History of Wheeling City and Ohio Co. WV - Chapters I-II



CHAPTER I. SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION OF OHIO COUNTY
QUIET ON THE BORDERS INTERRUPTED--TROUBLES BETWEEN THE MOTHER COUNTRY AND 
THE COLONIES--CONVENTION OF 1775--BOUNDARIES OF WEST AUGUSTA--BOUNDARIES 
OF OHIO COUNTY--BLACK'S CABIN--PROMINENT EARLY SETTLERS--WEST LIBERTY--
FIRST COURT ESTABLISHED--DAVID SHEPHERD APPOINTED LIEUTENANT COMMANDANT--
EXTRACTS FROM EARLY RECORDS--BOUNDARY BETWEEN OHIO AND YOUGHIOGHENY 
COUNTIES DEFINED--BILL OF SALE--FIRST MARRIAGE LICENSE--RATES FOR ORDINARY 
KEEPERS--PLAN FOR COURT HOUSE--REMOVAL OF COUNTY SEAT TO WHEELING 

Between the years 1764 and 1774, comparative peace between the Indians and 
the whites prevailed along the borders of Virginia owing to the 
chastisement inflicted upon the former in the first named year, which was 
followed by the treaty entered into at Fort Pitt in the year 1765. But in 
the year 1774 the comparative quiet that had prevailed was interrupted, 
and for a time the tide of immigration which had set in to the western 
portion of Virginia and Pennsylvania was checked. Perhaps the whites were 
as much to blame for the disturbance of this quiet as the Indians. But 
doubtless the primary cause is to be found in the extension of the white 
settlements into the Indian country. 

It was about this time also that the differences between the mother 
country and the colonies began to assume shape and in the year 1775 had in 
some of the colonies culminated in open acts of defiance. Indeed, in this 
last named year the quarrel between the two had become so pronounced that 
all hopes of a satisfactory adjustment had been abandoned. 

The House of Burgesses had been dissolved, and the royal governor 
(Dunmore), with his wife and children, had abandoned the capital. These 
last named had taken refuge on a British vessel lying in the harbor, on 
which they shipped for England, while he himself repaired to a British man-
of-war then lying in the waters of Virginia, and from which he issued his 
innocuous edicts and proclamations to his recalcitrant subjects. 

In the meantime a convention of authorized delegates from different 
portions of Virginia had been summoned to meet on the 20th day of March,
1775. Upon their assembling, they enacted such legislation and exercised 
such executive control over public affairs as the public safety demanded 
and the exigencies of the hour required. One of the first things in the 
early part of the session of this body which demanded attention was a 
letter received from a number of the inhabitants of West Augusta 
requesting the admission of John Neville and John Harvie, Esqs., as 
delegates from that district to represent the interests of the settlers in 
the convention. The request was promptly acceded to, and thereupon they 
were admitted and took their seats as members and participated in all the 
proceedings of the body. 

The boundaries of West Augusta, as passed by an Act of the General 
Assembly in 1776, were as follows: "Beginning on the Alleghany Mountains 
between the heads of Potomack, Cheat and Greenbrier Rivers: thence along 
the ridge of mountains which divides the waters of Cheat River from those 
of Greenbrier, and that branch of the Monongahela River called Tygart's 
Valley River to the Monongahela River; thence up the said river and the 
west fork thereof to Bingamon's Creek, on the north west of the said west 
fork; thence in a direct course to the head of Middle Island Creek, a 
branch of the Ohio, and thence to the Ohio including all the waters of the 
aforesaid creek, in the aforesaid district of West Augusta, all that 
territory lying to the northward of the aforesaid boundary, and to th 
westward of the states Pennsylvania and Maryland, shall be deemed and is 
hereby declared to be within the district of West Augusta. 

Within the above mentioned limits was embraced the entire territory of the 
present section known as the Panhandle, also Greene and Washington 
counties in the state of Pennsylvania, and portions of Allegheny and 
Beaver counties in the same state. By a section of the same act, three 
counties, to-wit, Ohio, Monongahela and Yohogania, were formed out of this 
district. 

The boundaries of Ohio county were defined to be as follows: "Beginning at 
the mouth of Cross Creek, thence up the same to the head thereof; thence 
southeastwardly to the nearest part of the ridge which divides the waters 
of the Ohio from those of the Monongahela; thence aslong said ridge to the 
line which divides the county of Augusta from the said district; thence 
with the said boundary to the Ohio; thence up the same to the beginning." 

The counties names were the first which were organized in the Ohio Valley. 
The original area of Ohio county was 1,432 square miles; but owing to the 
formation of new counties out of its original territory, its area has been 
decreased, and it now contains about 113 square miles. By the same act, 
provision was made for a meeting of the landholders of the new county for 
the purpose of selecting the most convenient place for holding courts in 
the new county. 

In compliance with the provisions of said Act of the General Assembly, and 
of certain instructions addressed to him, John McColloch, Esq., summoned 
the landholders within the county to convene, on the 27th day of December, 
1776, at the cabin of Ezekiel Dewitt, Esq., situated on Buffalo Creek, for 
the purpose of electing and constituting a committee in said county, and 
also to make choice of a place where county courts were to be held in 
future in said county. The convention met at the time and place mentioned, 
and by a vote of the majority of those present decided in favor of Black's 
Cabin, situated on the water of Short Creek. 

The present site of West Liberty was originally improved by Abraham 
Vanmetre. His daughter Ruth married Reuben Foreman, and another daughter 
named Hannah married Providence Mounts. Foreman and Mounts laid out the 
town of West liberty, which was organized November 20, 1787. It was the 
first town organized in the Ohio Valley. 

When Absalom Ridgely, one of the early settlers, came from Baltimore to 
West Liberty he is said to have brought with him a pack horse ladened with 
a small stock of goods adapted to the wants of the settlers. Upon his 
arrival he opened his packages of merchandise and displayed it for sale on 
a stump. At that early day there were no stores in which trade and buying 
and selling was carried on, as the wants of the people were few and 
simple, and they produced almost everything they needed. The advent of 
Ridgely, however, with his stock of goods was an experience to which the 
settlers before were strangers, and in a short time he succeeded in 
disposing of his stock. The venture proved to be so successful that he 
repeated it again and again until in time it became a regular and 
established business with him. 

Prominent among the early settlers of the town and its vicinity we find 
the names of Benjamin Biggs, George McColloch, James Caldwell, John Boggs, 
Moses Chapline, John McColloch, John Wilson, Solomon Hedges, John 
Williamson, Zachariah Sprigg, James McMechen, Alexander Mitchell, Absalom 
and Daniel Harris. 

Black's Cabin, which stood on the site of West Liberty, was so called from 
having been erected by an individual of that name who came to that portion 
of the county some time between the years 1770 and 1772, having emigrated 
from Berkeley county, Virginia. He was an apprentice to Abraham Vanmetre, 
of the same county and state, and was by him sent here to this section of 
the state to select and locate land, and to take the necessary measures 
for "establishing a claim." The superior character of the country in this 
neighborhood attracted his attention, and he resolved upon locating here 
and making his claim; hence he proceeded to erect a cabin on the land he 
proposed to "take up." Blazing the trees, which was done by chipping out a 
piece and cutting the initials of the claimant's name in the bark, 
constituted what was called at that day a "tomahawk right." 

Among the pioneers such claims were sacredly recognized and respected, and 
no one dared to infringe upon them. Customs thus established became 
precedents and were clothed with all the sanctity of law. Sometimes years 
would elapse before the proprietors would apply to the state for patents 
confirming their titles to the land thus taken up by them. 

Black had been here but a short time when a Morgan, of Berkeley county, 
sent out James Curtis on a similar errand to that on which Black was sent. 
The tract located by this person still goes by the name of the Morgan 
farm, and is the same on which his descendants have continued to reside 
since. Black and Curtis, together with one Hood, who had come out about 
the time that Curtis had or shortly after, became close companions, for 
the sake of mutual protection. 

On one occasion provisions had grown scarce, and it was necessary to 
obtain a fresh supply; it was arranged among them that two of their 
number, Black and Hood, should go to Redstone Fort for this purpose, while 
Curtis was to remain behind and exercise general surveillance over the 
respective possessions of the party. On leaving they told Curtis that 
should they fail to return by a day named he might conclude that they had 
been waylaid by the savages and had fallen victims to their fury, or been 
carried away as captives by them, and for him to take such precautionary 
measures for his own safety as might be deemed proper. 

After the lapse of a long and weary time of waiting for their return, the 
day fixed for it having long passed, supposing that they had been captured 
and becoming apprehensive for his own safety, Curtis decided to abandon 
his trust and go to Redstone Fort and ascertain if possible the fate of 
his friends. There, too, he reasoned, he would be more secure. Carefully 
fastening the door and openings of the cabin, he wrote with a charred 
stick upon the door the announcement that he had departed for Redstone 
Fort, so that in the event of the unexpected return of the two, they would 
be advised as to his whereabouts, and thus his absence would be explained. 

He therefore set out upon his solitary tramp through the wilderness, and 
had nearly reached the Monongahela River, when to his surprise he 
unexpectedly met his friends. The surprise was mutual, and was followed by 
an explanation of their long delay. It appears that, having obtained the 
provisions they went in search of, on their return journey they spent some 
days in the pursuit of game. In the eagerness and excitement of the chase 
they had lost the trail and had become involved in the mazes of the forest 
and had wandered about for several days unable to recover it. Curtis 
assured them that they were then in the right way, and with exuberant 
spirits they retraced their steps in company, glad at the prospect of once 
again reaching their cabin. 

A short time after this occurrence Curtis became dissatisfied and was 
anxious to return to Berkeley county. Having determined to leave, he was 
not long engaged in making the necessary arrangements for his departure. 
Gathering together his household articles and utensils, he strapped them 
upon the back of his cow and commenced his toilsome and lonely journey. 
After experiencing many trials he had nearly completed half the distance 
when he met his Master, Mr. Morgan, on his way out with an abundant supply 
of provisions, ammunition and various useful commodities. He was compelled 
by Morgan to face about and return with him, greatly to his disgust and 
disappointment. 

This portion of the county was known as the "Short Creek Country," and 
because of the fertility of its soil, the abundance and variety of its 
timber, and the quantity and quality of its game, and the plentiful supply 
of excellent water, it held out strong inducements to such as were seeking 
homes in the Western country. It was principally settled by Virginians, 
Marylanders and Pennsylvanians, who brought with them the manners and 
customs of the sections whence they emigrated. 

At the outbreak of the Revolution the name West Liberty was substituted 
for Black's Cabin, and was so called from its extreme western location and 
from that love of liberty which patriotism had implanted in the breasts of 
these brave and hardy pioneers. This cabin was located in the vicinity of 
a spring known at that day and later as Wells' Spring, and which has been 
walled up and protected by its present proprietor, Mr. Foreman, a resident 
of West Liberty, in said county. The place thus selected was deemed to be 
most accessible for those residing in the different portions of the 
county. 

At the session of the court held on the 16th day of January, 1777, the 
oaths of office were administered to David Shepherd, Silas Hedges, William 
Scott and James Caldwell by James McMechen, Esq., who had been duly 
appointed and instructed for that purpose under and by virtue of a writ of 
dedimus potestatem, which was directed by the Governor to William Scott, 
James McMechen and David Rogers, authorizing either of them to act in the 
premises. 

After his qualification David Shepherd proceeded to administer the same 
oath to the following named persons, to-wit: Zachariah Sprigg, Thomas 
Waller and Daniel McClain, as justices, who, having respectively 
qualified, took their seats on the bench. They then proceeded to the 
appointment of a high sheriff for the county, the lot falling upon John 
McColloch, Esq., who tendered John Mitchell and Samuel McColloch, his 
brother, as his sureties in his official bond for the faithful discharge 
of his duties as sheriff, who were accepted as good and sufficient, 
whereupon the bond was duly executed in open court. At the same time he 
was required to enter into an additional bond in the pe nalty of L 1,000 
conditioned for his faithfully collecting and duly accounting for all 
officers' fees, monies, etc., which might come into his hands. The 
sureties in this last mentioned bond were the same as on the former, with 
the addition of James McMechen. Thereupon the oath of office was 
administered to him in open court and he was installed in his new 
position, that of the first sheriff of Ohio county. They then proceeded to 
the choice of a clerk, and James McMechen being approved of for that 
office he took the necessary oath and was duly inducted into the same. 

