HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY (WV) CHAPTER 22 - 24
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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 XXII
Chevauxdefrise Settled

Two traditions are in existence as to the origin of the name to this stream. 
The first is that a piece of wood filled with iron spikes called 
chevauxdefrise - having once belonged to the Indians, was found upon its 
banks - giving rise to the name; and the other is, that two hunters, being 
compelled to lie out in the cold throughout the night, shivered and froze, 
and ever after in referring to the stream they called it "shiverdy", hence 
the name.

Harmon Sinnett was the first settler. He was a native of Pendleton county, 
being a son of John Sinnett, and a grandson of Patrick. In 1835, he was 
married to Miss Frances Moats, daughter of George Moats, and during the 
following autumn, took up his residence at the mouth of the creek, on the 
land now owned by the heirs of his late son, John P. Sinnett, and the Hall 
Brothers - the latter being in possession of the old home, which is still 
standing, though unoccupied.

His services to this community were of a high order. He erected the first 
grist-mill in this section, near 1850 - the well-known Sinnett's mill, which 
stood a little above the mouth of Chevauxdefrise, on Indian creek; and which 
was twice washed away by a flood, and was not rebuilt the last time.

Mr. Sinnett was truly the corner-stone of the Indian creek Baptist church; 
he having given the grounds and played an important part in the erection of 
the old log church, in 1855, which was replaced by the present frame 
structure in 1890. Until the close of his life, which came on March 9, 1904, 
at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Alfred Simmons, on Gillispie's run, he was 
a familiar figure in this communtiy. His beloved companion had fallen asleep 
just twenty-seven hours before (on the evening of March 8, 1904). When he 
was told that "she was no more", he expressed a hope that he might be 
permitted to go with her; and on the following morning, though he seemed in 
his usual health, he remarked that he might "yet be ready to be buried with 
her&qout;, and that night he closed his eyes, and quietly joined her on the 
other shore. The family, hearing him making a slight noise, went to his 
bedside just in time to see him breathe his last. Both were ninety-one years 
of age, and both were laid in one grave, in the Heck Cemetery, on 
Gillispie's run. Thus this venerable couple, who had traveled hand in hand 
so far down "the declivity of time", were re-united after but a few hours of 
separation.

They were the parents of the Rev. James T. Sinnett; the late Mrs. Susan 
(Wm.) Heck, Mrs. Mary (Alfred) Simmons, Rutherford; Mrs. Martha (Cyrus) 
Washburn, the late Mrs. Florinda (Harmon) Nottingham, and the late John P. 
Sinnett, Washburn; Mrs. Harriet (George) Washburn, Harrison county; the late 
Mrs. Frances (B.F.) Cunningham, Cantwell; the late Mrs. Serepta (A.O.) 
Wilson, Harrisville; and the late Elizabeth Sinnett, Cairo.

The Rev. James T. Sinnett was the first merchant in this section. He built 
the store that is now owned by the Hall Brothers, in 1870: and was engaged 
in the mercantile business here until 1887, when he removed to Smithville, 
where he still claims his residence.

On May 12, 1864, he was married to Miss Nancy Jane, daughter of Samuel 
Clevenger, and in 1893, she passed from sight; and, on April 28, 1904, their 
only son, Dr. J. H. M. Sinnett, of Smithville, followed her to the grave. 
Mrs. Addie B. (John) Stanley, of Slab creek; and Mrs. Grace Suttle, wife of 
Dr. Bruce Suttle, of Tennessee, are their two daughters.

The Sinnett's Mill post-office, with Harmon Sinnett postmaster, came into 
existence in 1860, and went out in 1890.

Owing to a change in the administration, and an effort to carry into effect 
the Andrew Jackson doctrine, "To the victor belongs the spoils", this office 
was moved to what was considered an inconvenient point; and this change 
brought about a fight, which terminated in the establishment of a new office 
under the name of "Washburn", in 1889, and in the dis-continuance of 
Sinnett's Mill, the following year.

Joseph Weaver was the second settler on Chevauxdefrise. He built his cabin 
on the farm that is now the home of Isaac Riggs - formerly the "White 
homestead". He was of German descent, and he married Miss Martha Read, who 
was born on the sea, while her parents were bound for America, and seven 
children were the result of this union. After her death, Mr. Weaver married 
Miss Malinda Tucker, and was the father of seven more children. He met a 
tragic death at the hands of one Nelson Koone during the Civil war (1861), 
while residing on the West Fork river, in Calhoun county -the tragedy 
occurring at Annamoriah flats, near three miles from his home - and was due, 
doubtless, to their difference of opinion in regard to the struggle that was 
then engaging the attention of the North and the South.

The children of the first union were: the late Mrs. Silas Pettit, Big Bend; 
Mrs. Katharing Stuart, Mrs. Eugene Weaver, both of Elizabeth; Mrs. Mark 
Sears, John Weaver, Burning Springs; Joseph, of Ohio; and Clarinda, who died 
in childhood. All have joined the throng on the other side.

The children of the second union: Cora died in childhood, Charley was 
murdered at Elizabeth; Rufus died at Burning Springs; and George, at 
Standing Stone; Floyd is a traveling salesman, and resides in Ohio; Mrs. 
Joseph L. Pettit resides at Parkersburg, and Mrs. Mary Morgan, at 
Ravenswood.

Isaac Clarke followed Mr. Weaver on the Riggs farm. He came from 
Pennsylvania with his family, and returned there after selling his farm to 
the late distinguished "Mudwall" Jackson, who, shortly after the Civil war, 
sold it to Benjamin Starkey, whose family are still idnetified with the 
community.

Adam Harris (son of Thomas, after who Harrisville was named) was the pioneer 
on the Amos farm. He married Miss Margaret Webb, sister of Benjamin, and 
from Chevauxdefrise, they went to Kennedy farm, at the mouth of Lamb's run, 
where they remined for a number of years, before going to the Lemuel Wilson 
farm, above Smithville, where they passed from earth; and in the Smithville 
burying-ground they lie at rest.

Their children were six in number; viz., Thomas lost his life in te Civil 
war; Benjamin, Robert, Mrs. Jane (Robert) Lucas, Mrs. Martha (Thomas) 
Martin, Smithville; and Mrs. Rebecca (Joe) Silman, Gilmer county.

John Harris, brother of Adam, familiarly known as "Summer John", was another 
early settler on this creek. He first built a cabin in the vicinity of Mt. 
Zion, and later removed to the Amos farm, and afterwards resided at 
different places in the Washburn vicinity, and on Husher's run, before going 
to Illinois, where he passed to the "confines of the tomb". His wife was 
Miss Margaret Calhoun, niece of Samuel Calhoun, and his chief occupation was 
hunting.

Ephraim Culp and his wife, Mrs. Julia Moats Culp, were the first to 
establish a home on the J. O. Kelley - now the N. E. Conaway - farm. They 
came here some time during the forties, and remained in the immediate 
vicinity for several years, before removing to the North fork of Hughes' 
river - on the Cornwallis road - to the farm that was long designated as the 
"Culp homestead" - later the Horner. Mr. Culp disappeared while on a 
business trip down the river, and his fate was never known, as nothing was 
ever heard of him again.

Mrs. Culp and her sons, Henry and James, rest at Harrisville; John died 
while serving as a soldier in the Union army. The other two above mentioned 
were also soldiers; and the daughter, Martha, became Mrs. Husher.

Owen Watson and his wife, Mrs. Martha Clarke Watson, were the second 
settlers on the Kelley farm, but they went to Illinois, where they founded a 
permanent home near Cherry Point. He was an uncle of Dr. J. W. Watson, and a 
farther account of the family will be found in the Harrisville chapter.

Noah Boston was the first citizen of the George Nangle farm. He came from 
Rockbridge county, Virginia, and finally went West. His wife was Miss 
Kathrine Webb, daughter of John Webb, senior, of Washburn.

James Braden, of Pennsylvania, and Charles Ayres, son of Jeremiah Ayres, 
were other early settlers on this creek. Mr. Braden was the father of Thomas 
and James Braden, and other children, and he died on the Anthony Wagner 
farm, and sleeps in the Indian creek Baptist churchyard. Mr. Ayres settled 
the Thomas Hardbarger farm and finally went West.

Henry H. Amos. - The year 1849 was marked by the coming of Henry H. Amos and 
his family, from Marion county to the farm now owned by his son, J. E. Amos. 
Mr. Amos was born on July 31, 1817; and on April 4, 18141, he was married to 
Miss Malinda Rex, the marriage taking place at her home near Fairmont; and 
in 1848, they came to this county and resided on the Nay farm, for a brief 
time, before coming to Chevauxdefrise, where they both fell asleep - he, in 
1889, after a long invalidism, and she, in 1891. Both rest in the graveyard 
at the Chevauxdefrise church. Both having long been faithful members of that 
church. Their children were as follows:

John W. Amos, who now resides at Vandalia, Missouri, was a soldier in the 
Civil war, serving under General Sheridan in the Valley of Virginia, in Co. 
K, of the Tenth West Virginia Infantry Volunteers; the late George W. Amos, 
of Harrisville, who seved as County clerk for twenty-six years in 
succession. (He married Miss Laura Hall, and died on December 5, 1898, 
without issue); Eli R. Amos, fell asleep two weeks later at his home in 
Southern Missouri; Mrs. Jacob Hardbarger, of Washburn; and Mrs. Lydia K. (J. 
M.) Lowther, of Auburn, have also, passed on. Mrs. Margaret (E.E.) Cokely, 
and Mrs. Eliza (P.M.) Jones, reside near Harrisville, J. E. and Miss Lizzie, 
at the old homestead; Mrs. Hattie (S. C.) Foster, at Vandalia, Missouri; and 
W. H. has a funiture and undertaking establishment at Auburn.

The Amoses are of German origin. Their ancestors came from the Fatherland, 
near the middle of the seventeenth century; but the authentic and connected 
history of this family begins prior to the Revolutionary war, when Henry 
Amos, senior - grandfather of Henry, of Ritchie county, came to Monongalia 
county, where, in 1790, he was married to Miss Dorcas Hall, of Pennsylvania, 
whose parents came from Delaware.

