USA > West Virginia > Upshur County > The history of Upshur county, West Virginia, from its earliest exploration and settlement to the present time > Part 43
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Solomon Strader.
100.00
Mar. 27, 1866.
33
Mar. 27, 1865.
Asa Henline.
390.00
Mar. 27, 1866. 35
Mar. 27, 1865.
Enoch Westfall.
65.00
Mar. 27, 1866.
32
Apr. 1, 1865.
Granville Strader.
400.00
Apr. 1, 1866.
57
Apr. 1, 1865.
Foster Hinkle.
400.00
Apr. 1, 1866.
56
Apr. I, 1865.
Cyrus Hinkle.
400.00
Apr. 1, 1866.
58
Apr. I, 1865.
Judson B. Hinkle.
400.00
Apr. 1, 1866.
59
Apr. 1, 1865.
N. J. Hinkle.
400.00
Apr. 1, 1866.
55
Apr. 1, 1865.
M. O. Jackson.
350.00
Apr. 1, 1866.
60
Apr. 1, 1865.
John Hamilton Crites.
400.00
Apr. 1, 1866.
48
Apr. I, 1865.
Jacob Teter.
500.00
Apr. 1, 1866.
49
Mar. 1, 1865.
Jacob Teter.
400.00
Mar. 1, 1866.
46
Apr. I, 1865.
John A. Wazzy.
375.00
Apr. 1, 1866.
36
Apr. 1, 1865.
Loyal Gay.
375.00
Apr. 1, 1866.
39
Apr. I. 1865.
Fountain H. Martin.
400.00
Apr. 1, 1866.
37
Apr. 1, 1865.
Jacob Brake.
350.00
Apr. 1, 1866.
52
Apr. 8, 1865.
Isaac Hinkle.
400.00
Apr. 1, 1866.
50
May 17, 1865.
Ebenezer Leonard.
500.00
May 17, 1866.
40
Mar. 25, 1863.
W. W. Lowe.
100.00
349
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
DATĘ. NAME OF PERSON.
AMOUNT.
WHEN DUE. NO.
Apr. 4, 1865. Job Simon.
200.00
Apr. 4, 1866. 47
Apr. 4, 1865.
Geo. Cutright.
75.00
Apr. 4, 1866. 45
June 22, 1865.
Noah Swecker.
400.00
June 22, 1865.
Brown M. Waugh.
400.00
41
June 22, 1865.
Geo. Gum.
200.00
BOUNTY SOLDIERS IN CIVIL WAR.
O. B. Loudin, Lair Dean, Benjamin Gould, E. D. Marple, Jerad M. Arm- strong, Gentlemen Supervisors, I would beg leave to make the following report of my expenditures as agent for the county of Upshur by your honorable body to pay bounties to volunteers crediting themselves to Upshur county's quota under the president's call for three hundred thousand (300,000) men, dated December 19, 1864.
The following is the amount of two hundred dollars non-interest bearing bonds delivered to volunteers.
DATE.
NO.
NAME OF PERSON.
AMOUNT.
WHEN DUE.
Mar. 3, 1865.
I
Mathew C. Kelly.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 3, 1865.
60
Lathrop Phillips.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 3, 1865. 59 M. L. Warner.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 3, 1865. 58 John E. Matheny.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 3, 1865. 57
William Frymyre.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 3, 1865. 56
Strather Collier.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 3, 1865. 55
Jehu ·Winemiller.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 3, 1865.
54
Geo. L. Crites.
200
Mar. 3, 1866. Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 3, 1865.
51
Cazwell E. Brady.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 3, 1865.
64 Joshua McCray.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 3, 1865.
63
Elam Duley.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 3. 1865.
62
James H. Patterson.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 7, 1865.
2
William B. Anglin.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 7, 1865.
3
Minor C. Lemons.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 7, 1865.
4 Charles S. Gladwell.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 8, 1865.
5 Ishmael Cutright.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 8, 1865. 6
Anthony Neely.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 8, 1865.
7
George Beer.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 8, 1865.
8
Jackson Smallridge.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 8, 1865.
9
Lafayette Westfall.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 8, 1865.
10
John S. W. Dean.
200
Mar. 3, 1866.
Mar. 16, 1865.
II
Daniel Wilfong.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 16, 1865.
12
James T. Bowyer.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 16, 1865.
I3
Abram A. Hinkle.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 27, 1865.
14
Clark Cutright.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 27, 1865.
