News articles from Wayne County Newspaper Submitted by June White and Wayne County News,who gave permission to research its old editions, and Nina Johnson, resident genealogist at Cabell County Library. December 2001 This file contains: PIONEER DISTRICT HISTORY SQUIBS FROM EARLY HISTORY OF DISTRICTS IN THIS COUNTY OBIT OF AUNT MARY ANN SANSOM History of School System WOLF CREEK ITEMS CAMP CREEK ITEMS First settlers... BROOM BUSINESS Mrs. Amanda Osburn ************************************* Dec. 25, 1919 PIONEER DISTRICT HISTORY Union district, while not possessing the coal wealth nor the farming opportunities of some of the other districts of the county, has always been a section of central interest due to the fact that the court house has always been here. The surface of this district is generally best suited to grazing lands rather than cultivation, notwithstanding several fine all- around farms are found here in the valley of Twelve Pole. In the early years ot the county's development, Union marketed great quantities of the best of timber but this industry passed away with the olden days. The names of the first settlers in this district include the following, who are direct ancestors of many of the present day citizens of this section: Jesse Spurlock and Samuel Ferguson, both of whom built homes in 1802 where the court house now stands; in 1806 David France, who is credited with planting the first apple tree in Twelve Pole Valley, settled in Union; he was followed by Hezekiah Adkins, John Stephenson, Thos. Chandler, Asher Crockett, Reuben and Wm. Adkins; and about the time of the war of 1812 these men found homes within the present boundaries of Union district: Hugh Bowen, Asa Bowen, Daniel Davis, Reuben Booton, Jesse Blankenship, John Thompson, (who, by the way, is said to have made the first liquor in Wayne county), John Newman, Benjamin Drown, Wm. Morris, Chas Bother, Benjamine Garrett, Joshua Stephens, Jerry Lambert, Abraham Stephen, and Burwell Spurlock. The first marriage in this district was between Jerry Lambert and Polly Ferguson, while the first children born were Nancy Bowen (daughter of Hugh Bowen) and Mary Bloss (daughter of Valentine Bloss). The first sermon was preached by Rev. Burwell Spurlock in 1816, soon followed by Rev. Goodwin Lycan. Wayne, the county seat, has always been the largest community in Wayne county. . . . beautiful location, being situated on a hill in the horse-shoe bend of Twelve Pole. The town is 690 feet above the tide water level. In the early years of its history, Union was a leading factor in developing a school system in the county. And a revival of this old time enthusiasm seems to have been awakening in the past few years. Union district is considering the establishment of a senior high shool, which. . . will be the second first class school in the county. The future prosperity of Union district probably lies in the educational and farming improvements. Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia December 25, 1919 **************************************************** Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia December 11, 1919 SQUIBS FROM EARLY HISTORY OF DISTRICTS IN THIS COUNTY Ceredo district was named from the town of Ceredo. The town of Ceredo was so named in honor of the goddess "Ceres" because of it farming possibilities. The name Ceredo is equivilant to "plentiful and beautiful crops". The first settler in Ceredo district was Stephen Kelly who built his cabin at the mouth of Big Sandy River. Mathew H. Bellomy came a little later and settled on the present site of the town of Kenova. In the next few years other pioneers who joined Kelly and Bellomy were the following: Wm. Hatton, Benjamine Maxey, Levi Stodridge, Thos. Cartmill, John Keyser, Leonard Sharp, Samuel Parsley, John Stewart, Jas. McCormick, Jas. Durney, Stephen Wilson, Jno. Toney, Anthony Plymale, Isaiah Perdue, Wm. Haney and others. The first iron forge to be built in this part of West Virginia was put up at the Mouth of Buffalo Creek in the year 1828. The forge was built by Geo. and Jacob Coons and Stephen Wilson. The building which housed the "county's first factory" was a 70x40 structure made of slab boards. Two tilt hammers, each weighing 700 pounds, were used for forging the metal. The first school in Ceredo district was taught on the present site of Kenova in 1813. The second was erected near the town of Ceredo ten years later. The first church in the district is said to have been organized by Rev. Burwell Spurlock in 1833, a Methodist minister. The Washington Baptist church was the second religious organization, and it was begun by the Rev. Wm. Davison. It is thought that neither of these congragations built houses, but held meetings with the various members. Ceredo district has some of the best farms to be found in the county. Purebred cattle, farm tractors, and better farming methods in general have been adopted in Ceredo during the past few years. The district also boasts one of the best educational systems to be found in any rural