With a view of regulating and disciplining the militia of the county, the 
court resolved that "David Shepherd be recommended to his Honor the 
Governor as county lieutenant, Silas Hedges, Esq., as colonel, David 
McLure as lieutenant-colonel, and Samuel McCulloch as major of militia." 
On the following day the court made a further recommendation of the 
appointment of nine captains, nine ensigns and nine lieutenants, together 
with several constables. "On the same day the court made the following 
order: Ordered that Capt. Samuel Meason, Lieut. Ebenezer Zane, James 
McConnell and Conrad Wheat, being first duly sworn, do view the best and 
most direct way for the laying out of a road from Fort Henry (Wheeling) to 
the first fork of Wheeling, and due return make to the next county court." 
This road followed nearly the line of the present National Road for a 
greater part of the distance, which was six miles. 

At the March term following, steps were taken looking toward the erection 
of a court house, as appears from the following extract from the record: 
"The court, taking into consideration the expediency of having a court 
house erected, it is ordered that a house for that purpose be erected, of 
the following dimensions and conveniences, viz,: A diamond cornered house 
of dimensions 22 by 18 feet in the clear, one story and one-half high, a 
floor above and below of hard or sawn plank, ten joists in the upper 
floor, nine or ten feet high in the lower story, court's bench and clerk's 
table; two windows of eight lights each 8 by 10 inches, a pair of stairs, 
and cabin roof; a plain door, and hinges of iron: likewise plain window 
shutters with iron hinges also. A jail 20 by 16 feet on the outside; the 
logs of the wall to be round and close laid, the loft, floors and 
partition to be of logs squared to eight inches thickness; two rounds of 
logs above the loft, cabin roofed doors and windows agreeable, a stone 
chimney with iron grates; the doors done with nails: locks sufficient; the 
loft and floor to have each a large beam supporting them in the middle, 
and of having the aforementioned buildings completed as soon as possible 
agreeable to the aforesaid dimensions, it is ordered that John McColloch, 
high sheriff, put the same up at public auction to the lowest undertaker." 

The persons heretofore named, and the officers, before mentioned as having 
been recommended the Governor for appointment to different positions, 
having been approved by him, and the approval having been certified to the 
court, were duly commissioned and severally appeared at the June term, 
1777, and qualified by taking their respective oaths of office. 

Owing to the unsettled condition of affairs on the border, occasioned by 
the depredations committed by the savages, and the cruel and relentless 
warfare waged between them and the whites, the conduct of local affairs to 
a great extent was made subordinate to the exercise of supervision and 
control of the military; hence the supremacy of civil power and authority 
were compelled to yield to the exigencies of the hour. The sessions of the 
court, therefore, because of the existence of these troubles, were 
suspended during the period covering the interval between the month of 
June, 1777, and the 6th day of April, 1778, on which last named date the 
court reassembled and resumed its judicial functions. 

The members of the court being jealous of the infringement of their 
authority and dignity as they regarded, and smarting under the feeling 
that their rights had been disregarded, and that the court had been 
treated with contempt in not having been consulted by the military 
authorities before the declaration of martial law in the county, 
determined to vindicate what they considered as the outraged majesty of 
the law, and therefore on the second day of its session cited Colonel 
Shepherd, the county commandant, to appear at its bar and purge himself of 
contempt, the specific charge against him being that during the interval 
between the above named periods he had, contrary to all precendents, 
established martial law in the county, without having first advised with 
the court as to the necessity for adopting such a measure. The Colonel, in 
justification of his conduct, insisted that exigencies had arisen which 
required promptness in meeting, and that any delay would have proved 
disastrous to the settlers; that the dangers threatening the public safety 
were imminent and had to be met on the spur of the moment, and disavowed 
any disrespect to the members of the court, and that he humbly apologized 
if the court was of the opinion that under the circumstances he had failed 
in extending to them that courtesy which was due to them as the 
representatives of civil law and the conservators of the public peace. The 
explanation offered by Shepherd and the extenuating circumstances, and the 
firm yet submissive bearing of the officer, disarmed their criticism of 
his conduct, and he was honorably dismissed without so much as a 
reprimand. 

At the November term of court, in 1778, the number of tithables in the 
county was returned as 352. The poll tax was fixed at 20 shillings, and 
the sheriff was instructed to collect double that sum from all tithables 
"who refused to take the oath of allegiance to the commonwealth." 


EXTRACTS FROM THE EARLY RECORDS.
FIRST PURCHASE OF PUBLIC GROUND, FOR COURT HOUSE AT WEST LIBERTY. 

Know all men by these presents that I, Abraham Vanmetre of Bartlay 
(Berkeley) County & Colony of Virginia, do bargain and sell for the 
Consideration of Twenty pounds paid when Levy'd of the County Current 
money to the Court of Ohio County & Successors a Lot of Land Containing of 
Two acres which I claim Lying of the Head of the Northerly Fork of Short 
Creek Known by Black's Cabin Boun'd as follows. Beginning at a white oak 
standing near the head of a spring and Running thence N. 50 W. 20 pole to 
a stake thence south 34 W 16 pole to a stake thence south 34W. 16 pole to 
a stake, thence S. 56 East 20 p. to a stake N. 34 E 16. p. to the 
Beginning. Containing Two acres Land for the Use publick of the s'd 
county. I do hereby Bind myself, my Heirs & assigns and forever Quit my 
Claim for the above two acres, as witness my hand & seal this sixth day of 
March one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven. 

Abraham Vanmetre [Seal]

Interlined Before signed.
Witnesses, Andrew Fouts,
Conrod Stroup.
John Spalen. 

Acknowledged in open court, Ordered to be Recorded.
Test: James McMechen, C. C. 


THE FIRST WILL 

Virginia, Ohio County, May 18, 1777.
This my last Will and Testament I doth give and bequeath unto George 
McColloch, Jr., two certain servays lying and being on the waters of 
Buffalo Creek, with all the improvements and conveniences belonging to the 
said Surveys of Land. I also give and bequeath a certain Bay Mare unto 
Rebeckah McColloch. I give and bequeath a certain Roan filly Colt unto 
Jane McColloch. I further give and bequeath a certain Bay horse unto Silas 
McColloch, and my Cow and Calf with my hogs I give to George McColloch, 
Sr., and desire the said McColloch may sell the aforementioned Cattle and 
hogs to pay all my just and Lawfull debts, and I leave the said McColloch, 
Sr., Executor. In Witness hereto I have set my hand the day and year above 
written. N. B. And I leave the said George McColloch Executor, these words 
is Interlined above. 

his
Thomas Y Newbury
Mark
Signed in the presence of Charles Wells,
Jos. Wells,
Ed Perine,

Proven in open court by Joseph Wells and Edward Perine two of the 
Subscribing Evidences to the said Will and ordered to be Recorded.
Test: James McMechen, C. C. 


SECOND DEED RECORDED. 

Know all Men by these presents, that I, William Hawkins of the one part, 
and John Wilson of the other part, witnesseth that the said Hawkins for, 
and in Consideration of one hundred pounds curret. Money of Penlyl to him 
in hand paid the Receipt of which he doth hereby acknowledge, hath 
granted, Bargained and sold, and firmly by these presents doth grant, 
Bargain and sell unto the said Jno. Wilson, all that tract or parcel of 
Land lying on the waters of Short Creek, Beginning at a Bounded tree 
Between the said Hawkins and Daniel Harris and extending up the River Ohio 
to Glen's line and with the said line to Short Creek and with said Creek 
to Harris' Run and up said run until it strikes Harris's line and with 
said line until said Beginning Tree all which land with the improvements 
thereunto Belonging I do hereby Warrant and Defend from all person or 
persons to be held by him the said Wilson or his assigns in peaceable 
possession the Lord of the soil only excepted as witness my hand this day 
of February, 1773, the word (river) interlined before signed. 

William Hawkins

Witnesses present: John Wills, David McLure.

Rec'd this 28th day of January 1777, the above mentioned sum of one 
hundred pounds, with interest in full of the above Mentioned Land as 
witness my hand.
William Hawkins
Test: James McMechen 

The above was acknowledged in open court and ordered to be put upon Record.
Test: James McMechen, C. C. 


RETRACTION OF LIBEL 

This is to Certify that I the subscriber did some time ago advertise John 
Hanly to have taken a black mare from me Clandistinly; I do now with 
sorrow and Reluctance own now the said advertisement to be false and 
groundless. Given under my hand this 3rd day of April, 1778,

Witness present John Williamson,
James Clements,
William Carson,
John Boggs,
James Caldwell.
Jacob Gro.

The above was proven in open court by John Williamson and James Caldwell 
Esqrs., two of the witnesses being Evidences. 

Test: James McMechen, C. C. 


SPINNING WHEELS EXCHANGED FOR LAND 

Know all men by these presents that I, Isaac Taylor for and in 
consideration of the sum of one hundred good and Merchantal Lining 
Spinning wheels to me in hand paid by George Coridders the said Receipt I 
do acknowledge myself satisfied. Therewith doth grant, bargain and sell 
unto the said Coriddors the place where I now live on with all 
improvements thereon and doth warrant and defend the same with two hundred 
acres thereunto belonging unto the said George Coridors his heirs and 
assigns from all persons the Lord of the soil only Excepted in witness 
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 19th day of June, 1778. 

Isaac Taylor 

Tests: James Gillespie,
Thomas Clark,
James Gillespey,

The above was acknowledged in open court, and ordered to be recorded.
Test: James McMechen, C. C. 


SETTLEMENT OF BOUNDARY BETWEEN OHIO AND YOUGHIOGHENY COUNTIES 

We the Commissioners of Yohogany and Ohio Counties Respectively appointed 
as per order of the Respective Courts may most indisputably appear to 
ascertain the Boundary Line between the aforesaid Counties agreeably to 
the act General Assembly in that case made and provided in Compliance with 
which we proceed to the business and do find as follows, viz: Beginning at 
the mouth of Cross Creek thence by the several Meanders thereof until the 
Confluance of the two Branches Known by the name of Shearers and McCoogine 
Branches thence up the aforesaid McCoogine branch until the head thereof 
about half a mile South of Wm. Price new dwelling house thence South 33, 
E., to the nearest part of the Ridge that divides the waters of 
Monongahely from those of Ohio to a Blas and Corner mark stake in 
testimony of which we have hereunto affixed our hands this 22nd day of 
August, 1778. 

Isaac Leet, Jr.,
William Scott,
James McMechen,
Richard Yeates 


BILL OF SALE 

1780, Ohio County, State of Virginia:
James Wells bought of John Wells, October 20th: To one negro boy named 
Dick L 100: 1 negro girl named Poll L 60: 3 feather beds with their 
furniture L 10: 1 wagon and geere L 10.
Received October the twentieth 1789 of James Wells the sum of one hundred 
and seventy pounds, it being full satisfaction for the above amount and 
pay received by
John Wells, Witness,
Richard Wells, 

Ohio County, State of Virginia on this 20th day of October 1789 personally 
appeared before me one of the Justices for said County the above named 
John Wells acknowledged the above bill of articles on Negroes to be the 
Right title and property of the above named Richard Wells.
Acknowledged before me, Richard Wells. 

A true copy from the Oridginal. The above bargain and Sail was Proven to 
Court by Richard Wells, the Subscribing witness at November Term 1789 and 
ordered to be recorded.
Test: Moses Chapline, Clk. 


FIRST MARRIAGE LICENSE 

I do hereby Certify that I have this day solemnized the Right of Marriage 
between Mr. John McIngtur (McIntyre properly) and Miss Sarah Zane 
aggreeable to an act of assembly in such case made and provided.
Witness my hand this 11th day of January 1790. 

Richard Yeates,
A copy, Test. Moses Chapline, Cl'k 


At the succeeding court 16 persons were fined for retailing liquors 
without license, and nine persons were fined for one oath or as common 
swearers. A certain person was ordered to be imprisoned three months for 
speaking disrespectfully of the court and as being disaffected toward the 
commonwealth. 


