Histories of 58 WV Communities - Chapters 8-10



Chapter 8  Greenbrier County
Brushy Ridge - Organ Cave - Renick


                HISTORY OF BRUSHY RIDGE COMMUNITY (Colored)
                       Prepared by Frank U. G. Peck
                                  1924

A Brief History of the People and Settlement of Brushy Ridge, West 
Virginia, About Four Miles Southwest of Ronceverte. 

We will first consider the early settlers of Brushy Ridge, who they were 
and where they came from. Christopher Hoke, who owned a mill and 
stillhouse in northwest Brushy Ridge came from Monroe County and settled 
in Brushy Ridge about 1800. He also owned a colored woman who became the 
wife of Samuel Willmer. His next wife was Rachel Scruggs. They toiled and 
struggled together for a livelihood. Another early settler was Mrs. 
Whanger who lived near where Edgar Payne has built a home. 

Michael Rodgers, the father of Ely and Daniel Rodgers, settled in South 
Brushy Ridge about 1840. He came from Ireland. 

The first colored man to make a permanent home in South Brushy Ridge was 
John More, Sr. He formerly belonged to Gim Nickell. After living in South 
Brushy Ridge awhile he bought a home in North Brushy Ridge and reared a 
large family. His heirs own the land yet. 

Samuel Moore, a brother of John Moore, bought a home in South Brushy 
Ridge, moved on it and reared a large family. His heirs own the home 
place. 

In the sixties Daniel C. Boone came from North Carolina. He married Jennie 
Moore, one of John Moore's daughters, and lived first in South Brushy 
Ridge and worked in the tan yard for Madison Nickell, he finally bought a 
home in North Brushy Ridge where he reared a large family. 

Another early settler was Isaac Kippers who was a renter. He also reared a 
large family. 

J. H. Burdett married Cathrine Rodgers and they settled on a farm in South 
Brushy Ridge about the year 1872. They reared a family of thrifty children 
and built a nice home and accumulated considerable wealth. 

J. L. Peck settled on Brushy Ridge about the year of 1876 on a plot of 
land formerly owned by Richard Smith. He has bought more land, made a nice 
home and reared a family. 

Charley Johnson who married Harriett Moore, a daughter of John Moore, Sr. 
settled in North Brushy Ridge about 1880. He owned his home and reared one 
child of his own and two adopted children. 

Calvin Curry bought a home in South Brushy Ridge in the eighties. He 
reared a large family. 

Samuel Willmer who came from the Davis settlement in Greenbrier County 
bought a farm in North Brushy Ridge and moved William Hubbert onto his 
farm about 1880. He married Rachel Scruggs of Alderson and brought her to 
his home. They toiled, labored and struggled to build up a nice home and 
reared a large family. 

G. W. Moore who owns a home and formerly lived in South Brushy Ridge is 
now married to Samuel Willmer's widow. They are getting along nicely on 
the Pleasant View Farm. 

G. W. Haynes who married Elizabeth Haynes bought a home in South Brushy 
Ridge about 1884. He was a good Mason working at his trade far and near. 
They toiled and struggled, built up a nice home and reared a large family. 

Socrates Haynes who married Ella French of Union, bought a home joining G. 
W. Haynes. His first wife was Barbra Moore. They reared a large family. He 
was also a distinguished workman in lumber, brick and stone. 

Albert Payne, a carpenter and mason, bought a farm in South Brushy Ridge 
about 1884. He married Ida Duns Moore of Sink Grove. They have toiled and 
labored, built up a nice home and reared a large family. 

Benjamin White married Rosa Kelley and bought a home in South Brushy 
Ridge. He then sold it and bought a piece of land in North Brushy Ridge 
bordering on the river. Here they have toiled, built a nice home and 
reared a large family. He purchased his last home about 1884. 

Henry Johnson of Covington, Virginia, married Margaret Moore about 1887. 
They own part of the John Moore place. They have a good home. 

Mathew Moore who married Cornelia Wood of Virginia settled on and owns a 
part of the John Moore place. They have toiled and labored, built up a 
nice home and reared a large family. They settled there in the eighties. 

Samuel Gillbreath married Edora bought a home in South Brushy Ridge in the 
eighties. They reared a large family. They were very industrious people. 
He was a good blacksmith. 

James M. Moore bought a home in South Brushy Ridge about 1888. He married 
Eliza Dunsmore of Sinks Grove. They labored and reared a large family and 
built a good home. William Moore bought a farm in South Brushy Ridge, 
married, reared a family, and through labor and toil has built a nice home 
where he and his wife, Bettie, and grandchildren are living comfortably. 

J. D. Haynes who married Lonrax Moore settled in South Brushy Ridge 1896. 
They have reared a large family. He is an accomplished workman in lumber, 
brick, stone, and concrete. Concrete construction is his main and leading 
occupation. 

John Patton married and bought a home in North Brushy Ridge. He has built 
a nice home, reared a large family and is a successful farmer. 

About 1901 Robert Patton bought in South Brushy Ridge and settled. He 
bought from William Hoke an earlier settler. 

Aikin Smith bought in South West Brushy Ridge has run a grist mill. He 
then built a store which he is running at present. 

Edward Morris bought a home in North Brushy Ridge and reared a family of 
two girls. Miss Marry married Mr. Disc and lives near Ronceverte. Miss 
Ella married Carl Hoke and lives on the home place. 

Westley Hoke bought a place in North Brushy Ridge and reared a large 
family. He was one of our early settlers. 

Sarah Bland bought a home in North Brushy Ridge and reared a family. 

J. C. Moore married Nannie Tiffany. They bought a place in North West 
Brushy Ridge about 1896 and settled there. They bought more land and now 
own a good home. 

James Huffman bought some of the Edward Morris tract of land and lived on 
it awhile. It was then bought by Joe Fallis Moore who lived on it with his 
family a long time. He finally moved to Covington, Virginia. 

Frederick Douglas bought land in North Brushy Ridge about 1898. He married 
Angie Boone, built a nice home and reared a large family. He is a mechanic 
and very progressive. 

Frank U. G. Peck married Lucy Boone, bought a home in North Brushy Ridge 
in 1893 and reared a large family. He is a teacher and farmer. 

William Lucas settled North Brushy Ridge about 1902. He married Daisy 
White. They have reared a large family. He is a mechanic. 

Robert Allen bought and settled in North Brushy Ridge 1904. He is a 
leading blacksmith and goes to Ronceverte each day to work at his trade. 

George Lewis married and bought a home in North Brushy Ridge about 1902. 
He and his wife reared a family. 

Gillie Lewis married Edward Watkins and they are living at the home place. 

Johnie Fortner married Martha Moore. They bought a home joining the Lewis 
place and settled on it about 1906. 

William Scott married Pearly and settled near Charley Johnson for awhile. 
He then moved his family on the river. 

W. J. Boone married Lida Fortner. They lived in North Brushy Ridge for 
awhile then moved to the coal mines where they lived for 28 years. He and 
his family have returned to South Brushy Ridge and are living at the Curry 
home. 