In 1816, thier second son, George, married Miss Idna Hawkins, a descendant 
of an old English family; her grandfather having come from England to the 
Virginia colony as early as 1750; and from him the Ritchie county families 
are descended. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and was the father of 
thirteen children; viz., Henry, of Ritchie county, was the eldest son; the 
late Asel, of Pennsboro; George, of White Oak; Bennett, Tracy, Edgar, 
Stephen, and Jehu, who died in early manhood, were the other sons; Mrs. 
George Smith of Weston - mother of the Rev. G. D. Smith, of the West 
Virginia M. E. conference; Mrs. Zana Saterfield, of Bellaire, Ohio; Mrs. M. 
Shumley, of Marion county; Mrs. Rhoda Snodgrass, Illinois; and the late Mrs. 
Elizabeth (Wm.) Bell, of Marion county, were the daughters.

Thomas Smallwood Wilson was ther first denizen of the Iames farm. He was 
born in Monongalia county, in 1784, and there he was married to Miss Hannah 
Camp, daughter of Adam Camp, and in 1843, he came to this county, and 
settled on the Michaels' farm, near Oxford, for a brief time, before coming 
to the Iames homestead. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, his father, Thomas, 
senior, being a native of Scotland (he having crossed the ocean after his 
eldest son, Joseph, was born.)

This pioneer was a lumber merchant, and while on a trip to Cincinnati, in 
1848, he contracted cholera, and by the time he had reached Parkersburg, on 
his return, he was stricken with the fatal malady, and died there; and was 
laid at rest near the present site of the B. & O. depot,at that place. Mrs. 
Wilson died at the P.R. Tharp homestead, on Indian run, in 1856, and in the 
Drake burying-ground, on the county farm, she sleeps.

Their children were ten in number; the late John M., Freeport, Wirt county; 
Mrs. Miranda (Elias) Summers, Slab creek; Wm. L. Wilson, Monongalia county, 
who died at the home of his daughter, near Grantsville; Mrs. Mary Ann (John) 
Lough, Illinois; Joseph, of Doddridge county; Mrs. Lucy Ann (Manly) Zinn, 
Holbrook; Mrs. Melissa Simmons, Auburn; Isaac Van Buren, Indian creek - the 
only survivor of the family; Thomas Peter, also of Indian creek, and Israel, 
who died in youth.

All of the family were born in Monongalia county.

John M. Wilson, son of Thomas M., above mentioned, was the first to make an 
improvement on the farm that passed into the hands of Ransom Kendall, in 
1849. He married Miss Sarah Reed, of Monongalia county, and from here they 
went to Marion county, and finally to Freeport, Wirt county, where he rests. 
He was a minister of the M. P. church, having served various charges in West 
Virginia and Ohio; was pastor of the Freeport circuit at the time of his 
death.

He had seven children: Thomas, Mary, Melissa, Caroline, and Jackson have all 
joined the hosts on the other side; Nathaniel and Mrs. Ellen Barker, live in 
Ohio; and Mrs. Leone Hammond, in Wirt county.

Ransom Kendall. - In 1849, Ransom Kendall purchased the improvement that had 
been made by J. M. Wilson, and took up his residence here, where he remained 
until he "passed through the Gates", on October 12, 1887. And near two years 
later this old homestead became the property of J. M. Leggett, who sold it 
to Mr. Davisson, the present owner.

Mr. Kendall was born in Marion county, on March 28, 1816; and there, on 
August 27, 1838, he was married to Miss Lydia Rex, daughter of Eli and Sarah 
Hall Rex, who was born in Pennsylvania, on Auguast 25, 1820, but with her 
parents removed to Marion county, when whe was but a child of two summers. 
He and his wife were both loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church 
for almost a half-century - were pillars in the church at Chevauxdefrise 
from the time of its institution until the close of their lives. They gave 
the grounds for the church and cemetery and were important factors in the 
erection of the first church, near 1867. And their son, John, who died in 
childhood, filled the first grave that was made in this cemetery, in October 
1857.

Mrs. Kendall died on September 25, 1888. Her last moments were full of 
triumph, her last words were and expression of praise.

Well does the writer remember that impressive hour, as one by one she bade 
us adieu, and admonished us to meet her beyond the "Gate Beutiful", which 
she was just then entering.

On the old homestead, beside her husband, she is sleeping.

The children of this household were fourteen in number, seven boys and seven 
girls:

The late Dr. James Emery Kendall, who was for a number of years a prominent 
physician of Parkersburg, was the eldest son. He served as assistant surgeon 
of the Eleventh West Virginia Infantry Volunteers during the Civil war, and 
at one time, later in life, represented the West Virginia Medical Fraternity 
at the International Association at London, and while there was presented 
with a medal by the late Queen Victoria, which is now a valued possession of 
his family.

The late Amos Kendall, of Tonganoxie, Kansas, was, also, a soldier of the 
Civil war; and Eli Rex lost his life in defense of the Union, at Beverly, on 
July 2, 1863, and in the National cemetery at Grafton, he reposes.

Jasper Newton, who was at one time superintendent of the schools of this 
county, has for a number of years been prominently identified among the 
Methodist Episcopal Church ministers of the South and West; he having been a 
member of the Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Idaho conferences. 
William Alpheus is a physician of Crescent City, Oklahoma. John, as above 
mentioned, has been sleeping in the churchyard, since his childhood; and 
Marcellus Allen, the youngest son, who is of Parkersburg, served one term as 
State Treasurer, and is now doing service as United States Bank Examiner.

The daughters are: Mrs. Anarie (D. S.) Cox, who resides on part of the old 
homestead on this creek; Mrs. Sarah Kathrine Mitchell mason, Pullman; Mrs. 
Mary L. Lowther (wife of the late Dr. J. G. Lowther), Parkersburg; Mrs. 
Martha L. (L. C.) Jones, Clarendon, Texas; Mrs. Bertha Blanche Kelley (wife 
of Dr. W. C. Kelley), Morgantown; the late Mrs. Maria Louisa Davis (wife of 
the Rev. D. H. Davis, of the M. P. church); and Jennie, the late wife of W. 
G. Lowther, Fonsoville.

The Kendalls are of English origin. In Westmoreland county, England, is a 
river named "Kent", whose valley is known as "Kentdale". Here in the town of 
Kriby-Kendal, of Kendale, as it was formerly spelled, lived one of the "big 
families of Westmoreland", who became generally known as the Kendal, 
Kendall, or Kendale family. "Hence the origin of the name".

In County Cornwall to-day there is a family of the same name who came from 
Treworgy centuries ago, and while their ancestry is not traceable to Kirby-
in-Kendall, it is quite probable that they haled from the same stock.

Eleanor Lexinton, in her "Colonial Families", says:

"The Kendall family bears the proud distinction of having sent more members, 
perhaps, than any other family to the British parliament. At all events it 
has sent as many".

The first record we have of the name in America begins with George Kendall, 
a member of the first Jamestown Council, who crossed the water with this 
little colony in 1607; but the Ritchie family, and the numerous others 
scattered throughout the Union to-day, trace their origin to members of the 
family who crossed a little later.

According to Miss Lexington, two brothers, Francis and Thomas Kendall, who 
were born in England, came to the Western world before the year 1640, and 
settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Francis went to Woburn, Massachusetts, then known as Charlestown, where he 
was married to Mary Tidd, but he later removed to Reading. He had four sons 
and five daughters, and thus gave the family name quite a start in the New 
World. By the year 1828, eight of his line had been graduated from Harvard, 
three from the College of New England, and one brave member had been killed 
as a witch. Amos Kendall, the statesman, who served as Postmaster-General 
under President Andrew Jackson's administration, and George Wilkins Kendall,
the journalist, who died at Oak Springs, Texas, in 1867, belonged to the 
family of Francis.

Thomas settled at Lynn, Massachusetts, where he was married to Rebecca 
______, and about the year 1653, he also removed to Reading, where he died 
in 1681, leaving behind him a reputation for maliness, and for a highly 
religious character.

He had no son that reached the years of maturity, but he left eight 
daughters, who lamented the fact that "so good a surname as theirs could not 
be preserved", so they met in council and decided that the first born son of 
each should bear the name of "Kendall", and as a result there was Kendall 
Pearson, Kendall Eaton, etc.

One of the biographers of these families says:

"The descendants of these pious Puritans have spread themselves over the 
length and the breadth of this country as pioneers and settlers - wakening 
the forests and plains from their long sleep. Some were eminent divines, 
some were distinguished lawyers and jurists, and others were journalists, 
statesmen, authors and travelers".

The tradition of our own branch of the family, as well as that of the Ohio 
branch, says that three brothers crossed at the same time, and that the 
third one settled in Virginia; and from him the Kendalls of Ohio and both 
Virginias are descended. But as Virginia has been visited by fires which 
have swept away some of her records, the given name of the founder of this 
family is missing. However, our record begins with William Kendall, senior, 
whos son, William Kendall, junior, was married to Miss Jemima Kirk, on May 
10, 1738, in Stafford county, Virginia.

This couple (William and jemima) were the parents of ten children: Jesse, 
Thomas, George, Anne, John, William, Samuel, Mary Anne, Elizabeth, and 
Jeremiah. And one of these sons, which one cannot be determined, crossed the 
mountains from the "Old Dominion" and settled in Marion county, not far from 
the time of the birth of his youngest son, James Kendall, in 1784. His 
family consisted of six other sons, besided James, who scattered to Ohio, 
Indiana and Kentucky (with perhaps an exception or two), but James remained 
at the old homestead in Marion county, where he died in 1868, and where he 
lies buried.

James Kendall was married to Miss Kathrine Shuman, who was born in the 
Fatherland, and with her parents, came to Pennsylvania at the age of twelve 
years. The family were six months in crossing and several of the children 
died on board the ship and were buried beneath the waves inorder to avoid 
the danger from the sharks.

Kathrine died at her home in Marion county, in 1848, and sleeps beside her 
husband on the old homestead.

This family consisted of two sons and seven daughters; viz., Ransom, the 
head of the Ritchie county family; Jeremiah, of Tyler county; Rachel, and 
Orpha, who died in youth; Zi;pah (Mrs. Aaron Kearns), Nancy (Mrs. James 
Kearns), and Anarie, who married Asel Amos. All left families, except Mrs. 
Amos.

