Histories of 58 WV Communities - Chapter 11



Chapter 11  Lewis County
Roanoke - Walkersville


                       HISTORY OF ROANOKE COMMUNITY
                       (Lewis County, West Virginia)
                         Prepared By Roy Bird Cook
                                  1924 

Early Settlers Near Roanoke
The name of the first white man to visit the upper valley of the West Fork 
of the Monongahela is enshrouded in mystery. Tradition associates it with 
the name of one Jacob Bush. Again it is connected with the alleged visit 
of the "Three Frenchmen", connected by legend with Braddock's defeat, who 
fled through Upshur into this region, to bury British gold in the vicinity 
of the mouth of Canoe Run. But to John Hacker, the first settler in Lewis 
County, belongs the first recorded visit that of a hunt into the 
headwaters section which resulted in the naming of several streams. 

Following Hacker, in 1792, came the noted border scout, Jesse Hughes, who 
with a companion, entered the valley from the French Creek region, on an 
Indian scout. Out of his visit emerged the name Canoe Run and Indian Fork, 
as well as others. As the outgrowth of these expeditions, Colonel George 
Jackson became interested in the region. In the course of time Collin's 
settlement evolved; a post office was established by 1821, and the 
community name in common use today was adopted. But all covering more 
territory than can herein be considered. 

John P. Duvall, later mentioned, claims the honor of the first 
"improvement" near the present site Roanoke, having made a "settlement" in 
1775 at the Indian House or Arnold Station. This possibly existed on paper 
only. He later assigned this to Samuel McIntire, who sold it back later. 
Duvall secured 800 acres in all, and 400 as assignee of Robert Burchett, 
near the mouth of Sand Fork. 

In 1785, James Anderson and Samuel Hanway, secured 1000 acres in the 
valley below Canoe Run. It ran in a square, taking in roughly the land to 
Rush Run hill. In the same year John P. Duvall patented 400 acres, which 
included the site of Roanoke. In 1786 for "two pounds sterling" he secured 
1400 acres more embracing the land between Roanoke and Arnold and a large 
part of Canoe Run. Duvall was a prominent man in frontier days and his 
"Indian House" was the site of an old Indian village, it seems. The writer 
has a collection of flint implements secured in this vicinity. John H. 
Conrad has a similar collection from the lower valley, and for years on 
the farm of the late George Cook could be discerned a small mound 
attributed to a race here before the Indians. John Sprigg of Maryland took 
up lands on Sand Fork in 1818; David Smith likewise; and in 1846 M. G. 
Bush patented 100 acres on the same stream. Michael Waybright followed 
with 1000 acres embracing Wards Run. On White Oak Lick Jackson Arnold took 
up lands; Skelton Smith and several others also secured state lands, 
(which cannot be considered extensively here.) 

The first settlers in the immediate vicinity of the village of Roanoke, 
located on the Anderson and Hanway tract of land, covered by a survey 
dated July 7, 1785. The first permanent settler was "John Mitchel", to 
whom Samuel Hanway, a resident of Monongalia County, on September 9, 1812, 
for the consideration of "One Hundred and Twenty-five Dollars, lawful 
money of the Virginia, "transferred all of a certain tract granted to 
James Anderson and the said Samuel Hanway for one thousand acres". "It is 
further understood that he, the said Samuel Hanway only sells and releases 
such titles as he has in the aforesaid tract of land, and does not 
undertake to support the title for the same". This deed was produced in 
court in April, 1813, and ordered recorded. 

According to local tradition, John Mitchell had come from lower Harrison 
County to this region as early as 1808, with his family, among whom was a 
son Abner. The latter as early as 1814 had established a home a short 
distance above the mouth of White Oak Lick, and in 1820 the county court 
of Lewis County decreed that a road should be located by his place to the 
ford at Henry Camden's (now Jacksonville). This road was declared a public 
highway in 1832, but in reality was little more that a bridle path for 
some years later. 

In 1839 an order was entered by the county court directing that Abner 
Mitchell erect a bridge at the mouth of Canoe Run, to replace the ford at 
that point. About 1830 he established a saw mill near his home which was 
in use until 1840. In that year, - with the exception of 1861, - the upper 
valley was visited by the most disastrous flood in its history and the 
mill was washed away. Elan and Peter Mitchell, sons of Abner, became local 
ministers of the Methodist Protestant faith. 

On October 7, 1813, William Hacker and "James Teeth" received a grant of 
215 acres lying "on both sides of the West Fork and both sides of Canoe 
Run". This included the bottom lands at the mouth of Canoe Run and 
extended almost to the mouth of White Oak Lick on the south bank of the 
river. The first permanent settler on this tract is said to have been 
Jonathan Wheeler, in or about the year 1830. He secured part of a later 
grant to George J. Arnold, dated February 16, 1844, and this tract was 
transferred in 1855 to John L. Prince. In 1860 it was sold to Richard 
Watson, and later became part of the holdings of Erasmus Rhodes. James and 
Henry McCally located near the mouth of White Oak Lick prior to 1844. 

Richard Bond, about 1825, located just below the site of the Seventh Day 
Baptist Church. He was born in Harrison County, February 16, 1814, and 
died February 11, 1871. He married (1) Lydia M. Davis, a sister of "Uncle" 
Samuel Davis and (2) Ann Elizabeth Crowl. A son, John, was one of the 
early land owners on Canoe Run. The land books for 1848-9 charge him with 
one tithable, "2 hosses at 10›", a "wood clock at 13›", 197 acres of land 
on "crooked Run of West Fork" and "road tax on same as revenue $1.32" in 
all totaling $3.59. Such was taxation in that early day under old 
Virginia. 

In 1838 Abraham Rohrbough located across the river in the shadow of the 
hill that has since borne the name of "Abrams Knob". He was born in what 
is now Upshur County, in 1815, a son of Anthony Rohrbough, one of the 
early pioneers. Two sons, Anthony E., and John G. served through the Civil 
War in Company B, 15 West Virginia infantry. 

On the bottom lands below the Rohrbough's located John and William 
Godfrey, brothers, from Hardy County and connected by marriage with George 
T. Duvall of Indian Carrying Run. John Godfrey was born in 1796 and died 
in 1863 and is buried in the old Mitchell cemetery, along with a number of 
pioneers who repose in unmarked graves. The Godfreys combined noted 
hunting exploits with those equally as renowned in rafting logs on the old 
West Fork. Tradition credits one with having erected his "cabin" at the 
mouth of Sand Fork. 

William Rohrbough located just above the mouth of Canoe Run in the early 
forties and about 1845 built a log house still standing by the roadside 
between the mouth of this stream and the village of Roanoke. 

In the late thirties Jacob Hevener, of what is now Highland County, but 
then residing at Mingo Flats, Randolph County, became interested in the 
Anderson-Hanway survey. Amos Hevener located on that portion later 
embraced in the Rhodes land, erecting his home on the rising ground on the 
south side of the river. He was born in 1817 and married Arista, daughter 
of Benjamin Lightburn, and sister of General J. A. J. Lightburn. After 
residing here for three or four years the family removed to Randolph 
County. 

A year or so later Reuben Hevener, a cousin to Amos, located nearby. He 
married (1) Elizabeth Eye, (2) Catherine Snyder of Monterey, and (3) 
Abagail H. Davis and they were the founders of the family now residing in 
this community. Some intermarried with the Bond, Bird and other local 
families, and acquired portions of the Richard Bond and other lands on 
Crooked Run. 

