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Pioneers of Jackson County - Part 1
LOWER MILL CREEK ITS EARLY SETTLERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
The colonization of the Mill Creek Valley did not begin until after
Waynes victory at Fallen Timbers had forever broken the power of the
red man in the upper Ohio Country, and the treaty of Greenville,
August 3rd, 1795, made it safe for the pioneers to settle away from
the protected radius of the forts.
There had been a fort at Point Pleasant since 1774, and one at
Belleville above the mouth of Pond Creek, established on the 16th day
of December, 1785, but the settlers had not ventured beyond the reach
of their walls.
Now the whole fertile valley of the Ohio and all its tributaries was
opened for settlement, and the hardy pioneer could push as far inland
as he chose, without fear of molestation from his wily foe.
His own desire or ability was the only limit to the expansion of his
crude, yet rugged, civilization.
Land titles were insecure, to be sure, but that made but little
difference with the scouts and hunters who composed the first wave of
colonization that swept over the newly opened territory.
A place to build his pole cabin and a patch of ground to raise a
little corn for roasting ears and johnny cake, and perhaps some flax
to provide the necessary clothing, a garden spot and wide range for
himself, his dogs and rifle, was all the first settler asked or
desired, nor did he much care in whom the title of the land reposed.
With peace and safety assured, the pioneers were not slow in
scattering out from the stations, and the spring succeeding the treaty
of Greenville witnessed the planting of a settlement at the mouth of
Mill Creek, though just where the first cabin was built, it would
perhaps now be impossible to determine.
There were three principal sources of settlement in Jackson County,
from the Kanawha, Greenbrier, Rockbridge and Botetourt Settlements by
way of Point Pleasant; from Green County, Pa., Morgantown and the
Lower Monongahela, down the Ohio River, and from Cheat Valley River,
Buckhannon, Hackers Creek and Harrison County, first by the upper or
lower route, but later, say after 1804, overland on packhorses.
Such furniture of household utensils as it was thought desirable to
move were balanced on each side of a wooden frame, tied on the horses
back. Sometimes small children were deposited in huge pockets
improvised from bed quilts or blankets, or perhaps from the mothers
stout linsey petticoats, and carried with safety, if not with comfort,
through a judicious disposition of bedding and pillows, if available,
rendered even this element more than might be expected.
Frequently, a child would be carried on the lap of mother or sister,
on a feather tick, for if the family were well-to-do, feathers being
an article of home production, were, like the coarse woolen and linen
clothing of the pioneer, plentiful.
FIRST SETTLERS
In the month of May, 1796, William Hannaman, Benjamin Cox and Samuel1
McDade planted their cabins somewhere on the wide bottom reaching from
Letart to Willow Grove, and indefinitely referred to as "Mouth of Mill
Creek" and "Warths Bottom".
These were the first settlers of the Mill Creek Valley, and of Jackson
County.
It is said that a son born to Hannaman the following year, 1797, was
the first white child born in the bounds of Jackson County.
I have been able to ascertain nothing more concerning Hannaman, and
nothing of Cox appears to be now in existence but the name.
Edward McDade, who died at Letart, Ohio.
Susie McDade, who married John Casto, a pioneer of Tug Fork, and
Gracey McDade, who married John J Casto, also of Tug Fork, are said to
be children of this pioneer.
There is a William Hannaman in early Wood County settlements, both
before and after 1796, so I presume the Mill Creek settlement was
temporary. The name does not appear in later history of Mill Creek.
The next recorded settler is Captain William L. Parsons, whose name
stands out most prominent of any of the Mill Creek pioneers.
He came to "Warths Bottom" in 1796 or 1797, and built a half face pole
shanty by the side of a very large hollow sycamore tree, near the spot
where the house of the late Hiram Douglas now stands, just above the
mouth of Mill Creek.
This made him a two roomed house, for, while the shed served as living
room and kitchen, the sycamore tree was utilized as a bed room, and in
the tree was born in 1797, John Fink Parsons, for whom the claim of
first white child is also put forth.
Captain Parsons father, Charles Parsons, came to Mill Creek with him,
or soon after.
In 1800, or near that date, Joseph Parsons, Cornelius King, and John
Douglass were added to the little settlement.
The latter was probably the founder of the Douglas family, still
living near the same spot.
Joseph Parsons was a brother of Charles, and an uncle of William L.
Parsons. He was a member of the first Methodist Class, organized in
Jackson County. This church was established at his house in 1803, by
Reverend Noah.
It is on record in Deed Book No. 1, of Jackson County, in the Clerks
Office, in Ripley, that Joseph Parsons, on November 28th, 1831, sold
to Alexander Warth, a tract of five and one half acres of land lying
between the mouth of Big and Little Mill Creek, described as beginning
on the River, just below the mouth of Big Mill Creek, on two elms on
the line of the Washington Survey, and running with said line to the
corner of a tract patented to John Harvey. The price paid was Twenty
Dollars per acre.
One account says that three brothers by the name of Warth came to the
Colony in 1800 or 1801. The names Alexander, John and George are
given. However, since Robert, a brother of John Warth, was killed by
the Indians on Harmer Hill, Marietta, while the Warths were acting as
scouts and guards for the colony, there at Fort Harmer, I conclude
that four brothers in all must have come to this section.
John Warth hunted over the forests of what is now Jackson County, with
Daniel Boone. He was later connected with the salt works at Jackson,
Ohio, and the Kanawha Salines (Malden) on the Kanawha River. He later
purchased a large tract of land of Andrew Park, who was the husband of
Harriet Washington, a niece of General George Washington. This land
came into the possession of the Parks through inheritance from his
estate. After the purchase of the land by John Warth, the place became
known as Warths Bottom.
Other early settlers to Mill Creek and surrounding points along the
river were, Isaac Hyde, Joseph Hall, David Sayre, Thomas Hughes, Asa
Long, Gideon Long, Robert and Benjamin Wright, William King and Abram
Staats. Some of the persons named came about the time Warths came, and
others around 1810. Many other names could be added to this list,
names which still appear in the citizens of the section.
The new county of Jackson was formed from parts of Kanawha, Mason and
Wood. The act creating the county was passed on March 1st, 1831.
When Jackson County was first formed, John Warth was one of the ten
Justices of the Peace, and being the oldest Magistrate, he was made
the first sheriff of the new county. His Commission was signed by John
Floyd, Governor of Virginia, and he gave a bond of Ten Thousand
Dollars, with Nehemiah Smith, James Smith, Ira Lindsey, John McKown,
and Gideon Long as sureties.
Ira Lindsey and John B Greer were his Deputies, and Benjamin Wright
was the first County Clerk. Thomas A Hereford was appointed
Prosecuting Attorney, George H Warth, Assessor, and George McGarvey
was made Constable, with Nehemiah Smith and Joseph Rader as his
sureties.
The first session of the county court was held at the residence of
John Warth, on the 31st day of May, 1831.
Isaac Morris, Thomas A Hereford, Charles Henderson, James M Stephenson
and Henry J Fisher formed the first Jackson County Bar.
Jackson Smith is said to have cut the first road from the river to the
mouth of Sycamore. An old man named Davis, who had lived all his life
on Lower Mill Creek, told me that he had heard when a boy, old folks
tell of the first wagon that passed up Mill Creek, and how the people
came for miles to look at the wagon tracks.
The first school house was built in 1806, and the first school taught
by Andrew Hushan, in 1807.
The school house was of the typical backwoods pattern, about fourteen
by sixteen feet in size, and of round logs, with huge fire place at
one end, a log cut out of one side and greased paper pasted over the
opening for a window, weight pole roof, etc.
There was said to be in existence in 1887, a record showing that
fifteen pupils attended the first session of this primitive academy.
Above the mouth of Mill Creek, and extending up the creek perhaps
three miles, was a large tract of land, said to contain 4,395 acres,
patented by George Washington, February 19th, 1754, as a partial
payment for his services in the defense of the Colony of Virginia.
A boundary on the hills above Mill Creek, and known locally as "Big
Woods", remained in its primitive condition for some time. Then it was
purchased by a company of Jackson County businessmen, the timber taken
off of all but a reservation of a few acres left for a park on which
the primeval forest is still standing in all its majestic grandeur.
The remainder of the tract was cleared out, and was well sodded in
blue grass in 1904.
The village of Millwood lies between Big and Little Mill Creeks. The
name is derived from Mill Creek and the "Big Woods". It now extends
from the railroad station, which is out at the foot of the hills, to
the river, and down to the mouth of Little Mill Creek. It has three
churches, four or five stores, a roller flouring mill, lumber yard,
and planing mill, several houses, and about one hundred fifty to two
hundred inhabitants.
The river bottom above Mill Creek belongs tot he Douglas farm, the
bottom fields and gently sloping green hillsides below to Monroe
Miller, an old man of seventy years, and half brother of Judge Warren
Miller, of Ripley.
COTTAGEVILLE
It was not long after the first clearing was made in the wilderness
until the restless backwoodsmen began to reach out and push farther
and farther back from the river. As early as 1801, Benjamin Wright, an
enterprising colonist from Pennsylvania, noting the excellent
opportunity offered by the water power, where Mill Creek descends from
the flatlands, decided to at once take advantage of the same, and
erect a mill at that point. Securing a piece of land for a site, he
returned to Greene County, Pennsylvania, for the necessary machinery,
which was brought down the Ohio River on keelboats.
The first mill built was a horse mill. The next year, 1803, he built a
sawmill. It was one of the primitive kind, with upright saw with pit
man attached to the wrist of the wheel, a pattern that prevailed for
fifty years. On this, the planks were sawed nearly through, and
afterward split apart. Much of the little lumber, which was made to
suffice the needs of the pioneer, was manufactured by ship saws. The
logs were rolled on a scaffold about six feet high, and the planks cut
by two men, one standing on top of the log, the other beneath. A grist
mill was attached to the water power soon after. Benjamin Wright and
his son-in-law, John Brown, were interested in this milling
enterprise, which proved not only profitable to the proprietors, but a
great blessing to the colonists, who had before to depend for their
supply of meal on the rude mortar and hand mill, or take their grain
by boat to Point Pleasant, Neils Station, or other inconvenient
points.