Jeremiah Kendall, the younger son of William, junior, and Jemima Kirk, 
served as a member of the Continental forces for five years during the 
American Revolution, and was with General Anthony Wayne in his campaign 
against the Indians for two years, being at the battle of Maumee, and at the 
treaty of Greenville. He carried to his grave nine scars from musket-ball 
wounds which he sustained in battle. After the Revolution, he sold his 
interests in Virginia; and with his wife and two children and their sole 
belongings, emigrated to Pennsylvania on horseback, and settled on the old 
"National Road" in Fayette county, between Brownsville and Uniontown, where 
he died in 1843, and where some of his descendants now live.

He was the father of the late General William Kendall of Ohio, who served 
under General Harrison at Tippecanoe, and was a soldier of the war of 1812; 
was the grand-uncle of Ransom Kendall; and Ransom's only brother was named 
for him.

The family are in some way related to General Wayne and Jeremiah Kendall 
fell heir to the spurs, watch-chain and boot-hooks fo this distinguished 
warrior, who is better known as "Mad Anthony", and these invaluable relics 
are still cherished in his family, they having been handed down from father 
to eldest son for five generations, until they have now reached Kendall 
Overturf, of Columbus, Ohio.

Thomas Kendall, who came from Settle, Yourkshire, England, in 1700, is said 
to have been the founder of the Pennsylvania branch of the family.

Old records. - As these old records are rare and of inestimable value, we 
insert this one:

Marriages of the sons of William Kendall, senior, of Virginia:
1- William Kendall, junior, married Jemima Kird on May 10, 1738
2- James Kendall married Mary Coffey on February 25, 1745
3- George Kendall married Cathrine Kelley, June 6, 1748
4- Joshua Kendall married Cathrine Smith, April 4, 1749
5- John kendall married Margaret Keys, January 9, 1752

Family of William, junior and Jemima Kirk Kendall:
1- Jesse Kendall born Octaber 4, 1740
2- Thomas Kendall born May 27, 1742
3- George Kendall born January 13, 1744
4- Anne Kendall born December 6, 1745
5- John Kendall born March 21, 1748
6 and 7- Wiliam and Samuel (twins), August 30, 1749
8- Mary Anne, April 9, 1752
9- Elizabeth, April 1, 1754
10- Jeremiah (of Penn.), February 6, 1758

(One of these brothers was the grandfather of Ransom Kendall.)

Children of Joshua and Cathrine Smith Kendall: Jesse, born August 21, 1751; 
Joshua, born May 27, 1753; Nancy, born December 19, 1755; and Betty, born 
February 22, 1758.

Children of James and Mary Coffey Kendall: John, born February 26, 1749; 
Jesse, born June 19, 1750; Bailey, born October 8, 1755; Moses and Aaron are 
also said to have belonged to this family.

Children of John and Cathrine Keys Kendall: Samuel B., January 1, 1753; 
Charles, born September 17, 1754; and Elizabeth, born February 11, 1758.

We have no record of the children of Joshua and Cathrine Smith Kendall.

Note. - The tradition handed down to us concerning the coming of the 
Kendalls to America is that three brothers crossed in Colonial times: One 
settled in the Pine forests of Maine; one in the "City of Brotherly Love", 
and the other, in Virginia, but as Miss Lexington's information seemed more 
definite than ours concerning the place of settlement in New England, we 
have given hers the first place, but we still credit The coming of the third 
one to the "Old Dominion". We are also indebted to her for the origin of the 
name.

The information of the Kendalls of Ohio comes to us from the great-
granddaughter of Jeremiah Kendall, Mrs. Ella Kendall Overturf, of Columbus, 
Ohio, she having sent us a copy of an old manuscript written by her 
grandfather, the late General William Kendall, and to her we owe our thanks 
for this record.

The Rexes. - As quite a number of the people of this county are descended 
from the Rex family, a brief mention of their origin in America will perhaps 
add interest in the connection.

This family are are of Welsh descent; and from Mapleton, Pennsylvania, their 
original home on this side of the water, they migrated to Marion county. The 
father lost his life in the struggle for Independence, as he was never heard 
of after the close of the war, but he left a family of four sons and three 
daughters: viz., Eli Rex, who married Sarah Hall, and and was the father of 
Mrs. Kendall and Mrs. Amos; Jonathan, John, and Jesse were the other sons. 
One of the daughters, Elizabeth became Mrs. Fast, and she was the 
grandmother of J. E. Ferrell, of Burnt House; Rebecca first married a Price, 
and was the mother of the late Mrs. John Leggett, of Pullman; the late Mrs. 
Jeremiah Snodgrass, of Harrisville; and the late Mrs. Rachel Troy, and her 
second married name was Ice. Mary Rex died in youth.

William Cokeley. - Shortly after the coming of Harmon Sinnet, William 
Cokeley made the first settlement at Mt. Zion, where his only daughter, Mrs. 
Salem Duckworth, now lives. He was a native of Hampshire county, and soon 
after his arrival in this county with his parents, he was married to Miss 
Hannah Starr, sister of James Starr, and at Mt. Zion they founded their 
home, and remained until death closed their eyes. He died on February 12, 
1888, at the age of seventy-four years, one month, twelve days. His wife was 
born on Indian creek, on September 5, 1816, and died on May 12, 1895.

They were Christians of the United Brethren church faith, and Mr. Cokeley 
might be styled the "Father" of the Mr. Zion church" for he gave the grounds 
and played no small part in the erection of the first church home here in 
1859, and beneath the shadow of the present building, which was erected in 
1894, he lies in his last sleep beside his companion.

Nimrod Keykendall was the first citizen of the farm formerly owned by J.N. 
Kendall and C. W. Leggett, but now the property of William Wilson. Mr. 
Keykendall and his wife, Kathrine Zickafoose, sister of the late Asbury 
Zickafoose, came from Pocahontas county in the early fifties, and after the 
Civil war removed to the West. He and his son, Jacob, were soldiers of the 
Civil war; and Jacob, who was Captain of Company K. of the Tenth West 
Virginia Infantry, lost his life at the battle of Cedar creek, on October 
19, 1864, and his father was commissioned to take his place. His last restin-
place is marked by a marble slab in the Mt. Zion churchyard. The other son, 
Samuel, went West.


ChapterXXIII
Slab Creek Settled

This creek derived its name from a hunter's camp, which was constructed of 
slabs, and stood upon its banks. John Cain was the first citizen to 
penetrate its forest. He came from Harrison county, as early as 1818, and 
reared his lowly dwelling on the farm that for long years was designated as 
the "Lewis Maxwell homestead", now the property of W. E. Hall, at Pullman.

We know but little of his early history, except that he was an inmate of the 
old "Nutter fort" at Clarksburg, during his boyhood days, when the citizens 
of that vicinity were compelled to take refuge from the savage foe, within 
it protecting walls.

We have been unable to secure a record of his family, but he was the grand-
uncle of J. R. Lowther, of Pullman; and the father of the late Harrison, and 
Reese, Edith, Nancy, and Dorinda Cain. His descendants in this county are 
quite numerous, however.

John Shores, whose history will be found in the Spruce creek chapter, was 
the first settler at the mouth of this creek; but we have no account of any 
other contemporary settlers with Cain, whose coming antedates that of Shores 
by a number of years. But not a few, however, whose names belong to this 
chapter, and whose descendants are still identified and in the forties, and 
redeemed their homes from their primitive wilderness.

Daniel V. Cox was the first settler at the forks of Slab creek, where his 
son, Floyd Cox, now lives. He was born in Harrison sounty, on March 10, 
1809; and was the son of Phillip and Christiana Stille Cox.

He married Miss Mahala Ward, of Harrison county, sister of the late Martin 
Ward, who was born in 1812; and in 1835, they came to the mouth of Bone 
creek, where they remained until 1845, when they removed to Slab creek.

Mr. Cox was the first merchant at the mouth of Bone creek, he and his 
brother, Phillip, being partners in this business. They also opened a tailor-
shop here with John Shores, a Dutchman, who died at the home of Col. Cox in 
the early sixties, as tailor. This was, doubtless, the first tailor-shop in 
the county.

Col. Cox, as he was generally known, was colonel of the Militia from the 
time of the organization of the county, until a short time before his death 
in the sixties. He recruited a company of volunteers, early in the Civil 
war, but owing to his failing health did not go into active service. But 
three of his sons took up arms in defense of the Union: (John, Taylor, and 
J. E.)

Col. Cox, like many of the other pioneers, was a man of indomitable courage, 
and of great daring. His daring being scarcely second to that of Israel 
Putnam, when he descended the wolfe's den and shot the animal by the glaring 
light of its own eye, as the following incident will illustrate:

When Robert Sommerville reared his cabin on Bone creek, he had to get his 
help from Harrison and Lewis counties; and during the night, after the cabin 
had been erected, there fell a tracking snow; and on the following morning, 
three panthers' tracks in the snow, near a mile beyond the Gilmer county 
line; and following the tracks they were led to a ledge of rocks where the 
animals were securely housed. They tried for several hours to smoke them 
out, but all in vain, and all but Col. Cox decided to give it up and to go 
on home; but he said, "No, gentlemen, those panthers must come out of 
there". And despite their remonstrances, with a pine torch in one hand, and 
a huge knife in the other, he started in after them, telling his companions 
to be ready with their guns to fire should they come out; but after some 
delay to their intense relief, they heard him coming, and he soon appeared 
dragging his prey after him, the animals having perished from the effects of 
the smoke.

He sleeps on his old homestead on Slab creek, beside his wife, who died in 
1899.

He was the father if ten children:

W. Floyd, and Mrs. Louisa (Wm.) Bane, the late H. C. and J. E., all of Slab 
creek; the late John M., of Burnt House; D. S., Chevauxdefrise; W. Taylor, 
Calhoun county; W. E., Alvin W., and Phillip, all died in youth.