RATES FOR ORDINARY KEEPERS 

On June 6, 1780, the court proceeded to settle the rate for ordinary 
keepers, viz.: "For half pint of whiskey, $6: for a breakfast or supper, 
$4: for one dinner, $6; for lodging with clean sheets, $3; for one horse 
to hay one night, $6; for pasturage one night, $3; for one gallon of corn, 
$5; for one gallon of oats, $4: for half pint of whiskey with sugar, $8; 
for one quart of strong beer, $4." 

On August 8, 1780, the ordinary keepers were ordered to sell at the 
following rates, viz: "For half pint of whiskey, $6; for half pint of 
whiskey with sugar, $8; for breakfast or supper, $6; for dinner, $10; for 
lodgings with clean sheets, $3; for one horse to hay twenty-four hours, 
$6; for pasturage twenty-four hours, $3; for gallon of corn, $5; for one 
quart strong beer, $4." 

The foregoing is to be understood as the tariff of prices in continental 
currency. 

On May 3, 1784, the court ordered the following rates: "For breakfast or 
supper, IS. 3d.; dinner, IS.6d,; half pint whiskey, 9 d." The preceding 
year the treaty of peace had been signed between Great Britain and the 
United States. 

A large amount of money was expended by the court for bounties on wolves' 
heads, the amount paid being at the rate of 15 shillings per head. 

From an entry in the order book made at the June term of court in 1793, we 
infer that the original court house had fulfilled the purpose of its 
erection, and therefore that a new one was found to be necessary, as 
follows: "The court having taken into consideration the propriety of 
building in the town of West Liberty for the use of Ohio county, and 
whereas a plan of said house having been produced to court for their 
consideration, the court, after examining said plan, approved of the same, 
and do order that the sheriff of this county do advertise in the Pittsburg 
Gazette, and at four of the most public places in the county immediately 
that the building said house will be set up at public sale in the town of 
West Liberty the 27th inst. (June) and sold to the lowest bidder, taking 
bond with sufficient security, payable to the present court and their 
successors, for the use of Ohio county, in the penal sum of L 1,000 from 
said purchaser that he will complete the said house within eighteen months 
from the date thereof, and the said court also ordered that whatever the 
building said court house is sold for shall be laid in the county levy at 
the November term next except L100 which has been heretofore laid for the 
purpose of being appropriated toward building a court house and now lays 
in the hands of John Boggs, late sheriff, which is to be considered for 
the use aforesaid, and that the said sum be paid to the said purchaser, 
when he shall have completed his said contract except the aforesaid sum of 
L 100, which sum or so much as remains in the aforesaid Boggs's hands 
unappropriated shall be paid by said Boggs to the aforesaid purchaser, as 
soon as the court can collect the same from the said Boggs, and that said 
court house be built on Liberty street in the aforesaid town about the 
space of six feet north of the present court house." John Henderson came 
into court and entered his protest to the above order. 

It appears, however, that there was a hitch in carrying out the foregoing 
order, and that then as now, all officials were not trustworthy and 
sometimes forfeited the public confidence reposed in them, for at the 
following term of court, held in the same year, in the month of July, the 
following entry was made: 

"Whereas, it appears that Andrew Archbold, deputy sheriff, and Isaac Meek, 
Esq., from the testimony given in court this day by Richard Brown and 
Charles Prather, has acted improperly in conducting the contract or sale 
for the court house in said county, we therefore order the proceedings for 
building said court house shall be stopped and delayed until further order 
of said court, and we also order that a summons shall issue for said 
Archbold to appear at August court next to show cause why an information 
should not be filed against him for a misdemeanor in his conduct as 
aforesaid." 

We find, however, from the records that from the time of making the 
foregoing order no active measures were taken for the erection of the 
court house, but at a term of court held on the 5th of June, 1797, the 
following entry appears among the proceedings of that day: 

"Ordered that the commissioners who were appointed on behalf of the county 
to erect public buildings at West Liberty be authorized to cancel their 
agreement made with Samuel Beck, and that they do desist from further 
prosecuting said buildings until further order." 

The agitation of the removal of the county seat to Wheeling was at this 
time claiming the attention of the people of the county, and doubtless 
this was the reason the court ordered the cancellation of the agreement 
above mentioned, as the same was removed to Wheeling in the year 1797, 
where the court was first convened at the public inn of John Gooding on 
the 7th day of May of the last named year. In its day West Liberty was an 
important place, but on the removal of the court house it lost its 
importance, as also its prominence as a business center. 



CHAPTER II. INDIAN DEPRAVATIONS--MURDERS AND INCIDENTS

One of the most atrocious murders ever perpetrated by the savages in Ohio 
county was that on the family of a gentleman by the name of Purdy in the 
year 1789, who with his wife and four children had but a short time before 
settled in the county. It had been at least a year since any Indians had 
appeared in that portion of the county where they resided, and hence a 
degree of confidence prevailed which led to the belief that they had 
entirely abandoned the section, and this caused a feeling of security 
which under other circumstances would not have obtained. In the spring of 
this years, just after dark one night, a band of five Indians suddenly 
broke down the door, forced their way into the cabin of the family and 
mercilessly butchered the husband and attacked the wife, whom they left 
lying senseless, supposing she was dead, tomahawked one of the boys, and 
dashed out the brains of another. Two daughters were made prisoners and 
carried away captives. After plundering the cabin they hastily quitted the 
neighborhood and made with all possible speed for the river, which they 
crossed and successfully made their retreat. 

Mrs. Purdy, who had only been stunned by the blow she had received soon 
recovered from it effect, but, apprehensive that the Indians were still in 
the vicinity, secreted herself in a thicket near at hand until morning, 
when she went to the settlement at Wheeling and gave the alarm, but too 
late to pursue the murderers. The girls were detained by their captors for 
a period of ten or twelve years before they were released, having in the 
meantime been well treated. 

In the summer of the year 1791 a band of Indians entered the cabin of a 
person by the name of Martin, who was settled on a clearing near Wheeling, 
and murdered him and his family and burnt his cabin. When the news of 
murder reached Wheeling a party of eight or ten men, commanded by one 
Howser (a private in Captain Grant's company), started in pursuit of the 
Indians. They had traveled a few miles without discovering any signs of 
the savages, when the espied a girl at a short distance from them 
descending a hill in their front. Howser promptly halted his men and made 
sign of amity to her, which appeared to assure her. Upon his approaching 
her she took from her bosom a small strip of paper which she threw toward 
him and then bounded away into the forest. He advanced and picked it up, 
and found written upon it the following warning: "Make your escape; the 
Indians are following and are on your trail." Howser and his men paid but 
little attention to the kindly warning, but continued their march in the 
direction of Baker's Fort, a few miles below Grave Creek. Before reaching 
it they were overtaken and fired upon by the savages. The sudden attack 
upon them produced some confusion in their midst, but they soon rallied 
and made a successful stand by keeping up a well-directed fire, which 
finally caused the Indians to retreat. On arriving at Baker's Fort they 
related the circumstances attending the reception of the note and the 
skirmish. It was subsequently learned that the note was written by a white 
man of the name of Watson, who was with the Indians, and by him given to 
the girl, who under his instructions proceeded to advertise the whites of 
their danger. It was generally believed at the time by those who were 
cognizant of the affair that the girl was a daughter of a Delaware chief 
friendly to the whites. 

Among others who had settled on the waters of Wheeling Creek was a family 
of the name of Grindstaff, the head of which was a worthy person who by 
his industry and energy had converted a portion of the wilderness into a 
well-improved farm, the same known as the Buchanan farm, situated above 
the "forks of Wheeling." When the frequent incursions of the Indians in 
the neighborhood occurred he took the precaution to remove his family to 
Shepherd's Fort. He himself, however, from time to time, almost daily 
visited his farm to look after his improvements and to exercise 
supervision generally over his property, but at night always returned to 
the fort. In accordance with his usual custom he one day set out upon one 
of these visits, and remained later than usual in the day when he started 
on his return. No indications of the presence of Indians were visible, but 
he had not proceeded far when he was attacked by a party of Indians, lying 
in ambush, by whom he was killed and scalped. The firing attracted the 
attention of the inmates of the fort, a few of whom left to discover the 
cause of the alarm. They had not proceeded far in their search before they 
came across the body of Grindstaff lying in the trail where he had fallen. 
They took up the body and bore it to the fort, where it was interred the 
following day. 

One of the most terrible murders perpetrated in this neighborhood occurred 
on the 1st day of May, 1791. Four sisters of the Crow family left home on 
the morning of that day with a view of visiting a couple of aged people 
who lived some eight miles further up Wheeling creek. Their brother was 
the father of the late Michael Crow, who resided on the farm of his 
father, which farm is still in possession of descendants of this family. 
He was a boy of fourteen. Prior to his sisters leaving home he had been 
sent up the creek on an errand, and as he was returning homeward, having 
performed his mission, he met his sisters, named respectively Elizabeth, 
Susan, Catharine and Christina. They were then not more than a mile from 
home. Halting his horse, he held a brief conversation with them, and urged 
Christina, the youngest of the sisters, to mount behind him and return 
home. She declined, and insisted upon accompanying her sisters. Finding 
that he could not prevail on her to abandon her sisters, he parted from 
them and the two parties pursued their different journeys. As soon as 
young Crow had gotten out of sight and hearing two Indians and a renegade 
white man by the name of Spicer sprang from behind a rock, where they had 
been lying concealed, and arrested the sisters, at the same time informing 
them that if they gave an alarm or attempted to attract attention by any 
demonstration they would meet with instant death. 

Ascending the hill at the base of which the capture had occurred, a 
distance of some 200 yards, they compelled the girls to seat themselves on 
a fallen log, while they seated themselves beside them and plied them with 
questions as to their knowledge of the means of defense in the 
neighborhood, the number of effective men, etc. An Indian sitting between 
two of the youngest girls had a tight grasp on the wrist of each. From 
their significant gestures and looks and their conversation carried on in 
the Indian tongue, the girls gathered that they were discussing the 
disposition to make of their prisoners. The girls realized that no mercy 
was to be extended to them, that their deaths were determined upon, and 
that the result was imminent. 

Christina, the youngest, a sprightly girl, formed a resolution that as 
death was to be her doom, she would at the first propitious moment make a 
break for liberty. Hence, while her captors were engaged in the heat of 
the discussion, and the vigilance of the Indian who had hold of her wrist 
was somewhat relaxed, with a sudden effort she withdrew it by a dexterous 
twist of her arm, and springing to her feet, bounded away, but she had 
taken but a few steps when she received a blow on the back with the butt 
end of a gun which her captor had snatched from the ground where he had 
laid it. The blow prostrated her, but for a moment only, when, promptly 
recovering herself, she sped down the hill to the bank of the creek and 
with swift feet hastened to her home. 

As soon as she communicated the news of the capture and her extraordinary 
escape, the family made a hasty departure from their home and fled to 
Findley's Block House for shelter and protection. It being late in the 
evening when they arrived, no efforts were made that night to overtake the 
captors and their prisoners, but with the first streak of dawn on the 
following morning a party of rescue set out. Upon reaching the spot where 
the capture had occurred they followed the trail of the Indians for a 
short distance, when to their horror and dismay they found that the 
tragedy they apprehended had been accomplished. The oldest girl, 
Elizabeth, was still living, but was fatally wounded. A short distance 
from where she lay writhing in her pain were found the dead bodies of the 
two other sisters, Catharine and Susan. Elizabeth retained sufficient 
vitality to give an intelligent account of their surprise and capture, 
together with the details of the affair subsequent thereto, and the 
treatment which had been accorded them by their captors. She survived 
until the third day after the rescue, when she expired. The remains of the 
three sisters were buried on the farm herein before mentioned. 

Several years after the happening of this occurrence the renegade Spicer 
and one of the same Indians who was an actor in the cold-blooded murder of 
these unfortunate females, one day stopped at the house of the father of 
the murdered girls. The family had just sounded the horn for the noon 
repast and the father and several neighbors who had been engaged with him 
in felling trees were leisurely strolling toward the house, when an Indian 
and white man, each of them on horseback, passed them and reaching the 
house in advance of them, dismounted and requested a drink of milk. 
Christina, who at the time was busy in the kitchen lifting the dinner, 
heard the request, and looking in their direction caught sight of the 
visitors. At once she rushed after her mother, crying in anguished tones, 
"They are two of the men who killed my sisters; don't give it to them." 
Upon hearing which, the two quickly remounted and left before the men 
reached the house. Upon their arrival Christina related the circumstance 
and assured them that she knew Spicer and his companion and that she could 
not be mistaken. 

