LAWRENCE COUNTY OHIO - OLD TIMES - Gilruth on Early Settlers *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Mary Ann St. Louis October 11, 1998 *********************************************************************** OLD TIMES Gilruth on Early Settlers in Lawrence County From the Ironton Register February 1, 1872 to July 18, 1872 Transcribed by Mary Ann St. Louis ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- February 1, 1872 The following interesting letter, written by Reverend James GILRUTH, and over 80 years, and who has been in the Methodist ministry for over 50 years, was furnished by General W. H. KELLY, to whom it was written. It treats of the early settlers in the lower part of the country and the upper end of Scioto. We are promised more of this valuable correspondence and will certainly be much pleased to give it to our readers. In undertaking to give a statistical history of the lower end of Lawrence, the upper end of Scioto, and the central part of Greenup Counties, I am not stimulated thereto by any hope of gain, either of fame, or that of pecuniary nature. Nor is it my aim to enter into the political, or moral character of those pioneer settlers; nor extensively into their social practices. I simply desire to make you and those that may feel interested, acquainted with some facts in regard to persons, times and places, which I am satisfied no other living moral can. These facts I give entirely from memory, having kept no written records of any of them; that there may be errors in dates and names is altogether probable. Beginning at the mouth of Storms Creek; from what it obtained this name I never knew. I think that Amaziah DAVIDSON made the first settlement on the lower point of the creek; on a fraction of some eighteen acres. He sold it to Jacob SUITOR, and moved down to the first farm above the French Grant. Jacob SUITOR lived here several years; then sold it to Reverend John LEE and bought a tract of land in the Narrows above Ice Creek, moved to it and opened a farm. LEE added to the trace he bought of SUITOR some 400 to 500 acres of Congress land (which had been entered by Amaziah DAVIDSON, but forfeited and fell back to Government,) and opened a fine farm; proving himself to be an intelligent farmer. His wife's maiden name I never knew. His children were all daughters, viz: Mrs. James HENRY, Mrs. Samuel HENRY, Mrs. Christian YINGLING, Mrs. Joshua KELLY and Peninah. Mr. LEE for an illiterate man was an able and successful minister in the regular Baptist Church; extensively and favorably know. He was instrumental in forming a respectable church, and in building the first meting house in this bottom. It stood on the brow of the creek bank, a few rods from his house. Josiah LAMBERT (I think was the old man's name) who formed the next settlement below. His wife's name I never knew. His children's names were: Job, Jonathan, Richard, Susannah, Abigail and Pricilla. Job settled above Ice Creek at the foot of the hill. Richard occupied the homestead farm. Jonathan LAMBERT farmed the farm below Richard. His wife's name I have forgotten. Their children, the oldest a girl, whose name I have also forgotten. The next, a son, whose name I think was Thomas. The LAMBERTS owned good farms, and were all respectable farmers and citizens. Below the LAMBERTS lived an old Englishman by the name of SHOOT. His name I have forgotten, and that of his wife I never knew. He had a son named Richard, who, after his father's death, lived with Thomas GILRUTH, in the French Grant, until he came of age. Mr. SHOOT was a regular bred wagonmaker, the first and only one of trade in this, or either of the bottoms next above, or below. But as wagons were very little used among these early settlers, he found little or no employment as a wagonmaker; but being a strong, industrious and energetic man, and having also learned how to handle the spade, he did a great deal of ditching of ponds and swales a thing as much needed for health as for profit. In this vicinity below, lived old Mr. CARPENTER, A Baptist, and the first preacher of any kind in this bottom. He preached occasionally, but made no attempts to form a church, or administer the ordinances. I think it probably that he was not ordained. He had one son named William. He became an ensign in Captain John KELLY'' company of militia, learned surveying, kept the first store between Storms Creek and the French Grant. He made one of the most intellectual men raised in those times in this vicinity: married Hannah CLARKE; sold out and moved to Missouri. Below CARPENTER'S settled Tilman SHORT (*), a tall, raw boned, active man. After the SHORT family on the same place, as landowner lived Samuel CLARK. I never knew his wife's name, or that of her parents; (she died before CLARK moved on this place). Their children were Samuel, Cornelius, Joel, Hannah, James, Rebecca and Amos. Mr. CLARK was a house carpenter, and wrought at that business, there being no other in those days in that bottom. He also wrought at building horse mills, in connection with Peter LIONBARGER, Sr. Samuel, Jr., left and went to Letart Falls, and married Miss DARBY and settled there. Hannah married Mr. CARPENTER; I lost track of the rest. James SPERRY, on a fraction of 60 acres above Osborne's Run. This farm all overflows except a mere building spot. His wife's maiden name was Sarah FERGUSON. SPERRY farmed a little, and wrought a little occasionally as a stonemason at building chimneys; also made some grinding stones, etc. SPERRY had no competition, yet his charges were reasonable. In those days, almost every settler raised a little batch of cotton, about equal to what the family could manufacture. One great difficulty consisted in picking out the seed. Then came a man by the name of BARLOW (*), and built a small cotton gin, and set it up on this place, and picked the people's cotton on the shares, or for so much cash per pound. John KELLY bought this gin, I think, for $60. About this time, the seasons became so unfavorable for cotton growing, and this business entirely failed in these parts; so Kelly's gin investment also proved a failure. SPERRY lived here but a few years, and then sold out to a German by the name of Frederick BOTTLES, whose wife's maiden name was ABRIGHT. After a few years BOTTLES sold out and moved west. Between Osborne's Run and Norman's Run, the first settler was an old German by the name of NORMAN, (*) from whom Norman's Run took its name. I never knew his given name, or that of his wife. They had one daughter, the wife of Gabriel NEFF, who came to these two parts at the same time. Between these two has since grown up a small village with post office, by the name of Hanging Rock, which has done considerable business in manufacturing bar iron and in shipping pot metal. The above named settlements were all made between 1800 and 1805, according to the rest of my recollection. But some of the persons named came on at a later date, viz.: LEE, CLARK, MORRISON, BARLOW and BOTTLES. (*) Those marked thus did not own the land. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- February 8, 1872 We continue this week the letter of Reverend James GILRUTH on the old settlers in the lower part of this country: In the fall of 1796, Andrew YINGLING, a German, settled in the lower end of the Hanging Rock narrows. His wife's name was Franz. Their children were Catharine, Christian, Andrew, Polly, Nathaniel, and I think another named John. Catharine married Aaron BROWN; Christian married Reverend J. LEE'S daughter; Andrew died of consumption in early manhood. He was the first and fell a victim to this disease in all this region of country. What became of the younger members of the family I never knew. Christian became owner of the homestead and of considerable land adjoining, and lived there until his death. With A. YINGLING, in his first settling, lived his brother-in-law, Christopher STUMP, also a German. His wife's name was Catherine. She was a sister of Franz YINGLING. Their children were Peggy, George and Stupley. C. STUMP was a millwright, and built the first water mills in this region of country. First a float, or current mill, at a place on the river, now known as Union Landing, opposite the head of Ferguson's sandbar. This mill was built on an open flat, resembling a common ferryboat, and a large canoe. These were cabled to the shore by a large, long grapevine; and when the mill had work to do she was shoved out onto the current, and held there by a brace; one end set on the ground and the other against the flat: When the work was done the brace was taken up and the mill swung back to the shore, out of the current. The difficulty of preserving the mill from being carried off by floating ice, when laid up in winter, was obviated by STUMP, felling a large tree or two into the edge of the river a little above. But after Luke KELLY came into possession of this property, he built a strong pier of timber and stone, behind which it was secured in time of ice. The customers to this mill came from above Big Sandy, on both sides of the river to below Little Sandy. After this, Stump went and built a small tub mill on Gennett's Creek, but when the water failed, by reason of the summer drought, he said: hates dis place as bad as pisen;" and sold out to Peter BACCUS. This was the first water mill built between the upper end of the Grand and Little Scioto. He then went and built another current mill similar to the first, on the Kentucky side of the river. I think he soon lost this mill by the ice. He then came up and built another little tub-mill, on a run, in the bottom, back from, and about opposite the upper end of Ferguson's sandbar. I have been at all these mills when STUMP owned them. He seldom lived more than a year or two in a place, but was very useful in the first settling of the country, by his mills. What became of him or of his family I cannot tell. Not long after YINGLING, and a little below, settled a man by the name of POWELL. His given name of that of his wife, I never knew. They had three children whose names were, Charles, John and Polly. Mr. POWELL was a hatter and wrought at this trade. He made the first hats that were made on either side of the river between Big Sandy and Big Scioto. Men's hats, of common wool and well made, he sold at a dollar each. His wife dying he put out his children, and moved his shop to lot No. 3 in the French Grant, and there wrought at his trade for some time. What became of him