Clifford Curry married Laura Johnson about 1906. They lived at the Henry 
Johnson home until his death by accident. 

Oliver Manuel married Edora Moore and they lived at the Samuel Moore home 
in South Brushy Ridge for a number of years. They reared a family. 

John Tiffany married Onie Moore. They built a home near J. C. Moore's and 
are rearing a family. 

James E. Steele came about 1897. Afterwards he married Sidney Willmer. 
They have built a home near E. E. Steels and are rearing a family. 

E. E. Steel and his wife bought a home from Houston Steel and settled on 
it about 1902 where they lived nicely till 1923. 

James Hunter Moore bought a place from Mr. Rowlison in North West Brushy 
Ridge in 1907 where he is living and taking care of his aged father and 
mother. 

D. J. Boone married Della Gillbreath. In 1914 he bought a home in North 
Brushy Ridge where he settled. They are rearing a family. 

Isom Gillbreath married Josie Manuel. They bought a home in North Brushy 
Ridge where they lived for a short while. 

W. T. Peck married Ada Arnold of Muddy Creek and is living in North Brushy 
Ridge with his father. They have built a nice home. 

James Stanton married Zora White. They built a home near the big cliff on 
her father's place. 

James White married Bertha Arnold of Muddy Creek. They built a home near 
his father. He is a workman of distinction. They are rearing a family. 

Lewis Allen has bought a place near D. J. Boone. They are rearing a 
family. 

Harvy Gillbreath bought a home in South Brushy Ridge where he and his 
mother are living now. 

John Lovings married Cora Manuel. He has bought a place in North Brushy 
Ridge and is preparing to build. 

Walker Moore married Emma Long. They are buying the Daniel Boone place in 
North Brushy Ridge and are rearing a family. 

Edgar Payne married Miss Alice of New York. He built a nice home in South 
Brushy Ridge where they are living and rearing a family. 

Allen Haynes married Emma Moore and bought the Socrates Hayne's property 
in South Brushy Ridge where he and his wife are living and rearing a 
family. 

Simpson Moore married Nancy Burke. They are living at the J. M. Moore 
home. 

Oscar Willmer married Mazie Haynes. They live at J. D. Haynes. 

Lacy Moore married Josie Boone. They live sometimes at William Moore's and 
sometimes on the river. 

Alphia Boone married Bula Dickerson. They have lived here but now live 
down on the river. 

The following are transit population of Brushy Ridge. Richard Peck, 
Anderson Bundy, Peter Jones, Housten Kipper, Henry Grayson, William Hale 
and Masfield Haynes, Scruggs and Mary White. 

The church and school have played an important part in the development of 
Brushy Ridge. Each began about a half century ago. Today we have two 
churches and a graded school. 

Brushy Ridge where sixty years ago the panther was a skulking visitor, the 
bear growled, the wolf yelped, the wildcat and catamount screamed, and the 
owl hooted has become highly developed and modernized. 

Many young people have gone away to higher institutions of learning and 
are making good in the various walks of life. 




                     A HISTORY OF ORGAN CAVE COMMUNITY
                     (Greenbrier County, West Virginia)
                           by Blanche Humphreys
                                  1928 

On the southside of the Greenbrier River lies the magisterial division of 
Greenbrier county, West Virginia, called Irish Corner District. Organ Cave 
post-office and community are nearly in the center of the district. 

Ancestry
The name of the district should really be Scotch-Irish Corner instead of 
Irish Corner for the reason that the early settlers for whom it was named 
were not Irish but Scotch-Irish. The ancestors of the people in this 
community were originally Scotch and in the following paragraphs we shall 
try to explain how we get the hyphenated name Scotch-Irish. 

At one time the whole of civilized Europe worshiped according to the 
Catholic faith. Martin Luther, a German monk protested against some of the 
practices of the Roman church or in other words started the Protestant 
Reformation. The teaching of the Scripture as interpreted by Luther soon 
spread to all parts of Europe. The Reformed church had now begun to branch 
out into different sects or denominations. John Knox, a Scotchman was one 
of the most ardent workers of the Reformation movement. He had been a 
pupil of John Calvin the founder of the Presbyterian church in Switzerland 
and had gone back to his native Scotland where he had organized a large 
following of Presbyterians. 

When Mary Queen of Scots, who was a Catholic, ascended the throne of 
Scotland she endeavored to have her subjects worship according to her 
faith. The whole of Queen Mary's reign seems to have been dominated by 
strife between the two religious factions. 

It was about this time that thousands of the Scotch Presbyterians left 
their native country for the Province of Ulster in the northern part of 
Ireland. This colony of Scotch people dwelt peacefully in Ulster for ma.ny 
years and built up a strong Presbyterian church which exists to the 
present time. In 1689, James II organized an army to advance into Ireland 
and subdue the Protestants of Belfast and Londonderry. The men of Ulster 
under the leadership of Prince William of Orange met the Catholic army in 
the famous siege of Londonderry. This siege lasted one hundred and five 
days and resulted in a complete downfall of James II and his army. 

About this time, the eyes of Europe were turned westward toward the new 
country of America. Colonies had already been established in the New World 
and still more people were to go from time to time to take up their homes 
in the land which is now our grand and glorious nation, the United States 
of America. 

Many of the Scotch-Irish inhabitants of Ulster Plantation came to the 
colonies of Virginia, Pennsylvania, the Carolinas, and others and upon 
finding the land near the coast mostly taken up, pushed westward over the 
mountains and founded their homes in what now comprises the counties of 
Greenbrier and Monroe and other counties in what is now the state of West 
Virginia 

Settlers
By the term "early settlers", we mean the people who had founded homes in 
this community at any time previous to the Civil War. As the list is 
rather lengthy, it will be impossible to go into a detailed discussion of 
each separate family, however we shall discuss briefly in the following 
paragraphs, three early settlers whose lands are still owned in greater 
part by their descendants. 

It is not definitely known where or by whom, the first home in what is now 
Organ Cave Community was established. Sometime before the Revolutionary 
War, Michael Rodgers and wife emigrated from Ireland and settled on a 
thousand acre tract of wooded land, some four or five miles west of Organ 
Cave. They built their home on the place which was many years later the 
home of J. Harrison Burdette. The greater part of this thousand acres is 
still owned by Michael Rodgers' descendants. 

In 1784 John McDowell built a home on land about halfway between Organ 
Cave and Ronceverte. Samuel H. McDowell the fourth generation of the 
family is the present owner of the farm. 

John Erwin came to this locality at an early date. It is not definitely 
known what year he settled here, however it was previous to 1785 for that 
year his oldest son, John Erwin Junior was born in a log cabin about three 
miles northeast of Organ Cave. At the time of his death, John Erwin had 
about one thousand acres of land. During late years some of this land has 
changed hands but the farm owned by Samuel N. Erwin is a part of the 
original grant which has come down to the fifth generation. Samuel N. 
Erwin's children and grandchild were born on this place, thus making seven 
generations of the same family to have lived on it. 

