their live stock. It was brought over the mountains on pack trains, and being very high in Baltimore and Cumberland, it was too dear for extensive use by those living here. For- tunately, an early exploration brought to the attention of the settlers, the value of the blackish waters of Bull Town, where frequent trips were made to secure this form of food. Again, 1839, witnessed the arrival on the Buckhannon river of a man by the name of Cornelius Clark, who had some knowledge of the processes used in the distillation of common salt. He it was who labored three long years at Sago with a spring pole, digging a well seven hundred feet deep which tapped an inexhaustable spring of briney waters. The impregnation of these waters was not strong but was sufficient to encourage the promoter, on account of the scarcity of salt and the high price paid for it, to build devices of evaporation. Having been a producer of flaxseed and linseed oils by grind- ing and heating processes, it was an easy matter for him to invent means and machinery whereby salt could be produced by evaporating the water from the well. Many years this salt well supplied the settlers with that most necessary article.
STAUNTON AND PARKERSBURG TURNPIKE.
In 1803, the Virginia Assembly passed an act authorizing a committee of citizens of Staunton and Parkersburg, Virginia, the two termini of the pros- pected road to open up books of subscription to private citizens. The state promised to subscribe three-fifths of the capital stock for the construction of this turnpike.
321
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
The road was begun and constructed out of Staunton, Virginia, eastward along the most feasible and practicable route suggested by the board of super -. vision elected by the stockholders of this turnpike company.
As it proceeded westward the company deemed it advisable to open its books in order that the citizens of any town or county might be permitted to bid and subscribe its bids in capital stock for the construction of the road through the county and town.
Pursuant to this policy of the company, on November 15, 1840, there was signed on condition that the road pass through both Beverly and Buckhannon, and that the money subscribed be expended in making the road between these two towns, the following sums by the following persons :
William Beverlin
$ 20.00
Western Mills.
175.00
Jacob Heavener
10.00
Joseph Liggett.
10.00
George Allman
5.00
George Post.
5.00
John Vanhorn.
5.00
Simon Rohrbaugh.
5.00
John I. Walden. .
5.00
Edward I. Colerider
20.00
Elias Heavener
15.00
Moses Phillips
3.00
Enoch Gibson. 20.00
Andrew Poundstone.
30.00
George Nicholas.
15.00
Zadock Lanham
1 5.00
Elmore Brake.
5.00
William Baird.
10.00
James Griffeth.
5.00
Marshall Lorentz
5.00
Teeter Keesling
5.00
Wmn. McNulty
15.00
Thomas B. Kelte
4.00
D. S. Haselden. 100.00
Henry Simpson
25.00
James J. Mooney
15.00
Jacob Lorentz.
25.00
John B. Brake.
10.0
Abraham W. Brake.
10.00
John N. Rohrbaugh
8.00
Alex. R. Ireland.
5.00
Levi Liggett
5.00
William Greyson
15.00
James Louden.
2.00
H. P. Kittle.
5.00
This subscription was an inducement to bring the road to Buckhannon. It was completed in the year 1847, and previously was constructed from Buckhannon to Weston.
322
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
PHILIPPI AND BUCKHANNON TURNPIKE.
The act opening the subscription books for the formation of the Philippi and Buckhannon Turnpike Company was passed March 7, 1849.
The capital stock was limited to ten thousand dollars, three-fifths of which was subscribed by the board of public works of Virginia and two-fifths by the citizens of Philippi and Buckhannon and other citizens along the proposed turnpike.
The same act named Laird D. Morrall, Edwin D. Wilson, Charles S. Hall, Isaac Stickler, Elam D. Talbot of Philippi and D. S. Haselden, Mifflin Lorentz, James Miller, George Bastable and George W. Miller of Buckhannon, a com- mittee to solicit and receive subscriptions from private individuals.
The turnpike was not to be less than fifteen feet wide and was to be built on a grade not to exceed four degrees. This road was completed in the early fifties.
THE BUCKHANNON AND LITTLE KANAWHA TURNPIKE.
On March 15, 1849, an act passed by the Virginia Assembly authorizing the opening of books for receiving subscriptions to an amount not exceeding twelve thousand dollars, in shares of twenty-five dollars each, looking to the incorporation of The Buckhannon and Little Kanawha Turnpike Company, who shall construct a turnpike road from Buckhannon, by way of Haymonds Mills, in Braxton county, to some convenient point in said county to intersect the road from Weston to Sutton.
D. S. Haselden, George Bastable, A. R. Ireland, James Mullins and C. G. Miller of Buckhannon ; Samuel T. Talbot, David Bennett, Samuel Wilson, Ezra Morgan, and A. B. See of French Creek; F. Berry, W. P. Haymond, and C. L. Hurley of Haymonds Mills were appointed to superintend at their respective places the reception of the subscription.
The state subscribed three-fifths of the capital stock which was to be paid parapassu as the individual subscriptions were paid. The road was not to be less than fifteen feet wide and constructed on a grade not to exceed four degrees.
The act also provided that three-fourth of the two-fifths had to be subscribed by individuals before the company could be formed. This road was built during the fifties.
THE CLARKSBURG AND BUCKHANNON TURNPIKE.
The act authorizing the formation of a joint stock company to construct this turnpike road was passed March 8, 1848.
The books were opened at Clarksburg and Buckhannon. The necessary two-fifths of the capital stock was subscribed by private citizens in these two towns and along the proposed route. The road was built on the same grade and with the same width as all the turnpike roads in the state of Virginia.
SOUTH BUCKHANNON CORPORATION.
This town lies south and east of the old Corporation of Buckhannon. Twenty years ago the land which is now the site of South Buckhannon was private property, which was later bought by the Buckhannon Land and Trust Association and cut up into building and business lots and put on the market.
323
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
At the opening sale many of these lots were sold and the purchasers wishing to give their families the benefit of Buckhannon's educational facilities, erected many houses.
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