after that I never heard. His children all turned out respectable. Polly married Benjamin BUTTERFIELD and settled near where Haverhill now stands. Who the boys married I never knew. Not far from the time POWELL left, came William DOLLERHIDE, and settled on the place of which he afterwards became the owner. His wife'' name was Mary. Their children's names were Kitty, Polly, Jesse, Allen, Thomas and Rebecca. Kitty married Joseph KELLY; Polly married John SHOPE; Jesse married Peninah GILLILLEN; Allen married Polly BOYD; Thomas married Polly KELLEY; Rebecca married Josiah JAYNES. In the British War of 1812, Wm. DOLLERHIDE enlisted, and was in Fort Meigs when it was besieged. Was wounded by a cannon ball, and died of that wound. About 1802 or 1803, Luke KELLY settled on the lower point of a little run known as Kelly's Run. His wife's maiden name was Mary KIZER; (in her day, she was a popular midwife.) Their children's names were Elizabeth, John, Joseph, Charles, Polly, Joshua and Rueben. Elizabeth married Nathaniel DAVIDSON; John married Abigail LAMBERT; Joseph married Kitty DOLLERHIDE; Charles married Mary HASHBURGER; Polly married Vincent POWELL; Joshua married Mary LEE; Rueben married Delilah STEWART. Mr. KELLY having entered a section of land where he lived, settled all his sons on it, along the river as follows: Rueben, on the homestead, the Joshua, Charles, Joseph, John all practical farmers and useful citizens. On the upper point of Kelly's Run was located the first graveyard ever used by white men in these parts. Afterward, on the lower point of this run, was located the first still house built between Big Sandy and Big Scioto. Mr. KELLY having become owner of Sumps floating mill, manufactured the proceeds of this mill into whisky for the people, and swill for his hogs. Up this run, at the foot of hill on Kelly's land, was built the first meeting house built in Lawrence County. It was a round log structure, one story high, with a clapboard roof, puncheon floor, split log seats, and about 18 or 20 feet square. It was truly a rough building, but equal to the necessity of the times. In giving the names of children, I commence with the oldest and proceed on regularly to the youngest, according as I understood it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 7, 1872 We continue this week the publication of "Old Times", in the lower end of this county, by Reverend James GILRUTH. These reminiscence have occasioned much interest among the old people here and elsewhere. Mr. GILRUTH is now very old, has to write slowly, so we must be satisfied to publish his articles as we get them. The last we gave was in the issue of February 8th. Mr. GILRUTH closed his last letter by referring to Luke KELLY'S settlement, on Kelly's Run, in 1802-03. He built the first church in Lawrence County: Mr. Luke KELLY had a brother; an old bachelor named DARBY, that lived a short time with him, who was a Baptist preacher. If my memory serves me, he preached once or twice while here. If in this I am correct, to the KELLYS belongs the credit of preaching the first sermon, and building the first meetinghouse in Lawrence County. In the fall of 1796, Vincent FERGUSON, (*) settled on the bank, opposite what is since known as Ferguson's Sandbar, which took it's name from him. His wife's maiden name was Mary BOYD. Their children's names were Sarah, John, Margaret, Margera, Elizabeth, James and Vincent. Sarah married James SPERRY, while they lived here. John married Elizabeth MCCOY; Margaret married William BRUCE; (William BRUCE was finally shot and killed by a Negro.) Margera married John BRUCE; Elizabeth died of consumption. In my last, I stated that Andrew YINGLING was the first in all this region that died of Consumption. Elizabeth was the first; and he the second. She was never married; James married Rebecca BRUBAKER; Vincent died of the common fever of the country, when about nine years old. The marriage of Sarah was accompanied with a frolic, and it was the first public dance between Storms Creek and the French Grant. After Luke KELLY entered the land, FERGUSON and his family moved down to lot No. 2, in the French Grant, for which he paid $400. Next below, the same fall settled Peter VANBIBBER (*); his wife's name was Sarah. Their children's names were Jesse, Jacob, John and Tice. In P. VANBIBBER's family lived a niece of his named Olive VANBIBBER, a very beautiful young woman who married Nathan BOONE, the youngest son of the celebrated Colonel Daniel BOONE, who, with her husband, and the old Colonel, moved to Missouri. Jesse VANBIBBLER went with them, and never returned. After some years, this family moved back, and were scattered abroad on the waters of Pine and Symmes Creek. After the VANBIBBERS left, Gabriel NEFF (*) OCCUPIED THE PLACE SOME TIME. His wife's maiden name was Rachel NORMAN. Their children's names were Phoebe, George, Mary, Catharine, Jacob, Eunice, Elizabeth, Christian and Henry. Phoebe married Reese THOMPSON; George married Elinore MCCRARY; Mary married ______THRONE; Catharine married Alex BACON; Jacob married Loisa ALBRECHT. The NEFF family moved from place to place. Their last residence was on Crain Nest, a tributary of Pine Creek. What became of the younger members of the family I never knew? After the NEFFS left, the place was occupied by Daniel WOLFORD (*), a house carpenter. He had a son named Daniel who was learning the same trade. This family moved down to a little above Little Scioto. About this time, Stephen COLVIN, and ______BARKLEY, of Rumley, VA, in company entered all the bottom from Kelly's section down to the French Grant. George AUSTIN bought, and permanently settled on this farm. His wife's maiden name was Esther KISER. Their children's names were Mary, Isaac and Rebecca. Mary married George TRUMBO; Isaac married Lydia KISER; Rebecca married William GILRUTH. Austin was an industrious farmer and valuable citizen. Next below, in the same fall, 1796, came and settled George STEWART. (*) His wife's maiden name was Elizabeth CROUSHOAR. After living on the riverbank for some time, he moved back to the foot of the hill, a little above the French Grant line, and cleared a few acres. Having no team, he carried his rails, one by one, upon his shoulders, and fenced his field. After living here a few years, he bought a lot in the French Grant, on Gennett's Creek, and moved over thee. Their children's names were Stephen, Anna, Delilah, Elizabeth, John, Joel and Amos. Stephen married Caroline DIDWAY; Anna married David ATKINS; Delilah married Rueben KELLY; Elizabeth married William KIMBLE; John married Sarah MCCARTNEY. What became of Joel and Amos I never knew? STEWART was a farmer, and often remarked that "Every day's work that a man did on his own farm, is worth more to him than a dollar." After STEWART left the bank, a man by the name of RETHERFORD occupied the place for some time. He had two sons, young men, Thomas and William. On this place was kept the first school ever kept between Storms Creek and French Grant. It was kept by Rueben RUCKER. His pronunciation was that of an uneducated Southerner, viz.: for "the," de; for "there," dar, etc. In all words, when one letter constituted a syllable, he always taught us to spell that letter "by itself" for instance, the word "Idea:" I by itself; 'I,'de' i-de;' 'a by itself,; 'a' Idea. It will be perceived that with such teachers it would be long before the scholar could approach near perfection in the English language. The old house being untenantable, and the right of property falling into hands of gentlemen in Virginia, by the name of Andrew KISER, it had no more occupants until he bestowed it upon his son-in-law, Ephriam TRUMBO, who had married his daughter, Susanna. TRUMBO was a wheelwright, and as in those days, women did their own spinning, it was a good trade. But he turned his attention to farming, and made the best fences of any man in those parts. Next below, in the same fall, I think William KELLY (*), a brother of Luke KELLY, settled and cleared a few acres. His wife's name was Dolly, at least she was so called. I have no recollection of their children. They lived here but a few years and then moved off; I never heard where. William KELLY was followed by David FORRISTER (*). His oldest daughter was a fine looking young woman. She married William WAMACH, of Greenup Co., KY. Of the balance of the family, or what became of them, I nave no distinct recollection. FORRISTER was succeeded by a man by the name of BLOOMER (*), whose given name or that of his wife, I never knew. He was a Baptist, and occasionally spoke in public by the way exhortation. Their children's names were Henry, Samuel, Mrs. Moses CRABTREE, Patty, Runnels and Peter. This family lived by farming. After the BLOOMER'S LEFT, THE PLACE WAS OCUPIED BY Peter BUMGARNER and his family. His wife's name was ______ BUVNER. Their children's names were John, Barbara, Elizabeth, Jacob, Daniel, Abraham and Rebecca. John married Miss MILLER, (at the mouth of Symmes Creek); Barbara married William JONES; Elizabeth married William COPENHAVER; Jacob married Edith DAVIDSON; Daniel married Miss BRUSH; Abraham died in early manhood, and Rebecca was dumb and disordered in her mental poers. John and William JONES owned the land. They all lived by farming. The whole family scattered from thence. The land that JONES owned fell into the hands of Daniel; and that which John owned, into the hands of George TRUMBO, (the husband of Mary AUSTIN) who lived there and raised a respectable family. (*) Did not own land. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 14, 1872 Our readers must refer to the last issue of the Register, to understand the proper connection: About 1807 or 1808, next below, settled Daniel MCCARTNEY, who after living some time on the bank of the river, moved back near the center of the bottom, where the road now runs. His wife's name was Sarah ______. Their children's names were Hannah, William, Daniel, Sarah, Vincent and Peter. Hannah married Vincent SCHUTE; William, ______ DAVIDSON, (in KY) Sarah married John STEWART; William and STEWART settled on John's Creek a tributary of Symmes Creek. MCCARTNEY was a member of the Baptist Church, and lived by farming. In his day, he was considered one of the best hands with the scythe in these parts. After living for many years and proving himself, he with the younger members of the family, also his son-in-law, Richard SHUTE, moved to Indiana and settled near Covington, on the Wabash, where SHUTE, from being a poor orphan boy, became owner of some nine or ten quarter sections of land with other things in abundance. About 1800, or perhaps earlier, next below, settled Michael BACCUS. His wife's name was Margaret. They had a daughter named Susannah. BACCUS cleared a field of a few acres, and lived here some years. He farmed some and hunted some, but made himself useful to the farmers by spaying hogs, etc. He moved down below Pine Creek, bought a farm on which he fixed himself comfortably. After he left, Nathaniel Davidson settled on the place as land owner. His wife's maiden name was Elizabeth Kelly. Their children's names were John, Joseph, Luke, Kitty and Thomas. Who John, Joseph, and Thomas married has passed away from me, but Luke married a daughter of James BLACK, and Kitty married James COLLINS. Nathaniel DAVIDSON was a farmer and paid considerable attention to an apple orchard, setting the trees on exact rows, and trimming them so as to make them sightly, and of even balance. He hunted for pass-time and was one of the best of marksmen with the rifle; kept a blacksmith shop, with a few blacksmith tools for his own convenience; for sometime acted in the capacity of Associate Judge of the court; was a good neighbor; lost his eyesight; became a member of the Baptist Church, and died a Christian in his 80th year. At the same time, next below, settled John BACCUS, a brother of Mike's. His wife's name was Mary. I remember nothing of their children. John BACCUS cleared a little field, and after a year or two, he moved away. The last I knew of him he was out on Raccoon engaged in making buhr-millstones. After he left, John DAVIDSON, an elder brother of Nathaniel, settled on the place as landowner. His wife's maiden name was Susannah LAMBERT, but was familiarly called "Sukey." When they lived here a few years, then moved up above Storms Creek, and opened a farm where Ironton now stands. John DAVIDSON was among the first class citizens of Lawrence County. He sustained at different times the office of Squire, Judge of the Court, and for one term, that of Legislator. He lived by farming; hunted occasionally. After DAVIDSON left, the place was tenanted by Samuel CLARK, Gabriel NEFF, and Aaron BROWN, all which have been named above; and lastly, Andrew DAVIDSON, the younger brother of the DAVIDSON family, settled on the place as land owner, but at a period too late to be recognized as a first settler, though between fifty and sixty years ago. Next below, about 1798 settled Jacob SUITER (*). His wife's maiden name was Margaret MASTERS. Their children were Hiram, William, Phillip, Jeremiah and Mordecai. Hiram was killed by the falling of a scaffold in middle age. Phillip has been married four times, is now living some fifteen miles from me, and is a respectable man. One of his sons went into the army in our late war, a sergeant, came out a captain, and is now the Recorder of Scott Co., Iowa. William is dead and Mordecai lives in Kansas and is a preacher. SUITER for some time lived with his brother-in-law Joseph CRANK (*), a quiet and peaceable man. He was celebrated for making the finest canoes that run this part of the river. CRANK was a religious man. He conducted the first funeral I was ever at. The corpse was that of a child and the grave in Kelly's graveyard. When the coffin was about to be placed in the ground he took out his hymn-book, read and sung Dr. Watts' beautiful hymn, commencing, "Hark from the toms a doleful sound," etc. Through but a child myself, there was something so solemn and impressive in the matter and manner, that it left an indelible impression on my mind. Some thirty years ago there were two of his sons in these parts, viz: Sylvester and Ennoch; but I rather inclined to think that CRANK and his family have all long since passed away. After the UITERS left, the place was occupied in short intervals by Michael BOWEN (*), and family; Henry BARNHART (*) and family; James WINGGO (*) and family; but none of these made much improvement. What became of BARNHART and WINGGO I know not? The BOWENS settled on Pine Creek, and became generally known among the old settlers. About 1805 or 1806, Amaziah DAVIDSON settled on the place as owner. His wife's name was Sarah THOMPSON. Their children's names were, Edith, Rebecca, Jesse, Nancy and Job. Edith married Jacob BUMGARNER; Rebecca married Job DAVIS. Jesse married Miss TRUMBO; Nancy married Ephriam OAKES; Job moved with his father to Massac County, Illinois. Shortly after DAVISON settled here, he sold his farm (100 acres) to Elisha WHITE for $700, $300 in hand and the balance on time, secured by mortgage on the land. WHITE, with a hired man Joseph GULICK, wrought hard, and did a great deal of clearing. WHITE started for New England, for money to pay for the place, but was never heard of afterward. Before the foreclosing of the mortgage, Asa MERRILL lived on it one season. His wife's name was Elizabeth. Their children's names were Elisabeth, Henry and Asa. MERRIL was a regular-bred physician Ð the first on either side of the river between the Grant and Big Sandy. As such, I have reason to speak well of him, for he took me through the severest attack of fever I have ever had; yet he fell a victim to the same fever afterwards. After the death of Doc MERRILL, the place was occupied by Josiah MARKHAM, in 1808-09. His wife's name I never knew. Their children's names were Jacob, Stephen, William, Moses and Randall; all grown up when they came, and all married but the two latter. They were all blacksmiths. MARKHAM'S was the first blacksmith shop on this side of the river between Big Sandy and the Grant. They were strongly suspected of making counterfeit money, whether justly or not, I know not; but one thing I do know, viz: that pewter dollars were very common about this time. After this, DAVIDSON foreclosed his mortgage and returned to his farm, lived and raised his family there, then moved to Massac County, Illinois, and died there. After George STEWART left his improvement at the foot of the hill, the place was occupied by William KNOX (*) for a short time. He died there and his family so scattered that I lost track of all the children but three, Sarah, whom Nathaniel DAVIDSON raised; Jeremiah, whom John KELLY raised; and Martha, whom Joseph LOWELL took. After this John CANON (*) lived there for some time, then moved out and settled for some time on a tributary of Pine creek, which took its name from him. Then Moses CRABTREE (*) lived here for a season or two. Lastly about 1818, George TRUMBO occupied the place as owner; moved in on the riverbank and died there. (*)Were not landowners. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 23, 1872 In my former letters, I have made frequent allusions to the French Grant. Before proceeding any farther with the history of individual settlers, I think it proper to give you an account of the origin of the French Grant. Soon after the Revolutionary War, some men went over to France and succeeded in selling to some French gentlemen a large tract of land, to which they had no legal right, at a French crown an acre. These gentlemen bro't over a number of respectable people of the common class, to settle their lands; but after they came, they found that they had been swindled out of their money, and that they had no legal right to a foot of land. These emigrants settled at and formed the town of Gallipolis. This was the origin of Gallia County. The men who had been swindled out of their money all returned to France, except John B. JARVIS, who stayed and employed a lawyer in Philadelphia by the name of DEPONSAW, who drew up a statement of the case and got it before Congress, which then sat in that city. At the time, the American public felt much friendship for the French, as they had contributed material aid to effect our independence. Congress took up this matter and made a grant of 24,000 acres, amounting to 217 acres to each head of family that remained, and 4,000 acres to JARAVIS. This grant was made conditional that the grantee should settle on it by a given time and remain on it five years, in order to make good his title. This condition was afterward removed and each grantee was secured by U. S. patent. Matthew BARTLET drew lot No. 1 and wishing to return to France, came up to Bellville, Wood County, VA and offered it for sale at $2 per acre. Thomas GILRUTH, one of the original settlers of Bellville, who had settled there in 1775, two years before there was a white man settled in the State of Ohio, and maintained their station through the Indian War, which was closed after Anthony WAYNE'S decisive battle at Preskul on the right bank of the Maumee, opposite the Maumee Rapids, but now had lost their land by an older claim, accepted BARTLET'S offer, and in connection with a widow of the name of HEMPSTEAD, bought the lot, and immediately set about making his preparations to move. Putting his family, stock, and other things on board of a couple of flatboats and a barge periogue, set sail down the Ohio; and on the 8th day of April, 1797, arrived at his lot. The river being near full bank, he drew his boats into a cove, made a bank slide in ages back. This made a safe and convenient haven. He lived in his boats until the water left them. He then knocked the boats to pieces and of the boards made a camp, in which the family lived a year, or until there were men enough within twenty miles to raise a stout log cabin. His wife's maiden name was Marion INGLES. They were both immigrants from Scotland, but married in the United States. Their children's names were James, John, Jannet, Mary and William. James married Hannah KOUNTZ; SHE DYING, HE MARRIED Mary WESTLAKE; John died of croup, and Jannet of whooping cough, in their infancy at Bellville. Mary married William G. THOMAS; he dying she married John FASSER. He dying, she sold out and moved to Massac County, Illinois, where she still lives. William married Rebecca AUSTIN. He ultimately became sole owner of the old homestead farm. Thomas GILRUTH was bred a linen weaver, and erected the first loom on either side of the river, between Big Sandy and Little Scioto. This loom was made by Peter FORT, of black walnut timber, and manufactured in workmanlike manner, for which GILRUTH paid him $13 in specie. He however turned his whole attention to clearing and cultivating his land. He often boasted that he never bought but one peck of corn, and that was for seed. He exceedingly enjoyed, as pastime, fishing