Phillip Cox, brother of Col. Cox, was also identified with the county's 
early history, he being a surveyor in this and adjoining counties as early 
as 1820; and, as already mentioned, he was a partner in the mercantile 
business with his brother at the mouth of Bone creek, in 1835; though he did 
not take up his residence here until 1847, when he removed to Harrisville, 
and took charge of the "Franklin hotel", wherehe remained until 1852. He 
finally went to Cox's mill, in Gilmer county, where he died on December 19, 
1876, at the age of seventy-six years, he having been born, on July 20, 
1800. He at one time represented Braxton and Lewis counties in the General 
Assembly at Richmond.

He married Miss Susan Kniseley, daughter of George, and sister of the late 
John Kniseley, of Auburn, and in the Auburn cemetery, beside his wife, he 
sleeps.

He was the father of D. W. Cox, of Washburn, and of the following other sons 
and daughters: Oliver P. Cox, of Cox's mill; George Kniseley Cos; Isaac, of 
Clay county; John, of Kansas City; Mrs. Josephine (Hamilton) Norman, 
Spokane, Washington; Mrs. Elizabeth (Anthony) Wagner, of Washburn - mother 
of "Al" Wagner, Berea; Mrs. Mary Snodgrass, wife of the late Rev. Elisha L. 
Snodgrass,of Auburn; Mrs. Rodenia (Thomas) Williams, Kansas City, all of 
whom have passed on, save D. W., O.P., and Mrs. Norman.

The Coxes have a distinguished ancestral line, which they trace back to Dr. 
Daniel Cox, of London, who was the Royal family's physician when Queen Anne 
was on the throne (from 1702-1714), he being a cousin of the Queen.

Dr. Daniel Cox had three sons, Isaac, John, and Daniel, junior, who came to 
the New Jersey colony at a very early day, and from these three brothers, 
nearly all of the Coxes in the united States are said to be descended. From 
Isaac the Ritchie county line comes; but the generations from him to the 
Isaac that came to Harrison county, are about six or seven, and the heads of 
the line down are alternately "Isaac" and "Phillip", and it is quite 
difficult to make the matter clear. However, Isaac Cox, the Harrison county 
pioneer, was born in New Jersey in 1731. He was the son of Phillip and 
Hannah Trembly Cox-- the youngest and only son that lived to rear a family.

Isaac Cox, the first, in making a disposition of his property, had willed 
all his immense fortune to his eldest son, Phillip, thus setting a precedent 
that was adhered to for seven generations. But Isaac Cox, the Harrison 
county Pioneer (being the youngest of the family as above stated), became 
the legatee of the property, owing to the fact that he was the only survivor 
of the family. His brothers, having gone some distance from home to make an 
improvement, in advance of the settlement, and raise a crop, pitched their 
tent near a fine spring from which they got water for constant use, and in a 
short time, they all sickened and died; and upon investigation, it was found 
that the water came from a copper-mine, and thus was poisonous. Isaac being 
but a lad, and drinking here and there where he chanced to be herding the 
stock, escaped death.

Isaac Cox married Miss Sarah Sutton, of New Jersey, and after the 
Revolution, perhaps, near 1790, came to Harrison county, and settled at the 
mouth of Kincheloe's creek. He died in 1838, at the age of one hundred seven 
years, and in the "Broad Run Cemetery" in Lewis county, beside his wife, he 
lies at rest. His father died in New Jersey, in 1797 at the age of one 
hundred twelve years.

They (Isaac and Sarah) were the parents of five children; Phillip, who 
sleeps in Ritchie County; John and Mrs. Sarah (John) Tingley, Ohio; Mrs. 
Hannah (Joseph) Smith, Harrison county; and Isaac, of Chestnut Grove, 
Calhoun county.

Phillip Cox married Miss Christiana Stille, and was the father of Col. 
Daniel, the Ritchie county pioneer, and of nine other children; viz., Isaac 
P.; John, of Ohio; David S., Hannah, Phillip, Huldah, who became Mrs. 
Hezekiah D. Tharpe, and went to Iowa; Sarah, who was Mrs. Timothy Tharpe, of 
Auburn; James S., and Levi, who sleeps in Doddridge county. All the Coxes in 
this and adjoining counties came from this family. Phillip and his wife 
Christiana died at the home of their son, Col. Daniel V. Cox, on Slab 
creek,and here they sleep. He was born in 1760, and died in 1854. She died 
in 1856 at the age of ninety-two years.

Enoch B. Leggett. - Thomas Stevens built the first dwelling on the farm that 
is now owned by Mrs. Cynthia Lowther, at Pullman. He came from Monongalia 
county and went to Marion, where he died. But Enoch B. Leggett purchased 
this slight improvement in 1845, and moved into the rude cabin until a 
better one could be constructed.

Mr. Leggett was born in Monongalia county, in 1811, and near the year 1835, 
he was married to Miss Sarah Athey, of Marion county, and in her native 
county, they remained until they came to Slab creek, where he played an 
important part in the early affairs of the community. He was one of the 
charter members of the first church organization here; was the donor of the 
grounds for the church and the cemetery, known as "Bethel", or "Old Slab", 
and was one of the principal factors in its erection.

>From here he removed to the Harrisville vicinity, near one mile north-east, 
where he was engaged in the milling business until his property was 
destroyed by fire, in 1871; and in a years after this, he went to Holbrook, 
where he was again engaged as miller for a time. Here death entered his home 
and carried away his beloved wife, and he then made his home with his 
children until his death, at the home of his son, E. A. Leggett, near 
Oxford, in 1886. His last moments were full of triumph, he having been 
permitted to catch a glimpse of the glorious over there, before he closed 
his eyes to earth. Side by side he and his wife slumber in the Pullman 
churchyard. Here, too, rests his daughters Harriet, Martha, and his son, 
Nelson, who died in childhood. The other members of the family are as 
follows: Mrs. Anna (T. E.) Davis, Mrs. Jennie Amos Tarleton, Harrisville; 
Marion Leggett, Ravenswood; E. A., Oxford; and the late Mrs. Nancy (James) 
Davis, Harrisville; the late Mrs. Mary (A.K.) Athey, Marion county; and the 
late Mrs. Kathrine (Smith) Gaston, Doddridge county.

Mrs. Tarleton and Marion Leggett have both passed on since the above was 
written.

John Leggett, brother of Enoch, made the first improvement on the farm that 
is now owned and occupied by his son, C. W. Leggett. He was born in Marion 
county, on September 3, 1825, and there on April 16, 1846, he was married to 
Miss Mary Price, daughter of Charles Price, and in September, 1848, they 
removed to Slab creek, where their lives came to a close. Mrs. Legget was 
born on August 15, 1828, and died in 1896; and he survived until September 
28, 1906. Both lie in the White Oak churchyard, as do thier sons, James N. 
and Francis M. Leggett.

Their other children are: C. W., Pullman; M. Jackson and V. Elbert, 
Harrisville; and Mrs. Kathrine Rebecca (T.A.) Prunty, Chrisman, Illinois.

The Leggetts are of English origin. James Leggett came from England before 
the American Revolution and settled in Rockingham county, Virginia, and from 
there removed to what is now Monongalia county, West Virginia. It is not 
known whether he was a soldier of the Continental army or not, but he was a 
noted Indian fighter, and not long after his removal to the "Little Mountain 
State", he started eastward on a journey, and nothing was ever heard of him 
again, and thus his history ends. But he had several sons: John, James, 
Thomas, George, and Isaac, and perhaps, others, and one daughter at least. 
This daughter, Elizabeth, became Mrs. Arnett, of Arnettsville, Marion 
county, and she lived to reach the century mark; and her daugher, Mrs. Mary 
Glasscock, reached the age of one hundred five years. She is said to have 
been the ancestor of Governor Glasscock, but we cannot verify this, however.

James went to Columbus, Ohio, near the year 1835, and there, and, perhaps, 
in other parts of the West his descendants live.

Thomas and George (?) Leggett crossed the Allegheny mountains into Western 
Virginia in Indian times, and all trace of them was lot, but during the 
Civil war, James Leggett, the brother of Enoch, met with Thomas; son, James, 
who was serving as a soldier from a Western state; and "Border Warfare" 
relates the story of a party of drovers from Dunkard and Fish creeks who 
were overtaken by the Indians in September, 1791, while on their way to 
Marietta to market their cattle; and Jesse Hughes alone escaped to tell the 
tragic tale. "George Leggett" was a member of this party, and as he was 
never heard of again, he is supposed to have shared the fate of the rest. It 
is not positively known that he was a member of this family, but there can 
scarcely be a reasonable doubt of it.

Isaac Leggett was but a half-brother of the others, and he is the ancestor 
of the Doddridge county branch; and John, of the Ritchie county family.

John Leggett, senior, whose history is of more moment to us, was twice 
married. His first wife, whose name is wanting, met a tragic death by a fall 
early in their wedded life, and he then married Miss Kathrine Barrick, who 
was born in Germany, and with her parents crossed the water to Rockingham 
county, Virginia, at the age of nine years. Here she grew to young 
womanhood; and here on September 11, 1807, she took the marriage vow. She 
was a sister of Adam Barrick, who was at one time a resident of Harrisville, 
and her death occurred in Marion couty, at the age of sixty-one years. Her 
old German Bible is now the treasured heirloom of her granddaughter, Mrs. T. 
E. Davis, of Harrisville.

Some time after her death, perhaps, in the early fifties, Mr. Leggett came 
to this county and resided on the Flannagan farm, above Berea, for several 
years. He died on February 14, 1862, at the age of eighty-four years, and 
rests at Duckworth summit.

He was the father of a large family of sons and daughters, who nearly all 
have descendants in this county:

Mrs. Mary (C.W.) Batson, of Marion county (mother of the late W.H. Batson, 
of Berea); Mrs. Sarah (Thomas) Bane, Farmington (mother of the late Wm. 
Bane, Pullman); Mrs. Elizabeth (Zubulon) Bee, Berea; Mrs. Margaret 
(Dickerson) Wood, Marion county; Mrs. Cassandra (Henry) Goodwin, Berea; 
Elethean, who first married William Dixon, of Pennsboro, and after his 
death, Powell Calhoun, formerly of this county, but later of Tyler' Enoch 
B., and John, the pioneers of this county; James, who resided here here but 
removed to Missouri shortly after his service as a soldier in the Union 
army, where he died in 1903; Thomas, who resided at Tollgate, also, went to 
Missouri shortly after the Civil war; and Jacob died in youth.