community. Small factories in Kenova, Ceredo, and Westmoreland add to the wealth of this section. ************************************************************ Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia December 18, 1919 SQUIBS FROM EARLY HISTORY OF DISTRICTS IN THIS COUNTY Lincoln district lies in the southern end of the county. The surface of Lincoln is perhaps more broken than that of any of the other five districts. It is said that the greatest wealth of Lincoln district still lies in its undeveloped coal wealth. This great wealth will probably remain dormant until railroads are built to the coal deposits in Lincoln. The first cabin in this district was built by a man named Nevins in 1799. Later he was joined by the following pioneers who built homes: John Wilson, Jacob Noe, John Prinston, Richard Wilson, Hezekiah Wiley, Job Spence, Lazarus Damron, Daniel Cox, John jarrell and Henry Hampton. Hezekiah Wiley, mentioned in the preceding paragraph, was a son of the celebrated Jenny Wiley, whose captivity by the Cherokee Indians is a story that has been many times told in this section. William Ratcliff was the first child born in this district. He was born at the Mouth of Lost Creek, May 19, 1802, below the Falls of Tug River. On a beech tree near the Mouth of Billy's Branch, cut in large rough letters, was cut the name of Daniel Boone, the founder of Kentucky. Whether or not Boone ever visited this part of Wayne county is not proved, but some of the older citizens of Lincoln district recall having read the letters in their boyhood before the beech tree was destroyed. The first school in Lincoln was taught on Mill Creek by Henry Hampton. Among the pioneer preachers the following names are remembered: Reuben Giddings, Gorwin Lycan, John Jarrell, Stephen and Joseph Workman. Lincoln, which has one of the largest areas of any district in the county, is peopled by a good class of citizenship. The coming of better schools, progressive farming and hard roads will give Lincoln the opportunity to develop the resources which have been handicapped in past years due to lack of these facilities. ******************************************************** Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia December 18, 1919 The following named men from Wayne County were issued a Victory Button during the month of November, which shows that they served their Country in the World War: Archie Bellomy, Frank Cox, Wayne Copley, Oscar Ray, Dean A. Ramsdell, Clarence Smith. ***************************************************** Wayne County News October 23, 1919 AUNT MARY ANN SANSOM, 92 YEARS OLD, PASSES AWAY Mrs. Mary Ann Sansom, one of the oldest residents of this county, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Harrison Bloss, on Wilson's Creek, Monday. "Aunt" Mary Ann, as she was always known to her friends, had reached the age of ninety-two years, being born August 30, 1827. Aunt Mary Ann was the widow of the late Andrew Sansom. She came to Wayne from Chesterfield County, Virginia. Because of her advanced years she had been in feeble health for some time. It has been the annual custom of the relatives to give a birthday party to Aunt Mary Ann each year, the last one being given in August. She was a consistent Christian woman, loved and respected by her neighbors. Funeral services were held at the Wayne Methodist church Tuesday afternoon and burial made in the family cemetery on the S. P. Booton farm. The surviving relatives are four children, R. S. Sansom of Wayne, Hugh Sansom of Millers Fork, Lee Sansom of Huntington, and Mrs. Harrison Bloss of Wilson's Creek; two sisters, "Aunt" Amanda Osburn of Wayne, Mrs. Sarah Walker of Kansas; two brothers Albert Smith of Wayne and John Smith of Oklahoma. ***************************************************** History of School System In Wayne County Shows Immense Growth In Century The school system in Wayne County has evolved from a beginning as insignificant as the proverbal mustard seed into its present status which, to continue the comparison, more nearly represents a full grown tree. From puncheon floors to hardwood; from greased paper to window glass; from two and three months to nine months terms; from no text books to a system of study which compares well with that in any part of the country; from the "babbling school" and the "subscription " school to the modern, efficiently organized educational system; in short, from nothing to something. Thus has the school system in this county been developed into its present usefulness. Only a little over a century has elapsed since civilization first darted a ray of light into the wilderness of what is now Wayne County, and that light has been shining brighter and brighter as years have passed. By virtue of a decree of King George of England, Wayne was once a part of Fincastle County, Virginia, but later under the Virginia government, it became a part of Cabell County until the Virginia Assembly, by an Act passed June 18, 1842, made it Wayne County. Here amid the hills and valleys freedom was sought and