It is related that while Wright was bringing the material for his mill
down from Pittsburg, accompanied by his sons-in-law, Brown, Black and
White, their boat running in hailing distance of some up river town,
some men standing on the bank called to know who was in the boat. The
reply was "Black, White and Brown." The men on the bank then wanted to
know with what the keelboat was loaded. The answer was "Millstones,
grindstones, and whetstones". Both answers were strictly true, but the
parties on shore, thinking they were being guyed, took offense and
hurled rocks and ugly words after the boat, until it drifted out of
hearing, and out of sight around a bend in the river.
The Wright mill, after having started as a horse mill, in 1801, and
enlarged in 1803 to a sawmill for producing the building materials so
needed, was rebuilt and added to from time to time, as necessity
demanded and opportunity permitted. It was at one time, after the year
1812, either rebuilt or added to by Joshua Woodruff, a pioneer artisan
of the county.
So successful was the place as a milling location that there has ever
since been a mill there.
It was long known as Wrights Mill, and then Moores Mills. The mill
later came into possession of Daniel D. Rhodes, and in 1858, he laid
out the town and gave it the delightful name of Cottageville.
With the introduction of the more modern method of processing flour,
the mill attracted more and more of the farmers within reach, to grow
the grain for commercial purposes, where before it was grown only for
the variation of their table diet of corn pone and corn dodgers.
The products of the mill began to be sold "outside". The flouring
mills of Rhodes and Son has now long been the most extensive in the
county, and their products are shipped by boat and rail to points the
entire length of the river valley from Pittsburg to New Orleans, and
through to the eastern markets of Philadelphia, Baltimore and New
York.
"The Village of Cottageville is situated on the upper level at the
falls of Mill Creek, where the stream breaks from the plateau known as
the Mill Creek flats, into the lower level of the backwater lands.
The first post office in Jackson County, was established at Wrights
Mills."
The place is thus quaintly described by a writer in "The Gazetteer of
Virginia", a book published in 1834.
COTTAGEVILLE IN 1833
"Wrights Mills, post office, three hundred fifteen miles northwest by
west of Richmond, and three hundred fifteen miles southwest by west of
Washington, situated at the falls of Great Mill Creek.
This place deserves notice from the singular freak nature has here
played. The creek, which is generally eighty yards wide, is here
contracted to the space of forty-five feet, flowing between two ledges
of rock which constitute the banks, to the height of sixteen feet,
over a bottom of solid rock. Immediately below this narrow passage,
the creek widens to its usual size, and the falls commence. The
descent is seven feet in one hundred twenty yards.
At the lower end of the falls the creek widens to one hundred yards,
and affords one of the best harbors ever known in a stream of this
size, being about one hundred yards in diameter, of a circular form,
and on the north side protected from ice, etc., by a high point of
rocks projecting a considerable distance in the creek. From this to
the Ohio River, the navigation is good, during spring freshets, a
distance of four miles. (The railroad time table puts the distance at
three miles, other authorities at three and one half.)
At this place are situated, on extensive manufacturing flour mill, two
saw mills, one grist mill, eleven dwelling houses, three school
houses, one mercantile store, and one smith shop. Population
fifty-five."
The first Sunday School at Cottageville was organized in 1848 with
Phillip Baker as Superintendent, and twenty-eight scholars were
enrolled. In 1826, the Virginia Assembly passed an act "creating a
separate poll at the house of Benjamin Wright, at Wrights Mills, Mason
County."
At Cottageville occurred during the Indian Wars a terrible tragedy.
Different accounts of this incident are related, but I shall endeavor
to give it as accurately as can at his date be ascertained, following
largely the recital of the late Thomas Benton Coleman, of Muses
Bottom, son of Thomas Coleman and grandson of the murdered man,
himself one of the pioneers of Jackson County, who died at his home
later.
As related a the Centennial Celebration, at Ravenswood, July 4th,
1876. Michael (some writers say Malcom) Coleman was a pioneer, scout,
and Indian fighter. He had forted at Pittsburgh, Wheeling, and
Marietta, before coming to Belleville with Woods colony, January,
1786.
Coleman was of Scottish descent and came to the Ohio Valley from
Carlisle, Pennsylvania, with his family.
In those days, the settlers kept no hogs, but depended on their trusty
rifles to keep up a supply of bear meat and venison.
They would paddle up and down the river, from the Belleville fort in
canoes hollowed from hewed poplar logs. When they thought they had
come to a suitable hunting ground, they would push up some small
stream falling into the river, hide the canoes, and hunt until they
had procured a sufficient quantity of meat, with which they then
returned to the fort. They usually went in parties of three to six,
and would camp in the forest sometimes being several days on the
expedition.
In February, 1793, Michael (or Malcom) Coleman, John Coleman, his son,
Elijah Pixley, and James Ryan (otherwise "a man named Savney") went on
a hunting expedition. Descending the Ohio in a piroque, they ascended
Mill Creek about four miles, and established their camp. Several days
were passed very pleasantly, and successfully, hunting over the Mill
Creek hills and valleys through the day, and returning to the camp at
night.
Soon the canoe was nearly loaded with meat, but meanwhile the water in
the creek had fallen so low as to prevent the passage of the boat over
the falls, and the weather which had been fine, set in cold, with a
light fall of snow. John Coleman and Pixley had returned to the fort
for a supply of salt and other necessaries, and their companions
having little thought of their wily savage enemies being in the
neighborhood, failed to keep due watch or take the necessary
precautions to prevent a surprise of the little camp.
On the third morning after the departure of their comrades, Michael
Coleman, and Ryan had risen very early and prepared the morning meal,
as they were anxiously expecting the return of their companions that
day. Just as the old man was invoking the blessing of Heaven on the
homely meal, a rifle shot rang out from a nearby thicket, the bullet
passing through his shoulder. It was quickly followed by another
report, the ball this time going through his head, and he fell dead by
the side of his companion, who was also wounded, but succeeded in
making his escape to the fort.
The same day, Joel Dewey arrived at the scene of the tragedy and found
the body, stripped and scalped, the camp plundered, and the equipage,
with the canoe and venison, carried off.
Concealing the body of his friend, he hastened back to the fort, being
the first to carry the terrible news.
John Coleman, with his party consisting of seven men coming up, found
the body and buried it near the spot, but the Indians had made good
their escape to Canada, where they sold the scalp to a British
Commandant, who paid a premium for Yankee scalps, afterward boasting
that for Colemans, who had two "crowns" to his head, they got double
pay. Such at least is the family tradition. It is said that when
Colemans body was found, his dog "Trusty", although nearly dead from
starvation, was standing guard over it, having through all the long,
dreary hours, faithfully watched by the remains of his dead master.
An incident of the earlier life of his grandfather is given by Mr. T.
B. Coleman, as follows.
One day in the summer, the family were out in the field hoeing corn.
In those days, the women and children all helped with the field work,
with them was a little maiden of five or six years, too little to hoe
corn, yet too young to leave by herself at the house.
The child, trained in habits of watchfulness from her cradle by the
many perils surrounding the cabin home, seeing some Indians in the
forest beyond, gravely asked, "What would you do if you were hoeing
corn and seen the Indians coming?" "Why, wed drop our hoes and run,"
was her answer. "Then drop your hoes", she said, and they dropped
their hoes and by strenuous exertions, succeeded in reaching the
shelter before the Indians caught them.
WARTH FAMILY
John Warth came with his brothers to the Mill Creek section about 1800
or 1801. His father is said to have been John Warth, and to have been
of German descent, and to have migrated from the Valley of Virginia to
the Kanawha River about 1796.
John Warth lived at Warths Bottom, which had been named for him, after
he bought land and settled there. He was a wealthy man in his day, and
held many positions of trust and honor. He enjoyed the confidence of
all who knew him.
John Warth was born in 1771. He married Priscilla Cox, and died in
1837. Of their children, I have the following:
Judge John A. Warth. He was one of the leading legal men in the
Kanawha Valley, and was author of Warths Code. He died at Malden,
Kanawha County.
Hannah Warth, married Bartholomew Fleming, one of the earliest
pioneers of Ravenswood.
George H. Warth.
Priscilla Harriet, married Isaac Tavenner, who lived at Elizabeth.
Judge L.N. Tavener was their son.
George Warth, brother of John, married Ruth Fleehart, who was probably
of the Belleville Colony. They lived across the river from Ravenswood,
in Ohio.
Of their children, I find the name of one Robert A. Warth, who was
born in 1800. He is said to have been born at Newton, in Roane County,
and he lived in Jackson County, where he died at the age of 92. He had
two daughters, one of whom married a Douglass, and the other a Thorn,
who was living in Ravenswood, in 1905.
HYDE FAMILY
Isaac Hyde, with his brothers, James and George, migrated to Virginia
when he was about grown. They probably came with their father. They
came from England, and were six months in passage. They first came to
this section and settled at the mouth of Mill Creek. Isaac later lived
about where Murrayville now is. Mrs. Carder, a granddaughter, tells me
she has heard her grandfather often speak of "Devil's Hole", and
thinks it may have been a place in Hardy County.
Isaac Hyde married Nancy Sims, a cousin of Martin Sims. Their children
were:
John Hyde, married Nancy Flesher, daughter of Andrew Flesher, who
lived on the Ohio River.
Delila Hyde, married Ike Hall, and lived at the mouth of Mill Creek.