Note. - Some conflicting statements have confronted us in this data, but we 
have gIven it according to what we considered the best authority. One is 
that the original Leggett's name was Isaac, or John, instead of James.


Jonathan McKinley was another worthy pioneer here. He came from Harrison 
county, in 1850, and redeemed the "McKinley homestead" from its primitive 
wilderness; and for almost sixty years his family have been identified with 
this community. He was a native of Monongalia county; the son of Thomas and 
Sarah Stuart McKinley, who later removed to Harrison county, where they 
sleep. He was of Highland Scotch stock. His grandfather, John McKinley, came 
from Scotland to the Virginia colony, perhaps, near the middle of the 
eighteenth century; and, doubtless, served as a Revolutionary soldier, as he 
was an officer in one of the Virginia regements. He was a noted Indian 
fighter, and while on an expedition against the Delawares (with near two 
hundred other men from the Monongalia settlements), in 1782, he was captured 
and beheaded, by the savages. It was on this expedition, and near the same 
time that Col. Crawford met his cruel, tragic, death at the hands of the 
inhumane monsters. As he (Col. Crawford) passed along in captivity, he 
witnessed the death of John McKinley and his four companions.

Johnathan Mckinley married Miss Elizabeth Rector, of Pruntytown, who was of 
Dutch descent, and they were the parents of nine children: William, of 
Pullman; Eli, of Harrisville; Thomas, of Roane county; John, of Pennsboro; 
Marion, of Harrison county; Mrs. Juliet (David) Owens, Wood county; Mrs. 
Harriet (James R.) Lowther, Pullman; and Mrs. Jane Lowther, Pennsboro. The 
last two mentioned alone survive. Jane, first married Robert Lowther and 
after his death, she married his brother, William I. Lowther.

Mr. and Mrs. McKinley rest at Pullman.

The late Homer B. McKinley, of Salem, who was so prominently known in 
different parts of the state, was a member of this family, he being the son 
or Eli, and Mrs. Dorinda Lowther McKinley, and the grandson of Jonathan. He 
attended the McKinley reunion at the Kansas State building, at the World's 
Fair at Chicago, on September 13, 1893, in which the late President 
McKinley, who was then Governor of Ohio, and other distinguished gentlemen 
of the name from the United States, Canada, and Scotland, participated 
(giving interesting reminiscences of the origin and history of the family), 
and thus he learned that his ancestors sprang from the same Scottish stock, 
as did those of the late President McKinley.

Joseph Wilson was another early settler on this creek, below Pullman. He was 
of Scotch-Irish descent, and was a native of Ireland, having been borne in 
1804; and with his parents removed to Kentucky in his youth. At the age of 
twenty-one years, he came to this county, where he was married to Miss Mary 
Cain, daughter of David Cain, who resided on the Prunty farm at that time; 
there the marriage was solemnized, and there they resided for several years, 
before going to Ohio, where they remained until 1847, when they returned and 
took up their residence on the Jospeh Summers homestead, where Mr. Wilson 
passed away in 1878. Mrs. Wilson died at the home of her son, Lemuel, at 
Smithville, a number of years later, and both sleep at Pleasant Hill.

They were the parents of six sons:

David M. and James died in youth, the late Robert, of Slab creek, died 
several years ago, leaving one son, Mortimer; Napoleon, who is a twin of 
Lemuel, of Smithville, resides at Burnsville, with his only son, Carl; Hiram 
resides at Salem. He is the father of several children, but the other three 
brothers had but one son each. C.A. Wilson, of Burnt House, is the son of 
Lemuel.

Elias Summers was the first settler on the farm now owned by his son, E. N. 
Summers. He was born in Monongalia county, and there he was married to Miss 
Miranda Wilson, sister of Isaac Wilson, of Indian creek, and came to this 
county in 1838, and settled near Oxford, on the farm that is now owned by 
the Michael heirs. He removed from here to the Thomas McKinley farm, on 
White Oak, and from there, from earth rich in the esteem of all who knew 
him. He was buried in the Cox graveyard, and, in 1901, his wife was laid by 
his side.

Their children: Mrs. Hannah (James) Prather, Mrs. Margaret (J.M.) Cox, Mrs. 
Jemima (Robert) Mitchell, James K., who lost his life in the Union cause, 
Mrs. Mary A. (John O.) Kelley, Harrisville; and Thomas, and Della, who died 
in infancy, have all joined the throng on the other side. The surviving ones 
are: Mrs. Lucy E. (T.T.) Pritchard, Wyoming; Joseph M. Summers, Ohio; J.T., 
Kansas; and E. N. Summers, of Pullman.

Elijah Summers, brother of Elias, and his wife, Mrs. Susan Barnett Summers, 
were very early settlers across the Doddridge county line, near Summers; 
here they passed from earth and here they lie buried.

They were the parents of the late Joseph Summers, and Elijah W. Summers, of 
Summers; of Mrs. Louisa Adams, of Mrs. Sarah McClain, and of Francis 
Summers, all of Roane county.

Grant Summers, the County clerk of Doddridge; M.B. Summers, of West Union, 
who is prominently known in Democratic circles; Mrs. George Woofter, wife of 
the well known Baptist minister; and the Rev. M A. Summers, of the Baptist 
church, are grandchildren of Elijah.

Elijah and Elisha Summers were the sons of Alexander Summers, and early 
settler of Monongalia county, and they were two of a family of ten brothers 
and sisters. The other eight members being as follows: Joseph Summers, 
Preston county, David, James, Jonathan, and Mrs. Rebecca Rarker, all of 
Monongalia county; Elisha, Mrs. Elizabeth Snyder, and Mrs. Mary Swisher, 
Marion county.

Elisha was the father of T. M. Summers, of Hazelgreen, and here, at the home 
of his son, he spent his last hours.

William T. Mitchell was long identified with this creek. He was born in 
Barbour county, on September 13, 1823, and was married to Miss Matilda 
Zickafoose, daughter of Sampson Zickafoose, who was born in Pendleton 
county, on June 24, 1834, and died on March 24, 1895. They were the parents 
of eight children: O.G. Mitchell, Mrs. Sarah L. Prunty, Mrs. Fannie V. 
Hardbarger, who reside on the old homestead; Thomas L., Kansas; William T., 
junior, George, and Sampson, of Oklahoma, and Sanford E., who sleeps in the 
Mt. zion churchyard, beside his parents.

Mr. Mitchell was a brother of John, Daniel, and Josiah Mitchell, who went 
West, and from the first three nearly all of this name in the county are 
descended. Martin, of Iris; Robert, of Tanners; and the late Mrs. F. M. Law, 
of Lawford, are the children of Daniel.

Hiram Cain, another early settler on this creek, was born, lived, and died 
in this county, and his widow, who was Miss Eveline Collins, now resides 
with her daughter at Parkersburg.

Isaac Tremble and his wife, Mrs. Matilda Neal Tremble, were the first 
settlers of the farm that is now the home of Winfield Chapman.

He came from Harrison county (?), and here passed from earth, on August 17, 
1878, at the age of fifty-two years, five months, twenty-eight days.

Mrs. Tremble died on March 27, 1871, at the age of forty-four years. ?Both 
rest at Pullman. They were the parents of several children, all of whom died 
in youth, and in childhood, except Ellen, who was the late wife of Winfield 
Chapman. Her son, Lester Chapman, is the only living descendant of this 
couple.

Henry S. Morris was another arrival of the early fifties. He was born in 
Marion county, on April 26, 1834; was the son of Richard and Susan Morris. 
He married Miss Jane Wilson, daughter of H. B. Wilson, on November 16, 1852, 
and, four years later, they removed to Slab creek, where they remained until 
death, and where some of their family still live. Mrs. Morris died on March 
20, 1884, and he, in 1894. Both lie at Pullman.

Their children were ten in number: Mrs. Mary (T.N.) Kirkpatrick, Fonsoville; 
the late Mrs. Margaret (A.F.) Harris, Pullman; Mrs. Belle Maulsby, and J. W. 
Morris, Pullman; Mrs. Addie Nichols, and Mrs. Minnie Rowe, the late Mrs. 
Bertha King, and the late Pinckney Morris, all of Colorado; and Wilson 
Morris, of Wyoming; and Mrs. Nannie Riddel, of Nebraska.

William T. Bane, a native of Marion county, married Miss Louisa Cox, 
daughter of Col. Daniel V. Cox, and settled the "Bane homestead", where his 
widow still survives. He served as a soldier of the Union, and in the Mt. 
Pisgah churchyard he lies at rest.

He was teh father of several children, all of whom have passed on, save 
three; viz., Daniel Bane, and Mrs. Neva Kirkpatrick, who live in the West; 
and Jay Bane, of Pullman; Mary Ann Bane was the late Mrs. John Sutll, and 
the late Emerson was another son.

Daniel Nay and his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Hayhurst Nay, were other pioneers of 
this section. They came from Marion county, in 1852, and found a home on the 
farm that is now owned by Claude Allender, and, after a brief residence 
here, they removed to the J.O. Nay homestead, where they spent the remainder 
of their lives, and where they lie sleeping. Mrs. Nay preceded her husband 
to the other shore by many years, and he married Miss Abigail Bee for his 
second wife. She too, is now sleeping by his side on the old homestead.

Marshall Nay, a son, passed on in his youth, and J. O. Nay, and Mrs. Jane 
(W.M.) Wilson, both of Pullman, are his surviving children, they being born 
of the first union.

O. Guy Wilson, who is now one of the promising young educators of this 
state, is the grandson of Mr. Nay.

George Foster and his wife, Mrs. Michael Hayhurst Foster, sister of Mrs. 
Nay, also, came from Marion county in the early fifties and took up their 
residence in the forest where they still survive, at the ages of eighty-nine 
and eighty-seven years, respectively.

Their children are as follows: S.C. Foster, Missouri; J. N., F.P., Clarke, 
the late W.F., and the late Mrs. L.A. Neal, all of Colorado; Mrs. Mary E. 
Howard, Pullman; Mrs. A. O. Wilson, Mrs. Ashford Taylor, and Miss Louie 
Foster, all of Pennsboro; and the late W.J. and Esther, who died in 
childhood.