Convinced by the positive assurances of the girl, on whose memory was 
photographed with fearful distinctness the identity of the actors on that 
occasion, the father and a person by the name of Dickerson left the table 
and withdrew to consult. The result of their deliberations was soon made 
manifest. Being well acquainted with the country, they determined to 
pursue them at once and took a route along the summits of the hills, by 
which they could gain both in time and distance and soon overtake them 
unless they had ridden at an unusually rapid pace. This they had done, 
for, being apprehensive that they would be pursued, they had pressed their 
animals to their highest speed. The pursuit was therefore lengthened to a 
greater distance than had been anticipated. But the spirit of revenge had 
been awakened in their pursuers, who determined not to give up the chase 
until all hopes of overtaking them had fled. Continuing on their course, 
they took advantage of every short cut and followed them to the dead of 
Wheeling Creek, where they discovered their fresh trail, which they 
followed down Dunkard's Creek to near the waters of the Monongahela. Here 
they lost the trail in the darkness, and camped for the night. On the 
following day, on returning along the stream, they found the lost trail of 
the night before, on exploring which they found where the pursued had 
camped the night before. Our informant states that they succeeded in 
eluding their pursuers and that nothing was ever heard of them more. But 
from another source, esteemed to be perfectly reliable and which we are 
disposed to accept as correct, comes the information that they did not 
effect their escape, for when Crow and Dickerson returned from the 
pursuit, when asked as to the result of their expedition, their replies 
were so formulated as to convey the impression that the pursuit had not 
been unattended with satisfactory results, and when pressed they would say 
in guarded terms that they were satisfied that "they will not trouble this 
section any more." The general opinion among their acquaintances was that 
they had succeeded in overtaking them, and that both Spicer and the Indian 
slept their last sleep, from which they would only awake at the sound of 
the resurrection trump. At all events, they were never seen or heard of 
more in that neighborhood or elsewhere, so far as any information at the 
time or since could be obtained. 

The following account of the killing of William Cochran was furnished the 
writer by a gentleman cognizant of the facts. Cochran had settled near 
West Liberty on lands now owned by S. S. Jacob. It was customary to keep 
horses hobbled or belled. One morning, failing to hear the sound of the 
bells, Cochran sent one of his sons to the Block House at West Liberty, 
and two others of his sons were started out in search of the horses in one 
direction, while the father took a different one. This arrangement that 
they should pursue different courses was according to a plan understood 
between them. The boys soon discovered signs which led them to believe 
that the horses had been driven off by the Indians, and they at once 
started on the nearest route to the Block House, upon reaching which they 
gave an alarm. 

It appears that the Indians had captured the horses and, wrapping moss 
around the bell clappers, had led them to a distance, but had placed six 
of their number in ambush to prevent pursuit by the whites. Not finding 
the horses, Cochran had started on his return toward the Block House, 
passing in the neighborhood of his house in the expectation of meeting 
with his sons on the way. Certain indications in the vicinity indicated to 
his practiced eye as a woodsman that Indians were in the neighborhood, and 
he started for the Block House at the top of his speed. The Indians 
started in pursuit of him, but he, being swift of foot, was rapidly 
distancing them, when a half-breed of the name of "Dolway Jim" suddenly 
dropped on his knee, and taking fatal aim, shot him while he was crossing 
a piece of rising ground. His remains were found and buried by a party 
from the Block House on the spot where he fell, about two miles south of 
West Liberty. His scalp had been taken by the Indians to their town, where 
it was flaunted in the face of "Billy" Boggs, who at the time was a 
prisoner. Boggs, having run the gauntlet successfully, escaped from his 
captors, and it was from them he learned the particulars of Cochran's 
murder, as narrated herein. 

As indicating the views entertained by the settlers of that portion of the 
county known as "Middle Wheeling," we submit a copy of the original paper 
in its style and orthography: 


MEMORIAL OF INHABITANTS OF MIDDLE WHEELING 

"We the inhabitants of Middle Wheeling Now in a distressed and dangerous 
situation Have imbodied ourselves and we are too weak to make a stand 
without asistens. We your humble petitioners do Pray your asistens in men, 
arms, and ammunition, as we gudge William Craig to be the suitable plase 
for the station. We flatter ourselves that you will do Everything that is 
in your Power, and humbly submits to your Will in the fair, we your 
petitioners do pray." The following signatures were appended to it: 

Thomas Orr, David Hosack, Thomas Hosack, Samuel Moore, William Morrison, 
James Hosack, James McDonald, Andrew Hannah, Samuel Holmes, George 
Whitehill, William Bohanon, Robert McCoy, Ferdinand Moore, Thomas Harpon, 
William Hults, Andrew White, Devet Howell, William McCaskell, Robert 
Pendergast, George Knox, James Knox, James Steter, Hilian Sleater, Hugh 
McCutcheon, John Brice, William Porter. 

During the same year Colonel Shepherd reported to Colonel Beard concerning 
Indian depredations in his vicinity, as appears in the following letter: 

Sir: Last evening two Indians shot at a man with in one mile of my house 
(at the Forks of Wheeling) and snapped at another in the night. They have 
also taken two boys, sons of James Behanis living on Middle Wheeling, one 
of which they have killed, the other has got in though he is scalped and 
badly tomahawked. The spies inform me that there is great signs of them on 
Captina and Stillwater. We expect nothing else but a general onset: our 
people are generally moving to the forts, and seem to be in great 
confusion. I shall give you every information as early as possible, and am 
with respect your humble servant.
Col. Beard
(Signed) David Shepherd 

(Colonel Beard was lieutenant commandant of Washington county, 
Pennsylvania.) 

During the spring of 1792 a scout by the name of Parron, who "forted" at 
Fort Vanmetre, on Short Creek in Ohio county, in company with his son-in-
law, Abraham Cuppy, started on a scouting expedition on the Ohio side of 
the river: when overtaken by night they went into camp at the mouth of a 
run known as Parron's run, and which empties into Big Short Creek, camping 
under a large elm tree. During the night a party of Shawnees on their way 
to make an incursion into the settlements on the Virginia side of the 
river were attracted by the light of the white men's camp fire and 
surrounded them while they slept, and commenced firing upon them, with the 
result that Parron was shot in the hip, which disabled him to such an 
extent as to prevent him from making an effort to escape, and hence 
resulted in his capture. Cuppy, however, was more fortunate, and succeeded 
in making his escape by secreting himself beneath the roots of a large 
sycamore which grew upon the bank of the run. His hiding place was near 
enough for him to hear the conversation which occurred between Parron and 
his captors. The Indians were acquainted with his ability and courage as a 
scout, and determined that he must die, the majority favoring death by 
burning. Parron reminded them that he had always been an honorable enemy, 
and as a favor asked them to give him the tomahawk; whereupon his captors 
held a council, and after a lengthy deliberation concluded to grant his 
request, when the leader stepped toward the prostrate man and tomahawked 
and scalped him as he lay upon the ground unable to rise. They then 
continued their journey without making any search for Cuppy. He remained 
in his concealment until sufficient time had elapsed to place many miles 
between the savages and himself, when, venturing from his hiding place, he 
hastened with all speed to make sure his providential escape, hastening to 
Fort Vanmetre, where he made known the tragedy of Parron's death. The 
commandant of the fort instructed Cuppy to return to the scene of the 
killing with a sufficient number of men for the purpose of recovering and 
burying the body of his late companion. This they successfully 
accomplished. 

Some eighty or ninety years subsequent to this event, some of Parron's 
descendants disinterred his bones that they might be interred in a more 
desirable resting place; upon examination they found the bullet which had 
disabled him imbedded in the hip bone. The ball is in the possession of 
one of his grandsons, who also possesses the buttons that were on his 
coat. 

Some time during this year (1792) three young men, one of whom was the son 
of Capt. Van Swearingen, started on a hunting expedition. Crossing the 
river at a point opposite to the mouth of Short Creek, they went up the 
valley of the creek, hunting as they journeyed. For a long time no 
depredations had been committed by the Indians in the vicinity, and a 
feeling of security induced them to believe that no harm could befall 
them. It was a day full of sunshine, and Nature was arrayed in her 
loveliest garb; the woods were alive with the warblings of feathered 
songsters, it being a day which speaks in its quiet calm of peace and joy. 
But the soothing influences of the scene and hour were rudely disturbed 
and the fair picture was speedily changed into one of blood and death. 
They had penetrated along the banks of the creek but a short distance, 
when they were suddenly surrounded by a party of Indians, who fired upon 
them in rapid succession. The result was the killing of Van Swearingen 
outright and so disabling the others that they were dispatched with the 
tomahawk. Their friends subsequently recovered their mutilated bodies and 
gave them decent sepulture. 

The following account of an attack by the savages on a party of residents 
of Ohio county, who had gone to Fishing Creek on a hunting expedition for 
elk, was obtained from one of the descendants of the Crow family, who 
lived on Big Wheeling Creek, and who a few years since resided on the farm 
occupied by his ancestor and his descendants for more than a century. In 
August, 1789, Frederick Martin and John Crow, in company with a person of 
the name of Davis, left their homes and journeyed to the proposed hunting 
grounds. Having reached their destination, they at once went into camp. On 
the evening of the second day, as Frederick and Martin, who had been out 
in search of game, were returning to camp, they were suddenly attacked by 
Indians. Frederick was shot in the left breast, the ball passing through 
his arm and severing the artery near the shoulder. At the same time Martin 
had a portion of one of his ears shot off. 

Frederick, being seriously wounded and bleeding profusely, started to run, 
being closely pursued by the savages. He had covered a distance of three 
or four hundred yards, when, on looking back, he found that his pursuers 
were rapidly gaining upon him. Without hesitation he plunged into the 
water of the creek, which were waist deep, and waded through them to the 
opposite bank. Instead of following him they paused for a time at the 
water's brink. On reaching the opposite shore he looked back to see if 
they were following him, when one of the savages hurled his tomahawk at 
him, which came in unpleasant proximity to his head. Their guns having 
been emptied at the time of the attack, in their haste to follow him in 
his retreat they had failed to reload. However, during their brief pause 
one of them embraced the opportunity to reload, and they recommenced their 
pursuit, tracking him up the stream, the course of which he closely 
followed, to a point extending from the south side of the creek, with 
which they were familiar and where they confidently expected to cut him 
off and effect his capture. In this they were disappointed. 

As the wounded man ran, he gathered the leaves of the sassafras, which 
grew in abundance, which he chewed into a mucilage and pressed into his 
wound, thereby stanching the flow of blood, the loss of which was 
beginning to enfeeble him. Upon again turning to look upon his pursuers he 
discovered a savage with a gun to his shoulder in the act of firing at 
him, but he eluded the deadly messenger by throwing himself upon the 
ground. Jumping to his feet, he picked up his rifle, and realizing that it 
was a race for life, he bent all his energies to the occasion, and in the 
rapidly gathering darkness he succeeded in eluding his pursuers and made 
good his escape. 

Frederick and his companions had agreed upon certain signals to be used by 
them in case of emergency;--such as the hooting of an owl or the howl of a 
wolf,--by means of which they discovered each other, and together made 
their return to their home, except John, who, being absent at the time of 
the attack, is supposed to have hastened to the camp to learn the cause of 
the firing, and so became a target for the Indians. His body was afterward 
found, showing where five musket balls had entered so close to each other 
that the wounds could be covered with a palm of the hand. The third day 
after he was killed he was buried by a party of his neighbors under a 
beech tree, which served to mark his grave and on which in rude letters 
was cut his name, age and the date of his death. 