I5
Wm. R. Low.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 27, 1865.
16
John M. Thomson.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 27, 1865.
17
Teter J. Smith.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 27, 1865.
18 Addison Warner.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 27, 1865.
19
Solomon M. Bennett.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 3, 1865.
52
Amos B. Lemons.
200
44
350
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
DATE.
NO. NAME OF PERSON.
AMOUNT.
WHEN DUE.
Mar. 27, 1865.
20
Pattrick H. Russell.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 27, 1865.
21
Geo. M. Warner.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 27, 1865.
23
Ithiel Hinkle.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 27, 1865.
26
Nelson Roberts.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 27, 1865.
27
Smith Kettle.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 27, 1865.
28
Lorenzo D. Black.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 27, 1865.
29
Solomon S. Strader.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 27, 1865.
30
Martin V. Black.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 27, 1865.
31
Jacob Kesling.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 27, 1865.
32
James S. Demap.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 27, 1865.
33
Elijah W. Hyre.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 27, 1865.
34
Jonathan Moody.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Mar. 27, 1865.
35
Richard H. W. Wright.
200
Mar. 16, 1866.
Apr. 5, 1865.
James W. Kelly.
200
Apr. 5, 1866.
Apr. 5, 1865.
Samuel Smith.
200
Apr. 5, 1866.
Apr. 5, 1865.
Nathaniel Moore.
200
Apr. 5, 1866.
Apr. 5, 1865.
4I
Geo. W. Ratcliff.
200
Apr. 5, 1866.
Apr. 5, 1865.
40 N. G. Monday.
200
Apr. 5, 1866.
Apr. 5, 1865.
44 Geo. W. Martin.
200
Apr. 5, 1866.
Mar. 16, 1865.
Geo. W. Gum.
200
Apr. 5, 1866.
DATE.
NAME OF PERSON.
AMOUNT.
NO.
Mar. 3, 1865.
M. L. Warner.
200
I
Mar. 3, 1865.
Joshua M. Ray.
200
2
Mar. 3, 1865.
James H. Patterson.
200
3
Mar. 3, 1865.
Amos B. Lemons.
200
4
Mar. 3, 1865.
Strather Callier.
200
5
Mar. 3, 1865.
Cazwell E. Brady.
200
6
Mar. 3, 1865.
Lathrop Phillips.
200
7
Mar. 3. 1865.
John E. Matheny.
200
8
Mar. 3, 1865.
Geo. L. Crites.
200
9
Mar. 3, 1865.
William Frymre.
200
IO
Mar. 3, 1865.
Elam Duley.
200
II
Mar. 3, 1865.
Jehu Winemiller.
200
12
Mar. 3, 1865.
Jacob Teter.
200
13
Mar. 3, 1865.
Mathew Kelly
200
14
Mar. 3, 1865.
Wm. B. Anglin.
200
15
Mar. 3, 1865.
Minor C. Lemons.
200
16
Mar. 3, 1865.
Charles S. Gladwell.
200
I7
Mar. 3, 1865.
Ishmael Cutright.
200
18
Mar. 3, 1865.
Anthony Neely.
200
19
Mar. 3, 1865.
Geo. Beer.
200
20
Mar. 3, 1865.
Jackson Smallridge.
200
21
Mar. 3, 1865.
Lafeet Westfall.
200
22
Mar. 3, 1865.
John S. W. Dean.
200
23
Mar. 16, 1865.
Daniel Wilfong.
200
24
Mar. 16, 1865.
James T. Bowers.
200
25
Mar. 16, 1865.
Abram A. Hinkle.
200
26
351
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
DATE.
NAME OF PERSON.
AMOUNT.
NO.
Mar. 27, 1865.
Clark Cutright.
200
26
Mar. 27, 1865.
Wm. W. Low.
200
27
Mar. 27, 1865.
John N. Thomson.
200
28
Mar. 27, 1865.
Peter J. Smith.
200
29
Mar. 27, 1865.
Addison Warner.
200
30
Mar. 27, 1865.
Solomon M. Bennett.
200
Mar. 27, 1865.
Pattrick H. Russel.
200
31
Mar. 27, 1865.
Geo. M. Warner.
200
32
Mar. 27, 1865.
Ithiel Hinkle.
400
35
Mar. 27, 1865.
Nelson Roberts.
400
36
Mar. 27, 1865.
Smith Kittle.
400
37
Mar. 27, 1865.
Lorenzo D. Black.
400
38
Mar. 27, 1865.