Sally Hyde, married Spencer Carney, having met him at the home of Tom
Carney.
Elizabeth Hyde, married a Dixon and went to Indiana.
Catherine Hyde, married a Sneed.
Ben Hyde, died while a "chunk of a boy" as Mrs. Carder expressed it.
HALL FAMILY
Joseph Hall came to Warths Bottom about 1800. He was an Englishman by
birth, and moved from near Baltimore, Maryland, to Mill Creek. He had
a large family, some of his children being:
Mary Hall, married Thomas Flowers, and lived on Cow Run.
Diana Hall, married Cornelius King.
Sarah Hall, married Daniel Sayre.
Robert Hall, lived in Ohio.
Philip Hall, was a Methodist preacher, in Ohio.
Joseph Hall, married Mary King. They lived on Little Mill Creek. He is
supposed to have built the Wright mill, which is likely, as he was an
artisan, though some accounts claim a David Woodruff built the mill.
Anna, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Hall, married Robert Wetzel.
MILLER FAMILY
Monroe Millers grandfather, Kitts Miller, came to America from Germany
after he was grown. He served in the Colonial Army, in the War for
Independence. He married and located in Meigs County, Ohio. He
remained there a few years, then crossed the river and bought land
below the mouth of Mill Creek. He raised a large family of children,
of whose names I find:
"Becky" Miller, married Charlie Shinn, who was an uncle of George
Shinn, who lived on Grass Lick. Charles Shinn lived on Cow Run.
Nancy Miller, married Washington Rader, who was a son of Michael
Rader, Jr. Wash Rader sold goods for Nehemiah Smith in the first store
in Reedy, in 1841.
Lewis Miller, married Lydia Sayre, whose parents lived in Meigs
County, Ohio. He later married Elizabeth (Betsy) Shinn, whose parents
were native of Meigs County, Ohio, but who had settled on Mill Creek.
Lewis Miller was for several years a member of the County court of
Jackson County. His children, by his first wife:
Rosalie, Perry, Hampton, and Monroe.
By his second wife:
Warren, Leander, Columbus, and Sarah E.
Monroe Miller, the oldest son of Lewis Miller, was in 1905, a widower
of seventy, and talked of "going west to grow up with the country." He
laughingly told me there was no chance for him to get married here, as
he was related to nearly all the women and girls on both sides of the
river for many miles, they being of Sayre descent.
Warren Miller was for a time in Athens University. He studied law, and
was admitted to the Bar in 1871. He was Mayor of Ripley in 1884, was
Prosecuting Attorney from 1880 until 1884. He also served in the House
of Delegates, State Senate and Congress.
The first settler at Buffalo was Joe Miller, who married Caroline
Parsons. Afterward, he lived on the Davis farm, on the Right Fork of
Reedy, above Greenbrier, being the first settler there.
WRIGHT FAMILY
Benjamin Wright, who built the mill at what is now Cottageville, came
from Greene County, Pennsylvania, about 1800. He married Sarah Casto,
as his first wife, and later married a Flowers. Of his children, if
the river story is to be credited, he had three daughters who married
respectively, a White, Black and Brown. Of others, I find:
A daughter who married Squire Evans, for whom the town was named.
Benjamin Wright, Jr, who was the first Clerk of the County Court of
Jackson County. Benjamin Jr had children: Ruenna who married Hart
Rader, Dr. "Bib" Wright, of Ripley and a daughter who married Ed
Butcher.
Another daughter of Benjamin Wright, Sr, married Joe Bibbee. To this,
another historian adds a daughter who married Robert Shively.
SAYRE FAMILY
The founder of the Sayre family in Jackson County was David Sayre. He
was a noted hunter and Indian fighter who came to Mill Creek in 1801,
from Greene County, Pennsylvania. He and his wife became members of
the Methodist Class, which was organized at the home of Joseph Parsons
in 1803, by the Reverend Noah.
Of their children, I have:
Daniel Sayre, born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, on May 22, 1783. He
came to Mill creek with his father in 1801. He married Sarah Hall,
daughter of Joseph Hall, and located on the Mill Creek Flats. He died
in 1880, at the advanced age of 97 years. Of their children:
David Sayre was born on Mill Creek, October 20th, 1810. He was married
four times, his first wife being Minerva Stone, and the second was
Marthena Hill. He died at Pleasant View, in 1904, aged 93 years.
Daniel B. Sayre, born in 1823, died in 1874.
Thomas Sayre, married Agnes Harper, and lived on West Creek, a few
miles below Letart.
Joel Sayre, another son of David Sayre, lived one mile below Ripley,
on what is known as the old "Sears" farm. He married Amelia Rice, a
daughter of Shadrach Rice, who was in Waynes campaign against the
Indians. They raised a large family, among whom were:
Jacob Sayre.
Charles Sayre.
Ann Sayre, married a Little.
Rachel Sayre, married John Harpold.
Catherine Sayre, married John Flythe.
Jacob Sayre, mentioned above, was the oldest child. He was born on the
farm in sight of where Ripley was later built, in 1816, and moved to
Sissonville, in 1858. He lived one year in Charleston and later went
to Indiana. He returned to Ripley about 1890, when his sister, Mrs.
Little, kept house for him.
Before his death in 1904, he moved to East Liverpool, Ohio. After his
death there, his remains were brought back to the old Ripley Cemetery.
His wife died in Indiana, and hi children grew up and remained there.
Jacob Sayre was noted, in his younger days, for his strength and
activity. It is related of him that once on the occasion of the visit
of a circus and menagerie to Ripely, a resident having become the
worse from "one drink too many", had gotten himself engaged in an
altercation with some of the employees. Six or eight of them had
pitched onto him, and were belaboring him sorely, until Sayre, who had
vainly tried to keep his friend out of difficulty, interfered, and not
only whipped the men who assaulted him, but cleaned out the whole
fighting force of the circus. He could and would hit hard if
necessary, but is described as a peaceable, inoffensive and sensible
citizen.
Charles Sayre lived on the home place for a while. It was in the hewed
log residence of Joel Sayre, near him, in which court was ordered held
at the second session in June, 1831.
William Bonnet was jailer, and William Bonnet, Jr. and Silas Carney
were guards. It was their business to keep the prisoners on their own
side of the "dead line" which marked the limits of the jail,
separating it from the court room.
Rachel Sayre, daughter of David, married John Harpold, and lived on
Mill creek, above Ripley.
Catherine Sayre, a daughter of Joel, was a deaf mute, and married a
man named John Flythe, a like unfortunate, with whom she had become
acquainted while attending the State School, at Staunton, Virginia.
She died on Clay Lick, a few years ago. It was said, by those who
witnessed it, to have been a most affecting sight to see her husband
"all fenced around by an eternal silence", take his last farewell from
his companion.
Ann Sayre Carter was a daughter of Thomas, and a grand daughter of
Daniel and Sarah Hall Sayre. Hugh Sayre, of Reedy, Roane County, was
her brother. She married first a Flesher and second, Dr. Carter, of
Reedy.
Another record mentions Elijah Sayre, who was born in 1817, married
Mary Hunt, who was born in Jackson County. Their children were:
Sarah Ann Sayre, married Allan Shinn and lived at Angerona.
John O. Sayre, lived at Evans.
Jasper Sayre, lived on Cow Run.
Daniel Sayre.
Elijah Sayre, lived at Evans.
Belle Sayre, married James Barnett.
Wesley Sayre, married Ann Wink. Their son Theodore was a lawyer.
There is another family of Sayres living in the Great Bend, on the
Ohio side of the River, about Apple Grove and Letart, quite extensive
in numbers, and connected with the Sayres on the east side of the
river, though no one with whom I have talked could say in just what
way they were connected.
It is quite possible they may be descended from the same David Sayre,
or reaching further back to a former generation. The Sayre fammily
tradition is that originally four Sayre brothers came to this county
as soldiers with Braddocks Army.
A Daniel and Benjamin Sayre were the first settlers at Sandyville, a
more detailed account of them and their families will be found in the
Sandy Valley section of this history.
Copy of Tax Receipt for land lying on Mill Creek.
1826. Joel Sayre to the Sheriff of Mason Co, VA. Dr.
To revenue on 37 3/4 acres of land $0.04
Same two horses .25
To one County levy 1.25
Received payment. R. Mitchell
Dpty for M. Kouns, S.M.C.
This was probably the land just below Ripley. Tax on this land in 1857
was $4.49 and in 1866 it was $68.89.
COW RUN
Cow Run is the first considerable stream falling info Mill Creek on
the south side.
It is a country basin shaped with low hills gradually ascending from
the bottom lands, running back perhaps a half mile or more, to the
tops of the ridges. The hill sides are not steep or bluffy, and are
all cleared out and green with succulent pasturage, timothy, blue
grass and red top, and along the roadway at the base of the hill
nestles cozy white farmhouses surrounded by orchard and garden, truly
a beautiful picture as seen from a train window on a hot day in early
August, 1904.
Cow Run Valley early attracted the attention of the hardy pioneers who
at first clustered like bees on the rich bottomlands of the Ohio
River, at the mouth of the creek, but soon becoming cramped and
crowded for elbow room, pushed out up Mill Creek.
Thomas Flowers, who came to Warths Bottom in 1806, married Mary Hall,
a daughter of Joseph Hall, and shortly after located on Cow Run, is
the first recorded settler.
Thomas Flowers daughter, or sister, was the second wife of Benjamin
Wright, Sr.
Other names identified with the early history of Cow Run are King,
Boswell, frequently spelled "Bozzle", and Hartley. Descendants of all
of these still live in the vicinity.
Francis and John King, who live on Cow Run, are sons of Elijah, who
was a son of the Francis King who came to Mill Creek with James Wolfe,
in 1821.
Francis married Ruth Baremore in Wood County, in 1852, and has nine
children.