Another incident of local character occurred shortly after the defeat of 
General Crawford in his unfortunate campaign against the Indians of the 
Northwest, which demonstrated the dexterity and skill of that famous 
Indian scout and ranger, Louis Wetzel. Both Wetzel and Capt. Thomas Mills, 
the latter living on Wheeling Creek, had accompanied Crawford on his 
disastrous campaign. On his return Mills had left his horse on the west 
side of the Ohio River near the present site of St. Clairsville, in 
Belmont county, distant about 11 miles from the present city of Wheeling. 
Securing the aid of Wetzel, Mills and his companion left Fort Henry to get 
his horse and bring the animal home. When within a short distance of St. 
Clairsville they came upon a band of 40 or 50 Indians, who were roaming 
through the country in search of stragglers from the army of Crawford. The 
Indians and white men discovered each other at the same time. Wetzel fired 
first and killed one of the savages, which shot was promptly returned by 
one of the latter. The Indians' fire struck Mills and wounded him in the 
foot, which prevented him from escaping, and the enemy soon overtook and 
killed him. Four of the Indians then threw down their guns and pursued 
after Wetzel, who at first succeeded in keeping quite a space between him 
and his pursuers. He was an expert in loading his rifle while running, and 
on this occasion this accomplishment served him well and was the means of 
saving his life. After running some distance one of the Indians was 
considerably in advance of his companions and was gaining on the scout, 
when Wetzel suddenly wheeled round and shot him down, turned and kept on 
in his flight, loading his gun as he ran. After running some distance 
further, a second Indian came so close to him that as he turned to fire 
the Indian clutched the muzzle of his gun and a tussle ensued for the 
possession of the same, in which Wetzel came off victorious and succeeded 
in killing his opponent. The pursuit was continued by the two remaining 
Indians, who now exhibited greater caution, for when Wetzel would turn to 
fire they would seek the cover of a tree. This continued for some time, 
when Wetzel determined to practice a piece of strategy, and made for a 
small piece of comparatively open ground. The Indians were not far behind 
him, as he had slackened his pace, when he suddenly wheeled and stopped 
with a view of shooting the leading Indian, who promptly jumped behind a 
small tree, which failed to cover his body, leaving a small portion of it 
exposed. Wetzel shot and wounded him in the thigh, which put a stop to 
further pursuit on his part. The last of the Indians gave a yell and 
exclaimed, "No catch dat man-gun always loaded!" and gave up the chase. 

It was during the summer of this year that two boys residing at Fort Henry 
were sent out for the purpose of finding and bringing in some stray cows. 
For some reason they concluded that the cows had crossed the river to the 
west side. Jumping into a canoe, they paddled across and commenced a 
search for them. While so engaged they were surprised by three Indians, 
who in hiding had been watching them and by whom they were taken 
prisoners. The Indians at once set out on their journey, compelling each 
of the boys to carry a large bag, of which they had several in their 
possession. The bags were so heavy that it was with the greatest 
difficulty the boys kept pace with their captors, who would suffer no 
lagging on their part. From the weight of the bags the boys thought they 
were filled with gold. Urged as they were to their utmost speed, one of 
them at every chance opportunity would break off twigs to mark the way in 
which they traveled in case an opening should offer for their escape, and 
thus be enabled to find their way back. When night came on the Indians 
selected a camping place, and preparing to rest, first tied the hands and 
feet of the boys with strips of bark. They were then required to lie down 
between two of the Indians, who stretched a blanket over the bodies of the 
boys, upon the sides of which they laid themselves down, while the third 
Indian seated himself upon a fallen log to keep watch. Deering, the elder 
of the two boys, who was about fifteen, managed to disengage his hands 
from the thongs, and slyly drew a knife from the belt of one of the 
sleeping Indians, with which he succeeded in loosening his feet. Overcome 
with fatigue, the third Indian had braced his back against the trunk of a 
friendly tree, with his legs astraddle of the log upon which he sat. 
Whispering to his companion to lie perfectly quiet, Deering sundered the 
thongs which bound him. One of the Indians in his sleep had rolled over 
off the side of the blanket. With great caution they quietly arose, and 
Deering took the loaded rifle of one of their captors, and, placing it on 
a log in line with the head of one of the sleeping savages, gave it in 
charge of his companion, who was but thirteen years of age, and instructed 
him not to fire until he gave him the signal. He himself took a tomahawk 
and quietly approached the sleeping Indian who had been placed on watch; 
raising his tomahawk he buried it in the Indian's brains, then rushed to 
the two sleeping Indians, at the same time giving to his companion the 
signal to fire, and again wielded his tomahawk, striking it deep in the 
skull of his sleeping victim. The Indian at which the youngest boy had 
fired sprang to his feet, howling with rage and pain. The boys at once 
took to their heels, following the trail over which they had passed the 
preceding day as nearly as they could in the darkness, and succeeded in 
reaching the fort in safety, to the great surprise of their friends, who 
had given them up as being completely lost. 

The relation of this adventure by the boys seemed to be so incredible that 
several of the scouts determined to ascertain the truth or falsity of it, 
and made preparations to visit the scene of the tragedy. A hunter who was 
present and heard the recital given by the boys, who stated in their 
narration that they believed the bags contained gold, was shortly 
afterward missing. This individual's conduct in the past justified a 
belief among the settlers that he was dishonest. The scouting party set 
out, and from the description given by the boys found no difficulty in 
locating the spot. There were found the bodies of the two Indians who had 
been tomahawked, and in pursuing their investigations they found concealed 
in an old hollow tree the third Indian, whose entire lower jaw had been 
shot away. He was barely alive when discovered, and they dispatched him. 
They then commenced a search for the bags, but an investigation of two or 
three hours failed to reveal them. On their return to the fort they found 
that the suspected hunter was still absent, which confirmed the belief 
that he had anticipated the visit of the scouts, and reaching the place 
ahead of them had secured the plunder and hidden it. At all events, some 
years later he became one of the largest land-owners and wealthiest 
settlers in this section of the country. 

During the summer of the year 1783 we record the death of a noted Indian 
spy and hunter, John Neiswanger, a brother of Peter Neiswanger, one of the 
defenders of Fort Henry when it was besieged by the British and Indians in 
September, 1782. He had settled quite early on the waters of Little 
Wheeling Creek, having taken up a tract of 400 acres of land, now, or 
lately, owned by a family of the name of Stewart. At first he had erected 
a cabin on the north side of his land in close proximity to his boundary 
line, and had cleared two or three acres of timber in the immediate 
vicinity. When the troubles on the border increased, and danger became 
imminent, he resolved to change the location of his cabin, which he 
accordingly did, to the opposite side of his land. Under the shelving rock 
of a water-fall, in a ravine near his new location, he improved a natural 
cave, in which he "forted" in times of danger. 

When he went on hunting or scouting expeditions he was accustomed to dress 
in complete Indian costume. One day, in company with one Joseph Heffler, 
an efficient and successful scout and hunter, he started down the Ohio 
River on a hunting excursion. Starting down the river in a canoe in the 
evening of the day they put into the mouth of Little Grave Creek with the 
intention of camping. A party of concealed Indians, who had been watching 
the movements of the two, during the night made an attack upon them. 
Neiswanger, who at the time was in the canoe, was killed outright, but 
Heffler succeeded in eluding the pursuit of the savages, with the loss of 
two fingers shot away at the time of the a ttack. While in pursuit of 
Heffler the canoe had become detached from its fastening and was swept 
into the stream by the current and floated down the river, and the savages 
lost the opportunity of scalping their victim. After the lapse of some 
weeks the canoe containing the remains of Neiswanger and also his gun were 
found lodged on the head of Captina Island, some miles distant from the 
scene of the catastrophe. 

On a beech tree which grew about a half mile distant from the cabin of 
Neiswanger, which was cut down a few years since, there was plainly carved 
in a rude manner the initials "P. N.," with the date, together with the 
representation of a gun, a tomahawk and a pipe. They were doubtless carved 
by Peter, a younger brother of John Neiswanger, the same who, as before 
stated, was one of the heroic defenders of Fort Henry at the siege which 
it suffered in 1782. 

A blood-curdling and harrowing incident which occurred during this year 
was the cold-blooded murder of the wife, the infant child and a daughter 
fifteen years of age, all of the family of John Van Meter. The wife and 
child were butchered in the door of their dwelling. The savages were 
probably aware of the absence of the husband and father at a house-
raising. The girl was engaged in washing clothes at a spring a little 
distance from the house, and had on a sunbonnet, which prevented her from 
seeing the approach of the stealthy savage who tomahawked her while she 
was in the act of bending over the spring. When the Indians gathered 
around her prostrate form lying there in the rigidity of death, and gazed 
upon her mute but lovely countenance, even their stern hearts relented and 
lamented the sad result, saying, "She would have made a pretty squaw." The 
information of this expression of their regret at her taking off was 
communicated by the renegade Simon Girty, who was one of the party, to a 
prisoner, who, after his exchange, told it to the father. 

Three of Mr. Van Meter's children-sons --aged respectively eleven, eight 
and six years, were at the time playing in a field near the house, but 
discovered the Indians in time to attempt an escape, in which two of them 
succeeded, but John, the youngest, not being so active as his brothers, 
was overtaken while in the act of mounting a fence, and carried away by 
them. While these events were transpiring Mrs. John Spahr, a niece of Mrs. 
Van Meter, was on her way to visit her aunt. Upon nearing the house she 
observed the air to be filled with feathers, which aroused her suspicions 
that something was wrong, which were confirmed by closer observation, and 
convinced her of the presence of Indians. At once she grasped the clapper 
of the bell fastened to the neck of her horse, while she urged the animal 
to its utmost in an opposite direction, and was the first to convey the 
intelligence of the presence of the red men. After securing a quantity of 
bed-clothes and other articles they set fire to the house and departed 
with their plunder toward the river, and were safe upon the opposite side 
before any organized pursuit could be made to overtake them. The locality 
of this tragedy was on the farm now owned by Eugene Ridgely, situated on 
the waters of Short Creek, some four miles south-west of West Liberty. 

Some time in the year 1803 a party of Wyandot Indians from the northern 
part of the state of Ohio were on a trading and hunting expedition to the 
southern part of the state, when they stopped at a trading post of which 
Isaac Zane was the proprietor, in the neighbor-hood of Columbus. Mr. Zane 
had for a number of years been a prisoner among the Wyandots and was 
versed in their languages and customs. While engaged in conversing with 
some of them in their own language, he was addressed by one of their 
number in broken English, who said, "Me John Van Meter." Upon inquiry by 
Mr. Zane an Indian volunteered to give information concerning him and to 
relate the circumstances attending his capture. After a time they left and 
pursued their journey. Mr. Zane was acquainted with the Van Meter family, 
and communicated with them, giving an account of the strange meeting with 
John Van Meter, for it was no other person than he, who had been captured 
by the Indians at the time of their murderous attack on the Van Meter 
family in the year 1873. He stated to them that the Indians contemplated 
returning in about six weeks, and they could meet him then at his post. 
Mr. Van Meter the father, was still living but was in a condition which 
prevented him from undertaking the journey, and he also entertained doubts 
whether it was really his son. So at the time the Indians were expected to 
return to Mr. Zane's he sent his two sons, with instructions that if it 
was their brother they were to urge him to return home and take up a 
civilized life. If they could not prevail upon him to return and remain 
permanently, they were to persuade him if possible to visit his old home. 
They arrived at the post about the same time that the Indians did, and saw 
John and were convinced of his identity, while he was convinced of the 
identity of his brothers, but it was with great reluctance and hesitation 
that he could be induced to accompany his brothers on their return. They 
represented to him that their father was a cripple, but that he was young 
and strong and could go to him. Moreover, they portrayed to him the 
pleasure it would give his aged parent to see him again. The efforts made 
by the brothers were seconded by Mr. Zane. As we have indicated, he 
finally consented. In the company were six or seven squaws, one of whom 
was John's wife, who when John's decision was made known to her, opposed 
it most strenuously until she was informed that she could accompany him, 
when her opposition was withdrawn. accordingly, they started for Virginia, 
John, his wife and two brothers. At night they went into camp, but on 
arising in the morning one of their number was missing. John's wife had 
decamped in the night. He was exceedingly vexed. The brothers urged him to 
continue on without her, but he sternly refused until he had practised an 
Indian formula which consisted in his collecting a bunch of twigs from 
wild spice bushes, sticking the twigs in the ground in the form of a 
circle, and kindling a fire within it ; then taking a pouch from his 
person which, he said, contained a powerful medicine, he sprinkled some of 
the powder in the flames, indulging in mysterious mutterings the while, 
accompanied by strange movements and gyrations during all the time 
hovering over the flames, while his dilated eyes appeared to burst form 
their sockets. Suddenly, assuming an erect posture and straightening 
himself to his full stature, he announced that his wife would reach her 
party in safety, but that her feet would be very sick. After this 
mysterious performance he announced his readiness to proceed, and in 
company with his brothers cheerfully continued the remainder of the 
distance without further reluctance. His visit to his father extended over 
a period of several weeks, but he resisted all appeals to abandon his 
savage life. 