The following is a list of the surnames of families who were early 
settlers of Organ Cave Community: Adair, Burdette, Boyd, Boone, Burwell, 
Curry, Crawford, Dickson, Darnell, Erwin, Eades, Fleshman, Gibson, 
Humphreys, Holesapple, Honaker, Jackson, Kearns, Level, McDowell, McClure, 
Miller, Morgan, Patton, Price, Robinson, Rodgers, Sydenstricker, Williams, 
and White. 

How the Community Got Its Name
The limestone cavern called Organ Cave is about one-half mile from the 
postoffice of the same name. This cave has attracted tourists from all 
parts of the United States and some- foreign countries. There are two 
entrances to this cave. One is the large opening where the sightseer is 
taken in and the other entrance is where the small stream of water enters. 
The last named entrance is so low that one has to crawl through the 
opening. Many years ago some young men explored the cave from this 
entrance and found in there some little sleds which are thought to have 
been used in the getting out of saltpetre for making gunpowder during the 
War of 1812. The entrance is so low and narrow that the only way to get it 
out was to load it on sleds and draw it through. 

The main channel of the cave forks into two branches a short distance from 
the entrance. 

The right hand branch of the cave leads into a large room or auditorium. 
In this room are many beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. There is one 
huge formation of stalagmites that resembles a pipe organ. These 
stalagmites are of various lengths and diameters and different tones can 
be made to sound by striking them. In the left hand branch are about fifty 
saltpetre hoppers used for the manufacture of gun powder for the 
Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. These hoppers are in an 
excellent state of preservation today. The ceiling of the cave is low at 
this place and tourists have written their names on it. There are the 
names of people from all parts of this country and some from Europe also. 
Organ Cave has always been a picnic ground for the people of the community 
and many people from neighboring communities come there for social 
gatherings. The guests at the White Sulphur Springs have always been 
interested in it and many of them visit it every summer. 

Mr. Andrew Price of Marlinton, Pocahontas County, found in his historical 
research work a paper written by Thomas Jefferson in which he tells about 
a cave. Mr. Price thinks this cave is Organ Cave and produces conclusive 
evidence to prove his opinion. 

Thomas Jefferson tells of finding the fossil remains of some pre-historic 
animal in a cave on Frederic Cromer's place beyond the Blue Ridge 
Mountains on the west side of the Greenbrier River. 

The records in the clerk's office at Lewisburg show that the farm on which 
Organ Cave is located did at one time belong to Frederic Cromer but 
instead of being on the west side of the Greenbrier, it is positively on 
the east. It is very likely that Thomas Jefferson did not have a compass 
with him when he visited this cave and was only guessing at the direction. 
Aside from that, all the other evidence proves beyond any doubt that he 
was in Organ Cave. 

Post Offices
Organ Cave has not always been the name of the postoffice serving this 
community. Previous to the Civil War, all the people residing in this 
locality received their mail at Lewisburg. Shortly after the Civil War, a 
postoffice was established at J.M. Price's store with Mr. Price as the 
postmaster. The name given this postoffice was Price's Shop. This location 
was known locally by that name anyhow as Mr. Price's brother Abraham had a 
blacksmith shop there. The site of this store and shop was on the place 
now owned by J. Orr White. The marks of the old store site can still be 
seen in the lower corner of Mr. White's yard. 

The postoffice still continued at the same location for some years but was 
changed in name. The new name was Monroe Draft. J. M. Miller was the next 
postmaster. Mr. Miller conducted a store and served as postmaster at the 
old stand until the location was moved to the present site after the road 
was changed, which will be discussed more fully in another chapter. 

The postoffice was never called Organ Cave till it was moved to its 
present location. R. A. Level and O. B. Humphreys bought the store from 
Mr. Miller and Mr. Humphreys was appointed postmaster. In 1902 Mr. 
Humphreys sold his interest in the store to W. H. Level who held the 
office for about a year or till he resigned it to A. W. McDowell the 
present postmaster. 

Churches
The most of the people in this community have always been identified with 
the Presbyterian or Methodist faiths, although there are churches 
representing six denominations within a radius of five miles of Organ 
Cave. They are Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, Missionary Baptist, 
Primitive Baptist, Regular Baptist, and Pentecostal Holiness. The very 
first churches to serve this community were the Old Stone Presbyterian at 
Lewisburg and Lebanon, Scotch Covenantrr or Associate Reformed 
Presbyterian church in Monroe county. 

There is no doubt that Rev. John McElhenny who was pastor of the Old Stone 
church for more than sixty years was instrumental in the organization of 
Salem church. In fact he was one of the members of the commission 
appointed by Greenbrier Presbytery for that purpose. Dr. McElhenny came to 
Lewisburg as pastor of the Old Stone church in 1809 and preached the 
Gospel throughout all the southern part of West Virginia. In reading the 
"Life and Works of Dr. McElhenny" written by Miss Rose Fry, one finds 
mention of the names of the early settlers of this community who were 
connected with activities concerning the Old Stone church. As this 
faithful minister grew older and his physical strength began to fail, he 
saw the necessity of dividing his work and getting another pastor for his 
flock on the south side of the river, so on March 2, 1860, Salem 
Presbyterian church was organized. 

The commission appointed by the Presbytery of Greenbrier to organize Salem 
church consisted of Rev. John McElhenny, Rev. Samuel R. Houston and Rev. 
P. M. Custer. 

The following ministers who have been regular installed pastors of Salem 
church are here named in the consecutive order of their pastorates. 

Samuel R. Houston 1861 to 1872
Geo T. Lyle 1873 to 1880
J. W. Holt 1881 to 1888
L. A. McLain 1890 to 1891
Ben Harrop 1892 to 1915
F. P. Sydenstricker 1920 to 1924

There have been several periods of time of various lengths when the church 
would be without a pastor and would be served by supplies appointed by 
presbytery. The following is a list of the ministers who have preached at 
Salem church as supplies since its organization. 

R. R. Houston, W. F. Wilhelm, S. R. Gammon, W. W. Pharr, F. W. Gray, J. E. 
Flow, R. L. McKinnon, and Robert R. Gray. 

The congregation extended a call to Rev. Robert R. Gray who is now 
supplying the church, but it was his preference to not become a regular 
installed pastor. 

During the pastorate of Rev. L. A. McLean, a branch church of Salem was 
built near R. D. Erwin's for the convenience of a number of families who 
lived in that locality which was at a distance not easily accessible to 
the church. 

The congregation of Salem church has been housed in three different church 
buildings. All three buildings have stood on the same lot. The last two 
have been on one exact spot. The first church building was erected in 1860 
just after the organization was formed. About 1875 or 76 the second church 
was built. The congregation had grown till the old church was inadequate 
to its needs. The second church was used for about thirty-five years. 

On Sunday morning May 20, 1910 just as the people were assembling for the 
services, the church caught fire from a defective flue and burned to the 
ground. 

By the summer of 1912, the third church was built and dedicated Rev. 
Thomas R. English of Richmond Virginia preached the dedicatory sermon. 