John married Julia Carter in 1862. He had two children, Susan E. and
Charles T.
Gilbert, sometimes called "Bird" (Bert) Boswell, was a magistrate at
the organization of Jackson County, and was appointed a school
commissioner at the second session of the County Court, June, 1831.
Another family of Boswells, connected with the Squires people, came
from Rockbridge County, Virginia, to Mason, at an early day. A
daughter, Jane, married John Carter, who purchased land and settled
about seventy-five years ago. It is related that he used to walk
barefoot to the Court House to settle his taxes, so economical did he
have to be while saving money to pay for his land.
Huntsville Post Office is up near the head of Cow Run. It is one of
the six post offices in Union District prior to 1887, the others being
Ripley Landing (Millwood), Cottageville, Angerona, Willow Grove and
Pleasant View. In the past twenty years have been added others.
HARTLEY
"Uncle" Thomas T Hartley described as "one of the honest, sturdy and
prosperous yeomanry of Cow Run, " who lived near Huntsville, died in
1905, aged 89, the eleventh of the preceding October.
He was born in England, October 11th, 1815, came to Harrison County,
Ohio, with his parents in 1819, when about four years old. He married
Lydia Tomlinson, and lived in Ohio until 1854, (April), when he moved
to Jackson County, Virginia, settling on Cow Run, when he died
December 12th, 1904. He was postmaster at Huntsville from 1872 until
1893, a period of twenty one years.
His wife died September 13th, 1889, at age of 72. They had eight
children.
ANGERONA
Three miles by railroad above Cottageville, is the village of
Angerona, situated on the south bank of Big Mill Creek, the most
prominent of the early settlers at this point was Daniel Sayre, who
first located here, and an account of whom is given before under the
head "Sayre Family".
Angerona was laid out by Nathan Ong, in 1847, and doubtless there is
some kind of a history attached to the peculiar name given the
village.
It had in 1887, two stores, one saw and grist mill, a blacksmith shop,
and tannery.
There was a "silver mine" discovered about a mile above Angerona in
1872, which created quite an excitement at the time. A company of
Pittsburg Capitalists undertook its development, and sunk a shaft some
four hundred feet, with several side tunnels, but like so many of its
kind, it proved a hole to put money into instead of taking it out, and
the enterprise was abandoned.
CROW FAMILY
The Hon. George Crow located near Angerona in 1847. He was born in
Greene County, Pennsylvania, March 27th, 1804, but removed with his
fathers family to the "Dark Hills of Monroe" County, Ohio, while a
boy, and continued a resident of that county until his removal to Mill
Creek.
He was a Democrat in politics, and represented Jackson County in the
General Assembly at Richmond one term, and was again elected in 1872
to the House of Delegates, being debarred by service in the
Confederate Army, from voting or holding office, until the passage of
the Flick Amendment.
He died December 11th, 1899, nearly 96 years old. His children were:
Hon. George B. Crow, who has served as a member of the Constitutional
Convention, County Superintendent of Schools, and State Senator, and
three terms as Clerk of the County Court of Jackson County.
William Crow.
Charles Crow.
Michael Crow.
Martha Crow, married a Hardman.
A daughter, married William McCoy.
A daughter, married Owen Roseberry.
Peter Crow, a brother to Georg B. Crow, had a mill on Dent Creek,
Noble Cunty, Ohio.
DOUGLAS FAMILY
John Douglas married Elizabeth Richards.
They settled at the mouth of Mill Creek, at a very early date. They
came there from Harrison County. He at first followed keelboating,
making trips to Charleston, also to Pittsburgh.
Later he bought a farm of five hundred acres, lying on the river,
where he lived until his death.
They raised ten children, some of whom are:
Reuben Douglas
Alfred Douglas
Miranda Douglas
Hiram Douglas
Nancy Douglas, married John Rand, of Wyoming.
Elizabeth Douglas, married Bartlett Pickens, of Crooked Fork.
Reuben Douglas was born in September, 1818, spent most of his life as
a farmer and a stockraiser, though in his days of vigor and strength,
he followed boating to some extent.
He was married to Sarah Stone in 1842. His wife was a daughter of
George Stone, of Jackson County. They lived on a farm on Mill Creek.
The wife died in 1864. Later he married a Widow Blake Mary Morehead -
of Wood County.
In 1887, he moved on to a farm near Ravenswood.
His children were:
George T. Douglas
Oscar Douglas
Hiram R. Douglas
Elizabeth Douglas, married William Seamon.
Minerva J. Douglas, married A. O. Aultz
Ellen Douglas, married Spencer McKay.
Elizabeth Douglas, married Stephen Hayman.
Lucinda Douglas, married C. B. Brown (Cyrus)
Sallie Douglas, married C. T. Kneeream (firm of Kneeream and Douglas)
Reuben Douglas has been a Justice of the Peace, and a prominent figure
in the Ravenswood Bank.
Hiram Douglas was born in 1836. He was in the mercantile business at
Ripley Landing prior to 1863, and again from 1865 to 1870. After
sixteen years of farm life, he again resumed the store, also bought
timber, etc. He married Marietta, daughter of Hamilton Parr, of Meigs
County, Ohio, in 1864, and raised six children. He was long the
postmaster at Ripley Landing.
EVANS FAMILY
Two miles up the creek is the village of Evans, named for a family of
that name, who were among the first settlers here.
Ephraim Evans, who was probably the founder of the family, or a son of
his, was appointed one of the first nine magistrates, when Jackson
County was organized in 1831.
Ephraim S. Evans (perhaps the same man) was one of the first school
commissioners of the new county, and also a "commissioner to examine
the polls", George Casto and George Stone being the other
commissioners.
It is said Squire Evans married a sister of Benjamin Wright, Jr,
daughter of Benjamin Wright, Sr.
Margaret Evans was born in 1788, married Abraham Staats.
Sarah Evans was born in 1803, married William Starcher.
There seems to be little known about the Evans family. Some say the
old mans name was William, but the information is hazy, and
unsatisfactory.
EVANS VILLAGE
The village of Evans is a pleasant hamlet lying in one of the most
beautiful sections of Jackson county. There appears to be two runs
coming into Mill Creek, one a small stream with bottom or flats a half
mile wide, up which the railroad follows, skirting the foot of the
hill on the left, which is not more than a few feet high, and of such
gentle ascent as to resemble the swells in the rolling prairies of
Kansas.
The other is a couple of miles long from where it reaches the
flatlands, a half mile across from Evans. It reaches up into a hilly
broken country to the right, heading against the right fork of
Parchment near the Mountain Flower Schoolhouse.
About a half mile below Evans is the Staats graveyard (Evans Church),
enclosed on two sides by the high board fence of the fair ground, and
on top of the hill, a gentle swell, may be seen the roofs of the
buildings pertaining to the race course, which , were the ground
steeper, would overlook the resting place of the dead.
STAATS FAMILY
Abraham Staats was born in New Jersey, of Dutch ancestry, and came to
the mouth of Mill Creek, where he and his wife joined the First
Methodist Class, organized in 1803, at the house of Joseph Parsons.
Some time afterward, he moved up Mill Creek to what is known as the
old Staats farm, at Evans.
Here it is said he died about 1816, though it many have been some
years later.
It is very difficult to get correct dates concerning the older
pioneers, except from their tombstones, a thing with which few of
their graves are provided.
Abram Staats, as he is usually called, was twice married, the name of
his first wife is variously given, but a thorough investigation has
convinced me her name was Anna King. His last wife was Sarah Tilghman,
a girl of French extraction.
It is probable that Staats came from Harrison County to Mill Creek ,
his sister Betsy being the wife of Adam Flesher, a member of a family
prominent in the early history of Harrison and Lewis Counties.
Isaac Staats, who came to Warths Bottom about 1805, may have been a
brother, and Daniel and Elijah Staats of Grant District are said to
have been brothers of Abraham.
"Abram" Staats had five children in his first family:
Elijah, who lived on the home farm, was four times married, and raised
twenty one children.
Sarah, married Henry Runyan.
Jacob Staats married Nellie Evans.
He brought the first circular sawmill to Middle Mill Creek Valley, but
never got it in running order, having the misfortune to cut off his
fingers, which threw him into the lockjaw, and killed him. He lived on
the farm immediately west of Ripley, on Mill Creek.
Mrs Colonel Ben Williams (Margaret) and Ann Smith, wife of George W
Smith, were his children.
Cornelius Staats, the oldest, born in 1790, married Anna Carney,
daughter of Thomas Carney. He was a soldier and was killed in the War
of 1812. His wife later married Enoch Thomas. Cornelius Staats had two
children:
Isaac, married Elizabeth Tolley.
Polly, married James Chancey, and lived on Grass Lick.
Abram Staats children of his last marriage were:
Anna Staats, married Jacob Starcher.
Hannah Staats, married Alexander Ables, and lived up on Sycamore, at
the Greer farm.
William Staats, married Margaret Ables, sister of Alec Ables, and
daughter of Martin Ables, who lived on Sycamore, at the Straley farm.
He moved to Indiana.
John Staats, the youngest child, was born in 1819, and died in 1859.
He married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Carney.
Elijah and Sarah Warth Staats children were:
Calvin, married Caroline Riley, sister of R. Riley, and lived on Cow
Run.
Mary, died young.
Malinda, married Joseph Sayre, son of Daniel Sayre.
Matilda, married first Jake Hughes, and second Ben Flowers. She died
November 19th, 1892, aged 77 years.
Minerva, died unmarried.
Catherine, married Nic Bonnet.
Wilson, married Mary Kay.
Mark, married Hannah Harpold.
Elijahs children by his second wife, who was an Evans, were:
Lewis, married Catherine Roush of Mason County.
Riley, married Mary Roush, of Mason County.
Young, married a Mason.
Sarah, married Nic Bonnet as his second wife.