While he seemed much gratified in meeting his father, and apparently 
enjoyed his visit, yet his restlessness and anxiety became so pronounced 
that he could not longer restrain his instincts, but, yielding to their 
influence, he surprised them all one day by suddenly exclaiming "Good-by," 
and bounded away at the top of his speed. In two or three years after his 
unceremonious departure he made another visit to his early home, remaining 
on this last occasion five or six weeks, at the end of which time he again 
took his departure in much the same manner he did on the first occasion. 
In the interval of these visits his father had died. This was his last 
visit, for shortly after his return to his tribe he also died. 

Several years after the murder of his wife, John Van Meter, Sr., married 
the widow of Mr. John Beckey, an early emigrant from New Jersey to this 
portion of Virginia, Mrs. Beckey had four daughters by her first marriage, 
namely: Mary, Marcy, Jemima and Susan. Mary, the eldest, became the wife 
of Maj. John McColloch, a brother of Maj. Samuel McColloch, the border 
scout and hero of the famous leap. Marcy, the second daughter, married 
Col. Harmon Greathouse, a noted frontiersman, and resided in Lexington, 
Kentucky. Susan, the third daughter, married John Rolland, who resided at 
West Liberty, Ohio county, Virginia. Jemima, the fourth daughter, married 
Rev. Joseph Doddridge, the celebrated author of "Notes of Western 
Virginia." One child was the issue of Mr. Van Meter's second marriage, 
whose name was Sarah,--she married the late Robert Patterson, of Wheeling 
Virginia. 

In the spring of the year 1785 the settlers were seriously menaced by the 
Indians, who made their incursions much earlier than was their custom. 
Many of the settlers with their families resorted to the fort at Wheeling 
and the private forts above and below that post for greater protection. 
Others, however, remained on their clearings, prepared at the first alarm 
to vacate them. It was in the spring of this year that two boys went out 
one morning for the purpose of catching horses which were needed at 
Shepherd's Fort. One of the boys was John Wetzel, aged about seventeen 
years, the son of John Wetzel, Sr., and brother of Lewis Wetzel. The other 
was a lad slightly younger than John Wetzel. One of the animals they were 
instructed to bring in belonged to a sister of young Wetzel, and was a 
mare with a young foal. This foal she had given to her brother some time 
prior to this. While engaged in their search for the horses they ran into 
the midst of a party of Indians who had captured the horses and placed 
them in a thicket, expecting that the sound of their bells would attract 
the attention of their owners, whom they would then ca pture. The boys 
were attracted by the tinkle of the bells to the place where the Indians 
lay concealed, rejoicing that they had experienced so little difficulty in 
finding the horses, when they were at once seized by the Indians. John, 
however, made some resistance, in which he had succeeded in breaking away 
from his captor, and was making his escape, when he was shot through the 
arm and was retaken. 

The party directed its course to the Ohio River. John's companion indulged 
in such grievous crying, and was so loud in his lamentations and 
groanings, that the Indians tomahawked him and left his body where it had 
been stricken down. This was not the first time John had been taken a 
prisoner by the savages. Once before he had been captured, but had 
succeeded in making his escape. His wounded arm caused him great pain, yet 
he kept up his spirits and wore an air of cheerfulness which was 
apparently approved by his captors. About noon of the same day they 
reached the river at a point near the mouth of Grave Creek, and but a 
short distance from the cabin of Mr. Tomlinson, which at the time was 
deserted on account of the unsettled and threatening condition of affairs 
on the border, Mr. Tomlinson with his family having removed to the fort at 
Wheeling for the time being. Here finding some of Tomlinson's hogs 
straying about, they killed one of them and put it into a canoe which they 
had secreted when they crossed the river on the occasion of their raid on 
this side. Three of the Indians, together with their prisoner, got into 
the canoe, while the other Indians engaged in swimming the stolen horses 
over the river. 

On that day three individuals, viz., Isaac Williams, Hamilton Carr and a 
German by the name of Jacob, were looking after the stock which had been 
left at the deserted settlement, having journeyed from Wheeling for that 
purpose. While at the mouth of Little Grave Creek they heard the report of 
a rifle, when Williams exclaimed, "Dod rot'em, a Kaintuck boat has landed 
down there at the creek and they are shooting my hogs." Quickening their 
steps, in a few minutes they reached the vicinity of the creek, when they 
heard a horse whinney. Carr, who was a much more active and younger man 
than Williams, was some distance in advance, when, on looking down the 
creek, he saw three Indians in a canoe, one in the stern, one in the 
middle, and one in the bow. On the bottom of the canoe were four rifles 
and a dead hog. A fourth one was swimming a horse across the river and was 
but a short distance from the shore. The Indian in the stern of the canoe 
had just put his paddle in the water to shove the canoe further out into 
the river, and when he made the movement Carr drew his rifle to his 
shoulder and shot the Indian, who fell overboard into the water. Just as 
Carr fired, Williams reached his side, and shot the Indian in the bow of 
the canoe, who also fell overboard. Jacob, the German, then came up, and 
Carr, handing his empty rifle to Jacob, took the German's and shot the 
third Indian, who occupied the middle of the canoe. In falling overboard 
he grasped with one hand the side of the canoe as he arose. So astonished 
was the last Indian at the fate of his companions that in his dazed 
condition he did not attempt to take up one of the rifles lying in the 
bottom of the canoe by way of defense. The canoe, being now caught by the 
current, was carried out into the river and floated some distance below 
the mouth of the creek. Carr observed another person lying in the bottom 
of the canoe, and, having loaded his gun, raised it and was about to fire 
when the recumbent individual arose and cried out, "Don't shoot: I'm a 
white man." He was told to loosen the grasp of the Indian's hand, and 
replied that he could not, as his own arm was broken. The current bore the 
canoe near some rocks not far from the shore, on which he jumped and then 
waded to the land. Carr now took a shot at the Indian on horseback, who by 
this time was quite a third of the way across the river. The shot struck 
near, splashing the water over him. Seeing the fate of his companion, and 
recognizing the fact that his own life was at stake, he slipped from the 
back of his horse and bravely swam toward the abandoned canoe, in which 
were the four rifles. The white men were on the upper side of the creek 
and the canoe was below. To cross the creek the white men would have to go 
some distance up the same to find a fording place, which would consume 
time. The Indian gained possession of the canoe and succeeded in reaching 
the opposite shore, when with a wild whoop and a yell of defiant anger he 
made his escape into the forest. The canoe was turned adrift by him, and 
was not caught until it had floated 200 miles below the scene of this 
affair. When found the carcass of the hog was still in it. 

In the early spring of 1789 two Indians suddenly appeared at the cabin of 
a Mr. Glass, who resided in that part of Ohio county now included in 
Brooke county, the first discovery of the red men being made by a negro 
woman, who in great terror ran into the cabin, where Mrs. Glass was 
engaged in spinning, exclaiming, "Indians! Indians!" Mrs. Glass promptly 
jumped up, and running to the door was met by an Indian with his gun 
leveled at her. She grasped the muzzle, and pushing it to one side, plead 
with him not to kill her. Entering the cabin, he was joined by the other 
Indian, who had the negro woman and her son, four or five years of age. 
Selecting some articles of clothing, they departed with their prisoners-
Mrs. Glass and her little boy, two years of age, the negro woman and her 
boy and her infant child. They had proceeded but a short distance when 
they stopped and held a consultation. From their gestures and their 
continual pointing toward the children, it was evident that they were 
deliberating about them: where-upon Mrs. Glass placed her little boy in 
front of them and asked that his life might be spared, and added: "He will 
make a fine Indian chief after a while." With a motion they waved her to 
one side, and one of the Indians struck the negro boy on the head with the 
pipe end of his tomahawk, knocking him down, and with his tomahawk gave 
him a blow across the back of the neck, and after scalping him left him 
lying there. On reaching the river they raised a sunken canoe, which had 
been concealed by them, and after emptying it of water, got into it and 
paddled to the mouth of Rush run, about five miles below Wellsburg, on the 
opposite side of the river, where they landed and went up the run and 
encamped for the night. During the entire night the black woman bemoaned 
in audible tones the death of her child, which so exasperated the savages 
that they threatened, if she did not desist, that they would dispatch her 
also. in the early morning they hurried off with their prisoners, halting 
in the afternoon on Short Creek about 25 miles from the mouth of Rush run. 
Here was a depot of articles which they had carried away from Van Meter's, 
the members of whose family they had so ruthlessly murdered. This plunder 
had been deposited in a hollow tree. This spot had before this been used 
by them as an encampment, and was in the midst of a grove of sugar trees. 
Here they built a fire and put on a kettle, in which they placed a turkey 
killed by them on the way. Tapping the sugar trees, they filled the kettle 
with the sap and proceeded to boil the turkey. 

At the time of the appearance of the Indians at his cabin, Mr. Glass was 
absent with a companion in a field a half mile distant from his cabin, and 
knew nothing of what had transpired until his return home at the noon 
hour. Unable to account for the absence of the family, he visited several 
scattered cabins in search and then went to Wells' Fort, where he secured 
ten men to aid him in his search. Early on the following morning, having 
satisfied himself that the depredators were Indians, he discovered the 
tracks where they had embarked. The track of his wife was discovered by 
her husband from the impression made by her shoe, the point of its high 
heel identifying it. Crossing the river, they followed the shore until 
they came to the mouth of the run up which the Indians had proceeded. Some 
of the party, as they had failed to discover any signs of Indians, 
proposed to turn back and cease to prosecute the search farther. The 
importunity of Mr. Glass, however, prevailed upon them to go as far as the 
mouth of Short Creek, which was but a few miles away. Upon reaching the 
mouth of the run they found the canoe in which the Indians with their 
prisoners had crossed the river. This fact was established by the 
precaution which had been adopted by Mrs. Glass. An Indian had carried 
from the cabin papers belonging to her husband, which on the way down he 
threw into the stream. Some of these were picked up by Mrs. Glass under 
the pretense of giving them to her child to amuse him. These had been 
carelessly dropped in the bottom of the canoe. These dumb witnesses gave 
evidence that they were on the right track, and, searching the ground in 
the vicinity, they soon discovered the trail of the savages. Within an 
hour or so Glass and his companions sighted the camp. Their object was by 
a sudden attack to surprise the Indians and thus prevent them, by a prompt 
move, from killing their captors. Hence, approaching stealthily until 
within a few yards of the camp, they concealed themselves. 

The son of Mrs. Glass had been engaged in trying to pour the water from a 
sugar trough, but she, perceiving his inability to do so without her aid, 
had gone to his assistance. The negro woman was sitting apart from her 
captors, who were curiously examining a garment they had stolen: upon 
turning their faces toward where the whites lay concealed, awaiting a 
favorable opportunity to attack them, the latter, supposing that they were 
discovered, at once discharged several of their guns, and, rushing upon 
the savages, shouted at the top of their voices. One of the Indians, who 
was wounded by the fire of the whites, fell, at the same time dropping his 
gun and pouch. Recovering himself, he ran a short distance, when a second 
shot brought him to the ground. Having accomplished their purpose, the 
rescue party started on the return, reaching the fort at Beech bottom that 
same evening. At the first fire the other Indian had run a short distance 
beyond where Mrs. Glass was standing, thus placing her in a direct line 
between him and the whites. His life was saved, as the white men could not 
fire at him without endangering the life of the woman. 

Some time in the "eighties" information was received by James Marshall, 
lieutenant commandant of Washington county, Pennsylvania, of an 
apprehended attack by the Indians on Fort Henry. He deemed it sufficiently 
authentic to justify him in communicating the news to the military 
authorities of Ohio county, and therefore dispatched Henry Baker, Lewis 
Yoho and one Stalnaker to warn them to be on their guard. Proceeding on 
their mission, they had succeeded in reaching a point near the mouth of 
Woods run, about two miles from the fort, when they were intercepted by a 
party of Indians in ambush, who fired and killed Stalnaker. Baker's horse 
was shot under him, and in falling imprisoned his leg by falling upon it, 
he being unable to disengage his foot from the stirrup, and he was 
captured. He had, however, returned the fire of the Indians, killing a 
brother of the chief. Yoho succeeded in effecting his escape. The savages, 
exasperated at the killing of one of their number, sought to slay Baker, 
and would have done so, but the chief interfered and prevented them, 
claiming him as his prisoner. The chief spoke broken English. Baker was 
carried by them to Chippewa Plains, where they proposed to put him to the 
torture and burn him at the stake. In one of their raids the Indians had, 
a short time prior to this, captured nine Kentuckians. 