In 1852, the settlers were augmented by the arrival of Erasmus Rhodes, who 
was born in Melrose, Rockingham County, Virginia, February 26, 1826. In 
the spring of 1849 he joined the exodus of folks from the Valley of 
Virginia, to the famed gold fields of California. Returning to the East 
about 1851, he married Elizabeth Hevener, daughter of Jacob Jr., who was 
born in what is now Highland County, Virginia, in 1830, and died in 1866. 
He acquired the main portion of the Hevener holdings in the Anderson-
Hanway tract; this was increased in 1859 by additions from the Arnold 
lands on Wild Cat and Sycamore Run and the Watson tract before mentioned, 
until a boundary of 1200 acres was secured which embraced portions of 
White Oak Lick, Carrion Run, and others named. With the exception of the 
Arnold and Bennett holdings. This embraced the largest homestead in 
Collins Settlement district. The old manor house erected in the early 
fifties on the rising ground a short distance below the present residence 
thereon was destroyed by fire in 1868. 

In keeping with the tendencies of settlers from the Valley of Virginia he 
established here the largest orchard in this section which was destroyed 
during the raids in the Civil War, while the owner was absent in the 
service. He served in cavalry command of Brigadier General William L. 
Jackson (Confederate) and owned "Selin" a noted cavalry horse. In 1867 he 
married Mary Catherine, daughter of George Conrad, Sr. He died August 3, 
1900, commanding the respect and esteem of all who knew him. 

A survey of the Hanway and Anderson tract in 1864 shows the following 
owners: Jacob Hevener, John Godfrey, Richard Bond, Paul T. Mitchell, 
Abraham, William and George Rohrbough. The last named transferred his land 
to Reuben Hevener, and it is now owned by Mansfield and John J. Hevener. 
The last named is now the oldest resident of the community being 88 and 
has been for years very active in horticultural matters, as well as active 
in musical circles. Likewise it is worthy of passing note that he brought 
into the community the first organ, the first phonograph, and in 1923 
installed the first radio set. 

About 1868 James Madison Corley, later State Senator and member of the 
"registration board of '67" located below the Bonds, and established a 
hotel at the Wilson Place. Part of this property was sold to H. C. Ramsey 
of Monongalia County in 1880. In 1918 the greater portion of the original 
survey was owned by the Erasmus Rhodes heirs, Bond Heirs, John McCray, 
William Wilson, H. C. Ramsey, Mitchell Heirs, and Snyders. 

About 1825 Michael Bush acquired the 400 acre land grant issued to J. P. 
Duvall in 1785, upon which he established his home and erected a mill as 
will be noted elsewhere. In later years he took steps to acquire adjoining 
property lying north in the Canoe Run Valley. On December 30, 1842 he 
received a grant of 110 acres on the "waters of the West Fork and Canoe 
Run, based on a survey made on June 16, 1842". This began as a corner on 
Canoe Run just above the "Quiet Dell School House" and extended to a 
corner of a "survey made in the name of John P. Duvall and now owned by 
said Bush" and thence to a point "near said Bush's spring on said Duvall's 
survey" and following a line to survey in the name of "William Hacker and 
James Teeth". The southern line was about half way up the hill in the rear 
of the "old" Joseph Hall home above Roanoke, and the "said Bush's spring" 
was located in the rear of this location then occupied by the home of W. 
G. Bush. On this hillside was located "Margaret's Chapel", a one story log 
building in which circuit riders of the M. P. Church held services in 
early years. Definite church records seem to be lacking but it is related 
that Rev. Samuel Clawson, widely known as the "Wild Preacher" and whose 
name is preserved in the Clawson-Helmick Memorial church in Weston, often 
held services here. Nearby is an old cemetery in which several members of 
the Bush, Long, and other families lie in unmarked graves. 

The largest and most important land grant in the lower Collins Settlement 
district was one to William E. and George Jackson Arnold, dated December 
31, 1844, and based on a survey made on June 6 of the same year. This 
marked the passing of the last of the large boundaries of state lands in 
this region. A survey of the condition of the county elsewhere at this 
time, would at this day cause a wonderment as to why this had so long 
remained unpatented, yet down until long after the Civil War much of this 
section was still in timberland. It would have, perhaps, been more so, had 
not a few men assumed an aggressive campaign to secure permanent settlers 
thereon. It is true some settlements had been made but by folks who found 
it cheaper to move than own their own land. 

The Arnold grant covered a boundary of 2800 acres "on Canoe Run waters and 
Carren Run waters of the West Fork adjoining on the West side of surveys 
made for Anderson, Hanway, Michael G. Bush, and John P. Duvall". This 
included practically all of the Carrion Run valley, the right and middle 
forks of Canoe Run and portions of the main valley, comprising a section 
in a fan shape. In the meantime possession had been acquired of a 
considerable portion of the Keith and Hacker survey which gave an outlet 
to the entire Canoe Run valley. 

On the Court House district side this patent was joined by the Pickering 
survey, which was the cause of a great deal of trouble over line titles. 
This survey comprising in the main body 20,000 acres was made in 1785 for 
Timothy Pickering, who was born in 1745 and died in 1829. He was an 
officer in the Revolution and occupied almost every public office in the 
command of the nation. It was one of the few "land Bonus" grants for 
service that touched Lewis County. Upon his death it passed to his son 
Octavius Pickering, and as one early barrister sets forth this patent and 
others of this family "was patented, granted, and litigated to death". 
Another patent of 5,000 acres also adjoined it. 

On November 12, 1849, Octavius Pickering (1791-1868) assigned his claims 
to Gideon D. and Richard P. Camden and Minter Bailey. It was resurveyed 
and by 1845 a couple of small tracts were sold. Other claimants now came 
forward and considerable trouble was incurred during the next fourteen 
years, to such an extent that the new owners appealed to the Virginia 
Assembly for relief. That body accordingly on February 23, 1854, 
directed, - provided they signed certain papers, - that the Virginia Land 
Office issue a new grant formally investing in Camden-Bailey-Camden a good 
and sufficient title. 

As late as 1867 an engineering party came to Bush's Mill, acting under 
alleged claims to the Pickering lands and after surveying a portion of the 
Canoe Run valley at the head of the right fork a point on the Arnold 
survey was located and a line run north. A few marked trees were found but 
the attempt was abandoned. 

The first settler on the Arnold patent appears to have been Isaac 
Rohrbough, a son of George S., who located in the county in 1823. He 
established his home on Carrion Run in 1846 and in later years became one 
of the first school commissioners. 

The next family was that of Christian (died in 1865) and Hannah Swecker. 
They were of Holland Dutch descent and had in early years moved from what 
is now Highland County, Virginia, to Valley Head on the Tygarts Valley 
River. In 1844 they located on the Rhodes place, then the home of the 
Heveners. In 1847 title was acquired to 280 acres of the Arnold grant on 
the right hand fork of Canoe Run and they became the first permanent 
settlers on this stream. They had several children among whom was Manley 
who enlisted at the age of 19 in Company B, 15th West Virginia Infantry 
and served through the Civil War. 

Soon thereafter George W. Cook located just below Swecker's on the same 
branch on 200 acres acquired August 31, 1851. He was a son of Captain John 
Cook, of Staunton, Virginia, and in whose home was held the first county 
court of Highland County. He was born in Monterey, Virginia, June 26, 
1826, and died August 23, 1900. Two of his children were prominently 
identified with educational matters following the close of the Civil War. 

Owen Mullooly, who was born in Roscommon County, Ireland, in 1823, became 
the forerunner of the Irish settlers, acquiring 275 acres on the head of 
the middle fork in 1851. 

Valentine Bird in 1852 located below George Cook, and on April 10, 1855, 
George Conrad, Sr. acquired 279 acres embracing the mouth of Canoe Run and 
became the first permanent settler at this point. 

Of the first settlers on Canoe Run much exists only in tradition. One 
William Collins, of the noted Collins brothers, is said to have been the 
first, and there is said to be some connection with unmarked graves 
located on the hillside along the roadway between Roanoke and the mouth of 
Canoe Run. Other stories connect them with the family of one Thomas Roby, 
who about 1825, located a short distance above the mouth along the right 
hand side of the road as now located. The well at this place was 
surrounded by the first apple trees on the stream which existed long after 
the cabin had disappeared. 

