History of Ritchie County
The following is taken from the book "History of Ritchie County" written by Minnie Kendall
Lowther, and published in 1910.
Transcribed by Janet Waite.

Chapter IV
Thomas and Phebe Cunningham

The year 1807 was marked by the coming of Thomas and Phebe Cunningham, From Harrison county.
Though many historic reminiscences cluster about the names of the brave-hearted pioneers of this
county, perhaps no other one is of such absorbing Interest as the one that hangs about the
memory of Thomas and Phebe Cunningham; And, perhaps, too, no other pioneer family is more
largely represented among the Present citizenship of the county; and from the pages of
"Border Warfare" we glean the story of their adventure with the Indians, before they became
identified with the history of Ritchie county:

In 1785, when our tragical story opens, Thomas Cunningham and his brother, Edward,resided in
Harrison county on Bingamon creek, a branch of the West fork, in adjoining cabins. Thomas was
absent on a trading expedition, when six indians made their appearance at his home.

Mrs. Cunningham and the four children were gathered about the dinner-table when one entered ,and
closing the door behind him, stood with drawn tomahawk for a few moments; then, having at once
apprehended danger from the other cabin, and having no such fear of the helpless mother and
children, he seemed for a time only intent upon his own escape.

Edward, seeing the Indian enter his brother's cabin, secured his own door, and, stepping to a
small opening in the wall, stood ready to fire when the intruder should make his appearance; but
in Thomas' cabin was a like aperature, and through it the Indian fired at Edward, and gave the
signal for victory, which was answered by Edward, who saw the aim of the savage in time to save
his life. So narrow was his escape that the bark from the log struck him in the face.

The Indian, seeing that he had missed his aim, at once seized and adz and Began Cutting an
outlet through the back of the cabin, so that he could escape without danger From Edward's
house. While thus engaged, he asked Mrs. Cunningham how many were In the other cabin, and she
tacitly replied by holding up the fingers of both hands.

Just after the firing had ceased another Indian entered the yard, and, seeing Edward's gun
through the port hole, beat a hasty retreat, but Edward fired, the bullet taking effect in the
Indian's hip; he managed, however, to reach some place of safety before Cunningham could again
load his gun.

Mrs. Cunningham made no effort to escape, for she felt that death only awaited her at the hands
of the lurking foe without. To escape with her Children was impossible; and to leave them at the
mercy of this savage Monster was not to be thought of. So she cherished the hope that he might
quietly withdraw, but the fallacy of such a hope was soon evident, when he sank his ruthless
tomahawk into the brains of one of her children, and casting its scarcely lifeless form into the
yard, ordered her to follow him. She, knowing that resistance meant certain death, quietly
obeyed, stepping over the dead body of her child, as she passed out with her babe in her arms,
and the other two children clinging to her and screaming frantically at the horror of the sight.

When all were outside, scalping the dead boy, he set fire to the house, and withdrew to a high
point in the field, where he joined his two companion, who were caring for the wounded Indian.
The other two were left to guard the door of Edward's house, so that they could strike the fatal
blow when the flames should drive them out; but fortunately the family were able to extinguish
the fire from within by tearing the boards from the roof, though the Indians kept up their
firing all the while.

Without hope of accomplishing more, and fearing detection, they gathered together, and, having
tomahawked the elder Cunningham boy and his little sister - whom they beat against a tree until
life was extinct - they took their departure. Mrs. Cunningham said that the last she was of her
little daughter was one quivering foot sticking up from behind a log, where she had been thrown.
The poor mother stood aghast, dazed with grief, momentarily expecting the death blow to fall
upon her and the little one at her breast. But a more cruel fate awaited her - that of the life
of a captive.

From this awful scene, she was taken to a cave. (This cave is said to be about two miles from
the scene of the capture, on Little Indian run - a branch of Bingamon creek - in Harrison
county.) Here the Indians remained until night, and under cover of darkness, returned to the
home of Edward Cunningham, and, finding it deserted, plundered, and set it on fire.

Mr. Cunningham and his family had taken refuge in the forest during the night, the nearest
settlement being eight or ten miles distant, and on the following morning gave the alarm; and a
company of men were soon in pursuit. When they reached the scene of the tragedy, finding the
cabins in ashes, and being unable to follow the trail, so carefully had it been covered, they
buried the remains of the children and returned to their homes. But after the lapse of a few
days, circumstances pointed to the suspicion that the savages were still in the vicinity, and
another search was instituted, in which the trail was followed to the mouth of the cave and
lost. But Major Robinson, being familiar with the forest, and after dwelling upon the incidents
of the day, remembered the cave, and upon investigating, found that it had been their hiding
place, but was now deserted. They had resumed their journey during the night, having been
detained here by the wounded Indian, who, Mrs. Cunningham said, was borne from the cave, and she
never saw him again. She supposed that he was dead, and that his remains were sunk in a pool
near by.

She said that the whites were so near several times that she could distinctly hear their voices;
that they stood upon the rock above her head. But a savage stood over her with an uplifted
tomahawk, commanding silence, and forcing her to keep the child to her breast, lest its cries
should lead to their apprehension.

Owing to this delay, they did not reach their own country for some time, and the poor captive's
suffering from hunger, fatigue and grief, was almost beyond human endurance; and the helpless
infant at the breast, sought milk and obtained blood instead. The Indians, observing this,
ended its sufferings by tomahawk, while it clung to its mother's bosom, and then cast its
lifeless form beside the pathway, without leaf or branch to protect it from the beasts of prey.

No tongue or pen can describe the anguish of the suffering mother, whose only sustenance for ten
days was the head of a wild turkey and three pawpaws. By the frequent wading of streams, her
feet had become so scalded, that when she reached the village of the Delawares and was permitted
to remove her stockings, the nails and skin came with them. Yet, on the following day, she was
compelled to continue her journey. A humane Indian of the village somewhat alleviated her pain
by an application of sanative herbs.

One incident of the dreadful march, which has been omitted by the historian, but which will
doubtless add interest here, we glean from the Autobiography of the late Rev. James L. Clarke,
who heard it from her own lips, and who tells it in the following language:

"It was during the painful march after the murder of her babe, that she was converted.
Overwhelmed and horrified at the murder of her children, and the terrible suffering she was then
undergoing, she longed to die, and wished the savages would kill her".

"One day while wishing for death, the question was forced into her mind, 'Are you prepared to
die?' It awakened her, she was that she was a sinner, and if she died as she had lived, she
would be lost and would have to endure suffering forever to which the sufferings of the present
would bear no comparison, and that she must be forever separated from her children, whom she had
no doubt were now in Heaven".

"She now became very much alarmed and feared that they would kill her before she was prepared to
die. Her sins became a burden too intolerable to be borne, and She went to Him who said 'Come
unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest".

"One night after the Indians had lain down in a circle around the fire, with her inside the
circle, she kneeled down at the foot of a tree and in her agony wrestled with God in prayer,
and taking Jesus as her Savior, the blessing came in power. She sprang to her feet clapping her
hands, and shouting at the top of her voice, 'Glory to God.' The savages raised upon their
elbows, gave the Indian 'yough', watched her for a while, and lay down again. She continued to
shout for some time, the fear of death was gone, and her soul was exceedingly happy". And from
this time until her death, she continued a faithful devoted Christian.

When the home of her captors was reached, she received no barbarous treatment, But she was
filled with fear and the apprehension of some impending doom. Everything about her seemed to
bode evil. She was delivered into the hands of the father of the wounded and missing Indian, and
was compelled to wear her soiled clothing, which was regarded to be a bad omen for a captive.
And thus, for three years her captivity continued.

A conference, preparatory to a treaty between the Whites and the Indians, was pending, when, one
evening, she noticed an unusual commotion in the village, and, upon inquiry, learned the
presence of the great Simon Girty occasioned it.

She determined to ask him to intercede for her release, and on the following day, seeing him
passing by on horseback, she went to him and lay hold of his stirrup, and implored his
interference in her behalf, which at first, was only met with derision; but though the heart of
this cheiftain had long been a stranger to tenderness and sympathy, her entreaties finally
succeeded in touching, his better nature, and he made intercession for her, secured her release,
made provisions for her ransom, and had her conveyed to the Commissioners who negotiated the
treaty.