Solomon S. Strader.
400
39
Mar. 27, 1865.
Martin V. Black.
100
40
Mar. 27, 1865.
Jacob Kesling.
400
41
Mar. 27, 1865.
James S. Demoss.
400
42
Mar. 27, 1865.
Elijah W. Hyre.
400
43
Mar. 27, 1865.
Jonathan Moody.
400
44
Mar. 27, 1865.
Richard H. W. Pringle.
100
45
Mar. 27, 1865.
Jacob Roach.
400
46
Mar. 27, 1865.
James W. Kelly.
400
47
Mar. 27, 1865.
Samuel Smith.
400
48
Mar. 27, 1865.
Nathaniel Moon.
100
49
Mar. 27, 1865.
Geo. W. Ratcliff.
100
50
Mar. 27, 1865.
N. G. Munday.
100
5I
Mar. 27, 1865.
George W. Martin.
400
52
Mar. 27, 1865.
Hannibal P. Lewis.
400
53
Mar. 27, 1865.
John G. Brake.
100
54
Mar. 27, 1865.
William W. Heavner.
400
55
Mar. 27, 1865.
Granville Strader.
400
57
Mar. 27, 1865.
Henry N. Carricuff.
400
56
Mar. 27, 1865.
Lenmuel R. Cutright.
400
57
Mar. 27, 1865.
Foster Hinkle.
400
60
Mar. 27, 1865.
Asa Henline.
400
58
MISCELLANEOUS.
Jacob Leonard, Abraham Phillip, John and Jonas Crites came to this county about 1790. They were sons of Michael Crites.
Nicholas Ours, Sr., son of Sichman Ours, a revolutionary soldier, settled at Lorentz in 1794.
Phillip Reger settled on Brushy Fork on the old Sexton place, now owned by M. M. Wilson, in 1795.
Samuel T. Talbott moved to Frenchton from Harrison county, in 1813.
Jerry Lanham, the parternal ancestor of the large and numerous Lanham family in this county, came to Buckhannon 1815.
Zedekiah Morgan, the first New Englander to settle in now Upshur county, came here in 1801 from Connecticut.
352
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
James Bunton came to the waters of the Buckhannon river from Massa- chusetts in 1825.
James Lemmons emigrated from Bath county, Virginia.
William Smallridge came to this county from Virginia in 1830
Taylor, Ezekiel and James Townsend emigrated from Bath county, Virginia, ~ 1832.
William S. Brady moved to now Upshur from Pennsylvania, 1835.
Jonathan Hefner emigrated from Highland county, Virginia, to Beech Town, in 1838.
William Lutridge was of Irish descent and settled on the Arnold place on Glady fork, 1844.
William Bennett, father of David Bennett, came into the present bounds of Upshur from Walkersville, in 1831.
John A. Woody emigrated from Virginia and settled near Holly Grove in 1848.
James T. Hull emigrated from Highland county, Virginia in 1840.
John McDowell moved from Greenbrier county and settled near Centerville, in 1848.
Jacob Henline came from Harrison and settled south of Holly Grove in 1859. Berry Johnson settled in the eastern portion of Banks district in 1851.
James B. Moore settled at Holly Grove in 1853.
Silas Bennett married Rebecca Crites, the youngest sister of Jacob Crites, who was born in 1815.
The Buckhannon Opera House Company was organized in 1903 with a capital stock of $25,000. The chief promoters of this enterprise were C. W. Gibson and W. L. Foster. Charter members were C. W. Gibson, William Post, C. I. Farnsworth, G. D. Hunter and A. I. Boreman.
The new opera house of brick was built on the east side of Depot street in the summer of 1903, and the opening was had September 17, of that year. Cost of building, $16,500. Architect was D. C. Hughes, contractor was R. Post. At the first meeting of the board of directors W. L. Foster was elected general manager, which position he still holds.
Rock Cave received its name from the Post Office Department, through mistaking the name Rock Lava, signifying stone emitted by volcanic eruption. These stones were found on Straight Fork run. An impression prevailed that ." a volcano once existed in that section. So Dr. William H. Curry recommended that the new post office be called Rock Lava. The Department mistook the "L" for a "C" and established the office as Rock Cave.
The Ireland family derived its name from the passengers on an emigrant ship, which found in its hold after leaving an Irish port, a young lad of Irish descent, who had deserted his home and stolen his way into the ship and then secluded himself until the ship was well at sea. On making his appearance the passengers and crew called him Ireland, after the land of his nativity. They cared for him, saw him safely landed and provided him a temporary home. He was called Ireland from that time on and when manhood came to him, he assumed the name given him on the ship.