Above Roby's settled a family by the name of Bush, and also Gum Long. A 
family by the name of McCord located near the forks. On the right hand 
fork lived James McLaughlin, James Watson, William Murphy, and Alfred 
Posey. On the main stream above settled Charles Post, and a family of 
Smiths located at the mouth of Middle Fork. On this branch lived Jessee 
Garrett, Michael Kelly, Hohn Gaphegan, "Paddy" Morgan, John Conner, and 
Zechariah Curtis. The last named is worthy of more than passing notice, as 
he lived nearly all his life in this section, some ninety years. He was 
one of the most unique characters of that early day, the time when "evil 
spirits and witchcraft" were still believed in by the superstitious. He 
belonged to that class of persons of his time, and they were numerous, who 
never acquired title to any land, preferring to "squat" where the hunting 
and fishing was good, raise a little corn, and dig a little "seng.". A 
large family was raised, among whom were "John, Seliathiel, George, Louis, 
and "Aunt Betsey Harris" all of whom were among the last connecting links 
of the present day with the days of the first settler. 

At the head of the main stream the first settlers were James Kieth, Jr., 
and Oliver Forinash. In 1853 Captain J. C. Wilkinson located on the Middle 
Fork. He raised a large family and was prominently identified with Civil 
War matters. Michael McDonnell, John A. Griff, John Feely, Michael and 
Bridget Grady Rush, of Roscommon County, Ireland, followed soon after, the 
latter family giving the name to "Rush Knob." Charles Morrison located 
about 1858 on the right fork and J. P. Conrad just above the mouth at the 
Post place in 1859. William and "Trav" Atkinson located on the Arnold 
lands at the extreme head of the main stream, and south of them Decker 
Morrison built a big log house in what was called "Jack Hollow". 

At the mouth of Middle Fork, John C. Bond, a son of Richard, located in 
1865. He married Elizabeth Schiefer and a son A. J. C. Bond had been very 
prominent in the annals of the Seventh Day Baptist Church. This property 
marked the northern boundary of the J. P. Duvall 1400 acre survey, part of 
which passed to I. C. Waldo, Sr. The stream above this to the site of the 
Allman homestead was a virgin forest, and only a trail that led over the 
hill to the old Bush Mill from this point, served as a road. It was long 
known as the "Waldo Road". Much of the land on the main fork above in 1871 
passed into the hands of S. B. Mullins and Margaret Bird Cook. George W. 
Conrad located below the Right Fork in 1866, and John R. King at the head 
of the Middle Fork in 1868. James F. Conrad established his home at the 
mouth of the stream in the same year. 

John R. King was born near Fairmont, April 8, 1842. He was the son of 
William and Roanna Cooper King, early settlers in Marion and Upshur 
counties, and a grandson of Joshua Hedges King, and early settler in 
Prince Williams County Virginia, and who was a close friend of George 
Washington. In company with a brother Cyrus B. he enlisted in Company B, 
25th Virginia Infantry under Captain E. D. Camden, at Warm Springs, 
Virginia May 17, 1863. In this division, called "The Upshur Greys", he saw 
some of the heaviest fighting in the Shenandoah Valley and at Gettysburg. 
He was made a prisoner at the Bloody Angle at Spottsylvania Court House in 
an engagement during which Captain Camden was left on the field for dead 
but finally turned up as a member of the "Immortal 600". He was discharged 
June 14, 1865. During the last few years he had been a contributor of a 
series of articles depicting early life in the Monongahela Valley and is 
also author of "My Experience in the Confederate Army" published in 
Clarksburg, in 1916. 

The beginning of the Seventh Day Baptist Church dates back to meetings 
held at intermittent periods at the homes of Richard Bond and Ruben 
Hevener. At the close of the Civil War enough local support existed to 
erect the building still standing on the brow of the hill below Canoe Run. 
It was dedicated January 19, 1872. 

The first school in the vicinity conducted under the old Virginia school 
system was taught in a log cabin that stood opposite the mouth of Canoe 
Run. In it a few sessions were held prior to 1858, after which the Union 
Meeting House was used, and in which was held the first school under the 
West Virginia system in 1863 with Americus Groves as teacher. The names of 
Bird Jodon and Ella Hall also appear among the early teachers. In 1867 a 
school was established at the forks of Canoe Run with M. M .Eaton as 
teacher, who was followed by George Cook. On White Oak Lick the first 
school was conducted in 1872 by Hon. W. W. Brannon. He later was connected 
with the Weston schools under Edward S. Bland and Dr. Loyal Young, finally 
leaving this occupation to take up the practice of law. 

The Sandfork Valley
Tradition relates that one Robert Burchett was the first settler on this 
stream, locating near the mouth on the "first bottom lands". Aquila Robey, 
a noted hunter located on a branch since called Aquila Run, about 1815. He 
was a native of Highland County (Augusta) Virginia, and had married (1) 
Margaret Meeker in 1795 and (2) Catherine Cunningham in 1799. 

Samuel Wilson, a neighbor of the Robey's in Virginia, who had married Jane 
Armstrong in 1819, settled on a branch since called Sammy's Run. He died 
some time prior to 1847 during which year a patent was issued to his 
heirs. In 1822 Thomas Armstrong, from the same section of Virginia located 
on the main stream. He was born in 1799 and married Sarah Pullin, member 
of a family, several members of which located in Lewis County around 
Arnold and on the waters of Oil Creek. 

David Smith, in 1818, located adjoining the Duvall lands at the mouth of 
the stream. Michael Waybright, of Highland County, Virginia, located on 
the site of the J. B. Watson home. He married Susanna McCartney in 1808, a 
member of the McCartney family that located in later years near the forks 
of the river. Benona Powers follows soon thereafter and settled on what 
has since been called Wards Run. Here he furnished a site, made by the 
hand the lumber, and erected the structure long known as Powers' Church 
and now Marvin's Chapel of the M. E. Church, South. 

William Gibson, John Wilson, Joseph and Robert McCray, James Brady, and 
Henry McCauley (McCally) followed soon after the Powers' family. John F. 
and James Watson from Fluvanna County, Virginia, located along the main 
stream about 1837. Robert Ervine, or Irvine, a native of Bedford County, 
England, located about 1840. He married a Matheny, member of an early 
family in Highland County, some of whom located near present Walkersville. 

Louis Swisher, John Linger, and H. B. Wetzel, of Shenandoah County, 
Virginia, were the next settlers. Rev. George I. Marsh, an early M. P. 
minister and John J. Marsh located a short distance above the mouth of the 
stream. By 1847 little if any State lands were left unclaimed and the 
entire Sand Fork valley was fairly well settled. Albert Jewell, a school 
teacher from Maine, acquired the Louis Swisher lands about 1856. This 
later was owned by W. L. Smith and in 1919 possession passed to W. R. 
Jewell and I. G. Hornor. Manuel Whitesell and John Hargrove at an early 
date took up their residence about two miles above the junction of the 
stream with the West Fork River. 

The Village of Roanoke
The beginning of the village of Roanoke, now embracing some 132 persons, 
antedates the existence of the name for many years dating back to about 
1825. At that time the Mitchell's below present Roanoke and Duvall's at 
the Indian Carrying Place (Arnold) were practically the only settlers 
between the mouth of Skin Creek and the ford at Henry Camden's now 
Jacksonville, of whom any definite record exists. It is related, and 
perhaps with some degree of truth, that one John Smith located on the 
Duvall lands a mile or so above present Roanoke, about 1820. He started to 
build or did build a dam in the river near by and traces of it stood as 
evidence for many years. About 1824 Henry McCauley erected a log residence 
just below the mouth of Sand Fork, just below the present residence of R. 
W. Duncan. William A. Watson, about 1850, removed this structure to the 
present property of Charles W. Watson. David Smith located a short 
distance above in 1830. 