During the autumn of 1788, having been in captivity for three long, weary years, she was taken
to a great Indian conference, at the foot of the Maumee rapids, on or near the present site of
Perrysburg, Ohio; and while here, Captain Girty brought the case before the British agent,
McKee, who furnished the trinkets for the ransom, and she was set free; and from here, she went
to Kentucky with two gentlemen, who came to this conference in quest of their captive children.

After much difficulty and no little delay, she finally reached her old home - the home of Edward
Cunningham - in Harrison county, and found that her husband, on hearing of her release, had gone
in quest of her. Depressed by the dis- appointment of not meeting him, and by the thought of the
danger and peril that attended his every footstep, she could not enter into the spirit of
rejoicing, that her homecoming had occasioned; but within a few days her husband, learning that
she was homeward bound, returned, and with joy unspeakable, clasped to his bosom again the long
lost wife. Though the remembrance of the tragic fate of their children shadowed the joy of their
reunion, yet, time alleviated their sorrow, when other, and more fortunate, children came to
bless their home. and from these children are descended no small percent of the present
population of Ritchie county.

The Cunninghams are of Irish lineage. Some time before the Revolutionary war, Hugh Cunningham
and his wife, Nancy, with their family of eight sons (Adam, Ephraim, Benjamin, Joseph, William,
Walter, Edward and Thomas) came from Dublin, Ireland, and settled on the banks of the Potomac,
in Fairfax county, Virginia; and, shortly after the close of the Revolutionary war, Thomas,
Adam, Edward, Walter, and, perhaps, more of the brothers, came to Harrison county, where they
entered and patented large tracts of land under the "tomahawk title", on Bingamon creek. Here
they resided when our tragic story opened.

Thomas Cunningham and his wife, Phebe Tucker Cunningham, were born across the Sea. He, in
Ireland, and she in England of Scottish parentage, in 1761. He Had served as a Revolutionary
soldier, before becoming distinguished by this "adventure among the Indians".

In 1807, as above stated, they came to this county, and settled on what is now The W. E. Hill
and the Frederick homesteads. Here they continued to reside until the death of Mr. Cunningham,
in 1826. He was the first Methodist Episcopal minister in this part of the county, and at his
home the first class was organized. He was only a lay minister at this time, but he was licensed
to Preach, at Zanesville, Ohio, on September 5, 1817; and this license, which was written upon
parchment, is now a cherished possession of his great-grandson, John C. Cunningham, of Eva. On
the Frederick homestead, not far from the present Frederick residence, he sleeps, in an almost
nameless grave. Mrs. Cunningham spent the last years of her life in Calhoun county with her
daughter, Mrs. Isaac Collins; and, here, In 1845, she passed away in triumph. "The voice that
shouted 'Glory to God' in the midst of the savages, shouted victory in death". On the Collins
homestead, near Freed, she is sleeping.

The late Rev. James L. Clarke delivered the memorial sermon at her funeral, and in dwelling on
her triumphant death afterwards, he said, &qout;I could not help thinking of the joyful meeting
she had with her children in the presence of Him who had said, 'Suffer little children to come
unto me, for of such is the Kingdom of God.'"

The late children of these distinguished pioneers were as follows: Henry, Lydia, Walter, and
Thomas, who were killed by the Indians; and William - the first born after their reunion - who
became a minister in 1810, and two years later took a transfer to the Ohio conference, where he
finished his earthly career at Horner, in Licking county; John, of Spencer; Mrs. Rachel (Isaac)
Collins, Calhoun county; Mrs. Leah Hardman, who sleeps at Hardman chapel; Mrs. Barbara Hill,
Eddyville, Iowa; and Benjamin, of Eva.

Among the late grandsons and granddaughters of these venerable people, who were the heads of
well known families of this county, were: A.P., J.S., and Washington Hardman, Hardman chapel;
Mrs. John Beall, Leatherbrake; Thomas Hardman, Auburn; Mrs. George Wells, Cornwallis; Mrs. J. M.
McWhorter, Buckhannon; Mrs. Hannah Smith, Smithville; Mr. And Mrs. Wilson B. Cunningham; and
Eli R. Cunningham, of Eva. Among the surviving ones are: John R. Cunningham Gilmer county; Mrs.
Nancy Dilworth, Eaton; and Mrs. Ira S. Goff, Walker station. Besides quite an army of great-
grandchildren, who are well known citizens - Martin Smith, Mrs. Alfred Barr, Mrs. M. A. Ayres,
and Alvis Smith, of Smithville, Mrs. James Rexroad, of Den run, and the late Mrs. W. E. Hill, of
Fonzo, are among them.

Mrs. Hill enjoyed the privilege of residing almost on the very spot where the cabin of her
illustrious great-grandparents stood for several years just before her death in 1910.

Edward Cunningham. - Edward Cunningham and his wife, Sarah Price Cunningham, whom he married in
Fairfax county, Virginia, lived and died in Harrison county, where "they fought the redskins";
and here on their old homestead, they sleep; but some of their lineal descendants belong to the
present citizenship of this county. - To their grandson, Perry J. Cunningham,of Pennsboro, we
are indebted for this sketch.

Their children, William, Joseph, Thomas, Benjamin, and Mrs. Mary Moore sleep in Harrison county;
Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson at Fairfield, Ohio; Mrs. Keturah Hill, In Gilmer county; and Enoch M.
Cunningham in Randolph county.

Joseph, better known as "Injun Joe", was captured by the Shawnee Indians, while hiding under the
treadles in the loom house, when he was but a lad of eight summers, and was adopted by an Indian
family, and remained among them for sixteen years, or until a short time after Gen. Wayne's
treaty with the Indians. he became a great hunter while among them, and after his return home,
he served as pilot for the pioneer surveyors of the large and original tracts of land in this
and adjoining counties; and on one of these expeditions, with John Murphy, he experienced a
dreadful hand to hand encounter with a huge black bear, which he finally succeeded in killing
with his knife; and then pried its jaws open to relieve his knee, which had been the victim of
bruin's last struggle, and which was lamed for the remainder of his life.

He afterwards married a Miss Ayres, and became the father of two daughters, and One  son; viz.,
the late Mrs. Samuel Warne, of Parkersburg; Mrs. George Sires, of Clarksburg; and the late Dr.
John Cunningham, of Illinois.

Enoch M. Cunningham was the only one of Edward's children that figured among the early settlers
of this county. In 1820, he married Miss Jane Stuart, daughter of William Stuart, an early
settler on Jughes river above Goff's, and from the Stuart homestead, in 1840, he moved to
Smithville. He was the father of the following named children: Harrison B. Cunningham, an early
merchant of Harris- ville; Martha became Mrs. Barnes Smith, of Smithville; and her twin sister,
Sarah Salina, married Jonathan H. Haddox, of Smithville, later of Harrisville; Amy married
Hannibal C. Brannon, and Edna M., Williams Moats, of Harrisville.

Among his great-grandchildren, who are well known in this county, are the late C. E. Haddox, of
Moundsville; C. M. Haddox, of Charleston; Mrs. Van A. Zevely, of Cairo; and Mrs. Joseph Foster,
of Pennsboro.

Chapter V
The Westfalls and Whites:

The Westfalls were early settlers in the Frederick's mill vicinity, they having taken the place
of some of the original settlers some time in the forties.

Joel J. Westfall, who is now spending the even tide of his long life with his only son, J. R.
Westfall, at Smithville, was the first of the family to arrive. He came as early as 1813, and
took the place of James Malone, on the Kennedy farm, above the mouth of Lamb's run; and during
the following winter he taught school in an old house on the Tingler - now the B. H. Wilson -
farm, having for his pupils, "the Wasses", the Hardmans, the Elliotts, the Goffs and the
Tinglers. After one years residence on the Kennedy farm, he rented what is now Frederick's mill,
and the W. E. Hill farm, and two years later his father, John W. Westfall, purchased both the
mill and the farm, and moved his family here, where he spent the remainder of his life. He sold
the mill in 1857, to the late Joseph Frederick, but the farm remained in the hands of the heirs
until a few years since, when it passed into the hands of W. E. Hill, who sold it to Henry
Barker, in 1909.

The Westfalls are of Irish lineage. They emigrated from New York to Beverly (West) Virginia;
and from there, Joel Westfall, senior, and his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth White Westfall, removed to
near the present site of Buckhannon, where their son, John W. Westfall, was born, and where he
was married to Miss Elizabeth Simon, a Dutch maiden, of Pennsylvania, who was the mother of
his six children, all of whom were born at Buckhannon, before the family came to Ritchie.