The earliest Methodist Episcopal church in this community was called 
Trinity. Owing to insufficient data we are unable to give the date of the 
organization of this church. It is known for a fact, that this church was 
built before the Civil War because the soldiers camped in it during the 
war and let fire get out on the floor and burned a hole in it. Trinity and 
Mt. Vernon churches were at one time on the same circuit. After Trinity 
church became so dilapidated that, it could no longer be used, the 
congregation used the Patton school house for a house of worship. As a 
number of Methodist families lived in this locality it was fitting and 
convenient that the new church building be located nearby. Mrs. Elizabeth 
Rodgers who was a devout member of the congregation, donated a site for 
the new church building. It was built in 1894 and named Elizabeth Chapel 
in memory of Mrs. Rodgers. 

The other churches beside the two above mentioned have all contributed 
their portion in the welfare of the community even though their membership 
has been in the minority. 

Schools
Public schools were not established in the southern states as early as in 
the New England states, Pennsylvania, and other places. Prior to the Civil 
War, the youth of this section received their education by attending 
subscription schools. 

Two of the earliest schools in this section were the Patton school near 
Elizabeth Chapel and an old log school house on the Matthew Humphreys farm 
just at the rear of H. E. Burdette's home. The winter following the Civil 
War, a subscription school was taught in Salem Church by Isaac H. LaRue. 
Mr. La Rue was the first teacher to introduce the blackboard in this 
section. 

When the new state of West Virginia was born on June 20, 1863, no attempt 
had been made to establish free schools in the Virginias. The Constitution 
of the new state has a clause reading thus: "The Legislature shall provide 
by general law for a thorough and efficient system of free schools". 

Following a war always comes the reconstruction and readjustment period. 
It was several years after the war, before the schools had reached a very 
high degree of efficiency. At that time there were very few women teachers 
and the only teachers that were available were either very old men or 
young boys. At that time, teachers and people in other public positions 
were required to take the amnesty or test oath and as the people in this 
section had fought for the Confederate cause, those who had been in the 
army could not take the oath. 

There were no normal schools then and the uniform examination law had not 
been passed. At first, the applicant for a teacher's certificate was 
examined by the county superintendent and later each county had three men 
appointed composing the county board of examiners. J. Washington McDowell 
of this community was at one time a member of that board. Zachariah 
Trueblood was the first county superintendent of Greenbrier County. 

The first public school to be built near Organ Cave, was called Chestnut 
Grove. It was located on the A. R. Jackson farm near Trinity church, on 
the old road leading to Ronceverte. After that part of the road was 
abandoned it was moved to the present location. The school term of 1926-27 
was the last to be taught in the building called Chestnut Grove. The 
school is now housed in a modern consolidated school building erected 
during the summer of 1927 near the Seneca Trail. 

For a period of several years beginning about 1870, a secondary or high 
school was conducted on the place now owned by R. C. Bruce. Rev. George 
Tate Lyle and Prof. Edgar H. Marquess were the instructors of this school. 
Many of the older people of this community attended this school in their 
youth. 

For a few years, Miss Sarah Price taught a subscription school in a little 
log school house in the yard at the old Price homestead. 

Roads
It is necessary for any group of civilized people to have a means of 
communication with each other and with other groups more distant removed. 
In pioneer times, roads were the only arteries of communication available, 
as the telephone, telegraph, and railroads were still in the future. 

In order to get a better understanding of the part, roads have played in 
the history of our community, it will be necessary to go a little distance 
away from the immediate locality for a beginning. 

Very early in the history of the nation, the White Sulphur Spring was 
known for its curative powers. By 1800 it was the favorite watering place 
and summer resort of the South. A stage road, called the James River and 
Kanawha Turnpike was built across the mountains, reaching from the tide-
water country of Virginia to the falls of the Great Kanawha. This road ran 
through the White Sulphur Springs property. The Midland Trail or State 
Route No. 5 is nearly all on the same grade and route as the old turnpike. 

Another famous resort of the early days was the Salt Sulphur Spring in 
Monroe county. The Salt Sulphur Turnpike was built from that resort to 
intersect with the James River and Kanawha Turnpike at Caldwell. 
Stagecoaches, hauling travelers and the mails ran over both turnpikes. 

The Salt Sulphur Turnpike runs through the midst of Organ Cave Community. 
Since the invention of the automobile and the introduction of the nation-
wide program of good roads, this historic old road has had to give way to 
a modern state highway called the Seneca Trail. The new road follows the 
old on nearly the same grade with the exception of a few places until it 
reaches Salem Church. There it turns to the northwest on its route to 
Ronceverte. The remainder of the old road on to Caldwell is just as it was 
in the days gone by, when the stage coach drawn by four spirited horses 
ran on it. 

At stated places along the turnpikes, taverns or inns were built for the 
accommodation of the traveling public. Richard Dickson of Second Creek, 
used the large colonial house, now the home of his grandson C. F. Dickson, 
for a stagecoach tavern. 

The stage drivers drove at a rapid gait all the time, regardless of steep 
hills. At stated intervals along the road, horses were changed and the 
others taken out to feed and rest. 

The first road loading to the Greenbrier River from this community, left 
the Salt Sulphur Turnpike just opposite where J. O. White's barn now 
stands. It crossed the new state highway near a small cave in Mr. White's 
field, followed the line between White and Fullen to the top of the hill 
and on past Trinity church and the old Chestnut Grove schoolhouse, down 
the hill by J. J. Morgans finally reaching the river at the old St. 
Lawrence ford near the present site of Honaker Brothers store. This road 
was built for a mill road to reach Edgar's mill which was then the only 
place of business on the site of the present town of Ronceverte. The town 
of Ronceverte was not built till the year of 1872. Prior to that time, the 
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad only came west as far as White Sulphur. For a 
number of years, White Sulphur served as the railroad station for this 
locality. 

The first road from Organ Cave to the Greenbrier was surveyed by a Mr. 
Curry, whose given name is unknown to the writer. It is the shortest and 
most direct route but by far the steepest grade. About the year of 1880 or 
possibly a little later the second road to the river was surveyed by 
William White, the first. It left the turnpike about half way between the 
site of the post office at that time, and Salem Church. It was upon the 
completion of this road that the postoffice was moved to its present site. 
This road was longer than the first but was a much better grade. A part of 
the first road has been abandoned, but the half of it next the river is 
still kept for the use of people whose homes are on it. 

Participation in Wars
This community has contributed soldiers to every war in which the nation 
has participated since colonial times. We shall discuss briefly the part 
Organ Cave community has had in each war in the consecutive order in which 
they were fought. 

Tristram Patton, the ancestor of the Pattons of this locality, was a 
schoolmaster living in Philadelphia when the American colonies revolted 
against the tyranny of England. He joined the Continental Army and was 
made a member of General Washington's bodyguard. After the close of the 
Revolutionary War, Tristram Patton with his brother Robert came to the 
colony of Virginia and took up land bordering on the waters of Second 
Creek in what is now Monroe County West Virginia. We know of one other 
Revolutionary soldier of this locality and that was Michael Rodgers,one of 
our very earliest settlers. There were probably some others whose names 
the writer was unable to get. 