In 1825 Michael G. Bush, then residing on Skin Creek acquired from J. P. 
of Lewis L. Duvall, the 400 acres patented by the former in 1786, which 
included the site of Roanoke. He as before stated, made subsequent 
acquisitions which made him a large land holder in the community. 

In the records in the Circuit Clerk's Office, and part of the Court of Law 
and Equity, reposes an old and faded document which marks the beginning of 
the most historic mill in the entire settlement. To it is attached the 
signatures of several of the earliest pioneers in this section, the 
Bennetts, Kieths, Duvalls, McCauleys or McCallys, Spriggs, and others. 

This "writ of adquodamnum" was executed on the 30th day of July, 1825, and 
is marked "inquest herewith returned according to law. I. F. Newlon, D. S. 
for Thomas Cunningham S. L. C. 1825." It reads as follows: 

The Commonwealth of Virginia to the Sheriff of Lewis County, Greeting,- 
you are hereby commanded to summon and empanel a jury of 12 discreet and 
intelligent freeholders of the said county to meet on the land of Michael 
G. Bush, at the place where the said Bush proposes to abut a dam on the 
West Fork River to work a water grist mill, on the last Saturday in this 
present month, and then and there to condemn according to law a site for 
the said mill to be built by the said Michael Bush. And the freeholders so 
taken by you shall be by you charged impartial and to the best of their 
skill and judgment to view and examine the lands above and below the said 
mill seat. The property of others which may probably be overflowed and say 
to what damage it will be to the several proprietors, and whether the 
mansion house of any such proprietors or the offices, garden or orchards, 
immediately belonging to any such proprietors will be overflown. To 
inquire whether and in what degree the passage of fish and ordinary 
navigation will be obstructed, and whether and by what means such 
obstruction may be prevented, and whether in their opinion the health of 
the neighbors will be damaged by the stagnation of the waters and that 
they also acquire what damages it will be to build said dam eight feed 
high from low water mark, and also to whom the bed of the river belongs, 
which request so made shall be by you sealed and returned to Court on the 
first Tuesday in August next, according together with this writ. 

WITNESS Daniel Stringer, Clerk of our said Court at Weston, this 22nd day 
of July, 1825, and in the fiftieth year of the Commonwealth. 

D. Stringer." 

"In pursuance of the above writ of ad quo damnum we the subscribers 
freeholders of Lewis County having been duly summoned and have taken the 
oath subscribed by law. Having proceeded to view the land proposed by 
Michael Bush for an abutment by which to work a water grist mill and have 
condemned according to law the said site. Also have examined the land 
above and below and find the improved land to be worth Four Dollars per 
acre (the property of others) which may overflow. We further find that by 
executing a dam eight feet high from the low water mark, the houses, etc. 
referred to in this writ will not be injured therefrom, more than above 
mentioned. We also find that the passage of fish and ordinary navigation 
will be obstructed by erecting said dam but may be prevented by building a 
stope according to law. We further find that in our opinions that the 
health of the neighbors will not be annoyed by the stagnation of the 
water. We further find that the bed of the river belong to said Bush. 

Given under our hands and seals this the 30th day of July, 1825. 

Hannibal Pugh 
David Bennett George S. Duval George Fisher 
Joseph Bennett Manuel Keith John West 
Joseph Flesher William Bennett John Sprigg 
Alexander Hacker Henry McCally Jonathan Hacker 

Within a very short time after the issuance of this writ the construction 
of the dam and mill was begun. When completed it was a large hewn log 
structure, on the turnpike side of the river, with a huge overshot wheel 
that exceeded any in size in the entire county. In addition to being able 
to take care of the needs for food, it had machinery with which to saw 
lumber as well. About 1830, the home of M. G. Bush was erected on the site 
of the home of the late Joseph Hall, just above the village of Roanoke. It 
was a better and more pretentious structure than the average one of that 
time, and in it was held under his care the first school in the nearby 
section, and a few years later he taught a term or two in a log cabin that 
stood almost opposite the mouth of Canoe Run. The building had entirely 
disappeared. 

In addition to the duties of Miller, Bush became the first merchant in 
this location, and had extensive dealings in such live stock as the 
community afforded in that early day, as well as filled the office of 
deputy sheriff under Jacob Lorentz. Nineteen years elapsed after the 
establishment of the post office at Collins Settlement before the number 
of settlers justified one farther down the river. 

On December 21, 1840, the post office of Bush's Mill was created with 
Michael Bush as postmaster, and he continued to execute the duties of this 
office until November 27, 1849, when William Rohrbough was appointed his 
successor, and the office was moved to the home of the latter near the 
mouth of Canoe Run. 

On April 30, 1845, Mary Ann Duvall Maddox, and children conveyed to Isaac 
C. Waldo for the consideration of $475.00 a tract of land containing 280 
acres, it being a part of a tract of land containing 900 acres deeded by 
the late Lewis Duvall to his heirs and that part of the tract in which the 
division fell to the said Mary Ann first above named. Upon this tract 
Isaac C. Waldo, Sr. became a settler establishing his home along the 
turnpike a short distance above the old Bush mill. The land adjoining 
below was transferred to Mary Elizabeth Arnold (Mrs. Joseph Hall) daughter 
of Elijah and Prudence Jackson Arnold. 

On October 2, 1845, for the consideration of $700.00 Michael G. Bush and 
Ameilia, his wife, transferred to Isaac Waldo "a certain piece of land 
lying and being in the county of Lewis on the west fork of the Monongahela 
river including the mill belonging to said Bush containing two acres and 
129 poles." 

This marked the passing of Bush's Mill so far as application of the name 
to the mill was concerned. In the succeeding years it was known as Waldo's 
mill although the post office continued to be called by the former name. 

In the spring of 1861 occurred the worst flood this region has ever known, 
the mill race was cut through by the water making a small channel on the 
road side of the building which in succeeding years became larger. The 
mill building - which stood a short distance above the "Hall Place" - 
stood on the bottom land between the river and the Weston and Gauley Pike. 
In the course of time the inroads of the water had so shifted the river 
bed that the mill stood on a small island and a gang plank had to be used 
to secure success. Below the entrance the race cut a great deep hole that 
was the rendevous of the youth for miles around. A big spring board was 
fastened to the gang plank and it became the community swimming pool. Some 
of the machinery was damaged by Imboden's men during the raid into the 
county during the Civil War, and by the close of the war family 
adversities and local conditions had almost closed active operation of the 
mill. 

The river kept making inroads until the bed moved some hundred feet or 
more, and in the early seventies the structure began to settle in the 
river bed, and was gradually washed away by succeeding floods. It is now 
only recalled by traces of the dam site and an occasionally decaying 
timber unearthed by the "Old West Fork.." 

"By a giant old oak at the foot of the shoals,
Stood a quaint old mill where the water rolls,
'Twas part of the scene with the trees and cliffs,
And the water wheel and the miller's skiff. 

But the mill grew old, and the old wheel shook,
The slanting roof took on a battered look,
And the passing years with their days of flood
Leave only a memory of where it stood. 

How the old oak stands like a sentinel gray, 
To mark the spot where the old mill lay,
The cliff is there, and the house along the hill,
And fond recollection lingers round it still." 

- Sam Badger. - 

In later years the location has long been known as "Mussel Shoals" the 
name being derived from the numerous shell fish of this variety to be 
found there. The writer has in his possession a pin set with some 25 
baroque pearls derived from this source. 