Joel was the eldest son; Jacob and the late James, of Slab creek; and Jasper N., who was laid
on Frederick homestead in his youth; and the late Mrs. Margaret (John) Core, of Buckhannon; and
Mrs. Mary E. Stuart, of Iris, were the other members fo the family. The two alone survive. Side
by side Mr. And Mrs. Westfall sleep on the Frederick homestead. She survived him by a number of
years, and with her daughter, Mrs. Stuart, she spent her last hours, at Iris. (The other
Westfalls in this and adjoining counties are descended from the same family.)

Joel J. Westfall was born at Buckhannon, on August 24, 1819, and here in the wilds of the
forest, he grew to manhood, having every opportunity to indulge his love for hunting and
adventure; and some of these boyish adventurers are scarcely less thrilling than those of
"Robinson Crusoe", or Stanley in the jungles of Africa:

When he was but a small lad of seven summers, on July 26,1826, he killed the largest rattle
snake on record in West Virginia, while alone in the forest watching the horses for his father.
This mammoth snake measured nine feet four inches, with rattles one one-half inches broad. At
the age of eleven years, he killed three deer by moonlight in the forest near Buckhannon; and
the following year three panthers fell as his victims, and at the age of fourteen, he slew a
bear with his tomahawk. This was only the beginning of a hunting record, which, perhaps, can
hardly be duplicated by another lad among the early settlers of the State. At one time he killed
a bear and a panther, which had just taken the life of a deer. So famous did these early
adventures make him, that he was known far and wide, as the "Boy Hunter". On one occasion when
he came into possession of a new gun, as a reward for his skillful marksmanship, he was asked by
his father what he wished to do with this gun. He replied that he wished to kill wild animals,
but that he especially desired to find a bear cave that he had heard much about through his
uncle. So with his father's consent, one fine morning he set out in quest of this cave, which he
finally reached after a long and perilous search. It was in a large ledge of rocks, miles
distant from his home, and, searching out the entrance, he at once started to explore the
interior, but finding the darkness so dense, he was forced to retreat. However, securing a pine
torch and taking his gun in hand, he again crawled inside, expecting to find the bear asleep,
but by the time he had proceeded fifty or sixty feet, he realized the fallacy of this
expectation, when he saw the glare of the bruin's eye coming toward him. Stepping to one side,
he prepared to fire, but for fear of being forced out of the cave, he slid into a crevice, and
the animal dashed by him with force, and presently he heard him fall from the cliff outside, a
distance of thirty feet, and he knew that he must be dead; and going outside, he joyfully
claimed his prey and set out for home, which he reached after several days' absence to the
relief of his mother, who had been greatly annoyed by his prolonged stay. In after life his hand
did not "lose its cunning", for while a resident of California, he killed the largest bear on
record in that State. It having weighed one thousand pounds.

At the age of seventeen years, he was made lieutenant of Co. D, 133rd Regiment of the Virginia
Militia, an office which he held for seven years; and he was Captain of the Militia after he
came to this county. On January 22, 1843, he was married to Miss Eliza B. Mills, daughter of
W. R. Mills, of Pocahontas county, the marriage being solemnized at the home of her brother at
Weston; and J. R. Westfall, of Smithville, was the one child of this union and when he was still
in "the frocks of babyhood" his young mother passed on, and on the Frederick homestead she
sleeps.

On April 4, 1854, leaving his young son with his parents, Mr. Westfall started for California -
lured there by the gold excitement - where he amassed quite a fortune, and where he rose to
prominence in State affairs. At one time, while digging for gold, he unearthed a nugget that
weighted nineteen ounces, and was valued at one thousand dollars. He served as Deputy Sheriff at
Mariposa for four years, at the end of which time he was elected Road Commissioner and
Supervisor, an office which he held for sixteen consecutive years, and one that is higher in
point of importance than that of our sheriff. Politically he is a Democrat, and he enjoyed the
honor of being a member of the committee that Escorted William Jennings Bryan, and his
distinguished party on their tour Through the "Golden State", during Mr. Bryan's first compaign
for the Presidency And he had the pleasure of eating several lunches that were prepared by the
hand Of Mrs. Bryan. On October 6, 1906, he bade adieu to his adopted state and Returned to
Smithville, where he is quietly spending the evening hours of his Life with his son. He is now a
nonagenarian, but his memory is a remarkable Store-house of interesting reminiscences of pioneer
days. Later, he died on October 30, 1910, and was laid away at Smithville, on the homestead of
his son.