and hunting. He was raised in the Kirk of Scotland and remained in that faith until he met with Fletcher'' Checks, the reading of which upset his Calvinism. In the fall of 1812, he invited Marcus LINSEY, an itinerant Methodist preacher who was then forming Little Sandy circuit, in Kentucky, to make his house a preaching place. Lindsey accepted the invitation, and formed a little society, consisting of Thomas GILRUTH, Marion GILRUTH, Rachel HAILEY, Rebecca POWER, and Joel CHURCH, who have all long since died in the faith. This was the first Methodist society from little Scioto up, and embracing all Lawrence County. During Thomas GILRUTH'S lifetime, his house was a regular preaching place, and after his death it was continued so by his widow until a house was prepared for it opposite Greenupsburg. Lot No. 2 was drawn by Nicholas THEVENIN. He sent a man by the name of James LOGAN to settle on it. He came and went to work, but hearing that the boat which contained his wife and children had through mistake passed by in the night, he followed them and never returned. Robert BUCHANAN next occupied the place. His wife's name was Polly. Their children were Nancy, Clarisssa, George; the babe's name I have forgotten. BUCHANAN was a cabinetmaker, and reputed a first class workman and closely followed his business. His was the first cabinet shop between Scioto and Big Sandy on either side of the river. After some years, he moved to Missouri. Vincent FERGUSON bought the lot and moved on, but after laboring on it for some years he was let to think that he could do better by working a little Sandy Salt Works; consequently he left his farm and moved up there. In his absence, the place was occupied by the William GILLILLEN and family. Soon after he came on, his wife went back to Greenbrier County, VA and never returned. Their children's names were Pressley, William, Rhoda, Hannah, Peninah and Jane. PRESSLEY married Agnes DIDWAY Will married ______ASHLEY; Rhoda married David STUMBO; Hannah married Carter HAILEY; Peninah married Jesse DOLLARHIDE and Jane married Elias WEBB. FERGUSON'S experience at the salt works let him to return to his farm. He was a steady, quiet, hard-working man. After raising his family, he divided his farm between his two sons, John and James. About 1800, John HAILEY bought and settled on Lot No. 3. His wife's name was Rachel FLESHMAN. Their children's names were Richard, Carter, Lucinda, Andrew, William and Julia. Richard in early manhood left for Mexico, and no certain account was ever obtained of him afterward. Carter married Hannah GILLILLAN. He was a natural musician, and decidedly, the best trumpeter I ever heard blow a horn. Lucinda married a Mr. JONES, who in company with a Mr. NOBLE, was running a small cotton factory in Greenupsburg, which was afterward moved to Portsmouth, where she died. Andrew went down into the Red River country engaged in growing cotton and obtained considerable property. His wife dying, he came up and married a daughter of Joel CHURCH, on Gennet's Creek, and returned. William died soon after the family moved on. His was the first death between Hanging Rock and Gennet's Creek. Julia married Antony SMITH. She became owner of the homestead or the front part of the lot, and the child of Lucinda owner of the back part. HAILEY was a farmer, made straight cornrows, and raised the first wheat in all this region of country. Lot No. 5 remained unsettled until after the period of what I call old settlers. After passing through several hands, it ultimately fell into the hands of William GILRUTH. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- April 4, 1872 Lot No. 5 was owned by Lawyer DUPONSAW OF Philadelphia, and was his reward for assisting to effect the French Grant. It remained unoccupied for many years, until Thayer WHITE came into possession. Next came the Jarvis tract of 400 acres. On the lower bank of what was called Jarvis' Run, in a little cabin about 12 feet square, and one (low) story high, composed of logs such as two men could put up, lived this old gentleman. He commonly wore a long blue broadcloth coat, and a three-cornered cocked hat. He had no family. It was said the he amused himself in writing a history of France. He had two or three acres cleared "smack smooth," as it was then termed when all the timber was taken off. On this, he put an apple orchard of some 50 or 60 trees. I think that I may safely say that on this orchard was grown the first apples between Gallipolis and Portsmouth. On the spot where Haverhill now stands JARVIS laid out a town, and from the great quantity of burs that grew there, he called it Bursburgh. He however made no attempt at selling lots or getting it peopled. JARVIS lived here long enough to perfect his title to the land and then went up to Gallipolis. After he left, John HART lived here a little while; his wife was commonly called "Molly;" she was the mother, by a former husband, of John and William BRUCE who married into the FERGUSON family. HART did little else but hunt. Next Peter BACCUS lived here a sort time and then moved out on Gennet's Creek and kept a mill for some years. His wife's name was Barbara. Their older children were Jacob, Enoch, Dorcas and Joseph. Joseph was deranged in his mental powers, got lost and was never heard of afterwards. What became of the rest of the children I have no distinct recollection. Not long, after JARVIS went to Gallipolis, he sold the whole tract to a gentleman in New England, by the name of Samuel HUNT, about 1805 or 1806. HUNT came on to settle and improve his land. He brought with him four laboring men and a housekeeper; he had no family. He built a very large hewed log house, dug a well and pushed on his improvements with the rapidity of a man of ability and energy. This was the first well dug in the Grant, or between that and Storms Creek; but death cut him off. HUNT was a small man of fine appearance and a perfect gentleman in his bearing. After Hunt's death a man by the name of WAY stepped in and occupied the house, etc., for some time. The property now fell into the hands of a company formed for that purpose, consisting of DRURY, BAYINGTON, ABBOT and WHITE, who moved on, and settled along the bank in the order named, but at a period too late to be numbered among the old settlers; but they all proved to be valuable citizens and contributed much to the improvement of the country. They were all farmers Francis VALODAY settled on the lot next below the Jarvis tract. His wife's name I never knew. I remember their children, Frank and Agnes; his wife dying, he married Nancy SLATER. VALODAY was a farmer and pushed the improvements of his place, kept a still and made his fruit into brandy. He built the first brick dwelling house in the Grant, or between that and Symmes Creek. William DIDWAY settled below. His wife's name I never knew. Their children's names were Agnes, Augustine, Caroline, William, Frederick and John. Agnes married Pressley GILLILLEN; Augustine married John WAUGH; Caroline married Stephen STEWART; who William married I have forgotten; Frederick married Helen H. GILRUTH; who John married I never knew. DIDWAY's wife dying he married a daughter of Andrew LACROIX. DIDWAY was a farmer; he also kept a still and made a considerable amount of peach brandy. Next, John FLETCHER, a house carpenter, and for many years a justice of the peace. His wife's maiden name was ______WOLF. I remember only two of their children's names, Joseph and John. What became of this family has passed from me. The farm fell into the hands of Ezra HAND. For some time a man by the name of DILLON lived next below. He made very little improvement. About 1811 he sold out to Edward SUMMER, and moved away. Next, Eli BARTON owned the front half of the lot, but before making much improvement he left and went to Carcaska, Illinois. In the Summer of 1799, (I think it was) there passed a hurricane along this lot, scarcely leaving a tree standing; it passed out through the hills in a northeast direction and made its' mark where it went Ð a mark by which the hunter in after years knew their whereabouts, but now is scarcely discernable. I remember it well, it was in the afternoon; standing by my father and looking at the cloud, and listening to the sound, as the outskirts approached, said he: "There it comes, like big guns." This half lot fell into the hands of Edward SUMNER who settled on it about 1811. He greatly improved it in the way of clearing and building. John BERTRAND, a quiet hard working farmer, hard of hearing of all the pioneer settlers of twenty years of age and upwards, when they came to these parts, he was the last to go the way of all the earth. MILDS was drowned soon after he came. John GENNETT owned the lot embracing the mouth of what is since known by the name of Gennet's Creek. GENNETT lived here a few years, built a floating mill, similar to that which STUMP built opposite the head of Ferguson's sandbar, and set it opposite the mouth of the creek, but it failed by reason of the ice. What became of him, or who was his wife, I am not certain. My impression is, that she was a daughter of Godfrey SMITH that F. VALADAY became owner of the lot, and that it at last fell into the hands of William POWER. Andrew LECROIX (commonly called Lacaua) was a farmer, also practiced midwifery, at which he was said to be of the first-class. He married Widow SEROT, who had four children, Mary, Leonard, John and Peter. By LECROIX she had Secella, Alexander, and her that married William DIDWAY'S son. Secella married Jesse MARSHAL; Alexander married Rebecca POWER. About 1806 or 1807, William FOLSOM settled next. He was considered a man of good business capacity. He married a Miss SMITH whose people lived a little above Leading Creek, Meigs C., Ohio. Soon after he settled here committed suicide by hanging himself. This was the first suicide committed in all this region of country, embracing Scioto, Lawrence and Greenup Counties. Next below settled Francis FORT at this time an old man living with his second wife; of their children my recollection fails me, except of Frank, what became of him I never learned. Next came Peter FORT, a son of F. FORT by a former wife. He was a quiet, peaceable, industrious man, and something of a mechanic in wood, but give his attention principally to faring. A deep, busy pond passing through his lot, perhaps was the occasion of his moving back to the foot of the hill. Kimber BARTON settled next. His wife's name was Catharine. Their children's names were Mrs. DAY, Deborah, Eli, Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth, Naomi, Kimber, Matilda and Catharine. Deborah married Ellis CHANDLER; Eli went to Cascaska, Illinois; who he married I never knew. Joseph married a Miss RECTOR; Mary married Clem WARREN; Elizabeth married William LOCKHART; Naomi married ______RECTOR, (Joseph's brother-in-law), from she obtained a divorce, and years afterwards married Matthew WHITE; Matilda married Doc BIVENS, who went to Illinois, and settled in or near Marietta. Catherine________________________________________ never learned; BARTON was a neat farmer and kept everything in nice order. His was the first shingle roof house, on this side of the river, between little Scioto, and Big Sandy. For many years, he was a justice of the peace and a first class citizen. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- May 9, 1872 In my last letter I gave you a history of the original settling of Gennet's Creek; I now think it proper to cross the river and begin below Little Sandy and come up on the Kentucky side. Between the narrows and the mouth of the Little Sandy, about 1803 or 1804, settled John NICHOLSON. His wife's maiden name was Casandra WILCOX. Their children's names were John, Patty, Nicholas, James, Nancy, Casandra and Alfred, (this last born here.) I never knew who John and Nicholas married. Patty married Benj. CHINN. I think that James married a Miss STEWART. Nancy died when about 14 years old. Casandra married James BARKLEY. What became of Alfred I never knew? NICHOLSON had several slaves which rapidly increased. He had a blacksmith shop, and in a small way worked at that business. But principally lived by farming. After having cleared up a pretty large farm for the times, he died. The widow and family left this place, and moved up and settled in the bottom out back of Ferguson's sandbar. When the NICHOLSON'S moved to this country, they left their son John among their friends in Maryland. Some years after his father's death, he moved out and settled on the riverbank, a little above hanging Rock. He was considered a swifter runner than any man in Greenup, Lawrence or Scioto Counties, except Jesse MARTIAL, of Scioto, between whom, as far as was publicly known, it remained an unsettled question. It was rumored, however, that they had a secret meeting, and a trial of speed. That MARTIAL afterward said, "I have a horse if NICHOLSON can pay his ferriage, he is welcome to him." This, if said, was not in reference to NICHOLSON'S lack of means, for in reference to NICHOLSON'S ability to win him in a race About this time that NICHOLSON settled below on the upper point of Little Sandy, settled Lewis WILCOX, an uncle of Mrs. NICHOLSON. His wife's name I never knew. They had no children. He had four able bodied Negro men. He built a hewed log-house with clapboard roof, chinked it with wood and daubed it with common clay, with outside chimney, which, in fact, was about the universal position of chimneys in those days. I have been thus particular in describing this first house ever built in what is now known as Greenupsburg. When WILCOX settled here, the land was covered with a heavy growth of beech, poplar, oak, etc. But his slaves soon cleared up a field of several acres, where Greenup now stands. What became of this old gentleman has entirely passed from me. About one-half mile above Sandy settled Andrew HOOD commonly called Major HOOD. His wife's name I have forgotten. Their children were Sarchet, Thomas, Elizabeth, Patty, Andrew, Rachael, Henry and Catharine all born before they came here. Thomas married Sarah PICKET. What became of Elizabeth and Patty I have forgotten. Sarchet married Jesse GRIFFITHS before they came here; Andrew married a Miss CRAIN; Rachael married Joseph HOWE: Henry and Catharine died in youth. Major HOOD was the first settler in this part, of Greenup County, if not the county. Old Mrs. HOOD was the first that practiced midwifery in all this region of country; which she continued to do with credit to herself, until she discovered that she was beginning to be disqualified by the infirmities of age, when she refused to continue the practice any longer, alleging also that now there were others to attend to it. Hood's Run forked some two or three yards from the mouth, the left hand fork lay parallel with the river up the bottom for a mile then it came at nearly right angles from the hill. At some distant period back, at this angle, the water had obtained a passage through direct to the river, and cut the channel down below the old bed, so that it no more passed down the former channel, and now known as Howe's Run. This in time of high water in the river, put the whole bank down to Hood's Run, in the condition of an island. When the owners of the Little Sandy Salt Works began to export salt by wagons down to the Ohio River, HOOD to facilitate his yard being their depot, also for the convenience of his own farm, built a high frame bridge over the branch of the run. This bridge was the first frame bridge built on either side of the river between Big Sandy and Big Scioto that had any connection with public utility. After HOOD'S death, the depot was moved up to Boone's and this bridge fell into decay. After Greenup County became organized, Court was held for some years in a rough plank shed attached to the north end of his house. The Judge's seats were on rough plank scaffold, raised sufficiently high for them to overlook the bar, jury and audience. In those days, such a thing as a bolt for flour was never connected with any mill in these parts. HOOD bought a fine brass wire sieve 18 inches in diameter, for which he paid $2, and fixed up a little room adjoining the court room, with all the conveniences necessary for sifting, and gave all the neighbors free privilege to fetch their grist their to sift their flour. The opportunity was readily embraced by all who had any wheat ground; though it cost them hours of weary labor to get a little coarse flour. In a shed attached to the south end of his house was kept for some time, the first dry goods store kept on either side of the river between Big Sandy and Big Scioto. It was kept by Benjamin CHINN. HOOD owned no slaves, but owned the largest breed of hogs in the county, called English hogs, kept a very large flock of geese, the first kept in these parts; was an industrious farmer; cleared up a considerable farm and set out the first apple orchard in Greenup County. He was a respected and good citizen. Next above his farther settled Thomas HOOD. His wife's name was Sarah PICKET. Their first child was named Libni. T. HOOD was the first man in all these parts to raise a nursery of apple trees, all seedlings. On T. HOOD'S land, near the hill on the east bank of Hood's Run, in a rough log cabin built for the purpose, was kept the first school between Big Sandy and Tiger Creek, and I am pretty certain that it was the first in Greenup County. The school was made up of scholars from both sides of the river, and was kept by Silas WOOTEN. His wife's name was Theba. They had two children, Rhoda and William. In this school were concentrated children of the most prominent citizens of this county; but WOOTEN was a teacher of the true backwoods type, as to literate qualifications. T. HOOD was considered a good hunter, but lived principally by farming. After living here some years he moved back on the waters of the east fork of Little Sandy, became a Methodist and sustained a good character as a citizen. After he left the house was occupied for some time by a man whose name was ROBINSON. E was a tailor, and the first of this occupation who lived in all this region of country. His price for making a neat body coat for a man was $2.50. I would not have named this man, but that you might know who our first tailor, and what it then cost to get a coat made. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- May 16, 1872 The next above settled the celebrated Col. Daniel BOONE. But before detailing my recollections of the BOONE family, I wish to preface them with a few remarks of a general nature. Before Kentucky became organized into a State, she was under the laws of Virginia, whose land policy authorized individuals, under the authority of a land warrant issued by her, to take up land for his own private use. The individual then got a surveyor to run around the land which he wished to take up, had the corners, distances and courses all noted, and then got his survey, with his warrant, recorded in the office where the law required them to be recorded. The first recorded warrant and survey held the land. In such a way of doing business it was next to impossible, but that individuals in having their warrants would lap over on each other's survey. Had statesmen designedly concocted a system to produce litigation and trouble in this country, it is difficult o conceive how they could have produced one more effectual for that purpose, than the land policy of Virginia. Col. BOONE, in a conversation with my father, gave the following account of his Kentucky land failure; He got his warrant and laid it on a tract of 4,000 acres of choice land lying on the waters of a stream called Elkhorn; apprehending no danger he omitted for so e time to get his warrant and survey recorded. In the meantime Robert JOHNSTON, the father of Richard M. JOHNSTON, afterward Vice President of the United States, laid his warrant on the land covered by BOONE'S warrant and being a prompt man to attend to his own interests in these matters, got his warrant and survey recorded. Suit was afterward entered to decided who should hold the land; and after litigating the matter for some time, one day they met in the street; said JOHNSTON: "BOONE, I will keep you out of the land as long as I live; but to settle the matter and end our lawing, I will give you for you claim 400 acres of the Ohio River, one mile above the mouth of Little Sandy, for which I will give you a warrantee deed." BOONE rejected JOHNSTON'S proposition and went and told his lawyer what JOHNSTON had proposed. His lawyer advised him by all means to accept JOHNSON'S offer, which he ultimately did. BOONE left Kentucky and with his family moved to Big Kanawha: lived there some time; then moved down here, about 1800. His wife's name I never knew. Their children's names were Daniel, Jesse and Nathan. Previous to their moving here Daniel had gone to Missouri; who he married I never knew. Jesse