Isaac Waldo, Sr., the owner of the Bush-Waldo mill, was born April 21, 
1818. About 1836 he married Elizabeth Goff, a niece of Colonel Waldo and 
Nathan Goff of Harrison County, who was born in 1817 and died at Roanoke, 
February 22, 1900. Prior to her marriage and for a short time thereafter 
she had achieved considerable prominence as a teacher in such school 
systems as that early day afforded. A number of contracts yet in existence 
set forth that for so many months she is to teach "reading, writing and 
arithmetic so far as the single rule of three", her pay to be in "rye, 
wheat, and corn" and the pupils to "due obedience pay." 

To this union were born four sons and no family suffered more adversities. 
Jedidiah G. born September 5, 1837, served as a lieutenant-captain and for 
a time was acting quartermaster in the Federal Army and died in the 
service at Washington, D. C. April 28, 1864. Thaddeus P. born in 1840 
served as a captain in the Confederate Army. He resigned at the end of 
three and a half years to return home to assist at the mill, only to meet 
a tragic death in 1867 by being hit in the head with a bar while repairing 
the mill wheel. Isaac Jr. born in 1844 was a quartermaster in the 
Confederate Army and for a time attached to Company C. 17th Virginia 
Calvary. At the close of the war he married Betty Camp, and for some years 
afterwards operated the Arnold Hotels on the Weston and Gauley pike. Goff 
William, the youngest son, born in 1847, was drowned in the well at the 
old home place in 1850. The founder of the family was himself killed by a 
fall of slate December 11, 1846, in a coal mine owned by the family, 
located in the river bed in the site of the village of Roanoke. In 1852 
Joseph Hall established a store near his home, and on June 16, 1854, was 
appointed postmaster, continuing for some eight years. On June 17, 1862, 
he was succeeded by George Conrad, who had located just above the mouth of 
Canoe Run in 1855. Here in a building much the worse now for the wear and 
tear of three quarters of a century, it was conducted for some twelve 
years.   

It is interesting to pause for a moment and mention this old homestead and 
the events to follow. It was erected about 1845 by William Rohrbough, of 
hewn logs with an annex, as was the custom in that day, and it has seen 
many years service. Just below is still to be seen the "old well and 
sweep" at the side of which has stood such illustrious men as William 
McKinley, Rutherford B. Hayes, both of whom became Presidents, Brigadier 
Generals Goff, Rosecrans, E. B. Scammon, J. A. J. Lightburn, and many 
lesser lights. Whitelaw Reid likewise paused long enough to pick up a few 
reflections for the writings of "Agate" in the Cincinnati Commercial 
Tribune. He was later Ambassador to England. 

In September, 1861, the local station of the Federal military express, 
then being conducted under the supervision of Captain Charles Lieb, A. F. 
Newman and Michael Egan, was moved from Crowls, just below, to this home 
place. Feed for the express messenger's horse cost 15›, and the messenger 
paid 25› for his meals. Two or more horses, and messengers were located 
here for some months, and Uncle Sam agreed to pay the munificent sum of 
$8.00 per month for regular service. One bill amounting to $32.60 has 
never been paid, and George Conrad's revenue therefrom consisted of a 
notation by Chas. Lieb that he had given him 11 bushels of oats as a 
credit for $2.75. Such was the universal history of the famous "courier 
express system." 

Turning to the operation of the post office, the mail during the Civil War 
period was carried under contract by Esaias Fetty, who was one of the 
commissioners to divide the county into districts, in 1863, and died near 
Camden December 27, 1881. The receipts from July 29, 1862 to December 31, 
1864, amounted to $9.42. According to a statement covering the period from 
1862 until 1872, the receipts for the first quarter amounted to 13 cents. 
The first quarter in 1864 was $1.26. Indeed one smiles at the smallness of 
it all, but as soon as the was closed the first quarter jumped to $6.33. 
Passing down the 1872 the second quarter showed $8.02 so it will be seen 
that the office was gaining. 

An oddity is observed in the fact that, though West Virginia was admitted 
to the Union June 20, 1863, the government kept on calling the office 
Bush's Mills, Virginia, until late in the fall of that year. 

But the post office department in contrast to the army was very thorough 
in that day, for on October 3, 1863, the third assistant postmaster 
general wrote "a credit of $3.00 for a deficiency of 100-3 cent stamps 
will be reported to the auditor for entry in your general account." And 
some years later wrote the pleasing message that "the postmaster general 
has ordered that your salary be fixed at $47.00 from July 1, 1873, to June 
30, 1874, instead of $17.00 as heretofore." Verily the job must have 
sought the man and not the man the job. 

During the war on many an occasion it was necessary to hastily secure such 
few effects as in the office and take to the hills from danger from 
guerillas, as well as southern troops. 

The duty of postmaster at this time also included the task of collecting 
the tolls from the traveling public, a custom now only recalled in 
sections of old Virginia, but then the means of support of the public 
highway. In addition he also acted as general agent for newspapers and 
magazines. Instead of coming postage paid the method was reversed, and if 
they weighed less than 4 ounces 5› a quarter was collected from the 
subscriber. In 1871 during the first quarter 28 letters, seven registered 
letters and 13 free papers were received in addition to others. 

The people kept well informed for that day. Thirteen "West Democrats" were 
in evidence, as well as copies of the "Wheeling Register," "Toledo Blade", 
"Phrenological Journal", "The Ladies Cabinet" and "Waverly Magazine". 
Journals on bees seemed to be popular as well as Methodist publications. 
New York papers came to a few, and one from Hinton to some homesick 
citizen who had removed from Summers County. 

Of the fifty some subscribers some only received one a month, and others, 
as in the case of George Cook, received six. The Wheeling Register, in 
later years, commenting upon this office says: "Here was a small and 
inaccessible community in the mountains of West Virginia that received 
more current literature every month than was circulated in some of the 
most densely populated provinces of Europe in a year. No wonder the Yankee 
pioneers forged ahead. They never allowed themselves to get behind in the 
world's affairs no matter how far removed they might find themselves from 
the world's activities."  

George Conrad was born in Woodstock, Shenandoah County, Virginia, October 
3, 1800, and died at Roanoke, West Virginia, December 18, 1876. On 
September 20, 1825, at Culpepper Court House, he intermarried with 
Marriane Priest, a native of Frederick County, Virginia. To this union 
were born several children and they were the founders of this family in 
Lewis County. A grandson John H. Conrad served several terms as clerk of 
the Circuit Court of Lewis, and was later appointed U. S. Commissioner and 
deputy clerk U. S. Court for the northern district of West Virginia. 

With the location of the Conrad family came the first church organization 
of a permanent character in the community. On July 17, 1858, under the 
direction of Elders Carr and J. B. Bailey, the "West Fork Church" was 
established under the jurisdiction of the Broad Run Baptist Church 
Association. J. P. Conrad was elected deacon and W. R. Dennison clerk, who 
was succeeded by I. N. Conrad. The signers of the "covenent" were Mary, 
Joseph P., George W., Isaac N., Nancy A., and Mary A. Conrad, Jennie 
Ambrose, W. R. Dennison, Joseph Clark, Mary Garrett, and Mary A. Clark. 

A small church building was constructed, located on the river "bench" 
below the site of the Seventh Day Church. This served not only the church 
body but for local meetings and as a school house, and was long known as 
the "Union School House." Services were held - with intermission during 
the Civil War - until the latter part of 1880, at which time support had 
become so small, due to the rise of the Methodist Protestant faith, that 
the organization was dissolved. The records show, among the names of 
ministers, that of Brigadier General J. A. J. Lightburn, who had achieved 
considerable prominence in the Federal Army. Some time later the building 
was removed to the village of Roanoke where it was used for a mill. In 
1870, Godfrey and Mitchell established, at the mouth of Sand Fork, a 
combination saw and grist mill. This was operated by steam power and the 
first of that character in Collins Settlement district. About 1873 it was 
sold to Oliver Alkire and was later destroyed by fire in 1878. A new one 
constructed in 1879 was sold to J. McCray in 1883, who later sold to John 
Wilson. The location of this mill attracted the attention of others to 
this site, and in the latter part of 1870 William Peterson surveyed a 
tract of three acres in the river bend, and it was laid out in lots. This 
on the property of Mrs. Joseph Hall (Mary Arnold), and was a part of a 400 
acre grant to James P. Duvall, and transferred through the Bush-Waldo 
lands to the Arnold family. Draper Mitchell soon erected a home, as did 
also Oliver Alkire. At the intersection of the Weston and Gauley Pike and 
the Sand Ford road Charles Hornor established the first mercantile 
establishment. 