William White, whose heroic deeds "crown history's pages," was his great-grand- sire, and few
more valuable stories of early times have come under our notice than the ever interesting one of
the life of this distinguished Indian fighter, which was told to Mr. Westfall by his great-
grandmother, Mrs. William White, when he was a child of seven years, and she, a venerable woman
of one hundred two years. This is the only time that he remembers seeing this great-grand-
mother, but he has long treasured the story that she told him on that memorable day, which we
here reproduce in her own language in part: The Grandmother's Story. - she called him to her and
said that she wished to tell him the story of the life and the cruel death of his great-
grandfather, William White, and that she hoped that he would remember what she this day should
tell him: She said "I was a Wallace, a relative of Sir William Wallace, of Scotland, and I am
the wife of William White, the great scout and Indian fighter," There were three of the White
brothers that came from Scotland to America, William, David and Jonathan. Jonathan went South
and was never heard of again, it being supposed that he was killed by the Indians; and William
and David settled near Winchester, Virginia. While out hunting here one day, William came upon
some Indians, and thinking That they were seeking his life, killed three of them; but among the
number Was a squaw, and as he could not think of taking her life, he let her go, Feeling
confident that she would not know him. But she did recognize him, However; and it was in time of
peace and was a grave violation of the terms Of the treaty, he was arrested and put in prison;
but his people raised such a Storm about his confinement, and gathered around the jail and beat
it down, And let him out the next day. He and a man by the name of Pringle then escaped To
Buckhannon, and made their home in a hollow sycamore tree, near the mouth of Turkey run, on the
Buckhannon river, near three miles below the present site of Buckhannon. She added, "Joel, you
will doubtless see this tree. Your Grand- Mother Westfall is gone too early for you to remember
her. Your father, your Uncles, and your aunts are al living, but I, your great-grandmother, must
soon Pass over." I am now one hundred two years old. Among my children, grand- Children, and
great-grandchildren, I see none that resembles your great-grand- Father, but I see him in the
blare of your eye, the shape of your head, and in Your movement, and my little grandson, I hope
that you will be able to remember What your great-grandmother says to you today, and that you
will be able to Punish the foul perpetrator and his allies for the cowardly murder of your
Great-grandfather, 'Billy White', my husband. "Your Uncle Henry is next in resemblance to
'Billy'. Your father and uncles have all treated me kindly, and I might have been living with
them today, but I wished to live and die in the home that 'Billy' and I had improved, here on
Hickory flat, with my son. I shall not be here long. Try and remember the words of your great-
grandmother, Elizabeth Wallace White, my little sonny. I traveled alone from Winchester,
Virginia, to Buckhannon to join my husband in his tree house - over hills, deep rivers, and
through lone forests, carrying my fire rolled up in a wet cloth, on horseback by day, that I
might have it to kindle at night, in some secluded place, where I could roast my meat and drink
the pure water that gurgled there. Your great-grandfather and I lived many days here. I was many
times alone in the fort or out on our little farm tending my garden, beans and corn, while Billy
would be out on some scout, or fighting the Indians back from the settlement. Your grandmother
Westfall and I have spent many lonely days while our husbands were away, some times for months
at a time, that they could not be home. "About five weeks after I joined Billy in his 'tree
house', two or three of the Cutrights, two Pringles, and another person came and stopped, and a
week or so later seven or eight more came, and they all took up farms and went to building stout
log houses, in which they would retreat when the Indians would come near us, as there were
always scouts out looking for Indians. Billy had to be out most of his time, but would come in
and bring his furs and pelts, and sell them so as to keep me plenty to eat and wear; and I could
raise plenty of corn, beans and potatoes for the scouts when they would come in. Billy and his
brother, David, the Pringles and the Cutrights generally kept in touch with one another so as to
give the alarm in case of danger. Some of them would run in and give us warning, so we had
easier times." It was the duty of the scouts to warn any post in danger. "Billy was taken
prisoner by the Indians, but soon made his escape, and things went along this way for some time,
when the Indians began gathering and concen- trating their forces around Cincinnati. Governor
Dunmore and General Andrew Lewis had command of the Government forces, and they were called out
to meet The Indians, who were said to be gathered in great numbers. Billy, David, and most of
the other men went, leaving us women with a few old and crippled men to occupy the cabins and
care for the stock, but we knew that the scouts would look after us, so the troops were
preparing for a big contest-" Here a childish voice interrupted with, "Now, grandma, I want you
to tell me all about the Battle of the Point." The grandma replied, "Well, do you think you can
remember what I tell you? As you are not more than five? However, I will try. Well, you see, my
little sonny, but I will tell you what Pringle and Cutright told me on the morning of the Battle
of the Point: "'General Lewis had detailed Billy White and John Cutright to go out and hunt, so
as to repocure meat for the troops. After being out a short time, they heard firing at the camp,
and White said, 'John, there's a battle on, let's go in,' and immediately they started, but when
they got inside of the lines, word reached White that his brother, David, had been shot, and
that he was lying under a certain tree. They went at once to the tree and found him begging for
a drink of water, and having no canteens, White and three other men went and carried water to
the dying man in their hats. They had to go between the lines- the two fires as they termed it,
and the pawpaw bushes fell thick all around them, but they got back in safety. White, taking the
cleanest looking hat in his hand said, 'Here, brother, it is water, but when you drink you will
die.' He then took him in his arms, and held him until he was dead, and laying him Down gently,
took up his gun as calmly as if going to do a day's work, and said, 'Come, John, let us to.'
Cutright said he was a little at a loss to know which way to go, as the Indians had already
began to retreat across the creek, but he followed somewhat cautiously. 'White was watching to
get a shot at the Indians, and I (Cutright) had just heard him  fire, and had sent one shot
across the creek myself, when I noticed three Indians that were attempting to cross the creek.
White fired and one fell, then another shot from his gun brought the last one down, and the
three went floating down the creek to the broad Ohio. He turned to me and said, 'I have had bad
luck, John; I've lost three sclaps, so let us go for more.' And that evening he showed me
seventeen scalps that he had taken with his own hand with my knowledge." "'The Indians, beign
scattered a little, we went around to where we heard some firing, I stopped to get a shot at
one, but he dodged me, and hearing White fire several shots, I went toward him. He, seeing me,
said, 'Come here, and let me show you how to kill Indians.' There close by a log he lay upon his
back loading his gun. He said, 'Lie down, or they'll shoot you.' He lay there for some time
popping one over now and then, that chanced to stick his head above the log; and cautioning me
to beware, that there were still more in ambush. Finally the enemy began shooting under the log,
and finding the bullets coming too close, he moved farther away, but lying flat on the ground
all the while, until he felt confident that the last one was dead. When the Indians were all
scalped, he declared his intention to investigate the firing of a large gun, that he said he
believed an Indian was behind. So, off he went, and soon I heard no more of the big gun, but
heard several shots in that direction, and in about an hour I saw him coming with two guns and
two scalps. I said, 'Well, Bill, did you get the gun? and he replied, 'Yes, and the hair, too,'
holding up the scalps. He then asked me (John Cutright) what my success had been, and remarked
that they were getting scarce here, only one here and there that had been detained by a wounded
Indian. We then counted our scalps, and he had seventeen, as before stated, and three got away.
By that time the signals were calling the troops together, and -'" Here again the little
grandson, who had been an interested listener, inter- rupted, saying, "Now, grandma, I have
heard the story of the Battle of the Point (Point Pleasant), now please tell me of the cowardly
murder of my great- grandfather, William White, that you asked me to avenge; and, grandma, if
you'll tell me the story I'll promise you if such a chance ever comes, I'll be there." "Well,"
the grandmother resumed, "I will give you a short history of it: "After White had built the fort
at Buckhannon, and had been in command of it and the Troops for several years, a man by the name
of Potros came into the fort and Said that he had just come from near the mouth of the Little
Kanawha river, and That he had seen signs of Indians crossing and coming toward the settlement;
That he wanted to have his family and household goods removed to the fort on The next day. White
replied that he would send a company of men and wagons to Bring them, but the man said, 'Oh!
I couldn't trust my family out without your Presence.' White said, 'Well, be ready, we'll be
there in the morning.' "When they were fixing to start, I said, 'Billy, don't you go out today,
send others. If you do you will be killed. I dreamed last night that I saw Indians pointing red
hot guns at you. If you do go, Billy, you will never get back alive.' But he replied, 'Well,
Betty, if I don't go they will say that I am a coward,' and he thought it only a dream, and he
went. When they reached their destination, all was right, there were no Indians to be seen. But
he, going into the yard, discovered signs of the enemy there, and mentioned it to the rest. He
said, 'They have been grinding their knives and tomahawks on the grindstone, and here is the
fray of an Indian blanket. Let us load up and get away.' After everything was loaded, the wagons
started, the trader or renegade, said, 'White, you and I and the girls will ride over the trail
to the fort. It will not be much more than a mile, and we'll get there before the wagons.'" Just
as the four reached the top of the hill, the Indians fired on them, and White was shot through
just above the hips; but did not fall from his horse, but as he turned down the hill they fired
again, striking him in the back. His horse taking fright, started to run, and its foot, becoming
entangled in the limb of a fallen tree,it fell throwing the rider, who was noted for being able
to remount. But the Indians ran down the hill, and scalped him, and were off before any defense
could be made. He was placed in a boat, but he breathed his last just as the boat reached the
fort, and thus ended the life of one of the most renowned and intrepid leaders of Indian times.
This fatal day was March the 8, in 1781 or'82, and the scene was near the present sight of
Buckhannon. Though the Indians were pursued, they had secreted their canoes, and made good their
escape across the Ohio, before they could be overtaken. 
                                           
Chapter VI
South Fork Settlers - Continued

A large number of the original settlers along this river lost their lands owing to defective
titles, and when they were laid away, the families of not a few of them sought homes in other
parts of the country, and new and permanent setlers took their places. Hence the large number of
early families along this river.

A man by the name of Purviance, who resided in Baltimore, had, in Indian times, entered large
tracts of land in this wilderness; and an individual, claiming to be his representative, came
here and sold these lands to the early settlers, and, near a score of years afterwards, when the
rightful owner sent his agent did these worthy pioneers learn of the fraud that had been
practiced upon them.

Henry Jackson - Among the first to arrive after the original settlers was Henry Jackson, who
came from his native county-Upshur, in 1830, and purchased the slight improvement made by the
Belt family at the forks of Hughes river, of a man by the name of Byrd.

Mr. Jackson was born near Buckhannon in 1813, and there he was married to Miss Lydia Reger; and
from there he came to this county and settled on the old homestead where his son Ulysses now
lives. Here he spent the remainder of his life, with the exception of a two years' residence in
Mason county, and here he has been sleeping since 1865. His wife rests by his side. He was the
father of three sons and one daughter besides the one above mentioned; Granville died in
childhood; Virginia is Mrs. B.F. Marshall, and Cisko and Isaac have passed on, leaving families
who occupy their former estates, which lie near the old home.

 The Jacksons have an unusually interesting ancestral history. They are of Scotch-Irish origin.

John Jackson, the progenitor of this family, was born in Londonderry, in the north of Ireland,
near the beginning of the second-quarter of the eighteenth century, and with his parents removed
to London, England, when he was but a boy. Here he grew to manhood, and in 1748, he emigrated to
America and settled in Calvert county, Maryland, where he was married to Miss Elizabeth Cummins,
of London, who crossed the water on the same ship with him.

For a time after their marriage, they resided on the South branch of the Potomac river, but near
the year 1768, they removed across the mountains to what is now Upshur county, west Virginia,
and settled at the mouth of Turkey run-just below Jackson's fort, and not far from the present
site of Buckannon, where they figured prominently in savage warfare.

Mrs. Jackson was a woman of strong mind and of domitable courage, and she, as well as her
husband, rendered most valuable service in times of Indian invasion. Patents are still in
existence, which conveyed lands to her in her own right.