married Chloe VANBIBBER. They had two children when they moved here, viz.: Harriet and Alphonso; and as I stated in a former letter, after they came here, Nathan married Olive VANBIBBLER. They built a rough log cabin about 18 X 25, in which they all lived until the Col. Moved away. In the meantime Jesse was building a hewed log house, about 20 X 30, two stories high, with a shingle roof. This was the first shingle roofed dwelling house built in the county. At this time the Colonel's eyes had began to fail. I remember being there one day with my father; their attention being attracted by an object on the other side of the river; that he got his spectacles to ascertain what that object was, that he said, that he "used these glasses in shooting," While he lived here he did not hunt much, though game of all kinds was then plenty. What he did was mainly for pastime. Jesse and Nathan were both good hunters, but seemed to take no special interest in it, further than convenience. Mrs. BOONE, as I remember her, was a little taller than the common size, rather spare, slightly aquiline nose, fine forehead, good countenance and of a genteel manner. The Col. She said that she was a better horseman than he "for she had set her horses and jumped him up and down benches of rocks in crossing the mountains that he could not. The colonel was a little over the common size, of a well proportioned figure, neither spare nor corpulent, features formed on the Grecian model of an agreeable, frank, open countenance; in manners what we might call one of Nature's gentlemen. While the Col. Lived here, he and my father spent much of the leisure time together, recounting the adventures of past life. He expressed great dissatisfaction with the land policy and his treatment; that after he had risked his life and the lives of his family, and done what he had to promote the settlement of that fine country, to be stripped of what he believed justly his in equity, through the technicalities of law, rasped his feelings, and let him to determine to quit the country. Accordingly, he formed the resolution of going to Missouri, which at the time belonged to Spain. Soon after this, accompanied by his wife, his son Nathan and his wife, he left for Missouri. I heard by one who ought to know, that the Spanish Governor, in view of the value which he set upon the Col. As a acquisition to the country, made a grant of ten miles square; but that when the country came to be ceded to the United States, in consequence of some failure to establish this grant that it was not admitted to be valid by the United States, but that the United States in lieu of it gave him ten square miles. For the truth of these grants, I cannot vouch. Jesse BOONE remained on the place, lived by faring, owned several slaves, became Judge of the Court, was active in promoting schools, and in every way proved to be a first class citizen. While living here there were added to his children, Minerva, Panthea and Mattison. Minerva married Winecup WARNER. None of the rest of his children married while the family lived here. The Colonel's last Kentucky cabin, after serving sundry domestic purposes for some years, w as converted into a school house, in which a Mr. JOHNSTON taught a common English school for three months. This was the last of my schooling in Kentucky. The cabin at last went the way of all backwoods cabins. In 1819, Jesse BOONE and family moved to Missouri. When they were aboard their keelboat, about to shove off I stepped on board to bid them farewell. This is the last time I ever saw one of this much-respected family. The last time that I saw Nathan BOONE, was some years after the Colonel moved to Missouri. He was back on business. Court was being held at Major HOOD'S. The yard was full of men. A man by the name of Silas WOOTEN, a slab guilt six-footer, for some cause struck Jesse BOONE, who at the time was nearly bed-ridden with the fever and ague, on the head with something like an Irish shillelagh; the blood gushed, which Nathan seeing, sprang at WOOTEN. WOOTEN took to his heels and Nathan after him. About every other jump Nathan's fist would light on WOOTEN like a mallet. WOOTEN re-doubled his efforts and fled as for dear life, shifting and turning every way that offered him a prospect for escape, but no locomotive effort of WOOTEN could save him from Nathan's fist, until he had given him what he thought he deserved, which was done much to the gratification of spectators. *Some years ago, when I was at the French Grant, I visited Major John C. KOUNTZ who was then living in Greenupsburg". In speaking of the BOONE family, he said he "wondered that none of the writers of Col. BOONE'S life had not mentioned the fact of his having lived in this country; that the Historical Society of Cincinnati, had written to him to furnish them what he knew of BOONE'S life, with that of any prominent settlers, but that he had neglected it". I mentioned doubtingly the report of his having lived at Big Kanawa. KOUNTZ replied: "There is no mistake of his once having lived at Big Kanawha. I know that he certainly did." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 20, 1872 In my last, I closed with an anecdote expressive of the times. In this, I resume the history of the settlements. Next above BOONE settled John HOCKADAY. He came to these parts a single man, not far from 180 or 1805. He was said to possess $3,000 in cash. He kept school for one term in an old cabin between Thos. HOODS and Jesse BOONE''. He bought a tract of unimproved land. (I think it was part of the BOONE tract) built a hewed log double house, with an open entry between, nearly as wide as either end was long shingle roof and brick chimneys. I mention these things, because brick chimneys and shingle roof were not yet common in these parts, and the plan of the house on the whole was rather novel. HOCKADAY obtained the Clerkship of the Court of Greenup County kept his office in his own house, a few miles above Greenupsburg. After living here some years he married Margaret DONATHAN, a young lady of a good family, and of respectable character. On settling here, HOCKADAY commenced opening and improving his land, in which he succeeded to a considerable extent. He was considered a good shot, with the rifle, and enjoyed as a gentleman the chase and the fishing rod, but did not let them interfere with business. Of his children, I have no distinct knowledge, as they were born, after I ceased to be familiar with these parts. He had a nephew, named Irwin, who lived with him, and wrote in the office. He owned some slaves, and was never known to use his tongue or his talents, to the injury of others. Few men sustained a more amiable and worthy character than John HOCKADAY. I understood that he died of consumption. Not far from 1802 or 1803, next above settled John HOW; his wife's name I have forgotten. Their children's names were Joseph, Rebecca, Ellenore, Sarah, William, Daniel and John, (all born before they came here.) Joseph married Rachel HOOD; Rebecca married James WORNOCK; Ellenore married Roland CORNELIUS; who the younger members of the family married I never knew. Daniel went to the State prison for killing his father's Negro man. William now owned several slaves. After living here some years, he moved back a few miles among the hills, and opened a new farm which they called Willow Cave; HOW was strongly attached to the British form of government, and even while living here, he took a a trip to Canada, on foot, to see the country, and what were the prospects of settling there. After How moved back from the river, the place was occupied by Rueben DAWSON. His wife's maiden name was ______ SLAUGHTER. But she died before the family moved here. Their children's names were Gabriel, Fanny, Arthur, Henry and Joseph. None of them were married, while they lived here. Fanny was considered a very handsome young lady. DAWSON lived by farming Ð was a slave owner. About 1806 or 1807 he built the first keel boat on either side of the Ohio River between Portsmouth and Gallipolis. She was about 9 tons burden. After living here some years, the family scattered, and the farm fell into the hands of John HOCKADAY. Next above was a 1,000-acre tract. This was bought, and settled on by L. WILCOX, (a brother of Mrs. NICHOLSON). His wife's name I never knew. Their children's names I have forgotten except their two oldest sons, Leven and Loid. WILCOX, failing to make payment for this tract of land, left, and the last I knew of the family, they were living on the Scioto, some miles from Portsmouth. After he left, the place was bought by Martin SMITH, who settled there about 1808. I never knew Mrs. Smith's name. Their children's names were Robert, William, Wooton, Elizabeth, Nancy, Creed and I think, John. Robert and William were named when the SMITH family moved here. Of Wooten's marriage, I have no knowledge. Elisabeth married John C. KOUNTZ. Nancy married William WARD. Of the marriage of the younger children, I have no knowledge. Martin SMITH owned more slaves than any other man in the county. He was a farmer, and employed his force in the improvement of his land. The days of bear, elk and deer hunting had nearly passed away, when he settled here. He, however, showed considerable taste for fowling and small game as a recreation. The next above, and just below Tailor's Run, settled Benjamin ULIN. His wife's name was Catherine. Their elder children's names were Benjamin, John, Nancy, and Samuel. There were several younger children, whose names I never knew. ULIN was a farmer he owned one man slave. The ULINS lived here several years then moved back two or three miles among the hills. Benjamin married the widow of Roland CORNELIUS, her that was Ellenore HOW). John married a lady up above Marietta, named Harriet FRAIZER .Of the other marriages in the family I am not posted. John became an itinerant Methodist preacher, and after traveling several years, as an acceptable minister, he died of the cholera down in the Miami country. Next above settled Rueben RUCKER. His wife's name I never knew. Their children's names were Nancy, Ambrose and Edwin, (all born before they moved here). What became of this family has entirely escaped my memory. RUCKER was a man of respectable character, and I think for some time, acted a Sheriff of the county. He was commonly known by the title of Major RUCKER. Next, but back in the bottom, settled Mr. FERRIL. His wife's maiden name was ______CORNELIUS. They had one daughter named Margaret Ð she was a pious member of the Baptist church. Mr. FERRIL was a farmer, owned slaves and was considered a first class citizen. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 27, 1872 Next above settled Josiah DAVIDSON, (commonly called "Short Si" to distinguish from any other Josiah DAVIDSON.) His wife's name was Amy ______. Their children's names I have forgotten except the two oldest sons, Rueben and Jesse. Rueben married a daughter of William GUTHRIE, a respectable Baptist minister. One of the daughters married John THOMAS, and another married William MCCARTNEY. There were a few that equaled Jesse as a marksman with the rifle, in this or any other country. After living here some years, this family moved back on the waters of the East Fork of Little Sandy. DAVIDSON was a farmer, but not a slaveholder. Next, above settled Stephen COLVIN. His wife's name I never knew. Their children were John and two other boys, whose name I have forgotten both of whom were prelatic to an extent that rendered them incapable of business. John married Margaret DAVIDSON and made a first class citizen. Mr. COLVIN was a farmer, and owned slaves He, in connection with a gentleman by the name of BARKLEY, who lived at Rumla, VA, bought of Congress all that fine bottom in the lower end of Lawrence County, between Luke KELLY'S section and the French Grant. He kept the best-blooded horses of any man in all this region of country, and furnished a number of valuable stallions which proved of much use in those early days. From his house and that of "Short Si," DAVIDSON"S was obtained the best view of the Hanging Rock. Next above settled Josiah DAVIDSON. To distinguish him from the first name Josiah, he was called "Long Si." He was a farmer. I never knew his wife's name. Their children's names were Lizzie, Maple and Samuel, all nearly grown up when they moved here. This family did not live here many years. Where they went, or what became of them has passed from me. After they left, the place was occupied by a William ROBY. This family stayed but a few years, and moved into Ohio down in the Miami country. Next above settled Joseph POWELL, an illustrious farmer, and a member of the Baptist church. Their children's names were Vincent, Catherine and Benjamin. They had several younger children whose names I have forgotten. Vincent married Polly KELLY. Benjamin married Rev. John YOUNG'' daughter. What became of Catherine I have forgotten? Having arrived at a point nearly opposite where I commenced, I shall go no farther, but return and give you some account of the early settlement of Greenupsburg. In a former letter I told you that Lewis WILCOX first settled there, and cleared up a part of the ground where Greenupsburg now stands. The land, as I understood, belonged to Robert JOHNSTON, of Kentucky; (Col. BOONE'S land antagonist.) To give aid to the formation of the contemplated town, he came up and built a little tub mill at the falls of Little Sand. This was the first attempt at improving this waterpower. JOHNSTON was a heavy set man, and at his time a little inclined to corpulence. His son Richard (he that was afterward Vice President of the United States), was also, here for a short time. He was then rather spare, and as I remember him slightly over the common size. I do not remember that JOHNSTON or his son was ever here, but the one summer. James MCGUIRE put up the first carpenter shop. O. S. TIMBERTAKE put up and kept the first tavern. Reason DAVIS put up the first (and only) hat shop. He lived in the WILCOX house, and kept the first ferry. Robert DAUGHERTY established the first dry Goods store. JONES and NOBLE put up a small cotton spinning factory, ran it for some time, and then move it to Portsmouth when it fell through. Mr. SEATON established the first school in the shape of an academy (a little out of the town) run it a little while; it fell through, and he turned lawyer. The first resident lawyer was a young man by the name of FISHBACK. He however did not remain long. The first resident doctor was a man by the name of GREEN. I think that the first sermon in Greenupsburg, was preached by R. LINDSEY, an itinerant Methodist minister, about 1812, who came then to establish Circuit preaching in town, but not meeting with any encouragement, on the invitation of Thomas GILRUTH, of the French Grant, he made his house a preaching place. I think the second sermon there, was preached by the celebrated Lorenzo DOW. His description of sinful conduct made considerable talk among the town people in as much as the description so closely fitted some cases that it puzzled some of them to account for it. Up to 1818, I have not the most distant knowledge of their having lived in the place so much as one man, woman or child that made any profession of, or gave any evidence of being religiously inclined. Benjamin LOCK, of the French Grant, built the first Courthouse. A frame building composed of white pine lumber, for which he received $900. I have forgotten who built the jail. It was a double walled building, composed of hewed logs about 10 inches square, with flag stones filled in between, and about 14 feet square, with a log ceiling above. The first man put in it as a criminal was a hatter, by the name of BYRMAN, who, in a quarrel with William WEBB (a brother of James WEBB, OF Ice Creek), struck him a fatal blow with his fist in the pit of the stomach, which killed him outright. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 18, 1872 In my last, having pursued the history of who settled in this or that place, I now propose to give you a summary of some of the manners and customs that prevailed among us. Our settlements were made near the close of a long and bloody Indian war, in which many of those early settlers had personally participated; also, the revolutionary struggle was to the most a thing as of yesterday. The past scenes of danger were fresh in their minds which, in a scattered population, now depend on each other for aid, tended to awaken and perpetuate in their minds a feeling of friendship, that produced a warm-hearted hospitality to each other, and to the stranger. I was 16 years old before I ever saw or heard tell of a family among us, who sat down to eat, and did not invite the strangers present to partake with them; and older than that before I knew of a traveler being refused a night's lodging; so far from it, that as far as I knew, it was the universal practice, that if any one stepped in soon after meal time, to ask him if he had been at breakfast or dinner, as the case might be; and if any one called near night and it seemed disposed to go farther, to invite him to stay all night. We commonly had our Christmas and New Year's dinners, made by those who were able, who invited all that were near to partake. At these dinners, and in our social family visits, the conversation mostly consisted in relating the events of the past wars, anecdotes of the chase, and personal experience, so that we became extensively posted in what each other knew. Of political questions, we knew and cared but little. Our common living, as well as our social feasts, consisted mostly of venison, bear meat, fish and wild fowl; the various preparations from corn, potatoes, pumpkins and other vegetables, with milk and butter; sassafras, spice-wood, dittany tea, etc., or corn coffee well sweetened with sugar of our own manufacture. Our common dress for the men and boys consisted of buckskin or lindsey pants, vest, and hunting shirt, buckskin moccasins, with flax or tol linen shirt. A few families, however never adopted the hunting shirt and moccasins, but wore coats and shoes. The women almost universally for their every day dress, wore lindsey, or cotton gowns striped or dyed to suit fancy; all of home manufacture and tailoring. The employment of the men consisted in clearing land, raising crops, hunting, fishing, and doing all things necessary to provide for their families and domestic stock; and that of the women, consisted in spinning, weaving. Knitting, tailoring, and doing all other things, in or out-doors, necessary for the interest or comfort of the family. The amusements of the men and boys were, shooting at mark, running foot races, hopping, jumping, wrestling, pitching quoits, pitching at rail, or shoulder stone, throwing an axe, playing ball, swimming etc. That of the women consisted mostly in social visits. In those days, horse racing, frolicking parties, card playing, and the different forms of gambling had not obtained any foothold among us. The raising of our houses and the rolling of our logs were done by the combined efforts of the neighbors, which neighbors extended for many miles all around, even to ten and fifteen. This mutual aid, although a severe tax on the time necessary for individual business, was absolutely necessary; for no individual, however strong, could raise houses and roll logs alone; and none were able to hire the doing of these things. This mutual aiding of each other however had these additional benefits: that it enlarged our acquaintance with each other and the country; created and cemented friendship. It was also extended to things not of absolute necessity, such as husking of corn, quilting bed-quilts, spinning, etc. In all such cases, more or less of the women assisted the good wife with her cookery. For meat, nearly all depend on the wild game of the woods, and the fish of the rivers, of which there was great abundance; and but for them it is difficult to see how the first settlements could have been sustained. Thus, men were made hunters and fishers from necessity; who had little or no relish for these occupations, and abandoned them as soon as their circumstances would permit. For bread, for years they were dependent on the hominy block, or hand-mill. Our manner of traveling, when the journey was long, if by water, the canoe was the general means of conveyance; in which we carried our provisions and bedding, such as a bear-skin and blanket. If it rained and we had not reached a house, a large leaning tree was sot, but if the weather was fair, any good shade that would keep the dew was selected, where we kindled a fire and slept for the night. If by land, we traveled either on foot or on horseback. If on foot, the traveler took a blanket and what provision he though proper, and passed on without roads, up one stream and down another; for there were no roads in the country except deer paths and buffalo trails; as