Charles A. Hornor was born in Clarksburg, June 7, 1850, and died at 
Clarksburg November 12, 1921. On March 11, 1873, he married Mary V. 
Rhodes, daughter of Erasmus and Elizabeth Hevener Rhodes, and served as 
sheriff of Lewis County 1885-1889. On June 18, 1874, he was named 
postmaster to succeed George Conrad. As a result of the change, and the 
beginning of what was hoped to be of a new town, William E. Arnold came 
forward with the suggestion that the new post office be called Roanoke. It 
was so ordered by the department and the time-honored name of Bush's Mills 
ceased to exist. The present name has no connection whatever with any 
local family or history, and later caused so much confusion with the rise 
of the city of like name in old Virginia, that the railroad company made 
it still worse by changing to Roanville as a freight station. 

Doctors T. G. Edmiston and M. E. Whelan located in 1878. The last named is 
still practicing. Dr. M. R. Casey followed later who was succeeded by Dr. 
C. N. Reger. Dr. John O'Brien located in 1823. 

In 1883 William K. White opened the first hotel. He was a son of Thomas 
White, the first Irish settler on the Sand Fork of the Little Kanawha. 
This institution later passed to Silas Butcher and from him to John 
Gillooly. H. L. Powers opened a store in 1883. I. C. Waldo and Owen 
Mullooly established a store in 1884. Lot No. 1 was sold at court October 
23, 1886. By 1885 there was enough local support to justify a church 
building, and the M. P. Church was dedicated July 14, 1886, occupying a 
lot adjoining the school building erected in 1882. The Sand Fork was 
bridged in 1884 by John Oden at a cost of $294.50. 

During 1888 men appeared in the community securing rights of way for a 
railroad, which presaged the coming of the West Virginia and Pittsburgh 
railway. On August 21, 1889, the Weston and Elk River Railroad Company 
awarded a contract for the construction of the first 25 miles of track. By 
the summer of 1890 the small boy found entertainment and many of his 
elders employment in connection with the construction work. During this 
time an epidemic of typhoid fever broke out among the laborers and at one 
time 123 cases existed between Roanoke and Confluence with only two 
physicians available. 

Old "Number Ten" with small semblance to the present day locomotive, 
loaded down with a big funnel smokestack, and train of work cars "strained 
and screeched" around the multitude of curves along the river and was the 
first to enter the village. Work was pushed rapidly on this line under the 
guidance of J. N. Camden and C. N. Lord and by May, 1891, the "Old Gauley" 
passed through Roanoke bearing officials on an inspection trip to Sutton, 
then the end of the line. 

Roanoke and Arnold then took on new life. Travel over the roads declined 
and the Arnold line of hotels fell into disuse. In the spring of 1891 
Thomas Feeney, who had been connected with the Hornor establishment, 
opened a new store in a more pretentious building. The famous "Roanoke 
Marine Band" was organized comprising in its membership several who have 
since made their mark in the world. In 1894 D. B. Cook, who had gained 
considerable prominence in local newspaper circles under the name of "Sam 
Badger" established the "Willing Worker". Publication was suspended the 
following year when the owner became affiliated with the "Weston World" 
and is at present one of the owners of the Weston Independent, its 
successor. In the same year Enoch A. Gaston succeeded Charles A. Horner, 
and Silas Butcher became postmaster serving until 1896. The Gaston store 
was later burned, and was owned at the time of the fire by W. E. Mullooly. 
O. J. Whitsell and R. W. Duncan opened a store about 1899 in the new I. O. 
O. F. building. 

A survey of the town in 1896 shows four general stores, blacksmith shop, 
harness shop, millinery store, hotel, photograph studio, mill, church, 
school and two physicians. The station was then rated as one of the 
largest shippers of poultry in West Virginia. Flora B. Conrad was 
postmistress serving until her untimely death on April 7, 1900 when she 
was succeeded by Rose D. Conrad. 

John H. Conrad, mentioned elsewhere, became postmaster December 18, 1901, 
and was succeeded by Mary A. Conrad, on December 16, 1908. From January 
24, 1915 until March 24, 1921 George R. Snyder occupied this office when 
Miss Conrad the present incumbent again assumed the office. Several rural 
routes are served and a large volume of business is handled. 

The Arnold Neighborhood
Tradition relates that the first permanent settler on the site of Arnold 
Station was Lewis L. Duvall, who after a short period of residence at this 
point removed to Freeman's Creek where the family had a large holdings 
acquired by John P. Duvall, the founder of the family in the Monongahela 
Valley. 

George T. Duvall and a sister Mary Ann Duvall, took up their residence at 
this point very early in the nineteenth century. The last named was born 
in Hardy County in 1793 and died at the "Indian Farm" July 25, 1866. Much 
of the Duvall patents passed into their hands including the 1400 acres 
grant in 1786 that embraced the "Indian House" and the "Indian Carrying 
Place". 

George T. Duvall was born in Hardy County, in 1784, and died at the Indian 
Farm January 29, 1876. On March 11, 1817, he was appointed a constable for 
this community, appeared before the County Court and gave bond with Henry 
Camden and James Kieth as sureties. Later he served as a justice or 
"squire" for a number of years. He was a man of some education for that 
early day, and possessed a great deal of enterprise and had much influence 
in this region. About 1812 he married Polly Godfrey who was born in Hardy 
County in 1792 and died June 7, 1866. To this union several children were 
born among whom was a son, George Washington, who served through the Civil 
War and later became U. S. District Attorney for Kentucky. 

Following Duvall came John Taft or Teft, who located nearby, and acquired 
a tract of land of some size. The location or accurate information as to 
this family and its occupancy is somewhat obscure, but they appear to have 
ben early settlers in Wood. County. In later years the heirs transferred 
some 518 acres to George J. Arnold. Jonathan M. Bennett interposed some 
objections to the title of some 160 acres of this tract which had been 
transferred to George T. Duvall, by J. Talbott, Clark of County Court, 
August 29, 1837. An agreement of adjustment was filed October 11, 1851 
covering lands on Oil Creek and Indian Carrying Run, adjoining the 1400 
acre patent to J. P. Duvall. 

Manuel Kieth settled near by on a tract of 55 acres purchased from Lewis 
and Sarah Duvall, December 30, 1823, and his widow Margaret Kieth on June 
11, 1872, transferred this tract to George J. Arnold. 

On August 7, 1857, George W. Duvall transferred to George Jackson Arnold 
the land lying on the head of Oil Creek and Indian Carrying Run, adjoining 
lands of George T. and Lewis L. Duvall, and others. Here Mr. Arnold in 
later years erected a splendid county home, which was destroyed by fire 
about 1899. He was born in Fauquier County, Virginia, in 1816 and died in 
1899. He served in the Virginia Assembly and wrote the bill creating the 
State of West Virginia, and later served in the Legislature. A son, 
Jackson Arnold commanded Company F, Second West Virginia Infantry in the 
Spanish American War. He also served as Lieutenant-Colonel in the war with 
Germany and is at present head of the Department of Public Safety of West 
Virginia. 

