Thomas Warden Article, 1950

"Thomas Warden Moved Into Raleigh In 1830's; Eldest Son Stood Six-Week
Vigil In Wilderness"
Article published 26 Aug. 1950 in Beckley Post-Herald Centennial Edition;
Reprinted by permission.

One of the finest farms in early Raleigh County was owned by Thomas Warden,
who migrated from Virginia about 1832 and settled near the present site of 
the Beckley-Mt. Hope Airport.

Papers of the Warden family, which date back 150 years, reveal that Thomas
Warden was born October 9, 1801, and moved here after spending his early 
life in Pulaski County, Va.  His wife, Martha Black Warden, was born Sept. 
10, 1802.

Scores of Raleigh Countians can trace their heritage to this pioneer couple.

--Big Farm

According to descriptions which have been handed down, the original Warden
farm covered the airport, crossing Route 19-21 to extend as far as Skelton
and including the surrounding areas.  Several of the Warden children - there
were 13 - settled on sections of this property and the entire area became
known by the family name.  Warden post office was operated there for many
years.

Thomas Warden's land, level and rich, was developed under the pioneer's axe
and grubbing hoe into a dairy farm.  He bought cattle in Wyoming County but
because there was no nearby market, was forced to sell as far away as 
Greenbrier County and even Front Royal, Va.

Martha and Thomas Warden's children and their birthdates included:

Robert, November 22, 1820; Nancy Warden (Carper), Sept. 12, 1822; John W.,
Oct. 12, 1825; Mary A. Warden (Stover), Sept. 24, 1827; Martha J. Warden
(Greer), Dec. 21, 1829; Hughes J., born December 13, 1831.  He was killed
in the Civil War, it is believed in the Battle of Gettysburg.

Sarah Frances Warden (Hurt), born November 27, 1834.  She was the family's
first child born in Raleigh County.

Elizabeth M. Warden (Curtis), November 30, 1836.

David J., November 30, 1838.  He also saw Civil War service.

Emily Warden (Williams), February 20, 1840.

Thursey Warden, who was born March 6, 1842 and died in infancy.

Miriam Warden (Bailey), August 17, 1846.

William T., May 29, 1848.

--Perils Of Early Life

The perils and adventures of life in earliest Raleigh County are capsuled
in the story of Robert Warden, who as a youth of 14, remained for six weeks
in the wilderness alone but for his dog and his gun.

Thomas Warden set out from Virginia with Robert and perhaps several other
members of his family and arriving at a place near the Pepsi-Cola plant, on
the present McCreery property, staked out his claim.  Leaving Robert to 
watch over the land, the others turned back toward Virginia where the rest
of the family awaited the signal to begin the long move.

Members of the Warden family recount the climax of the story as it has been
handed down to them - how the rivers froze before the Wardens could complete
their journey back, and how Robert was left during six weeks of winter.  It
is further told how his mother worried constantly; the only person that 
Robert saw during his vigil was a Mr. Blake, from Mt. Hope.  Then the 
Wardens were reunited and they built their first home and a sheepfold at the
place where Robert waited, with another incident in frontier life behind
them.  Robert died about 1894.

--Warden Community

In 1852, the family moved again, this time near the airport location, where
a big farm was developed and the children, with their own families, settled
nearby, placing a big area under the Warden name.  A large land-holder,
Thomas Warden gave large tracts of land to his children: John lived near the
present site of the Open Air Theater, and Robert lived nearby.  Later, 
John's son, McDowell Warden, was the first postmaster at the Warden Post
Office, which was discontinued years ago.

All the Wardens were farmers in these early days.  Thomas Warden died in 
February, 1881 and his wife Martha soon afterward.  They are buried in the 
family cemetery near Skelton, by the side of their son, William, and his 
wife.

Here are the living grandchildren of this pioneer couple:

--Grandchildren

Mrs. Mollie Moore, of Huntington, and Mrs. Sally Warden of Columbus, Ohio,
daughters of Nancy Warden Carper; Mrs. Olivia Curtis, of Skelton, daughter
of Mrs. Mary Ann Stover Warden; Mrs. Emma Harrah and Joe Greer, both of 
Stanaford, children of Martha Warden Greer; Luther and Jim Warden, of 
Beckley, and Mrs. Laura Snuffer, of Maple Meadow, children of Elizabeth
Warden Curtis; Mrs. Emma Thurmond, of Beckley, Mrs. Susie Harvey, of 
Ashland, Ky., and Frank, of Hilltop and Charles Warden, of Glen Jean, whose
father was David J. Warden; Burke Williams, of Ghent Road, and Mrs. Effie
Stover, Prosperity, daughter and son of Emily Warden Williams; Mrs. J. P. 
Tyree, and Elbert Bailey, both of Cirtsville, children of Miriam Warden 
Bailey; and Mrs. Annie L. Guy and Mrs. Daisy Ferguson, both Beckleyans and
daughters of William T. Warden.

Submitted by Melissa Bailey Duggins <mduggins@lexcominc.net>

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