found in the latter part of the eighteenth century. Among the pioneers who settled here were the names of Spurlock, Hatton, Newman, Wellman, Ferguson, Perry, Artrip, Lycans, Wilson, Damron, Adkins, Watts, Booton, Plymale, Crockett, Napier, Bartram, Thompson, Lambert, and Stephens. The decendants of those old pioneers are at the present time legion. Although typical mountaineers, they did not permit education to be burried (sic) with their fathers, for we learn how they brought with them the old time school masters. They devised means as best they could whereby their children could be instructed in the rudiments of an English education. Thomas Napier, who settled in what is now Stonewall District; Stephen Bean, who settled in Butler District; and John Deering were the first school teachers. The first schools in the county were taught in Butler District. A school house was built in 1805 near Fort Gay and Thomas Napier taught there, the first school in Wayne County. Napier taught another term at Tabors Creek the same year. John Deering also taught a term on Whites Crk. near the town of that name in 1805. Ceredo claims a term taught at Krouts Creek, 1813, by a man named Charley Walker, but the first building for school purposes was mid-way between Ceredo and Sandy River. Union is next in order. Thomas Napier taught a term on Beech Fork in 1818, but Buffalo Shoals claims the first school building in 1823 where Napier was also the first to teach. Lincoln and Stonewall divide honors in primitive school history. A school was taught by Henry Hampton on the banks of Mill Creek, 1820, but the first school building was built on the banks of Joes Fork, 1822, while Stonewall comes in with a term at Lick Creek, 1820, taught by Napier. Stephen Bean taught on Mill Creek about the year 1810. It can not be learned where the first school was taught in Grant District. Establishing a school in those days was a simple matter. After securing a sufficient number of pupils, the parents met together and erected a structure of round logs, generally of the five corner model. This plan was followed for several years until a more perfect plan of architecture was worked out. The new plan was to build houses with only four sides. One entire side was taken up by the fireplace where the great logs burned to heat the room. Seats were made by splitting logs of the desired length and inserting legs in the round side, the split flat side being used for the seat. On one side of the house was an opening over which was a sheet of paper, greased with hogs' lard to make it semi-transparent. This served for a window. Under the window was a writing desk which was made by boring holes in the wall in which pins were inserted. A puncheon was then placed upon the pins and fastened. The floors were also puncheon (when they had such). Near the end of the room sat the grim old "master," generally close to the fire. He was "monarch of all he surveyed". Nothing escaped his watchful eye. Those pedagogs of primitive Wayne County read their Bibles as well as their text books--when such books were to be had. They believed that the sparing of the rod meant the spoiling of the child; the rod of correction, therefore, was always to be found near the teacher's desk on in a special rack, and as Irving describes it in his Sleepy Hollow Legend, "a passerby might at any hour of the day behold the master" urging some urchin along the pathway of knowledge and hear the stern command, "Get to saying that lesson." For, in those days they "said" their lessons instead of reciting them. The schools were known as "loud" or "babbling" schools, each pupil "saying" or repeating his lesson in an audible voice that resembled the approach of a swarming bee hive. The schools taught by Napier and his co-workers were of the babbling kind, but about the year 1865 they gave way to the more modern "silent" school. Some of those now living who remember the babbling schools are Rev. William Jarrell and M. D. Jarrell, of Effie; W. S. Napier, of East Lynn; and Judge P. H. Napier of Wayne. First under the old "subscription" method, no examination was required of a teacher. He simply announced that he was prepared to teach and proceeded to "make up a school." After the formation of the State of West Virginia and at the first session of the Legislature, a bill introduced by Z. D. Ramsdall of Ceredo, which passed the Legislature, created our first school system. Under this system teachers were required to pass a written examination, but in many instances the law was abused, the superintendent sometimes meeting an applicant in the field, proceeded to grant him a certificate. This abuse of our free school system continued, more or less, until a few years ago, when our present uniform examination law was passed. Under this system of testing an applicant's proficiency, the standard has been raised considerably. Although this may not be a perfect plan for the examination of teachers, still under the new provision, requiring teachers to attend Normal Schools, it is thought conditions