Some of the people of this community bore arms against England for the 
second time which was in the War of 1812. We have the names of two of 
them: Jacob Price and Henry Holesapple. 

The Mexican War drew on our citizenry in the person of George Level. He 
was wounded by being shot in the eye. The bullet passed under the brain 
and came out on the back of his neck. Mr. Level lived to be about ninety-
five years old and carried that bullet in his pocket as long as he lived, 
taking great interest in exhibiting it to his friends and telling about 
how near it cost him his life. 

When the war clouds of the Civil War began to rise, the people of this 
community stood almost solid for State Rights. More soldiers of this 
locality followed General Lee to Appomatox than had been represented in 
any war before or since, not excepting the World War. 

At the outbreak of the Civil War, this part of the country still belonged 
to the mother state of Virginia. Some time before war was declared, the 
state of Virginia had organized a company of militia in each district of 
every county. The company of soldiers of this locality was Company D, with 
Alex. R. Humphreys captain and J. Washington McDowelI first lieutenant. 
When war was declared, Company D entered as a volunteer company and was 
incorporated into Edgar's Battalion with Colonel George Edgar as 
commander. 

There were no battles of the Civil War fought within the bounds of Organ 
Cave Community. The two closest battles were the battle of Lewisburg and 
at Greenbrier Bridge near Caldwell. Company D was engaged in the battle of 
Lewisburg and at that place Robert Humphreys son of Matthew Humphreys and 
the twin brother of Matthew N. Humphreys was killed. Other casualties of 
the Civil War were: William F. Level, the father of R. A. Level killed in 
the battle of Fayetteville. William Fleshman and Alexander Williams were 
killed in one of the battles of the "Valley Campaign" in Virginia. John 
Henry Sydenstricker died in prison in the state of New York. 

Our community was represented in the Spanish-American War by two of our 
sons, namely Oscar A. Price and Emory Toothman. 

At the outbreak of the war on April 26, 1898, Oscar A. Price was a first 
lieutenant in the West Virginia National Guard. He volunteered and was 
made second lieutenant of the First West Virginia volunteer infantry. He 
was promoted in rank from time to time and when the war closed was on the 
staff of Brigadier General McKee at Macon, Georgia. 

Emory Toothman died in camp with typhoid fever. There were several of our 
young men in the World War. 

William Lawrence Surgeon is the only name we have on our casualty list of 
the World War. He died of pneumonia at Camp Lee, Virginia shortly after 
the United States entered the conflict. 

Noted Sons and Daughters
Among those prominent in religious work were Henry Alexander White, D. D., 
Ph. D., Presbyterian minister, and author; Addison Price, Presbyterian 
minister; and Mrs. Mary (Price) Carruth, Missionary to the Cherokee 
Indians in Indian Territory. 

Miss Mary Price went to the western frontier when a young woman and it was 
there that she met and married Edwin H. Carruth, who was a government 
official connected with the Department of the Interior. Mrs. Ida (Carruth) 
Boone has her father's commission signed by Abraham Lincoln. 

Harry Jackson, who is a Lutheran minister in Virginia was born in an 
adjacent community to Organ Cave and is a descendant of one of our oldest 
families. 

Those who have been leaders in education work include the following: Harry 
C. Humphreys who holds a Ph. D. degree from Columbia University. He was 
for several years on the faculty of the West Virginia University at 
Morgantown. At the present he is Associate Professor in the Department of 
Education of the state University of Tennessee at Knoxville. 

Miss Gertrude Humphreys holds a bachelor's degree from the University of 
Illinois. At the present she is Home Economics Specialist for the 
Extension Division of the College of Agriculture at Morgantown, West 
Virginia. 

James Hubert Price is a prominent attorney at Richmond, Virginia. He has 
also served in the Virginia Legislature. 

Richard R. Dickson is a practicing attorney at Union, West Virginia. 

The names of those who have served the community in an official capacity 
in the past and at the present time are: Robert H. Boone, state senator; 
Richard D. Erwin and Clarence F. Dickson, members house of delegates; John 
H. Crawford, James E. Crawford, John S. Crawford, William A. Boone, C. 
Edwin Boone, Samuel H. McDowell, James M. Miller, J. William Miller, and 
Ira D. Humphreys, who have served either in the capacity of sheriff or 
that of deputy; Samuel N. Erwin and Elmer N. Jackson, assessors; John S. 
Crawford and Paul C. Hogsette, county clerks; and J. Washington McDowell 
and Henry W. Humphreys, county commissioners. 

Among the physicians and pharmacists who were reared in Organ Cave 
Community are: Dr. John A. Jackson, prominent physician and surgeon, who 
is located at Ronceverte, West Virginia; James N. Dickson, pharmacist, 
located at Bridgewater, Virginia; and Leighton H. Rodgers, pharmacist, 
located at Beckley, West Virginia. 

The community has also supplied one of the leading newspaper men of the 
state. William E. Price went into the office of the Greenbrier Independent 
when just a young boy. He learned the printer's trade under B. F. Harlow. 
At the present, he is editor and owner of the Independent Herald at 
Hinton, West Virginia. 




                        History of Renick Community
                    (Greenbrier County, West Virginia)

Renick community in Greenbrier County is located in the uppeer Greenbrier 
valley between the Greenbrier mountains on the east and Spring Creek 
mountain on the west. The noted and beautiful Greenbrier river courses 
through this community with its tributary, Spring Creek, on the western 
border. It is sixteen miles from Lewisburg, the county seat, north on the 
Lewisburg Marlin Bottom turnpike. Six roads lead into the center of this 
community. 

The first settlement in the community was made by Major Wm. Renick from 
Augusta county, Virginia, in 1769, on an entry of 1000 acres, on which is 
located the stone and brick house now owned by Dr. Nash of Alderson, West 
Virginia. This farm was handed dojwn from Major Wm. Renick to Wm. Renick, 
James H. Renick, and Harry Renick after which it finally passed out of the 
Renick hands. 

Christopher Walkup settled on the river bottom now the site of the town of 
Renick in 1778, this property passing into the hands of Franklin Renick, 
grandfather of the present owners. 

John Beard settled just over the mountain in Renick's Valley in 1770. 

Other early settlers were Samuel Myles, John White, the Byrd's, Rapp's, 
Hanna's, Handley's, Bogges', Correll's, etc. The first settlers were 
Scotch-Irish. 

Agriculture, chiefly the raising of livestock of all kinds is the main 
occupation. The soil is a rich limestone where the bluegrass has its 
natural growth, and is therefore naturally adapted to livestock raising 
though originally covered with heavy forests of hardwood.. Lumbering has 
been a very important industry for the last twenty-five years. There are 
in this community the finest stone cliffs to be found any where and a 
future industry based on this natural resource is assured. 

The Lewisburg and Marlin Bottom turnpike, built about 1849, and now 
designated as an A class state road passes through this community, making 
it accessable to all out side points. 

The Greenbrier Division of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, built about 
1900, also gives good railroad facilities. About 1901, Pitts and Colley 
built a large store near the depot, and the business center was moved to 
this point. 