These hardy pioneers were the parents of five sons and three daughters whose descendants are a
mighty host throughout the country:

George, Edward, John, Samuel and Henry, were the sons; and Elizabeth, Mary and Sophia the
daughters - Elizabeth was the late Mrs. Abram Brake, and Mary, the late Mrs. Philip Reger, of
Upshur county; and Sophia married Josiah Davis and lived and died at the old home, near
Buckhannon.

George, Edward and John, with their father, were Revolutionary soldiers and noted Indian
fighters, their heroic deeds being recorded on the pages of "Border Warfare".

Near the year 1770, George Jackson settled on the West Fork river in the vicinity of Clarksburg
where he rose to eminence as a statesman, as well as a military man.

Early in the Revolution he was commissioned colonel of a Virginia regiment, this commission
having come direct from the hand of General Washington; and after Harrison county was formed in
1784, he represented his county in the House of Burgesses at Richmond. He was a member of the
distinguished body that ratified the Constitution of the United States, in 1789, and he
subsequently served several terms in Congress, being succeeded by his eldest son, John G.
Jackson.

George was the grandfather of the late Judge John Jay Jackson, of Parkersburg; of the late
Governor Jacob B. Jackson, and of the late Judge J. Monroe Jackson, they being the sons of
General John G. Jackson, who married the only daughter of Governor Meggs, of Ohio.

General Jackson was a close friend of President Madison and the marriage took place at the White
House during the Madison administration.

Edward Jackson married a Miss Hadden, of Randolph county, and his son, Jonathan who married
Miss Julia Neal, of Parkersburg, was the father of the late renowned "Stonewall" Jackson, of
Clarksburg.

Henry Jackson. - And from Henry Jackson, senior, who was born, lived and died, near Buckhannon
where he sleeps, the Ritchie county family come. He was the father of twenty five children -
fourteen of whom were born of this union with Mary Hire, and eleven of his marriage with
Elizabeth Shreve.

The children of the first marriage were: Esther, Permilia Elizabeth, (Mrs. Hugh Pribble, senior,
mother of the Rev. U. Pribble, of Harrisville; Hugh Pribble of Cisko; and the late Mrs. Charles
Harrison), Amanda Melvina (Mrs. Daniel pribble), both of this county; William Vandwater, Hire,
Edward, Mariah, Henry, junior, (the Ritchie pioneer), Rachel Esta (who died in her young
womanhood), John Henderson Brake, Jacob, Ulysses, Mary (who married and went to California) and
Cecelia who became Mrs. Louis Miller and also went to California.

The children of the second marriage: Decatur, Samuel Dexter, James Alonzo, Marion Orlando,
Melissa (Mrs. James Lowe), Roxana, George Washington, Artemeshia (Mrs. Andrew Martinee), Clispo
Mero, and Draper Camden Jackson.

The Hostetters. - The Hostetters were among the next arrivals. They are of German origin.
Ulwrick Hostetter crossed the sea with his family and settled near York, Pennsylvania, and from
there removed to Rockbridge county, Virginia, where he spent the remnant of his days, near
Lexington. He was an Indian fighter, and with a party of scouts, pursued a band of red men from
Rockbridge County to Marietta, Ohio. On his return, with the rest of the party, he went down to
the mouth of the Little Kanawha, and up this river, and thus, became the discoverer of the far-
famed Burning springs in Wirt county.

John Hostetter, his son, was born in the Fatherland, and married Miss Elizabeth  Riprogal, of
Virginia, a sister of Mrs. Daniel Ayres, and came to this county in 1832, and spent the
remainder of his life in the Smithville vicinity, where he and his wife sleep. He served as
captain in the war of 1812; and was the head of a family of four sons and three daughters:

David, Andrew, John, junior, and Jacob, the last two being twins; Sallie, the eldest daughter
became Mrs. Ford of Virginia, and went to Jamestown, Ohio where she died; Mary became Mrs.
Welhellam, and remained in Rockbridge county; and Elizabeth married Alexander Glover and came to
this county.

John R. Hostetter married Miss Louisa Webb, daughter of Benjamin Webb, and lived and died in the
Smithville vicinity. He was the father of Mrs. Martha (Martin) Smith, Mrs. Minerva Parker, and
of the late Mrs. Elizabeth (Alvus) Smith, of Smithville.

David married Miss Cathrine Fisher, of Rockbridge county, and came to this county at an early
day and spent the remainder of his life. His children were--Mrs. W.A. Valentine, Goff's; Mrs.
Mary A. Leason, Pennsboro; Mrs. Verna Thorne, Buckhannon; the late Mrs. Martha Smith, of the
West; Davidson, of Smithville; and Elizabeth who died in youth.

Alexander Glover and Miss Elizabeth Hostetter were married in Rockbridge county, Virginia, in
1833, and three years later, they came to this county, and settled on the Glover homestead,
above Smithville, where they remained until they were borne to the Smithville cemetery. He was
a carpenter by trade and was one of the earliest in the county. He was the constructor of the
first jail building at Harrisville. Mrs. Glover survived him by many years, and the old home is
still owned by the heirs, though now in the hands of tenants. They were the parents of nine sons
and one daughter, who died in childhood: John, the eldest son never married, and in the
Smithville cemetery he was laid at a ripe old age. Jacob, and Taylor, also slumber here.
Williams, sleeps in Arkansas, where his family reside; Robert lives at Clarksburg; Asa, at
Fairmont; Charles, at Spencer; Samuel is unmarried; and Dr. J.R. at Morgantown.

Jacob, William, and Robert were soldiers of the Civil war.

Samuel Hyman was another early settler from Rockbridge county, Virginia. Here he was born on
November 12, 1812, and he came to this county in his early manhood, and married Miss Elizabeth
Webb, daughter of Benjamin Webb, and settled on the Hyman homestead, below Smithville, which is
still owned by his heirs.

He was a blacksmith by trade and a noted hunter. He died on April 6, 1904, at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Martha Hold, near Morgantown, and was laid to rest in the Webb cemetery by the
side of his wife.

The children of this family were as follows; Mrs. Minerva, late wife of John P. Kennedy, of
Smithville; Mrs. Mary Roberts, Mrs. Martha Hold, wife of the late William Holt, of Morgantown;
Hattie died in youth; Benjamin, in the Civil war; and John resides near Smithville.

Mr. Hyman was the son of -------- Hyman and Mrs. Rachel Hostetter Hyman-- his mother being the
sister of John Hostetter, senior. Both his parents sleep in Virginia. His mother was married a
second time to Aldridge Evans, of Rockbridge county, and they were the parents of the late A. J.
Evans, of the Cross-roads; J.M. o Lamb's run; Mrs. Margaret (Morgan) Rexroad, Mrs. Martha
Mitchell, and Elizabeth, who died single. After the death of the mother all the rest of the
family came to this county, and here they sleep. The father lies on the McNeill homestead where
most of the other members of the family rest.

The Ayreses. - The year 1836 brought Daniel Ayres with his family, which included his parent,
his sister, Mrs. Polly Campbell, and his son-in-law, Henry Webb, from Rockbridge county,
Virginia to the McNeill homestead. They started on their long and perilous journey over the
Allegheny mountains in November in three large covered wagons with their household effects,
driving their cows before them, and not until the first week in January, after seven weeks of
suffering and hardships, did they reach their destination.

Mr. Ayres had purchased two hundred acres of land here of the Purviance survey with a small
improvement upon it - a two roomed log house and a few acres of cleared land. The location which
is to-day a beautiful one with its modern conveniences and improvements, is said to have been a
picturesque one at that time in its sylvan beauty with its historic surroundings.

The river had, in pre-historic times, evidently formed a bend entirely round the farm, but had
changed its course at a later period; and at the time of the coming of Mr. Ayres, the channel
had filled up, making a beautiful level bottom, though the ancient river bed was still "visible
and interesting". A mound supposed to contain relics of an unknown and pre-historic race was
another feature of special interest on this farm, and but a few hundred yards from the house
were the ruins of an ancient fortification - an excavation of several feet having been made and
the earth thrown up into an embankment. Flints, darts and arrow heads were found in large
numbers about the ground - serving as silent reminders that this had once been the "happy
hunting-ground of a vanished race" whose history, however interesting, will never be known.