Caroline, married G.S. Matson King.
Harriet, married Newton Poling.
Adaline, married a preacher named Stutler.
Elias, married Ross Evans, on Elk Fork.
Hon. George W., marred first a Drennan, and second a Waugh.
Benjamin, married a daughter of Amos Riley.
Johnson.
Elijah Staats children by his third wife, Sally Burdett, widow of
Graham Burdett, were:
Laverna, married Ben Poling of Kentucky.
Rebecca, married Bill Hughes.
The children of Jacob Staats, son of Abram Staats, were:
Joshua, married an Alkire, and was sheriff of Jackson County. He had
children, Coley Staats and Mary Staats, who married Ephraim Brown.
Anna, married George W. Smith. Their children were: Addison, Clay and
others.
Margaret, married Col. Ben Williams.
Whitten, married a Coleman.
Bet, married a Frey.
The children of Isaac Staats, son of Cornelius Staats, were:
Enoch.
Anderson.
J. Frank, married a daughter of David Casto.
Anna, married Francis Asbury Casto.
PARCHMENT
Two miles above Evans, still on the south side, a large creek flows
into Mill Creek, which bears the name of Parchment, said to have been
derived from an old man of that name, who lived at the mouth of the
creek in pioneer days, leaving his name to the stream, which is the
only trace of his existence I have been able to discover.
There was a Mr. Parchment, his wife and two sons, John and Jacob, in
the colony at the mouth of Lee Creek, in 1785. This man may have been
one of the sons. There are on Parchment waters, five post offices, and
ten or twelve schoolhouses.
The fall of 1896, I crossed from Ripley to Parchment, a few miles from
the mouth, the country is rough and hilly, with narrow bottoms, but
appears fertile.
Among the names identified with the early history of Parchment, are:
John McKown
Solomon Harpold
John Harpold
William Parsons
Henry Parsons
DEWEESE FAMILY
John and Robert Deweese came to America as French soldiers under
Marquis LaFayette, with whom they served. Both married and settled in
Pennsylvania. John married a French lady, Mary Updegrave (Updegraff or
Updegrove), and lived near Uniontown, PA. They raised six children:
Isaac Updegraff Deweese, married Catherine, daughter of Balas
(Bayliss) Carr. Their children were:
Joshua
John
Samuel
William
Sarah
Isaac
Daniel S. Deweese, author of history of Steer Creek and West Fork
settlements, married Elizabeth, daughter of William Boggs. Was born at
the mouth of Steer Run, on Steer Creek, March 11th, 1821.
Mary Deweese
Elizabeth Deweese, lived at George Clicks, above Ripley, in 1839.
Sarah Deweese, lived on Mill Creek with Samuel Kings famly, in 1839.
Balas Carr Deweese, born August 25th, 1828, on the divide between
Grassey Run and Horse Fork, on Parchment, southwest of Ripley.
Balas Carr, father of Catharine Carr Deweese, was drowned in the
Monongahela, at Dunkards Bottom, was at that time a resident of
Monongahela County.
LOWER MILL CREEK PART 2
RIPLEY
Ripley lies mostly on the north bank of Mill Creek, thirteen miles
from its mouth, by rail, or eighteen and one half by water.
The town was laid out in 1831, for the purpose of making it the County
Seat of the newly organized county of Jackson, by Jacob Starcher, then
owner of the land, which was the site chosen by the commission
appointed by the General Assembly to make such location.
The act creating the County of Jackson from parts of the counties of
Kanawha, Mason and Wood, was passed on the first of March, 1831, the
site was selected on the bank of Mill Creek, above the mouth of
Sycamore, the following September. On the 28th of March, 1832, Jacob
Starcher conveyed two acres to the county, to be used as a public
square and site for the county buildings, the title to be vested in
the county so long as it was used for that purpose.
On the 27th of September, 1832, bids were called for the construction
of a Court house.
The contract was let to James Smith, for $3,700, and the building,
which was of brick, one story high, and thirty six feet square, with a
separate building, also of brick, seventeen by thirty four feet, to be
used as a county jail, was finished and received by the county court
on the 28th of October, 1833, and at once occupied.
Prior to that time, the court had met in May and June, 1831, at the
house of John Warth, on the Ohio River, and afterward at the house of
Joel Sayre, one mile or more below the mouth of Sycamore.
This building stood until 1858, which it was replaced by the present
court house, which was completed September, 1858, and received by the
county court on the 11th of that month.
The contractor was Joshua Staats, and the builder was N.H. Bonnett.
The court house is two stories in height. The lower story is of stone
and contains the jail room and residence of the Jailor, above is the
Court Room, Jury rooms, Sheriffs office, etc.
The County and Circuit Clerks Offices are in a separate building,
built in 1879, by J.T. Blades, at a cost of $3,800, and supposed to be
fireproof.
The Court House is getting rather dilapidated, and will soon have to
be replaced by a new building. The solid sandstone steps and door
sills are worn away by the many feet which have passed back and forth
over them in the past forty seven years. Some of them being almost
worn through.
How many have gone in and out over these steps and for what varied
ends and purposes, some seeking justice, yet perhaps not finding it.
Some with schemes of self aggrandizement. Were they successful?
Rich and poor, high and humble, old age, middle age, youth and
childhood, male and female, have all contributed to the wearing away
of these steps.
Out over them have passed the prisoner, in bonds no longer, but once
more a free man, and the criminal under sentence of death.
The slave and his master have been here, the bond and the free.
The best legal talent of the state and soldiers and orators of
National fame have passed over these steps, or from them addressed the
listening multitude.
Ripley is forty three miles north of Charleston, thirty six south of
Parkersburg, and thirteen from the Ohio River, and lies on the
Parkersburg-Charleston Turnpike.
Its altitude above the sea level is given by Lewis in his Handbook of
West Virginia, at five hundred ninety nine feet. The United States
Geological Survey places the southwest corner of the Court House
Square at six hundred fifteen feet, the intersection of the first
cross street with the Spencer Pike at the foot of the hill, six
hundred thirty seven feet, and Green Run bridge at five hundred ninety
three feet.
The town lies on a beautiful slightly rolling plateau, elevated above
the first bottoms of the creek about twenty feet, in a wide valley,
and surrounded by high hills. Mill Creek compasses it on two sides,
and Sycamore on the third, while to the east is a hillside.
The writer in the "Gazetteer of Virginia" says of Ripley, in 1833-
"Ripley, the principal village and seat of justice of Jackson County,
is three hundred fifty miles north of Richmond, and three hundred
forty one west of Washington. Situated in latitude thirty eight
degrees, fifty two minutes north, eight miles above Wrights Mills, and
twelve from the Ohio River, on the Great Mill Creek, at its confluence
with Sycamore Creek. It is a flourishing village, although but
recently established.
From its location in the valley of Mill Creek, and its being in a
direct line between Charleston on the Kanawha, and Parkersburg, in
Wood County, it is anticipated it will one day be a place of some
trade.
At the present time, it contains besides the ordinary county
buildings, which are substantially built of brick
12 dwelling houses
2 hotels
1 common school
1 mercantile store
1 mill wright
1 house joiner
2 smith shops
1 tanyard
1 boot and shoe factory
2 tailors
2 lawyers
2 physicians
1 bricklayer
1 sawmill
Population about one hundred persons.
Dr. Joseph Mairs was the first resident physician.
Joseph Bowland was the first blacksmith, having opened a shop as early
as 1824.
The first merchant at Ripley was Alfred Beauchamp (probably from
Elizabeth) in 1833. He opened his store in a small frame house, on the
site occupied in 1890 by the residence of C. H. Progler.
A few months later, in 1833, James and Nehemiah Smith entered the
mercantile pursuit.
Two hotels were erected in 1833, operators William Carney and Jacob
Staats.
The town, though "laid out" in 1831, was not incorporated until 1852,
when Clermont E. Thaw, a practicing attorney, was chosen Mayor.
CHURCHES
The Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1840. The class was
reorganized in 1879, and worshiped in the Southern Methodist Church
until 1889, when their present Church was built. Major Progler,
Contractor. There were in 1885, thirteen communicants.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, class was organized by Reverend
Samuel Black. In 1858, they employed Jonathan Conker and Major C.H.
Progler to build a house, which continued in use until the late 1800s,
when house and lot were sold, and a fine brick building erected on the
corner lot.
Their Sunday School was organized in 1856, with James A. Park,
Superintendent.
The Baptist Church. The first society of this denomination was
organized by the Reverend Jonathan Smith, mainly through the strenuous
efforts of Reverend Richardson. In 1874, in connection with the lodge
of Free Masons, they erected a two story building, the lower story
being used as a Church, and the upper for lodge purposes.
The Protestant Episcopal Church was built in 1874, and the United
Brethren building known as "Martin Chapel", from the Reverend J. W.
Martin, the first minister in 1888.
CENSUS
The census report for 1850 shows Jackson County had
Population Total
White, Male 3,405 Female 3,075 6,480
Colored, Free 11 Slave 53 66
Total Population 1840: 4,890 1850: 6,544
Born in Virginia, 5,215
U.S. Not in Virginia 1,108
Foreign 121
Dwellings, 1,034
Families, 1,040
Farms, 602
Acres improved 28,384
Unimproved 235,139
Horses and mules 1,708
Cattle 5,956
Shee 11,062
Hogs 905
Wheat 16,630 bu.
Rye and Oats 44,396 bu.
Corn 257,242 bu.
Potatoes 15,640 bu
Peas and Beans 71 bu.
Barley 46 bu.
Buckwheat 3,181 bu.
Hay 1,954 tons
Maple Sugar 18,826 lbs.
Molasses 459 gal.
Tobacco 4,473 lbs.
Wool 31,028 lbs.
SCHOOLS
The first school house was of the type common in the backwoods.