for bridges there were none in existence. When he came to a stream that made it necessary, he built a raft of such logs as he could put together and ferried it; but if the water was warm and he could swim, he laid his clothes on a suitable log and swam, shoving or towing the log with his clothes. When night came on, he struck fire and slept under a tree, serenaded by the howling of the wolves and the hooting of owls. If he traveled on horseback, he took some provision for himself and a "little baiting for the horse," and threaded his way as best he could, without a track on the ground, or a blaze on a tree to guide. When night came, he hobbled and billed the horse, and turned him out to feed on the grass and pea-vines; kindled a fire and ate his grub and lay down to enjoy what rest the mosquitoes and gnats would permit, till morning. In whatever mode we traveled, the rifle, tomahawk and butcher knife were our constant companions. With the exception of funerals, religious meetings, and courts of justice, the use of liquor was almost universal. At our log rolling, our raisings, corn husking etc, it was the universal custom for the employer to furnish the employee with all that he would drink; and he was counted mean that would not provide a full supply, or provided a poor article when a good one could be had. At all our military musters, it was customary for the officers to treat their men liberally. At all elections, it was common for one or more of the friends of each candidate to procure a jug of liquor and proclaim, "This is the treat of ______!" etc. No mother was confined, and the attendants not treated to all that they would drink. It was viewed as a medicinal necessity to the traveler, to correct the effects of the change of water; to all, if the weather were cold; liquor was needful to keep up the internal heat; if warm, it was necessary to prevent its debilitating effects; if wet or foggy, it was necessary to keep from taking cold, or to prevent the ague. It was the common evidence of respect, whenever a welcome visitor arrived, he was presented with the bottle; and friendly acquaintances meeting where it was to be had, treated each other to a glass of liquor, in token of their regard for each other. Notwithstanding the good intentions with which liquor was used, its free use was vastly more productive of evil than good. There wee few quarrels except those that grew out of the use of ardent spirits; these frequently ended in a fight. When the fight was over, through the instrumentality of bystander, the parties drank friends, and so the matter ended for the time being. We had no stores among us; occasionally a trading boat passed down the river, with its flag, stopping at nearly every landing, from which we obtained such articles as we needed -but mostly from family boats, did we obtain our supplies of liquor. After we began to raise some stock, hog and cattle drovers, who generally bought on credit, giving about $2 per cwt., net, visited us. We had but little commercial business one with another; and what we had, it was common to sell and buy on credit without giving notes, and it was seldom that payment was not made according to promise, when there was ability to do it. Seldom was there any suing of each other. Sabbath breaking was common, in the form of hunting, fishing, or visiting, but seldom in the form of common labor. Such a thing as disturbing a religious meeting I do not remember to have occurred for the first twenty years. The banks of the Ohio River at the time of the first settlement of that country, were covered with heavy timber down to the water's edge, and were of a grade that a man on horseback could ride up or down them, on the rounding side, almost anywhere. The stream, with its heavily timbered banks, presented a continued display of beauty, in the summer, excelled by few rivers, on the earth. Of the difference of the manners and customs of the times of which I write, and of the appearance of the Ohio River from that of the p resent, your own observations will satisfy you. I think proper to close this narrative by a couple of anecdotes. The first was a scene in the Indian War, in which M. GILRUTH performed a part when a girl about 15 years old. In the time of the Indian War, her father, William INGLES, then living at Bellville, VA, on his farm near the Bellville Fort, had appointed that day to roll some logs. A man by the name of BROWN had come and brought his oxen, which he left standing in the yoke at the end of the house. Mr. BROWN, with the family, were sitting at breakfast, (the door being shut) when their dog commenced barking with unusual fierceness. Her father supposing that it was at the men from the Fort, coming to roll the logs, bade his daughter to step to the door and order the dog to quit. When she opened the door there were three Indian warriors standing near, one at each corner of the house and one before the door, about twelve or fifteen feet off. The Indian in front instantly raised his gun as in action to shoot her. Without showing signs of being frightened, she looked him in the face, on which he drew down his gun, saying, "Yuh." In the meantime her little brother, some four or five years old, had run out by her and passed on near half way to the Indian. She sprang forward and caught the child, and darted backwards with him into the house, shut and bolted the door, calling out, "Father, Indians!" hitherto the Indians had supposed that house to be uninhabited, but on discovering that there were people in it, they wheeled off, but as they went one of them fired and killed one of BROWN'S oxen. BROWN sprang for his rifle saying, "I will pay some of you for that;" and throwing open a small window that faced towards the woods, he saw their Chief about fifty yards off standing in the garden, watching the Fort. He drew w bead for his heart but his gun having loaded fore sometime, made long fire, during which his hand sunk a little, and he shot him through the bowels. On receiving the shot he gave the signal of retreat, fell, rose and ran to the fence, and fell again. The Indians all on precipitately retreated to the woods, except three, who came and threw down the fence and deliberately, led off their wounded Chief. Having killed a man by the name of KELLY, whom the caught some distance from the Fort, and taken his son Joseph, a child about four years old who was with him, a prisoner, and being disappointed in taking the place by surprise, they continued their retreat. They went up and crossed the river on rafts, at the mouth of the Big Hockhocking. On their way up to that stream, about four miles from its mouth, their Chief died. The inheritance were two few to follow and come to an open fight with this band of warriors, so they passed of unmolested. The prompt and daring act of young Miss INGLES, to save her brother, was not a mere impulse of the moment. It was constitutional bravery, accompanied with prompt decision. In reviewing her life, I have not the faintest recollection of so much as a solitary instance, where reason or duty required action, that she showed the least sign of hesitancy or timidity. She was no passionate blusterer, but a calm calculator, of good judgement, prompt and fearless in the execution of duty; one that prayed much and relied on God for the outcome. The second anecdote is one concerning Gen. KELLY'S grandmother, Mary KELLY. I give it as I hear it. Mrs. M. KELLY with some other women, and Joseph CRANK, of whom I have made mention in a former letter, were crossing the Ohio in a canoe, and when they were about the middle by some mishap the canoe was overset. The water was deep, and none on board could swim but Mrs. KELLY; she caught one and another as they were sinking and made them lock hands across the bottom of the canoe. She brought up CRANK and bade him climb up and sit a straddle of the canoe; she then swam out and got a paddle that was floating near and gave it to him saying, "Now paddle for the shore," which he did, and brought all safe to land. George Washington or Napoleon Bonaparte under the circumstances could not have out generaled Mary KELLY in this case. When I consider the brave and generous acts of this woman, and look at such a feat as my throwing an ax over the courthouse steeple at Franklington, although a fact, I view it as sinking into utter insignificance, and not worthy to be written on the same page. Had these women had an education equal to their natural abilities, and been placed in suitable surroundings, their superiors would have been few among the daughters of Eve. Thank God or such mothers! In giving you the history of the early settlement of those parts, I have again mentally traveled over and taken a view of the scenes of my childhood, youth, and early manhood; and have again looked in the faces, viewed the form, heard the voice, and seen the actions of each individual named; in all which, each appeared as when we were personally together. But where are they now? Of all the first settles, who yet lives? Of their children that were born before they settled here, when I and one or two others are named, I know not of another yet living. I feel very much like adopting the language of the messenger to Job, concerning his sons: "They are dead, and I only am escaped alone, to tell thee." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- {Mr. GILRUTH encloses with the above letter the following lines of his own composition. Editor Register} Of former friends how oft I've thought With joy, or brim full eye; Now silent as a thing of naught, In Mother Earth they lie. Each form and face to me appears, As when we used to meet; Nor times, nor place, nor length of years, Has changed our friendly greet. Thus, memory paints the streams and lands, Where we together walked; The toils, and labor of our hands, With that of which we talked. Since last we met in youthful hours, Long years have rolled between; And naught remains but feeble powers, That soon will cease to be. To all yet living friends, farewell; Hail, ashes of the dead; Who lived on earth to do God's will With you I'll soon be laid. I make yet one appointment more, And make it as my last; That if on earth we meet no more, We meet among the blest. June 28, 1872 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Transcribed by Mary Ann St. Louis ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Mary Ann St. Louis October 11, 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------