Mr. Ayres was of Irish lineage. His grandfather, Daniel Ayres, came from Ireland and settled on
the Susquehanna river in Pennsylvania, where Daniel Ayres, junior, (father of Daniel of the
McNeill homestead) was born in 1745.

In 1772, Daniel Ayres, junior, was married to Miss Ellen McGee, who was born in Baltimore of
Irish parentage in 1745, and from this city, they went to Rockbridge county, Virginia, where
they established their home and reared a family, which were as follows:

John, the pioneer school-teacher of this county; Charles, Lewis, Mrs. Polly (Wm) Campbell, and
Daniel (III) who was the youngest son, and the head of the Ritchie county family.

Daniel and Ellen McGee Ayres came to this county with their son, as already mentioned, and on
the McNeill homestead they lie in their last sleep. He died at the age of ninety-seven, and she,
at the age of ninety-five.

Daniel Ayres (III) was born in 1789, and he was married to Miss Hannah Riprogal, who was born of
German parentage in Virginia, in 1787.

Mr. Ayres served as captain in the war of 1812, and while at Norfolk in 1814 where he had been
ordered with his company to assist in the defense of the city, he was stricken with yellow fever
and when able to be out again, after spending sixteen weeks in the hospital, then enemy's
vessels were still hovering about the city in a threatening manner, though no attack was made.

He served as justice of the peace almost throughout his residence here, and was one of the chief
factors in the organization of the county, in 1843 - a short time before his death, which was
due to typhoid fever. He and his wife both died of this malady near the same time, and side by
side they lie at rest on the McNeill homestead. Their children were nine in number; viz.,
Jackson died in early manhood, and one in infancy. Margaret married Henry Webb and went to
Missouri where she rests. Ellen was the wife of John Starr, Eliza, of James Starr; Sarah, of
Dr. Wm. R. Lowther; and the late John B.

John B. Ayres, the youngest son of this family, above mentioned was long prominently known in
this county. He was born in the Old Dominion almost within the shadow of historic old Lexington,
and not far from the Natural bridge, in 1831, and was a child of but five summers when his
parents came to the McNeill homestead. Six years later they both passed on, and he being thrown
upon the world, bound himself to J.J. Vandivort, the Harrisville saddler and harness maker, in
1847, and worked as an apprentice in his shop for the next four on-half years. He was then a
journeyman saddler, and merchant for several years, before settling down to his trade at
Harrisville, in 1870, where he remained until 1903, when his declining health prompted him to
seek a change of climate, which he found in Colorado, after visiting Zion City, the far-famed
domain of the late Alexander Dowie, for a brief time. After a short stay in the West, he then
resided near Washington City, and at Grafton for a time before going to Spencer in Roane county.
He died at his home at Sapulpa, Oklahoma, in November, 1910, and there his remains were
interred.

He married Miss Anna Hall daughter of Hannibal Hall, who was twenty-three years his junior, and
the two sons, Edgar and Charles, born of this union both died in infancy.

The Princes. - The name Prince became identified with the Webb's mill vicinity, in the year
1850, when the late John H. Prince married Miss Drusilla Webb, daughter of Benjamin Webb, and
became the partner of his father-in-law in the mill and the mercantile business. The store was
destroyed in 1863, by the Jones' raid, but he remained in connection with the mill until his
death, near 1877. He sleeps by his wife in the Webb's cemetery. He was born in 1815; and was the
father of three sons and two daughters; B.F. Prince, Cantwell; and John Willian, and Robert J.,
who with their sister, Mrs. Anna E.M. (John P.) Kennedy, have passed on; and Mrs. Martha Frances
(E.S.) Byrd, is of Wood county.

Captain William Prince came from Prince William county, Virginia, and settled near Claysville in
Wood county at an early day. He was born on August the 31, 1774, and died on September 4, 1825.

He married Miss Frances Groves, and was the father of Elizabeth Prince, who married David
Sleeth, the founder of Smithville; of William R., Mary A., Robert K., Nancy J., John H.,
Benjamin G., and Frances, J.G. Prince. John H. and Mrs. Sleeth were the two that were identified
here. After the death of Captain William prince his widow was married to Mr. Vandiver, of Wood
county, and the late James V.B. and Jerome A. Vandiver, of Louisville, Kentucky were the fruits
of this union.

The Tinglers. - The year 1836, brought Henry Tingler and his wife, Mrs. Mary Phryne Tingler from
their native county-Harrison, to the B.H. Wilson homestead, which for long years after his death
was known as the "Tingler farm". Mr. Tingler remained in this of the county until his death, and
on the E.R. Tibbs farm, beside his companions, he found a resting place. After his first wife
passed on, he married Miss Jane Campbell, and on Indian creek, spent his last hours.

He was the father of ten children, all by his first marriage except one son, Thomas, who lived
in some other part of the country.

The children of his first union were as follows: Granville, Cebart, John, the late Mrs. Tabitha
(Daniel) Ayres, the late Mrs. Elizabeth (Wm.) Collins, Mrs. Matilda (Washington) Elliott, Mrs.
Julia Westfall - mother of W.H. Westfall, of Harrisville; Mrs. John Ayres, of Long run; and Mrs.
Rosetta Prunty Martin Gardner Schoolcraft.

John married Miss Eveline Martin and was the father of Peyton Tingler and of Mrs. Safronia
Propts Tibbs, of Lamb's run. He was a Union soldier during the war, as was Granville, but he
died in the Saulsbury prison in North Carolina.

Cebart, who resides on Macfarlan was a Confederate soldier.

Granville married Miss Mahala Schoolcraft, daughter of Aaron Schoolcraft, and was the pioneer on
the farm where he still resides, on Dry run near Juna. He is the father of:

Morgan, of Eva; Aaron, Mrs. John Flemming, Mrs. Thamer Newlon, and Miss Addie Tingler, and the
late Mrs. Samantha M. (R.W.) Goff, all of Juna.

A.P. Hardman. - Asbury Poole Hardman was the first to mark the forest on the Osbourne farm east
of Hardman chapel. He was born on the old homestead that is now his estate, on January 18, 1827;
and shortly after his marriage to Miss Thankful Ann Goff, daughter of Thomas Goff, in 1850,
began to carve out his fortune on the Osbourne farm. He inherited the faith of his fore-fathers,
and was long a pillar in the church at Hardman chapel. He died on July 30, 1903 on the sixth
anniversary of the death of his wife, having spent his entire life within the bounds of the
community where he was born; and in the churchyard at Hardman chapel, but the side of his wife,
he sleeps.

He was the father of thirteen children: His sons, Jehu R., Charles R., James H., and his
daughters, Mrs. Nora Hendershot and Mrs. Louella Carder Sutherland, all reside in the West; and
Mrs. Paulina Smith, Misses Verna and Vedella A., all rest here; T.A. and A.K. are of Fonsoville;
and A.L. of Burnt House; the other two died in childhood.

The Osbournes. - John Osbourne, senior, was the second owner of the Osbourne farm which is now
the home of his grandson, M.R. Osbourne.

Mr. Osbourne came from the "Buckeye State" to this vicinity more than sixty years ago, and
purchased what is now the A.P. Hardman, the A.K. Hardman, the Otis McNeill and the Cumberledge
farms. (He also owned what is now the Lowther homestead); and some years later he and Mr.
Hardman traded farms, and by this exchange they each obtained permanent homes; for here they
remained until they were borne to their final resting places. It will be remembered that the
late Rev. James Hardman, father of A.P., had owned and lost the A.P. Hardman homestead owing to
a defective title before the coming of the Osbournes.

The Osbournes are of English descent. John Osbourne, senior, was a soldier of the war of 1812;
he served under a captain by the name of Christopher Columbus, and was in the engagement at
Bladensburg. He was a bricklayer by trade, and was one of the number that helped to lay the
first wing of the Capitol building at Washington City; and the old trowel that he used in this
historic work, is now a cherished possession of his grandson, M.R. Osbourne.

He was three times married, but the name of his first wife is missing. The second, however, was
Miss Sarah Baldwin, of Washington City, who died at their home in Knox county, Ohio, in August
1849; and the third was Mrs. Augusta Henry Welsh, of New York, who was the mother of one
daughter, Carrie Osbourne, the late wife of J.R. Hardman of Missouri.

Mr. Osbourne died on February 11, 1871, and filled the first grave in the Hardman chapel
churchyard; and after his death, his widow married the late Rev. Eli Riddel, of Riddel's chapel,
and there she sleeps.