The first church to be erected was that of the Presbyterians, organized in 
1783. The first pastors came from Lewisburg among whom were Rev. John 
McCue, Benjamin Griggsby, John McElheny, later the Browns, J. H. Lepps, 
Wm. McMiller, D. M. Laten, and others. The present church building erected 
in the year 1894 is the third church building. 

The Methodist church was founded in 1830 with Rev. John Pinell as the 
first pastor. The present church building was erected about 1892. 

The Baptists built their first church in 1906. Much attention has been 
given to education, the first school was taught in 1796 by Memmucan 
Walker. The first school house was built in 1800, and was a log building, 
as were all other. buildings at that time. There were some inportant old 
field schools taught here by Brooken M. Oliver, Benjamin C. Rapp, the 
Lyall's, Hodges, and Huff. Then came the public schools which have grown 
to the present High School building and efficient teachers. The old school 
building stood where the Mance now stands. 

The Bank of Renick was established in 1909. Rev. J. S. Wickline was the 
first and only president. F. P. Clark was the first cashier, the present 
cashier being J. Willis Baxter. Under his wise management the bank has 
grown to be one of the best banks in the Greenbrier valley. 

The postoffice of Falling Spring was established in the early half of 1800 
and the name changed to Renick in 1913. It became a third class office 
January 1, 1920. 

On date of February 15, 1924 the first County Life Council meeting was 
held. The community at present is primarily agricultural, containing about 
two hundred homes of which about seventy-five percent are farm homes. 
There are now four churches, a high school, four graded schools, a bank, 
two mills, a desk factory, a rock crusher, a creamery, and eight stores. 



Chapter 9  Hardy County
Lost River


                              BRIEF HISTORY
                              OF EARLY TIMES
                         IN LOST RIVER COMMUNITY
                            by F. B. Chrisman
                                  1925 

[image of Harper School, Lost River]

The first permanent settlement in this community was made about the year 
1750. 

The grants to the first settlers bear dates from 1748 to 1755. The grants 
were surveyed by George Washington in 1748 (when he was sixteen years old) 
for Lord Fairfax who had received a grant from the King of England for all 
of the northern neck of Virginia. Each tract was supposed to contain about 
400 acres and was leased to the settlers for the consideration of one 
shilling sterling per year for each fifty acres and so proportionately for 
a greater or lesser quantity. In 1785 the Legislature of Virginia passed 
an act which among other provisions contained the following: "And be it 
further enacted that the landholders within the said district of the 
northern neck shall be forever hereafter exonerated and discharged from 
composition and quit-rent, any law, custom or usage, to the contrary 
notwithstanding."
 
Captain Jacob Chrisman, born in 1730, (whose mother was a daughter of 
Joist Hite who came fron York, Pennsylvania in the year 1732 and settled 
about five miles south of Winchester, Virginia) with several other men 
followed a band of Indians who had killed some settlers of the Shenandoah 
Valley and taken some prisoners across the North Mountain, arriving at 
Rock Bridge now the state boundary on North Mountain after dark. Captain 
Chrisman sighted the Indian's camp fire near the top of Branch Mountain 
and came to their camp just before dawn. He surprised the and after 
killing three of their number and recovering the prisoners, returned to 
this valley and decided to take a lease which he did in 1753. The patent 
calls for a tract of 425 acres of land on Lost River of Cacapon, patented 
to Jacob Chrisman, Jr., by Lord Fairfax, September 15, 1753. 

Lionel Branson, an English Quaker, settled on Lost River in 1765 and is 
reputed to have cut the first wagon road following the old Indian Trail 
across Rock Bridge from the Shenandoah to this valley. The Millers, 
Claypools, Wardens, and Bakers settled here about the same date. 

Tradition has it Indians often made trouble for the early settlers of our 
little valley. One story is told of two men being surprised while watching 
a deer lick. One man had climbed a tree, his dog having followed his track 
and laid at the foot of the tree. When seven Indians came to the spring 
for water the dog barked which caused the Indians to look up into the 
tree. They killed and scalped this man while his companion sitting in 
another tree afraid to shoot at so many enemies escaped. 

A family named Elswicks living near the old Indian Trail that crossed the 
valley on the lands now owned by the Harpers were surprised by Indians who 
captured all the women and children while the men were away from home. 
Several women and one child were killed while one little girl was carried 
away. When she grew up she married an Indian and brought him back to her 
old home. One day he went hunting with her brothers on the Little Ridge, 
but never returned. 

The only fort in this vicinity was a small block house near the river on 
the line between the Chrisman and Wood farms. The larger forts on Lost 
River were Ruddle's Fort on the old Inskeep place where a man named 
Chesmer was killed and Warden's Fort where Wm. Warden the ancestor of the 
present owner Wm. H. Warden and a Mr. Taff were killed and the fort 
burned. 

The Wardens who settled on the farm now owned by Wm. H. Warden were 
Presbyterians; the Millers and Bakers (the latter family being the first 
permanent settlers at Baker) were Baptists. Anthony Miller, a Baptist, 
deeded one acre of land, probably about 1835, jointly to the Baptists and 
Presbyterians as a site for the first church in the Lost River Valley. The 
people of the community built the log church which is still standing and 
is now used by the Union Tanning Company for a store room. 

Hershman's Chapel, Lost River 
The first settlers had very few conveniences. Their houses were built of 
logs with clapboard roofs and either dirt or puncheon floors. Iron pots, 
knives and forks along with salt and iron were brought on pack horses at 
first from Fredericksburg and later (after they got wagons) from 
Alexandria. The furniture for the table for several years after the 
settlement consisted of a few pewter dishes, plates, and spoons, but 
mostly of wooden bowls, trenchers, moggins, gourds and hard shelled 
squashes. 

Along in the early part of 1800 Lionel Branson and Jeremiah Inskeep each 
built brick houses the latter of which is still being used as a residence. 
In 1808 Squire Jacob Miller built a brick house which is still in a good 
state of preservation and is now owned and used as a residence by Chas. A. 
Garrett. The oldest log house, a part of which is still standing is the 
old Claypoole house on the lands now owned by John Moyers. This farm was 
settled by John Claypoole, a son of James Claypoole, an English Quaker who 
was born February 14th, 1701, and settled in what is now Rockingham 
County, Virginia. John Claypoole was born in 1732, was married twice, and 
was the father of twenty-two children. 

The first grist mill in the valley was built by Lionel Branson on the 
lands now owned by the Union Tanning Company. The first tan yard was on 
Still Run where the remains of the old tan vats can still be seen. By the 
process then used it took one year to tan a hide. The present steam 
tannery at Lost City was built by Thomas Cover about 1892. 



Chapter 10  Harrison County
Good Hope - Prospect Valley


                            GOOD HOPE COMMUNITY
                        Prepared by Harriet Thrash
                                  1924 

Located in the most beautiful part of Harrison County along the West Fork 
River and tributaries about half way between Clarksburg and Weston is the 
county community known as Good Hope. The state road from Pittsburgh to 
Charleston now under construction, passes directly through this community, 
and other roads leading into this, viz: Twolick and Isaacs Creek, are to 
be hard surfaced in the near future. 