About 1833, John Riley taught a school in an old log house on the
Cleek farm, just above town.
From 1836 to 1840, Mrs. William Starcher, nee Sarah Evans, taught in
one room of her own house, a one story brick, situated on the lot
owned by J. C. Hood in 1900.
In 1840, money was raised by subscription, and a frame schoolhouse
erected on the lot where B. F. Riley resided in 1890.
Daniel G. Morrill, a local preacher, and later Clerk of the County
Court, was the first teacher. These were all subscription schools, and
usually for a three month term.
The first free schools were in this house, but in 1869, the Board of
Education bought the hotel of Major Progler, which was used as a
school house until 1888, when the present building was erected on the
same lot.
LODGES
Ripley Lodge A. F. & A. M., was organized April 13, 1857.
Joseph Smith
J.L. Armstrong
J.A. Park
Willard Chalfant
J.P. Harper
C. N. Austin
George Bord
W. H. Watson, and
James Armstrong were among the earliest members.
Ripley Lodge I. O. O. F. was organized April 15, 1858. Among the
charter members were:
F. P. Turner
C. H. Progler
J. L. Armstrong M. Chalfant
J. A. Park
MILLS
The pioneer woolen mill was erected in 1866, by F. R. Hassler, F. W.
B. Hassler, and C. H. Progler, at a cost of $10,000. This enterprise
continued in different hands, J. L. Armstrong, J. J. S. Hassler, and
others being at different times variously interested, until 1883, when
operations were suspended. In 1889, the building and machinery were
destroyed by fire.
The first grist mill was built on the creek opposite the present site
of the present mill, in 1824, by Jacob Starcher and his son William. I
t was run by water power, and was purchased later by Armstrong and
Smart, and sold by them to Joel Sayre, in 1837. Sayre and his son
Jacob operated the mill until 1839, when Jacob became the sole
proprietor.
The following year, Jacob Sayre rebuilt the mill on the opposite side
of the creek, rebuilt the dam, added a bolting chest for manufacturing
flour, and machinery for sawing planks.
In 1842, a carding machine, also run by water power, was added to the
mill.
Jacob Sayre sold the plant to John McGrew in 1853, who put in new
burrs for corn and wheat, and attached steam power. In 1864, D.K. Hood
took charge of the mill, and in 1888, it was changed to a full roller
process mill, with a capacity of one hundred fifty barrels of flour a
day.
The earliest settlers sieved their meal, buckwheat, or flour, if they
had any, with a "sarch" or sieve, made of deerskin stretched over a
bark hoop, with holes punched in it.
BRIDGES
The creek at Ripley was from the first on, an inconvenience to the
people of Ripley and vicinity in passing back and forth, though it
furnished a means of transportation before there were any roads built.
A canoe or pirogue hollowed from a poplar log served as means of
ferriage at the ford near Ripley, when the water was high, followed
later by john boat and skiff.
Late in the forties, the first bridge was built by Daniel Roush, but
fell down the same year. It was remodeled and rebuilt by Jonathan
Conker. The bridge now spanning the creek above the mill dam was built
about fifty years ago, by B.R. Cunningham.
ROADS
It is said the first wagon road was cut out from Ripley Landing to
Ripley by Jackson Smith, date not given, prior to this there had been
only pack horse trails.
In opening a new road in pioneer days, there was no digging or
grading. All that was required was to cut away the underbrush and
saplings that grew in the way, and cut and roll the logs out of the
proposed track. If the logs were too large, or the girth of the trees
too great, they simply swerved to one side a little, and around them.
By following the bottoms, generally after the country was settled, up
the creek banks all side grades were avoided.
After road digging was commenced, every Friday and Saturday through
the summer was road work day, unless the condition of the roads did
not demand it, or it would interfere with general muster.
Twelve men with axes, mattocks, guns, and broad hoes, could make as
much road, kill more game, drive center of more targets, tell a dozen
times as many yarns, drink fifty times as much domestic whiskey and
have a hundred times the fights and fun that two men can now, with a
team and plow and scraper.
The old Charleston pack horse trail from the settlements at Neals
Station and Mineral Wells, and other points along the Ohio River to
the Kanawha Salt Springs, lay through Ripley years before any
settlement was made on Mill Creek, over which salt was carried to the
settlements.
About 1837, the road was made from Ravenswood to Ripley, over which
for many years most of the supplies for the town were carried.
The Parkersburg and Charleston pike was opened in 1855, and the
narrow, primitive road to Spencer and beyond was relocated, widened,
improved and put under toll.
The building of the Ohio River Railroad in 1887 quickened the business
of Ripley, and gave it new life. Much wagoning of supplies was done up
Mill Creek and the villages of Cottageville, Angerona and Evans grew
proportionately, while the town of Millwood laid out at the mouth of
the creek became a port of entry and exit for the whole of Lower Mill
Creek. But it was the opening of the Mill Creek Valley Road, in
November, 1887, that gave Ripley direct and easy communication with
the outside world, and made it in progressiveness, hustle and business
by long odds the leading town in the county.
This road, a branch of the Ohio River Railroad, was commenced in 1885,
which year the preliminary surveys were made, and completed two years
later. It does not cross the creek, depot and station being in West
Ripley, beyond the bridge.
NEWSPAPERS
The first newspaper printed in Ripley was the product of a joint stock
company, composed by J.L. Armstrong, John H. Riley, John M. Greer and
William T. Greer. It was called the Jackson Democrat, was edited by
W.C. Whaley and Lee C. Sayles, and made its first appearance in 1874.
At the end of six months, Sayles was superceded by Monroe Whaley, and
a year later the paper died.
In 1877, J.J.S. Hassler and George B. Crow purchased the plant and
resuscitated the paper under the title of "Jackson Herald". Mr. Crow
retired at the end of four months, and in 1878, Hassler sold the
Herald to George W. Biggs, of Preston County, and he in 1879 to H.B.
Bishop, of Wheeling. In 1881, D.D. Karr and M.M. Russell became
editors, and in a few months, Karr, who had come into complete
control, sold the subscription list and good will to E.C. Smith, of
the Jackson Bugle, at Ravenswood.
H.W. Deem, a Jackson County School teacher, next came in as
proprietor, and editor, issuing his first paper July 13th, 1883. Deem
soon made the Herald the organ of the Republican party in Jackson
County, and one of the best county papers in the state.
In 1896, C.F. Prickitt, and J.S. Woodell began the publication of the
"Mountaineer", which has since passed into the hands of a Mr. Walkers.
RIPLEY IN 1905
Ripley had in 1905 seven mercantile and grocery establishments. Of
these, the A.M. Carson Store Co. and O.J. Morrison do an immense
business, keeping several clerks busy all the time, and there are
always customers waiting to be served.
2 Hardware stores
2 Furniture stores
1 Flouring and 1 planing mill
2 Banks, the Bank of Ripley, established in 1891, and the Valley Bank
in 1893.
2 Jewelers
1 Drug store
5 Resident physicians
8 Attorneys-at-law
2 Newspapers
2 Harness shops and 2 Blacksmith shops
1 Barber shop
1 Butcher and Meat store
7 Hotels
5 Churches
EARLY COURTS
The writer in the Gazetteer previously quoted, says of the judicial
system of Jackson County in 1833
"County Courts are held quarterly on the 4th Monday of March, June,
August and November."
Circuit Superior Courts of Law and Chancery are held on the 10th April
and September by Judge Summers. The names of the first county officers
were:
Members of County Court
John Warth, of Warths Bottom
George Casto, of Tug Fork
Barnabas Cook
George Stone
Gilbert Boswell, of Cow Run
Henry Sherman, of Little Sandy
Ephraim S. Evan, of Evans
Benjamin Wright, of Wrights Mills
John McKown
Tapley Beckwith, of near Ravenswood
Clerk of Court Benjamin Wright
Sheriff John Warth (the oldest justice)
Assessor George McCarvey
Constable George H. Warth
School Commissioners:
Henry Sherman, of Little Sandy.
William Sheppard, of Right Reedy.
Thomas Cain, of Reedy.
Jonathan Casto, of Grass Lick.
Gilbert Boswell, of Cow Run.
Thomas Boggs, of Spring Creek.
John Warth, of Warths Bottom.
Ephraim S. Evans, of Evans.
George Stone.
Jesse Carney, of Mill Creek.
"PAUPER" SCHOOL LAW
This Board of Commissioners was appointed under the provisions of a
law enacted in 1817. There were to be "not less than five, nor more
than fifteen discreet persons" appointed by the county court in each
county, whose duty was to dispense the "Literary fund" in their
county. To ascertain the number of "poor" children in their county,
how many the fund would educate, what sum it could pay for their
education, and to send these to school, if the parents or guardians
"would provide them with materials for writing and ciphering".
The "Literary Fund" was created from sales of escheated lands,
military fines, forfeits, etc.
Owing to the approbrium attached to the "pauper fund", but few took
advantage of it, and most of the children of the pioneers grew up with
little advantage in the way of "book learning", though graduates in
the school of woodcraft and the rugged virtues and vices of the
backwoodsman.
The school commissioners in 1852 (Wirt was then a county) were:
A. Flesher, Superintendent
E.S. Evans
G. Bazzler (Gilbert Boswell)
D.W. Sayre
J. Carney
William Hicks
J. Casto
George Stone
J.C. Sisson
William, Goudy
FIRST COURTS
The Board who located the County Seat at Ripley, September, 1831,
were:
William Spurlock
John Miller
John McWhorter
John McKay (McCoy)
Cyrus Carey
The first Bar of Ripley comprised
Isaac Morris
Thomas A. Hereford Prosecuting Attorney
Charles Henderson
James M. Stephenson
Henry J. Fisher, all of whom were sworn in May 31, 1831.
Judge Brown says the first resident lawyer was Robert Lowther,
grandson of William Lowther.