Charley Brooks, of Harrison county, attempted in 1862, the first wholesale raising and manufacturing of tobacco. He raised three acres of tobacco on the now Benjamin Miles farm, built two tobacco houses, sweetened it with home-
353
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
made sorghum and shipped by the hogshead. He was succeeded in this industry by Samuel Lane and Peter B. Williams.
Aaron Ligget owned and operated the first distillery in Upshur county, after its formation. The site of this distillery was on the waters of Stone Coal, near where Aaron Ligget lived before his death. He operated it from 1853 to 1855 and then sold it to John O. Core, who moved it to what is now Hart's grove at Buckhannon and there it operated until 1855.
T. J. Ligget, assistant postmaster at Buckhannon, has the copper kettle, part consideration his father received for the "still."
The first fruit trees planted in this county were strong and very fruitful. Apples and peaches were introduced about 1800 and soon the trees bore so abundantly that the surplus was sold to the distilleries owned and operated by Gerty and Jackson. The distillery owned by the former person was known as Old Gerty Still House. The brandy manufactured by these distilleries was sold at 371/2 cents per gallon at retail.
In the day of spinning wheels 14 knots or 4 skeins were regarded a day's work.
Early marriage laws required the posting of three notices in as many different places, of the names of contracting parties and the time for solemnizing the marriage.
The first nails sold by Jacob Lorentz brought 50 cents per pound. The first calico brought 50 cents per yard.
Samuel Oliver owned the first negro slave in Upshur and worked him on his land, which is known as the John J. Burr farm, now owned by Lloyd Brake.
M. J. Jackson had the first mowing machine in Buckhannon district. It was second handed and cost him $125.
Ebenezer Leonard owned the first mower in Meade district.
Alexander Ireland owned the first mower in Warren district.
Solomon Day owned the first mower in Washington district.
Jacob Blosser operated the first steam saw mill in what is now Upshur county, on Pecks run, in 1863. After the war, he and his son, Joseph Blosser, who is now a famous doctor of Savannah, Ga., sawed out a set on Mud Lick run, on the Hyre Brake farm.
Abraham Hinkle, who founded Hinkleville in 1868, owned the second steam saw mill and sawed one set on the Benjamin Miles farm and another set on the David 'Neely farm, near Hinkleville, in 1867.
Charles Temble owned the first thrasher in the county. It was a chaff-piler. This was in 1855. The next one was owned by Clark Cutright in 1857. The first thrasher south of Buckhannon was owned by David Phillips.
The poor farm, east of Buckhannon, was bought in 1880, sale being confirmed on June 16 of that year, and deed made by G. A. Newlon for 70 acres at $2,100, June 19 of that year. The committee appointed to make the purchase was composed of W. D. Farnsworth, J. J. Reynolds, Archibald Hinkle, Peter T. Lynch, Ebenezer Phillips, Wilson M. Haymond, overseers of the poor. Commissioners to contract for the building were B. F. Armstrong, David Poe and W. D. Farnsworth. George W. Ratliff got the contract for the masonry and John W. Hinkle for the carpenter work.
The first contract for keeping the poor on this farm was let to Marshall Gould and John C. Brady for $1,398 per year.
354
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
Samuel Meerbach came from London and settled on the waters of French creek about 1822, was the first jeweler in now Upshur county, was a tinker and a hermit. He died very suddenly and was found on his bed of rags and skins in his home on what is now known as the Jacob Lewis farm, on French creek. It is supposed that he had burried some gold and silver near his home. Efforts have been made to find it, but all excavations have proved futile.
John Hacker was the first blacksmith in now Upshur county. His shop was located at Lorentz.
Jacob Lorentz kept the first store at the same place. His goods were carried over the mountain from Cumberland, Md., and Staunton, Va., on pack horses.
Nathaniel Peck came from New England, discovered and settled on the waters of the creek now bearing his name, in Warren district. He removed from this section of the now Upshur county to the upper falls of the Little Kanawha river, where he built a grist mill, in 1825-28, out of poles and logs. The lumber out of which the overshot water wheel and the inside finishings were made, was manufactured at Aaron Gould Mill, at French Creek and was carried by him on his old horse, John, through the woods to the site of the new mill. His emigration from Massachusetts occurred about 1820.