Sixty-four families comprise the community of Good Hope with a population 
of 270, all American born, no foreign blood of any kind. Most of the 
families are descendants of the pioneers who settled in this community 
from 125 to 150 years ago. The most prominent of these families who were 
among the first settlers are the Washburns, Posts, Laws, McConkeys, 
Cheuvronts, Burnsides, Carders, Hinkles, Somervilles, Ramages, Tinglers, 
Yerkeys and Browns. 

The land in this community lays well and is highly cultivated. Some of the 
best farming land in Harrison County is in this vicinity and the farmers 
take great pride not only in cultivating their farms but in raising the 
best cattle, hogs, chickens, etc., some of which have carried off premiums 
at the county fairs. The upland is fine for grazing and there is no 
unsightly filth decorating the hills as can be seen in some localities. 
The community is blessed with natural resources; gas on every farm, oil, 
coal, timber, sand, clay and building stone. 

Bethel Church
The present church as it now stands was erected in 1904. At the time there 
was a corner-stone laying and many valuable and interesting things were 
placed in this stone. The church that was torn down at the time this one 
was erected, was built in 1848 or 1849. The committee to have charge of 
the building was appointed December 27, 1847; C. Cheuvront, A. L. Patton, 
R. Burnside, James Somerville and William Law. The preachers in charge 
were, A. A. Reger and G. W. Nixon, S. G. Worthington, P. E. and J. W. 
Miller were exhorters. R. Jackson and H. Lynch were the stewards, and J. 
Pritchard, H. J. Lynch, William Law, William Scott, A. Cowen, J. Morrison, 
E. Pritchard, and T. Thornhill were the leaders,at this same Quarterly 
Meeting. Mr. John A. Williams was granted license to preach. Some of his 
descendants at this time are active workers in this community; his grand-
daughter, Miss Icie Williams, being a teacher in the West Milford school 
and also Worthy Matron in the Eastern Star at Good Hope. 

The present church here is the third Bethel. The first one was known as 
"Old Bethel" but at this time the date of its foundation is not definitely 
known. It was located on the Somerville farm about one mile below Good 
Hope. There is a large grave yard there with tombstones marking many a 
grave. Bethel M. E. Church has more than one hundred members. 

The first school house was located on what was then the Post farm, but is 
known now as the Corbin farm. It has been gone for years and the present 
school house is the second one on the ground now occupied. There are three 
elementary schools with a total number of about one hundred pupils. 
Jackson Lodge No. 35 A. F. & A. M. has 125 members. Good Hope Lodge No. 
331 I. O. O. F. has 28 members. Eastern Star has about 40 members. Call 
Tent No. 1240 K. O. T. M. has 20 members. 

Several pioneer residents were soldiers of the Revolution. A few served in 
the war of 1812 and the Mexican war. About twenty boys from this community 
responded to Lincoln's call for volunteers in 1861, and twenty-three 
answered the call for the World War. The community has furnished three 
legislators, one county clerk, one prosecuting attorney, one county 
superintendent of schools, one county commissioner, three lawyers, four 
doctors, five preachers, about sixty school teachers, many county and 
district officers, and many prominent business men and women. The 
community has one Farm Women's Club, one Community Club, and one Four-H 
Club. 

Good Hope
The little town of Good Hope is located on beautiful rolling land in the 
West Fork River Valley between the waters of Isaacs Creek and Raccoon, the 
State road going directly through it. It has a population of 145, thirty 
dwelling houses, two stores, tvwo community halls, two lodge rooms, two 
garages, one community play ground, one church, and one two-roomed school 
house. The Masonic Cemetery in beauty is surpassed by none in the State as 
a country grave yard. 

On February 25, 1875, a little band of citizens applied for a charter for 
the organization of the Grange Lodge. The charter being granted, the 
organization was formed with a membership of twenty-three as follows: 

W. B. Brown 
Mary A. Cheuvront 
Worthy Master 
Mary E. Brown 
Jacob Somerville 
Ruhanna Burnside 
Lloyd Washburn 
Dora Post 
J. W. Somerville 
Jacob P. Post 
Ezra A. Washburn 
George P. McConkey 
J. P. Cheuvront 
John L. Chrislip 
William Burnside 
William B. Post 
J. D. McMillan 
Alfred Washburn 
George W. Washburn 
Theodore Chrislip 
James Post 
John Burnside 
Susan Richards 
Elizabeth Somerville 

The meetings at that time were held in the Isaacs Creek school house. On 
September 4, 1875 J. P. Cheuvront, Lloyd Washburn, J. N. Burnside, and J. 
R. Lynch were appointed to purchase a lot for a building. January 15, 1876 
J. R. Lynch, J. P. Post, and J. P. Cheuvront were appointed as building 
committee. The committee bought the lot, the building was erected, and it 
is the property now owned by A. W. Thrash. At the suggestion of the Worthy 
Master, W. B. Brown, it was given the name of "Good Hope Grange", hence 
the name of our little town. At that tine there were only three dwelling 
houses, two families of Washburns and one Post family. On May 25, 1877 J. 
D. McMillan, George W. Washburn, L. Washburn, and J. P. Cheuvront were 
appointed to solicit joint stock for a company store, shares to be $5.00 
each, no one allowed more than twenty shares with a profit not to exceed 
10%. February 16, 1887 they bought another lot and put up a blacksmith 
shop. July 1885 the Grange sold this store to another company known as the 
Good Hope Merchandise Company, for the sum of $454.85. This charter was 
for twenty years. There were six different clerks while the store was in 
operation, viz: D. L. Perine, G. Lawson, Cal Burnside, Dallas McMillan, 
Harvey Stonestreet, and A. M. Westfall. 

In the early settlement of this community most of the land was owned by 
Isaac Washburn. What is now known as Isaacs Creek was then called Washburn 
Creek. About the time the first settlers came here the Indians were 
numerous. Some of the early settlers were killed by them. This was 
supposed to be the camping ground of the Indians. There has been a lot of 
relics picked up around here and on the McDonald farm on Twolick is some 
beautiful sculpture work which was done by the Indians. All the farms with 
few exceptions, are still owned by descendants of the early settlers, 
Washburns, Burnsides, Posts, McMillans, Cheuvronts, McConkeys, Laws, 
Somervilles, and Browns. Most of the families in Good Hope have moved in 
from other communities. The William Burnside farm and part of the old Post 
farm is owned by James Findley. A. R. Wolf owns part of the Post farm. 
Also Thad Curry owns some of the post land, and Fred Smith owns part of 
the Burnside farm. All the balance of the land in the community is owned 
by some of the descendants of the early settlers. 

In this little history the writer at this time is not prepared to give 
correct dates of the first settlements and land transactions, but as we 
are expecting to get a more extensive history in the near future, we will 
just say in conclusion that Good Hope community is hard to beat and we 
expect to make still greater improvements in the years to come. 




