Greenbrier County, West Virginia - 160th Anniversary Booklet - Part 29

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Historical Booklet - Greenbrier County
160th Anniversary - 1778-1938
Published 1938
Transcribed by Lori Samples <dawg @mail.us-net.com>

AFTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY YEARS

<note: these are the historical markers that were placed during the
celebration which this booklet commemorates, the 160th anniversary of
Greenbrier County, which was obviously celebrated by many adjoining counties
as well>

COL. JOHN STUART
Father and Founder of Greenbrier County.   Due to his commanding service as
soldier, educator and organizer the Virginia Assembly created this county
March 1, 1778.
                                                          ---------
Gallant Officer in the army of General Lewis at the Battle of Point
Pleasant, he said: "This battle was, in fact, the beginning of the
Revolutionary War that obtained for our country the liberty and independence
enjoyed by the United States."

GEN. ANDREW LEWIS
General Andrew Lewis surveyed in this valley in 1751 and promoted
settlement.  In September, 1774, he organized his army here at Camp Union,
and marched to Point Pleasant, where he defeated the Indians under Cornstalk
in the first battle of the Revolution.   For the Lewis's this town was
named.

FORT SAVANNAH
Survey and settlement of these "Big Levels" began in 1751 and Fort
Greenbrier was built in 1755.  Fort Savannah was built on this spot in
1770.  The settlement, later called Lewisburg, became in 1782, the third
incorporated town in what is now West Virginia.

TRIBUTE TO MEN OF THE MOUNTAINS
"Leave me but a banner to plant upon the mountains of Augusta, and I will
rally around me the men who will lift our bleeding country from the dust,
and set her free."  -Washington

SITE OF FORT DONNALLY
    Erected by Colonel Andrew Donnally in 1771.  In May 1778 twenty families
gathered in fort withstood fierce attack of 200 Shawnee Indians until relief
arrived from Fort Savannah under Captain John Stuart and Colonel Samuel
Lewis.
    Dick Pointer, negro slave of Capt. Donnally was a hero of the battle.

FORT STUART
Erected here 1770, by Col. John Stuart, leader of the first permanent
settlement of Greenbrier Valley and father of Greenbrier County, which he
organized at this place.  The act creating it became effective 1778.  He
built first county clerk's office at his home "Stuart Manor" near here.

CLENDENNIN MASSACRE
Near this marker occurred the massacre of Archibald Clendenin and other
settlers in 1763 by the Shawnee Indians, led by Cornstalk.  His wife escaped
to the Jackson River settlement; later married John Rogers, of whom Will
Rogers, the humorist, is a descendant.

FRANKFORD PERMANENT SETTLERS
To this vicinity came the permanent settlers, in 1769.  That year Colonel
John Stuart found William Hamilton planting near here the first acre of corn
raised in Greenbrier Valley.  Near here Stuart erected his cabin home, and
on this spot, the first grist mill west of the Alleghenies was built.

THE BATTLE OF WHITE SULPHUR
was fought on this site August 26th, and 27th, 1863.  The Confederates, some
of Major General Sam Jones' forces were commanded by Colonel George S.
Patton and the Federal  by Brigadier General William W. Averell.  About 4000
troops were engaged.  General Averell withdrew on the 27th towards the east.

CAPTAIN THOMAS EDGAR
First surveyor of Greenbrier County; one of the first trustees of Lewisburg
and Platted the Town.  Useful, respected, trusted citizen; In many
capacities and official of the county.  On this spot about 1793 he built the
first home at St. Lawrence Ford, now Ronceverte.

MUDDY CREEK MASSACRE
Under the guise of friendliness, Chief Cornstalk and sixty warriors
destroyed this settlement in 1763.  Frederick Sea, Joseph Carrol, Felty
Yolkum and others were victims.  Women and children were taken prisoners to
Indian Towers in Ohio.  Here stood Fort Arbuckle, built in 1774.

MARKER AT ALDERSON
    Old Greenbrier Baptist Church, founded by elder John Alderson, November
24, 1781 with 12 charter members.
    The first church to be founded west of the Allegheny mountains.