George Bozarth is said to have discovered a lead mine on the waters of Turkey run in 1792, but no traces of it are now known.
The first road wagon used in now Upshur was owned by Jacob Lorentz. He bought it at Beverly in 1800 and hired Abram Carper to move his household goods across the mountains in 1801.
The first wagon built in Upshur county was constructed and owned by Mr. Taylor, son-in-law of Festus Young, it was all wood.
First Beech Town M. E. Church was built in 1836.
Centerville was first called Bob Town, after Robert Curry.
Sheep were first introduced into Upshur county in 1810.
The first blacksmith in Buckhannon was Zedekiah Lanham, 1825.
Jacob Lorentz early in the last century took 937 hogs in one drove across the mountain to Richmond, Va. He took with him several hands and a wagon load of corn. The corn was fed to the hogs and the wagon ofttimes bore as many as a dozen hogs which had given out and could not travel.
The oldest copybook in Upshur county is owned by Bascom L. Brown, deputy county clerk. (See history of B. L. Brown.)
The first wheat sown in Upshur county was raised by a man by the name of Upton, on the John Burr farm, on Cutright run.
The first brick house in what is now Upshur was built by Jacob Lorentz, at Lorentz. It is now owned by J. J. Peterson, the son-in-law of George P. Eckess. William Tulle did the carpenter work on this house.
The first brick house in Buckhannon was built by James Mullin, in 1846, on Main Street, near the court house, now the property of Lyall A. Mullin. Woodson Martin was the bricklayer.
Abraham Carper was the first hat maker in Upshur county.
George Lorentz owned and operated the first tanyard in what is now Upshur. It was located west of Lorentz, near Seymour.
Adam Post, Jacob Lorentz and Abram Carper were the first stock dealers in the Buckhannon settlement.
355
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
Woodson Martin, the father of George Martin and the grandfather of Jacob, Robert and William, was the first brickmason of what is now Upshur. He moved here in 1844.
D. J. Carper introduced the first Hereford cattle. It is claimed that Levi 1. Bond, of Hackers creek, owned a herd a year or two before.
In the panic of 1847, cattle sold for $2 per head and sheep at 50 cents per head.
Samuel Oliver made wool hats for the people after he came here from New England.
Daniel Haynes, Henry Winemiller and Aaron Gould were drafted at Nor- folk, Va., in the war of 1812. Aaron Gould's wife drew a pension from the services of her husband in that war.
Cumberland was the trading point for our merchants after 1840. James Peebles was the wagoner from and to Cumberland for many years.
The architect of the Aaron Gould Mill at French Creek was Elmore Hart.
The first garden seed used in the county was brought by the New Eng- landers in 1810. They called the tomato, which they found here, the Jerusalem apple.
Ezra Morgan and Amos Brooks kept a small store on the now Andrew Buchanan farm, near French Creek, from 1820 to 1830. The next store in this section was owned by Levi Leonard.
The first tailor was Miss Young, who went from place to place, seeking and doing work. She was lost in the woods on one of these trips and had to remain out all night. In order to eliminate her bewilderment, she tied flax along the pass she traveled and this prevented her from crossing and recrossing her path without knowing it.
Joseph Mckinley first settled on the John Douglass farm, and Isaac Parker on the Harvey Armstrong place, at Frenchton.
Samuel Wilson, John and James Curry and James Anderson emigrated from Highland county and located at Frenchton.
James Barrett was the first peddler in now Upshur county. He and Dr. Brooks afterward kept a store near Frenchton and bought sataratas, giving goods for it.
John Wesley Wilson had a store in Centerville, 1851-52 and hauled his " goods from Romney. He sold suits of clothes for $20 and $25.
FIRE ON MAIN STREET, BUCKHANNON, OCTOBER 5, 1894.
PARTIES DAMAGED.
F. C. Fifer's drug store. A. B. Clark building, J. L. Smith's saddle shop. James Ray's bakery. W. D. Talbott's office. G. M. Fleming's residence. Dr. Brown's residence. F. G. Smith's marble shop. Banner office and Editor's residence. N. B. McCarty's business house. Dr. Blair's drug store, occupied by Dr. J. R. Mathers. J. N. B. Crim, dry goods store. Tillston Jenney, drug building. Whitescarver & Brake, hardware store, building owned by Miss Cowles. Two store rooms owned by T. J. Farnsworth, James A. Davis, store room and residence. G. H. Clark's harness shop. C. E. Mylius, jewelry store. Mrs. D. D. T. Farnsworth's building, occupied by A. G. Kiddy, furniture. Two store rooms owned by T. J. Farnsworth. John M. Stockert's feed store.