The first grand jury empanelled consisted of:
Andrew Lewis, foreman
Ezekiel McFarland
Nehemiah Smith
Isaac Sherman
Soloman Harpold
Henry Sherman
Isaac McKown
Charles Smith
Abel Sayre
David Stanley
Gideon Long
Joseph Rader
James R. Wolf
John Crites
Jabel Bowles
John Harpold
Jonas Casto
Isaac Pfost
Elijah I. Rollins
John Casto
Thomas Carney
James Stanley
There is no record of what business was done by this body.
Louisa Bonnett swept and cleaned the court rooms for the first term of
court at Joel Sayres.
September, 1831, James Rader, Peter Cleek, and John D. Riley were
appointed to contract for the building of a county jail.
William Bonnett was the first jailer, and William Bonnett, Jr., and
Silas Carney, guards.
ORGANIZATION OF JACKSON COUNTY
Jackson County was formed March, 1831, from portions of Wood, Mason
and Kanawha counties. Since its formation, a portion of Mason County
has been added, and a large part of its original territory has been
taken to constitute Roane and Wirt Counties. The county was first
divided into townships in 1863, by John Johnson, Robert R. Riley,
George L. Kennedy, Abraham Slaughter, and George Cleek.
Wrights Mills was at that time the center of activities of the
community, with a school, church, store, etc. Later, Joel Sayre built
a mill at Ripley, John Armstrong opened a school and the Methodists
had a church.
RIPLEY CEMETERY
Ripley graveyard lies in the northeast corner of the village, on the
point between Green Run and a small tributary which flows north,
wholly in the limits of Ripley. It comprises a little flat extending
across the point, a gentle slope reaching down to the brow of a smart
declivity on the west, and to the east a steeper hillside bordering on
the public highway.
The southern part is a little dell and an addition from an adjoining
field, much of which is too steep to be suitable for burying purposes,
the more so as the ground falls away to the west, which throws the
foot of the graves higher than the heads.
I have seen many finer situations for cemeteries, but never a prettier
resting place of the dead, the northern and central parts being one of
the finest groves in the county. In the older or northwestern and
northern portions, the primeval forest is still standing, large
beeches so thickly clustered, that in places the sun scarcely reaches
the ground, their trucks thickly carved with names or initials and
dates, some made over four score years ago, while their gnarled
branches form a dense canopy over head, and everywhere cedar, blue
myrtle and bluegrass and bright flowers.
The graveyard is sixteen rods on east, north and south, and twelve on
the western side.
Next the road, it is enclosed with an ornamental iron fence, on the
others by plank.
There are many fine and costly monuments, other old fashioned marble
slabs with carved names and roses, lambs, or weeping willows above,
some sandstone and flagstone slabs, and many without any marker
whatever. It would now be impossible to number those who have gone to
lie down in this beautiful spot, for of some graves, no outward sign
is left.
The first grave was that of Mrs. William Parsons, who was buried here
with infant in 1808.
The oldest inscriptions are
P. S. 1821
M. S. 1822
C. S. 1829
They are all childrens graves, with flagstone markers, and are of the
Starcher family.
The caretaker came from France to New York, in 1852, and to Ripley in
1853.
He is a small man, and talks with a decided "burr" to his tongue.
NEW CEMETERY
The new cemetery on Pine Hill is on top of a high ridge, fronting the
Sycamore Bridge, and extending east nearly to the head of Green Run.
The hill is very steep, especially on the north, and crowned
originally with a pine woods, but there is a good broad road of easy
ascent, and the graveyard, which is ten by fourteen rods, lays very
nicely.
A part of it is laid off into lots, marked with fir trees at the
corners, and there is ample provision for driveways and walks.
As yet, there are but few graves, though the cemetery was opened
several years ago. It is perhaps a half mile from the Court House.
The very first settlement at Ripley was made by Captain William
Lowther Parsons, in 1804. He was in the Buckhannon Settlement during
the last Indian War, where he served as a "Spy", or Indian Scout.
There he married Susan Fink.
As soon as peace was assured, he moved to Warths Bottom, this was in
1796 or 1797. A few years later, he purchased a tract of five hundred
fifty acres of land at the mouth of Sycamore, on to which he moved in
1804. He built his humble log cabin on the bank of the creek somewhere
between where George Armstrong now lives and Sycamore. Perhaps there
is no one living who could identify the exact spot.
His father, Charles Parsons, moved on Sycamore, just above town,
probably not far from the bridge, and it is not unlikely on the same
farm.
The land joining Captain Parsons on the south is spoken of as a "tract
of land joining the Thomas Adams Survey", which may have referred to
Parsons land.
In 1808, Susan Parsons died and was buried on the farm on the low
point, at the mouth of what is now called Greens Run (Green Run is a
name with less gruesome surroundings). After this, Parsons sold the
farm to Jacob Starcher, just the date of this sale, I believe is
unknown, but it was after the death of his wife, and before his
enlistment in the army, in the war of 1812.
Starcher was a resident of the farm until his death, in 1838.
Where the town now stands, he plowed and he sowed, he reaped and he
mowed, and over the surrounding hills he hunted deer, bear and other
wild game.
As early as 1824, he built a little mill by the creekside, and in 1831
laid out the town of Ripley, and donated the people two acres of
ground for a public square.
After the death of Starcher, the homestead was sold to Thomas Graham,
a soldier of two wars, who came from Ireland when a child.
It is said he planted the orchard, some of the trees of which are
still bearing after sixty five years.
Meanwhile, other pioneers had been settling along the creek bottoms,
to the head of the stream.
Some of them were the Bonnets, Harpolds, Castos, Wolfs, Hyres, Raders,
Rollinses, etc., whose history will be given later.
THE GREEN MURDER CASE
There have been several tragedies in Jackson County which have brought
the criminals behind the bars of the Ripley jail.
Among these were some who were acquitted, others who received terms in
the penitentiaries at Richmond, or Moundsville, and two unfortunates
who were made to answer to the old Jewish law "an eye for an eye, and
a tooth for a tooth".
The first of these was Charles Green, born in Harmony, Butler County,
Pennsylvania, October 7th, 1828. He appears to have been of a vicious
cast from a child, when quite small, it is said he commenced a career
of crime that ended on the gallows, by stealing pennies from his
father, and planting them by a tree to grow. To avoid numerous
floggings to which he was often treated, he stole his fathers cowhide
and hid it. The weapon was not found until after a long search, when
he "enjoyed a liberal use of it for five minutes".
It is further said that when sent to school, he stole some tacks from
the teacher and hid them in a little girls bonnet. She received a
whipping for the theft. These petty pilferings were continued as he
grew up, increasing in frequency, boldness and amount stolen, until he
grew up spending his time in the streets in lying, fighting, drinking,
swearing and stealing. Sometimes he would have to keep in hiding from
the police.
The crime story continues with the assertion that once he and his
cousin shot a little girl in the legs with a shot gun "for fun".
In a riot at Philadelphia, he set fire to a Roman Catholic Church.
That, when about seventeen, he began handling counterfeit money, later
he went west, where he shot and wounded a man in a row.
He spent about four years in the west and on the Mississippi river,
stealing, swindling, drinking and gambling. He seems to have been at
this time wholly bad, though while younger, he had some short lapses
of remorse and penitence. But, the crime story continues, -
He was in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 9th, 1849, where the police got after
him for passing counterfeit money, hiding through the day, at night he
shipped as fireman on the steamer Planter, bound for Pittsburgh. The
river being very low, the boat stuck in shallow water at Buffingtons
Island, and after twenty four hours ineffectual labor, trying to get
past, the boat was laid up, and the hands paid off and discharged on
the 20th of July. The Planter tied up to the Virginia shore, opposite
the foot of the island.
Green spent several days carousing on shore, on either side of the
river, until his money was spent. On the 24th, he and one Timothy Fox
went down to Ravenswood to look for work at a saw mill. They went to
Ravenswood, stopping at the house of Mr. Wells, and after standing
around the mill a while, applied for work to a Mr. Barr, who was
building a chimney, failing to get employment, they started to return
to the boat.
Green, it is alleged, had decided in his mind to rob Fox if they did
not obtain work, and on the return, having selected a stout club,
under the pretense of using it as a cane, stepping behind Fox, he
knocked him down and then thinking "dead men tell no tales", continued
to beat him until life was almost extinct. $51.25 was the reward of
his crime.
Just after crossing (Little) Sandy, he met a woman, Lucinda Barringer,
and above that passed a man named Roliff, and a little later came to
where two men were making hay.
Crossing the river, he obtained lodging and "slept soundly that
night". Next morning, he started to Marietta, but got on a boat which
was passing, and went to Wheeling, where he was arrested the next
morning, and kept in the Wheeling jail three days, until the 31st,
when he was delivered to John S. Thorn and Timothy Donahue, who had
come up from Ravenswood to take him into custody. These men brought
him to Ravenswood, and he was tried before a justice and confessing
his crime, was sent to jail at Ripley on the 3rd of August, and
"chained down by the legs". Having broken his chains several times, he
was chained and handcuffed.
Meanwhile, Fox died in the greatest agony. Greens case was called at
the September term of the Circuit Superior Court, but continued until
March for trial.
David McComas was Circuit Judge.
Henry J. Fisher, Prosecuting Attorney.
D. G. Morrill, Clerk of the Court.
N. S. Smith, Sheriff.
M. B. Armstrong, Deputy Sheriff.
D. G. Morrill, Clerk.
The prosecuting witnesses were:
Jesse Gandee
Ellis Nesselrode
John S. Thorne
T. O. Donavan
Duncan McKinley
Noah Staats
Henry Lays
David Staats
A. F. Merriman
John N. Wheatley
Z. S. Thorn
Jackson Roliff
Charles Phillips
Lucinda Barringer
F. W. Smith and William L. Bird were appointed Attorneys for the
defense.