Dr. George Curtis Howard who is widely known in dental circles is the 
grandson of Mr. Foster, he being the son of the late Ashford and Mrs. Mary 
Foster Howard, and a native of Pullman.

Dr. Howard became interested in Dental surgery at the age of eighteen years -
 beginning to this period of extract teeth - and six years later he entered 
the office of Dr. John Stoops, and continued the study of this profession 
until June 1906, when he went before the State Dental board of Examiners at 
Charleston and carried off the honors of a class of forty, on clinical work, 
all of whom, with an exception or two, held college diplomas, and since that 
time he has made Pullman and West Union his headquarters, he being a citizen 
of the latter town at present.

On August 18, 1903, he was married to Miss Goldie Mae Paugh, daughter of Mr. 
and Mrs. A. C. Paugh of Preston county, and on December 22, 1905, her gentle 
spirit took its homeward flight, and during the autumn of 1907, he was again 
married to Miss Sarah Riggs, of Pullman, and the one son of the latter 
union, George Jennings Howard, was laid in the Pullman churchyard in August, 
1910.

Jacob Hayhurst was, also, among the arrivals of the early fifties. He was 
the son of David and Phebe Devault Hayhurst, and was a native of Prickett's 
creek, Marion county, being born on May 28, 1820. On May 25, 1844, he was 
married to Miss Elizabeth Lake, who first saw the light in Taylor county, on 
March 21, 1816; and in 1852, they came to Slab creek, where they spent the 
remainder of their lives, on the old homestead that is now owned by their 
only son, B. W. Hayhurst. Here Mrs. Hayhurst bade adieu to earth on August 
12, 1885, and Mr. Hayhurst joined her on the other side, on April 28, 1905.

Besides the son above mentioned they were the parents of two daughters, Miss 
Ellen Hayhurst of Pullman; and Margaret Jane who is married and lives in 
Ohio.

(David Hayhurst was born on Sept. 23, 1794, and died on July 1, 1865; and 
his wife Phebe Devault lived from march 11, 1797 to July 20, 1877.)

Leman H. Hayhurst, Ritchie county's superintendent of schools, belongs to 
this family, he being the only sone of G. W. and Mrs. Millie Harris 
Hayhurst, and one of a family of six children; Viz., Metta, Isa, Juna, Ida, 
and Mae Hayhurst.

He was born on the old homestead near Pullman, on February 18, 1876, and 
entered the profession of teaching at the age of eighteen years. He served 
as a member of the Board of Teachers' Examiners for four years, and was 
graduated from the State Normal at Fairmont in the class of 1901., and was 
elected to the office of County Superintentdent the following year. He is 
now serving his second term in this capacity adn is proving to be one among 
the most efficient and popular of the long line of Ritchie's 
superintendents.

He is now a student of the medical department of the University at 
Louisville, Kentucky, and will soon identify himself with the medical 
practioners to the loss of the Educational field. On September 21, 1905, he 
was married to Miss Cynthia Pratt, daughter of the late J. E. Pratt, of 
Pennsboro, and two little daughters, Ruth and Esther are the result of this 
union. Later, Mr. Hayhurst graduated from the medical college in June 1910.
John Parker. - The name of John Parker belongs to this corner of the 
county's history, he having been a very useful citizen of early times.

Mr. Parker was born in Marion county in October 1821; was the son of William 
and Sarah Deacon Parker. His grandparents came from England and settled in 
Marion county before his father was born.

He was one of six children : Thomas, Phillip, Washington, Rachel, and 
Luvina.

In 1830, his father moved to Indiana, where he died two years later, and 
soon after this sad occAurrence, the family returned to their old home in 
Marion county.

Mrs. Parker is said to have come to this county in 1838, but his marriage 
did not take place for some years after this date, as he was but a lad of 
seventeen years at this time and his future wife, Miss Nancy Snodgrass, 
daughter of Isaac Snodgrass, who was born in 1827, was but eleven years of 
age, so it was, perhaps, late in the forties when he took up his residence 
on the water of White Oak, where Ellis Prunty now lives; and shortly after 
his settlement here, he erected a saw mill, near the present site of the 
White Oak church, which he manipulated for a few years before coming to Slab
 creek to the farm that is now owned by Henry Bruffey. From here he moved to 
Pullman, where he remained until he was laid in the churchyard, in December 
1895.

He was the first miller of this section, his mill having stood in what is 
now the garden of the Pullman hotel property. It was in operation during the 
war, and the women and the girls were the "mill boys".

He was the father of nine children: the late Sylvester, and James, Pullman; 
Alvin and Mrs. Rose Foster, Colorado; Eli and Mrs. Luvina Wilson, 
Washington' Mrs. Eliza Howe, Upshur county; Usebius, Parkersburg; and the 
late Frank, Clarksburg.

Washington Parker, his brother, was the only other member of the family that 
came to this county.

In 1850, he married Miss Mary Boone, of Marion county, and, four years 
later, they came to this county and after an eight years' residence on White 
Oak, removed to Chevauxdefrise in 1862, and there he died in 1885. Mrs. 
Parker survived until 1909 when whe was laid by his side in the churchyard 
at Chevauxdefrise.

Their children: Mrs. Ella Matheny, Harrisville; Josiah, Washburn; Leroy, 
Pennsboro; Mrs. Laura ?Goodwin, and Mrs. Lena Cox, Cairo; Festus Parker, 
Washington state; Mrs. Sarah Foster, Colorado; and Mrs. Iva Lowther, Yellow 
creek.

Kirkpatrick is another name that has long been associated with this part of 
the county. This family, as their name suggests, originated in the "Emerald 
Isle". Thomas Kirkpatrick crossed the sea at a date unknown, and settled in 
Pennsylvania. He later removed to Ohio and finally to this state where he 
finished his earthly pilgrimage in Tyler county.

His son, Ichabod Kirkpatrick, was born in Pennsylvania, on October 11, 1815; 
and on January 25, 1834, he was married to Miss Agnes Davis who was born on 
August 19, 1815, and settled in Ohio. Here Mrs. Kirkpatrick died leaving 
seven children; and in 1851, the family removed to this county and settled 
in the Pullman vicinity, where, on March 20, 1853, Mr. Kirkpatrick was 
married to Miss Mary Ann Bane, sister of the late William Bane, who passed 
on in March 1857, leaving three children. The family at this time resided in 
the Cornwallis vicinity, but shortly after Mrs. Kirkpatrick's death, he was 
again married to Mrs. Margaret Lowther Cunningham (daughter of Jesse Lowther 
of Cornwallis) and this same year (1857) purchased a farm on Isaac's fork of 
Slab creek, where he spent his last hours in 1874. And here, on his old 
homestead, by the side of his youngest daughter, he lies in his last sleep. 
His second wife rests on the Flannagan farm above Berea; and the last one, 
in Ohio, where she spent the remnant of her days with a daughter of her 
former marriage.

The children of his first marriage were as follows: Drusilla, died in 
infancy; J. Jackson resides in Maryland; Ephraim, on Rock Camp; Levi, on 
slab creek; Sanford died in childhood; Adonis, in youth; Marie married James 
Boner, of Ellenboro; Eveline, who first married Nathaniel Mitchell is now 
Mrs. D. S. Bush, of Harrisville; Thomas N. Kirkpatrick, of Grass run; the 
late Mrs. Mattie Owens, of Volcano; and Sarah, who died in childhood, were 
the children of the second. And of the third marriage, there was no issue.

Daniel Mason and his wife Rachel Deacon, came from Marion county as early as 
1852, and settled near Cornwallis, and from there removed to the Mt. Pisgah 
vicinity where their grandson, Thomas Mason now lives. Here they passed from 
earth and in the White Oak churchyard they repose. Their eldest son Thomas, 
lost his life in the Union service; Reilly and Sanford are of Webster 
county; Eber is of Pennsboro; Frank, of California; Webster met a tragic 
death from an accidental discharge of a gun in his young manhood, and the 
only daughter died in infancy.

Joseph M. Wilson. - Another old Slab crek family which has heretofore been 
overlooked, and which now comes under our notice at the eleventh hour, is 
that of Joseph M. Wilson, senior, who, with his wife, Elizabeth Gray Wilson, 
came from Marion county, near eighty years ago, and settled on the farm that 
is now the estate of his late son, Peter T. Wilson. He was the brother of 
Thomas Wilson, father of the venerable Isaac Wilson of Indian creek, and 
here where he settled he spent his last moments near the breaking out of the 
Civil war; and in the Pullman churchyard, beside his wife, he rests.

His children were as follows: Thomas, the eldest son went to Zanesville, 
Ohio; Eugenus died in Preston county in 1910 at the age of ninety-two years; 
the late Smallwood, Joseph, Peter T., and Reason, who lost his life in the 
Union cause, were all of this county; Lucy Ann married Felix Grayson, and 
after her death the family went to Kansas; Elizabeth was the late Mrs. Levi 
Wells of Grafton; and Sarah was the late Mrs. Jackson Shuttlesworth, of this 
county.

Joseph Wilson, junior, married Rebecca Anne Weaver, daughter of Joseph 
Weaver, and spent his life in this county. He having passed on in 1908 at 
the age of eighty-six years. Louisa, his only daughter married charles 
Pfeltz of Baltimore and was the mother of Wm. Pfeltz of Pennsboro; and 
Winfield, who was accidentally killed in his boyhood, and B. W. Wilson, of 
Pennsboro, were the other members of the family.

Note: - Doubtless this pioneer was the first citizen of this creek after 
John Cain.


CHAPTER XXIV
White Oak Settled
Transcribed by Earl Cowan.

Page 347

White Oak Settled

This stream took it's name from the profusion of valuable White Oak timber 
upon its banks.  It was named by Adam Weaver, a surveyor of Baltimore, who 
laid this section off in blocks before it was permanently settled.

