William Artrip 
Wayne Co. WV

Ely, William (1887,The Big Sandy Valley: A History of the 
People and Country, Central Methodist Church, Catlettsburg, 
KY.  Facsimile Reprint Edition (c) 1987 by Heritage Books, 
Inc., 3602 Maureen Lane, Bowie, MD 20717. ISBN 1-55613-052-X


"I have written the history of the Big Sandy Valley and its 
people with a view of being useful in my day and generation, 
by rescuing from oblivion many incidents of great moment, 
which, unless gathered up in book form, would be forgotten 
in this now fast, feverish age" (p. 5)

"The land wearing out in the old Colonial States, the people 
there began to look about for better land and cheaper livings.  
Kentucky, once a county of Virginia, was the nearest territory 
of unoccupied land to move from Virginia, part of Pennsylvania, 
Maryland, and the Carolinas.  As early as 1789 the emigrants 
began to come to Sandy, and settle in the valley from those 
States." (p. 6)

"On the point of land where the Sandy and Tug form a junction 
was the first settlement attempted, in 1789.  Soon after, 
near the mouth of Pigeon, was the next; next at Pond Creek, 
on the Tug.  All the inhabitants from these places were driven 
away by the Indians.  Not until 1790 was it safe to stir up the 
redskins." (p. 6)

"By 1806 many of the oldest families, whose descendants are 
now our foremost people, had taken up their abodes in the 
valley." (p. 7)

"The amusements of the people were adequate to their wants.  
House-raisings, log-rollings, corn-huskings, were engaged in 
by the men; wool-pickings, quiltings, and flax-pullings by the 
women; the latter participated in by the beaus and lasses.  
Many of those gatherings wound up at night with a play, and 
sometimes with a dance." (p. 7)

"In 1800 Benjamin Sperry, Peter Loar, and William Artrip, 
three brothers-in-law, came from the Shenandoah Valley, 
Virginia, and settled on the Sandy River, near where Cassville 
and Louisa are now located.  On their way out, James Vinson, 
a young man of sprightly mein and good address, from South 
Carolina, joined the party, and proceeded with them to their 
destination." (p. 156)

"It was not long after the families composing the little 
colony had settled down in their primitive homes when young 
Vinson, who had wooed and was promised the hand of a fair 
daughter of Mr. Sperry, asked permission of the parents of 
his betrothed to have the rite of matrimony solemnized.  The 
appeal was granted, and the young couple were married.  From 
this alliance has sprung the house of Vinson in the Sandy 
Valley-a family destined to fill a large scope in the history 
of this section." (p. 157)

"Two daughters and six sons composed the family of the second 
generation.  One of the daughters was the last wife of Hon. 
William Ratliff, of Wayne County, West VA." (p. 157)




Transcribed by John Edwin Snyder