will be further improved. We have at the present 231 teachers of all grades employed in this county, quite a number of them being Normal School graduates, one County Superintendent and two District Supervisors. Two hundred buildings adorn the mountains and valleys, among them 35 graded schools, two High Schools, and three Junior High schools. The amount spent in the running of our schools has passed the $100,000 mark, the total expended last year being $112,117.67. ************************************************ Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia October 23, 1919 WOLF CREEK ITEMS Farmers in this section are busy gathering in the crops and making molasses. Rev. J. S. Puckett has returned from Huntington, where he served on the federal grand jury. Burnie Osborn, who had a bad cut on his leg some time ago, is improving. Delbert Huff has returned from Kansas City, Mo., where he has been attending an auto school. Our Sunday school at Greenbrier is progressing nicely with Freelin Bartram as superintendent. Gordon Osborn, James Johnson, Trida Osborn, and Volhe Ellis attended the ice cream social at Patrick Saturday night. Anthony Plymale had the misfortune to back his car over a high bank at Christian hill last week. No one was hurt. Born to Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Hooser a fine baby boy, Oct 10. James and John Johnson have returned from Mingo Junction, Ohio, where they have been employed. Andy Lycan, who is working at Akron, Ohio, was home on a short visit last week. Evan Ball has returned home from Williamson to help his father gather crops. ******************************************************** Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia October 23, 1919 CAMP CREEK ITEMS The Camp Creek School which is taught by L. B. Tabor is progressing nicely although the whooping cough has cut down the attendance. Elmer Tabor and Asa Morrison are on Beech Fork very often. The champion boxers of Camp Creek meet every Saturday night at the Butterick school house for a few bouts. Our Sunday School is progressing nicely with W. W. Tabor as superintendent. Our Children's Day, October 11, was a grand success. The main feature of the program was the music furnished by Monroe Frye, a returned soldier. Prof. J. N. Tabor, who has been on the sick list, is recovering nicely. Mr. Wayne Osburn is seen on our creek very often. Mr. Burgess Adkins, a member of the East Lynn Sunday school has become a great helper in the Camp Creek Choir. Mr. Floyd Richards, of this creek, who was injured in the East Lynn mines, is recovering rapidly. ****************************************************** Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia November 27, 1919 Stoneway district, which lies in the eastern portion of this county, was named in the memory of Stonewall Jackson. It is believed that John Bias was the first settler within the limits of Stonewall. He built his cabin at the mouth of Lick Creek in 1802. His first neighbor was David Bartram who came a year later. And by the year 1807 several pioneer cabins were built. Among the earliest comers were Berry Adkins, Thomas Napier, William Lambert, Jesse Adkins, John Ferguson, Thomas Moore, Eldridge Smith, Wm. Thompson, Wm. Ferguson, Absalom Queen, Walter Queen, John Withrow, John Osburn, Sr., Ambrose and Wm. Watts. Many of the descendants of these pioneers still live in Stonewall district. The first child ever born in the district was either Jeremiah Lambert or Thomas Napier, children of Wm. and Nancy Lambert and Thomas and Hamil Napier, respectively. The first marriage seems to have been that of Edmund Napier and Nellie Watts. The first industry of any kind ever started in Stonewall district was an old-fashioned grist mill which was built by Sherrard Adkins at the mouth of Lick Creek in 1817. The first saw mill was not built until 1843. Thomas Napier built the first school house in Stonewall. It stood near the Mouth of Rich Creek and was of the five cornered type of house described in this paper a few weeks ago (Oct. 23, 1919). The Bethesda church is believed to be the first religious organization within the district. It was founded in 1835 by Rev. Goodwin Lycan and Thos. Harmon. The Methodist church which was built in 1840 at Queens Ridge was the second attempt at religious organization. The first Sunday school was started in the year 1852. Stonewall district, in recent years, has developed its mineral resources greater than any other district in the county. Coal and gas are found practically all over this district and there are a few shallow oil pools, but these have never been worked to a paying advantage. The East Lynn Coal Company has done much to develop the mineral wealth of this territory. Two other boundaries of coal, known as the Butterick and Hoard tracts, hold forth some promise to a coal boom in Stonewall district in the next few years. Better schools and better farming methods are receiving the support of the citizens of this district, and marked improvement in this regard is noticeable in