With the completion of the Weston and Gauley Pike and the close of the 
Civil War, George J. Arnold established several hotels along this noted 
roadway. The first was the Rushville house on Rush Run, long operated by 
I. C. Waldo, Jr., The second was the noted Valley House, located about a 
mile below Arnold Station. The building it occupied was constructed prior 
to the Civil War, of large hewn logs, and in later years was covered with 
"weather boards". The old structure with its quaint outside stairway is 
still standing by the roadside, much the worse for the wear and tear of 
three quarters of a century. It was and is still often referred to as the 
"Waldo Place." In 1890 the Indian Farm Hotel was erected near the Arnold 
home. It was burned in September 1923. 

The first oil and gas explorations were conducted in the immediate 
vicinity in 1912 resulting in light gas wells. On the Canoe Run side of 
the divide a test brought similar results. Work was then abandoned until 
1923 since which time several good gas wells located on Sand Fork and 
around the mouth of White Oak Lick have been brought in. 




                    HISTORY OF WALKERSVILLE COMMUNITY

[image of Covered bridge at Walkersville]

Walkersville is situated in the central part of the Collins Settlement 
district in Lewis county, and was founded in 1840 by Wm. Bennett, Jr. It 
has a population of about two hundred at the present time. In the village 
there are two general stores, one hardware and furniture store, two feed 
stores (one of which is a co-operative store incorporated at $10,000), one 
blacksmith and machine shop, two garages, one harness and saddle shop, two 
barber shops, one grist and planing mill, one high school building costing 
$60,000, one two-room public school building, and about fifty dwellings. 
The village of Walkersville is on the Weston and Webster Springs road and 
is a central point for the whole upper end of Collins Settlement district. 

The first permanent settlement made in what is now within this district 
was made by John Collins from whom the district gets its name. This 
settlement was made about 1787 on a tract of land granted to Mr. Collins 
by Col. George Jackson, which was located near and includes the present 
site of the village of Jacksonville. Collins was followed three years 
later by Wm. Shoulders who settled near by Collins on what is now known as 
the Big Bend Bottom, one-half mile south of Jacksonville. Mr. Shoulders 
died in 1808 and was the first person to be buried at the Long Point 
Cemetery, near Walkersville. Little, if anything is known of any of the 
descendants of either Collins or Shoulders.
 
The next settler was Wm. Bennett, who came from Pendleton County, 
Virginia, now West Virginia, in the year 1800, and settled near the mouth 
of the run which now bears his name. This run is just a half mile north of 
Walkersville. Mr. Bennett secured a patent for 2,800 acres of land 
adjacent to and including the present site of the village of Walkersville. 
The original patent for this grant of land is still kept. It is written on 
parchment and is in a fair state of preservation. It is in the possession 
of the family of the late Wm. Sprigg. 

Mr. Bennett reared a large family of children, twelve in number, all of 
whom married and reared families. Rachel, the eldest, was born in 1796. 
She married David Alkire. They settled on what is now known as the Bodkin 
Place on Little Kanawha River. Their descendants in West Virginia, among 
whom are many of the Berrys of Braxton County. David, the second child, 
was born in 1798. He married Jane Stuart. They settled near the present 
site of Frenchton. Their descendants are chiefly residents of West 
Virginia, among whom are the Carters and Crickards of Randolph county. The 
third child, Phoebe, was born in 1800. Phoebe married James Keith and they 
settled near Jacksonville. Their descendants are chiefly in Illinois and 
Iowa. James, the fourth child, was born in 1802. He married Matilda Clark 
whose grandfather, Abram Clark, was one of the signers of the Declaration 
of Independence. Their descendants are in Iowa, California, and West 
Virginia; the late Edward Bennett of Weston was one of the children. 
Margaret, born in 1804, married Robert McCray. They settled en the present 
site of Cleveland, West Virginia. Their descendants are principally in 
Missouri and West Virginia. Joseph who was born in 1805 married Mary 
Coleman and settled on the waters of Glady Fork, a branch of the Little 
Kanawha River, where his youngest son of a later marriage, Robert A. 
Bennett, now lives. David, a son of the first wife lives adjoining Robert. 
Joseph's twin sister, Hannah, married John Anderson. They settled near the 
present site of Hedding Chapel, two miles above Walkersville. Their only 
living child, Mrs. Margaret Feltner, now lives in Walkersville. Elizabeth 
was born in 1807. She married James D. Sprigg. They also settled on 
Bennett's Run near the site of the original settlement made by Elizabeth's 
father, Wm. Bennett. Their descendants are mostly in Lewis county, West 
Virginia and Page county, Iowa. William, Jr., born in 1808, married Jane 
Pricketts. They built and lived in the first house on the present site of 
Walkersville. J. Lorentz Bennett is the only living descendant of their 
family. In 1810 Rebecca was born. She married Fletcher Holt and they 
settled in Gilmer County. West Virginia. Very little is known of their 
descendants. Abigail was born in 1812, and married Matthew Holt. Their 
children are still living in West Virginia. Dr. M. S. Holt of Weston, 
Margaret Holt, Laura A. Doyle, and Mrs. Whiting of Glenville, and Mrs. J. 
S. Withers of Buckhannon are children of this union. Jonathan, the 
youngest, was born in 1814. He married Margaret Jackson and settled in 
Weston. Their descendants are well known in Lewis county, among whom were 
the late W. G. and Louis Bennett of Weston. Still living in Weston are 
Hunter M. Bennett and Mrs. George I. Keener, grandchildren of Jonathan and 
Margaret Bennett. Mrs. Fleming Howell and Mrs. Mary Bowie were also 
children of this union that were well known in the community. Other 
grandchildren of note are Mrs. Johnson McKinley of Wheeling, Mrs. Robert 
Crane of Baltimore, Maryland, and Miss Margaret Howell of Oakland, 
Maryland, and Brannon Bennett of Walkersville who lives in the house built 
by Wm. Bennett, Sr. in 1810. 

Mrs. Howell will be gratefully remembered by the people of the district as 
the donor of the site and the piano for the district high school. 

Since Walkersville has always been considered the geographical center of 
the district a short sketch of its origin, name, former inhabitants, and 
growth seems appropriate. As we have seen earlier in this sketch, Wm. 
Bennett, Jr., was the first settler on the present site of Walkersville. 
He erected his house near the site of the present Southern Methodist 
Church in 1840. A few years prior to this, probably about 1835, Wm. 
Bennett, Sr., erected a grist mill at a point now known as the Red Bridge, 
one mile south of Walkersville. Soon after this a post office was 
established and called Bennett's Mills. William Bennett, Jr. was appointed 
Post Master. This office supplied a section of country with in a radius of 
15 miles. Each neighborhood on mail days which were every other Saturday 
delegated someone to go in and bring out the mail for that section. The 
one selected usually made the trip on foot. Living in the vicinity of 
Walkersville was a very unique character named Joe Barnett, who was of a 
lazy shiftless ne'er-do-well disposition and whose chief vocation was 
hunting, fishing, and drinking whiskey. Often at the office he would take 
a parcel of mail in a buckskin knapsack and delivered it in spite of his 
shiftlessness. He was perfectly honest and trust worthy. One morning Joe 
was met near the head of Bennett's run with a parcel of mall. Joe was 
walking fast and someone in the party made the remark, "Joe you are some 
walker" Joe answered, "Yes, By The Eternal I'm a Walker. From 
Walkersville". The name stuck and in the course of a few months the name 
of the Post Office was changed to Walkersville. From this incident and 
nothing else did Walkersville take its name. 