All of the Grand Jury at the March term are now dead (1905) but E. H.
Rader. Clarmont E. T. Thaw assisted in the defense of the prisoner.
Green was tried, and by the following veniremen, found guilty of
murder in the first degree:
Thomas Paxton, foreman
Leonard R. King
John H. Chase
Henry Lane
George W. Fields
John Lee
Elisha Stewart
Abraham Pfost
Spencer Adams
Jacob B. Hyre
Nelson Koontz
William Harpold, a brother of Mrs. Green.
The trial commenced on the 23rd of March, 1850, and the verdict
brought in on the 28th.
On April 1st, Green was sentenced to be hanged, on the 10th of May,
but was reprieved until the 12th day of the same year, when he was
hanged on a scaffold which had been erected up the run above the
graveyard, which has since been known as "Greens Hollow".
Such was the end of Charles Cook Green.
THE JOHN F. MORGAN CASE
The other public execution was on the 16th of December, 1897, and the
victim of the popular clamor for vengeance, was one John F. Morgan, a
young man of heretofore good character.
Morgan, on the morning of the 3rd of November, 1897, is generally
supposed to have possibly, with the help of another, murdered Mrs.
Chlora Green, a widow living on Grass Lick, eleven miles from Ripley,
her daughter Matilda Pfost, and her son James Green.
Morgan was captured the same evening, tried on the 5th, and found
guilty the same night, and sentenced on the morning of the 6th, three
days after the commission of the crime.
It is supposed this speedy prosecution may have been to prevent an
effort at lynching the prisoner by the enraged neighbors.
A little more than a month later, he was executed on a scaffold built
on the old Ripley farm, not far from the homestead, and about a half
mile above town.
The hanging was in the presence of an immense throng, and amid scenes
the most revolting and disgraceful. The people seemed to think the
whole affair was a sort of picnic or "show" gotten up for their
amusement.
On the opening of the next Legislature, Honorable J. S. Darst, a State
Senator from Jackson County, introduced a bill abolishing public
hangings, which speedily became a law.
Since the Morgan execution, homicides have been common in Jackson
County.
There was little effort made to ascertain if Morgan had any
accomplices or coadjutors in his crime.
OTHER HOMICIDES
Of the earlier homicides tried at the court house was a Negro deckhand
on a steamboat, who had pushed a man overboard in a row, and the man
being drowned the negro was brought to Ripley for trial. This was, I
think, some time in the 50s, and if I remember rightly, Mr. Monroe
Miller, of Millwood, who was my informant, was on the jury.
I think the jury compromised on murder in the second degree, or
manslaughter, or perhaps it resulted in a mistrial.
Under the old Virginia laws, the penalties attaching to a crime
committed by a colored man were much heavier than those applied to the
white race. However, the man was not hung.
ANCIENT VIRGINIA LAWS
Under the old time laws of Virginia, Ripley had its whipping post,
which stood out on the Sycamore road.
Its prisoners confined for debt, in the county jail, one of whom was
Isaac Flesher, who lived just across the creek above Ripley, and was
imprisoned at the instance of John Warth, the creditor. Flesher, under
some provision of the law, sold his farm to George Casto, Sheriff, in
August, 1834, "together with the appurtenances and all singular lands
and tenements, houses, orchards, etc., etc.," and there is on Record
in the Clerks Office, a deed conveying tow women, slaves of John
Boggs, which is as follows:
"This indenture made the 11th day of April, in the year one thousand
eight hundred and thirty-three, witnesseth, that for an in
consideration of natural love and affection, I do hereby convey to
Thomas Boggs and John Newson, my two female Negro slaves Betsy and
Hannah, in trust for the benefit of my son, Lawrence Boggs, during his
natural life, and after the death of my son, Lawrence Boggs, I do give
the said slaves, Betsy and Hannah, and their increase, to the children
of my said son Lawrence, lawfully begotten, or to the heirs of such
child or children of my son Lawrence, lawfully begotten, such portion
as their parents would have inherited.
On testimony whereof, I have here unto set my hand and seal the day
and year above written.
(Signed) John Boggs (L. S.)"
The Debtors imprisonment law was enacted February 12th, 1823, and
provided
When debtors were confined in jail, the complaining creditors be
responsible for prison fees, to be paid at the end of each sixty days.
Debtors were liable to creditor for such expenses whether released
under "insolvent law" or not.
Convicts and slaves were kept separate from other prisoners and each
other.
Prisoners to have sufficient and clean bedding, medical attendance,
stoves, etc. Free Negroes could be hired out to work out taxes at not
less than eight cents per day.
The Whipping Post was for numerous petty offences, such as stealing,
swearing, drunkenness, and disturbing worship, etc.
For the last named, the penalty was "where offenders cannot pay fine,
he or she shall receive upon his or her bare back, ten lashes, well
laid on".
The last three offences named were little noticed, at least on the
frontiers.
Merchants were required to pay a license to sell goods manufactured
outside of the state.
Delegates to the General Assembly received $4.00 a day, and $4.00 for
each twenty miles traveled, and all tolls and ferryings.
Some of the County Court Clerks fees were:
Recording Deed in Deed book: $1.00
(or .03 each 30 words)
For Acknowledging, recording on Minute book, posting on front door of
Court House, etc.: .50
Recording plat of 6 courses: .50
Each additional course: .03
Recording Mortgage or Trust Deed: 1.00
Recording Will, if not contested: .50
Entering license for tavern or saloon, making out bond, etc: 1.00
Issuing Marriage License and recording Certificate of marriage: 1.00
Administering Oath: .12
Annexing Seal of County to papers: .37
Until 1831, the Mill Creek people had to go to Point Pleasant for
these things, and prior to 1804 to Charleston.
Sheriffs received:
For serving warrant: $0.30
For summoning witnesses: .21
For summoning coroners, jury and witnesses: 3.15
For putting in stocks: .42
For whipping: .50
For serving attachment against absentee debtor: .63
For carrying person to jail, per mile: .10
For selling property under execution
If Less than $5.00: .25
If over $5.00: 5% of balance
About Jackson County in 1831, Judge Brown in his Centennial Address,
has to say:
"There was no assessment on property. All male persons and all female
slaves were assessed $1.62 1/2 each.
Every able bodied man could be compelled to work the roads four days
each week.
They frequently had to walk twenty or thirty miles to work roads, and
go to Point Pleasant to court and to muster.
Jurors and Justices received no pay, and had to bear their own
expenses.
There was no school tax."
RIPLEY DURING THE CIVIL WAR
There was no battle fought at Ripley during the Civil War, so far as I
know, though both Union and Confederate soldiers occupied the village
at different times. It is probable, however, that the southern forces
were not regularly enlisted men, but either independent troops or
merely bushwhackers.
O. Jennings Wise was at one time stationed at Ripley, and Captain
Boggs held the place for a while during the first years of the war.
There was a camp at the old fair ground in the mouth of the first
hollow above town. General Lightburn stopped here on his retreat from
the Kanawha, in September, 1862.
It is said one of his soldiers was killed by lightening in a heavy
storm the night he camped here. My informant, David Latimer, said he
was present when the grave was opened some years later.
There were many tragedies in both Jackson and Roane Counties during
the war, some of special atrocity and uncalled for barbarity.
There are said to have been two southern men killed on the hill just
out from Ripley, and there may have been cases in the town of which I
have not heard, as I have made no inquiries, such matters not falling
within the scope of this volume.
I give below a list of residents of Ripley, said to have been in the
army.
Union:
John Horn
Ed Horn
Daniel Smarr
J. W. Smarr
Madison Smarr
Joel Ewing
James Smith
Henry Casto
Solomon Hood
George Lanfried
Stephen Dodd
Confederate:
William Lipscomb
Frank Turner
V. S. Armstrong
George Armstrong
Gallatin Park (killed)
Cas. Dilworth
Abraham Park
Julius Progler
Robert Mate
James McKown
Anthony Dilworth
Wm. Maginnis
Wm. B. McMahon
Josiah Dilworth
Charles Sayre, Sr.
F. W. B. Hassler
Alfred Armistead
Daniel Tenthory
Joseph Legenver
M. J. Kester
Edw. Phelps
Joe Smith
W. A. Grimm
Wm. Maguire
Lew Keeney
This company of Confederates was organized in May 1861, and may
include some not citizens of the town. It was known as Company B,
22nd, Virginia, and William Lipscomb was Captain, and Benjamin Chase
color bearer.
In the Mexican War, ten soldiers were enlisted at Ripley, three of
whom were citizens of the town, viz, John A. Mackintosh, Gilbert
Harvey, and James Cabene.
n the Second War of Independence, the War of 1812, Captain William L.
Parsons, then living perhaps on Sycamore, raised a company of men
among the settlers along Mill Creek, Sandy, Ohio River and vicinity.
They rendezvoused a time at Point Pleasant, and then marched overland
to Norfolk, Virginia.
Many of these volunteers were old Indian fighters. Little is known of
their service. I am informed that the historian, Professor Lewis, has
the roster of the company.
Daniel Deweese says the "Ripley Squad" was enlisted in April, 1847.
The company was recruited by Elisha McComas, afterward Lieutenant
Governor of Virginia. The names of the squad from Jackson County were:
John MacKintosh
Jim Cobine
Nath Workman
Bob Alexander
Nath Young
Jim Perry
Layfayette Parsons
Ike Meadows
Balas Deweese
Henry Cunningham
Hyrd Harvey
David Hill
Isaac Cunningham
Will Lucas
John Goff, Reedy
Will Cunningham
Jim Workman
Jim Stewart, Reedy
Oliver Stewart, Reedy
(c) 2001 by Betty Briggs
Pioners of Jackson County - Part 1
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