A council was held to decide the fate of the prisoners, and it was 
resolved that one should be burned on each successive day until the whole 
of them were disposed of, reserving Baker to the last, he being the 
youngest. The programme was strictly followed and each day Baker saw one 
of the Kentuckians led to the stake and suffer the most horrible tortures 
which Indian ingenuity could invent, while the flames kindled upon their 
victim, the savages meanwhile dancing and yelling around him as the flames 
leaped in angry tongues over his body and licked the roasting flesh from 
his bones. Thus day by day he was reminded of his own end. The day for his 
immolation at last arrived, and he was required to prepare himself for 
death. As he was being led forward to the fatal stake, he saw in the 
distance a horseman advancing at rapid speed, whom, drawing near, he 
discovered to be a white man, and although it was not until the man 
arrived upon the scene that he identified the stranger, yet his despairing 
heart, for no other reason than that the one just arrived was a white man, 
began to have a faint hope, that throught the white man's instrumentality 
he might possibly be relieved from his perilous situation. Hence he 
lingered and delayed until the arrival of the horseman, who proved to be 
none other than Simon Girty. Baker was well acquainted with him, having 
met him often. On recognizing the prisoner, Girty at once interposed in 
his behalf, and for an hour plead with all his eloquence and used every 
argument he could command to save the life of the captive. His efforts 
were not in vain, and his influence preserved Baker's life. After the 
release of Baker he was closely questioned by Girty concerning points on 
the border, and in particular concerning Fort Henry, its condition means 
of defense, who was in command, and such information was sought as would 
prove most useful and important. He was retained as a captive about one 
year, when, owing to the influence of Girty, he was sent to the British 
commandant at Detroit, who retained him two years longer, when he was 
freed and permitted to return, making his way from Detroit to Fort Henry 
on foot. On the occasion of his return a number of settlers from the 
Virginia side of the river were gathered on the Island engaged in sugar 
making. As he was seen approaching, being clad in Indian costume, an alarm 
was given that the Indians were upon them, and without stopping to 
investigate they stampeded to their canoes and made for the opposite side 
of the river, where they aroused the inmates of the fort with the alarming 
intelligence. In the meantime Baker had reached the shore of the island, 
and was trying to reassure those on the opposite side by calling to them 
to come over and help him: that he was a white man who had been a prisoner 
at Detroit and was returning to his friends. Convinced that he was what he 
represented himself to be, they responded to his appeals and went to his 
aid. He died in the year 1847 or 1848, at his home opposite the head of 
Captina Island, at the advanced age of one hundred years, leaving 
surviving him six children, two girls and four boys, all of whom are now 
deceased. 

After the defeat of General St. Clair, it was found necessary to organize 
another army to reduce the savages to submission. But it is not our 
purpose to give a detailed account of the events which followed this 
disastrous campaign, as to do so would be foreign to our purpose, which is 
to confine ourselves to the relation of events and incidents as connected 
with the history of Ohio county. As a matter of general history, however, 
we may be permitted to remark that the campaign conducted by Gen. Anthony 
Wayne ended in the complete overthrow of the Indian forces and the triumph 
of the American arms. The results of the victory were secured by the 
subsequent treaty entered into at Greenville on August 3, 1795, by which 
the Indians gaave up and extensive tract of country south of the Great 
Lakes and west of the Ohio River, comprehending in all about four-fifths 
of the present state of Ohio. This was the close of the Indian wars on our 
borders, and now for the first time this section really enjoyed peace and 
quiet. 


THE BIGGS FAMILY 

One of the notable families living here at the time was the Biggs family, 
in which were six sons, all of whom became distinguished for their brave 
and adventurous characters. They were named respectively Benjamin, 
William, Joseph, John, Thomas and Zaccheus. All of them were more or less 
known among the early settlers as Indian fighters and as bold and 
successful scouts. Benjamin was commonly designated as "General" Biggs. He 
had been a captain in the Revolutionary war, where he had won distinction 
by his courage and devotion to the cause of independence, and had been 
promoted at the age of twenty-three to the command of a company. After the 
close of the war he became prominent as an Indian fighter. He was in his 
seventy-first year at the time of his death, which occurred at West 
Liberty on the 2nd day of December, 1823. His remains were buried in the 
old cemetery of that town. His tombstone bears the following inscription:

"He was firm and decided as a Patriot
Fearless and faithful as a friend to the public
He loved his Country and served it as a Captain during her
Struggle for independence, and adhered to her cause
in the darkest hour of her struggle
Against oppression."

Joseph, called "Captain" Biggs, was in command of Kirkwood's cabin when it 
was besiged by the Indians. This cabin was situated on the Ohio side of 
the river of that name. He defended it successfully against a large number 
of the savages, who attempted to destroy it by setting it on fire and 
driving out the inmates. 

William Biggs settled in Illinois about 1787 or 1788, where he was taken 
prisoner by a party of Kickapoo Indians. After his capture he was adopted 
into the tribe, and was treated with great kindness and consideration. He 
remained with them for three years, when he was ransomed along with other 
prisoners at Detroit. At the time of his capture he was on horseback, and 
was journeying toward the French settlement of Kaskaskia. As he was 
pursuing his way a shot from the rifle of a concealed foe struck his 
horse, which was followed by three other shots in quick succession, all of 
which took effect on his horse, causing its death. At the moment of attack 
he was leaning forward, and as his horse fell he was thrown with great 
force, and for a moment was dazed by his fall, but only for a moment. On 
arising he lifted his overcoat, which had been slung across his saddle, 
and put it on, over it placing his powder horn. He then started to run, 
but finding his progress greatly impeded by the weight of his coat, he 
made futile attempts to remove it, which he was prevented from 
accomplishing by the belt of his powder horn. Seeing that the pursuing 
Indians were rapidly gaining upon him, and that all hopes of escape were 
hopeless, he resolved not to be slain while running; he suddenly stopped 
and prepared to meet the worst, but his life was spared. After his return 
from captivity he wrote an account of his experiences, which was published 
in pamphlet form, but none of the copies are now extant. One of these 
experiences was given to the writer many years ago by an old settler, who 
at one time had a copy of the same, which was substantially as follows: A 
young squaw became smitten with him, and so pronounced were her attentions 
that they attracted the notice of some of the members of the tribe. His 
captors proposed that he should take her to wife, but having one already, 
he declined the offer. When he was about to be removed from the village to 
another, the dusky ma iden protested against it. But his captors started 
with him at a rapid lope, followed by the squaw, who as she followed was 
provoked by the ridicule of the savages, which they continued until they 
reached their destination. That evening he found her at the door of his 
cabin, surrounded by the Indians, who were engaged in taunting and teasing 
her with her want of success. Notwithstanding he was urged by the warriors 
to take her to wife, he persistently refused to do so. She remained for 
several days and nights in the hope of overcoming his scruples and 
obtaining his consent to wed her, but in vain. He described her as a 
splendid girl, about eighteen years of age, with fine chiseled features, a 
full and rotund figure, and a complexion almost white. 

John Biggs was one of the guides and scouts who accompanied General 
Crawford in his unfortunate campaign against the Indians of the Northwest, 
and fell a victim to their savage fury at the time of that commander's 
defeat. 

About the year 1832 Capt. John Biggs made his last visit to West Liberty. 
At the time he was a resident of Monroe county, Ohio. He came on a visit 
to his relatives and friends, and stopped at the house of Allen Biggs, who 
at the time kept an inn in the village, but who, on the occasion of his 
visit, was absent from home on business, having left the inn during his 
absence in charge of a young man whom Mrs. Biggs instructed to give to the 
visitant the best liquor in the house, and as often as he called for it, 
which instructions were faithfully followed by the young man. After 
indulging in two or three drams Biggs walked out to the front porch of the 
house, and shrugging his shoulders (a habit common to him and which he 
unconsciously indulged in at all times when speaking), he turned to the 
young man, and pointing in the direction of Wheeling, he remarked: "I have 
been in seventeen fights and engagements at different times between here 
and Wheeling." He then inquired for an old friend of his and the direction 
to his house, with whom he spent several hours in recalling past events 
and reviving old memories. He died in the year 1833 or 1834. 

Thomas Biggs, another brother, was killed by the Indians on the Tuscarawas 
while engaged on a scout. 

Zaccheus Biggs was in the employ of the government as a surveyor, and 
lived and died in Steubenville, Ohio. He surveyed the first quarter 
section of land in the present state of Ohio. It was made near to the 
present city of Steubenville, Jefferson county, Ohio. Before leaving Ohio 
county he entered one of the finest pieces of land in the county, which 
had escaped the keen search of his generally wide-awake neighbors, and 
which eventually proved to be quite a valuable "find." Some of the 
descendants of this remarkable family are still living in the vicinity of 
West Liberty. 


THE SPRIGG FAMILY 

The ancestor of this family, Zachariah Sprigg, was one of the early 
settlers of West Liberty and Ohio county, and was a man of prominence and 
influence in the affairs of the county. For several years he kept an inn 
at West Liberty, but after the removal of the county seat to Wheeling he 
removed to the same place and conducted a hotel on the site of the Windsor 
Hotel. The family originally came from Maryland, near the city of 
Baltimore. Zachariah had two sons, James and Samuel. James died in 1833, 
leaving no issue, we believe. Samuel Sprigg, the brother of James, was a 
man of medium height, weighing somewhere between 160 and 180 pounds, and 
had a sandy complexion, a reddish beard and light hair. He was strong and 
compactly built and was quite active and energetic, and of a highly 
nervous temperament. In disposition he was kind hearted and generous, and 
hence was very popular. He had studied the profession of the law, in the 
practice of which he was highly successful and occupied a distinguished 
position as an advocate. His sympathies in behalf of his clients were 
always fully elicited, and to so great an extent was this the case that 
his feelings frequently overpowered him during the trial of a case and he 
would give way to a flood of tears in the midst of his impassioned 
appeals. He died in 1843 from the result of a mistake in administering to 
him a wrong dose of medicine. It appears that he was suffering from an 
attack of influenza, then commonly known as the "Tyler grip," which in 
itself was then seldom of so serious a nature as to be fatal to those 
attacked by it. His physician had prescribed for him some ordinary dose, 
but by some inadvertence his attendants mistook the medicine and 
unwittingly gave him a dose of morphine, under the effects of which he 
slept his life away. At the time of his death he was sixty-odd years of 
age. According to our information, he left three children surviving him, 
all females, viz.: Amelia, Belle and Elizabeth. 

Amelia married a gentleman by the name of Joseph Vance, a lieutenant in 
the United States army. During the exciting campaign of 1840 he with his 
father-in-law had gone on an electioneering tour in the eastern part of 
Ohio, and on their return, while descending a steep hill in the vicinity 
of Steubenville, he persisted in remaining in the carriage, against the 
remonstrance of Mr. Sprigg, who had descended from the carriage, when the 
horses, which were young and spirited, became frightened and unmanageable, 
and dashed down the declivity at the top of their speed, destroying the 
carriage and killing the lieutenant. Subsequently his widow married Dr. 
Campbell, a distinguished physician and beloved citizen, who held many 
honorable positions in public and private life, and who died a few years 
ago at a ripe old age, lamented by a large circle of friends and 
acquaintances. Belle, another daughter, married another gentleman bearing 
the name of Campbell, with whom she removed to the South. Elizabeth 
married a Dr. Chapline, a former citizen of Wheeling, now deceased. 

Mr. Sprigg was an extensive land-owner, and among his other possessions 
owned a fine farm consisting of some 700 acres situated about four miles 
from Wheeling, on what is known as the Bethany pike, which was highly 
cultivated by him. He was a large sheep raiser. 