One anecdote concerning "Shiftless" Joe Barnett, as he was called, may not 
be out of place. Aunt Betsy, his wife, who was an industrious, thrifty old 
soul, had by dint of much "Senging" (Ginseng) and other work saved enough 
money to buy "Mep", a son of some ten years of age, a pair of shoes. She 
was very busy one Saturday and against her better judgment placed her 
small sum of money in Joe's hands and started him to Jack Mills store for 
the long coveted pair of shoes. Now Jack sold whiskey as well as shoes and 
as the whiskey was more to Joe's taste he proceeded to get "gloriously" 
drunk in which condition he arrived home some time that night without 
money or shoes either. Aunt Betsy immediately proceeded to vigorously 
"haul him over the coals". When suddenly jerking off his buckskin hunting 
shirt he threw it on the floor and shouting "By the eternal, Betsy will 
this stop you?" grabbed his moccasin pattern off the wall and cut "Mep" a 
pair of moccasins from the back of the hunting shirt, taking practically 
all the back of the shirt. Aunt Betsy soon afterward patched the holes in 
Joe's shirt with red Linsey and as the shirt was of buckskin color (light 
yellow) the red patches were a glaring contrast. My father has told me 
many times that Joe with that patched hunting shirt on was the darndest 
looking thing he ever saw. 

Radiating from the central point to the east we find that Richard Johnson 
and John Bennett were among the earliest settlers on Sand Fork a branch of 
West Fork, possibly about the year 1800 many of their descendants live in 
that section at the present time, to the west we find Abram Bennett 
settling on what is now known as Abram's Run and from whom the run was 
named. Abram was a native of Pendleton county, Virginia, now West 
Virginia, and a brother to Wm. Bennett, Sr. of Walkersville and John 
Bennett of Sand Fork. Abram was soon followed by the Hefners from 
Pocahontas County who settled on what is now called the Sapp farm. The 
Meek's were also early settlers on the same run. To the north of 
Walkersville. John and Robert Crawford were early settlers, John settled 
on the river at what is now known as the McGee farm about 1840. Robert 
Crawford settled a short distance below John near the mouth of Cap Run. 
The correct name of which is Indian Cap Run from the fact of an Indian Cap 
or war bonnet was found at or near the mouth of the run. Nothing is known 
of the descendants of John Crawford. Among Robert's descendants are his 
son, R. W. Crawford who resided for years at the old home but now lives on 
Abram's run, and Mrs. H. B. McDowell, and the late C. C. Reger, both of 
Cap run, and Dr. C. N. Roger of Baltimore all of whom are grandchildren. 
Other early settlers in that section were the Keiths, Camdens, Duvals, and 
Arnolds. Of the Keiths I have already spoken. The Camdens and Arnolds, are 
too well known to need any special mention. The Duvals while no less 
worthy did not stand out so prominently in public affairs. Joe G. Sims of 
Roanoke, West Virginia, and W. A. Sims and family of Walkersville are 
descendants of the Duvals. While south of Walkersville we find the 
Carpenters, Clothiers, Grimms, and Wilsons on Big run, Aaron Bennett and 
Bright Watson on Middle run, John Anderson at the mouth of Leather Bark 
run, his brother James farther up the run, and still farther up the creek 
Hesekiah Bennett, but little is known of the descendants of the Carpenters 
and Clothiers. Henry G. Harold of Pickens, West Virginia is a great 
grandson of the Carpenters. Samuel Wilson has many descendants in Collins 
Settlement District and throughout Lewis and Upshur counties, among whom 
are A. K., W. T., H. O., and J. A. Wilson. Gordon Talbott, the late 
Charles W. Talbott and their families an many others prominently 
Identified with the affairs of their communities. Of Bright Watson 
descendants we will mention Loudin Watson and family of Crawford, West 
Virginia, the family of the late Wid Watson, Aaron Bennett's descendants, 
Jeff and William Bennett and their families, the family of the late Thad 
Pritt of Knawl, West Virginia, and the Sponaugle family on Fall run in 
Braxton county. John Andersen's descendants include Mrs. Margaret Feltner 
of Walkersville, who is the sole surviving member of the immediate family 
of John and Hannah Bennett Anderson. There are numerous grand and great 
grandchildren among whom are Mrs. A. Bruce Smith and family; Mrs. Ote 
Wilson and family; Mrs. Clark Sprigg and family; all of Walkersville. J. 
E. Anderson and family of Delaware, Ohio, and numerous others including 
the Ricketts family of Ohio and Illinois, New York and Wyoming. L. D. 
Anderson of Walkersville and Mrs. Jimima Ward are the only living members 
of the family of James and Sarah Siron Anderson, but as in the case of 
John Anderson many grand and great grandchildren survive him. Many of whom 
have attained prominence in the affairs of the church and state. Deserving 
special mention are Rev. C. Fred Anderson, superintendent of the Wheeling 
District, West Virginia, M. E. Conference, the late L. C. Anderson, 
prominent lawyer and legislator, Rev. Howard Anderson of Oswego, N. Y., 
Rev. W. E. Anderson of Fitchburg, Mass., and many others including the 
Wards, Wingraves, Galfords, and Straders, Hezekiah Bennett. Levi Bennett 
is the only living member of the immediate family of Hezekiah. Among the 
grand children may be mentioned John L. of Ireland, West Virginia, Chas. 
L. of Huntington, West Virginia, Geo.H. of Walkersville, and Prof. L. E. 
Bennett of Fort Pierce, Florida. L. E. Bennett is a graduate of West 
Virginia University and a noted educator. 

Going on south we next come to the Chidesters, Bouses and Kileys. Phineas 
Chidester descendants reside principally in Lewis and Upshur counties, one 
son Preston lives in Quincy, Illinois. The Chidester family includes the 
Harpers, Crawfords, and others. The family of Jessie Bouse is extinct. 
Micheal Kiley had a daughter Mary who married Enoch J. Cunningham and his 
descendants are principally living in Collins Settlement District. They 
include Wm. J., Edward M., and C. F. Cunningham and Mrs. Etta Halbert and 
their families. Ireland is next in order and we find that Andrew Wilson 
was the first settler there, and because he was of Irish lineage the 
community was called Ireland in his honor. Andrew Wilson had one daughter 
Matilda, who married Michael Kiley, whose daughter Mary married Enoch 
Cunningham, previously noted. Andrew Wilson sold his farm to some of the 
Clarks who in turn sold to Wm. K. Wilson son of Samuel Wilson whom with 
his descendants has already been mentioned. Next comes Nathan Reger, two 
sons of whom N. D. and N. F. Reger are residents of the District. This 
brings us over the divide onto the waters of Little Kanawha where we find 
James McCray a pioneer resident of that section. Many of his descendants 
still live thereabouts one of whom is Minor H. McCray of Ireland. Next we 
find James Pickens a pioneer settler in what is now known as the Duffy 
neighborhood and his numerous descendants are scattered all through that 
section. A few of the pioneer residents of Walkersville were Mack Mills, 
Wm. Madison, James Vicany, Murray Bruffy, Cain Roby, Ailso Byrd, Wm. 
Brown, Christopher Simons, Phil A. Lorentz, Samuel Sprigg, A. D. Law, Wm. 
Pierson, Nathan Bennett, John Calrider, and John S. Anderson all whom with 
the exception of Wm. Brown and Christopher Simons have passed into the 
great beyond. Christopher Simons lives at Crawford, West Virginia and Wm. 
Brown at Whiting, Kansas. 

George L. Post, L. D. Anderson, Wm. D. and James Anderson, Thos. Dennison, 
Anderson Dennison, Captain Geo. Davisson, S. E. Sprigg, Samuel Hogsett, 
Selby Sapp, John S. Hall, H. H. Rittenhouse, Wm. Craig, Sr., Wm. Craig, 
Jr., Wm. Sprigg, Jas. J. Anderson, and Jas. H. Galford were all generally 
speaking, pioneers of Collins Settlement District. 

John S. Hall was one of our leading educators of his day and Captain 
Davisson was a Captain in the Confederate Army and pioneer merchant in 
Collins Settlement District. All the rest mentioned were farmers and 
stockmen and with the exception of G. L. Post and L. D. Anderson have 
passed to their reward. 

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