                    HISTORY OF PROSPECT VALLEY COMMUNITY
                         Prepared By Bertha Coffman
                                   1925 

The Early Pioneers
Prospect Valley Community is situated on Robinson's Run, in Eagle 
District, Harrison County, about three miles west of Shinnston. It is one 
of the oldest communities in the district, dating back more than one 
hundred and fifty years. 

The first settlement ever made on what is now Robinson's Run of which we 
can find any record, was made by William Robinson, who patented a large 
tract of land on Robinson's Run and Jone's in 1775, and from whom 
Robinson's Run received its name. William Robinson was very prominent in 
the early history of Harrison County, having been one of a group of 
justices, composing the County Court, commissioned by the Governor of 
Virginia soon after the County was laid off by the Virginia Legislature. 
On July 20, 1784, this body of men met and took the oath of Allegiance to 
the commonwealth and also the oath of office as directed by law. Mr. 
Robinson held different offices in the County, having been the third 
sheriff, serving in 1788. 

In the year 1782, William Robinson transferred 550 acres of land to 
Benjamin Robinson who was also prominent in the early history of the 
County, serving as sheriff in 1794. He also owned the first grist mill and 
the first saw mill in Eagle District. These were located on Ten Mile Creek 
at Lumberport about the year 1800. 

Benjamin Robinson served in the Revolutionary War, and attained the 
position of Major and was afterwards spoken of by that title. He also took 
part in many Indian raids in the surrounding country. In 1806 Major 
Robinson's daughter, Elizabeth Robinson, married Henry Coffman who came to 
this community from Pennsylvania and in 1816 Major Robinson conveyed a 
tract of land to the heirs of Henry Coffman. This land as far as we can 
find has never been sold, but has been handed down from generation to 
generation, since it was taken up as government land and is still owned 
and farmed by the Robinson and Coffman families. 

Henry Coffman was a cooper by trade and some of his old tools used in the 
cooper business are still in the possession of his great grandchildren. 

In 1798, William Robinson also transferred a portion of his land to John 
D. Lucas who was the grandfather of R. G. Lucas now living near the mouth 
of Robinson's Run. John D. Lucas built his log cabin near where Pigotts 
Run joins Robinson's Run, and lived and died at that place. The Lucas 
family are prominent farmers and stock raisers, still owning this land 
which they bought more than 125 years ago. Another early settler in the 
community was John Flowers, who came here from Delaware and settled in a 
log cabin just above the bridge near the laurel thicket. Mr. Flowers was 
the great-grandfather of the present John Flowers who still lives in the 
community and of Dr. A. O. Flowers of Clarksburg. He with others 
constructed the only Indian fort ever built on Robinson's Run, This fort 
was erected near a spring, just above the laurel thicket, and was about 
forty feet square, with two rows of port holes, one up stairs and one 
down, with a stockade extending around the spring, to give protection 
against siege by Indians. There is no record of any attack upon this fort 
by the Indians, although the people sought its protection on several 
occasions. At one time an Indian was seen prowling about the fort, was 
fired on, wounded and run into the laurel thicket where his pursuers dared 
not follow, but stood guard for several days. When at last a party 
ventured in they found the Indian dead. He was buried near that place. 
Another slight encounter took place between the Indians and the people of 
the fort a short distance away. Several were wounded, but no one killed 
and the Indians retreated into the forest. John Flowers engaged in the 
pottery business having his kiln near the old house below the fort. His 
chief out put was crocks and besides selling to the settlers he would 
occasionally build a boat at the mouth of the run, load it with crocks, 
wheat, potatoes, etc., and float it down to Pittsburgh. 

Mr. Flowers' son Jesse Flowers, was a well educated and influential man, 
served in the Virginia Legislature, and after the formation of West 
Virginia was a representative in the State Legislature. There were 
probably other pioneer settlers on Robinson's Run, but if so we have no 
record of their settlements. 

Churches
The first Church on Robinson's Run, which was also the first in Eagle 
District, was organized by the Rev. Poole, a Methodist Minister, in 1816, 
and a building was erected near the mouth of what we now called Harbert's 
Run. Among its first members were David Masters, Basil Lucas, and Basil 
Harvey. As this was the only church in the district, people came for many 
miles to attend services here. The first Sunday School ever held in the 
district was organized at this church by John Flowers about 1820 and soon 
had an attendance of forty. This building was destroyed by fire about 
1855. The present church building was built about 1857. It was built by a 
man by the name of Kennedy for the sum $1000. It was built of stone and 
was known for many miles around as the "Old Stone Pile Church." A few 
years ago it was remodeled, the old stone covered with stucco, the inside 
plastered and papered and at the present time is a very modern building, 
No one seeing it now would believe it was built before the Civil War. 

Schools
The first school house in Eagle District was also built on Robinson's Run 
in 1818. It was a log structure and was built and furnished in much the 
same way as other school houses of that time, and stood near the old 
church. I do not know who taught the first school in this building but 
think John Flowers taught there at one time. 

The next school house was built in 1867 and the first school taught in the 
new building was by a man by the name of George Fletcher. At the present 
time there are three school houses in the community with an enrollment of 
about fifty-six pupils, while several of our boys and girls are attending 
nearby high schools, normals, and colleges. 

From these little schools have gone out a great many teachers, some 
ministers, doctors, lawyers, and county officials, who have held positions 
worthy of being mentioned. The Prospect Valley Community hopes some time 
in the near future to have a centralized school where all our children may 
have better educational advantages than our forefathers had. 

In War Times
The Prospect Valley Community played an important part in the Civil War, 
having several men and boys who took an active part in the service and 
one, Theophilus Coffman, was killed during a raid at Fairmont. James 
Moffatt who lived on the farm now owned by E. V. Richardson was a captain 
in the army. 

This community also responded nobly to the call of her country during the 
World War, sending three or four of its boys into the service. 

Weyman Robinson spent several months in France, being in the battles of 
St. Miheil and Argonne Forest, and was on the front at the time the 
Armistice was signed. 

Okey Shreve also spent some time with a hospital corps in France. 

The people remaining at home contributed liberally both time and money, 
raising food, sewing, and knitting for the Red Cross, buying government 
bonds, and helping in many ways to win the war. 

Clubs
For several years the farmers of the community have had a lamb club in 
which all the members hold their lambs together and ship them to some 
market. This has proven very successful. Many farmers in the community 
also belong to the Farm Bureau and are members of the West Virginia 
Cooperative Wool Growers Association. 

In 1922 a community club was organized, and monthly meetings are held and 
with the help of the county agent, home demonstration agent, and other 
extension workers. Some very good programs have been given. Later in the 
same year a woman's club was organized which has done some very good work 
in the community. We also have two Four-H clubs. 

In 1925 our first Country Life Conference was held at which our community 
made the highest score ever made in a first Country Life Conference in 
West Virginia up to that time. The score made was 728 out of a possible 
thousand points. In 1924, at our second conference our score was raised to 
756. 

At the present time Prospect Valley Community has a population of about 
two hundred people, most of whom are honest, industrious, law-abiding 
citizens, who hope to improve the community not only to raise the score 
but to make it a better place in which to live. 

                         (c) WebRoots March 2002