Barton Hudkins was the first pioneer to find a home here.  He came from what 
is now Barbour county, near 1826, and erected his dwelling where L. S. 
Clayton now lives, and after a brief stay, removed to the Bond's creek side, 
and settled at the forks of the Parkersburg and St. Mary's turnpike, where 
his life came to a close.  He was of English-Irish origin, his father having 
come from England and settled in the Maryland colony.  The father later 
removed to Randolph county (W.) Virginia, where Barton was born in 1773, and 
where he grew to manhood, and married Miss Naomi Ingraham, who was ten years 
his junior.  She was also a native of Randolph county, but was descended 
from a prominent Scotch family by the name of Slavens of Highland county, 
Virginia.  He (Barton) was a soldier of the war of 1812, and had been a 
resident of Harrison--now Barbour-- county for a number of years before 
coming to Ritchie.  He died at his old homestead on Bond's creek, and his 
wife spent her last hours at St. Mary's, but both rest at Highland.

Their children were as follows:
Mrs. Rachel (S. G.) Hall, and Bazil Hudkins, Highland; Mrs. Margaret 
(Arthur) Hickman, Tollgate; Mrs. Elizabeth (Archibald) Wilson, Pennsboro; 
Mrs. Edith (Simon) Davis, Tyler county; Mrs Sarah (Thomas) Dare, 
Parkersburg; and Allen Hudkins, Nebraska.  All have joined the throng over 
there, but quite a number of the grand-children are still inentified among 
the older citizens of the county.  Among them are

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B. H. Wilson, of Goff's; Mrs. Love Prunty, and Mrs. Eveline Bee, and J. M. 
Wilson, Pennsboro; John S. Hall, the blind poet of St. Mary's, is also a 
grandson, and the late Mrs. Elizabeth McGregor, of Highland was a grand-
daughter.

Elijah Clayton in 1841 pruchased the Hudkins improvement of John M. Wilson, 
and became the first permanent settler here, remaining until his death, on 
August 3, 1873.  He was of Irish lineage, his father, Noah clayton having 
crossed the sea, and settled in Virginia early in the nineteenth century, 
and from there, removed to Monongalia county, where he died.  There, on 
September 27, 1811, on Little Papau, in what is now Marion county, Elijah 
Clayton was born, and there he grew to manhood.  He was one of a family of 
twelve children, some of whom became very prominent.  John Clayton 
represented his district in the Richmond Legislature in both the House of 
Delegates and the Senate; David L. Clayton, another brother, being a 
musician of note, wrote the "old Virginia Harmony."  Richard, Ezekiel, 
Little, William, and Elisha were the other brothers; and the sisters were, 
Mrs. Effie Snodgrass, Berea; Mrs. Nancy Holden, Mrs. John D. Parker, and 
Mrs. Wilson, all of Marion county.

Elijah Clayton married Miss Millie Amos, daughter of Stephen, and Elizabeth 
Miller Amos, of Marion county, and was the father of fourteen children.  He 
was a lay minister of the Methodist Episcopal church and his influence was a 
power for good.  At his home the first church society in the community was 
organized.  He gave the grounds for the White Oak church and cemetery, and 
here, beside his wife, who died on August 20, 1891, he reposes.  He was one 
of the corner-stones of this church, and was a pillar as long as he lived.  
A splendid life-sized portrait of this venerable man, which was placed here 
by his son L. S., clayton, not long since, now impressively greets the 
visitor of this church, reminding him that though his form has vanished, his 
memory is revered, his influence is still here.

His children:--L. S., who resides at the old home and the late Stephen and 
Perry, were of White Oak; Mrs. Reecca (J. M.) Wilson, and J. Spencer, are of 
Pennsboro; Franklin C., Des Moines, Washington; A. A. Clayton, Lawford; 
David

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L., Missouri; the late Ishmael, Illinois; the late Mrs. Ingaby (Elmore) 
prunty, White Oak; the late Mrs. Amanda (Ezra) Chipps, Doddridge county; 
Mrs. Millie F. (Reilly) Mason, Webster county; Elizabeth died at the age of 
ten years, and Sophronia, in infancy.

Peter Pritchard was the first settler at the mouth of this creek, where his 
son, John, now lives. He was the son of Thomas and Nancy Tichinel Pritchard, 
and was a native of Preston county, he having been born on October 1, 1798.  
On February 15, 1821, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Willis, daughter of 
William and Anna Douglass Willis, early settlers of the Clarksburg vicinity. 
Her father came from the "Emerald Isle," and was one of the pioneer 
pedagogues of Harrison county.  After Mr. Pritchard's marriage, he resided 
in what is now Barbour county until 1837 when he came to White Oak, where he 
spent the remnant of his days.  He was one of the early justices of the 
peace, and, like Mr Clayton, was a corner-stone of the White Oak M. E. 
church. He died on September 29, 1883, and Mrs. Pritchard, who was born on 
December 30, 1798, passed to her reward, on December 9, 1869.  Both rest at 
White Oak.

Their children: the Late George, Thomas and Mrs. Anna (B. M.) Lawson, and 
John, of White Oak; Wm. T., of Webster county; Mrs. Cassie (Harrison) Wass, 
Harrisville; the late Mrs. Nancy P. (A. E.) Holt, of Fairmont; and Jane P, 
who first married Lewis Maxwell, of Doddridge county, and after his death 
became the wife of the Rev. W. H. Wiley, is now of Fairmont.

Thomas married Miss Amanda Lawson, sister of B. W. Lawson, and was the 
father of the Rev. M. F. Pritchard, of the M. E. church, and J. F., and W. 
I. Pritchard, of the U. B. church.

Mrs. M. R. Lowther, of Parkersburg is also a granddaughter of this pioneer, 
she being the daughter of Mrs. Anna Pritchard Lawson.

William I. Lowther.--Contemporary with the settlement of Mr. Clayton, in 
1841, was that of William I. Lowther, who made his improvement on the farm 
that is now the home of his nephew, John F. Lowther.  He was born in 
Harrison

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county, on August 27, 1818; and was the son of Alexander and Sarah Ireland 
Lowther.  When he was but a child of two years, he came to this county with 
his parents; and in 1840, he was married to Miss Virginia Mitchell, and soon 
after began to carve out his fortune in this wilderness.  Here, for more 
than sixty years he resided, and to his dying day his intrests were 
identified with this community.  He was a member of the M. P. church, and 
his hand played an important part in the erection of the first church at 
Pullman, knows as "Old Slab," and when this old structure, which was 
destroyed by the hand of an incendiary during the early days of the Civil 
war, was replaced by one of more modern architecture, he again lent his aid, 
and the present church stands as a monument to his memory.  He was a 
delegate to the General Conference at Pittsburg in 1884.  His wife died on 
September 15, 1885, and a few years later, he married his brother, Robert's 
widow, Mrs. Jane McKinley Lowther, and the last three years of his life were 
spent at Pennsboro, where he laid down the cross, on November 6, 1904, and 
where she still survives.

He sleeps by his first wife at Pullman.

His children:  Cordelia, Alvin, and Mrs. Sarah Sommerville Chapman, rest in 
the chruchyard at Pullman; the late Rev. Sylvester Lowther, D. D.,  of the 
M. E. church, at Parkersburg; the late Rev. Robert, of the M. E. church, in 
New York; and the Rev. Oliver Lowther of the M. P. church, the only survivor 
of the family, resides at Pullman.  Mrs. M. A. Kendall, of parkersburg, is 
his grand-daughter, she being the only child of the Rev. Sylvester, and Mrs. 
Cynthia Prunty Lowther.  The Rev. Robert's family live in New York, and all 
are prominent in educational circles.

Job Meredith.--Near the year 1839, Job Meredith came from his native county--
Marion--and settled at the mouth of the Middle fork, near the site that is 
now marked by the pump station; and a little later, removed to the mouth of 
White Oak, just across the creek from Peter Pritchard; and from there in 
1852, he went to Berea, where he remained until a few weeks before his 
death, in 1881, when he went to Salem, where he sleeps.

Page 351

He married Miss Mary Ann Amos, (*)  daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth Miller 
Amos, of Marion county--cousin of George Amos--in 1837, and they were the 
first Marion county people to come to Ritchie, though quite a number found 
homes here, a little later.

After the death of her husband, Mrs. Meredith returned to her old home at 
Berea, where she bade adieu to earth in 1899; and there, in the Pine Grove 
cemetery, she rests.

Mr. Meridith was a member of the seventy-Day Baptist church.  He was a man 
of strong character,and of pronounced religious views, and his influence for 
good had a telling effect.

His children were twelve in number:  Mrs. Elmina Lawson, Texas; the late 
Mrs. Hattie Randolph, and Mrs. Lillie Jett, the Rev. D. N. Meredtih, and 
Miss Millie Meredith (who is a deaf mute) Salem; the late Alpheus, and the 
late Mrs. Joel Bee.  The rest died in childhood.

William Meredith brother of Job, though not a pioneer was long identified 
with the White Oak community.  In 1835, he married Miss Tamar Deacon, 
daughter of John and Barbara Hardinger Deacon,and from Marion county, they 
went to Monroe county, Ohio; and in 1857, they came to Ritchie county, where 
the remainder of their lives were spent.  Mrs. Meredith came to her death by 
a fall from a wagon, in 1879.  He died on Sept 1, 1896, at the home of his 
youngest daughter, Mrs. W. G. Lowther, at Fonsoville.  He was a lifelong 
Methodist--a zealous worker in the Master's vineyard.

Side by side he and his wife sleep in the White Oak churchyard.

He was the father of five children: A. P. Meredith, the only son resides in 
Washington state; and the late Mrs. Rachel (F. C.) Clayton sleeps there, at 
Des Moines; Mrs. Eliza (Francis) Day, mother of J. E. Day, of Auburn, sleeps 
in Illinois; Mrs. Jane (L. S.) Clayton, is of White Oak; and Mary Eleanor, 
the youngest daughter, who first married the late James Leggett, is now Mrs. 
W. G. Lowther, of Fonsoville.

(* For Amos family ancestry, see Chevauxdefrise Chapter)

Page 352

The Merediths are of Welsh descent.  Davis Meredith was born in Wales, near 
the middle of the eighteenth century, and being a Sabbatarian, and being 
persecuted for his religious belief, he came to America in his young 
manhood, shortly before the Revolution, and settled in Conneticut. He took 
up arms in defence of his adopted country, being one of the patriots that 
helped throw off the British yoke.