356
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
First lawyer in Buckhannon was Gruber Pinnell; first physician, David S. Pinnell; second physician, Dr. Adam Spitler.
First Insurance office, Dr. G. A. Newlon and G. M. Fleming, X. P. Sexton, successor.
FIRST CEREAL AND ITS MANUFACTURE INTO MEAL.
Among the articles artfully and successfully secluded and borne away from Ft. Pitt by the Pringle brothers were a few small measures of Indian corn. This small quantity of corn was the seed from which was to come and did come a limited crop, a part of each year and a part was carefully stored away, some- times in the attic, more often was fastened by cords and bark to the joists across the entire width of the one-roomed, one-story house there to be assiduously guarded and saved as seed corn for next year. Corn was cultivated exclusively by the first settlers. It was the only cereal which would yield an abundant harvest with so little atttention and care and in so short time.
As time sped away other settlers came and brought with them the other cereals which were planted and grown with varying degrees of success.
When we remember that this New World plant grew and matured with com- paratively small demands upon the intelligence and industry of the cultivator, we can readily understand its great importance to the pioneers and settlers in establishing settlements and founding homes. Originally it could be planted without clearing or ploughing the soil. It was only necessary to girdle the trees so as to destroy their leaves and let in the sunshine. A few digs and scratches were all that was necessary and seed once dropped in took care of itself. The ears could hang for weeks after ripening, and could be pinched off without meddling with the stalk; there was no need of threshing or frailing. Old World cereals need much more intelligence and industry in their cultivation. Again when Indian corn, or maize, was sown in tilled land it yielded with little labor more than twice as much food per acre than any other kind of grain. This was of incal- culable importance to early settlers who would have found it much harder to gain and maintain a foothold upon the soil if they had been forced to prepare ground for wheat and rye. Indian corn in Upshur county played the same part as the potato in Peru, and the tobacco in Virginia. The methods of preparing the matured ear were the inventions of necessity. Devoid of the means required to construct, and the support needed to keep up mills, water and steam, the early settlers employed their native genius in inventing what they could not borrow from the Indians who frequented their home and enjoyed their hospitality. It is probable that the roasting process was used by the Pringle brothers so long as they were the only white men in the settlement. That is they would take the ear from the stalk with the hucks on and lay it down in a bed of coals and leave it there until it was thoroughly parched. This process was used most gener- ally when the corn was in a pulpy condition and made it very palatable and easily digested. When the grain was more matured and harder they used a device called a grater. The grater was simply a smooth planed board about three feet long to the edges of which near its center was fastened a piece of tin or sheet- iron six inches long and wide enough when fastened, to bulge over the board
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MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
three inches in the center the highest point and diminishing as the edges were approached where it was nothing. This tin or sheet-iron was pierced with holes made usually with some sharp instrument or a nail which left the side opposite where the instrument entered very rough. This rough side was turned up and the tin or sheet-iron nailed to the board. The ear of corn was pushed up and down over the rough metal surface until all the grains were grated off the cob and the gratings were conducted to a suitable receptacle. Now, this little machine was very useful in its day. The hunter and farmer, or their wives, could sit down with a dozen ears of corn two hours before breakfast, dinner or supper and in an hour would grate enough meal for the Johnny-cakes eat by any ordinary family at one dining. Evolution was manifest in the processes of grain preparation in the new settlement. More emigrants, more meal. The grater was supplanted by the hand and horse mill. The hand and horse mill was a domestic machine. The hand mill was the first in time. This little contrivance had two stones, a lower and upper, the former stationary, the latter revolving. These stones were chiseled out of rock and grooved so that they would accom- plish the malleation of the grain and its reduction to meal. The grain was dropped into a hole in the center of the upper stone by means of a regulator. The rotary motion of the stones was produced and kept up through the attach- ment of a pole in a concave of a joist or beam above and dropped into a chiseled concave in the upper stone, near its outer edge. The man seizing this upright pole, gives it a whirling, wood-lay motion, which when continued will grind the grain into meal. This was a laborious way of grinding and cranks were intro- duced to lessen the labor. The horse mill was run on the same principle, except that the stones were made to rotate by means of a horse attached to a lever which the horse pulled, the faster the horse went the more rapidly the stones *rotated and the more meal would be ground.
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