Besides a few of the names already casually mentioned, there were others 
who, if our limits permitted, are entitled to more than a passing notice. 
Some among those who were pioneers in what is styled the "Short Creek" 
country, and who at an early day made improvements and opened farms in the 
section named, were Curtis Morgan, John Wilson, the McCollochs, Harrises, 
Hearts and Bairds. These persons located in the neighborhood at nearly the 
same period. 

James Curtis improved what was subsequently known as the Hugh Mitchell 
farm, lately owned by William North, Sr., deceased, also the farm about 
two miles and a half east of West Liberty, on which he lived for a number 
of years, and where he died. He raised a family of ten children, namely: 
Salathiel, Susan, Fanny, Nancy, Rachel, Sally, Elizabeth, Alice James and 
John. Salathiel was one of the early lawyers who practiced in the courts 
of western Virginia. He was a man of fine intellect, and ranked high in 
his profession. He died at the age of eight-six, honored and respected by 
all who were privileged to possess his acquaintance. 

About the year 1772 Samuel McColloch, a noted Indian scout, who "forted" 
at Fort Vanmetre, who was killed in the summer of 1782 while on a scout, 
and John Wilson each took up a tract of land lying on Short Creek. Mr. 
Wilson immigrated to this section from the state of New Jersey, his first 
visit being made about the year 1771, after which he returned to his home 
east of the mountains and returned with his bride, Rebecca. Before 
returning east he had erected a cabin as a home for the reception of his 
companion, who was a refined and gentle woman and unused to the rough life 
of the backwoods. When they arrived in sight of their home, in pointing it 
out to her, he remarked: "There, Beckey, is your future home." For a 
moment she felt a pang of keen disappointment, as the memory of her 
maternal home was pictured to her mind, but she made no reply nor 
manifested any regret, but with quiet resignation acquiesced in the lot 
which had been assigned to her. Her wifely devotion and heroic fortitude 
in the hour of peril and danger which she was called upon to encounter has 
embalmed her memory and kept it fresh and green throughout all generations 
of her offspring. 

About this time Mr. Wilson planted a pear tree on his farm, which grew and 
flourished, and which for more than a century continued to bear fruit. It 
stood until a few years since, and its branches continued to be fertile 
and productive. But a few years ago an ignorant laborer ruthlessly cut it 
down, not being aware of its value and the interesting associations which 
clustered about it. 

The tracts of land located by Maj. Samuel McColloch and John Wilson, as 
well as the tracts taken up by Abraham and John McColloch, are still owned 
and occupied by their descendants, and they are among the finest and most 
fertile and productive farms in the county. 

James Baird improved where Bethany College now stands, and William Baird 
where Col. Alexander Campbell recently resided. Both of the Bairds 
subsequently removed to the state of Ohio. 

Gen. Benjamin Biggs improved the farm situated on the hill to the south of 
West Liberty, now belonging to the heirs of Josiah Atkinson, and his 
brother, John Biggs, improved the farm west of West Liberty known as the 
Robert Bonar farm, the same where James Smith and Mrs. Julia Curtis 
resided. Shortly after opening this tract John Biggs was killed by the 
Indians at the time of Crawford's defeat, when it came into the possession 
of his brother Benjamin. 

Robert Curvey improved where the late John Wayt lived, now owned by 
Theodore Wolf, and Benjamin, Pyatt the farm where James Wayt lived. Joseph 
Ogle improved where Alexander McCoy lately lived, one mile southeast of 
the town of West Liberty, on the road to West Alexander. 

The farm owned by the late James McMurray was improved by Robert Agars, 
who was slain by the Indians on lands owned by Mrs. Howard in the year 
1791. He was the last man to fall a victim to savage cruelty in Ohio 
county. 

The farm owned by the Yates heirs was improved by Matthews Houston, who 
was also killed by the Indians. His brother, Robert Houston, improved the 
farm belonging to John Faris. 

It may not be uninteresting to call attention to the longevity of some of 
these early settlers, whose names and memories alone remain and even these 
are being rapidly obliterated by the flight of time and the indifference 
of the present generation to preserve them unimpaired. 

R. Mazingo died at the age of ninety years and six months, and his wife at 
the age of eighty-seven years. J. Atkinson died at the age of eighty-seven 
years, Mrs. Wiedman at the age of eighty-nine, Mrs. Lewis at the age of 
eighty-three, Mrs. Armstrong at the age of eighty-five, Mrs. Taylor at the 
age of eighty-two, Mrs. Standiford at the age of eighty-nine, Thomas 
Martin at the age of eighty, William Martin at the age of seventy-nine, 
Mrs. Steele at the age of eighty, John Curtis at the age of ninety-three, 
Mrs. Bonar at the age of eighty-two, George Bonar at the age of eight-
three, Susan Edgington at the age of eighty-one, Mrs. Smith at the age of 
seventy-nine, Mrs. Mitchell at the age of seventy-nine, and Jane, a 
colored woman, at the age of eighty-six. These are a few among many more 
which might be selected, but these are enough to establish the character 
of the country for health-fulness and longevity. 

In the old cemetery of the town of West liberty there are 51 graves which 
we have selected at random, the occupants of which each lived until over 
eighty years of age, and 37 of them at the time of their death were 
between eighty and ninety years of age. Were "Old Mortality" to visit this 
ancient cemetery he would find ample scope for the exercise of his funeral 
talent. 

The early settlers were a fun-loving and jolly set, as we shall see 
hereafter. They were fond of perpetrating jokes on one another and 
engaging in drinking bouts, and in the pastime of horse racing. The last 
named was one of their chief amusements. On court days nearly the whole 
country would gather at West Liberty, and frequently the crowd would 
amount to as many as 2,000 souls, as this day was looked upon by them as a 
gala day. Trials of speed between fast horses would be indulged in, and 
bets of larger or smaller sums would be wagered on favorite animals. So 
prevalent was the habit of betting on these occasions that some would even 
bet the clothing on their backs when they had no money to gratify their 
propensity. It seems almost incredible that some of the stories which have 
been recounted of the prevalence of this vice could be true, but being 
well vouched for we must accept them as correct. However, we will again 
refer to them more in detail. 

At quite an early period a certain individual of peculiar characteristics 
had settled a few miles above the present site of the city of Wheeling on 
the shore of the Ohio River. As a proof that he settled there quite early, 
it is sufficient to state that he had an orchard bearing fruit several 
years before the commencement of the nineteenth century. When he 
immigrated to this section of the country he brought with him a quantity 
of apple seeds, which he planted, and from which he raised a flourishing 
nursery. When their growth justified him in doing so, he transplanted them 
and in the course of a few years he had an extensive orchard, which 
produced a quantity of excellent fruit for general use and the making of 
cider. He transported them to market on a sled, at that time the usual 
mode of conveyance then in use, for in those days and for many years 
subsequent wagons were a novelty in this portion of the country. About 
1816 a more prosperous condition prevailed, until he was looked upon as a 
poor farmer who did not possess a wagon. 

The individual to whom we refer was in the habit of taking his fruit to 
West Liberty during the meeting of court on a sled upon which set a body 
or box in which he carried his apples. Arriving at the county seat, he 
would select a prominent place and display his fruit in a tempting manner 
on a board laid across his box, which fruit he would sell for a penny an 
apple or a shilling a dozen. If a purchaser paid him a 12 1/2 cent piece, 
or what was in later days called a "bit" (an old denomination which 
several years since have passed into disuse, and has now quite 
disappeared), to make even change he would cut an apple into two pieces, 
giving one half to the purchaser and retain the other half for a similar 
emergency. 

Thousands of fruit trees were taken from his nursery to Western 
Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio, and from this source sprung many of the 
orchards which were afterward planted in these respective states. 

He was a person of venerable appearance, soft in speech, shrewd, and 
withal quite covetous. In the days of which we write he was considered 
quite well off in this world's goods and prosperous. His storehouse always 
contained an ample supply of bacon and cured meat. Hence when his 
neighbors ran short in this respect, which was frequently the case, he did 
a lucrative business in supplying their wants. It is related of him that 
on one occasion, when provisions, and bacon in particular, had grown 
scarce in the neighborhood, he was called upon to supply the deficiency. 
At the time he was suffering from a lingering and serious attack of fever, 
from which it was doubtful he would recover. His shrewdness, however, did 
not desert him at this trying period, but he was keenly alive to driving a 
good bargain with such as came to purchase from him. Sometimes during his 
illness he would be much improved, and then again he would have a relapse 
of dangerous symptoms. His condition from time to time determined the 
standard by which he graduated his scale of prices. On the days when he 
was worse he would charitably reduce the tariff of his prices, but when 
better he would covetously increase it. On one occasion during his 
sickness it is said his wife entered the room and inquired of him, "Pap, 
what is the price of bacon today?" hesitating a moment, he replied, 
"Fifteen cents a pound, live or die." 

A remarkable fact in connection with the early settlement of the county is 
that but few murders or depredations of any kind were committed by the 
Indians in the eastern portion of it, if we except a person by the name of 
Hawthorne, who was shot from his horse where Triadelphia now stands, and 
another named John Grist, who was taken prisoner by them at no great 
distance from the same place. Then we are aware of no more mischief done 
by them until we cross the Pennsylvania line near West Alexandria, where a 
Mrs. Ross was murdered by them. 

There is a reminiscence in the Hosack family that on one occasion, when 
the husband was absent from home overnight and his wife and children were 
alone in their cabin, unprotected save by a dog, in the morning they found 
the tracks of Indians in the vicinity, but nothing was disturbed. The 
settlements in this region were composed almost exclusively of 
Presbyterians of the Scotch-Irish stock, who came to procure homes for 
themselves and children, and the majority of these families still have 
representatives among their descendants in the neighborhood. With a high 
sense of justice characteristic of their race, they refused to aid or 
countenance aggressive acts against the savages. There were no scouts or 
warriors among them, and but few of the lawless class, and they only acted 
on the defensive. From the light which has since been thrown on the 
character of Simon Girty, the renegade, it is not improbable that they 
were indebted for their immunity to a considerable extent to this strange 
and erratic individual, whom they supposed was their worst enemy. He was 
well acquainted with the character of the settlements and was thoroughly 
advised as to the conduct and movements of the inhabitants. If the 
exemption of these settlements was accidental, it was very singular that 
hostile Indians continued to pass on their raids through a settlement for 
twenty years without striking it any very serious blow, while they 
committed murders all around it. It is, however, but a further 
confirmation of the theory that had the Indians been dealt with justly it 
would have saved the writing of many a blood-curdling page of border 
history. There was one exception to the above, so far as is known, and 
that has been already adverted to, which was the case of John Neiswanger, 
who was an early pioneer and daring scout. He "forted" under a rock in a 
cave, one mile and a half above Triadelphia and a quarter of a mile north 
of the National road. He was killed by the Indians at the mouth of Little 
Grave Creek, when on a hunting expedition, in the year 1783. 

Still there were some scares in the vicinity occasioned by moving bands of 
savages, notably as it happened in the case of Mrs. Lockwood, who lived 
just above the "forks" formed by the junction of the "Little Wheeling" and 
"Middle Wheeling" creeks, who was startled one morning by the cry of 
"Indians! Indians!" by a neighbor fleeing past her cabin. All the men were 
at the time absent from home, and the females and children of the 
neighborhood had fled for protection to Shepherd's Fort. A short time 
before she had been confined, but as soon as the alarm was given she left 
her bed, and dragging herself along she picked up an old musket, loaded 
it, and placed the muzzle between the chinks of the logs of her cabin, and 
resolutely awaited the coming of the savages, determined to have the first 
shot should they put in an appearance. But after long waiting, and hearing 
and seeing nothing of Indians, she became so weak from her exertions that 
she was unable longer to stand guard, and with difficulty again reached 
her bed, where she remained undisturbed, and suffered no serious effect 
from her fright. 

Another instance was that of a young man who, having been to the mill some 
distance up "Middle Wheeling," was on his return shot at by a roving band 
of Indians from a hill just above him. Removing his bag of meal and 
throwing it upon the ground, he put his horse to his mettle and at full 
speed made for Shepherd's Fort, shouting at the top of his voice as he 
rode, "Indians! Indians!" so as to alarm the neighbors and give them the 
opportunity to escape. Mrs. Lee, the mother of my informant, was at the 
time preparing breakfast for herself and little ones and was engaged in 
baking griddle cakes. Upon hearing the alarm, she promptly discontinued 
her culinary operations, and snatching her two children