The sons of the first marriage- Frank and Daniel went to Kansas where their descendants live.

The children of the second marriage were as follows:

The late J. William, and Addison, of Hardman chapel vicinity; Mrs. Kathrine (Levi) Kirkpatrick,
of Slab creek; the late Mrs. Matilda Welsh, and Joshua, Iowa; the late Mabray, Kansas; Marion,
who lost his life in the Union cause; and James, who died shortly after his marriage to Mill
Hila Cunningham, the late Mrs. John Modisette, sleep on the A.P. Hardman homestead. Mary became
the wife of Perry Cunningham, and was the mother of Mrs. Phebe Foster, of Pennsboro; Addison,
who was the father of J.M., of Parkersburg; and Joshua, and Mabray, were also Union soldiers.

James S. Hardman, brother of A.P., succeeded his father on the old homestead west of Hardman
chapel, where his son, Sherman Hardman, now resides. He was born on October 31, 1829; and near
the year 1856, he was married to Miss Hila An Goff, daughter o George Goff, who was born on May
5, 1836, and at the old home above mentioned he lived and died.

The same old hills that were resonant with the funeral notes of the bell when he was borne to
his final resting place in the Hardman churchyard, on June 21, 1900, reverberated the first
sound that fell from his childish lips seventy years before. For here he was born, here Nature
smiled upon him in youth, and in the pride of manhood, and looked on in sympathetic silence when
the mantle of sorrow fell heavily upon him in "manhood's middle day", and from here he passed
into the presence of the great King.

He was a soldier of the Union army, an exhorter and a pillar in the Methodist Episcopal church.

On March 9, 1879, the wife of his youth bade adieu to earth, and a little later he was married
to Miss Elizabeth Frederick, daughter of Joseph Frederick, who only survived the nuptial hour by
twelve weeks. He then married Miss Edmonia Rogers, daughter of John B. Rogers, who died after a
few brief years, leaving two little sons, Sherman and Creed, who died at the age of four years.
Mrs. Sarah Jane Galloway Flesher widow of Asa Flesher was the next wife, and Mrs. Ruamam
Starcher Northcraft, widow of the Rev. Richard Northcraft is the surviving one. His first wife,
only, sleeps by his side.

The children from the first union are as follows: F.C., G. C., Fremont, Sheridan, T.E., Mrs.
Safronia Dailey, the late Ulysses, and Rosa A., and one that died in infancy.

The Tibbses. - The Tibbses, too have been identified with this part of the county for more than
sixty years, and their ancestral history is one of exceptional interest. Their antecessor, whose
first name is wanting, came from Ireland, some time during the last half of the eighteenth
century, and settled in the Virginia colony, where his son, James Tibbs was born, and where he
was married to a Miss Worley. On the morning following the marriage, James with his bride, set
out for what is now Monongalia county, West Virginia, where he made a pioneer settlement, a
little west of Morgantown, not long after the close of the Revolution. He was, perhaps, a
soldier of this war, and was a captain in the war of 1812, being present with his company at the
siege of Fort Meiggs.

Here near Morgantown, his first wife died, and he married Miss Jennie Morgan, sister of the
renowned Indian fighters, David, Levi, and James Morgan.

Mr. Tibbs was a slave owner, and at one time he was the possessor of twenty slaves, half of
which were the heritage of his wife; but sixteen of this number in a body managed to make their
escape across the Pennsylvania line. He spent his last days in Monongalia county where he
sleeps.

He was the father of three sons by the first marriage: Joseph was a soldier under General
Harrison, and fell at the battle of Big Bend in Indiana. John was also killed in Indian warfare;
and Robert was the remaining son.

Robert Tibbs married Miss Castilla Burris, of Monongalia county, a cousin of the late Waitman T.
Willey, of Morgantown, and came to this county in 1848, and settled on the Hatfield farm at
Goff's, where Mrs. Tibbs was laid to rest in 1852; and from there, he removed to the farm that
is now the home of his son, E.R. Tibbs. He figured in the early affairs of the county as justice
of the peace - an office which he held for many years. He died in 1876, while on a visit with
his sons in the West, he being past eighty years of age at the time of his death; and in the
Snow Hill cemetery in Missouri, his ashes lie. He was the father of seven sons:

Boaz B. Tibbs, the eldest son, was graduated from the Virginia Military Institute, at Lexington
with high honors-the title of Colonel being conferred upon him by this institution. He was a
member of the order of Freemasons, and held the highest office in this brotherhood in the State,
at the time of his death in 1853. He resided near Fairmont at this time, and his remains were
placed in a metallic casket, and covered with alcohol, and buried in the ground, at Fairmont;
but some years after they were dis-interred and removed to a vault at the mouth of Indian run,
near six miles below Fairmont, on land belonging to his heirs; and long after their removal, the
features are said to have presented a perfectly natural appearance, so well had they been
preserved by the alcohol.

John, the second son, went to Missouri, where he sleeps. He was a soldier, and a non-
commissioned officer of the Civil war.

Eugene, who was an early deputy sheriff of this county, resides in South Dakota. He was
commissioned as captain in the secret service of the Southern Confederacy, but the war came to
a close before he was called into active service.

William went to Missouri, and there enlisted in the Union cause, and rose to the rank of
captain. He now resides in the Virginia colony Texas.

Francis M., who was a Confederate soldier resides at Paris, Missouri; T.D., and E.R. Tibbs, are
of this part of the county. The latter was a non-commissioned officer of the Union army.

Other pioneers along this river, whose names belong to our history were John W. Mitchell,
John Wass and Jeremiah Snodgrass.

John W. Mitchell made his settlement at Pleasant hill. He and his wife, Mrs. Leanna Haddox
Mitchell, were both natives of Barbour county; and shortly after their marriage in 1835, they
came to this county and settled in a pole cabin at the mouth of Bone creek, on the farm that was
later designated as the "Butcher farm" - now owned by the heirs of the late Alex Prunty; and
from here, they removed to the farm that is now the estate of the late Joseph Haddox - Mrs.
Mitchell's brother, and thus became the first citizens of the forest at Pleasant hill. They
afterwards resided at different points in the county, but both sleep in the "Old Pleasant hill"
cemetery. Mrs. Mitchell died at Eva in 1892, and he, at Pennsboro in January 1898, at the age
of eighty-three years.

These venerable people were the parents of twelve children, two of whom died in infancy, and
one, Jerome, at the age of four years.

Few parents have been called upon to mourn more deeply. Their daughters Nancy (Mrs. Reilly
Mason), Mrs. Sarah (C.F.) Beall, Mrs. Mary (Phonso) Welsh, Mrs. Huldah (Charles) Zickafoose,
all died of consumption' and the three sons that reached the year of maturity - B.F., Marion
and J. Marshall, all met tragic deaths; Mrs. Kathrine (Lemuel) Wilson, of Smithville; and
Tabitha, who first married Jonathan Baker, but is now Mrs. Eber Mason, of Pennsboro, alone
survive.

The three sons were all soldiers of the Union army, and Marion was injured by the bursting of a
shell, while in battle, which resulted in his being an invalid for the remaining six years of
his life.

J. Marshall was brutally murdered in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, the body being dragged near
a mile and a quarter from the scene of the tragedy, and placed upon the railroad track, where it
was dreadfully mutilated by the train. It was thought that a jealous rival, assisted by the
father of the girl in question, was the perpetrator of the crime, but no one was ever brought to
justice. The remains were sent home and laid away at Pleasant hill, but the broken -hearted
loved ones were not permitted to take a last look.

Benjamin Franklin Mitchell met his death by drowning. While piloting a raft down the river, he
was overtaken by a violent storm, and, in the darkness, he was lost. The tragedy occurred in
October, 1884, and though every effort was made to find the body, it lay concealed in this
watery hiding place, just above the forks of Hughes river, for nine months; being accidentally
discovered at last, by a citizen of the vicinity, who having missed his aim at a hawk, turned
his attention to the fish in the water. The features were beyond recognition, but he was
identified by his watch, in which his name was engraved, and by the letters that were found upon
his person. The remains were taken to the Kendall burying-ground for interment; and as the dear
old mother, sorrowfully bent over the casket unable to look within, she spoke of the other son
that had been sent home in a like manner - that she could not see, and she sadly exclaimed,
"This is no better"!