the last few years. ********************************************************* Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia November 27, 1919 BROOM BUSINESS UNDER HEADWAY The broom factory which was started in Wayne a few weeks ago has been a pronouncing success. The average daily output is thirty brooms a day and this number is gradually increasing. Broom corn raised in Wayne County is quite as good as that grown in any other section of the state, and its production will be increased next year since the local factory will be a ready market. Broom factories have sprung up all over the state in the last few months. The last to be put in operation is located at the Capitol building in Charleston. This work is being conducted under the direction of the W. Va. Department of Agriculture. ***************************************************** Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia December 4, 1919 Butler district, which lies in the southeastern part of the county, borders on the state of Kentucky with the Big Sandy River as the dividing line. The surface is diversified, bottom land on the east with rolling hills in the western part. It is said good building stone abound in the entire district. Many years ago coal was mined in the vicinity of Hubbardstown and conveyed to market by barges on the Big Sandy River. It is said that a vein ranging from 2 1/2 to four feet was found there, while below the surface a vein from 8 to 9 feet was found. Salt was made in this district in the first quarter of the 19th century. Butler district was at one time covered with fine timber, mostly oak, which was used in the building of ships, but at present, timbering is not an industry. The first settler seems to have been Samuel Short who built his cabin where the town of Fort Gay now stands about the year 1796. Robert Tabor, who followed him, patented a tract of land embracing 2,500 acres in 1798. Others who followed as settlers were Thomas Short, Samuel Hatten, William Adams, Peyton and Joseph Newman, John and Richard Grayson, Thomas Vaughan, Peter Loar, Benjamin Sperry and William Artrip. All these men seem to have found homes in Butler before the year 1800. Others who came in later years were Michael Burke, John Smith, Pleasant Workman, Joel Ferguson, James Bartram, William and Solomon Perry, Joseph Fulkerson, John Breedon, Jess Cyrus, John Deering, Jesse Stith, Goodwin Lycan, Samuel Smiley, John Thompson and Abraham Queen. The first child born in Butler district was John Short, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Breeden) Short, born 1801, while the first marriage was that of Samuel Hatten and Nancy Campbell, in 1802; Rev. Darby Kelly, a Methodist minister, performed the ceremony. The bride's parents lived in Kentucky, and it is said that the ceremony was performed on a sand bar in the middle of Big Sandy River. The second marriage was that of John Smith and Elizabeth Vaughn, on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1813. The groom was dressed in a tow-linen cloth suit and a pair of moccasins made by his own hands. He afterward became very wealthy. The first grist mill was built by William Thompson on the banks of Mill Creek, one-half mile from Fort Gay, and the first saw mill was built by Solomon Perry on Big Hurricane. Perry was a local Methodist preacher, carpenter and millwright. A building for school purposes was erected in 1805 on the banks of Mill Creek, one-half mile from where Fort Gay now stands. Who preached the first sermon cannot be learned, but Peyton Newman, John Lee and Marcus Lindsey were among the first ministers. These men, the first two Baptists, and the latter Methodist, were instrumental in organizing the first churches, many of which still survive. Cassville was the first town incorporated and is now known as Fort Gay. A fire visited it in 1883 and laid almost the entire business section in ashes. Cassville was incorporated the 13th day of November, 1875. Jas. H. Marcum was the first mayor, John C. Romans, recorder, and William H. Frasher, Samuel Short, Calahan Beaire, Stephen M. Marcum and Wayne Ferguson, councilmen. Butler district's wealth lies in its farms. It has as good farm lands as are found anywhere in the county. Its school buildings compare with any in the county and the district is only waiting the coming of better roads that it might be developed into a first class farming community. ************************************************************* Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia December 4, 1919 CELEBRATES NINETIETH BIRTHDAY Mrs. Amanda Osburn, well known local woman, celebrated her ninetieth birthday Saturday. Despite her advanced years, "Aunt" Amanda is one of the most active women of the community. She has been a resident of the county all her live and vividly recalls the Civil War days when business was suspended and the veterans answered the call to arms. She is a staunch supporter of Jeffersonian Democracy, and has kept in close touch with the political and social developments of the county.