He was married three times.  His first wife, having lived only a brief time 
after the marriage, died childless.  Nothing else is known of her history, 
but she probably crossed the sea with him. Shortly after the close of the 
Revolution, he went to Loudin county, Virginia, where he was again married, 
where two children were born of this union; viz., the late Mrs. Rebecca 
Nipton, of Marion county; and the late Neu Meredith, of Ohio.  The mother 
died when these children were quite small, and Mr. Meredith removed from the 
"Old Dominion" to Marion county, where he married Miss Nancy Pritchard, 
sister of Thomas Pritchard, senior, and seven children were the result of 
this union: Rachel married James Arnett, Eleanor, William Arnett, and 
Martha, James Jones, all of Marion county; Thomas sleeps in Kansas; Davis, 
who was a lay minister of the M. E. church, at Centerville, in Tyler county; 
and Job and William have already been mentioned.

William Baker became identified with the White Oak settlement in 1847, when 
he removed from Marion county with his wife, Mrs. Ruth Deacon Baker, and 
their seven children, and took up his residence where his son Tillman H. 
Baker now lives.  Here he remained until March 1888, when he was laid in the 
cemetery at the mouth of White Oak.  His wife was laid by his side in 1897.

Their children were twelve in number:  Thomas D. Baker, Hale, Missouri; 
Nathaniel, of Illinois; Jonathan, who died in the hospital at Cumberland, 
while serving as a Union soldier.  (The first two mentioned were also Union 
soldiers.)  Mrs. Amy (Peter T.) Wilson, and Mrs. Alazan S. Snyder, of 
Pullman; Mrs. Lurena (A. A.) Clayton, Lawford; Mrs. Kathrine (E. C.) 
Snodgrass, Smithville; W. S. Baker, Auburn; T. H., White Oak; Mrs. Emma J. 
(Edmund) Taylor,

Page 353

died at her home near Pennsboro, in 1907; Newton B. sleeps, in Edgar county, 
Illinois; and Barbara H. died in infancy.

Mrs. Clayton has also passed on.

The Bakers came from Scotland early in the eighteenth century, and settled 
among the mountains, near four miles from the mouth of New creek in what is 
now Mineral county, West Virginia.  There Thomas Baker, the Father of 
William, the Ritchie pioneer was born, and there, he was married to Miss 
Ruth Jones, who was a native of Georgetown, in the District of Columbia.  
>From there they went to Marion county, where their ashes lie.  They had four 
daughters, William being the only son:  Mrs. Mary (George) Saterfield, Mrs. 
Hannah (Nathaniel) Mitchell, Mrs. Nancy (George) Dawson, and Mrs. Rachel 
(Isaac) Hawkins, all of Marion county.

The Deacons.--Since the Deacon family were so largely represented among the 
wives of the Ritchie county settlers, a few lines is here due them.  Mrs 
William Baker, nee Ruth Deacon, was one of a family of twelve children--two 
brothers and ten sisters.  Six of these sisters are sleeping, on White Oak--
five of them in the White Oak churchyard; viz., Mrs. Matilda (Nathan) 
Snodgrass, Mrs. Rachel (Daniel) Mason, Mrs. Sarah (Wm.) Parker, Mrs. Tamar 
(Wm.) Meredith, and Mrs. Juliia (Joseph) Hawkins.  The other sisters were: 
Mrs Mary (Daniel) Saterfield Dog Comfort, this county; Mrs. Kathrine Hawkins 
(Aaron), Marion county; Mrs. Tasy (Daniel) Michael, Marion county; and 
Rebecca, who died in childhood; Thomas died at the old home in Marion 
county, and Phillip went West.

The Deacons are of English descent.  John Deacon married Miss Barbara 
Hardinger, a German maiden of Cumberland, Maryland, and settled on Paupau 
creek, near eight miles from Fairmont, and they were the parents of the 
twelve children above mentioned.

Mr. Deacon, while on a trip across the mountains to Romney with a drove of 
cattle, contracted the yellow fever, and died at Kingwood, before he reached 
his home,  leaving his wife with eleven children entirely to her care; but 
her courage proved equal to the emergency and she managed to clear the debt 
from the home and rear her family.

Page 354

She died at the old homestead at the age of eighty, having been blind for 
many years.  There she and her husband rest.

John Lawson was the pioneer merchant of White Oak.  He came from Rockingham 
county, Virginia, between the years of 1845 and '50, and erected his 
storehouse, at the mouth of the creek, on land now owned by Mrs. L. M. 
Pritchard.  James Taylor succeeded him; and William Pritchard, Charles 
Saterfield, J. M. Gribble, T. D. Baker, Mr. wilcox, and James Rymer, later 
held this business intact.  Mr. Lawson and his wife, Mrs. Amanda Long 
Lawson, were natives of Virginia, and to the place of their nativity, they 
returned, and in 1904, Mr. Lawson passed on.  He was the father of five 
children, four of whom survive.

The Lawsons hail from Scotland.  Two brothers crossed the sea, one settled 
in Virginia, the other at Baltimore, Maryland.

Theopolis Lawson, the Virginian, married a Miss Russaw, and from his son, 
William, who married a Miss Eliza Marshall, the Lawsons of this county come. 
William was the father of ten children:
John F. Lawson, already mentioned, Bushrod, W. of Fairmont; Salathial, of 
Texas; the late Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson, the late Mrs. Victoria Amanda 
Pritchard, who resided in this vicinity; and Mrs. Berthine McDougal, of 
Pennsboro.  James W., Rebecca, Eliza A., and Nancy E., have all passed on.


Bushrod W. Lawson was long a resident of this part of the country, but 
removed to Marion, late in the eighties.  He first married Miss Anna 
Pritchard, and they were the parents of Mrs. Lydia (M. R.) Lowther, 
Parkerwburg; Mrs. Flora (Marshall) Prunty, and Mrs. Nancy (David) Clayton, 
Oxford, and several other children, who passed on in childhood and in youth.

Being deprived of his first companion by death, on November 21, 1872, he was 
married to Miss Fannie Prunty, daughter of Jacob Prunty, and five children, 
four of whom survive, are the fruits of this union.

Salathial married Miss Elmina Meredith, daughter of Job Meredith, and 
resided here for a number of years before

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going to Texas in the early eighties, where he still survives.  He was the 
father of Mandeville, the late Leni, Mrs. Enoch McGinnis, Mrs. Eva Doak, 
Morda, and Roxie.

Josiah L. Hawkins, a well known lay minister of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, was the first citizen of the Scott Baker homestead.

He and his wife, Mrs. Julia Anne Deacon Hawkins, came from their native 
county, Marion, near 1848, and only a few years later, Mrs. Hawkins was 
borne to her final resting-place in the White Oak churchyard; and not long 
afterwards he married Miss Nancy Haddox, of Barbour county, and removed to 
that county.

He returned to this county late in life, but finally went to Mannington 
where he met his death by a train, during the latter part of the century.

The children of his first marriage were twelve in number; namely, Mrs. 
Elizabeth (Perry) Clayton, White Oak; Mrs Mary Duckworth, Barbour county; 
Mrs. Lucinda Tichnell, Marion county; Leroy of Upshur county; and two 
infants who are all numbered with the dead.  Mrs. Thamer (Aaron) Mitchell, 
Hazelgreen; Mrs. Philena (Nelson) Williamson, Barbour county; Elmore 
Hawkins, Washburn; Gideon, Upshur; Andrew J., Monongalia; and John W., 
Marion county, are the surviving ones.

The four children of the second union were Belle, and Gailard, who have 
passed on; Ellsworth, of Marion county; and Allen, who lives in the west.

Henry Hawkins, though hardly a pioneer came to the White Oak vicinity more 
than sixty years ago, and spent the remainder of his life here.  He was a 
son of Aaron and Kathrine Deacon Hawkins, of Marion county, and a brother of 
the late Mrs. Syelus Hall.  He married Miss Martha Yost, and was the father 
of several children, all who have joined him on the other side except, 
Woodson, Permetus, and Aaron Hawkins.

Three died in childhood, Walter and Adolphus in youth, and Elmus married 
Miss Alice Neal and left two children.

After the death of his wife, Kathrine, Mr. Hawkins married Miss Melvina 
Snyder, of Marion county, who, by his side is sleeping in White Oak 
churchyard.

Page 366

John Hawkins, a brother of Henry, with his wife, Mrs. Mary Parker Hawkins, 
came along with him from Marion county, but after a brief stay here, removed 
to the Harrisville vicinity, where some of his family still live.

He passed away in 1863, while serving as a Union soldier in the Civil war.

John Upton and his wife, Harriett Hawkins Upton, and Jeremiah Fluharty and 
his wife, Mary Ann Hawkins Fluharty, were also members of the little colony 
that came here from Marion county at the time the Hawkinses arrived.  They 
being all the sons and daughters, and the sons-in-law of Aaron Hawkins, who 
gave them their homes here.

Mr. Fluharty and his family went west, but Mr Upton remained until he passed 
to his eternal home.

He was the father of a large family.

The late Mrs. Carrie Wagner, Mrs. Minnie (E. D.) Clayton, Mrs. Louie (Sam) 
McKinley, the late Wesley, Ulyses, Siegel and Grant Upton.

Samuel Manear and his wife, Mrs. Olive Zinn Manear, of Preston county, were 
other early settlers in this section on the farm that for long years was 
known as the "Manear farm."  Here Mr. Manear passed away, and after his 
death Mrs. Manear became Mrs Silas Sigler, and here she died, and at White 
Oak they both sleep.

Mr. Manear was twice married, the wife of his youth being laid to rest in 
Preston county not many years after the marriage.

Asa--father of Jacob Manear--was a son of the first marriage.

James, of California; Marion, David, John, who lost his life in defense of 
his country, on July 20, 1864, at the battle of Winchester; Mrs. Hannah 
Galion, Mrs. Martha Galion, Mrs. Mary Martin, and Mrs, Elizabeth Ephal, were 
the fruits of the second marriage.

John Cook, father of the late William, was another early settler on the 
waters of White Oak, on the farm that is now owned by the Hawkins heirs.  
Here he died, and here he and his wife sleep.