B.F. Mitchell was at one time sheriff of this county, and he was the only son of the family that
left issue. He was married to Miss Sarah Cathrine Kendall, daughter of Ransom Kendall in 1867,
and was the father of S.H. Mitchell, editor of the Kanawha News of Elizabeth, Wirt county; of
B.F. Mitchell, who is employed in "The Youth's Companion" office of Boston' of Roy, and Miss
Agnes, of Pullman; Mrs. Ella Riddel, and Mrs. Daisy Reynolds, of Harrison county. His widow is
now Mrs. H.B. Mason of Pullman.

John Wass settled on the farm that is known as the Harrison Wass homestead, above Goff's - now
the home of Peter Wass, where Cornelius Wyers had made a slight improvement. He was the son of
George Wass, an Englishman, who came across the sea and settled in Somerset county,
Pennsylvania, where he (John) was born, and where he was married to Miss Barbara Boyers, a
German maiden. In the spring of 1841, he and his wife with their several children, came from
near Petersburg, to the "Wass homestead", where they remained until they were laid in the
Pleasant hill cemetery. Mr. Wass met his death at the hand of an assassin in July, 1863, while
on his way home from Harrisville. He was taken back to that place, where he died from the
effects of the bullet wound a few hours later, but not until he had made a statement concerning
the tragedy.

He was the father of ten children; all of whom reared families of their own save one son, who
died in childhood.

Mrs. Lucinda (Eugene) Barker, and Mrs. Mahala (R.H.) Rogers, are now numbered with the dead,
but the rest survive. Mrs. Elizabeth (H.B.) Tharpe, resides near Holbrook; Mrs. Amanda
(Ebeneezer) Tharp, near Auburn; Mrs. Sarah (Jacob) Haddox, Berea; Mrs. Larue (E.R.) Tibbs, and
William, at Goff's; Mrs. Luvina (J.R.) Westfall, at Smithville, and Harrison Wass, at
Harrisville.

Jeremiah Snodgrass took up his residence below Berea, where his daughter, Mrs. John Colgate,
now lives. He and his wife, Euphamy Clayton Snodgrass, came from Marion county in 1845, and
redeemed this farm from its primitive wilderness. Here, they passed from earth - he in 1880,
and she, four years later, and side by side they slumber in the Old Pleasant hill burying -
ground. He was the son of Franklin and Rachel Burr Snodgrass, and was the father of thirteen
children:

 B.F. and Jeremiah, Harrisville; Ezekiel, of Marion county; the Rev. Elisha, of Auburn, Mrs.
Nancy (Greenbury) Hammond, Berea; Mrs. Isabel (Thomas) Baker, of Hale, Missouri; and Mrs.
Rachel Wagner, of Newberne, are all numbered with the dead. E.C., resides at Smithville; John,
at Harrisville, Mrs. Sarah Colgate, at Berea; Mrs. Elizabeth (Thomas) Prather, at Mt. Zion;
David L., in Marion county; and W.C., in Florida.

This pioneer was the grandfather of the distinguished pulpit orator, the Rev. Winfield
Snodgrass, of the Methodist Episcopal conference of New Jersey, who, while on a tour in Europe,
some years ago, was accorded the honor of an invitation to fill Spurgeon's pulpit. He is the son
of the Rev. Elisha and Mrs. Nancy Cox Snodgrass, and near Auburn he first saw the light, on
December 27, 1849. He began his ministerial career as a member of the West Virginia conference,
and from here went to the Kansas conference, where he remained for some years, before going to
New Jersey, where he has added new laurels to his brow.

The Rev. Hall Snodgrass, who is now serving a Baptist church in Oklahoma; and the Rev. McClellan
Snodgrass of New York M.E. Conference are also grandsons of this pioneer.

 William Snodgrass. - William Snodgrass, and uncle of Jeremiah, was the first one of the name to
come to Ritchie county. He was a native of Pennsylvania and a soldier of the war of 1812. In
1807, he was married to Miss Nancy King, who passed on in 1824, from their home in Marion
county, leaving eight children to his care. Two years later, he was again married to Miss Mary
Pritchard - half sister of Peter Pritchard, and in 1841 he came to this county, and penetrated
the unbroken forest on Turtle run - a small tributary of the South fork - above Berea, and
reared the first cabin on the farm that is now the home of his youngest son, T.C. Snodgrass;
and here he died in 1879, at the age of ninety-six years, and at White Oak he sleeps.

The children of his first marriage were: John Wesley Snodgrass, who died in Iowa, a few years
ago, at the age of ninety-one years- having been a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church
for seventy-three years; Mrs. Frances (Nicholas) Baker, and Mrs. Martha (Elijah) Morgan, who
sleep in Marion county; Mrs. Naoma (Davis) Meredith, late of Tyler county; Mrs. Nancy Pierce,
Mrs. Comfort Ewins, and Mrs. Isabel (Jared) Hawkins, of Ohio; and Sarah, who married Solomon
Hawkins and lived and died in this county.

The children of the second marriage were five in number and were as follows: W.F., who rests in
Kansas; B.F., in the state of Washington; Eliza, who died in infancy; Mrs. Margaret A., who
married George Carder and lives in Ohio; and T.C. Snodgrass, who lives at the old homestead.
Mrs. Snodgrass died at the home of her daughter in Ohio, and there she sleeps.

The Snodgrasses are of Irish origin. Three brothers, William, James and Michael Snodgrass, came
for Ireland and settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania. Michael wandered away, and was never
heard from again, and William and James removed to Monongalia - now Marion - county, (W.)
Virginia, in 1787; and three years later James met a tragic death at the hands of the Indians,
on Fishing creek in Wetzel county, while in quest of his horse that he had lost while on a
buffalo chase. His remains were afterwards found and buried, but not until the flesh had been
torn from the bones by the fangs of wolves.

William married Miss Kathrine Yost, a German maiden, and from his sons, William, junior, Isaac
and Franklin, the Ritchie county Snodgrasses are descended.

Isaac was the father of the late Mrs. John Parker, of Nathan, who went West, and of Elias
Snodgrass, who died in Doddridge county.

John Harris. - John Harris was another worthy pioneer of Turtle run. He was born in Harrison
county, on January 25, 1814, and there in 1838, he was married to Miss Dorinda Coburn, who died
a few years later, leaving one son, Geary Harris, who is now a citizen of Harrison county. He
then married Miss Elizabeth Pritchard, sister of Peter Pritchard, who was born on February 20,
1812, and in 1846, when Turtle run was almost a wilderness they came to this county and settled
on the farm that is now the home of their son, A.F. Harris. Here they passed from earth - she on
March 25, 1876, and he on March 23, 1904. Both sleep at White Oak. He reached the venerable age
of ninety years, and was revered by all who knew him, as was his companion.

Their children were: Eliza J., who died in youth; George W., of Harrison county; the late Mrs.
Martha (H.C.) Cox, and Mrs. Millie F. (G.W.) Hayhurst, and Alpheus F. Harris, Pullman; and the
late Mrs. Nancy Rebecca (Wesley) McCormick, of Tyler county.

Jacob Ehret. - The Ehrets were, also, early people on this stream. Jacob Ehret, senior, came
from his native land - Germany, in 1810, when his son, Jacob, junior, was but a child of six
summers, and settled at Philadelphia. Jacob, junior, married Miss Joanna Seizer, a German
lassie, of the Keystone state, and near the year 1845, they migrated to West Virginia and
settled in Doddridge county, for a few months, before coming to Hughes' river, where they
sojourned for a time on land now owned by G.M. Ireland; and form there they removed to Turtle
run, where they remained until they were laid in the Pine Grove cemetery, at Berea. They were
the parents of the late William Ehret, Mrs. Hannah Bee, Mrs. Mary Johnson, and John Ehret, all
of this county; and of Mrs. Cathrine Bee, of Massachusetts.

Benjamin Prather was born in Washington county, Maryland, in 1798, and there he was married in
1830 to Miss Cathrine Dick, who was born in 1800, and in the year 1845, they joined the little
colony on Turtle run, and here they remained until they were borne to the Pullman cemetery.

They were the parents of James Prather, of Spruce creek; Thomas, of Slab creek; the late Jacob
Prather, and Mrs. Frank Snodgrass, and Mrs. John Snodgrass.